61 Days, Selene

Chapter 01 Selene POV “Let us pray against the storm of the night. May we not meet our death while we sleep.” Father Gabe asked us to pray. The chairs in the church weren’t empty. I looked around with the corner of my eyes. People’s eyes were closed, praying. Few of us were young, the others were actual adults. The lights in the church were fully turned on and I could see Father’s Gabe’s mouth moving but my thoughts were not there. I had no idea but my mind was just far away from the evening prayers we were having. In about twenty minutes, Father Gabe ended the prayer and I heaved a sigh of relief. “Thank God!” I packed my Bible and jotter into my tote bag before I stood up to leave. “Sister Selene.” That was Michael, Father Gabe’s second son. He was one of those who tried to make me fall in love with him by touching me in places I didn’t like. There was a time I reported him to his father but it got turned against me. Father Gabe vouched falsely for his son that he could never do such a thing. I was accused of seducing him instead so the next time he did it, I kneeled him in the balls and bit his fingers till it drew blood. I held my bag against my chest, “What do you want, Michael?” Michael was a handsome young man. He had some long straight black hair and brown eyes. “Be gentle, Selene. I’m not here to cause any harm.” “Fifteen more seconds, Michael. You have fifteen seconds and it has already started counting.” I turned to look at him. Michael stared at me, my boobs in particular. Well, I always have a little problem getting my entire boobs and ass in these nun clothes. I have complained about it so many times. The convent tailor tried to do something about it but nothing worked. “I just wanted to apologize.” Michael started. I rolled my eyes, “Nine seconds remaining.” He sighed, coming closer to me and I didn’t flinch. If anything happens, I will bite or kneel him again. “I’m really sorry for touching you. I should never have done it inappropriately. I’m sorry my father didn’t believe you too.” “You mean, why did your father believe his scumbag son? Your apology is not accepted.” I was beginning to get irritated so I started walking away. Michael pulled me back, my body slamming into his. “This time, I want to touch you appropriately.” He whispered, his hands tucked a strand of my hair backwards. “You irk me, Michael. Time is up!” I didn’t give him the chance. I left the church premises immediately. What disgusting behavior he has! My legs were already hurting in the baby shoe I was wearing. The tight dress was killing me too and I wanted to dip my hair into the cold bath. My hostel was silent. My best friend in the convent went home yesterday because her mother was ill so technically, I was the only one in here tonight. I pushed my door open and stepped in, removing my shoes after closing the door. I went straight into the bathroom, pulling off my clothes as quickly as possible. The bath was smooth as the cold water touched my body. I stepped out after some minutes and cleaned my body with my towel. The next thing I checked was my small phone. “Missed calls from Agnes. I have been skipping the club where I work as a stripper for some days now. Crazy right? Yes, that’s because I have no choice than to make money. Since I didn’t go to college, no company wants to accept me. “Tomorrow is going to be a busy day.” Yeah, that was because it is Father Gabe’s fourth anniversary. The fourth month he has been the convent’s father here and I wondered why they wanted to celebrate his fourth month. It sounded silly to me. I rubbed my night lotion on my body, slipped in some comfy joggers and jumped on the bed with my bare breasts. The bed was cold too, it seemed the temperature was a little bit too cold tonight. My eyes closed and I was drifting to sleep already while muttering a word of prayer. Suddenly, I heard a crashing sound. I sat up immediately, thinking it was in my hostel. It stopped and I didn’t hear anything again. I sighed, relaxing to my bed again. It could be one of those stupid cats that roamed around. “Burn you evil witches!” Madam Rose, the head of choirs would always scream in the middle of the night and it always made me laugh. While I was about to drift off to sleep again, I sat up. There were some noises. Something was off. These noises don’t normally occur, why tonight? What if someone was in trouble? “We can’t go out with our naked boobs now, can we? I reminded myself with a sarcastic tone. Quickly, I threw on a loose shirt. I opened my door slowly and went outside. The noise was coming from the chapel. Carefully, I tiptoed there, taking the back door which was already slightly open. It could be Michael f*****g one of the nuns again, who knows? It is what he does but he is the holiest of everyone else in his father’s presence. I wanted to turn back and go back to my room to have my peaceful sleep — “I told you I was going to find you, Father.” The voice stopped me. It was a little deep. The way the words rolled out, if it were seen, it could be laced with tiny pins that could stab one to death. It sounded — dangerous. I was very sure this person was referring to Father Gabe because there are no two people addressed like that here, except him. I could swear it, my mind was shouting at me to keep walking away and enter my hostel but — just a peep. My legs gave a u - turn and I found myself walking deeper into the chapel. “You think I wouldn’t find you eh, Gabriel?” The voice said menacingly again. Only a few people knew the Father’s real name as Gabriel. I stood behind the drums and my eyes finally caught them. These people were all dressed in black clothes. They seemed very natural except the one who was talking. Six men. The hair strands on my bare arms crawled when I saw this man collect a knife from one of the men. What are they doing here? What do they want? “I’m - I’m sorry!” Father Gabe was on his knees, begging with his quivering lips. My eyes went back to the powerful man that stood right in front of him. His other hand was in his pocket. I couldn’t see his face because his hair was covering the part of where I could see. “You ran away with my money. Two months, Gabriel. I gave you two months to pay back but you came to hide here instead, under your ‘holy Mary’ canopy eh?” The man said. Each word sent shivers down my spine. I was supposed to run, head back to my hostel, lock my door, sleep on my bed and wake up tomorrow morning like nothing happened but why would father Gabe owe these kinds of people money? It doesn’t make sense and where the hell is Michael? “I - I didn’t hide, I swear! I was going to pay you —“ Father Gabe pleaded but with the way this man paced around the small space in long strides, I didn’t think he was going to let Father go. That was my chance. I was supposed to go back, through the back door but still, I stayed. “Boss.” One of his men said. “We are drawing noise.” He added. The man who emitted cold aura threw a glance at him and rested his gaze back on Father Gabe. “I promise, I will pay you back very soon. I-I promise!” Father Gabe was probably sweating because he was shaking terribly. The man clicked his tongue, giving two sounds. “Very soon isn’t possible anymore, Gabriel.” Before I could realize what he was going to do, I heard a stuffing sound. This man — he just stuffed the knife into Father Gabe’s belly. My eyes traveled to the blood leaking to the floor. Father Gabe held the knife with his hands halfway, trying to resist the stab. “You shouldn’t have messed with me.” The man started twisting the knife in his stomach, pushing it harder. My hands flew to my mouth as I watched blood pour out from his stomach to the ground. “Father!” I mumbled against my palms. Father Gabe fell to the ground, lifeless but — the head — it was missing. I yelped unconsciously when I saw the head roll over, towards me. Father Gabe’s dead eyes were directly looking at me. “Oh my God! Father!” My eyes become watery in an instant. The man’s head snapped towards my direction, a brief flicker of our eyes meeting. Suddenly, some people started walking towards where I was. “Come out, now!” One of the men ordered and I snapped out of it immediately, my heart pounding in my chest. Father Gabe has been murdered in cold blood and I watched them do it. Immediately, I stood up to run, adrenaline rushing through me. I winced when my legs hit the bass drum, damnit! They raced after me, two or more men or it could even be that cold devil himself. I had no idea. The only thing I wanted to do was to get out there, out of the convent because I will die if I don’t.