Rick walked the long walk back to the church’s doors, large and looming, being like a father reaching his arms out for a hug. He wasn’t close yet, but he was walking with light feet and fast steps, as if walking on air itself. Moving with such swiftness that a running wolf would feel shamed.

Rick’s mind dead set on getting back, getting back to the church of charity. His task had failed, replaced by the desire for safety. The outside being as bad as he had feared, maybe even worse. His beacon of safety, his net of protection, his wall of defence now the only thing that could calm Rick.

So he moved quickly, swiftly and with haste, big wide steps, running but not quite. Around corners and buildings, avoiding the main street, afraid of what he might stumble upon. Casting glances left and right. Each person passing by being a possible threat, each shadow a possible enemy, each movement a possible monster.

Rick moved with such care, such attentiveness to his environment, that a prowling dragon would feel envious. Yet, his attentiveness, his skittishness was only for those of the same size as him. Those that would and could meet his eyes. He did not stop to consider those of small size. Those in the size of children.

So when he suddenly turned a corner and stumbled into one of these small people, he fell back with a soundless shriek, flailing his arm in a wild panic, quite shamefully. The other little human did the same. The two falling back on rumps wetted by newly crushed snow. The two blinking away their fears, the two staring at one another, the two going wide eyed, the two realizing who the other was. Rick staring at the owl girl, the owl girl staring at the weird man.

They sat like that for an eternity, for mere seconds. Rick feeling his heart hammer away like arrows smattering against shields. The girl’s heart doing the same, but for another reason. Rick blinked, the girl blinked. Rick felt his heart ease, the girl’s hammering harder. Crunches of wetted snow echoed out from somewhere behind the little girl. The little girl freezing at the sound, not from the cold.

Rick looked on, not seeing her, not realizing she froze as he breathed out in relief, closing his eyes momentarily, trying to calm his beating heart. Then suddenly a weight fell upon his chest, clinging around and holding onto his back. He opened his eyes in alarm, seeing the black hair of a child’s head, the little girl's head. He blinked, then saw something turn the corner further away. Looking up, he saw Noah breathing heavily.

Noah and Rick stared at one another, Rick blinking in surprise, Noah did the same. Rick blinked, blinked and blinked one more time. For as he looked at Noah, he felt great confusion. Noah did not look like he usually did. Rick had only ever seen him calm, no matter the request or matter dealt with. But as Rick now stared at Noah, he saw ragged hair, ragged breathing, raggedly holding onto the wall with ragged eyes. Eyes that spoke of mild panic, searching both Rick and the girl latched onto him.

Seeing that, Rick looked down again, down at the owl girl, feeling her shivering lightly. He looked up again and saw Noah closing his eyes, breathing in and out. A technique Rick never quite learned. As the breathing stopped, Noah took a few calm steps forwards, his calm returned as if nothing had happened. Yet, within his eyes, Rick saw the mild panic brewing, ready to surface at a moment’s notice.

“Ah, it’s only you. I was scared that a stranger had tried to kidnap our little Abigail. Seeing you calmed my aching heart immediately.”

Noah stated, quite calmly, confidently. His steps growing ever closer. The girl, the owl girl, Abigail, freezing up at the voice. Rick blinked, feeling his heart ease at Noah’s return, as Noah meant church and church meant safety. But his body felt alarmed, taught as if ready to spring into action. A blend of emotions fighting each other within Rick’s body, cumulating in a weird feeling that Rick couldn’t place. Noah kept on talking, seemingly not aware of Rick’s blending emotions.

“You see, Abigail was a little naughty earlier and ran off. Spooked me some mighty, especially considering the rumours regarding the monster in the woods, snatching people at night. What would I do if that monster got our little Abigail?”

Noah said, coming closer. Each step crunchy and firm. A smile playing on his lips, reaching for his eyes, eyes that still held slight panic. Rick blinked as he watched, then felt the girl, felt Abigail hugging him a little closer. Noah moving closer, being very close. He never stopped talking, speaking words that came from one ear and left through the next. Rick blinking, trying to decipher his own feelings.

Then Noah was suddenly within arms-reach and reached for Abigail. Rick moved, moved the owl girl behind himself, his neck stretching to keep Noah within his gaze. Rick blinked, mind still away in distant lands, away in lands called thinking, body moving without his permission. Noah blinked too, his talking faltering to silence, staring at Rick with his smile twitching. Panic in his eyes brewing brighter, like embers next to a pile of leaves. As the seconds stretched on and awkwardness replacing it, he spoke up.

“Aa-Aah I see. Poor little Abigail, I didn’t mean to be so rough. My dear gentleman, she’s just a little spooked, don’t mind her. Sometimes one has to be rough to teach, but alas I was a tad bit rough wasn’t I? I’m so sorry my dear little Abigail. Let’s go back to church and I’ll cook up a nice and warm cup of coco.”

Noah spoke eloquently, his smile coming back, calm. But his eyes, his eyes shone like beacons begging for help. Rick was entranced, captivated by those eyes. Noah reached out again, out towards the owl girl, towards Abigail. Abigail hugging Rick as if holding the only rope tethering one to a rock, swinging above a canyon. Once again, Rick moved her away from Noah. Wondering why he did that. Noah pausing yet again, this time his smile faded away. His eyes filled with panic, replaced by a moment of anger.

Moment came and passed like the wind, replaced by the same calming smile. But Rick had noticed, and he had tuckered the information away in his head, grabbing Abigail a little tighter. Noah straightened his back, towering over them like trees in the woods. Like castles in the meadow. Rick had to blink to see him through the bright sky above.

“Now this is a predicament. I see she’s already told you. Well, at least you two can follow me back to the church and I’ll be able too properly explain my actions. And after that, I hope both of you can forgive me. Doesn’t that sound like a decent idea?”

He stated smiling. A smile that usually brought warmth, now suspicion. Rick kept silent, still in a bowl of weird emotions in his head. Yet somehow, managed to puzzle out Noah’s words, searching for bad intent within them. Rick narrowed his eyes, then nodded slowly, not finding any. Noah brightening at his nod, seeming to smile for real, easing Rick’s somewhat scared heart.

That smile, that was the smile he knew. Rick didn’t know what had happened, even if Noah thought so, but he liked to believe that it was a simple mistake. Though, he couldn’t shake the suspicion that there were something else at play. For a girl, a little girl, wouldn’t shake so much if that wasn’t the case.

Rick started gently rubbing at the back of the owl girls head, the head of Abigail. Feeling her releasing her tight grip around him, feeling her stop shivering, feeling her move slowly away. It took some time, Rick feeling his bum wettening, moist as if splashed with a bucket of water.

Eventually, the girl moved away from her embrace, looking up at Rick with red eyes. Rick nodded at her, trying a calming smile, ending like a man trying to force a fart. Abigail smiled never-the-less. She then turned back and up, looking at Noah who smiled brightly down at her.

Rick started standing up, Abigail doing the same. As he stood, she grabbed his arm, moving so that he stood between her and Noah. Rick looking up at Noah with a weird feeling, Noah looking at him with a smile. Noah gesturing his arm forwards, gesturing for Rick and Abigail to move first. Rick nodding, glancing at Abigail, Abigail glancing at him. He knew not what she was thinking, nor what she could have done. But he felt, he felt as if, as if he couldn’t leave her.

The trio moved towards the church of charity. Abigail holding onto Rick’s arm. Noah behind them and Rick with his thoughts in the clouds. For he was pondering, thinking, guessing on what could have happened. Rick knew Noah to be kind and calm, charitable and friendly. Rick had never seen him do a bad thing during his short stay in the church. For what reason could Noah have felt the need to “be rough” with Abigail? It felt so unnatural, so stiff, so not like Noah.

The same goes for his expressions, those expressions felt so fake, so unlike Noah. It both alarmed and spooked Rick. But with each passing step, each step getting closer to the church. Rick started to calm. Yes, he calmed. For he realized that this all to be a big mistake. The girl probably doing something childishly stupid, a childishly stupid mistake that led to Noah punishing her. A punishment that made her sad and run. Like a kid cursing their parent for getting grounded, like a kid promising to never return home after not getting their present. Yes, this was all just a big mistake.

But yet, it didn’t sit right with Rick. For during Rick’s stay, during his time in the church of charity, he’d come to see the owl girl, see Abigail not being like the other kids. And therefore, she should not react like the other kids.

No matter what Rick thought or believed, he’d learn the truth soon. As soon as he was inside the safety of the church, inside warmth and comfort. Inside of there, he’d learn the truth. And then Noah would apologise, and then Abigail would forgive, and then there would be peace. A peace that might be awkward at first, but with time, it would heal and become like it always was. Rick knew, for he’d always learnt to forgive those guards who’d hurt him. Learnt that harboring hate would bring nothing but awkward stares and a troubled mind.

The trio made it to the front of the churches looming doors, staring down at them as if pondering if they should let them in or not. Rick stopped, glanced back at Noah, met with a smile and a gesture forward. Rick nodded and opened the doors. Doors opening and wind blasting from behind, cold and frosty, pushing them inside. Inside, Rick saw naught but a few patrons, sitting at random benches, deep in thought. No kids in sight. The wind ebbed back into nothing, Rick knowing it to be Noah closing the doors behind him. Rick turned around, Abigail making sure to keep Rick between her and Noah. Noah clearing his throat as he spoke up.

“Let’s go somewhere a little more private. My private room will suffice I hope?”

Noah said, taking the initiative and moving in front of Rick and Abigail. Taking long strides as he walked through the church. Rick glancing down at Abigail, Abigail staring forwards, taking a tighter grip around Rick’s arm. Rick started ruffling her hair, forcing her gaze upwards too meet his. Rick’s expression one of mischief and calm, making Abigail pout in mild annoyance, her beating heart beating slower.

As they moved through the church, Rick turned towards his corner, his corner for carving, one brow raising above the other at the sight. For it stood empty, empty of anything. His many statues, gone. His little alter for the statues, gone. The many wooden chips and planks, gone. It was as if nothing had been there, empty like an abandoned house. Rick stared at it as they moved, brought away from thoughts as Abigail clenched at his arm a little tighter.

Looking forwards, Noah was standing in front of a door, holding it open, gesturing for them to move in. Rick nodded with Abigail just behind him. Inside was not but a corridor, simple in design, sparse in things with little of note to speak of. At the end stood a slightly agape door, light reaching out like the horizon being greeted by the sun.

An audible click emanated from behind Rick. Rick turned back to see what it was, only to see Noah smiling at him. A small light licking Noah’s palm. A strange light, subdued somehow, feeling like, silence. The light felt nostalgic, tugging at a memory he thought crushed. But his dwelling thought’s were tossed aside as the light ebbed away and Noah gestured for them to move forward.

Rick did, turning back towards the corridor, looking at the light at the end. Like the light at the end of a tunnel. Each step bouncing around the empty corridor, stone steps as loud as any bird in the forest, like a wolf at full moon, like a monster at night. As they came closer to the lit door, he noticed a second door, a door closer to the middle of the corridor leading somewhere to their right. Rick looked at it, closed in on it, and took a step beyond it. But as he did, Noah spoke up.

“Not over there, I was thinking here.”

Making Rick turn back, seeing Noah pointing at the closed door. Rick nodded and moved to open it. But was stopped, stopped by a sudden hard tug, a tug that brought his attention down on Abigail. As his attention turned down, he saw sheer panic, panic bordering on shock. Rick froze at the sight. Staring at her. Seeing her stare at the door. His heart skipped a beat, Abigails heart did the same. Her breathing increased, Rick’s did too. Both staring, both panicked, one growing increasingly panicked, one already on the brink of a panic attack. Rick turned up, up to see Noah. His eyes growing large as he did.

For what Rick saw, was the same panic in Noah’s eyes as he’d seen hidden earlier, now clearly expressed on his face, entire posture, entire being. One hand hidden inside his coat, the other to the side, looking as if ready to jump a wounded dog. Rick took a step back, pushing Abigail behind him. The move seemingly startling Noah as he himself took a step back. He turned his head up, Rick and Noah meeting eyes, staring at one another. The first to speak being Noah.

“It’s not my fault! That blasted mother fucker came from nowhere! And she wouldn’t listen. Why didn’t you listen? You’ve always listened! Now you’ve ruined me! It’s too late now, it’s too late.”

He said with a manic voice, panicked. Stuttering with spittle flying out. His hand, once hidden, revealed a dagger. Rick felt his eyes drawn to it, time slowing down like flowers in bloom. He stared at it, took it in, saw every little detail. The hilt hidden in a grip tight enough to turn white. The blade long enough to easily slice a piece of meat. Looking sharper than the point of an arrow. Rune of unknown purpose on it, filled to the brim with words or numbers.

Rick stared while he pushed Abigail even further behind himself. Noah seemed to get a glimmer of calm back at Rick’s move, a glimmer that made him take a step forward.

“Please, just go into the room. Please. I don’t wanna kill you. I really don’t wanna kill you.”

Rick kept staring at the dagger, staring as he peddled backwards. His mind racing through million of thoughts a second, time not moving yet moving too fast. Eyes soaking up every detail like a sponge in water. His next step back bumped into something. He glanced to see what, seeing that they were standing by the lit door, slightly agape. With a firm push, he urged Abigail inside and turned back towards Noah. Noah being awfully close, his face glistening from the sweat forming. Face slightly shadowed by the sparse light coming from the door blocked by Rick’s body.

Rick saw Noah freeze, his hand holding the dagger stretched forward as if holding a smelly piece of garbage. The next second, his eyes shot opened, diving forwards with no warning. Rick’s body reacted for him, diving to his left, out of the way from the deadly knife. But the tight corridor wasn’t big enough for that, and the knife sunk into the side of his stomach.

An explosion of sharp pain took his breath away. The momentum brought the two crashing back into the door then into the room. Noah fell face first, Rick with his back facing the ground. As they hit, another painfull explosion echoed out, reverberating within Rick’s very being, vibrations of varm pain working its way out from his stomach.

Rick gasped for air, opening and closing like fish out of water. Noah pushed himself up, looking slightly dazed. Rick saw movement somewhere above him. Glancing up, he saw a terrified Abigail, looking at him with eyes he’d once seen before, eyes he’d seen on a terrified little boy. Rick then saw movement to his left, seeing Noah shaking his head. Noah quickly looked to his right then left, stopping as he spotted Rick.

His eyes travelled down his body until it stopped on the knife imbedded in his stomach. He dove for it, and Rick felt his arms shoot forward. They grabbed onto Noah’s shoulders, pushing weakly against him as Noah reached for the knife. The two in a struggle that made veins pop in each’s forehead. But as Rick already lacked the air necessary to fight, pain also being a hindrance, Noah won in mere seconds. His arm diving painfully hard into his already weakened stomach, grabbing a hold of the knife.

The next second, a new pain ebbed out from the knife, as if someone had dipped Rick into a pool of hot lava and started using needles to wake him up. The pain electrifying, making every muscle in his body lock up, spasm and tighten. His eyes feeling as if ready to pop out from their eye-sockets. The sound of blood rushing from the inside of his ear. His teeth clenching so hard that blood started trickling. The pain so devastating, so overwhelming, that he could do naught but focus on it. Still, even through the pain, through the sound of blood rushing through his ears, he could hear a scream. A little girls scream, a scream that would scare any guard at night and make any monster scream in delight.

Rick stared, stared with his wide-opened eyes, pain lacing throughout his entire body. He stared up and searched for the scream. Seeing the little girl staring out at something above him, pushing herself into a corner with her mouth wide open. In the next moment, Noah entered his field of vision, walking up towards the girl. Her scream growing louder and louder, growing muffled as Noah struggled with her. The girl struggling in his grip, kicking and clawing. Noah staring down at Rick as he moved above him, above and beyond.

Then it turned quiet. Eerily quiet. The blood still gushing in Rick’s ears, his body still taught, still in pain. But the pain slowly started easing, easing into small twitches instead, into small bursts of pain. His body leaking like a punctured barrel. Leaking with salty water, and thick red water. He was so tired, his body feeling as if having run for an entire day, an entire week. As if doing not but using every muscle for an entire month.

Noah suddenly came back into the room. Rick tried to move, tried to put up a fight. But his body was unwilling, unmoving. Noah staring down at him with sweat falling down like rain on a dark day. His eyes bloodshot and wide, his cloth tattered on the arms, small marks of red drawn upon them. He stood above Rick, Rick staring at him with bulging and heavy eyes, unwilling to close them.

“I wouldn’t have to do this if you’d just listen. If she’d just listen. You have to listen, you have to listen, okay? You hear me? If-if you don’t, you’ll- you’ll die. Okay? Okay!?”

Noah stammered out as he bent down, grabbing Rick by the shoulders. Pulling him out into the corridor, dragging him towards the middle door. All the while muttering underneath his breath, eyes darting from side to side. Breathing down on Rick’s face, smelling of old meat. Sweat dripping down on his face, sweat being both his own and not.

Noah opened the door and took a firmer grip around Rick’s shoulders. Rick feeling himself dragged down a pair of steps. A stairway rounded and dark. Rick kept trying to fight, kept trying to move, and kept pushing and pulling. But his body didn’t listen, it was gone, away, swept by the currents of exhaustion.

Then a light somewhere behind Rick breached around Noah’s back. He turned his eyes to look, seeing himself being moved into an opened room. He looked to the other side and saw one corner of the room filled with his statues. Rick didn’t dwell on it, instead continued searching the room with his eyes, searching the parts visible. Seeing nothing but his statues. This part of the room empty of anything.

Suddenly, Noah let go of him and he fell limply onto the ground. Noah panting heavily. Rick using the opportunity to gaze up. Seeing the little girl, seeing Abigail chained up. Her eyes closed, her mouth open, body slumped back onto the dark wall.

Rick stared at her, stared at her little body, her face already swelling from a presumed blow. Rick stared at her, feeling his heart twist and turn. His already weakened heart doing its absolute best to hurt him. Rick stared at her, and felt his world crumbling away. Rick stared, and stared, and stared. He stared as Noah chained him up. He stared as Noah tried to talk to him. He stared as Noah pulled the knife out and bandaged his wounds. He stared as Noah walked away.

Rick only stopped staring as the weight of his eyes overcame the weight of his heart. Sleep embracing him like a monster in the dark.