Chapter II: Metatron
…And then that fateful hour came. Those massive doors began to open and in walked a dark man in a long, black coat and round sunglasses. His arms were folded behind his back rather strangely, but I wasn't going to be rude. I welcomed him into the church and offered one of the front pews. "I apologize for the way I've let this place become, but you're the first person I've had in here for ages." "Thank you", he uttered as he carefully took his seat. I stood in awkward pause for a moment before speaking again. "May I help you, sir? If you're looking for a service, I'm afraid I'm the only clergyman left in this building." "No, father, but I believe there's something I can do for you. No doubt you've felt empty since the day the church died; since the day your daughter died?" I was shocked that anyone knew of my daughter's death. I had told no one, giving her a private burial in the cemetery behind the church. Something inside me though, wanted to reach out to anyone willing to listen.
"Well, yes… It all seems so terribly wrong. First, the very concept of god lost all meaning… but it wasn't just the cruelty of his will, no… As I've sat here contemplating over the years, it's become apparent to me that religion itself is an illusion. It is fabricated by society to create the illusion of hope, the promise of benevolence. I now know that no such thing exists. And then I came to realize that… everything about this world is just like it, an illusion. The way people pay their taxes, buy goods, the way they're bewildered by simple entertainment… it's all part of something enormous. For some time, I thought it was the government that controlled it all, but they're just as deluded as the people they look down upon. Something's seriously wrong with the world in which I live, and it's driving me insane." I saw a grin spread across the man's face. "Well," I said, "I'm glad I could provide some humor for you, sir. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to go hang myself." I was about to walk away when he rose from his seat and spoke. "I'm not laughing at you. On the contrary, I find there is a great deal of wisdom in your words. …but for you, the journey has just begun." I didn't quite know what to make of his words, but for some reason I just couldn't shake the feeling that this man was important to me.
"There's a car waiting outside," he said before turning around and walking calmly down the aisle towards the doors. I chose to follow close behind, leaving behind in an instant the prison I had called home for so many years.