The Church of Betrayal

Golden sunlight came from stained church windows. David swept through the pages of a book in the library at the back end of the church. His daughter Kate ran in the library, playing with her doll. The other pastures and nuns kept themselves busy by cleaning the hall in preparation for the morning prayers.

Then someone knocked on the door. A nun opened the door, and everyone saw with bulging eyes and shirking hands as a spear erupted from her throat. A demon stood at the door. He engulfed the church in a dark mist. David hid behind a table as the screeches and cries for help echoed through the church. He waved to Kate to hide in the back cupboards.

Windows shattered, and the earth itself started to crack. A pastor came running into the library, but the air dragged him back. Then— in the dark— someone walked into the library. He took a book, somehow started a fire and threw the book into it. He then grabbed another book, slipped through the pages and threw it too. At this rate, he’ll burn the whole library. The love for history overtook the love for his life, and he came out holding a cross.

“In the name of the Lord—”

The demon turned toward him with a spear. Its large rhombus tip glimmered blue. A dark crystal inside the first one and an even darker one inside it. David's eyes widened as he recognized it.

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“Do you have a last wish?” said the demon, coming into the light. A white turban on his head, a dirty thobe on his body, and a black beard touched his neck, but his face remained in the dark.

“To…to not die unanswered,” said David with all his courage.

The man scoffed and threw the book in his hand into the fire. It had a sigil same as his spear. “Ask it then.”

“Why…do you destroy books?”

“They are powerful tools, disguised as fragile and small things. Tell me, have these ever betrayed you?”

“Yes, but they still have their uses.”

The man looked at David's trembling hand and lack of a better answer and said, “I don’t think so.” He then grabbed his spear tightly, and it shined like the moon.

“Then give them a second chance,” said David quickly.

“Why? What if they do the same again?”

“Maybe they made a mistake.”

“Oh, no, it was no mistake. It was planned… a trap!”

“Maybe they misinterpreted… were misguided.”

“Then what is the reason they are still not?” The man picked his spear up and marched toward David. He backed up, but his back hit a wall. The spear touched his neck, and he said, “Why destroy something of your own?” The man stopped and said, “So, you know who I am?”

“Yes, Memoryer.”

“Then you must know your people are still hunting mine like some sewer rats.”

“But why destroy books?”

“To destroy any traces. The faster you forget about us, the better.”

“We can change.”

“I and a fifteen-year-old mother are the only ones left. Do you think I’ll take the risk?” He pushed the spear further and Kate burst out of the cupboard as a single drop of blood came out of her father’s neck. David looked at his daughter with sweet poisoning every part of him. The Memoryer left David and rushed toward Kate. “Please Memoryer! Do you think becoming like us would end your suffering?”

“You have not listened to the cries of our dying daughter.”

“Were they not innocent?”

“What kind of question is that?”

“She is the same.”

The Memoryer stood in silence. He hit the ground with his spear, and fire erupted that consumed all of the books. When it extinguished, the Memoryer was there no more, leaving Kate innocent as ever.