CHAPTER THREE — The Rules of Silence
903 Words
(Seraphina’s POV)
My joining the convent was not an act of faith.
I joined it like a wolf stepping into a cage—not to be tamed……but to learn where the bars were weakest.
They took my name first, but not officially or on paper. But in the way they said it.
“From this moment forward,” Father Dominic said, his voice echoing softly through the candlelit chamber, “you will be known as Sister Seraphina.”
Sister…..
The word tasted strange in my mouth like wearing someone else’s skin.
I stood among the other nuns, dressed in black and white, the fabric heavy against my body.
They all looked the same with their heads lowered and their eyes downcast.I wasn’t like them and they knew it.
“You will follow the rules of this sacred house,” Father Dominic continued. “Silence, Discipline, and Devotion.”
His gaze lingered on me.
Just for a second longer than necessary.
“Above all… obedience.” A faint smile tugged at my lips. Obedience wasn’t really my thing.
But I nodded anyway. Because predators don’t bare their teeth too early. They watch and wait till it time to pouch on their prey
The first night felt wrong, not because of the silence—
…but because of what lived inside it.
The convent wasn’t peaceful, It was controlled.
Every movement, every breath, every whispered word.
Dinner was eaten in silence, we prayed in unison and even our footsteps seemed measured.
It felt less like a place of worship…
…and more like a place where something was being contained, or hidden.
I noticed the doors first.There were too many of them.
And not all of them were meant to be opened.
Some had heavy locks and others had no handles at all.
Just smooth wood and sealed.
Naturally…
Those were the ones that interested me the most. “Don’t look at them,” a soft voice whispered beside me.
I turned slightly.
Sister Agnes.
Her eyes stayed forward.
Her lips barely moving.
“Why not?” I murmured back.
“Because they’ll notice.”
“Who’s they?”
She didn’t answer.
Which was answer enough.
By the second day…
I started noticing patterns, certain nuns disappeared at night, not many just one and sometimes two. Gone after evening prayer
Back by morning, except…Not always.
One bed stayed empty that night, no one spoke about it, no one asked questions.
It was like she had never existed. But I noticed.
On the third night…I followed carefully and quietly
The corridors stretched long and narrow, lit only by dim lanterns that barely pushed back the darkness.
I kept my distance while watching and waiting.
The nun ahead of me was young and looked nervous, she walked quickly, her hands trembling slightly at her sides. She wasn’t going to pray. She was being summoned.
She turned toward the east wing.
Of course.
The forbidden part of the convent.My pulse quickened.
Every instinct in my body screamed at me to be careful.I ignored it.
Careful never got anyone the truth.
She reached the door…..Knocked twice and waited. A moment later…
It opened, Just a crack, Enough for a hand to reach out and pull her inside.The door shut immediately. There was no sound or struggle.
Just…Gone.
I moved closer, slow and silent. The air felt heavier here.
I reached the door.
Pressed my hand lightly against it. It felt cold.
Then—i heard a faint sound, from the other side, then came a voice, then a heard a cry.
My entire body went still, that wasn’t prayer, that wasn’t devotion, that was fear.
Rage burned through me so fast it almost made me dizzy.
This was it, a proof. I leaned closer, trying to hear more.
Trying to understand—
“Curiosity can be dangerous.”
The voice came from behind me, sounding smooth and calm. I turned slowly.
Father Dominic stood at the end of the corridor.
Watching me.
His hands folded neatly behind his back.
His expression unreadable.
Dominic Hale
I didn’t move away from the door.
Didn’t step back nor did I pretend.
“Then maybe you should stop giving me reasons to be curious,” I said.
Silence.
Then—
He smiled.
“You’re adjusting… differently than the others.”
“That’s one way to put it.”
His gaze shifted briefly to the door behind me.
Then back to my face.
“That area is restricted,” he said.
“I figured.” “And yet you’re here.” I tilted my head slightly.
“I don’t like being told where I can’t go.”
He stared at me like he was deciding something.
Then—
“Be careful, Sister Seraphina,” he said softly.
The way he said it…It wasn’t advice.
It was a warning.
He turned and walked away. Just like that.
Leaving me alone in the corridor. With the door.
With the silence. With the truth pressing in from all sides.
I looked at the door again. My fingers curled slowly into a fist.
Whatever was behind it…Whatever they were doing…
It was bigger than I thought, darker and far more dangerous.
Good because I wasn’t here for something small.
I turned away.
Walking back down the corridor, but this time…
I wasn’t just investigating, I was hunting.
And something deep inside me—
Something cold…Something patient…Was starting to wake up.
- Writer
