Crimson
Part 1
Chapter 1:
"Tears"
"Celine"
Outside in the Church's courtyard, dusk had already fallen. The sky was clear with a new moon, while mist covered the ground. A light breeze was pathetically juggling fallen leaves from the ground, and shrieked when it blew past the branches of the old trees. It was desirable to be covered outside as the early frost of the forthcoming Winter had accompanied the breeze, biting and numbing all the skin it could find.
Sister Celine was seated on the cold, stone bench near the pointed, low fence forged from fine black steel. She had garbed herself in a plain, velvet, black habit and wore a golden Cross around her neck, with two smaller ones embroidered on each side of her veil. She was muttering a prayer when the air around her was touched by a crimson hue, with flickers of gold and orange dancing about.
She looked towards the enraged sky, which was brighter than daytime now, and saw an orb of crimson, gold, and orange, getting larger with each second. She got up to slowly walk back towards the Church, her hands locked together at the navel, all the while her flats were producing a soft thumping sound on the clouded ground.
Reverend Jude was standing with his back resting on the door, smoking a cigarette. He was dressed in a dark clinical clothing with speckles of smoke clinging to it, with the color similar to that of Celine's. When their eyes met, her vision began to blur out the sight of his deep blue eyes.
Tears escaped her eyes, although the sobs remained imprisoned.
"Jude"
Reverend Jude admired her strength. Although her chocolate brown eyes glistened with tears, yet she remained adamant. It seemed as if she had accepted her fate, and was ready to embrace what was coming.
They remained there in silence. He knew that it was the only comfort he could offer her right now. Although they were close companions, no words could help soothe the pressure of this moment. It was time.
The Reverend dropped his cigarette on the ground, and extinguished the final remaining embers by crushing them under his heel. He exhaled smoke from his body through his nostrils and mouth. All the while he stared into her unyielding gaze.
He moved closer, until he was inches away from Celine's smooth, copper skin. He planted a kiss on her right cheek. He could feel the softness of her delicateness on his lips, with a hint of salt as tears accompanied her skin. The last thing he tasted were the salt of her tears.
He held her hand, gave her a reassuring smile before they were engulfed in flames.
And he relived the past.