Page 97 of Deck of Scarlets
Josh bolted upright, running at full speed, jumping off the dais. It took me a couple of seconds to catch up.
Collin knelt on the floor, Father Benedict shaking, foam spewing from his mouth. Panic clenched my stomach, but Josh kept his cool, arms spread, blocking any attempt to approach the scene.
“He’s seizing! He needs help!” I tried to get past Josh, only to get knocked back by his arm.
He shook his head. “No! Don’t touch him. Let him finish.”
“What the fuck?” I gasped, pushing against his back. “Josh, he could die!”
Collin stayed mute, watching in horror from the floor less than a few feet from where Father lost control.
“He’s a Seer. It’s a vision,” explained Josh.
What the…?
Eventually, Father stopped shaking. The foam from his mouth dried, and he lay face up, eyes bloodshot red, soiled from head to toe.
Josh leveled Father’s head on his lap. “Someone get a towel.”
Collin, finally coming to, rushed out of the way, only to return moments later with several clean towels. I watched, dismayed by what had taken place.
Josh dabbed his face gently, soaking most of the wetness up from the towel, Father Benedict’s stark complexion began to return with color. “M—”
Josh hushed him. “Not yet. Wait until everything passes.”
Judging by how Josh handled the situation, it seemed to be a recurring event. “Is he okay?”
“Yeah, he’s going to be all right.” Relief washed away my worry, giving me the courage to join them on the floor, helping cradle Father’s head.
“What’s a Seer?” I asked, brushing back some of his gray hair.
“They receive visions of future events. It’s an intuitive power.” Father opened his eyes again, staring at the both of us. “Not all visions are bad. Some, like the one you just witnessed, happen rarely, and unfortunately, it was one of those times.”
Father Benedict’s color had fully returned, the bloodshot appearance barely noticeable. “Hello, Remi.”
Taken aback by his nonchalant response, he waved us away, sitting up, his robes clean and wrinkle-free. “I’m sorry you had to see that. Sometimes they come on without warning.”
“Father, I tried to catch you, but—”
“Collin, it’s okay.” Father smiled, making sure Collin understood he did nothing wrong.
Josh started. “The vision…”
“More like a prophecy.” Father Benedict requested aid to help lift him to his feet. Testing his balance, he shooed us off, fixing the sleeves of his white robe, then he cleared his throat and quoted the prophecy verbatim.
A dying light, forever in the night
He comes, bearing sorrows
The Shephard and the lamb
Lost in the shadows
She who wields, the rest shall follow
“What does it mean?” questioned Josh.
Father moved around the room, time ticking by until he stepped up to the dais. “It’s time we pay a visit to Father Abraham.”