Bless Me, Father

The Hollow Ones

The church was full... not with devotion, but with tension.

That kind of silence where no one dares to breathe too loud.

Father Vornero's voice cut through it: strong, deep, unwavering.

"God walks with us," he said, arms wide at the altar. "Even when the winds howl...even when the earth shifts beneath our feet. He is with us, watching His children."

This wasn't a sermon. It was law.

Jacob stood to the side, chin up, hands folded. His eyes scanned the crowd, quietly reading the people more than the words.

Families sat stiff, kids fidgeted, older men clutched rosaries so hard their knuckles bled white.

It was clear the town was shaken by the disappearances and the strange girl.

Then a voice broke the air.

"What about the Barrow girl, Father?" A skinny man dared speak up.

Silence...

It was like a whip cracked the air.

All eyes turned. The man looked around as if realizing what he just did.

His face quickly looked remorseful.

Father Vornero tilted his head slightly towards the slender man.

"What's your name, son?"

The man swallowed. "Oscar."

"Well Oscar, has Little Harmonie been so rude to you? That you dare interrupt me... no manners!" Father Vornero eyes narrowed.

"Sorry—" the man tried to apologize, but Father Vornero cut him off.

"Shut your mouth. DO NOT interrupt me again!" Father Vornero raised his voice.

The air went still. Thick.

Everyone dared not to say a word... yet

Jacob coughed softly, giving a smile to the attendees. He shifted his weight enough of a cue to get the father back on track.

Father Vornero stared at the man, his eyes burning a hole through him.

The man shrunk down under the gaze of Father Vornero. He immediately sat, avoiding the piercing gazes.

"Let's move on..." the priest muttered.

Then raised his voice again.

"Ah... let's address the Barrow family. The devil has been invited to their home. We must cleanse our village!"

"We must show them the path of God since they have gone astray" he maintained eye contact while speaking, but his blinks lasted a fraction too long.

There were nods. Soft. Reluctant.

But murmurs crept up anyway.

"But Father, she was seen crawling out the dirty mud last night..."

Some of the church gasped at the sound of this.

"What?" he muttered under his breath, then whipped around to face the nuns.

They avoided his eyes fearfully.

Jacob watched him, unreadable.

He realized Father Vornero didn't know Cristina was getting worse.

But more voices spoke over one another.

"My wife heard her singing, it sounded backwards... just wicked." An old man whose hat brim hid more than it revealed.

"Someone said they found her outside the chapel the other night..." a shy lady paused.

Biting her nails, not knowing if she should continue.

"Naked in the garden!" She spat out.

People gasped. "Oh no! She must have the devil in her!"

"Oh lord help us!" Someone in the back aisle shouted.

Voices erupted across the congregation, they easily became increasingly paranoid.

Cristina's strange behavior had everyone in the church on edge.

The volume grew. Voices layering, sharper.

The nuns looked at the old priest and then around, exchanging nervous glances.

One had clutched her cross.

Jacob kept still, the noise not affecting him. His hand behind his back, but his pulse rose. He stood straighter, trying to still the room with presence alone.

He knew he hadn't been here in years, to try and take control of the church, but someone had to do it.

Before he stepped up, he stopped.

He saw her...

Delilah.

His heart stopped. He composed his features, focusing on keeping his breathing even.

In the back... her veil resting on her head, low, concealing her entire face.

But as he narrowed his eyes... it wasn't Delilah.

It was Father Vornero's niece, Ellie.

He exhaled. Annoyed. Relieved. Confused.

The room was still in chaos.

He finally stepped forward, voice calm but piercing.

"Everyone, quiet now."

The room fell silent. Even Father Vornero looked at him.

Jacob looked awkwardly almost as he realized all eyes were on him but he reassured himself.

Even the apostles felt uncertain at times.

"We are a town. A family. A community of God. And we will not become a room of terrified animals." Jacob's voice calm but commanding. "Our God is almighty, and things will be alright. Let us have faith."

Heads lowered. Some people began to pray. Others shifted nervously in their seats.

"The Barrow family needs our support, not rumors," Father Jacob scanned the crowd. "And whatever the town believes it saw... we must consider what that child has endured."

He paused, then added, "And again: 'Do not judge, or you shall be judged.' Matthew 7:1"

A few nuns nodded, while others looked at each other.

Father Vornero offered a shallow one. But Jacob caught it... the way his eyes narrowed on him.

Did I say something wrong? Or does he enjoy the spotlight only for himself.

He sighed softly. His gaze moved across the pews. The Bakers were there. Marta and Thomas looked unbothered, indifferent.

And Helen.

She looked... better. Her cheeks had color again. Her eyes weren't so hollow.

But that wasn't what clawed at him.

Delilah.

The thought slithered in like a snake.

That woman... walking and speaking like... everyone should bow to her.

Jacob clenched his jaw. Shut his eyes.

He stepped back, surrendering the pulpit to Father Vornero. He returned to his spot on the side.

"Lord." he whispered. "Forgive these thoughts. Rid me of temptation."

But the prayer fell flat, as if he were talking to a void.

He turned to face the crowd again, wearing a small, practiced smile.

*****

The congregation sang its final anthem.

Jacob kept up with the words as best as he could, but he had forgotten the words over the years.

And when the service ended, no one lingered. Everyone rushed out, as if remembering something urgent waiting at home.

Jacob remained. Slowly walking to the center of the stage.

He tilted his head slightly towards Father Vornero who was talking to Sister Renee.

"I think we need to have a conversation... now."

His tone wasn't angry. Just tired.

Father Vornero gave a quick nod, already turning toward his study.

Jacob nearly followed, but paused, extending his hand for Sister Renee to go first.

He smiled gently.

She returned it and stepped inside.

Once Sister Renee went in, his smile vanished, becoming stoic again.

The door slammed shut behind him.

He stepped towards them. Putting his hands behind his back.

Father Vornero sat at his desk. Jacob remained standing.

Sister Renee had moved beside her superior, keeping her posture straight, though her hands trembled slightly.

"What's our next course of action on this situation with Cristina?"

Neither of them answered.

Jacob took a breath.

"I see you two are just as lost as the rest of us."

Father Vornero sighed, heavy and slow. "It's the devil's work. Too many disappearances. Too many bad omens."

Father Jacob gave him a long, measured look.

"What exactly is Cristina saying? Anything that can lead us to who took her or led her to run off?"

I can't help but wonder why aren't the police more involved? Is Father Vornero handling this himself?

Sister Renee fidgeted. "She's been talking nonsense," The sister said. "Something about meeting a prince charming. And that she failed the exams before the Gods."

She gave Father Vornero a doubtful look.

"She told her parents she visited this beautiful palace. That she had powerful friends." Sister Renee's voice cracked despite the calm she tried to wear.

"And about what was said in church about Cristina... that's news to us." She continued.

"Well... either way, Sister Renee, she's either lying or..." he paused, letting slip a small chuckle as he thought about Sister Renee's words.

A Prince Charming and powerful friends?

"She's under the influence."

He let the air sit for a moment.

Sister Renee stiffened. "Are you suggesting... drugs? In Little Harmonie!"

Jacob folded his arms. "We don't know what happened to her in the woods. Or who she was with while she was gone."

Father Vornero shook his head. "The Barrows are being hard-headed. They don't want our help. They've been tight-lipped since Cristina came back, denying everything."

Jacob's thoughts turned inward.

Why are the Barrows so secretive?

If my daughter came home broken, I'd want help. Answers. Prayers.

He looked at the older priest, suspicion quietly building.

There's something they're hiding.

And then that question surfaced again... one he hadn't dared ask since returning.

How has Father Vornero been running this place since me and my family left?

He spoke, finally.

"Father... this isn't a conversation I want to have, but can these disappearances be connected with the Hackle brothers?"

Sister Renee's eyes widened. She began whispering a prayer.

"Do not reopen old wounds!" his voice hardened.

"I'm sorry, but I had to. Two children never came home. My childhood friends. And since I've returned, three more girls have gone missing. Something is happening. And you know we shouldn't ignore this," Father Jacob fired back.

Father Vornero sat back, hand under his chin.

"The Forest family had something to do with those boys. I'm convinced of it."

Jacob watched him.

I don't know what to believe anymore.

And still... he didn't mention Delilah.

He couldn't.

The herbalist already drew too much attention. He remembered he had asked the Whitlocks about her.

Not his finest moment.

He knew not to keep adding fuel to the fire.

But things were shifting. Slowly. Quietly. And Jacob knew: Little Harmonie wasn't the place he remembered.

It needed to be dissected... secret by secret.

"I'll visit the Barrow family," he said. "See if they'll talk with me instead."

"Can I come with you, Father?" Sister Renee asked.

"I should go alone—" Jacob began.

But Father Vornero cut in sharply. "Actually, Sister Renee should go with you."

Jacob's expression didn't change. Still. Flat.

He buried his slight irritation. Looking at Vornero as he thought quietly.

Does he not trust me?

Jacob gave a small nod. "Of course, Father."

He excused himself, leaving them alone, closing the door behind him.

Out in the hall, he finally exhaled. Calmly.

And then...

She crawled into his thoughts again.

Delilah.

Why didn't I mention you?

Did I just protect you?

Or do I know something isn't right here...

He walked towards the exit, seconds before he pushed the Church doors, a younger woman yanked the door opened first.

She clashed with him.

When he looked up he saw it was—

Ellie.

He grabbed onto her, as her veil slipped as she stumbled.

She gripped his arms to steady herself. But then he froze.

Her mouth.

Her mouth was gone.

Not just covered... erased.

She mumbled, panicked. Clung to his shirt, eyes wide.

"Ellie, what h—?"

She burst into tears, feeling exposed. Pushing past the priest.

He let her go. Stunned. He stared ahead, his breath shallow.

Heaven have mercy.

God... are you still there?

Because if not... something else already is.