CHAPTER 6

Having been brought up a Catholic, Moriah's proposal had really caught Angela off guard. Interestingly enough, her proposal also aroused her interest. After having to endure all of the physical and emotional abuse from my father one could say that it had began to test Angela's faith in God. Then after spending the several weeks out on the streets of Gotham, her faith in God steadily weakened. After all, hadn't the lack of intervention or even protection from such horrible acts and ordeals proved that he did not care about her or anyone for that matter? 'Why not abandon him like he abandoned me?' thought Angela. 'Why not seek out what Scath had to offer me?'

An hour or so after speaking with Moriah, Angela was making her way through the numerous hallways of the upper part of the church. Moriah's words from earlier were still fresh in her mind, and it wasn't simply the proposal she put out in front of her that was weighing her down…

"…The truth about her condition came to light after she was caught cheating on her boyfriend and this was only revealed during a rather heated discussion with her boyfriend who sadly was under the impression that he was the father…"

Angela pursed her lips. While she was only a child when it had occurred, she could vividly remember her mother's tears and rages whenever it was discovered that her father had once again been unfaithful to her. The man had numerous shortcomings – this much was certain and not even she could deny it – but the one thing that Angela's mother could not and would not in any way condone was how her husband often sought the company and the comfort of other women. So how could Janine do it to her 'beloved' Shymal, the man who allegedly was the only source of light to Janine's dark, lonesome life?

"…Then after she gave birth to her daughter, she immediately gave it up for adoption, and only when it was discovered that the child was deformed..."

Angela's brow furrowed deeply. She could recall the day when the doctors diagnosed that her baby brother Connor had galactosemia and that his condition was discovered too little too late and he died days after his birth. Had the rare and deadly illness been found sooner, Connor would most likely be alive today but not without having to live off a specialized diet and cope with possible learning disabilities, speech and even neurological impairments. Despite this, Angela remembered how her mother passionately proclaimed that it didn't matter if Connor was sickly or not, or whether he was handsome, plain or downright grotesque. He was her child, and had he lived, nothing would ever sway her from loving him as much as she loved Angela. Nothing could persuade her to do anything but provide the best for him. But Janine's daughter was 'deformed'. Whether it was simply in appearance or due to an underlying medical condition could not be determined, but it seemed more so that Janine rather than out of concern for her child's well-being gave her up simply because she wasn't 'normal'. This of course infuriated Angela, who was so sympathetic to Janine's numerous plights. Now she was left wondering just how many of those plights she actually brought upon herself…

"If I find either one of you two with Sebastian again, I will personally slit your throats!"

Angela stopped in her tracks at the sound of the threat. It almost sounded like Sister May from within the infirmary just a few yards away from her. But who was she screaming at? Ever the curious one, Angela cautiously crept up to the door…

"Honey, if you want him that badly, you can have him," snapped the all too familiar voice of Janine, which made Angela freeze again. "As a matter of fact, do us all a favor and just tell that slimeball to keep his grubby little hands away from us!"

"Believe you me, if I had my way, you and Theresa would've been out of here ages ago. But because you're also buddy-buddy with Angela, I'll have to tolerate you…for the moment."

Angela pondered at the meaning of her last statement, but just then, the door opened and the brunette and blonde who Angela had seen glancing at her from across the mess hall back when she first came to the church exited. Angela jumped back in surprise, and the women looked just as surprised to see her standing there.

"OhAngie," greeted the brunette with a fake air of kindness. "Hi! What are you.."

"I'd just come from outside actually, Sister May," fibbed Angela. "It's actually rather nice out for early December. However I, uh…needed to see the girls about…something."

"I see," replied May sourly. She then quickly perked up and smiled. "Well then, I'll leave you to it. Au revior!" And with that, May and Helena speedily headed down the hall while Angela peeked into the infirmary. Janine was leaning up against the far wall while Theresa was holding a washcloth up to her nose with one hand and pinching the bridge of her nose with the other.

"…Theresa?" asked a dumbfounded Angela. She hurriedly closed the door behind her and raced over to Theresa.

"…It was May," answered a nasal Theresa. "She was out for blood. I don't know what would've happen if Janine or Helena hadn't stepped in…"

"Well what did you say that got her so upset?"

At this, Theresa looked up at Angela and Janine turns to her in disbelief. "Excuse me?"

Realizing that she was now treading dangerous waters, Angela quickly tried to minimize the fallout. "Well I only meant…" she stuttered.

"Why would you assume that Theresa just had to have done or said something wrong to provoke May?"

Angela sighed exasperatedly and upon this, Janine scoffed and then laughed. "I see. I do not believe this. I…just cannot believe this!"

"Well what did you expect, Janine? You haven't exactly been the most truthful of people, and you can't say that you've been a good influence on others either. I'm not condoning May's reaction, but perhaps Theresa said the wrong thing to her and nearly got her nose broken off because of it."

"What..the..hell?! You busy sticking your own nose into something that you know nothing about!"

"I know plenty."

"From who? The "brothers and sisters"? Do you honestly think that the others here actually have your best interests in mind? I wouldn't wish my worst enemy to cross paths with these lunatics. Xavier is a meddlesome and sadistic old bastard, and Sebastian is a disgusting octopus who tries to have his ways with all of the girls here. And Moriah? She…"

"STOP! Just stop, Janine! …I…I…don't believe you..."

Janine stopped in mid-sentence, the anger just radiating from the two girls facing off. Theresa warily looked on as Angela chose this time to close the distance between her and Janine, her eyes cutting into her. "I don't believe you, Janine," she repeated. "Why should I believe anything you ever said to me – especially when you couldn't even tell me about why you ended up here in the first place? About what really happened back in Steel City? Answer me that."

It was Janine's turn to exchange a glare. "You of all people should know damn well that some things of the past should just be left in the past, be it because of regretor because of all the pain they have caused. But note this…Angela…I have never lied or had any reason to lie to you about anything!"

"Is that so…'Mother, Dearest'? After all, I'd be embarrassed too if I didn't want to reveal about how I got knocked up by someone other than my boyfriend and then put the child up for adoption just because she came into this world just a little bit different than the rest of us."

Janine exploded. "The only person that I confided to about what had happened to me back home would've been the person who heard my confession, and the mere fact that he revealed confidential information and then twisted the facts of said information should tell you something about these people, Angela, these people that you're willing to trust your life with! But you know what? Fine. Be as two-faced and insensitive and vicious as these bastards. I'm not staying in this, this 'holy place' any longer…!"

Janine stormed by a somewhat flabbergasted Angela, and Theresa slowly rose from her seat to leave as well. She then stopped by Angela, opened her mouth as if she was going to say something, but simply shook her head and left.