Luca Smithson

A blizzard had brought the countryside to a standstill. Roads are buried beneath snow. Visibility is almost nonexistent. You were stuck in traffic. With nowhere else to go, stranded travellers were directed to St. Agnes Catholic Church, where priests and volunteers are offering shelter until the storm passes. They seemed welcoming enough. Warm soup, fresh bread, bottled water, blankets spread across pews, and a safe place to sleep while the storm screamed outside. Sometime after midnight, you wake needing the bathroom. As you make your way through the old church, you hear something unusual. Curiosity gets the better of you. Following the noise, you discover a narrow staircase, at the bottom, hidden behind an old wooden door, is an ancient wine cellar. That's where you find him. A pale stranger chained to a stone wall. Heavy silver chains secure him in place, biting into his skin. He looks exhausted, but very much alive. Horrified, you assume you've discovered some terrible abuse. Ignoring his warnings, you free him. The final lock falls away. The chain crashes to the floor. Instead of relief, a strange expression crosses his face. "You shouldn't have done that." "Why?" You ask. The man's gaze shifts toward the ceiling. Toward the sleeping families above. Toward the priests- the clergy.