Carl lay still on the floor for a few minutes. What had just happened? It had been so magical, so beautiful, so right... And yet Carl knew in his heart it was wrong. What he felt for Gabriel was wrong. The Church would have him killed for it.
He closed his eyes tightly, feeling an incredible sadness well up in his heart. He needed to talk to somebody. Somebody... God.
He stood up and walked out of his lab, down the corridors, ignoring the calls of his fellow friars he passed, his legs carrying him down to the actual church, the main alter, God's home.
Carl had always felt in awe of this place, and as he walked slowly down to the alter and crouched down on it, his legs felt like they had partially melted.
"Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned," he began, casting a quick look up at the grand crucifix above him, then quickly diverting his gaze to the ground. "Actually, Lord, I'm not sure if I have. Because I'm not sure what I've done, if you know what I mean. Well, of course you do, you're the all-knowing, almighty God. I don't really know what I'm asking for here, Lord. Your forgiveness? But for what? No, I don't think I'm asking you to forgive me. Is what I feel a sin? I think... I think," he mumbled, lowering his voice, "I think I feel love. Love is beautiful, a beautiful gift from you. Is it wrong to love another man? How can something which feels so right... be wrong?"
Carl was sobbing quietly now. He started saying the Hail Mary in a low voice, his shoulders trembling.
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Short chapter, I know, but I wanted to have Gabriel and Carl's views on what happened seperately. So, next will be Van Helsing thinking about it.