Warrior Nun: Margo

"Resurrection: Romans 6:4"

Bishop Serrano walked down the aisle looking over each candidate to be presented for confirmation; Margo stood out like a sore thumb. She wasn't much older than the other candidates but these past two years she had really blossomed physically and so she appeared much older. Her father stood behind her with his hand firmly gripped on her shoulder. She could hear him chanting a prayer softly behind her Gloria al Padre, al Hijo y al Espíritu Santo.

"Saint Peter," the Bishop announced as he anointed a narrow-face boy first in line, "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit."

"Amen," the boy responded.

"Peace be with you."

"And with your spirit."

The Bishop moved swiftly down the line until finally reaching Margo. Margo inhaled deeply and leaned in to receive the Chism Oil on her forehead.

"Saint Margaret," the Bishop announced, "Be sealed with the gif- "

"I'm sorry," Margo interrupted with a whisper, "You said Margaret and my name is Margo."

Bishop Serrano stared blankly at Margo before giving a sharp look to her father. Cristóbal squeezed Margo's shoulder Dios esta mirando. Margo rolled her eyes at the sound of her father's warning but knew it was better to be obedient in this moment than to cause a scene. She sighed and nodded allowing the Bishop to continue the confirmation ceremony.

"Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit."

"Amen."

"Peace be with you."

"And also, with you," Margo replied with a forced smile.

As the ceremony concluded, all the candidates that had received their rite of passage into the faith rejoiced; all except Margo. They embraced their loved ones as Margo stood awkwardly next to her father. In the two years since she had been at St. Joseph's she could count on one hand how many times she had actually seen him; he was consumed by the church and his personal journey to power among the religious authorities.

"Estas lista para el siguiente paso?" Margo's father said smiling at her.

"Huh?"

"Perdoname," he said shaking his head, "me English is bad. We go eh with Father Maurice now," he said motioning to a small door behind the alter.

"Okay," Margo said hesitantly, "What for?"

"Bautismo," he replied firmly.

"But I've already been baptized."

"Esto es especial."

Margo followed her father down the aisle behind the alter through a small red door. Father Maurice was standing in front of a metallic wash bin full of water. Margo scanned the room; it was a very odd scene.

"Saint Margaret, welcome," he said opening his arms.

"Hello Father Maurice. Nice to see you, but if it's all the same to you I'd like to still go by Margo," she said tucking her hair behind her ear.

Father Maurice and her father stared at each other for a moment before mumbling amongst themselves. Margo didn't understand why they kept trying to force this new name upon her, she thought she had a choice.

"Yes of course," Father Maurice smiled, "Margo. Do you mind changing into this?" he continued handing her a white robe.

Margo reluctantly took the robe and went behind a thick red velvet curtain that hung in generous folds from the ceiling on the other side of the room. She didn't remember her first baptism, she had only seen pictures and in those pictures, she also wore a white robe; guess it was tradition. The marble tile felt cool beneath her feet as she made her way back to the wash bin. Immediately, Father Maurice began the renewal of Margo's baptismal promises.

"Do you reject Satan?" Father Maurice said firmly placing his palm on Margo's forehead.

"Yes."

"And all his empty promises?"

"I do."

"Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth?"

"Yes."

"Will you remain faithful to God?"

"Yes."

"And remain faithful to the will of the church?"

"Yes."

"Amen."

"Amen," Margo said closing her eyes to prepare herself to be submerged into the wash bin.

Margo's head bobbed beneath the water for a few seconds as she waited for Father Maurice to pull her back up, but he didn't. Instead he held her there until her body began to scream for oxygen; he was drowning her. Darkness enveloped her. She couldn't help but wonder if her father knew that this was the church's intensions or if he even knew it was happening. Drowning wasn't the loud splashy scenarios you often see in movies; it is a quiet form of death and could happen right in front of you without you even knowing.

Father Maurice pulled Margo's semi lifeless body from the water. Margo's father handed him a relic from his pocket, it was the talisman he had given to Margo. The talisman the church had taken from her two years ago. He handed it Father Maurice who uttered a sacred prayer as he burned the symbol onto Margo's wrist. The pain jolted Margo from her lifeless state and she began gulping at the stale air.

"It is done brother Cristóbal, she is part of the order."