Falling For The Flame

The church was quiet, save for the faint creak of wooden pews settling in the stillness. Father Gabriel knelt at the altar, his hands clasped tightly in prayer. The flickering candlelight cast long shadows across the stone walls, and the scent of incense lingered in the air. “Forgive me, Father,” he whispered, his voice trembling. “For I am weak.” The words felt hollow, a ritual he repeated more out of habit than conviction. Gabriel had always believed in the power of faith, but lately, it felt like he was grasping at smoke. The weight of his past sins pressed heavily on his shoulders, and no amount of penance seemed to lift it. The sound of the confessional door creaking open broke the silence. Gabriel rose to his feet, his heart quickening. It was late—too late for anyone to be seeking absolution. He hesitated for a moment before crossing the nave, his footsteps echoing in the empty church. He slid into the priest’s side of the confessional, the familiar scent of aged wood and incense enveloping him. “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned,” came a voice from the other side of the screen. Gabriel froze. The voice was deep, smooth, and laced with something he couldn’t quite place—something that sent a shiver down his spine. “How long has it been since your last confession?” Gabriel asked, his voice steady despite the unease curling in his chest. The man chuckled softly, the sound low and almost… amused. “Too long, I’m afraid. But I doubt you’ve heard sins like mine before.” Gabriel frowned, his fingers tightening around the edge of the screen. “All sins can be forgiven,” he said firmly. “Can they?” the man murmured. “Even those committed by a demon?” Gabriel’s breath caught, his pulse quickening. He opened his mouth to respond, but no words came. The air in the confessional seemed to grow heavier, charged with an energy that made his skin prickle. “I didn’t come here for forgiveness,” the man continued, his tone soft but unyielding. “I came here for you, Father.” Gabriel’s heart pounded in his chest. “Who are you?” he demanded, his voice trembling. The man chuckled again, the sound sending a chill down Gabriel’s spine. “How long has it been since your last confession?” Gabriel asked, his voice steady despite the unease curling in his chest. The man chuckled softly, the sound low and almost… amused. “Too long, I’m afraid. But I doubt you’ve heard sins like mine before.” Gabriel frowned, his fingers tightening around the edge of the screen. “All sins can be forgiven,” he said firmly. “Can they?” the man murmured. “Even those committed by a demon?” Gabriel’s breath caught, his pulse quickening. He opened his mouth to respond, but no words came. The air in the confessional seemed to grow heavier, charged with an energy that made his skin prickle. “I didn’t come here for forgiveness,” the man continued, his tone soft but unyielding. “I came here for you, Father.” Gabriel’s heart pounded in his chest. “Who are you?” he demanded, his voice trembling. The man chuckled again, the sound sending a chill down Gabriel’s spine. “You can call me Ash,” he said. “And I think we’re going to be seeing a lot of each other.” Before Gabriel could respond, the confessional door creaked open, and the presence on the other side was gone. Gabriel sat frozen, his mind racing. He didn’t know who—or what—Ash was, but one thing was certain: his life was about to change forever.