Perfect

First Occurence

                                      UNKNOWN

"It is well known that nowadays no one belongs to nobody. The only savior seems to God and only God. He is the Protector, the Giver. No soul that resides in this world has come across another who does not believe in the Lord. Be it human or animal, we all bow to Him, the Almighty. And so this is what we fellow Catholics have learnt in this evening Mass. Before we end, I request all to light their candles, and pray. Pray heart fully."

And so the hundred and fifty people in the Roman Catholic Church did. Old and young, believers or not, each person followed the other and lit a scented candle and prayed. The Church illuminated with the hundreds of candles; the interior was obvious to the Roman style with huge, top to bottom filling were the drapes that were a copy of the Shroud of Turin. On the large altar sat the biggest Crucifix anyone in Seattle since 1853. It was founded by the Denny party, a courtesy of a Roman Catholic party marketing head and financer. During Christmas, the biggest festival globally, the Church distributed exclusive gifts to the members of it.

But someone knew; it was nothing but a marketing strategy.

Once the sermon had ended; people still hung around. To meet the priest and donate as much as they could for the well being of the Church. It was beyond coldness inside than outside despite the hundreds of candles. The night outside in the city had a rainstorm awating; the sky was a dark crimson with black smoking dense clouds. Further into Lake Washington, the lightning was much visible. People had begun going back to their homes in fear of slight destruction.

It was unfortunate what happened, and abrupt. No one noticed the drapes that caught hundreds of flickering flames until they turned into a large fireball and all the drapes, ceiling to floor were caught on flames. The public began shrieking just three seconds later and chaos was invited. People ran around; the walls became a dark grey with burnt pieces of the drapes dropping on anything or anyone that came under it. The wind howled and hauled the fire to all corners of the premises, including the altar; that was burning into ashes gradually.

Priests who were so prideful of the Crucifix were unaware of it suddenly and were each getting trapped into the maze of roaring flames and debris. All candles turned into a deep puddle of melted wax and unfulfilled rosaries.

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Midnight hours and the conflagration continued, the Church had collapsed into a large mess of ashes and bricks. The Fire brigade had been using tons of sand, fire extinguishing material to stop but nothing could lessen the fire nor the destruction. It was like a curse; that be struck everyone. It was a horrific sight for anyone that believed in Godly matter. News channels were all flashing the sensational episode of Seattle's beauty's death.

Moments later, arrived the only person who was the least expected at a Holy place. Alexander Deris who was now in a sleeveless black hoodie that put her left arm full of tattoos on full show. She was stunned by the way things were going on. Frank and her decided to check in with the police team about the casualties.

"Surprisingly, no one apart from two out of five founding families were killed. And even the priest." The Deputy muttered.

Alexander surveyed the scene; the fire certainly had come down a notch. But she noted a gleaming factor further past the debris. With no one really paying attention, she decided to march into the fire; dodging falling pieces of the roof; she walked to where the gleam was. It was the Crucifix. It was untouched by the fire.

Alexander climbed over the intact metal steps to the Crucifix and with little effort; she lifted the entire Cross and made her way out. Once she stepped out; that's when everyone noticed; it was only the Church that was meant to burn, not the Lord that resided within. Frank rushed immediately to help her rest the Crucifix down.

Fire brigaders and police officers; all witnessed the miraculous unburnt Cross and each remained perplexed and spellbound. Except for Alexander, who simply continued on, helping to douse the firestorm. Finally; after an hour and half had passed, the building fully collapsed with cloud of smoke. Everyone took a deep breath.

"You saved the Crucifix."

"Honestly Frank? I didn't even know what it was until I saw it. I just brought it out and all the Christians in the department bowed down to it and it clicked, I was carrying the Lord." Alexander chuckled and Frank shook his head.

"Never make fun of God."

Alexander wiped her hands, "On that note; I'm going for a walk."

She spun around, wore the hood over her and just turned past a fire brigade when she noted a figure standing aside a vehicle with the hands in the pockets; watching the commotion. She strolled towards the tall figure and stopped.

"Perfect." She noticed.

The young lad appeared the same as she had seen him before. He took a second to recover from his deep thoughts until he saw her and the boyish smile grew on his lips. Alexander walked to him.

"Hello."

"What are you doing here?"

He looked past her; at the debris and his smile fell, "To watch the fall."

Alexander too glanced at it, "Some great fall it was. In some way; I am glad. The people running this Church had already made a big scam out of dear Jesus. They used him as business."

The two began walking away from the scene. The cold was noticeable but Alexander strolled as if it was nothing.

"Why didn't anyone do anything about the sham then?" Perfect asked, an inch taller than the soldier.She huffed; letting out a glob of white.

"Do you think it's so so easy to walk into a Church and accuse? Or gather information about it when majority of the people in the department are Catholics themselves? It was only possible if I personally met God and he would help."

Perfect laughed.

Alexander decided to divert from the topic, "Where did you disappear to at the bistro?"

He hesitated, "Something had come up back at home. I had to leave suddenly, I apologize."

She waved it off, "The info you gave was genuine. Frank was grateful for the intel. They have almost found the missing girls."

"I am glad I was of some use. I had no idea you had tattoos." Perfect noticed; his eyes scanning her arm as they walked on. Alexander noticed the expression of distaste on his face and frowned.

"You don't like them?"

Perfect smiled, "In my Roman Catholic house, I grew up not liking them."

"Ah, how could I forget? Religion doesn't allow it."

"You're not religious?"

They passed a line of restaurants and galleries into the main streets, heading towards the Pike Place Market.

"I used to be. Now I am not on talking terms with Him." He watched how her mind drifted off somewhere else; he could almost estimate the sadness the radiated from those memories she had. As the wittiness faded and she became serious.

"He is responsible for something terrible He did to the person who loved Him the most."

"And now you hate Him."

"Not hate, but...dislike. Plus, in a world like this, it's better to be irreligious. Otherwise; you'll either be bombed or shot."

Perfect nodded and they walked further in silence. The silence was a welcome to Alexander's ears; she felt relieved after attending the strange destruction scene a few minutes ago. The screams echoed into a quieter tune of cars whooshing past. It was delightful moment; walking down the sidewalks in the cold, talking to a stranger.

Perfect stole glances of the woman beside him as they strolled. He was aware of her peacefulness as it radiated towards him as well. Her posture was not stiff but she was actually slouching, making herself smaller in the thick hoodie of hers. He had watched her all along while he was back there; how she casually walked into the firestorm and came back out; lifting a heavy idol. He was impressed.

The area changed and Perfect stopped.

"I need to reach home before my family realizes I sneaked out."

Alexander grinned, "I was about to tell you to shoo and there you said it. I see you roaming around at odd hours when we meet. Don't you have college or something to go to?"

He grinned, "I...am on vacation."

"Oh. So where have you come from?"

"Does it matter?"

She paused and shook her head, "Whatever. Go home before you get scolded."

Perfect began to walk backwards until he fully turned and turned into one of the alleys. Alexander took that as a sign and headed off to her direction.