Communion

I awoke to the sound of faint tapping on the stone walkway just outside the house me and Fesha were borrowing for the night. When I opened my eyes, I noticed that it was still very dark out, with the air only being lit by a soft orange glow. I tried to go back to sleep, but the faint noises of the outside kept me up. I got out of bed and peered out the broken glass pane. Marching along the stone paths, I saw the citizens of this place walking together in various groups. All their cloths were dark and worn down to some extent. All of them were following the same path as they exited their homes to join a group. As I turned my gaze, I noticed where their march was leading them, the open doors of the old church.

I hopped out of bed and quietly opened my door into the dark dining room. The left wall was lit with the dancing lights of the flames outside. I tiptoed over to Fesha's room and knocked quietly. Not a sound came from the other side of the door, so I decided to let her sleep. As I was about to open the door to the outside, I remembered Fesha and I's conversation from last night. I know I had promised her that we would leave as soon as we could, but the commotion outside kept me curious. I readied myself to push the door open, until three knocks on the other side of the door had stopped me.

"Any of thou awaketh?" Tenebris's voice asked from the other side.

"Uh, yeah." I said still half asleep. 

I opened the door to see Tenebris standing tall and proud. He wore the same outfit we met him in, only this time he had a white sash that wrapped around the back of his neck and hung down to his waist area. The sash was embroidered with black and gold threads, creating an intricate design of what looked like a fire, though I wouldn't necessarily say it was fire. Maybe vines, but that wasn't right either. I looked him straight in the eye, waiting for him to give me a proper response as to what is going on so early in the morning.

"Does thou wisheth to partake in communion?" He asked.

"Umm, I don't really know what you want me to do." I told him.

He continued insisting calmly. "No matter, thou may just watcheth if thou desires to learn more."

In the end, I agreed. I had gone against everything that Fesha had told me last night, but I decided to do this so that I may become more knowledgeable. After finding out that Fesha only helped me was because she felt I could help her with my memories made me feel somewhat helpless. I thought that maybe I could learn something from Tenebris about what has happened to Caelum, even if he may be a little untrustworthy.

Tenebris turned to join the march and I soon followed. I stayed behind him as we headed for the open church doors. As I walked, a group of three young children came up to me, one tugging on my shirt.

"Hey mister, does thou knoweth the blessings of our god?" One of the children asked.

"Not really, I'm just here to see what it's about." I answered honestly.

"I see, thou talks funny, thou must not be from Caelum. Thou has probably never heard of our god." He said.

Upon hearing this, I decided that this may be a good opportunity to get more answers. "Why don't thou tell me about this god." I said teasing their archaic accent. The children laughed at the joke. As one was about to answer, Tenebris interrupted.

"Now now children, do not bother the man. Besides he will see soon enough the miracles gifted to us." He said.

"Sorry mister." The children said with regret.

"Don't worry about it." I said to them, though I was hoping I could get my answers sooner than later.

Finally, I had crossed the archway and into the church hall. It was a humbly sized cathedral, just big enough to fit around forty people. Many guests were already seated while some were still standing and talking in small groups. The ceiling was held up by large stone pillars and wooden frames at the top. The walls were gently lit by candles that have been perched on candle stands of varying heights. Their hardened wax had drooped downward with dome pieces scattered on the floor. Two rows of wooden benches lined each side. At the other end of the church, I saw a small stage with dark wooden lectern at its front center. The lectern's wood had deep and artisan patterns carved into it. On the back wall behind the lectern, A large arch was carved into the stone wall. Vines with white flowers overtook parts of the wall, seeping out of the cracks between the large bricks. Two large dark tarps acted as a curtain, covering the wall within the frame of the arch. There was a light hint of sweetness in the air, yet it felt somewhat sickening.

Tenebris lead me to an open seat where the guest on the same bench gave me a kind greeting. Tenebris proceeded to walk down the middle aisle, onto the stage and behind the lectern. He stood silent for a moment, waiting for everyone to quiet down.

"Good morning, seekers of paradise. Yet another day has cometh, another day where we, as followers of the depths, have been called to duty." Tenebris's voice echoed through the halls. "We worshipeth here today as an offering of thanks, to the god who gaveth power to the powerless, and broughteth hope in a hopeless time."

Tenebris rambled on, but I didn't get much of it. I began to zone out as his words of worship didn't interest me in the slightest. None of it seemed to help me understand the kind of god they pray to and what this god has done. After all the praise, his sermon came to an end, and then came communion.

"Now let us spilleth, for our god has given to us, so we must giveth back." Tenebris's voice rumbled. Everyone stood from their seats and formed a single file line down the middle of the hall. Tenebris stepped down from the stage and approached me.

"I don't expecteth thou to participate in the giving, but thou may watcheth if thou so desires." He told me. 

Tenebris walked back up to the stage and I decided to follow him. As I made my way closer to the stage, the sickly sweet smell grew stronger. As the guest formed a line down the middle of the stage I stood at the side near Tenebris, only to observe. Tenebris stood right in front of the curtain, his back facing it, as the first in line made his way toward him. Tenebris held out a large ornate tray with a small silver dagger atop it. A strange black and shiny substance laid next to the knife on the tray. There was also a large wooden basket at Tenebris's feet, just barely overcast by the tray's shadow. The man took the small dagger in his left and positioned it above his right arm.

"Hey, don't..." I called out, but the man had proceeded.

He plunged the knife deep into his arm and began tracing the shape of an oval. I looked away, disgusted by the sight. Though I felt his pain just from watching, the man made not a single sound. Then, the sound of a wet plop rang in my ears. I turned slightly to see the man's chunk of his arm no longer a part of him, but now sitting in the bowl, bloody and pale.

"Tenebris simply said, "Many thanks." as he rubbed a small bit of the black substance around the man's arm where his skin once was.