A Stand Off in Isolation

Their guests had grown more restless with the news.

Yet comforted by the priests own shared experience with the police.

The first day they had all kept huddled inside, peeking out to take note of the continued police presence along the street, as the day dragged on slowly Theo and Fred crept from the building to explore the ravine edge and rear of the property with hopes of finding a way for their patrons to sneak away.

They however were met by wild animalistic sounds, disturbingly entwined with human like sounds of pleasure. At one point Fred cast a rock as far as he could into the gulch, a large bird like form disappearing skyward while lupine forms rushed where it landed, remaining mostly unseen amongst the sappling undergrowth.

Gregory had proven invaluable. Already he had divided the food into rations, Theo and Fred had learned how Gregory had been involved in the fighting in Yugoslavia in the late eighties as a young man. He shared tales of the roaming gypsies that they often encountered, and the cloud of paranoia and suspicion of just what ancient and dark powers those gypsies might have been tainted by.

As the first day ended the tension amongst the people who had escaped the hotel had eased.

Blair, who had owned the car that had been crashed was in her 40’s and only 5’ tall. Her body was rather plain to look at, even more so after she switched from her torn dress to a set of fuzzy pajamas she happened to have in an overnight bag in the car. She often broke into sobs when ever the topic of what had brought people to the damned wedding.

Felix who had been lumped in with them was a full time receptionist in her late 20's who liked to travel. Her dark brown hair was streaked with platinum, her short dress had been traded for an oversized pair of pants,. Their legs rolled up on her shins, their waist scrunched where it had belt loops tied together to hang it off her hips, something unseen as the new outfit was topped with a button up shirt that draped down from her shoulders.

Podrick was an Irish bloke who had only been in country a few months working. He had been looking forward to returning home and attending University in a few weeks. Something that he talked about with adamant intent.

And then there was Irene. Gregory initially had eyed her with great suspicion, spending most of the day watching her. The red head remained in her emerald green dress through the day, her story was she’d accidentally had too much to drink, and must’ve passed out on her way to her car looking to foolishly get home to catch a flight she was supposed to be on this morning.

She denied they had hit her as hard as they had, before they dragged her into the car in a panic to get away.

As the first night fortified in the church set in its occupants set to rest their weary souls. The sounds of fucking outside growing louder, and caring farther on the night aire from beyond the property line. Reminding them of their prison as they each gave in to eventual exhaustion.

As the next day dawned the occupants of the church were almost eager to spend what daylight they could outside. It seemed the church ground held the demons at bay, the closest they’d come being an occasional fly over Gregory claimed to have seen while keeping watch during the night.

It was shaping up to be another day of watching each other across the line. The faux cops pacing back and forth in their figure hugging uniforms. The occasional rustle of trees and brush beyond the property line in the ravine.

That was, until something new started going on in the street. Something unexpected and inexplicable, distracting from impending debates about food, or course of action to take. The slowly brewing anxiety of their internment on the holy ground.

Several tables with chairs were being set out in the street, white vans soon pulling up and laying out trays upon one.

Theo and Fred watched curiously as the actions made them think of many a catered event being set up.

That is, until the luxury SUV pulled up. The driver side door opened allowing a slim looking female driver in a suit to step out before opening the rear door with all the practice of a professional driver. As a lone man in a business suit emerged from the held open door he waved at the gathered audience of the church before taking a seat.

“What do you thi…” Fred’s words stopped as he felt even greater fear and anxiety than that which had settled within him after the revelation of the demon gone incendiary in the early hours. “I thought they couldn’t step foot here.”

“Apparently we were presumptuous.” Theo calmly replied with a deep breath. “Let’s get inside.” Theo felt saddened, hoping that at least the outdoor grounds could provide some break from the prospects of being boarded up in the gilded cage of the house of worship.

“WAIT! EXCUSE ME!” The driver’s voice shouted causing a pause by Theo as he neared the lone front door they had decided to unlock, he turned and watched disapprovingly as the young woman ran up.

“GO AWAY! THIS IS NO PLACE FOR YOUR KIND!” Theo regretted the out burst the moment he turned and shouted the words, questioning how he hadn’t realized the swelling anger he had been feeling at the situation.

“Is it not?” The somber, hurt filled response broke the stubborn resolve Theo was feeling as Fred tried to guide him to turn around and re-enter the church. “My name is Gale. My mother was Roman Catholic. My father Anglican. I have a degree in Historical Theology.”

“One does not speak with Devils.” Theo uttered aimlessly shaking his head.

“Father, can I confess something?” Theo questioned why he was even listening, that is until he heard the request.

Biting his tongue Theo managed a gentle nod, glancing to Fred to see that he too seemed caught off guard by the request.

A call to duty they were sworn to fulfill.

“I had lost my faith. When I was 8 my mother died of cancer. Despite my father’s best efforts I lost faith, gradually turning to dissecting it and its history and pageantry for some glimpse at why we even grasp at faith and religion.” Gale looked up holding a clasped hand over her chest. “Then I met the demon's in the library. An encounter that has brought revelation to not just my studies but my beliefs.”

“Well may you find salvation in God’s arms.” Theo tried to curb the bitter tone to his words but felt he failed as they rolled from his lips.

“They want to speak with you father Theo.” Gale added with a tone or urgency.

“Why should I speak with them?” Theo replied disdainfully.

“Because even Jesus Christ hears out the devil?” Gale offered provoking a chuckle from Theo. “And he offers to out the wolf amidst your flock.”