Claudia Wolf was not used to praying so late into the night. In fact, praying any time between the hours of eight PM and seven Am was considered taboo, and utterly off schedule. Claudia was certain that she had had a vision from God in her dreams, and she had immediately sprang from bed. She quickly slipped into her usual outfit of black, and scooted quietly down the corridors of the church to the chapel. She walked with quick steps, sure that her bare feet would not create enough racket to wake anyone.
She set to prayer immediately. She sat posed on her knees , hands folded, head bowed. Seconds became minutes, and minutes became God-welcoming hours. By the time the suns rays began to shine through the vibrant stained-glass windows, Claudia was unsure if she was finished. Although she heard the sound of her fellow Order members awakening behind their doors, she kept her head bowed.
Time soon became of the essence, and Claudia knew that she must finish. She whispered one last thank you to the God, and rose. Her legs felt tight and stiff from hours of praying. Ignoring the muscles in her legs, commanding movement, she took a seat at the altar, and began to scrawl out a new scripture for the mass that was to take place that evening. Friday masses were often popular, and as High Priestess, she had to keep the member's interest in God and Paradise sparked. When her body began to demand nourishment, she crossed through the chapel, and into a small pantry where members could enjoy refreshments and converse after mass. She hastily prepared herself a glass of wine, and took a few slices of bread, and set straight back to work on her scriptures.
She had all but bitten into a piece of the soft bread, when one of her fellow members of the Highest respect in her sect, Vincent Smith, entered the chapel through the back.
"Had a late night, didn't you, Priestess?" Vincent asked.
Claudia scoffed and set her bread down. She was in the middle of writing what she considered one of her most intelligent scriptures, and in strides this curate. He was always interrupting her when she was most busy. She gripped her quill angrily.
"Do you have anything more productive to do then constantly interrupt me?" she hissed.
Vincent chuckled. "I'm afraid not." He strode down the aisle and halted before the altar. He placed one hand on his hip, and examined the fingernails on his free hand. "Although, I have come to inform you of the newcomer to Silent Hill."
Claudia sniffled. "Liar," she mumbled. "There are no newcomers."
Vincent shook his head. Claudia had always been hard headed. Even as a child who endured cruel punishments from her father, she never ceased to be headstrong. There indeed was a newcomer, and he felt that as a Priest of a sort, it was among his duties to inform Claudia of any possible dangers. Although he couldn't bear to be in the same room with her for the majority of the time. Claudia was astute, she knew that he wouldn't have mentioned it if there wasn't truth to it.
"There is, I'm afraid," Vincent replied smoothly. "I saw her myself."
Claudia quirked the area of her face where an eyebrow was supposed to be. It had been one of her father's ridiculous ideas that she rid of her delicate blond eyebrows. "Her?" she asked, standing from her seat.
Vincent knew what she was getting excited about. "Yes, her. And, no, it is not the girl who carries God within her," Vincent stated.
"Can you be sure?" Claudia asked. She never knew when Vincent was attempting to play a trick on her.
Vincent adjusted his glasses. "I know what Cheryl Mason looks like, Claudia, and I can assure you, it is not her."
Claudia gave a disapproving look. "You know that the ability for a person to conceal their identity these days is rather extreme," she said. "Did you know that a woman can change the very color of her hair, simply by rubbing it with some sort of concoction?"
Vincent laughed. He was all too familiar with the ways of regular women. Women who carried purses and wore mini-skirts. Many of these women he had had the pleasure of bedding during his period of separation of study for the Order. "Yes, I am aware of that. It's called Hair Dye," he replied through giggles.
"Whatever," hissed Claudia. "It's a Sin. Everyone is born the way God wants them to be."
Claudia straightened her posture. She pondered on what to do about the newcomer. Perhaps is was Alessa, perhaps it was not. Unsure if she could trust Father Vincent's judgment of the girl, her mind concocted a scheme which would put the newcomer to the very test. She paced the length of the chapel a few times, deciding to go about it. It was stupid to go about having her killed, then she'd never know if it truly is Alessa. She turned her back to Vincent, chin in hand, and smiled to herself. Paradise was closer than ever before.
"Vincent," she finally spoke. "Where did you spot this newcomer?" she asked.
Vincent cleared his throat. "On the outskirts of town. She was headed down Nathan Avenue, towards the park."
Claudia smiled to herself again. That location would do just fine.
Claudia felt the familiar tingling down her lower back. She exhaled a few times, and smirked. Vincent never looked from her. Claudia turned her head. She recognized the lump-like, stumpy frame that was perched in the back corner at that very moment. She nodded to herself approvingly. They always appeared at the best of times. She narrowed her ice-blue eyes at Vincent one last time, before giving her undivided attention to the being. She connected to it immediately. Soon she could sense all of the vibes and thoughts that it emitted. Vincent turned to see what she was looking at.
"There you are, my child," said Claudia lowly.
From the corner, the Missionary growled it's greeting at it's mistress.
Claudia raised an invisible eyebrow at it.
"Fetch," she commanded it.
Author Commentary: I rather am enjoying how this re-write is coming along. It has proven hardy compared to my last attempt of this story. Fortunately, I have spent the last two days studying the Order, and the connections that each key character in the series has with it. I even had found a way to tie Christabella into it. I have finally developed the master plot for this, and I'm vigorous to write it. I hope you enjoy this masterpiece. It will be quite a while before you read the words "The End" for this one, I can assure you that.
