Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Carden stood with his bags, waiting for his number to be called. He held his ticket in his hand, looking at Carlos—who had been his backbone from the start.

“I already told my friend in Silicly that you’re coming. Make sure you call me once you get there; he’ll tell you and show you all you need to do. Another thing—the parish is hosting a charity fundraising today. You need to be there with your disguise,” Carlos said, patting Carden’s shoulder.

“A charity fundraising… why is everything happening so quickly?” Carden, lost in thought, muttered to himself.

“It’s a risk you need to take, man. For your little dream girl. At least she’ll stop disturbing your night rest once you know why she’s appearing in your dreams,” Carlos added.

“You’re right, man. Thanks a lot. I owe you, bro,” Carden replied.

“Attention everyone! The train is set to move. Passengers with B2 tickets should get on immediately.”

“Oh, it’s time. I need to leave,” Carden said, giving Carlos a hug before jumping onto the train. The train horned and soon began to move. Carden kept waving at Carlos until he couldn’t see him anymore.

He sank into a seat near the entrance and exhaled. “Let me do this… for my peace.”

In the Mansion

“Why am I just hearing about this now? Why is the parish bringing a new priest without my notice? Is someone selling me out? How sure can I trust this new priest with all my dirty confessions?” Arnold barked, throwing everything his hands touched to the floor.

“Boss, you need to calm down,” one of his men said, trying to soothe him.

Arnold walked toward the man slowly. “Calm down, you said?” He pulled out a gun and pointed it at the man’s head, finger tightening on the trigger. “You think this is a game of calming down?” The man was already shivering in terror.

“I told the parish priest that he must not accept a transfer and that he should inform me if he was being persuaded. Still, he refused and accepted it. And you think I should calm down? He knows all my dirty secrets… and I think one of my rivals is responsible for this transfer.” Arnold pulled the gun away from the man’s head. The trembling man sighed in relief and dared not speak.

“You—come here,” Arnold said, pointing at another man. “Gather every information you can about this new priest. Make sure he doesn’t know anything about my confessions. Find out if he’s someone I can trust.”

“Yes, sir. I’m on it.”

“And you—” he pointed at the shivering man, “take this gun and make sure the priest breathes his last.”

The man took the gun, nodded, and left with the other guard.

“Every secret ends here… and that priest needs to seal it with his life,” Arnold said through clenched teeth.

Carden stepped off the train, looking around the big city of Silicly. He was amazed at the towering structures and how peaceful the air felt against his skin. No one would ever guess that a city so calm lived under the harsh rule of a man everyone feared. Lost in the cool breeze, he didn’t notice the man walking toward him.

“You must be Carden—Carlos’ friend, right?” the man said, extending his hand.

Carden shook it and nodded. “You’re right, sir… and you are?”

“I’m Frederick, but you can call me Fred. An average-tall man,” he smiled, his hair neatly combed backward, his face almost too perfect—he even sounded a bit Mexican. “Come, let me get you prepared for your task.”

He signaled Carden to follow him into a car parked across the road.

Inside the Car

Fred broke the silence. “I heard what Arnold did to your sister. He’s dangerous, and a tough man to pull down. He has men all over the city… and I heard he has one of them watching you already. You must tread carefully. I hope you’ve mastered your disguise perfectly—one mistake, and he’ll pull the trigger.”

“What? He has his men watching me already?” Carden gasped in shock.

“Yes. He knows everyone in this city, and he notices whenever someone new arrives. That’s why you must be careful and make sure you don’t blow your disguise.”

Carden nodded, still worried, doubt creeping into his mind.

I’ve gotten this far… I can’t pull back now, he told himself, trying to regain confidence.

Arrival

“Here we are,” Fred said.

A small gate opened to reveal a building that rose with quiet dignity, its pale stone walls warm under the sun. A tall bell tower crowned the structure, topped with a simple cross cutting against the sky. Narrow arched windows lined the sides, stained glass catching hints of color even from the outside. Heavy wooden doors stood as solemn guardians of silence and prayer. The entire place radiated a calm, sacred stillness, as though holding centuries of whispered devotion.

Fred stepped out of the car and gestured for Carden to follow.

Carden, still amazed by the structure, which is a cathedral, he could hardly take his eyes off it.

“Carden,” Fred called, “this is where you’ll be staying.” He led him into a room. Inside, everything was luxurious—beautiful furniture and everything he would need—while the outside appeared old. No one would ever guess what the interior looked like.

Carden entered, eyes wide. “Wow… I wasn’t expecting the room to be this furnished,” he breathed.

“Yes. I made some renovations. Carlos specifically asked me to prepare it this way for your comfort.”

“Carlos… never ceases to amaze me. Thank you, Fred. I really appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome. I’ll leave you to settle in. In a few minutes, we have a charity fundraising to attend—and Arnold, the dreadful man, will be there. Try not to blow your cover. I believe Carlos already told you.”

“Yes, he did,” Carden replied.

“And remember—you are Father Damien Narvick. I’ll tell you later why I changed the first name. For now, freshen up. The bell will soon ring, and the fundraising will start immediately.”

Fred left, closing the door.

Carden felt anxious—but the beauty of the room distracted him. He began undressing as he walked toward the bathroom.

“Let’s do this,” he whispered.