Page 39 of Forgive Me Father

Zack.

Fucking Hell.

Is God testing me again?

"I just came by to drop off my stuff before my buddy's party," He sighs, holding up a worn old robe. "I figured I'd be able to use the washing machine to get it ready before Mass..." He trails off, my chest rising and falling in rapid breaths.

"Are you alright?"

I see Eden standing in the rain, her expression of pain and sorrow.

David has hurt her.

Zackhas hurt her.

"Come here, Zack," I calmly coax him forward. "You forgot to bless yourself before entering the Lord's house," I hiss.

Swallowing nervously, Zack sets his things down, taking a cautious step toward me.

"Is something wrong, Father Briar?”

"Bless yourself, Zack," I snap, "And then we can speak."

Nodding his head, he creeps closer to the pool of holy water, peering down at our reflections in the large basin.

Reaching his hand toward the water, he taps his middle finger against its surface.

"Now, Zack, don't be shy," I smile, grabbing his wrist and pushing his hand a little further down. "You didn'thold back when you stripped Eden and left her on the side of the road, so why show restraint now?”

His eyes snap to my face. "How did you-"

"God knows all," I seethe.

"I meant to confess-"

"Well, I'm listening now. Here’s how you can repent.”

Motivated by feral rage, I grab the back of his head, shoving it into the water and forcing it to the bottom of the bowl. His arms flare, and I tighten my grip. His muffled screams bubble up to the surface of the water as I hold him there for a few seconds before yanking him back up. His head falls back, and his mouth hangs open as he sucks in air.

"How does it feel to be defenseless, Zack?" I yell, my teeth nearly snapping like a rabid dog. "Repent!"

"Forgive me, Father-" His voice trembles as he gets the words out, and I’m satisfied by the way he trembles against my chest.

I drive his head back into the water one more time for good measure, clawing his scalp as I drag him back up once I’m convinced he’s spent enough time breathless at the bottom of the bowl.

"If you ever fucking touch her again," I yell, slamming his head into the concrete rim of the basin. A deep gash forms across his forehead from the impact, dripping blood down the holy relic. "I will fucking send your ass straight to Hell. Swear to God you will never touch her again!"

Curling in on himself, he starts to sob like a small child, snot oozing from his nostrils down onto his lips before reaching his chin. His eyes are wide with fear.

Good. He should fear me.

I close my eyes, inhaling deeply as I recite Luke 10:19 to myself.

I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

And that’s what Zack is –a snake.

"Swear to him," I command, my mouth gravitating to his ear. "Swear to me."