One-Shot book of nonsense and FLUFF!

A Church in the Woods Part 2

Here's the Second Part PancakeOfTheSea (1189 words)

His voice is calm, unjudging. Sending chills up my arms, I sit frozen- Mary May's words echoing in my mind.  "I'm..." try I might, no words would continue. He walks cautiously forward "It's alright," he whispers calmly "you don't need to tell me now, if you don't want to." he smiles, looking down to the pew I am on. "May I?" he inquires, again, I just nod. Shuffling further up the pew, he sits down heavily likes he's dropped a heavy burden. "I know your friends have warned you against me." he states, looking over to him, he's staring straight ahead, at the lectern smiling slightly. As if he finds the notion of someone warning another against someone they've never met, humorous. 

"I also know that you ae scared of me." he continues intelligently, waving his hand towards me. "It's all in your body language." he sighs, like he's upset. I bite my lip, "I'm sorry for intruding..." I apologise, looking down at my feet. He chuckles, this time locking his eyes with mine. "Seeking spiritual help is not a sin." "But, trespassing is." I mutter, he shrugs. "As I see it, you are not trespassing. My church is for all who need a safe place." A yawn rips through me, I'm unable to contain it. "I am so sorry!" I put my hands up slightly in surrender, "I-I wasn't yawning at you, I haven't been sleeping." I panic. Joseph stands. "Please, don't let me keep you then." His voice is level, calm. I thought he'd be furious; "You need good sleep to deal with the rowdy business in the Spread Eagle." he smiles, moving back to let me out of the pew. Wait, how did he....
I don't question how he knows, I pass him quickly. I reach the door when he calls " cast all your  worry on him because he cares for you 1 Peter 5:7" I glance back he's holding a white Bible open in his arms, it looks hand written. "You don't have to go alone on this journey, come here as often as you need, Julia." he bows his head softly as he closes his book. Nodding, I exit the church uttering a quiet, "Goodnight, Joseph." If only I knew what that sentence has set into motion. 

Over the next month, work in the bar seemed to become monotonous. I wasn't enjoying meeting with friends as much and I couldn't shift the feeling that, something of myself, or of the outside world, was missing... or about to change. Mary May was sat behind the bar, cleaning her shotgun as I come downstairs from cleaning away a couple of broken chairs. "Going hunting Mary?" I ask; chuckling, she places the weapon onto the bar. It had been quiet today. "Have you not seen what the Peggies have done?" she asks incredulously, " No..... I've been gardening all morning," I rub my cut up fingers.  I urge her to continue, "They rocked up this morning, with the corpse of a patron." she snarls, snatching a crystal glass from the shelves behind her. Pouring out a whisky for herself, then sliding me one, I nod in thanks looking down to the golden liquid. "He was filming, he went into one of his services. He got caught, Joseph..... The Father-" she spits on the floor, he face scrunched up in anger " Saw him, pushed his eyes in." she snarls, necking the alcohol. I sit there, stupefied, uttering a meek "Holy Shit."  Why would Joseph do that? Mary May necks another glass, I hold my hand over the bottle "Don't go drinking all of your stock May." I warn, she looks slowly down the quarter empty bottled, sobbing a laugh, "Good point." She plus the bottle and places it back in its' place. "Hopefully the, kid had it broadcasting somewhere..." I mumble, playing with my thumbs. Mary places her hands on top of mine. "You OK darlin'?" She looks into my eyes, worry swimming in her baby blues. I nod, "Y-yeah, just shook up." I shrug it off; thinking back to the church.  I look at my watch, "Uh, I need to be going. Unless you want me to pass out carrying beers tomorrow." I giggle lightly, Mary nods slwly, smirking to herself.  "Sure hon. Have a goodnight's sleep." She waves me out, "Yeah, you too, Mary. See you tomorrow." I wave, exiting the bar. 

Walking down towards my house, I can't stop thinking about what Mary May had said. "I need to see him." I decide, turning off towards the woods; Reaching the church, the window above the door glows with a golden light.  Singing comes from one side of the church, a reply on the other side soon after. Backing away from the door, the singing stops; the door opens slowly, two long haired men in new leather jackets, point the guns they have at their side out towards me. Joseph is stood at the lectern. Whispers raise from both sides of the crowd that occupy the pews, phrases like "Sinner" "Non-believer" are hurled at me, spite dripping from the men and women within the crowd. Silence snaps over them as Joseph holds up his hands. "Quiet." he orders slowly, looking over the group, many shrinking away when his gaze  lands on them. "Love your neighbour, as you love yourselves." He hums, walking towards me. "I apologise for the COLD, reception." he scolds the group. He glares at the men that still have their guns on me, they lower them slowly, avoiding his glare. I wave my eyes over the pews. "I-I can come back. Sorry Joseph." I whisper, turning to leave. Joseph curls his hand over my right shoulder, "They will have to learn a friend of mine, is also their friend." He declares, many people now offering me apologetic smiles and shy waves. 

He offers me a hand. "Please ,sit. You can observe what we do." His warm smile falls to a dangerous scowl, a worried scowl. "You are full of so much worry, we can help you solve this." A cheer rise from the crowd, many applaud as I walk towards a gap in the front pew. Joseph claps me on the back, "We'll look after you." He assure me. "Thank you." I sigh, sitting next to a young girl in a white dress, adorned with lilac and white flowers. She smiles over to me, holding my hand "Welcome." her high voice, sounds like a bell ringing in my ear. Pleasant, but false almost. Rehearsed. Josepph smiles down to me "You coming here, was no accident, I think you are the key to our success, just as a plague has come, and the Collapse is upon us- YOU will help lead us to Eden's Gate. A warmth hugs me, I feel something I haven't felt in a long time... Belonging. Purpose. Love. If I am with Joseph, I'm safe from anxiety. I smile up to him, he bows his head, cheers ring out in the Church.

Worry melting away. A new group of friends, a new family. This is...
Bliss.

I hope you enjoyed this second instalment. I really hope this ending didn't suck, I wanted to bring in a bit of the 'when cults go bad' part, but didn't want to put too much of the game in, if that makes sense. Bye Lovelies!
Teek.