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The only sounds in the holy church were the women's footsteps. There was the dull thud of Abella's boots and Karin's clicking of her low heels. They were currently exploring the place, absorbing the atmosphere, the intricate patterns, the religious relics and chiseled symbols on the ground that symbolized spiritualism for thousands of years since the birth of Alll-mer.
Karin wasn't exactly religious, so to say. Not one of those ‘atheists’, nor crazy over the preaches of Alll-mer. She was in the middle of it.
“This is a beautiful chapel…” Abella says, looking all around the place. Karin only shakes her head, “No time to be admiring. We've got other pressing matters on our hands. With how bad Prehevil went to shit, I'm not surprised if this place didn't make it either.”
“I guess that's fair…” the ginger sighed.
They went about exploring the place, ransacking whatever proved useful and whatnot. The only sound that echoed throughout the chapel was the sound of their shoes clicking. Karin didn't like how quiet it was, so she held onto her Lugr in her pocket, just in case something jumped at them. The silence was unsettling. The chapel was huge, much more luxurious than the other buildings — it was painfully obvious where the funds went to…
The two women eventually find themselves on the east side of the church. Like the rest of the church, their footsteps echoed throughout the brick walls. There were sculptures, far too high to reach, various cloaked figures in different postures. The looming darkness made them all the more eerie.
“Are we sure we should be here? I don't see anything interesting of the sorts.” Karin asks, eyes shifting left and right, still holding her pistol close in her jacket’s pocket. Abella disagrees with a shake of her head. “Every place counts. We should keep searching, maybe we’ll actually find something of use here— maybe this, for example!”
Abella stops and points, and Karin's eyes follow where she is pointing at. It was… a confessional. A fucking confessional. If this was a joke, the journalist wasn't amused. She glares at the back of the mechanic's head. “Are you kidding me?”
“What?” She turns her head around, looking at the shorter woman. “You never know! With how devastated Prehevil is, maybe some people ran to the church to turn to Alll-mer for answers, if not the mayor's manor. Maybe they hid something that would be useful for us.”
For once, instead of giving an argument, the blonde was quiet. “… Well that's one way to look at things.” She eventually admits. She takes a few steps forward and looks at the confessional doors, before peeking in at one of them. Total darkness shrouded the cramped little room and it was silent. She stopped peeking, instead going for the handle, tugging it — locked. She tried the other — it opened. She decided to get in.
There wasn't anything remarkable inside, only a seat where she could sit. There was an oppressive and somber aura swirling in the dark, demanding her to stay and sit down. When she did sit down, she felt the weight of her sins bare down at her. Past sins that she had committed, clamping down on her. With a sigh, she mutters, “Forgive me father, for I have sinned…”
“Is that so?” Karin almost jumped out of her skin at the sudden inquiry coming from the other side of the confessional. The deep, unknown voice held a twinge of curiosity. “So tell me, what are the most vile and despicable acts you have performed?” the voice inquired again, before adding, “so that Alll-mer may absolve your sins, of course.”
“How should I trust you?” The blonde questioned. Typical Karin.
“If you don't trust me, you are free to leave.” The voice replied with no emotion at all. “It's up to you if you want to confess your heinous acts. I am simply doing my occupation as a priest of our god Alll-mer.”
“Fine. I'm- I'm lusting over someone I shouldn't.” She confesses. Regret was starting to creep in already.
“Jumping straight to the juicy bits I see…” the mysterious voice seemed pleased. “Good. Good…” They cooed. “Tell me, is he or she one of your fellow people from the train?”
“Yes.”
“Interesting.” The voice hums, then a short pause. Karin's bunched up fists squirmed in her pockets, the silence spiking up anticipation for any more questions. “Does she have red hair?”
She swore her heart skipped a beat just then. Her thoughts immediately ran to Abella — her silky crimson hair that reached her lower back, shining in the pale sunlight, her fair complexion and broad shoulders kissed with freckles and her well toned muscles flexing and bulging up whenever she lifted up or dragged something heavy could have any man or woman drop dead right there. She was an eyesore. It was like the person knew she liked Abella.
“Yes…” the journalist trails off, her cheeks beginning to burn at the image of Abella ingrained into her mind. Her tall, well-built form was simply unforgettable — okay, she should calm down.
“I see, I see.” The voice comments again. “Do you think the person has mutual feelings?” They continued asking.
“Umm, well…” She hesitates. She didn't think the mechanic had any feelings; especially for a woman. She mentioned once about having a family, so surely she was into men. “I don't think so…? Or- or, I don't know…”
“So you've kept your feelings hidden?”
“Pretty much, yeah.” It was starting to get embarrassing. She did keep her feelings to herself, it wasn't the first time she gained a silly crush. She always repeated to herself— You'll get through this, you'll lose feelings. Shoving her feelings down deep, where no one would see. She knew Abella was a member of the NLU and being close to her would bring her in trouble too. It just wasn't safe professionally and morally knowing the risks of her being caught as an NLU member and her knowing the whole ordeal as a journalist. She might lose her career, her reputation and even her life.
“I can imagine it is not a pleasant feeling, yearning for someone who may not return your affection, so you keep those feelings hidden. The question is- for how long can you keep those feelings hidden before it threatens to escape?” That simple question made Karin escape in her thoughts yet again. They were right— how long? It wasn't a lifetime they knew each other, it was just two days, but how could someone resist such a refined and built body, a sweet smile that could kill anyone and ocean colored eyes that lit up along with that smile? A voice as smooth as honey?
It was ridiculous how she fell so quickly— quicker than the others she met during her life. She didn't like that one bit, how the mechanic crawled under her skin so… so effortlessly.
Her thoughts were cut off short by the sound of the priest clearing their throat. “Now, let us cut to the chase— why do you feel like this lust is condemned? Or not appropriate?”
“Society would condemn our relationship…” The words filled the blonde's mouth with an acrid, bitter taste. In the end, she didn't want to die. The law on such people were severe— if people were to find out, not only would her reputation be ruined, but it wouldn't be long before she would be shot point blank by an officer who caught wind of her, if not her very own family, if she dared to step in Bremen again.
“Are you sure about that?” The deep voice doubted, “sometimes people are more open than what old taboos would have you believe… of course sometimes people can act out of fear of the unknown and condemn everything that is alien to them.” They paused, letting Karin absorb their words before they continued. “And… sometimes you are the one who is in the wrong. Not all things should be experimented with, and not all taboos should be pushed. You won't know what is the case before you proclaim your love out in the public.”
“That's not the case— I… I just don't want to be shot at if news of my feelings for another woman comes to light.” The woman shook her head, sinking deeper into her seat. The person was quiet for a few moments, “I apologize then, I didn't mean to assume things. Now, I know this is not a pleasing topic for you but I have one more question; have you acted upon this lust in any way?”
The question made her cheeks pink, the overwhelming rush of shame filling her body. Fantasies, sure.
“I fantasized about her…”
“I would like some details.” The voice persisted. Karin pulls her hand out of her pocket to pull at a few strands of loose fur from her old oversized jacket. “Well… Well I had … N-nothing too inappropriate, she just– I just thought of kissing her…” her voice dropped to a murmur at the confession. Christ, what the fuck is wrong with you, Karin? She asked herself. She was unconsciously squirming in this cramped, uncomfortable space, anxious and embarrassed.
“There's no shame in letting our imagination run wild in our minds.” the priest assured. There was silence again before the priest concluded, “To absolve your sins, do a ritual sacrifice or two and you should be good… And try to get good sleep, eat your vitamins and love your neighbour. That is all.”
She let out a sigh she was unknowingly holding back for a while. She stands up and gets out of the cramped confessional with quick haste, the crushing oppressive air too much for her to bear. The moment she stepped out of the confessional, the weight disappeared, instead replaced by a wash of relief. The time spent in the confessional was suffocating, but right now she felt a weight of pressure shaking off her shoulders. She felt cleansed. Abella was right there, waiting, lighting up once she saw Karin.
“Hey, I heard you talking.” Abella walks over, her face softening into concern. “Is someone in the other—”
The other door of the confessional opened. The two women look in the direction of the sound.
O'saa was there. Abella was confused while Karin felt her heart drop to her ass. Oh Alll-Mer. What was she supposed to say or do?! What if this guy started to tell Abella what she just confessed?! If he even dared, she might have to kill him. He instead began to laugh, first starting off with a chuckle before he burst into his fit of laughter. He chortled, he snorted, he cackled, burst into a fit of hysterics as if it was the funniest thing in the world to the point he was holding his stomach as he laughed. His grin, his laughter, made Karin gradually seethe with anger.
His laughing fit stopped shortly after, letting go of his stomach and instead fanning his face with his hand. He finally looked at the two women. “It was a joke. I made a joke.” He sounded so proud of himself, as if it was the first time he ever pulled a joke. It only made Karin's face red.
“You call that a joke, you malignant asshole?!” She yells at the mage, earning a dismissive shrug from him. “I apologize, I am not a priest of Alll-mer in reality. This was just too good of an opportunity to pass. I could get to know the true you.”
Fuck. Fuck. All the curse words she had in her vocabulary swirled into her head all meant for O'saa. He was suspicious of this guy the moment she laid eyes on him on the train — and she was right! She already lost some of her dignity, she didn't need to lose all of it if he decided to start running his mouth right in front of Abella. “You're a fucking sham! A brute! That was not funny at all!”
“I didn't mean to belittle your troubles by any means,” The mage shakes his head, “with the Festival going on, you cannot truly trust anyone, so I figured it wouldn't be a too big of an offense to play a little trick…”
This guy is pissing me off so much…
“Okay? How does that excuse help with!? Festival or not, that was so rude!”
“Yeah, O'saa… whatever trick you pulled with Karin, it wasn't very funny to disguise as a priest to hear her spill something sensitive to her…” Abella finds her voice. She knew she wasn't allowed to have a say in things, but with the way they were wording their words, she put two and two together. She was a smart girl.
“Like I said, I did not mean to belittle her troubles.” O'saa inclined his head toward Karin apologetically, before returning to normal. “Well then, I got the information I needed, I think I must continue my journey for now. Time is not really a resource we have in excess.”
“You're just going to go after that?” Karin seethed. O'saa remained calm, inclining his head to Karin apologetically. “Again… I apologize if my trick was too rude. This land holds many secrets — what we see and hear on the surface is not the whole truth. Goodbye for now.”
Before Karin could say anything, the mage started walking away. Right as he reached the exit, he paused, then turned around, pointing at Abella. “Oh, and… tell your ‘red haired’ friend about what you told me.”
Just like that, he vanished into the corridors of the church. Both women blinked, one in confusion while the other in astonishment. That asshole! He just had to mention her crush on Abella! When she sees him next him, it'll be on sight—
“Karin?” The mechanic called, her voice quiet. “What was that all about? Is there something you want to tell me?”
She wasn't sure if she was burning up because of shame or the woman's soft, smooth voice. Maybe both. She tries to subtly avert her burning face that was starting to reach her ears, stammering, “N-no! Of course not! He's… making fun of me!”
“I don't really believe that.” Abella replies flatly.
Karin deemed herself as ‘done for’. What other excuse should she blurt out and try to convince— oh, forget it. Excuses would only worsen her situation.
“Ugh, I don't wanna explain it — can we just… continue?”
“Oh… sure, if that's the case…” Abella, while concerned, decided to push it away. She could see the hint of red on the tips of her ears and realized she shouldn't press her on if she truly wanted Karin to scream at her.
The blonde sighed, then started walking to the exit, balling her hands into fists deep into her pockets. Abella followed her behind.
…The red haired mechanic placed a hand on her mouth and suppressed a giggle. What Karin didn't know was that she heard her confession. It was not like she didn't like her… She just waited to surprise her. She couldn't wait to catch her by surprise.
“Hey, Karin.” Abella smiles, still trailing behind her.
“Yeah?”
“I just wanted to say…”
In a swift, fluid motion, the woman reached the younger woman's cheek and pressed a quick kiss on it. “...I like you too. I heard you.”
She giggles when she sees the tips of her ears glow again. She was so adorable.
“Abella… couldn't you have waited until the right opportunity? You're giving me a heart attack here.” She says, exasperated, but a ray of softness was clear. Her blood pumped so quickly and so hard, she heard it flowing in her ears. She fullheartedly expected for the journalist to stop dead in her tracks, but she continues, although she slowed down for a moment.
“Teehee!” The woman couldn't help but laugh, “No…”
“What a stubborn woman you are.” Karin sighed.
Fear of what will happen... she knew she and Abella's relationship would very much spark a big scandal, if not a bullet in her head. And she knew Abella knew too. But in an apocalyptic-like world, all the horrors and doubts and anxieties slowly washed away. It was better with Abella by her side...