[Friday, July 16, 2004.] [It's a pretty day. The heat from the past week is rolling off, leaving a nice, fairly cool wind. There are clouds coming in, though, so the good weather probably isn't going to last.] [For now, though, things are dry. It's about 4:30, so an hour or so before Krista's dinnertime. She's finished all of her busy work for the day and is now entering the church.] [It's beautifully kept, as always. The sun shines through the stained glass windows, and to her right, she can see rows of candles beneath the Virgin Mary, some lit but most not. Nobody is presently giving mass.] [Mini Start!] * Krista walks in a very unhurried way. She's wearing a nice white blouse and blue skirt, not quite as formal as she was a few days ago. * Krista looks over to the confessionals, to try to gauge if Father Bradley is in there or what. [Krista checks out the confessionals! The light above one of the doors is on, indicating a priest, but the one for the corresponding booth is not.] (Bradley's sitting in there and reading a trashy romance novel.) (I knew there was a reason I liked him.) (Darn tootin'.) * Krista nods slowly to herself and takes a small breath before genuflecting in the center, then heading across the church to near the confessionals. Once she gets near, she picks a pew, genuflects again, and goes into the pew to kneel and pray. Briefly. [God might hear her! The crucified Jesus up front doesn't change his expression.] * Krista says quietly, after her silent praying, "God, please forgive me. I just... can't get it out of my mind." She looks over to check nobody snuck in and took her priest. [He's still single!] (And he'll be that way forever.) (Well, yeah.) * Krista stands up slowly and then walks into the confessional. [Krista walks in and closes the door behind her. It's... a confessional. The walls are a uniform varnished oak. There is a bench for her to sit on and a padded, lower one for her to kneel on, should she so choose. The grate is there, and she can see Father Bradley's features through them. He's looking away, as he's reaching to the side to hit a button, probably to turn on the light above Krista's door.] * Krista kneels down, closes her eyes, and says quietly, "Forgive me, Father Bradley, for I have sinned. It has been almost two weeks since my last confession." [The Father looks over to see Krista through the grate. He brings one hand up and clears his throat, then makes the sign of the cross. "He forgives those who have the courage to admit their sins and repent. Speak and it will be done."] * Krista recites, possibly because it's easy, "I became angry with my brother a few times, and with a mman at the shelter..." she pauses, then adds, in a weak whisper, "I lied to my parents and my brother. I-I didn't treat Jerome's death... respectfully. I struck a man in anger, I..." * Krista sucks in a slow, shuddering breath. [Bradley blinks. "It's okay. Take your time." Now he sounds more like her friend than a priest. "What happened?"] * Krista closes her eyes. "Jerome... he was walking me home. Just walking me home, and then the guy that knew him... attacked us. The..." she trails of, then says quietly, almost as if she doesn't want to say OR believe it, "Vampire." [He sighs. There's a pause, then he says, "The vampire. No, that's true."] * Krista opens her eyes and looks through the grate at Father Bradley. "And he... bit Jerome, and I hit him and then he jumped on me and he wanted to..." she shivers, then finishes, "And then you saved me." Pause. "I--I had to tell mom and dad that it was an accident. The dress was near-ruined." Beat. "A vampire. Father, I--what? Why? I don't quite understand." [Father Bradley shakes his head. "Because they're demons. Demons are real and in this world. They..." He stops, trying to think of how to put this. "When someone becomes a vampire, he loses his soul."] * Krista nods slightly but still seems hesitant/confused. "And... and then they are like that? So they aren't just bad people, they're evil... demons?" [He nods, a low dipping of his head. "They will think and act like the person they once were, but without conscience or remorse and a desire to do wickedness. They know nothing of God's light."] * Krista winces and says, "That sounds horrible. I..." She takes another noisy breath, then says, "He-he was strong, father, and cruel." ["I'm sorry, Krista." He sighs. "They're inhumanly strong, because they are no longer human, but there are ways to protect yourself. They shun the cross. It burns them, as does blessed water. And they can't enter a residence without being invited in."] * Krista shudders at that last part. "Oh, thank the lord. I was still..." she trails off and puts her hand to her chest. "This cross... Jesus saved me, then." ["He did. Remember, whatever happened, it wasn't that boy's fault. It was a demon that took hold of him and turned him into something inhuman."] * Krista looks more pointedly towards Father Bradley. "If that's true, is-is there nothing we can do to save him?" [Bradley looks down at his folded hands before turning his attention back to Krista. "The most I've found I can do," he says sadly, "is pray."] * Krista nods slowly, a sad look on her face as well. ["If he finds you again..." He trails off for a moment, then presses on. "You can kill him with wood through the heart. Remember that he isn't human any longer, nor is he the boy everyone once knew."] * Krista flinches. "Is... is it really okay? It's... even if I am sorry about Jerome, I--anger won't solve anything." ["He's a demon, Krista." The Father sounds very sorry. "And a heartless one at that. If you need to defend yourself, you may have to kill him."] * Krista nods, slowly, playing the rationalization game. It's a game we all can play. "It's... it's for the best, then, isn't it..." (Well, what else is she going to do? Pepper spray him and run so he can eat her later? ;P) (Snicker. Yeah, really.) (I'm *pretty* sure "thou shalt not kill" applies to, like, humans and not cows or vampires.) (Well, it sorta applies to animals. You shouldn't hurt them or anything just because!) (Right! And you don't hurt vampires just because.) (It's the principle of forfeiture! Come on!) (She's struggling with it nonetheless. She's not a broad-minded well ethically developed college student like yourself. ^_~) [The Father nods and is silent, giving Krista time to work her mind around it.] * Krista does take her time to work her mind around it, then says quietly, getting to the part of her confession she avoided, "Father, I... I'm sorry Jerome is dead, but I can't--I am--I'm glad I was saved. It feels... selfish." [He nods again, letting Krista continue if she likes.] * Krista pauses for a second, waiting for a response, then continues quietly, "I don't..." she trails off, then tries again, "What happens if I get attacked again? Or it comes up again... I--I can't lie to my parents, but.." ["First, Krista. There is no shame in being thankful for being saved. Jerome's death was horrible, but it wasn't your fault."] ["I wish I were there earlier," the Father continues. "Maybe I could have helped both of you. But I didn't know, and you didn't, either. I'm sure you did all you could."] * Krista nods along slowly, paying close attention. [He looks to Krista, hesitating before saying what he does next, "Try not to lie to your parents, but they may not be ready to handle the full truth. The fact that there are vampires isn't a reality many people are prepared to swallow."] * Krista 's eyes widen at the implication, but her shock fades as she says hesitantly, "I... I was thinking that." She sighs heavily. "I hope... I pray this won't happen again." [He nods sadly. "As do I."] * Krista closes her eyes. "Father, I... do you know if Jerome is having a funeral service? I-I should attend." ["His wake is tomorrow, at the Peterson Funeral Home, and the funeral is on Sunday."] * Krista nods slowly. "Is anyone scheduled to sing, or is the family..." she trails off, then says, "I know I didn't know him well, but it's... something, right?" [He nods. "Would you like me to let them know you're offering?"] * Krista nods. "Yes, please. Thank you, Father." [He smiles a little. "You're welcome."] * Krista closes her eyes. "That's all the sins I can think of at this time, Father." [Bradley nods. "One Our Father and three Hail Marys, then. I'll get some holy water for you." He pauses, then adds, "And you may want to light two candles as you leave."] * Krista nods, and then recites the act of contrition. Which you can find online and need not be retyped! Hooray. (Hooray!) [Bradley waits for her to finish, then he makes the sign of the cross. "Give thanks to the lord, for He is good."] * Krista nods and smiles faintly, making the sign of the cross herself. "Amen." ["Amen."] * Krista unclasps her hands and brushes her hair back before saying with a smile, "Thank you again, Father. Things make much more sense when you get involved." [He smiles a little again. "It's all I can do."] * Krista nods and stands, stepping out. After all, he'll join her shortly! [He does! The lights go out. Not the church lights, but the ones above the booths. Yeah.] * Krista smiles up at him and says, a weak joke, "So, I hope all of today hasn't been quite this serious." [Bradley shakes his head. "No. It's been fairly ordinary, actually." He smiles a little. "Yours?"] * Krista says quietly as she waits for him to lead, "A singing lesson, some more work on my paintings, helping Luke get around..." [He does lead, heading for one of the side rooms. Krista would probably know that this is where the holy water is kept. "Is your brother doing well?"] * Krista sighs slightly, then nods. "Yes. He's currently in a soccer camp, so it is keeping him out of trouble." Faint smile. [Bradley chuckles. "That sounds good. It keeps him busy." He enters, pushing the door open. There isn't much to the room, really it's narrow, with a desk with some flowers from the previous week or two kept on it, a few folding chairs, and other such things. He occupies himself by going to the jug in the corner of the room and checking a shelf for a couple of empty, glass flasks.] * Krista nods back, idly walking over to the desk and looking at the flowers. "I'm sure mom and dad will talk to you on Sunday, but I can already tell you the week has been very normal for them." [He nods as he fills the flasks with clear water, then stopping them. Bradley turns, walking back and giving them to Krista. "Here."] * Krista takes it from him with her left hand and nods. "Thank you." She mms faintly, still standing there. [He stands there, too! "Is there anything else I can help you with?"] * Krista blinks, then looks away slightly with embarrassment and shakes her head. "No, father. Sorry." Beat. "I should go, or else I will be late for dinner." [He smiles. "All right. I'll see you on Sunday."] * Krista looks back up at him and nods. "Thank you again, father. God bless." Then she turns to leave, holy water in-hand. ["God bless, Krista." And he goes to do... whatever it is priests do.] [Mini End!]