Three

TEMPT THE SAINT

(Simon’s POV)

“Good evening Father,” I said as I stepped out of the bathroom.

He's eyes traced my body from my head to my toes.

he's eye's stopped at waistline where my towel was hanging.

“Why was your door locked?” he asked

I didn't dare answer him.

“Staying alone in a room promotes sinful thoughts”

I could only nod.

“ The Mayor and his son would be in church on Sunday, Behave.” It was a threat.

“He’s a bad influence. He'd corrupt you, don't mingle with him,” he said.

“Yes Father” I answered.

“Don’t disobey me, boy, you know what happens when you do”. He threatened again.

“Yes, Father.”

He walked towards me, using his left hand to lift my Jaw up. Then he walked out of the room.

I gulped.

I went back to bed, trying to sleep. My mind drifted back to this same boy. Why does everyone keep on talking about him?

I let the thought press my chest like a bruise before I drifted into sleep.

In the blink of an eye, Sunday came again. The day I'd anticipated the most.

The congregation was already seated when I walked inside behind Father Cadwell.

Finally, the sermon is finished. The women come up to me praising me as usual. But I see him, but there’s something else, he’s staring at me. Not in awe or like the “Miracle child” but like he was trying to figure me out.

I tried to look away, but he had already seen me. He’s grin was mischievous, dangerous, and crooked.

He was trouble, the type everyone would warn you about.

I looked up again, but he was gone.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him—that dangerous grin, his perfect jawline that I craved to touch. No, no, I shouldn’t be having such thoughts.

The next day.

I dragged myself out to bed to get dressed. Today, we were hosting a charity event, which Father Cadwell liked to call “giving back to the people who made Saint Aurelius.” In reality, it was just to feed the poor orphans stale bread and watery stew.

I haven’t had any encounter with Father cadwell for days and my wounds were healing fine.

A soft knock on my door. It could only be sister miranne.

“Simon!, You have special guests,” she said.

Special guests, that’s what they call people who come here specially for prayers from me.

“I’ll be down shortly” I replied.

“Don’t keep them waiting” Slowly her footsteps faded away.

I finished my business in the bathroom. Hurriedly I wore my white shirt and blue jeans. My bible, my holy water, and rosary were all I needed as I proceeded down.

They came to me like insects as they saw me descending from the stairs. They whispered my name as tho I were a relic.

“Simon please pray for my boy, he’s off to the university,” she asked.

University, it was never a dream of mine as Father cadwell said such exposure leads to sin. But when a sin was committed on me I was blamed and whipped instead.

“Bless you boy, you have grown so well. I’m sure your father would be proud.” I said smiling.

I bowed my head in prayer. Everything was false, but I had to behave because I knew he was watching. He was waiting for me to crack, so he’d have an excuse to whip me..

After the prayers were over, they proceeded to touch my hair and skin with their sticky fingers. “The blessing of Edevane”.

Bless your delusional heart. Their touches made my skin crawl.

I strode them to the entrance. After they left, I went to help the sisters with the preparations.

It was evening already. I stood under the flickering lights, the night breeze blew across my face, making me almost genuinely smile.

I spotted sister miranne from a distance and went out to help.

The foods were stale, Father cadwell said it reminded us of humility. But I knew the taste, it tasted like punishment.

In the blink of an eye, the courtyard was full, sisters, old men, and women of Edevane, orphans, were all trooping in.

“Have you had something to eat?” Sister Marianne asked.

“I’m not hungry” I shook my head.

She didn’t push it, she only shook her head. She was the only softness left here.

I helped her wash the dirty dishes, but in an instant, I felt chills run down my spine. I could feel someone was watching me. I turned around to look, but I saw nothing. Must have been the wind or maybe my sinful thoughts trailed me like a ghost.

I took the plates to the kitchen.

On my way out, I heard noises coming from inside the church building. I moved closer and I heard two school girls laughing about something.

“Did you see him?” One hissed.

“Arson?” The other one asked.

“Yes, he’s here. “

Arson, so that was his name.

Wait, he was here? Why? I moved aside, pressing my back against the wall so they won’t notice my presence.

“The whole town, even he’s father knows he’s a lost cause” one continued.

“Sleeping with both boys and girls like a dog on heat. He’s father must be Ashamed.” The other one said.

“Did you notice the way he stared at Simon from afar?” One curiously asked.

“I hope he doesn’t corrupt that Angel.”

The nodded in unison.

I frozen. Me? Why? How? Was that what I felt? Why was he looking at me?.

I needed to leave, if Father cadwell notices my absence, I’ll be in trouble.

Arson? Me? Why?. The thoughts lingered on as I walked back to the courtyard.

I walked around the courtyard, geeeting and blessing the people. I could still feel his presence from a distance. I heard a branch snap and I turned. There he was, He was lurking in the shadows, the tip of his cigarette glowed and then the light was gone.

He was tormenting me for some reason. He wanted me to know he was here, he was watching me, waiting for me to break.