Due to the limited space available in this small house used for gatherings, only a maximum of fifty members could attend the worship service per schedule, and even that number was pushing the limits. Typically, the attendance was kept to around thirty members, as this figure didn't include those with assigned duties. This approach ensured that the congregation size remained manageable, particularly during regular worship services, with additional space reserved for special occasions.

Hence, a separate branch of the local ecclesia was established to cater to the needs of its members. Some members attended services in this separate branch, which was also held in a house or a similar setting. The selection of the other branches' locations was determined by the residences of the majority of local members and prioritized discretion. This decision made it much easier for members to attend worship services if they lived nearby. The establishment of this branch demonstrated the leadership's commitment to meeting the diverse needs of both duty members and regular attendees. Additionally, it served as a contingency plan in case one of the branches was compromised.

The unexpected encounter with her was truly shocking for Viga. As he tried to regain his composure, he found himself locking eyes with her once again. Those mesmerizing eyes stirred up another wave of surprise and set his heart racing even faster. However, noticing her lack of astonishment compared to his own left Viga feeling somewhat deflated. He made an effort to calm himself before speaking.

"Hi, how are you?" Viga asked, his voice tinged with awkwardness.

"I'm good. Are the other members of the choir already here?" Myrlene responded promptly after answering Viga's question.

"Some are," Viga replied.

"Okay, I'll go inside then," Myrlene said, swiftly making her way indoors, leaving Viga standing by the gate.

Observing the exchange, Viga couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. It was evident from their brief interaction that Myrlene was simply trying to avoid him. She uttered only a few words out of politeness, without showing any genuine interest in their encounter after a long time of not seeing each other.

After Myrlene left, Viga stood there for a moment, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside him. He couldn't shake off the sense of disappointment and hurt from their brief exchange. It was clear to him that their relationship had changed significantly since their breakup a few months ago.

Despite his initial shock at seeing her, Viga couldn't deny that a part of him still harbored feelings for Myrlene. Her presence stirred up memories of their time together, both the good and the bad. But now, faced with the reality of their encounter, he realized that things between them were different.

As he watched Myrlene disappear inside the house, Viga couldn't help but wonder what went wrong between them. He had so many questions, yet he knew that some answers might never come. With a heavy heart, he braced himself for the evening ahead, knowing that navigating his duties would require him to push aside his personal turmoil and focus on his responsibilities.

As the night deepened, all the duty members were accounted for according to the schedule. They were ready for the influx of regular worshipers that would soon start trickling in. Viga, as the team leader, took charge and went around checking in with his team members. He asked how they were doing and if there were any problems or issues that required attention which he might have missed during his earlier rounds.

After a series of brief interactions, Viga began assigning his team members their obligations for the night. Once the tasks were delegated, they all set off to their designated positions. Throughout his duties, Viga couldn't shake the feeling of constantly glancing at the door, almost as if he could peer through it and catch a glimpse of a particular girl. However, every time he caught himself doing so, he would shake his head in an attempt to dispel the thoughts clouding his mind.

After sometime, the event for the night finally commenced. Signaling the start of the event, the choir's melodious voices resonated from within the compound, their harmonious tunes seeping through the walls and doors, reaching the ears of those stationed outside.

Viga stood vigilantly at his post, his mind struggling to remain focused on the task at hand. The enchanting melodies seemed to beckon him, transporting his thoughts to a different realm, one where memories of a time long past resurfaced with vivid clarity.

He could almost envision Myrlene's radiant smile as she stood among the choir members, her angelic voice blending seamlessly with the others. In those moments, she had appeared so content, so at peace, as if the weight of the world had been lifted from her shoulders.

Viga shook his head, determined to dispel the distracting reverie. He couldn't afford to let his mind wander, not when the safety of the congregants depended on his unwavering attention. Yet, try as he might, the melodies continued to weave their way into his consciousness, stirring emotions he thought had been buried.

As the singing reached its crescendo, Viga found himself transported back to the day he had finally noticed Myrlene, the day they had their first date. Before that, Myrlene had been just another face in the local ecclesia for Viga, an acquaintance. One day, out of the blue, Myrlene initiated contact by sending him a private message on a social media app. From there, it started: one reply led to almost hourly messages, even during working hours. It took weeks before Viga asked for their first date, and on that first date, he was instantly smitten, drawn to her like a moth to a flame.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

The memories came flooding back, each one more vivid than the last. The stolen glances, the shy smiles, the gentle brushes of their hands as they walked side by side. Viga could almost feel the warmth of her touch, the softness of her skin against his.

Suddenly, the singing ceased, jolting Viga back to the present. He blinked rapidly, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he realized he had been lost in a trance-like state. Quickly, he regained his composure, scanning the area for any potential threats or disturbances.

As the lecture commenced, the words of the speaker faded into the background, overshadowed by the echoes of the choir's melodies that still lingered in Viga's mind. He knew he had to remain vigilant, but a part of him couldn't help but wonder what might have been, had circumstances been different.

With a heavy sigh, Viga steeled his resolve, determined to push aside his personal turmoil and focus on the task at hand. The safety of the congregants was his utmost priority, and he would not allow his emotions to compromise that duty.

The lecture droned on, the speaker's monotonous voice echoing through the halls as Viga fought to maintain his focus. He could feel the weight of fatigue settling upon his shoulders, the strain of being alert for hours, compounded by a long day's work and the inability to grab some rest earlier, was wearing him down.

As the minutes ticked by, Viga found himself glancing at the clock more frequently, silently willing the hands to move faster. The activities seemed to stretch on endlessly, far exceeding their usual duration.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the lecture drew to a close, followed by the last prayer and then the last hymn of the choir, signaling tonight's gathering coming to an end. After the end of the hymn, the first congregants began to file out of the building. It took a while before the very last group of the congregants to exit the compound. The guardians, as part of their duty, controlled the number of those going out to ensure that no unnecessary attention comes their way. With the last person out, Viga breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that his duties were nearing their end.

The guardians' role doesn't quite end with ushering everyone out. One of their creed dictates they're the first to arrive and the last to leave. This ensures security while other members fulfill their post-gathering duties. The secretariat needs to tidy up paperwork, deacons and deaconesses have to clean the house of worship, and finance officers have to meticulously count the offerings. The guardians remain vigilant until these tasks are completed, ensuring everything is secure before finally calling it a night.

In just half an hour, some duty members completed their post-gathering tasks. One by one, as they finished, they took their leave, offering farewells before heading out. Just as Viga was beginning to wonder if this vigil would take much more longer than the usual, a familiar figure appeared in the distance. It was the head deacon of the guardians in this local ecclesia, striding directly towards Viga.

"Ah, Viga," the head deacon greeted him, his voice carrying a hint of weariness. "Looks like you might even be more beat than last time. I guess we both do." The head deacon chuckled, but it lacked its usual energy, hinting at his own fatigue.

Viga nodded respectfully, unsure of what to say.

"It seems the activities have run much longer than anticipated," the deacon continued. "I have an important meeting with the higher-ups, and so I will be taking over the remaining duties."

Viga's eyes widened slightly, surprised by the unexpected turn of events.

"You and the others who remain can take your leave," the deacon said, waving his hand dismissively. "You have more than fulfilled your obligations for the day."

For a moment, Viga hesitated, his sense of duty warring with the prospect of an early reprieve. But the deacon's insistence left little room for argument.

"Thank you, sir," Viga replied, inclining his head gratefully. Viga then informed the other guardians they were free to go, as the head deacon had volunteered to take care of everything from here.

After notifying the other guardians, Viga proceeded to collect his belongings and ensure he had not forgotten anything before departing himself. Some of the other guardians had already left as soon as Viga gave them the news, while some choose to stay a little while longer in order to wait for the other duty members so they could travel home together. This way, they would have the opportunity to chat on the way home.

With nothing left to keep him here, the chance to escape early and avoid that certain someone... well, the head deacon's offer suddenly looks pretty good. With a final glance around the compound, ensuring that all was in order, Viga turned and began the journey home. His steps were lighter than usual, buoyed by the knowledge that he had earned a well-deserved respite.

As he made his way through the familiar streets, Viga couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over him. The long hours had taken their toll, and the prospect of returning to the comfort of his own dwelling was a welcome one.

Viga continued his journey homeward, his footsteps echoing in the quiet streets. The evening had grown cool, a gentle breeze rustling the leaves of the trees lining the sidewalk. He breathed in deeply, savoring the crisp night air.

As he walked, his mind began to wander, replaying the events of the day. Despite the extended activities and unexpected encounters, he felt a sense of accomplishment in having fulfilled his duties. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he thought about the well-deserved rest that awaited him.

Suddenly, a strange sensation washed over him, causing him to pause mid-stride. It was a familiar feeling, one he had experienced many times before – a subtle shift in his surroundings, as if the world around him had taken on a slightly different hue.

Viga's breath caught in his throat as realization dawned upon him. This was the telltale sign that he was being transported to the bizarre world, the realm he had visited so often in his younger days.

He glanced around, taking in his surroundings with a newfound sense of awareness. The streets seemed to shimmer and distort, the buildings twisting and morphing into strange, unfamiliar shapes. The air grew thick and heavy, carrying with it a faint scent of ozone.

It took almost an instant before the twisting and morphing settled down, revealing a world that was both familiar and utterly foreign. Towering buildings, their facades crumbling and decayed, loomed overhead like silent sentinels. The trees that had once lined the sidewalk were now twisted, gnarled things, their branches reaching out like skeletal fingers from the pages of a horror novel.

Viga's gaze swept over the transformed landscape, his eyes wide with a mixture of wonder and trepidation. Despite the countless times he had found himself in this bizarre world, the contradiction of the sky displaying a kaleidoscope of colors versus the dilapidated structures surrounding him never ceased to disconcert him, just as it had when he first thought about it in his younger days.

The sky above was a swirling tapestry of hues, each color bleeding into the next in a mesmerizing dance. Vibrant oranges and fiery reds intermingled with deep purples and vivid blues, creating a canvas that seemed to shift and undulate with every passing second.

In stark contrast, the buildings that can be seen in the distance were in a state of decay. Once proud edifices now stood as mere shadows of their former selves, their walls crumbling and cracked, their windows shattered and broken.

Viga's gaze drifted downward, and he noticed that the very ground beneath his feet had undergone a transformation as well. What had once been a smooth, paved sidewalk was now a patchwork of cracked and uneven stones.

Instinctively, Viga reached out with his senses, trying to gauge the nature of this latest journey into the bizarre world. He could feel the energy pulsing around him, thrumming with an intensity he had not encountered before.

As he stood there, transfixed by the familiar yet unfamiliar landscape before his eyes, a single phrase escaped his lips, uttered in a hushed whisper:

"I'm back."