[u][b]Crater House Church [/b][/u] Abraham watched the last drops of the mahogany colored liquid escape the IV bag into the tube in his arm. Then returned to his writing, the sermon was nearly finished but the words had become blurry and out of focus. Abraham reclined in the high-backed upholstered chair and closed his eyes. His mouth was dry and there were sharp pains in his joints. The side effects of Scouring, the process was painful physically, but it allowed a soul to embrace the Glow anew and be washed clean in Atom’s light. At least, that is what the faith taught. Abraham cracked his eyes and let the room slowly fade into a hazy focus, he had his doubts. Most in the Church did, though few expressed them, Abraham had never voiced them openly, though he could never pull it fully from his mind. He looked down at the unfinished sermon, the words were well chosen and would elicit fervor from his congregation, but felt hollow to him. “Brother Abraham,” Abraham looked to the door of his shack, a gruff looking man with a shaved scalp and tattered green robes stood there holding a hot bowl. “Brother Reed, come in, it is a pleasure to see you.” Reed smiled and stepped inside placing the bowl on the table next to the sermon. “I have brought you some mirelurk and tato soup, Sister Ada said you were Scouring today.” “I am”, Abraham picked up the bowl but instead of sipping from it gave it back to Reed. “I am also fasting, this is my second day, and I cannot be tempted.” Reed took the bowl and shot a glance down at the food then to Abraham. “Scouring and fasting Brother? That is not a wise choice, your body will be heavily taxed.” “I have done it before.” Abraham removed the IV from his arm and rubbed the injection site. “This is not the Holy City Brother, none of us are doctors.” Abraham scowled at Reed. “I have done it here, before you joined our congregation. I do not need to be chastised in what measures I take to express my faith.” Reed nodded and looked down. “I did not mean to offend Brother, I only said what I thought.” “I will inform you when I desire to hear your thoughts Brother.” Abraham stood from his chair and looked Reed in the eyes. “Go and get Sister Ada, tell her we are going to the Lighthouse.” Reed nodded and left the shack, once the door was shut Abraham stumbled and caught himself against the table and sat back into the chair closing his eyes. He was weak, and it wasn’t just the Scouring and the fasting. Abraham could feel his age in his bones but knew no remedy for it. [b][u]Lighthouse[/u][/b] Abraham greeted those Children waiting outside the Lighthouse with a nod and an embrace before moving inside. It was dark save for the light of a few lanterns and Abraham looked around the room, it was filthy and resembled nothing of the spartan shacks at the Crater House Church. Piles of empty food wrappers and cans, discarded bones littered the floor. A door on the far side of the room that was slightly ajar. Abraham pushed it open but found it blocked, he pushed harder and saw what was blocking the way. A pile of shoes stretching from the back corner, nearly a foot or two high and about four or five feet wide. All of them different sizes and colors and styles. Some bloody, some wet but all of them dirty. Abraham sighed and moved back pulling the first chair he could, and sitting down. The exterior door opened and Sister Gretchen entered, she took a look around the room before taking a chair next to Abraham. “Reed tells me fasting Abe.” Abraham nodded. “He is correct.” Gretchen glanced away from Abraham and spun a lock of her dark hair around her finger. “And Ada tells me you scoured again this morning.” Abraham looked at Gretchen as he shifted in his seat to face her. “Are you going to recount to me all the details of my day?” Gretchen frowned. “Abe,” “It is Brother Abraham.” He corrected her. “Oh for Atom’s sake Abe! I’ve known you since I was girl, so has Ada and Reed. We are worried for you.” “I appreciate your concern but the only thing you should be worried about is that ever growing pile of discarded shoes.” Abraham motioned to the other room, Gretchen leaned back and glanced from Abraham to the room. Abraham gritted his teeth and leaned forward whispering harshly “It has grown since last I came despite Brother Quaid’s assurance the robberies would end.” Abraham grabbed Gretchen by the face and pulled her forward. “You gave me your fucking word you’d talk some sense into him. I see you haven’t.” He let go of her and she stood up quickly and took a step back. “I’ve tried but he won’t listen, it’s only gotten worse since they made a settlement out of them Salem ruins. Now Quaid lets anyone on the roads, even takes bribes from raiders and bandits to set up caravans and settlers.” Abraham stood “Why are you telling me this?! Why now?” He glanced towards the door and moved to pull his pistol. Gretchen looked at him with wide eyes and shook her head. “Because I want you to end it, you haven’t been here in weeks. What was I supposed to do? Confront him by myself?” Abraham glanced to the floor then back to Gretchen “He would have killed me Abe if I tried to come see you. I’ve been waiting for you to come.” Tears had started to form in Gretchen’s eyes, Abraham rubbed his face and crossed his arms. “I apolo-“ He was cut off as the door opened and a tall man holding a gamma gun entered. “Am I interrupting?” The man said with a grin, Abraham frowned and turned to face him. “Not at all Brother Quaid.” “Good.” Quaid smiled as he grabbed himself a chair, dragging it loudly across the floor before sitting in it. He laid his gamma gun heavily next to an ashtray upon a metal table to his right and grabbed a pack of cigarettes by the ashtray. Quaid fished around till he found one then pulled it out and lit it, taking a drag and exhaling before looking at Abraham. “I see you still struggle with your vices Brother Quaid.” Quaid gave a wicked half smile. “We are all sinners, are we not Brother?” “Aye, we are.” Abraham nodded. “But those of us who are faithful members of the church, work in penance to rid ourselves of our vices.” “We are long way from the Holy City Brother.” Quaid leaned forward, exhaling another cloud of smoke. “And yet still Atom’s Glow reaches us here, his Glow and the hand of the Church.” Quaid leaned back, taking another drag and scrunching his brow. Now Abraham leaned forward. “You have been sloppy Brother and the Church has found the foot prints you left behind,” Abraham motioned to the back room of shoes. “Your judgement has come Brother, and there is no raider clan for you to hide behind now. You may have escaped my judgement, but you will not escape Atom’s.” Quaid sat there for a moment, holding Abraham’s gaze before looking at Gretchen, then back to Abraham. He took a drag before throwing the cigarette down to the ground. “I should have let you die when those Gunners shot you Abe.” “Aye, you should’ve.” Abraham stood and moved to leave. Gretchen moved to follow but Quaid grabbed her arm and stopped her. Abraham turned. “There wouldn’t be a trial here, we are far too remote.” “As you said Brother, we are a long way from the Holy City.” Quaid smiled and let go of Gretchen and she and Abraham moved to leave the Lighthouse.