Chapter 6: Crisis Averted

   The first night the child spent under the stars was quiet. After it abandoned the church and went into the nearby forest to take a small break, it started thinking about what it could do in the future. It was a tough question, a tough decision. It was sure of one thing. It won't be caught by the priest.

 

 

   It slowly ventured through the forest, leaving small marks behind to know whether it was going in circles. At one point, it found a cave partially hidden by bushes. It decided to go in and spend the night there. The cave wasn't deep, but it was enough for the child to sleep in.

 

 

   It took out some bread and started chewing it. It was hard and dry, but it filled the stomach as it should. Soon after, watching the night overcome the sky, it fell asleep, aware that a new life would be waiting for it when the morning comes.

 

 

 

   It woke up with the first rays of the sun. It packed up and continued going deeper into the forest. If it walked for four or so hours, it would come to the village where it would be able to buy some necessities. It would also be around the best time to visit the flea market. It made a break once, eating an apple and drinking some water from the stream it washed in yesterday.

 

 

   It didn't want to visit that place again because of pure disgust and fear, but if it wanted some refreshment, it was the only way. The lake was dirty.

 

 

   The village was colourful. It didn't match the temperament of the people living in it. Stuck-ups that ignored anyone who was slightly poorer, the fake believers, apothecaries that refused anyone who couldn't pay more than the required amount. All trash. The child was aware of that, but it never thought of it till today.

 

 

   Its whole worldview changed in the span of one day.

 

 

   At first it thought it understood its parents. Then it felt guilty for being a burden at the church, so it worked hard. It was a debt it had to repay. But, this wasn't the case. No one ever said 'thank you'.

 

 

   They talked to it in a degrading tone, calling it a cripple, ghost, creep, etc. It didn't expect to be thanked anymore, but they upped the bar even further. They wanted the little one to become a toy for the priest. That was too much.

 

 

    It did see one of the toys, back when it was 8 years old. Even the toy spoke badly to it. It called it a mute mule. The child was smart, it knew what the toy was talking about, but it hurt anyway. They wouldn't have hated it if it just couldn't talk, but seipsy too? It was above their threshold of the 'goodwill' they were willing to give.

 

 

   As it walked through the village toward the flea market, it felt an eerie gaze on itself. Not daring to stop or turn around, it entered the area of the flea market. The merchants knew the child. It was a pity it couldn't talk. They were willing to help and work with it, as it was cooperative and mild-natured.

 

  

   As the child went through the stalls, it could feel the gaze not move from it. The merchants were used to the child, and just asked him whether or was it sent on yet another trip by the nun. The child just confirmed that, knowing it wouldn't be able to explain the situation if it were to deny the assumption.

 

 

   Before it could buy anything, it heard a voice. It was distinctly sweet, and the child felt goosebumps from it. He was the only person who didn't humiliate it by calling it a monster. He gave it a nickname. A nickname only he used.

 

 

   "Quiet! Quiet! Turn around, is that you? Isn't it too early for you to be here? Don't tell me that the nun sent you before sunrise to arrive at this time?" The one speaking was a tall male that looked harmless in his black garb. After all, he was a priest.

 

 

   He had seemingly clear black eyes, but death was written all over them. The child didn't know why anyone else couldn't see that. But it knew it was trouble.

 

 

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   "Oh, Mr. Priest. Welcome here. The little one came to buy some things again. I must say, you need to tell that nun to lay it off a little. Look at it, so skinny and short for its age. It needs more food to grow!" One of the wives of the merchants present pitched in.

 

 

   The priest smiled and responded with thanks to the kind reminder.

 

 

   It was the priest's gaze that followed it here. The child was in danger, but no one knew the real face of the man standing beside it. It felt the priest's hand on the shoulder.

 

 

   "Quiet, did the nun send you here?" The question seemed harmless, but the child was able to get the meaning behind it. She shouldn't have sent him here, at least not today. The priest was also coming back today, and it was without his toy. The child's blood chilled.

 

 

   It was supposed to become the priest's toy tonight. And the nun knew that.

 

 

   If it were under normal circumstances, they would make the child clean up and dress up for the priest's return. Then, the child would be presented to the priest as a new toy. The nun surely wouldn't send it to the village four hours away for some trinkets from the flea market.

 

 

   It breathed in deeply and denied it.

 

 

   "Then why are you here, Quiet?" The sound was changing. It seemed sinister. The child quickly gestured to the bag he had, pulling out some clothes.

 

 

   "Clothes? Did the nurse send you to buy some summer clothes for children?" The child just clapped as a confirmation. Then it showed to the flea market and gestured at the moving of the sun. It meant that it would take time to gather everything.

 

 

   "Should I wait for you anyway?" The child was impressed by its own acting skills. It widened its eyes, and then hurriedly shook its head. It looked like it was distressed for the priest.

 

 

   The priest was placated by this performance, just marking the nurse in the church as someone who needed punishment. Although the nurse didn't know of the inner workings of their church, which was par for the course, given that she was coming from the village to help children and not living in the church, it seems that he may need to initiate her.

 

 

   "Alright, I'll go on. Come back quickly, tonight we have a feast, and I brought some new medicines for you."

 

 

   Usually, the child would be thankful for his words even though it didn't like him, but it knew better now. Of course that he would be nice toward a potential toy. He didn't want them running away, right?

 

 

   It must be mentioned that only two nuns and the child actually knew of his hobby, this way making it easy for him to prey on innocent children and adolescents. Of course, the priest wasn't aware that the child knew.

 

 

   Thus he went away, feeling satisfied that he would have a brand new toy to play with that same night. The world of his own fantasies would make any executioner vomit.