Chapter 1 continued

St. Mary’s was a lone bastion of hope in the battle for good in the run down neighborhood. Years ago the faithful parishioners had kept the grass and the hedge surrounding the church neatly trimmed. But now leaves gathered, someone should sweep them, but they gradually grind into the litter and grime rounding every intersecting surface.

Gabriel came to the brick and stained glass church early, knowing she would be waiting. Her only clock was the meth running through her veins. She paced outside, wearing a low cut red blouse and a skimpy jean skirt topping legs like a too small lampshade on a pop art lamp. Without a word he handed over the money, and she the baby, stalking down the street in her knee-high black boots without looking back.

Lily wriggled happily in Gabriel’s arms yet he could feel the ravages of illness in her body. Entering through the carved oak doors, Gabriel took the baby inside the brick and stained glass church, away from the cold winds.

Gabriel dipped his hand into the ornate marble basin of holy water by the door. Lily flinched as his hand approached her face and it troubled him to realize that she had already learned that touch meant pain. His wet fingers touched her body in the sign of a cross and she quieted in his arms. I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. He repeated the steps for himself.

As he walked past the well worn pews of the nearly empty church, Gabriel remembered what the church had looked like in its heyday, when faith was strong. The choir singing hymns, packed with well dressed faithful and full of life and spirit. A place where God was welcomed.

His sneakers made little sound on the gray stone floor as he made his way to the front and knelt with her on the worn red carpet at the altar. Gabriel’s voice crooned a soft lullaby as he rocked the baby. The bronze crucifix hung prominently at the center of the church and towered over the altar covered with a cloth, hand embroidered with flowers.

Today, the warmth of faith ebbed in this icy labyrinth, too big to serve the few who still came. The edges of the church glittered with the flickering of candles sending the hopes and prayers of the faithful up to heaven. A withered husk of a woman, tenaciously clinging to her faith, knelt and lit a candle in front of a gilded statue of the Virgin Mary.

“Let me tell you what heaven is like,” he whispered softly to the baby. Lily smiled and giggled again, the sound echoing in the vast church.

“Can I help you?” asked an elderly priest, his face crinkling into a welcoming smile.

Gabriel stood easily despite the abuses of the body that contained him. “Yes, I was just asking for you.” Gabriel reached out and shook the priest’s gnarled hand, yes he was right. “My name is Gabriel, and she needs you.” He handed the baby to the priest, who looked at him in confusion.

Reaching out a hand, Gabriel placed his hand on the man’s cheek. “God is well pleased with you, Father Luke.”

The priest’s clear blue eyes filled with tears and he nodded. “I will take care of the little one.”

With an aching heart, Gabriel leant over and kissed the baby’s forehead softly. “Goodbye, little one.”

He left the church swiftly and made his way over to a corner of the parking lot by the back dumpster. Gabriel dropped to his knees and puked. Tears ran down his cheeks as he heaved until well past his stomach being empty. He sat back against the wall, the rough brick scratching his back through the thin material. Gabriel wiped his face on his shirt, not that any more stains would be noticeable.

God give me strength, he prayed. The effects of withdrawals shook him and he fought to control the nausea that rolled through him. Groaning against the pain, he clenched his jaw and shuddered. He closed his eyes and took a deep, healing breath.

A sense of claustrophobia came over him. Struggling to his feet, Gabriel walked away down the street. His pace quickened as the thoughts of people on the street crowded into him, making it harder and harder to breathe. Ignoring the calls of souls in need, he escaped into a coffee shop.