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The heat melting all the ice in my veins.

But his smile quickly wilts with sadness.

Turning quickly from me and making me feel like I’ve done something wrong, he leads me away from the fountain.

“Ah, about time you decided to show up, Charles,” a man calls out from the very back row of wooden pews. “We were starting to fear you might have decided to make a run for it…”

The man flashes his teeth at my father to show that he’s jesting, but there’s a predatory glint in his eyes. Like he actually hoped my father would do such a thing.

My father offers his own amused smile as he walks us over to him. His entire demeanor suddenly relaxing. “Worried about my eternal soul, Howard? How considerate of you.”

“Of course,” Howard says, his smile fading. “It’s my Christian duty to worry for my fellow Brothers in the Order.”

“You shouldn’t have,” my mother says with a breathy laugh as she comes up to join us. “We’re simply late thanks to a little hair mishap.”

Howard glances at my mother only for a brief second, quickly dismissing her, before asking my father, “Vanity delayed you? Vanity is nothing to be proud of...”

My mother scoffs and my father stiffens.

Releasing his grip on my hand, my father says, “Alena, darling, go take your place in line.”

Unprepared to be suddenly left on my own, I hesitate and linger beside him, not sure what to do.

Howard turns all his attention to me, and the creepy way he looks at me makes me want to hide behind my father. “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

Pushing his hand into my back, my father urges me forward with a firm, “Go.”

Stumbling, almost tripping, I hurry down the red-carpeted aisle between the pews. Wanting to obey my father and be a good girl.

But I don’t know where I’m supposed to go.

The front of the cathedral, where the priest usually stands and talks at us, is completely empty. There are no tables covered in pretty, embroidered cloths. No golden cups or flickering candles.

Only a strange, scary looking chair that looks like something an evil king would sit in.

The rows of pews are filled, practically overflowing with people, but they’re all grownups. Men dressed in dark suits with white rose blossoms pinned above their hearts and women wearing dresses the color of fresh snow.

There’s not another kid to be seen anywhere. Not even a boy.

My father told me to do what the other little girls do…

But where are they?

Nervously, I glance back at my parents.

His expression tight with what looks like anger, my father seems to be arguing quietly with Howard. Completely unaware of my need for assistance.

My mother, on the other hand, glares right back at me. Daring me to embarrass her.

Unable to go back, I continue forward. Praying God will lead me in the right direction.

Reaching the end of the long aisle, I freeze. Panic gripping me. There’s still no sign of any other little girls.

Spinning in a small circle, I search desperately for them.

Will I be judged for this failure before the Judging even begins?

Then I hear them. Quiet, hushed whispers come from behind a red velvet curtain to my right.