Sister Maggie sat on the front pew, nearest to the alter, her wrinkled hands clasped together in prayer. She pulled a black rectangular flask from her robes and took a long swig, whisky trickling down her chin. She coughed hard as the liquor burned its way down her throat before it proceeded to warm her insides. She wiped herself with the back of her hand and licked her dry lips. She closed her tired eyes for a second. It was a brisk, cold winter night and frost was beginning to form on the outsides of the windows, there was no warmth in the church other than a single candle she'd used to light the alter, although that offered next to none.
"I have sinned, Lord. I am a sinner. I repent and ask for your forgiveness." She repeated this into the dark of the musky Church until her words slurred and she ungracefully slumped in her seat. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she let the effects of alcohol take her under.
Outside were the sounds of chipper birds, happy to see the break of dawn. The bright, rising sun warmed their feathers. With morning came new life, a new start but for Sister Maggie, it bought a pounding hangover. She'd ended on the cold, hard floor of the church after a heavy alcohol induced slumber. She mumbled her way into consciousness and held her head as she got up too fast. Squinting against the light that shone though the stain glass windows, she rubbed her eyes and began to notice that it was a little too bright for the hour of the morning. She saw a shimmer from the corner of her eye.
The reflection of the anomaly reflected brightly in her glasses, shards flickering a magnificent gold. All she could do was stare in its presence; she'd never seen anything so amazing before. Yet, it wasn't amazing, not quite. Something niggled at the back of her mind that this strange ball of light was not as beautiful as it seemed. She sensed the presence of grave danger. Despite this, she was enticed and edged closer, steadily reaching out her hand. She recoiled suddenly, whipping her hand away and hid it within the black of her habit. She pulled out a box of twenty Marlboro, flicked open the top and pulled out a single cigarette.
"They keep saying it's bad to smoke. A sin, even, especially in the house of the lord." She paused for a second, "but how can you expect me not to when you present me with shit like this." The hand holding her lighter gestured towards the tall ceiling as if someone were up there, judging her and then to the glimmering, shattered mirror. She sparked up and took a long suck, letting the sensation of it wash over her, the inhalation of smoke making her old self feel lightheaded.
Just before she sucked the last life out of it, she thought to her self that she'd at least have the decency to light some incense before she left.
But first, she would satisfy her burning curiosity by touching the damned thing. Maggie edged closer until she was sure the light would engulf her.
Abruptly, she withdrew in terror; mouth agape at the tremendous beast towering before her. It was a dark, scaly black and it hissed its obvious dominance through its long, forked tongue. It must have been at least 40ft long.
"Lord Jesus Christ, save me please!" she uttered, stumbling backwards. Just as the creature loomed upon her, her distant cries could be heard from far outside the Church. "God, save me from the Devil's Serpent!"
James Lester walked idly, yet purposefully through the main of the ARC, observing his team as he went. He straightened his tie and lifted his chin a little higher. His air of presence was a grand one.
He entered his immaculate office and closed the door quietly behind him. He pulled out a fine-toothed comb from one of his inside pockets and smoothly tamed his already perfected hair and then pulled out his chair. Taking a seat, Lester looked on at his team from afar. He preferred to watch in silence. Less talking, less questions… less hassle.
His eyes first darted to Stephen Hart. He was concentrating on some paper work at his desk. Lester studied him, taking him in. He looked focused, determined but he looked forlorn all the same. He had lost the team's trust, and what for? A fling with a manipulative, insane woman. The wife of his once best friend. He watched him run a hand through his roughed up brown hair. That was a good few months ago now. And he had little sympathy for him accept for-
Quite unexpectedly, a small bleep emitted from Lester's laptop, stopping him in his thought process. He spun his chair to where his laptop was and read first whom the email was from. Brilliant… the Minister's PA. Just what I need. He thought. If said out loud, the sarcasm would have been evident.
He clicked his mouse pad and the email sprung open.