PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

14

The rest of our search was done in silence. I did not wish to speak after seeing a flashback that hit too near a vulnerable hole in my mind. It was all too close to a home that I did not wish to visit ever.

  “Dark and Handsome.”

  I look back at Miss Remembrance, not noticing she’d stopped.

  “I think we’re here, which is kind of weird because this is where I have to go today.”

  I look at the building, and whatever color was able to cling onto my face was no longer there anymore. “Th-this is the place is the place, Sir Gargilre wishes to hold the funeral?” I stand at the very edge of the side walk staring, watching as people piled into the one place that I now fear more than anything for Sunday service. I growl as I notice Melarvious’s new little friend resting upon one of the ledges of the cathedral. He was stone now but come nightfall, Hell shall feel like Heaven and Heaven unreachable, unfathomable.

  “I guess so. So you ready to go in?”

  “You cannot be serious!”

  “What? This is my Joe’s brother’s church. Uncle Buck invited this Sunday so that I could sort of grieve over my mom’s loss. He said I could talk to the Father Porter after service.” She looks at me with concern as she notices the look upon my face. “Dark and Handsome? What’s wrong? What is freaking you out so bad?”

  I look at her. “The church.”

  “The church? Why the church?”

  “I have not been inside of a church in centuries.” I close my eyes and swallow hard. “Not since…”

  “Since what?”

  “Since…” I tell her of the last time I had ever set foot into a church.

“Come on, Ducky!” Melarvious was rushing to the church house. “Hurry up or we are going to be late!”

  “I am coming Melarvious! Do not get your undergarments in a rumple!”

  She stops and looks at me. “Sucky-Ducky, have you been staring at me while I’ve been  changing again?”

  I stare at her astonished. “Melarvious! I have done no such thing!” How did she know?

  “I am only kidding, Sucky-Ducky. Now come one!” She turns and rushes into the church house just as several boys are about to barge in front of the young women.

  “Gentlemen! Gentlemen, do not let my words be lies. Show these lovely young ladies some respect and let them in first.” I walk over and open the door for them. “After you, beautifuls.”

  “Thank you, Handsome.” They giggle as they step in.

  “You are most very welcome, my ladies.” I walk in right after them and head right towards the very front and center pew next to Melarvious. I ruffle up her hair and stretch my arms out on either side of me on the bench.

  “Ducky!” She whines.

  “Yes Melarvious?”

  Before she is able to speak, the sermon begins. I instantly close my eyes and soak it in. I always do this and am never accused of sleeping. The people of this village know me as a sweet, humble, God fearing gentlemen. I could explain both in depth and detail about the Bible. The Father of our church has even come to me, asking if I want to preach one Sunday. I was truly touched. Father Malachi  has never asked for anyone to preach, not even straggling pastors looking for a church. He even calls me the son he always wanted. All of his sons are a tad fonder of men than women.

  Melarvious bumps her knee against my leg to make sure that I am awake.

  I smile, eyes still closed, and bump hers back. I chuckle in my mind, as I hear several women go, “humph” behind me.

  All the women of the village, even the married, have all flirted with me in some type of way and simply despise the fact that I pay no mind to it and stay near Melarvious. They believe her a witch and that she has put a spell on me. It is very amusing to Melarvious and me both. These mortals would not know a true witch if she came up, shook their hand, and gave them a formal greeting.

  My head drops back as if I am nodding off. I only shake me head and continue on listening to the Farther Malachi preach. I head begins to drop back again, as if it were too heavy for my body. My arms suddenly felt very, very warm and began to tingle ad almost… burn. I only ignore the sensations, but they only get worse.

  Suddenly, the sermon abruptly ends and their arm murmurs throughout the church house. The pain on my arms, and now my body, are so unbearable that I finally open my eyes. I scream at what I see.

  Flames.

  Flames are shooting up from my body, attempting to consume. I stand and scream begging for help, but they old stand and point.

  “Demon!”

  “Witch!”

  “He has tricked us!”

  “He is in cahoots with the devil!”

  “Get him!”

  They all scream this and are in an uproar of franticness as I run out of the church house and into the nearby pond. I swim across to the other side and continue to run, knowing Melarvious is close behind me. I make us run for a fortnight without rest. Once I finally believe we are at a safe distance from civilization, I stop.

  “Melarvious?” I look at my friend as she lays near the circle of fire, and I far away near a tree.

  “Yes Ducky?”

  “Why did I combust during service? Why did that happen? How did that happen?”

  She stands and walks over towards me and places her hand on one of my pulled up knees. “It’s part of your changing, Ducky. It goes along with the feeding on the pure, how direct sunlight hurts your eyes, and everything else. It means you are almost done changing and that soon… you won’t even be able to touch me anymore.”

Miss Remembrance only stands there in silence for a moment. “Dark and Handsome, I…” Her voice trails off. “Let’s go in side.”

  I look at her. “Are you daft?!”

  She looks at me stern. “Look, the backwards alphabet dude would not have chosen this place if he thought you’d burst into flames. He obviously believed that something would happen over that time and you’d be able to. I know you don’t want to miss out on his funeral, so you need to face this, Dark and Handsome. You know you do, and I will be there with you. Now come on before I hug you.”

  I only strain a smile and follow her into church.

  “So how ya’ feelin’ so far?” she asks once we pass the front doors.

  I swallow  hard and look down at my arms. “No flames, yet.”

  “Alright, come on. Even though I hate doing this, we are going to go sit up in the front. You need to do this.”

  I only nod and take my seat in the front and center pew a few feet from Miss Remembrance. I waited. As they sang, I waited, As they prayed. I waited. As they took up offering, I waited. I waited for my body to burst into flames. I braced for it to happen as the pastor began to preach. Then… Nothing. Nothing happened. I smile and laugh softly, throwing my head back and stretching my arms out on either side of me onto the pew as I once had centuries ago.