Fan Fiction ❯ Buckles and Beams ❯ First Rays of Light ( Chapter 2 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Buckles and Beams

Chapter 2: First Rays of Light

A dark hooded form pattered slowly down the dirt road, body hunched over and whimpering ever so often with emotional and physical pain. The figure finally paused, appearing to have reached its destination at an old isolated church. The small feet clawed desperately up the stone stairs, hands shooting out ever so often to help with the semi-steep incline. Once this feat was accomplished, the creature crawled in through a hole in the boarded doors of the church and came to a halt before a crumbling statue of the Virgin Mary. The sculpture was crying, as was the small human form standing in front of it. Shadows played wildly off the statue's face, creating a beam of glowing tears down either cheek.

"Please…" a woman's voice came from under the hood in Russian, "I have sinned greatly." She coughed hard, and finally sat down to rest. "Nine months ago I defiled myself in this holy place. I ask your forgiveness. In return, I sacrifice my life." The statue's pearl eyes glittered from the shadows. The woman drew a twisted dagger from her cloak and brought it to her throat.

"Wait!" yelled a male's voice from behind her. But it was too late. Blood trickled for a moment, then flowed freely from the self-inflicted wound in her jugular. The passerby ran up to kneel besides her, staining his black pants with her crimson fluids as he pressed his hand to her wrist, feeling the light pulse fluttering beneath his fingertips slowly start to fade.

"Aurora…" escaped the girl's mouth with the last rise and fall of her chest.

"Poor girl," the man looked away, withdrawing his hand from her lifeless flesh. He stood up and started to walk off, but a small movement pulled his attention back to the girl's black cloak. He pulled up a corner and was greeted by the scrunched face of a newborn child.

"So…that's what she meant." He smiled, pulling the baby into his grasp. It gurgled happily, reaching up to play with the metal cross hanging from its new playmate's neck. "Hello Aurora. I'm Father Gustov. It's a pleasure to meet you."

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Two Years Later

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"Fader Gusof! Fader Gusof!" the two-year-old girl tottered down the isle as fast are her chubby little legs could carry her, pouncing onto the priest's leg as soon as she was within range. He laughed happily, swinging her up into his arms.

"What is it, little Aurora?" he asked the child interestedly.

"I'm not little…" she pouted, making a face at the word.

"Of course not. Now what ails you, dear?" She squirmed, demanding to be put down. Father Gustov complied, releasing her onto the nearest pew with a light thump.

"Can we go to the cirus?" she asked hurriedly, pulling on his clothes to retain his attention.

"Slow down, child. The circus?" She nodded, eyes lighting up at the word.

"People say that the cirus is coming, and they sound really happy about it!" He paused for a moment, then laughed heartily. Of course, she had no idea what a "circus" was…

"Alright. We can go to the circus." The girl squealed, hugging Father Gustov around the neck and stumbling back out the door with excitement.

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"Awww…Fader… Do I have to?" Aurora looked down at the fluffy green thing on her plate.

"Every minute you refuse to eat your broccoli is another minute you're late for the circus. Just remember that!" She made at the face at the said vegetable, holding it between her fingers to get a closer look. She didn't want to be late to the circus, but this thing was just gross! And she was suppose to eat it?! The girl brought her knees to her chin in the chair, holding the broccoli a centimeter from her face. No, she wasn't going to eat it. She wasn't!!

All of a sudden, a brown spot grew from where her fingers were touching. She gasped, and dropped it to the floor.

"Aurora! I know you didn't want to eat it, but food is not to be wasted!" He picked it up, and examined it. "Well…that's strange. It appears that there's some sort of fungus growing on it. I didn't see that there before…" He placed a hand on her head, ruffling her hair slightly. "It was a good think you didn't eat it!" He laughed softly to himself, and went to throw the vegetable away. "Hurry up now, child. We don't want to be late for the circus now, do we?" Aurora slowly shook her head at the question, hopping down from the chair and making her way to the bedroom. She felt bad, as if she were tricking Father Gustov. But she did want to go to the circus now. Aurora finally decided… she would wait and tell him afterwards.