Fallen

403


There she hung in the cathedral suspended by a rope that seemed to have no end. Kaleb rushed in caressing her bare feet with silent tears flowing down his cheek.

"Do not weep for her boy." A man clad in black appeared from the shadows. He reminded Kaleb of a priest yet in a dark way as he could feel eyes boring into him from behind reflective glasses.

"You did this," Kaleb fumed accusingly.

"Trust me, she wanted it."

"Liar!" The man moved closer, his cane echoing as it hit the ground.

"You knew the little whore little."

"How dare you," the young man move to strike yet was quickly stopped by a blow of cold steel.

"She makes a lovely corpse, doesn't she?" Kaleb struggled to pick himself up. "Anger will get you nowhere." The stranger reached out to her.

"Don't touch her." Ignoring Kaleb he caressed the cold bronze skin of her ankle.

"What brought you here?"

"What?" Kaleb supported himself against a pillar.

"What brought you here to mourn her death?"

"There was a note."

"Which you could have disregarded but you didn't. Why?"

"Love," Kaleb admitted quietly with resignation.

"Of course, what else fills the dreams of the young." He let go of her ankle. "Yet this one was empty. Incapable if you will."

"Who are you?" The man took off his glasses revealing a lack of irises.

"Who I am is of no importance." As a heavy sidedoor creaked open Kaleb looked to see a group of nuns. They worked carefully to remove the hanging girl as the man was already on his way out.

"Her halo was just too heavy," one of the nuns spoke solemnly.

"Pardon," Kaleb asked startling them.

"What...Oh. Young man you really shouldn't be here."

"But I--" The sisters helped him to his feet.

"There is much work to be done if she is ever to be at rest. You've paid your respects, now you must leave." They had already propelled Kaleb towards the entrance. He took one last look at the eternally sleeping girl. "You will see her again," the nun said kindly while nodding to add assurance. He hesitated then nodded back and left the cathedral.

"Much, much work to be done." The nun shook her head in sorrow. "Hurry along sisters, time is of the essence." They all returned to the corpse and went back to making the preparations.