Chapter 1
Water
6 in the evening has long been a frightening hour.
In christian times, not only did it signify the coming of dusk, which was the time for kids to hurry home before sundown, but it also carried the number of the devil.
But in this church, near closing time - every cleric needs their rest - there was no room for inexplicable fear of a number, no leeway for paranormal activities to be appointed to only one figure, benevolent at that. It only served the coming of the exhalted one, lying in R'lyeh, as per the pastor's command.
No, 6 o' clock was a very ordinary time for the priestess in the yellow garb. Or, at leasat, it was supposed to be.
"Sister Hildegard, I will take the evening off, as I planned already. My housework is really piling up."
"Not an issue, my dear! But make sure you don't sleep in too long, the cold weather could cause you to miss the first service tomorrow."
"I will see to it, Sister."
For the first time since entering Rena cast a glance outside. The damp in the November air condensed on the windows, and what little view it offered onto the courtyard was sealed off by a thick layer of fog. Not wishing to upset her colleague who had done the cleaning today, she shrugged and took a view outside.
It was typical weather for the sixth of November: The grey, murky clouds had long since swallowed the sun, and cast their veil of rain over the city. It had been dry for days, she figured it would do well to the crops. Or something.
She intended to put on her coat, but ended up idly swinging it over her shoulder.
~
There it was again. The feeling. The wretching sensation that his body was gone and his soul remained and it could still feel everything they did to him and they all leaned over him smiling smiling and who was the man in the corner why wasn't he smiling?
A young man jolted awake, for the fifth time this month in a sweaty puddle, completely stressed out. Sleep paralysis, the doctor said. Do you have a regular sleep schedule he asked? No, frankly, he did not. Evidence of the fact was him waking up at 6 in the evening and calling the doctor to tell him he woke up.
This had to stop. He swore to himself to go out today, grab the first box of pills he saw, convert himself to truly any religion they'd offer, if only that maddening feeling would tide over. It was time to finally live up to the name his friends had ironically dubbed him.
Ephemeral. Fleeting away without anyone caring.
He tried to put something warmer on, but got stuck in the sleeve halfway.
~
