Page 53 of Drowned In Silence
Elliot’s shoulders roll back as he stands up straight and slips his mask down onto his face. Before I can reach for mine, he lets go of my hand and reaches up to touch my lips. He rolls his thumb over my mouth, pulling my lip down before letting go and sliding my mask into place.
He nods at his brother before Spencer puts his mask on. It’s just plain black for now, but if he wants to continue with this life then he will figure out his own niche idea later.
We walk in tandem, side by side, up the front steps and into the front door.
The door squeaks on its hinges, echoing into the eerie quiet of the church. The pews in the hall are all empty, looking macabre in the darkness. The hair on my arms and the back of my neck stand on end when we hear some sort of talking from behind the Altar. There is a hidden door that is partially open on the far side of the church, the voices coming from within it.
“Shhh,” Elliot whispers as he slowly steps forward. We all follow suit, being careful where we step and trying not to make a sound.
The whispers sound ethereal– almost haunting as we get closer.
There are multiple voices whispering and repeating the same words over and over again until everything stops.
We halt mid-step and I look to Elliot for direction. His hand goes up to his mask, his finger motioning to stay silent. He creeps forward and we follow until we reach the two steps up to the altar. That’s when I hear it.
“A man or woman who is without God is not a man at all. Those who do not follow shall go to Hell and live in misery for all of eternity. A sacrifice of ourselves is needed to fulfillour destinies as we continue our journey on Earth,” his voice says.
I don’t get it. What is he doing?
I’ve never heard my father talk about sacrifices and shit. He’s always talked about how there is only one God, and how we need to follow the commandments Moses wrote to save us. Why is he now talking about going against commandments?
Once again I look at Elliot, but he is staring at Spencer with narrowed eyes. Something about the way he stares at him sets me on edge. With his eyes showing through the mask, it's truly scary. I’ve never seen this look from him and it makes goosebumps cover my skin. Like maybe we should be fighting Spencer instead of my Father.
None of this is right. I’m so confused.
Why is my Father saying these weird things? Who are the other voices in that room? Why are Spencer and Elliot having a stare off? What am I fucking missing?
“Elliot?” I whisper in question as quietly as possible.
His head snaps to me as the voice inside the room stops talking.
“Go see what that was Ernest,” my father tells someone.
Elliot’s eyes open wide at the same time Spencers do.
Ernest.
The slightly open door behind the Altar squeaks open in slow motion.
Everything freezes in time when the door opens and reveals who is behind it.
“Dad?” Elliot and Spencer say at the same exact time.
I can’t tell, but if I could see Elliot’s face right now I know it would be as pale as a ghost. Spencer takes off his mask and almost drops his axe.
“What the fuck?” Spencer asks breathlessly. “What’s going on?”
“You shouldn’t be here, boys. Go. Go now and I’ll explain everything later. Go on! Get out of here,” Ernest tells them quietly.
When he takes a step forward, the moonlight from the stained window lights up his chest and I throw my hand over my mouth in surprise.
Blackish splatter coats the front of him and I instantly know it’s blood.
What the fuck is going on?
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Dynah - Flashback