“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
“Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth Sin: and Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
–Father Abraham, “The Holy Word”. 13 Months After.
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Sin.
The most vile curse that this world had ever faced. Ever since that first moment when Adam and Eve defied the Lord’s commands and consumed from the Tree of Knowledge, mankind had been afflicted by Sin. Their purity was forever tainted through this act, along with that of their children, and their children’s children, all the way up until this moment. The Beholding became a mere extension of this betrayal. A boiling point of collective failure that could not be unwound. They had brought Hell to this earth, and now, they lived with Sin with each passing day.
It was only a matter of time before Brother Ezekiel combated this beast in full strength again.
The land blurred wherever he turned, even when cast in the light of the moon. He tried to breathe easy, but found a lump in his throat that refused to disappear. Blood continued to spill from his wounds, no matter how tightly he wrapped them.
And Sin shrouded his mind’s eye, now more than ever.
The fire burned hot in the middle of the clearing, his companions resting nearby. Liam held his daughter close, wheezing every so often himself. The Chosen One had fallen asleep, but she clung to the stuffed bear her father gave her. Its buttoned eyes and face twinkled in the light of the campfire.
Meanwhile, the dead Hunters remained where Ezekiel piled them up on the perimeter of their camp. That would help to keep from attracting beasts and sinners alike.
Leaving only the danger that he could bring.
“How do you feel?” Ezekiel asked to distract from his thoughts.
Liam chuckled. “Far from chipper, but I think we lucked out. I reckon they must’ve missed any major arteries, or I’d be dead by now. So long as the wound doesn’t get infected, I might just get through this without incident.”
“What about your daughter?”
He gave her hair a stroke. “She seems to have pulled through whatever illness she had. Turns out all she’d needed was a few days of rest and some fluids. Thank you for that, by the way.” He kissed her forehead and looked up. “What about you, Ezekiel? How do you feel?”
“I’m fine.”
“Are you?”
“Do not concern yourself with m-m–” He leaned away.
Liam lurched straight up. “Ezekiel, if you already stuttering…”
“I t-told you, I’m fine.”
He grimaced. “No, you’re not. You’re hollowing. This needs to be treated.”
Ezekiel glared. “What do you know of our kind or the poison in our souls?”
“If I have learned anything for certain, it is that your mind needs sustenance to maintain itself. Barring that, you’ll keep hollowing out until you become one of those sinners you hate so much.” He nudged over his shoulder, out to the dead bodies of Hunters. “Please, you have to eat.”
Ezekiel caught the implication. “That is Sin!”
“No, mate. It’s physiology.”
“You don’t know what y-y-you’re talking about.”
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Liam frowned. “I do.”
His fingers curled into balls. This heresy was too much. Especially now. Especially when he was already so weak. His sight fell unwittingly to the wound on Liam’s chest, along with the sweet, crimson nectar that stained the bandages wrapped around his leather hardsuit…
Ezekiel averted his gaze. “I’m going to seek out threats.” He marched off without another word.
A comfortable darkness flooded his sight no sooner than when he left the sanctuary of the fire. The overpowering seduction dissipated with it, and his nostrils once again sucked in oxygen without incident.
Damned be this burden. Ezekiel found a rock to lean against, breathing deep now that the air was clearer. His fingers quaked as he pulled out his copy of the Holy Word. It would take some time for his eyes to adjust enough to read, and many pages had been stained with blood and dirt through so much trauma, but there was little else to do.
When was the last time Ezekiel had felt such temptation before? Many years. More than he cared to remember. Ever since that first moment when Father Abraham blessed him with a new life, he had done everything in his power to embrace his faith.
It was slow, at first. After so many years leading a Sinful life, Ezekiel could not fathom a world in which he craved no living flesh. The Devil had rooted into the depths of his soul, and any alternative proved incomprehensible.
But then he spent more time with his Brothers and Sisters. Where the world had always been dark and rooted in Sin, his congregation found the light through their mutual love of God, of their community, and even each other. Not as mere partners, but on a deep and spiritual level. The longer he lived with his family, the more of their love he felt within himself.
Ezekiel had experimented with many jobs during those early days. He had tried being a farmer, an animal rustler, a blacksmith, and even a woodcutter. All were for naught. No matter how much he strove to better his soul, Sin still found a way to weaken his spirit. Prayer became a constant, and he absorbed many of his community’s resources to keep his healthy mind intact. The fear and shame of his failure only compounded this spiritual crisis to the point where he thought that his Sin would doom their entire congregation.
Until that one day.
One of his Brothers had murdered a Sister, his heart entwined by the Devil’s wrath. The Father pleaded that this man return to the light, but his soul had been corrupted beyond repair, and he no longer valued the warmth and love of his family. He raised a pitchfork against those who drew near, blinded against all else.
Brother Ezekiel stopped him. While the other Beholders fled against such an abrupt display of heresy, he stood his ground. The Lord commanded his fists against this demon. In the end, Ezekiel put him down with ease.
And so the Inquisitors were founded.
Father Abraham saw his strength and guided Ezekiel on a new path. No, he had not been the only one afflicted by Sin. Satan had bored his way through so many others with his false promises. Only through a show of force could this heresy be kept at bay, and Ezekiel was blessed with a strength and skill that remained unrivaled in their camp. It was only natural that he became the head of the Inquisitors. A general for the Lord’s army.
No longer did he feel burdened by the weight of Sin. Not by himself. He could close his mind against his internal struggles and open his eyes to those around him. They suffered against their mortal imperfections and needed a strong hand to guide them back to the light. One beyond reproach, willing to perform the necessary Inquisitions to save his Brothers and Sisters from themselves.
It was all so much simpler during those days.
But who was here now to save Ezekiel from himself? He tried to read scripture from the Holy Word, but his eyes merely slipped from the page at each verse. The words held no meaning, nor could he see God’s love. Without his family to lend him strength, what was he to do?
The wind shifted, and that irresistible fragrance graced his nostrils yet again. His pupils dilated, and his tongue salivated without command.
Blood. Fresh blood. Human blood.
Another thought wormed its way into the deep recesses of his consciousness. Yes, it would all be so easy. Go back the way he came, lift Liam’s puny form up, and bury his teeth into his throat. What did it matter whether he lived or died? Only the girl made a difference, and she cast a lure of her own. If anything, Ezekiel would be doing them all a favor by sating himself against him instead of her.
And he wanted to taste Liam’s flesh too. Craved him, even. The more the thought germinated, the more alluring it became. Why bother fighting against his own nature? As his captive admitted, Sin would claim Ezekiel’s soul soon enough. He could at least indulge this mortal lust one final time!
Perhaps this would be better. In this weakened miasma, it all became so very clear again. Brother Ezekiel was a fraud, borne from an unholy Hunter named Zeke. A killer who roamed the wastelands of this destroyed world, caring for nothing other than to satisfy his personal hunger.
What would stop Ezekiel from going down that road yet again? Zeke had been so much more powerful. He had destroyed so many enemies who’d crossed his path. Why not embrace such heresy? Why let another man’s morality determine his fate!?
A trace of Liam’s scent flowed his way. His nose burned in response.
Ezekiel gripped his cudgel and turned around. There was nothing more to think about, nor alternatives to consider...