The Confession

Being shoved into a small brown confessional was not how I wanted to start my day. The makeshift room was dark, and the only light that could be seen was a small candle resting on a stump. A single chair was placed next to the earthly table and the two guards escorting me forced me into it. Once I was seated, the two robed wardens tied my arms behind my back and then wrapped my feet as well. When they finished, one of the guards knocked on the wall in front of me and a piece of it slid to the side revealing a masked figure behind a wall of mesh.

The figure was wearing a black hazmat mask over their face, and a white robe with an image in the center. The image looked like a black radiation symbol with a red cross in the middle. As the figure removed their mask, I could see the red trim on their cuffs, signifying their holy prestige.

“Do you know why you are here, child?”

“Yes.”

“Yes, what!?”

“Yes, Father Michael.”

“Then you know you have committed a sin against the flock and now must pay for it.”

“Haven’t I paid enough?”

Father Michael let out a low, menacing laugh, “And what pray tell do you mean?”

“I think you already know.”

“I do, but I would like you to relive it. This is confession after all. Now please, tell me your sins.”

“I haven’t committed any sin.”

“Are you the great Chemist in the sky?”

“No.”

“Then your life alone is a sin. To be honest, out of all the sins I have ever seen committed yours is the second worst.”

I smiled, “Whose is the first?

“Your fathers.”

“You shut your f...” A loud crack filled the room, followed by a sharp pain running down my back. I tried to look behind me, but whoever had hit me was just out of range.

“Watch your tongue, girl or there will be more where that came from. Now, if you hope to get out of here alive, I need you to tell me everything that happened last night.”

“Don’t you already know?”

Another loud crack filled the room and a single cold tear trickled down my cheek.

“Start cooperating, girl.”

“Fine. Last night,”

…

My Dad woke me up in the middle of the night, he threw me my sword and tapped the heart-shaped locket on his chest. The little rock turned white, then shuffled through the colors: red, blue, and yellow before returning to its blank crystal color. I did the same to my own and followed my dad outside of our tent.

The campsite was quiet. It almost felt like the entire world was holding its breath to see what we would do. With each step I took, I could feel the damp earth pouring into my moccasins. My Dad was quick, and I followed as we weaved our way through the multicolored tents. When we reached the edge of camp, my dad held up his hand and peeked around one of the make-shift homes. He then gave me a thumbs up, and we stepped over the protective salt ring into the wild beyond.

Looming above us were these massive purple mushrooms, which had a matching luminescent glow lighting the area around them. When we were safely inside the forest, I stole a look back and saw a single tent light up. The shadow inside raised a curved object to its head and a high-pitched moan sliced through the silence.

How did they know?

“Damn, I was afraid this would happen. Run, Darcy!”

I did as my dad said and sprinted past him, the light from the fungus made it easy to avoid fallen stalks and pitfalls but it also made it difficult to avoid being seen. Arrows whizzed past my head as I kept running deeper and deeper into the strange forest. Animals squawked and hissed as their sleep was interrupted by our escape. With each breath I took, I could taste the sour smell of rot. The world started to grow fuzzy with each step and I looked back to see where my dad was but couldn’t find him anywhere. Panic gripped my chest and I tripped. I hit the ground hard, resulting in all the air in my lungs rushing out of my body. Lying beside me was a long green vine with yellow thorns jutting out of it. Once I got back to my feet, I kicked the vine out of frustration and heard an infant crying. Lifting my locket out of my shirt the small heart was now blue.

Where is dad!?

Standing a few yards ahead of me was my father. He was knelt down and touching the ground. When I got to him, I placed a hand on his shoulder, he turned to me and placed his hands over his mouth. I nodded and crouched down beside him. Lying next to us was a small blue baby with yellow veins running across its body. The Wailer was still whimpering so my father gently stroked its cheek with his finger. After a few minutes of this, the infant sniffled once more and fell silent.

In a whisper, I asked, “Do you think there are more atomized here?”

“Doubtful. The lockets would warn us, besides, if this Wailer is here, I couldn’t imagine anything else would. The atomized don’t like to cross each other.”

“So, we’re safe?”

“For now, but remember, stay quiet while we are near the Wailer. If it starts crying again run.” My father stood up and started walking away from the sleeping child. When I caught up with him, I asked,

“How did the Apostles know we left?”

“They must have access to old-world tech.”

“But I thought the good book said technology is what brought the chemist’s judgment to earth?”

My father sighed, “Just because the Apostles preach the good book does not mean they follow its teachings. Besides, it's easier to control the flock if the Apostles use devices that the rest can’t.”

Before I got the chance to ask more, the Wailer started to cry again. Dad and I nodded and took off running.

The Apostles must still be chasing after us. I hope they like being Wailer food.

A bloodcurdling sound rang through the forest, the green vines beneath us slithered back towards where we came and a male scream rung through the forest. Dad and I didn’t stick around to see what happened and didn’t stop until the gift of silence returned.

When we could finally catch our breath, I felt my chest vibrate. I looked down at my locket and saw that it was glowing yellow, I tapped my father’s arm and brought my hands up to cover my eyes. He ruffled through his bag and handed me a pair of heavy glasses. As I slipped the eyewear on the world grew darker and the sounds of nature grew louder. I took a few steps forward and said,

“I thought you said the atomized wouldn’t share a territory.”

“Clearly I was wrong.”

“Do you think the Apostles that were chasing us are dead?”

“I’m not sure, but whatever you do, don’t take your glasses off until your locket stops glowing. If the Mindusa sees you then you’re dead.”

“I know, Dad.”

“Well, I just want to remind you. I would never forgive myself if anything happened to you. Let’s keep walking.”

As we walked on, I could feel my heart drilling through my chest. I looked down to see if it was my locket but the crystal was still glowing. The glasses made it hard to tell what color it was but I figured I’d keep wearing the eyewear just to be safe. I took another step forward then stopped, something had wrapped around my ankle and prevented me from moving any further. I scanned the area around me to see if a Mindusa was involved, but I couldn’t see anything but dark mushrooms. To try and get a better idea, I lifted the glasses onto my head and saw that one of the green vines had wrapped around my ankle. Unsheathing my sword, I lopped the plant off, but as soon as my blade swung through the green flesh, an infant started screaming.

Wait, what!? We left the Wailer behind us miles ago.

Checking my locket once more, I could see that the stone was now a green color.

Where is dad?

The Wailer’s cries grew louder and the taste of sulfur rose, a humanoid figure with a massive brain for a head crept away from me. I slid the glasses over my eyes once more, and followed the Mindusa as it stalked its prey. For a minute I thought it didn’t notice me, but then the creature turned around and I could see its singular eye resting in the center of its head. The sulfur's taste intensified, but thankfully I still had my glasses on so the icy stare did nothing more than send a shiver up my spine. The Mindusa walked towards me but, once again, I could not run. I looked down and saw that I was ensnared by vines. Once the Mindusa was close enough for me to see its brain pulsing, the creature used its long arms to rip me out of the ground and carry me towards the other cocooned figure nearby. When we reached the trapped soul, The Mindusa placed me in front of it and walked behind me. I watched in terror as the creature removed my glasses and showed me that the cocoon in front of me was my father. I wriggled inside my own cocoon but nothing gave. A white-robed figure with black trim on their cuffs walked up to my father and removed his glasses. I screamed, but nothing could be heard over the Wailer’s symphony of terror. When my father’s eyes met the cold gaze of the Mindusa he smiled. Then his smile transformed into an open hole, his eyes grew wide, and then nothing. His head tilted to the side and a strand of saliva dripped down his chin. The vines holding him released, and my dad crumpled to the ground.

“DAD!”

I looked at the Apostle and asked, “Why?”

“The good book says that it is better for those who lead My children astray to tie a weight around their neck and dive into the closest ocean. I saved your father the trip. Now come, Darcy, it is time to return to the flock and repent.”

…

The candle’s glow looked warped as I watched its fiery dance through tear-stricken eyes. Father Michael chuckled behind his protective barrier and said,

“Now, here you are. Sniffling at my feet like the sinner you have always been. Should I forgive you, Darcy?”

I didn’t answer, I just stared at him with hatred and spat on the floor.

“Insolent, child! You dare disrespect the Chemist’s chosen?”

“Does it matter? I’m dead either way.”

Father Michael laughed again, “No child, a fate worse than death lies in store for you.”

“What could be worse than death?”

“Being my servant.”

“I’ll never work for you. I’ll just keep running.”

“The other Atomized felt the same way.”

“You created the Atomized?”

“Of course, we had to keep the flock reeled in somehow. Deacon Paul, bring in the veil.”

Another robed figure emerged from the darkness, his cuffs were pink, and in his hand was a strange helmet with multicolored vein-like appendages jutting out of it. The deacon placed the helmet onto my skull and tied something under my chin. A dull hum echoed through the room.

“I’ll kill you, Father Michael!”

“Maybe in another life, child. Flip the switch, Deacon Paul and remove that blasted locket, she won’t be needing it anymore.”

Before the world faded into darkness, I watched the deacon smash my crystalized heart and said,

“Forgive me, father.”