Thank you for all the lovely reviews everyone! I feel so loved! Franz Ferdinand is a band with so little prescense in my country that when I meet someone who knows and lieks them, I can't help but jump around with joy. So this was a little introduction. Oh, and I'm passing all my classes, just to let you know 8). I'm sorry you had to wait so long, MoonyEyes for them to get this far, but heck, it was worth the wait, wasn't it? SnapesOperaRose, I'm dedicating this chapter to Y-O-U!
Chapter 18 – Aringarosa and the Silas Confrontation, and Then Some
Bishop Manuel Aringarosa paced inside his office. He had the blinds drawn shut, the door fastened tight. What he had just witnessed was beyond unconventional. It was downright...blasphemy. There was a woman in Silas's room! And to make matters worse, they had been having sex. If only, perhaps, he hadn't walked in on the two at that certain moment in time, this wouldn't be so gut-wrenching. Manuel plopped his tired body into his large, executive's chair behind his desk. On a normal day, the blinds would be open, the door would be open for him to smile at brothers and sisters passing by. Today however, today was a day when he needed alone time. He was frustrated he could not remember the girl's name, or else he would have her removed from the premises immediately. If the news were to find out about an albino monk having sexual relations with an ex-prostitute, Opus Dei's message would become lost in the media. Stories would be twisted in sick, disgusting ways. Worst of all, it would tarnish Silas's fragile mind into complete oblivion. Silas wasn't one to handle negative criticism from such powerful influences well, and Manuel felt it was his job to protect Silas. Running his hands through his hair, Manuel sighed as he laid his head on the desk and prayed.
His Silas was no longer a chaste angel, but a soiled dove.
Silas awoke to find the warm, comforting presence of Rachel's body gone. Only a little startled, Silas lifted his head a little, and found two feet staring at him. "Silas, I have to go. Bye." Before Silas could fully comprehend what was going on, Rachel bent over to give him a kiss on the cheek, then on the mouth. Silas couldn't remember a thing, but as she kissed him, he felt it all flowing back to him. The passion, the exhilaration, the adrenaline rush. The loss of all senses, but the feel of one he had never known before. He ran a gentle hand over her cheek and the back of her neck. Rachel was about to succumb to his touch once more, but resisted, and pulled away. She stared into those beautiful gray eyes. They held the presence of a mountain, the strength, and courage of one, too. Also, Rachel could see that like all mountains, they crumble. They can chip, and over time, disappear all together. Rachel could see Silas from the inside out.
"Bye."
Silas didn't want to say those words, but knew he had to. He watched Rachel leave, and as she did, he lay back down again, and closed his eyes. She had been more than what Silas expected, but exactly what he had planned. He opened then again, suddenly when he felt an urging sense to get dressed and see the Bishop. Silas knew what he had done was wrong, but he also knew that his God was a forgiving God, and hoped a man of God would be too. Sitting up, he looked to his cruciform and began praying. Salvation was the key. Making his way to the dresser, he found lying in the bottom of the drawer, a lonely looking pink Polo. Groaning, he shut the drawer and adorned his cloak again. As he tied the sash around his waist, he looked in the mirror. He looked tired, hungry, and content. Really, Silas always thought of himself as an ugly duckling, but now as he stared, he could see what people meant by "beautiful." He had strong muscles, a thin, tall frame, alabaster white skin with a tinge of pink, and cropped platinum blonde hair. He had the grayest eyes ever seen, and all the while, they were the same eyes that made people love him, or run in fear of him.
Rachel returned to her apartment, and felt a little dirty and ashamed of what happened. He's supposed to be celibate for Christ's sake! I can't just screw him when I please! Throwing her keys on the couch and slipping her shoes off, she was startled by the sound of Kevin sitting at her table. "Hey there, sweet cakes. How does lunch sound?" He wore a pleasant smile, but the look in his eyes said something else. "Kevin! Why are you here? Get out of my fucking house!" Kevin stood and bore a look of complete shock. "Why Rae-Rae! You know that's a naughty word! Have you been being a naughty girl? Hm? I won't tell." He smiled and put his finger to his lips. "Kevin, I'm not playing games with you. Get out." Kevin's smile faded as he walked closer. "Rachel, did you sleep with that man?"
Rachel crossed her arms. "I don't have to justify myself to you."
Kevin's voice rose sharply. "Did you sleep with that fucking ghost? I want an answer!"
"Well you're not getting one!" She screamed back. Kevin let his head drop and chuckle. "So did he give it to you hard or slow? Imagine someone who never screwed a woman before would go slow. Tell me, did he give it to you from the back? Did he make you go down on him? Did he eat you out? What? Come on! Fill me in on details!" Rachel felt sick. Kevin was being totally perverted and belligerent about the whole thing. "Kevin, that's none of your business." Kevin grabbed her arm and yanked her towards him. "It's so much of my business, you don't even understand it." He slammed her against the wall and advanced. Grabbing her arms with both hands, he held her pinned against the wall. He was inches from Rachel's face, and she could smell the beer on him. "Did you sleep with him?" He asked quietly. Rachel nodded, her heart racing. "Kevin began breathing harder. "He's a fucking monk for God's sake! Why the hell would you screw him, you little slut?" He struck her in the mouth. "I loved you! I still do! Why do you think I stayed with you while you were out whoring yourself to other men, huh? Why do you think I never cheated on you, while you were on a corner, or in prison? Why do you think! It was because I loved you, bitch! I want to love you, but you do these stupid things!"
Rachel shook quietly as she felt the tears pour down her face. Marcy had been telling the truth. Kevin did love her. "Stop crying!"
He slapped her.
Next, he pulled out a roll of clothesline and tied it around Rachel's wrists. Throwing her to floor, she hit her head on the table and everything went black.
Silas stood outside Bishop Aringarosa's office, his hand suspended in the air in a knocking motion. Sighing, he knew what he had to do. Banging on the door, he heard some shuffling, and the door opened, revealing a worn-looking Bishop. "Father," Silas said as he kneeled and kissed the Bishop's ring. Manuel didn't know whether to look disgusted or pleased. "Come in Silas. I imagine there is something you want to tell me. Maybe about your woman, I suppose?" The way he said it, even to himself, sounded accusing. Silas looked away from the Bishop's eyes and to the floor. Aringarosa sighed and fought to keep himself under control. In a hoarse whisper, he asked, "My son, what have you done?" Silas felt like a child whose hand had been caught in the cookie jar way past his bedtime. "It was a sudden emotion that came over me. I had never felt that emotion before." Manuel ran his hand through his hair and sighed. "Silas, this must never find it's way to the press. The Church has enough problems already without hearing a monk slept with a prostitute." Silas felt his muscles spasm. "She's not a prostitute. Not anymore." The Bishop shook his head. "It's something that you always will be. When you tell people you're an ex-convict, they automatically become more afraid of you. When you tell people you sleep with men for money, they expect you to be stupid, disgusting, and perverted." Silas felt even smaller than before. "I...I am sorry, but I do not regret what I have done." The priest stood up promptly and said in a sharp tone, "And there's little likelihood that you ever will! I just can't understand...How long have you two been seeing each other?" Silas shrugged, scared by the priest's outburst. "About a week, maybe? Since Sunday, and today is..." His eyes fell on a wall calendar that depicted beaches. Today was Sunday again. "Silas. You have known her for a week. Most people need more time than that to have sex with someone!" Silas could feel the blood rising to his cheeks. "I know! We were caught up in the moment, as people may put it." Manuel stepped from behind his desk and began pacing. "Yes, Silas. Teenagers say that. Are you a teenager?"
"No."
"Then stop acting like one! Listen to me. You are to never see this woman, what's her name?"
"Rachel."
"Specifically?"
"Rachel Crowe."
"Yes, Rachel. You must never see her again. You cannot go over her house, and she cannot come here. In fact, I'm firing her."
Silas leapt to his feet. "What?"
"I'm firing her! She's too much of a risk to Opus Dei, and too much of a risk to you. Who knows what diseases may be lurking about her. Is she even on birth control? Silas, you may have gotten her pregnant! I will not have Opus Dei look like a "baby daddies" shop."
"You can't fire her! Her father just died and they would have their funeral here!"
"Her father did contribute a lot to Opus Dei, and his presence will be missed, but I can and will fire her Silas! There is nothing you can do to stop me!"
I can kill you.
As soon as these words sprung into Silas' mind, he felt complete shock. What kind of monster am I?
Silas turned and ran out of the office. He could hear Bishop Aringarosa yelling for him, but there was no way Silas was stopping now.
He was a runner again.
Silas felt awkward as he sported his pink Polo and headed over to Rachel's house. He had purchased a backpack, and in it, he had his few possessions. Clothes, Bible, Discipline, cilice, guns, wallet, and cell phone. They were all packed in his bag. Running, he made it over and as soon as he was in front of her door, he caught his breath. Banging on the door, he found the door to open quickly and easily. Inside, he saw no one, except a few splatters of blood by the table. He hoped to God it was his own. He heard water running in the bathroom, and as he laid his bag on the couch, he saw water seeping into the carpet by the door. Puddles had begun to form. Worried, he tried the door, but it was locked. He kicked it in, and inside, he found a bluish-white body with raven hair floating in a tub full of cold water, the faucet still running. Silas resisted the urge to vomit, and lifted the body out. There was a gash on the head, bruises on the body, and the hands and feet were hogtied so the clothesline cut into the wrists and ankles.
There was so much blood.
Silas didn't hesitate to grab some scissors and perform CPR. He just hoped it wasn't too late. The body was naked, and instantly, he knew it was Rachel, because her old scars had been cut open again. Stopping to make a quick prayer before trying to revive her, Silas felt her body twist in pain and agony. She screamed and turned over to vomit. Laying on her back again, she saw Silas, looking genuinely pleased, and scared at the time. Her arms, legs, mouth, throat, nose, and ears felt as if they had been on fire. Her head ached. She wanted to vomit again, but all she did was make small gagging motions.
Silas watched in despair as she tried to regain control over bodily functions, but knew it was impossible at the moment. He laid a hand on her head and began praying.
Rachel could feel her body fighting to stay alive, and knew she needed to stay awake. As she took one last look at Silas, she couldn't help but think to herself, mon angelic.
Kevin sipped his beer as he sat on his bed and watched TV. He had no regrets about what he had done.In truth, he felt rather pleased with himself for having removed another sinner from the world. Although he had a serious drinking problem, he knew that with an AA meeting or two, he could stop. All he needed was support and God. He had always been trying to get Rachel to quit her job, marry him, settle down and have a good, wholesome family, but it was not what she wanted. He also knew having unmarred sex was wrong, but he treated her good enough, and always did as the Lord preached. Kevin felt himself to be a saint. Everything was good.
Or so it seemed.
He heard banging on his door, and could only guess who it was. Ah, the Calvary arrives. He walked to his door, and when he opened it, he was unprepared for what happened. A foot was driven into his chest, and he stumbled back onto the floor. In came that man Rachel had slept with. Not the Calvary, per say, but he'll have to do. Kevin pulled himself up and said, "Why, Samuel! What brings you here?" Silas punched Kevin in the mouth, and while he was down, kneed him in the groin. Kevin felt ready to shoot someone now. "Alright motherfucker, let's get one thing straight. You don't come in my house and start wailing on me. No, you don't have that right." Silas threw him to the ground and began pummeling him. Once Silas felt Kevin couldn't move, he slipped into the kitchen and pulled his clothes off. What he was about to do would be messy. He pulled out a pair of latex gloves and four knives of equal length. He pulled out a sponge and began looking for some wine. His plan would reveal itself in time. Kevin still lay on the floor, his body in the grips of suffering. When he saw Silas walk back to him with the sponge, he saw it was drip ping with something. Water maybe? Kevin felt his mouth being yanked open, and the sponge shoved down his throat, deep in his throat. This is wine! After that, Silas retrieved the knives, took Kevin by the wrist and slammed it against the wall. Clutching the knife, he stabbed it into Kevin's hand, scraping the bone, and going straight into the wall. Kevin tried to scream, but his throat was blocked with a sponge. Silas looked down at him as he pierced the next hand, then a foot. Kevin's head was hanging down before him, his body in agony. Silas took the fourth knife and cut a circle around the circumference of Kevin's head. Blood spilled into his eyes, and Kevin began weeping, tears and blood. Silas lifted Kevin's chin and forced the bottle of wine into his mouth. He had no choice but to swallow, for the wine seeped into the sponge, then his throat. His became labored. Silas took a step back and admired his work. When he felt he was finished, and saw Kevin's soul begin to leave his body, he crossed himself and walked out, as if nothing had happened. A sin was committed, a sinner forgiven, and now he has died for the sin.
Lieutenant Stephen Dougherty had seen a lot of crimes, but none like this one before. When he came in, he and his partner both said the same thing at once.
"Jesus Christ."
On the wall of the home of Kevin Christman, was Kevin Christman himself. His body had been pinned to a wall in the same form as Jesus being pinned to the crucifix. He was naked as well. Stephen guessed the cut around his head was supposed to be the crown of thorns, and the sponge in his mouth that had been saturated with wine, another part of this little role-play. His partner, Andrew Stone had to step out and get his breath. The body had been there for about seven days, the autopsies showed. Amazing. Even killed on the Sabbath day. Shaking his head, he called his partner over. "Stone! Get over here!" Andrew Stone was a young, energetic man of thirty-two who had mousy brown hair, cut regulation style, and plenty of muscles to keep the ladies interested. His partner, on the other hand, Stephen Dougherty, was well working his way on to his forties, had blond hair that was speckled with gray, and a stubbly chin. But he enjoyed bench pressing with Andrew.
Andrew heard his name being called from inside the house, but didn't want to go back in. It reeked of dead person, and the way the man had been killed, was brutal. Asphyxiation, the doctors said. The Choking Game, as some kids like to call it. Andrew shook his head and walked back in. Trying to ignore the scene and smell, he saw Stephen crouching on the floor. "Andy, glad you're here. Check this out." He pointed to some spots of blood on the floor, away from where the victim was first found. "I think there was a struggle. They found bruises all over this guy. Maybe whoever did this, beat him, choked him, and hung him. But here," he pointed to a small streak mark on the floor, "someone may have dragged their knuckles or something. Maybe we'll get a new DNA lead, and find whoever did this shit." Andrew nodded. He really hoped they would find this person. Who would do something so barbaric? Andrew guessed it was some zealous religious nut who was angered by Christman's words against God or something. But looking around the house, they found that this man was pretty religious himself, so that didn't make sense. Or did he anger someone by trying to force the religion on someone, and it just went too far. He also guessed the dude had dirty hair, lived in a cardboard box, and spent all his day preaching to random people. Andrew shrugged it off and asked, "May I go back outside now?" Stephen looked up and sighed. "Fine, you big wuss, go outside, but save some "fresh air" for other people, would you?" Stone smiled. Stephen was always fun when he was on to a crime.
And it ends there. Not the story people, relax. I know you didn't see this twister coming. Please leave me a comment! I want to know what you're thinking. Tell me what's on your mind. Besides, how else will I get my inspiration?