Deliver Us From EvilChapter One

The clock read 12am but to Kimberley, it felt much later. It had been a long night and she was tired. In both body and mind. That night had consisted of herself and Silas carrying out orders given by 'The Teacher'. Well, it was really just Silas who carried out the orders, Kimberley's father and even Silas has insisted that she was not to be involved in any of the nights events. She was simply company for Silas. The Teacher's identity was a mystery to her, she was not permitted to speak to him or even her father for that matter, by his orders. It was safer that way, Silas had said and she didn't question him, just like she hadn't their whole life together.

Rain pattered softly on the windows of the car. The streets of Paris were surprisingly empty except for a handful of people scattered about, rushing through the rain on their way home.
Home.
The word sent a dull pang in her chest. It had been nice at first to leave her fathers church but the novelty of The City of Light had quickly faded. Her days here had been spent in the confines of her motel room or the car with no opportunity for any sight seeing. Even Silas wasn't his usual self, here he was quiet and secluded, spending his free time in a gloomy silence. Here, in Paris, she felt alone.

Kimberley turned her head towards the monk. He was silent, staring out of the window, watching everyone who remained on the streets. She noted that he was slightly trembling, though she didn't understand why. Nobody told her anything anymore. Everything was a secret but her father had promised her she would understand soon. Soon isn't coming soon enough, she thought to herself.

An orange glow glared through the windscreen, illuminating Silas' pale face. It did nothing to cheer up his expression. What could they be making him do to make him like this? She thought. Feeling a set of eyes on him Silas turned his gaze to Kimberley, giving her a small, strained smile.
"Do not worry muñequita." he said softly, resting his hands on her shoulders. "I wont be gone long, and then we can get you back to rest." Placing a soft kiss on the top of her head he left the car into the cold, Parisian air. Pulling his large hood over his head he walked briskly towards The Louvre. Kimberley dreaded to think about the task The Teacher had given Silas.

The minutes slid past sluggishly, each seeming longer than the last. Waiting in the car made her feel nervous. Silas never indulged to her the details of his tasks to her. Whenever she asked he always gave the same answer, Do not worry muñequita, before giving her a small kiss on the forehead indicating the end of the discussion. Muñequita. 'Little Doll'. He had always called her that, from the very day they properly met.

BANG!

A gun shot sounded in the distance. A few people in the street stopped for a moment before disregarding the sound and carrying on their way. Kimberley wouldn't ignore it, she knew what she had heard and where it had come from. The Louvre. Without another moments pause she scrambled out of the vehicle, not bothering to grab her coat, venturing out into the rain. She was becoming increasingly more agitated as she walked towards the museum. She didn't even notice how the icy rain cut like razors into her bare arms. She wasn't even half way before Silas came rushing out. Stopping dead in the middle of the road she stared at the man walking towards her. He isn't hurt. A wave of relief washed over her, releasing her senses. It was then she realised just how cold she was in the pouring rain. Gripping her arms she shuddered, Silas getting ever closer.

When he was about ten feet away, Silas finally looked up to see the rain soaked girl shivering before him. Wide eyed he rushed over to her.
"Kimberley! What is it, what's wrong?" he asked, opening his cloak and wrapping her inside with him.
"I heard a gunshot," she replied, "I thought… I thought that you had gotten hurt." Silas' tensed arms relaxed around her. Countless possibilities had ran through his mind as to why he found her, soaked to the bone in the middle of the street. But she had just been worried. Typical. The thought made Silas' heart ache. She would never change. Ever since he had met her when she was younger she had always been the same. A quiet girl around most but with himself and her father, she was always smiling. Always happy to lend a hand and lift the mood. After years of suffer and torment she was the kindest person he had ever met and he loved her for it.
"I was not even close to being hurt muñequita," he soothed, "Let's get you back to the room where it is warm and dry." She said nothing, she only smiled, wide eyes staring. Those big, beautiful, doll like eyes.

Back at the motel, Silas had retreated into another room to call The Teacher, letting him know how the night had panned out. After the conversation had finished he went to check on Kimberley. She was sleeping peacefully on her bed, breathing softly. He leant closer to her face to hear the music playing in her headphones, Moonlight Sonata, her favourite, Seeing her wearing her headphones made him feel a little sad. After a couple of weeks living with her and her father he had finally managed to ask Aringarosa just why his daughter had such a strange habit. Aringarosa had explained to him about his daughters past. How she had lived with her alcoholic mother in England before she had died. How Aringarosa had brought her to Spain and painstakingly fixed the cracks left by her mother. Kimberley had made incredible progress according to how Aringarosa had described how she was before. She never spoke or looked anyone in the eyes. She never even smiled. Silas couldn't imagine her any other way than with a smile plastered across her face, eyes wide and glowing. Though after all the help Aringarosa had given her he couldn't stop her from wearing those headphones at night. After ten years of only being able to escape by blocking out her mothers voice and that of countless men with music, it became the only way she could sleep at all.
Tonight, Silas was thankful for the music as he picked up The Discipline and retreated into the bathroom.