Jeslyn Lin, Period 6, 5/5/23

 Jeslyn Lin, Period 6, 5/5/23

Modern Mythology 2023

Creativity & Fiction

“He looks quite troubled, doesn’t he?” 

I stare at the man my fellow priest was referring to. He was quite… tall. And strange. Just a glance at him made my heart seize up. I took a deep breath before replying, “It seems like he’s deep in his thoughts. Perhaps it’d be best to leave him be.”

The gray-haired man frowned. “I need to lock up the church soon. He’s been sitting there for quite some time. I was thinking of approaching him and asking if he’d like to go to confession.” For some reason, the idea of my friend approaching such a man made my stomach lurch. As he was about to leave my side, I abruptly grabbed his arm. He looked at me in shock, “What’s the problem?”

“I don’t like that man… He’s making me feel uneasy. I would suggest asking him to leave. If he truly needs to go to confession, he can return another day. It’s quite late at night, anways.” 

Immediately he ripped his arm out of my grip and disappointedly sighed, “Since when do we judge people based on their appearance? It’s our purpose to help people and he looks like he requires some assistance. Now you can either start heading out or stay behind with me.”

I pressed my lips into a thin line before heading towards the exit, while feeling his prominent displeasure as he stared at my retreating figure. Just as I was about to leave, I ducked behind the last row of seats. Something was nagging at me. I refused to leave my fellow priest with this… human. 

I watched as he made his way to the stranger and placed his arm on the strange man’s shoulder. He asked the individual if he’d like to go to confession and explained that he was about to lock up. The silence was deafening  and I tensed up as the tall gentleman stood up and followed my friend down the aisle. My nerves shot up as I watched the two enter the small wooden booth. I stood up and silently made my way a few rows up before ducking down to ensure that I could still somewhat hear their conversation. 

The man’s voice was smooth – “-for I have sinned, sinned so often and so long I do not know how to change, nor how to confess before God… done” My eyebrows furrowed. I knew that he was troubled ever since I first laid my eyes on him. I don’t understand what the Priest saw in him. I shake my head and try to zone back into their conversation.

“-I killed her, and thousands of others before her… for 70 years…vampire” Immediately, my friend turned around to face this… this monster. I collapsed, frozen in my spot.

Murder? T-thousands?? 70 years? V-v-vampire?

It didn’t add up to me. My heart was pounding in my ears and my fear was amplified. I felt as if I couldn’t breathe. I wanted to believe it was a joke; that man didn’t even remotely look like he’s lived 70 years. It was absurd… right? And to be a vampire… It must be some sort of joke…right? There’s no such thing as such a silly creature.

A loud shout from the stranger shook me out of my stupor. 

“Then there is no mercy!”

I saw the man grasp my friend and bring him close to his face. I wanted to spring up from where I was sat and run to the Priest. I wanted to shove the man away from the kind elder who wanted to help such a monster.

But I couldn’t move. 

I heard the Priest yell at him for being the devil and witnessed as he started heading up the center aisle. 

My throat dried and I wanted to scream at him to run as the freak surrounded him. I wanted to run up and help him.

But I couldn’t.

Tears sprung from my eyes as I heard the desperate cry for God from my friend. As if God could save him now…

As if something came over me, I screamed as the monster sank his teeth into my fellow priest. I continued screaming out loud while my mind yelled at me:

Move! RUN, YOU IDIOT OR YOU’LL BE NEXT! 

My palms were clammy and sweat soaked through my clothes. My breathing was so loud that I couldn’t hear anything else. My eyes filled with tears and terror as the monster glanced at me. 

As his eyes pierced through my soul, all I could think of was – Oh God, PLEASE HELP ME. 

The monster stood up and took a few steps towards me. I immediately shut my eyes and protect my head with my arms.

This is it. 

Yet nothing came. After a few more moments, I opened my eyes. 

Silence.

Just like that, he was gone. 

I began sobbing again before getting up on shaky legs. I wobbled towards my fallen priest and collapsed. 

He was dead.

I held him in my arms. I didn’t want to die, but as I held my friend in my arms, all I could wonder was why was I spared?