The Holy Quest

It shone brightly under the blistering sun, it’s gold reflection searing through space. It sat regally on a bouqueted altar, with rose flowers wrapped cozily around its base. Its lid had a cross engraved on it with a tip that aligned with the sun’s focal rays, shooting back a thin beam of light into the sky. Standing right behind the Golden Chalice was a short old man in red Chasuble with full white beards and long white hairs that billowed with the gentle breeze around him. He bowed towards the chalice and stood erect in a praying stance, his hands lifted to the heavens as he said his prayers to God - or so Kelvin thought. He moved closer to the old priest out of curiousity to make out the words he was muttering. More importantly was the chalice on the altar. He had never seen the chalice before but somehow he recognized it. And he wanted it for himself at that moment. But he had to be careful with his approach. The old priest was no ordinary priest, at least his hairs prove that. The hairs shone of their own accord. Kelvin finally got right in front of the altar. It was not just roses all through. To his surprise, the roses hid the thorns which clung to the base of the chalice. Termites hustled around crumbs of sacramental bread. “At the time he was betrayed and entered willingly into his passion, He took Bread. And giving thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples saying: ‘Take this all of you and eat of it. For this is my body which shall be given up for you.” He raised the host to the sky. At that moment, the sky dimmed gradually. Looking up, Kelvin saw that the sun was getting sucked into the chalice by the tips of the cross lid. The entire place went pitch dark that he couldn’t see anything behind or beyond him save for the old priest emboldened by his glittering hairs. His eyes were still closed as he took the chalice and muttered again to himself. “In a similar way when the Supper was ended, he took the chalice and also giving thanks, he gave the cup to his disciples saying: take this and drink from it. For this is the Chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant. It will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins and for the washing away of pestilences…” Kelvin was taken aback by the sudden twist in the liturgical prayers. But he didn’t bother much. Everything looked unreal at that moment. “Take it.” The priest said, barely opening his eyes. Kelvin wasn’t sure who the priest was talking to so he just stood with his mouth wide agape. “Take it I said.” He insisted, his voice a little harsh this time. “Urghh.” Still unsure, he stretched his hands to receive the chalice. His touch with the chalice produced a resounding thunderstrike. Kelvin felt his knees wobble and he had to struggle to keep straight and prevent the cup from falling over and spilling the wine content. “What should I do with this?” He asked. “Don’t you ever listen?” “What?” “Take this and drink from it. For this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant. It will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins and for the washing away of pestilences. The herald of my return, the birth of a world anew…” Kelvin was totally confused. Removing the lid and peering inside, there was no wine inside but blood. Dark-Red Blood. Kelvin coughed out in disgust, almost spilling his bowels out. “But,” He could barely contain himself, “this is blood. How am I…?” This time the old priest opened his eyes. His eyes shone as much as his hairs and there was no pupil in it. Kelvin felt like he was in the middle of a horror movie. He backed away in fright. “Take this and drink from it!!! For this is the chalice of my blood…!!!” The priest screamed in fury. The bang in his statement jarred Kelvin back to life. To his relief, it was still daylight and there he was right in front of his house. “Oh God!” He muttered to himself. “f*****g Somnambulism.” He remembered the chalice and immediately checked his hands. There was no chalice this time, but a mail letter wrapped with a golden envelope. It was stamped with the image of a chalice with the tag: “The Quest.” Tearing the envelope open, he pulled out a white paper with golden letters engraved on it. It read: "Hurry before 5:55pm." This was followed by an address to a seaport about an hour drive away from his location. He understood this to be an adventure. Where, he didn't know. But this sort of Hollywood-esque renderings always leave him salivating for action. He had been in dangerous situations before. The current world situation had deprived him of adrenaline. He checked his wrist to find out how much time he had left. The watch said: "3:33pm" He whistled in wonder at the perfect timing in the numbers. Today’s sleepwalking wasn’t just an ordinary stroll in the park. Things were already becoming creepy…