In this chapter, sponsored by Corn Nuts, we find Carter moping. And some other stuff….Yum, I really like Corn Nuts.

OH MY GOSH! I'm just getting so excited about how this is going (and I have nothing more constructive to do other than play the piano) and I really want to share this story with everyone. This has to be a totally new record! Publishing a new chapter the next day! Can you believe it! I HAD WAY TOO MUCH SUGAR! WHOOO MAN IS YOU! Anyway on with the shout-outs that I forgot last chapter:

Hammermaster: I've decided I will not raise the rating and if anyone has a problem with it they can kiss my ass! It would be a shame for you not to read anymore.

Avalice: Thank you for not having anything bad to say. That's good for me. Here's a toaster… (TOAST!)

HiddenGoddess: You don't ever have to give constructive criticism. I just beg for reviews because I like to know who's reading my story.

Naoki07: Thank you so much for the great reviews, it makes me so happy when people make comments like that. Its reviews like that that make me proud of my writing and want to do another chapter.

HERE WE GO! gets really serious, and puts on a wolf mask Activating story mode…EXTREME!

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Chapter 5

If I Felt Like That, Then Things Would Be Different

Carter trudged through the puffy sands of the beach. His hands were shoved deep in his pockets and his posturing was stooped over like a vulture. Each step sent him sinking deep into the sands, allowing for the intrusive stuff to enter his shoes and cause a nasty scraping sensation. But the priest didn't care. He had a lot more on his mind. It was as beautiful as any other summer day, but for Carter it was blacker than any he had seen. Tainted with the blood of another. Someone had been killed. And deep down, Carter knew it was his fault. What Elli had accused him of was totally right. His past had finally caught up with him, and now other people were paying the price. He made his lonely way on the dock and stopped at the end, the roar of the sea drowning out everything else. The wind gushed around him, whipping his coat around his legs and blowing his hair to bits. Carter had to find out who was doing this. Someone had found out about who he was and was trying to scare him out of town. He felt a tap on his shoulder, which made him jump and wheel around to stare directly into the face of the salesman, Won.

"How are you today, my fine brother?"

Carter just stared at him; this was the worst guy in town. A crook who would fleece a blind, elderly woman of her money.

"What wonderful weather we are having." He spoke, obviously preparing to make an offer for Carter to buy something.

The priest had no patience for this. On another day at another time he would be fine with the salesman, but today he just wasn't in the mood. "Won, I get no salary, and I've been wearing the same shoes for three years. Does it really look like I can buy some of your overpriced trinkets?"

Won took on a face of shocked innocence, provoking Carter to role his eyes. "Why, my good brother, how could you think I would come and take money from you of all people?"

"I'm not in the mood for this, Won."

"You should be, considering that I may know some things that would have a, let me say immediate effect on your future."

Carter just looked at him. Did he just say that? "What are you talking about?"

Won smiled mischievously, knowing he had the priest's attention. "Certain information just happened to float my way, and well, it could have a substantial effect on the rest of your life."

What was this bastard playing at? Carter decided it was time to go on the offensive; if this man really knew what he was hinting at, then he could be in some serious trouble. "What makes you think that whatever you "know" has anything to do with me?"

"I won't say anymore, you have to pay for it."

Carter glared at him. "I have no money. You know that."

He shifted his weight and looked bored. "There are always ways to get money, brother. But if you are not willing to go through the steps than I guess you are not worthy to know." To close a deal, he turned around and started walking away.

This hit Carter's breaking point. He was in no mood to play games in the first place, but this greedy bastard was just asking for it. Before he knew what he was doing, Carter had Won pinned in the sand under him, his hand clamped around the salesman's neck. "Tell me what the hell you know you little rat, or I'll break your face in!"

Won struggled under Carter, trying to squirm away. But his cowardice only made Carter angrier. "T-There's a hurricane coming in two days, I swear that's all I know! Please don't kill me, I didn't mean any harm!"

Carter stared at him in disbelief. "That's it?"

Won nodded. "Will you get off me now?"

He got up and the salesman ran off faster than a jack rabbit. Carter stared after him, completely embarrassed. What had gotten into him? He didn't usually go around pinning people on the ground whenever he got upset. The priest made his way back to the edge of the dock and sat down, burying his face in his arms. What was happening to him? This was completely out of place. He looked out across the horizon. All he had ever wanted was a new start in a new place. But his past seemed to catch up with him wherever he walked.

The sun made it's decent down to earth, it's rays sending streaks of fiery red and pink out to touch the clouds. It was really beautiful out here and Carter didn't want to have to leave. The waves caressed the shore, pulling away tiny bits of land with each pass. So much crap washed up into Carter's life, sometimes he just felt like never waking up in the morning. Always having to listen to other people's problems, never talking about his own. He had plenty of them. Carter sighed, maybe he should run away again, get far from everything and start another life. But something held him here that he didn't want to leave behind. The priest sat there on the dock, staring out into the ocean, watching the sunset. Why he out of all people had to have the lousy life? Memories of his childhood came flooding back to him. Carter had once had a brother. A younger brother that had always fallowed him around; looking up to him. They had been playing in the woods one day. They were both trying to figure out how to build a tree house, like any other teenage boys that desired a place to get away from their parents. He and his brother had climbed up the tree and were fixing up some rigging. He wasn't watching what he was doing, and had bumped into his brother. Somehow his younger brother slipped and fell, and a rope had gotten around his neck. And all that Carter could remember was that ghastly image of himself screaming as he watched his brother hang. Swinging back and forth, lifeless.

And no matter how many different angles Carter looked at it, he always saw his brother's death as his fault. He had been thrown from his house, and driven from the town, left to fend for himself in the world. Eventually he turned to religion. Carter's service had always been tainted because of the murder on his record. No one ever knew though, no one ever found out. Until now.

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Carter stayed at the beach until well after sunset, contemplating whether or not he should leave town. He was pretty sure someone had found out about what he had done, but there was no clear proof. What was worse was that Elli had actually guessed. And he still had to deal with the rumors that were sure to be spreading fast through the town. But he felt that he deserved it. What sort of man was he to talk about being just and righteous? He sat there listening to the ocean waves, and watching the stars twinkle endlessly in the sky. Hundred of nameless constellations were there before his eyes. Never changing in a world that went by so quickly. A constant among the variables. Somewhere distant a fish jumped out of the water and fell back down with a splash.

"Hey there Pastor."

Carter turned around, completely surprised at this intrusion. It was Kai, a sailor that only came to town during the summer. Kai took a seat on the dock next to the priest, staring away at the ocean.

"What are you doing out so late?" He asked uninterestedly, obviously lost deep in thought.

"Just thinking." Carter replied, not really in a mood to talk.

"I come out here to think sometimes too." He deadpanned. "Seems like the only place I can come to get away from people."

The two sat there for a while, content with another's company. The ocean's roar was constant along with the slight breeze.

"I hear about some of the things that have been happening to you lately." Kai said, in a small-talk sort of way.

Carter definitely didn't want to talk about that of all subjects.

"Whole town's talkin' bout you. Some of the accusations are really outrageous, but I trust you. One of the few people you can trust these days is a Pastor."

He sat there, not wanting to reply to that as guilt set into his stomach.

"When I first came here there was a whole string of bad rumors bout me that never seemed to pass. I guess some people never get over how they were brought up to view something, even if there is all the proof in the world to believe otherwise."

Carter continued to stare at the stars, a small tear coursing its way down his cheek. "I guess so." He said shakily.

Kai didn't seem to notice though. The sailor stood up and brushed off his pants. "Good to see you again Pastor." Smiling he said, "And get some sleep, you look bushed." And with that Kai clunked off the dock and headed back to his restaurant.

Carter looked after him, wondering why Kai had come to the dock in the first place. He decided to take the advice though and headed home. But as the priest walked away he was so lost in thought that he did not notice the shadow moving swiftly behind him. A stalker through the moonlight.

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OMFG my hands are so sore right now and I really need to get some sleep. I definitely will not update tomorrow because I have some heavy yard work to do up the street for a pair of really nice old ladies. (I also worked today, and, please as a reminder, drink plenty of water when clearing blackberry bushes) Please R&R or I will send a cat god to dance on your head and stare at you in your sleep. (It's either that or a pig) I prefer cats personally, but I do really love to train dogs. I have a pup I'm training for agility. Man, that was completely off subject, I must be really tired….Ok, so goodbye and goodnight.

K. W. Lycan

(aka: a piano playing demon)

(oooh! I'm so excited! I'm playing the unarranged version of Scott Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag" for my next piano adjudication. If I get a superior rating this time I get a trophy! Woo! TROPHY TASTIC!) YAWNS AND THEN FALLS ASLEEP