The Wanderers [Old Version]

Chapter 35: Serpent

Clara's POV

I sat at the at the edge of my bed, looking down at the dirt, cuts, burns and scars on my legs and feet. I rubbed a bruise on my leg. I didn't even know how I got hurt anymore.

Marc sat on the armchair and rubbed his knife. Petra sat with Naveah and was teaching her what to do if she got injured.

I opened a nightstand that was near my bed and found a brown book inside. "The Holy Bible" was written in gold letters on the front.

I looked over at Petra, "Hey, you read a lot, have you ever read this book?"

She looked over and squinted her eyes, "The Holy Bible? No, not that I know of. Where'd you find that?"

I handed it to her, "It was in this nightstand."

Petra opened the book and skimmed through the pages, "There's a lot of pages in here. Wonder what it's about."

She told Navaeh to practice what she learned, and started reading the book on her own.

I walked to the bathroom, and looked at myself in the mirror. My eyes instantly went to my scar, then to my black and red hair, then to my white pants. I felt anger boiling inside me. I screamed and punched my reflection in the mirror. The glass shattered and cut my hand and knuckles.

Marc ran into the bathroom, "Clara? You ok?"

I turned towards him, blood running down my hand and dripping onto my pants. I could feel my face turning red.

Through clenched teeth I mumbled, "I'm fine."

Marc backed up a few feet and nodded, then turned and walked away slowly.

I followed a few seconds later, and sat next to Navaeh, "Mind wrapping my hand up?"

She looked to Petra for approval, then went to work, wrapping my hand and busted knuckles in a clean rag.

I thanked her then took a seat next to Petra, she was a few pages into the book so far.

I asked about it, "What's it about?"

"God. And how he created the world and man and time and everything. But...it doesn't specify what he looks like, or anything. People in Lightstone believed the sun was our God and that the sun created everything. Think this is the same God?"

I shook my head, "This is an Old World book. It was probably a God they worshipped back then. I never did believe that the sun created everything though. How could all this be created by fire? Never made sense to me. I don't believe in a higher power."

Marc agreed, "There's nothing out there. Nothing created us. We die and go to wherever it is we go in the afterlife, but there's no God. An all-seeing God that's supposed to love us all wouldn't let all this shit happen to us."

Nevaeh chimed in, "My name is Heaven spelled backwards. Heaven is where good souls go when they die. My mom used to read the Bible to me. God really created us all, and He loves us all. Everything that happens is part of His plan. When my mom and dad died, it was His plan. He was ready for them to join Him in Heaven."

Heaven. The soldiers from New Rome that we met in Tropor mentioned it, just as Naveah did. Obviously people knew of it. It was probably common knowledge outside of Lightstone. But the idea wasn't insane to me. The followers of the Sun Church believed that when we die, our bodies should be burned, that way our heart can be released and return to the sun.

I still couldn't force myself to believe in a God, however. I would need more proof.

I scooted closer to Petra as she read, "Will you read it aloud so that I can hear it too? I'd like to try to believe in...God."