The Remains are Examined

“How did this happen?”

Theo wasn’t sure who had asked the question when he arrived, but it was clear he wasn’t the only one shocked and dismayed by the find.

True to his word that man, whatever he was had outed the evil that was somehow in their midst in the house of worship. As Fred and he met knowing gazes Theo tapped Matthew on the shoulder. “Guide our guests away from this sight, Fred and I will go speak with them about this shortly.”

As Matthew struggled to remove the guests in the church from the room Gregory stared him down, a scowl upon his face, the defiance that had made him feel jubilant in this fox hole sapped by the very real prospect that this place in fact wasn’t the sanctuary it should be.

“I don’t go. I’ve lived through war, poverty, strife. I don’t close my eyes to nearing ****.” Gregory grunted as Matthew finally tried to guide him from the room.

“Just leave him, see that the rest of our guests are coping fine. Maybe put them to work on dinner.” Theo instructed Matthew, who frowned and exhaled heavily before leaving. He himself growing fed up with being in the dark.

“So true to that promise.” Fred remarked, his voice seeming unusually cheerful considering the grim circumstance. “So how did they get here?”

“FACK! Churches supposed to be safe from eval.” Gregory cursed and grunted, his accent thick in his anxiety.

“Why didn’t he react to being here sooner?” Fred asked, his face turning stern as he looked towards Theo inherently sensing his peer had gathered some insight from the way he had entered the room.

“His soul belonged to another.” Theo remarked, humming nervously in thought as he tapped a finger on his lip, "he was protected until it was collected."

“Pardon?” Fred asked, only to be interrupted by an angry rambling tirade.

“He no fuck with them. Didn’t know ‘im but he was near my table most of night. Avoided bar, think someone said he feared drink.” Gregory grunted, remembering the kid fleeing the room just ahead of him, dodging the grabbing outreach of those already fallen, and those drowning in the debauchery that had flooded the reception. Distress and anxiety building up within him.

“Something that was said to me.” Theo remarked looking toward Fred, with only the slightest glance towards Gregory. “That man , well if he is one. He talked as if he were some religious leader. Wanted to discuss theology.”

Fred frowned.

“What de fuck does dat mean?” Gregory asked in a loud seemingly angry tone, more a result of his sudden insecurity than actually anger.

“It means its more complicated than a simple bible versus evil. We need to find out the faiths of those left, perform appropriate confessions… Stop rationing the food, we need people feeling safe and secure. Can’t have them stressing or doubting.” Theo began to ramble on, leaving the room Fred and Gregory exchanging perplexed glances as they followed Theo through to the church offices, and the library of interfaith books and memos assembled there.

“Food won’t last.” Gregory grunted, to which Theo seemed to have an almost jubilant smile in response.

“It was made clear, they don’t want us suffering. They don’t want us dead. There’s a table out there filled with a buffet.” Theo remarked point towards a wall, “Obviously we will have to sanctify it before eating. But I’m confident there will be another tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” Fred asked with obvious unease.

“Yes, it seems our friend is looking for some good conversation. They want to meet again.” Theo replied piling assorted Catholic, Christian, Islamic, and Jewish texts on the table.

“You can’t be serious.” Fred responded incredulously, Gregory crossing his arms.

“Our priority has to be to buy us time to figure a way out or be rescued. Each day they deliver food for a little chat we win.” Theo remarked, flipping open one of the books and exhaling, suddenly concerned he didn’t know if Jewish people had a confession like ceremony for absolution.

“Go find out what faiths we have, then help me study to absolve their sins.” Theo instructed Fred, before turning to Gregory. “What religion do you follow?”

Gregory grunted, he hadn’t thought about faith in longer than he could remember. Sure he prayed to God abstractly through out the war he survived, through emigrating far from anything that could remind him of those haunting conflicts, but in terms of religion and faith…

Well he did remember going to mass with his mother as a child. He just didn’t remember exactly which creed it was they followed. Grunting Gregory exhaled heavily. “Catholic.”

Turning and walking away Fred looked back over his shoulder, shaking his head at what he hoped this wasn’t a futile exercise.