The footsteps echoed harshly as he walked into the huge church. His short, but athletic frame paused a moment, looking both ways, his sharp Italian features betraying the face of one who had suffered much. The rich mahogany architecture towered majestically, and the place held something of an awe inspiring feel to the young man in the newsboy cap.
Remembering his cigar, he abruptly grabbed it from his teeth and threw it way, his ink-stained fingers clenching and unclenching nervously. It had been so long since he had come.
He walked over to the confessional, and cautiously stepped in. He heard a light snoring on the other side of the screen. With an uncomfortable sigh, he sat down slowly, and cleared his throat.
A startled snort on the other side made the youth grin crookedly, giving just a hint of the boy he had been only a few short weeks ago.
"Bless me, Fathah, for I have sinned."
The man other side cleared his throat, and the boy slicked back his black hair with a chuckle.
"Go ahead, my son. Speak your mind."
The smile disappeared, and was replaced by a the same agonized expression as before, and he lowered his eyes.
"Well... see..." His voice trembled slightly, and he rubbed his fingers across his strained face. "Ahh....sorry, its just...this is just a little difficult."
"Ah," soothed the priest. "Take your time, and tell me what is troubling you."
He took a deep breath, letting it out shakily, trying to force himself to be calm.
"Right...alright. Ya see," he begun, "I have to do something tonight...something terribly wicked." His voice broke a little. "I don't want to. I'd give anything if I could get out of it, but I...I can't."
The priest clucked disapprovingly. "You never have to sin, son. Continue."
"Yes, Father," he sighed, then went on explaining, "so ya see, there is something I have to do....I just have to."
The agonized, yet determined response caused the priest to ponder for a moment.
"And, my son, what is it you think you must do?"
The silence following was the priest heard a muffled sob on the other side of the screen, then an angry outburst as the youth slammed his hand against the wall.
"I hafta...I hafta kill my best friend."
