Sister Deloris held her hands to her mouth and shook in fright at Karin's words.
She was standing behind the door on the left side of the chancel and had been there since Jasmin started speaking about her late family.
She wanted to check up on Karin but stopped in her tracks when she saw Jasmin, a former mindless demon, talking to Karin.
Out of curiosity, she eavesdropped and now she couldn't unhear what she heard.
...Is-Is that why all those people have been asking weird questions? It's like they came to the future! But-But that isn't possible, right? Mother Grace, Yes! I should ask Mother Grace. This is too serious for my sisters to hear about…
Sister Deloris's brain was in shambles. She had quite the experience with the supernatural and even had a special power before the apocalypse began, but this was too much. It would be a great understatement if she just ruled Jasmin out as crazy.
From what happened to Rebecca, to mindless demons turning back into fully-clothed people, and now this.
She quickened her pace and got to the hall where the meeting was being held.
She realized the meeting was still going on and decided to calm down and exercise patience.
…I don't fully understand. I should remain calm. I shouldn't act so unladylike as a daughter of God…
She controlled her breathing and tried her best to calm down. So much that she didn't realize Bishop Clement had already come out of the Meeting room and was staring at her.
"Your Excellency! Please forgive my misconduct, I didn't notice when you stepped out."
"What were you looking for?" Bishop Clement asked in a low tone.
"Pardon me, Your Excellency, I have something to ask Mother Grace."
"And what is it?" Bishop Clement wasn't in the happiest of moods.
Sister Deloris fidgeted. She didn't want it to be Bishop Clement she told.
Luckily for her, Mother Grace came out of the meeting room before she answered and asked, "Is there a problem, Deloris dear?"
"N-No Mother Grace… Actually, yes. I have something to ask you."
Bishop Clement shot Mother Grace a cold glance.
She went over to Sister Deloris then locked arms with her and walked away from Bishop Clement's presence.
"What is it you wanted to ask dear?"
"Mother Grace please can we go somewhere private?"
"I'm sorry dear, I have urgent matters to attend to. We're in the middle of the hall, if you don't talk loud enough no one will hear."
"O-Ok. I have come to notice the people that were saved by the angel of the Lord act strangely. It's almost like aren't from here."
"I'm sorry dear, I find it hard to understand you."
"Sister Karin is chatting with one of them in the oratory and it seems she doesn't believe anything that's happening is real because she says she slept for a few hours and woke up here. She thinks it is 2016 and the mother of the vessel of the Lord told her today's date…"
Mother Grace's calm and joyous demeanour vanished for a second due to shock.
She smiled at Karin and answered, "You'll receive your answers shortly my dear."
* * *
Mark just finished his brief lessons on how to use a gun, and the eradication team was ready to start the operation.
Standing in front of the team and with Sarah beside him, Damian briefly looked at the current phase details.
+
[Current Phase Details]
Description: There will be 3 days of adjustment before the start of the 2nd phase
–
Time remaining : 5:20:46
+
He raised his head and announced, "Let's go."
He let them all walk past him before turning around to follow them.
"Dr Cross…" Rachael called for Damian's attention.
"What is it?"
She was speechless and was acting shy with her hands behind her back.
"You're wasting---"
"Sigh, Here." She handed Damian a chef's knife.
"Is that---"
"Yes. After you saved me, I quickly removed it from that creature's head and hid it. I was going to use it to defend myself and Michelle. I'm sorry, I didn't know any better. Damn, I feel so stupid…"
Damian chuckled slightly then took the knife from her and followed behind his team.
"Try not to die, ok?" Rachael said.
…
Damian told his team to wait for him in front of the Spring Street Subway exit.
He followed Mark to the truck after telling the latter about the dead bodies on the bed.
He stood at the side and ordered Mark, "Lie the bodies over here."
Of course, Mark was annoyed and retorted, "And if I don't?"
Damian was astonished at Mark's idiocy and replied, "Heh, have you forgotten you're the one who needs the truck?"
Mark remembered and silently opened the bed floor door.
"So, what is the real reason you want to go with David Dolan even though you can do it yourself?"
"There's no need for you to know."
"I know Ivan told you more than you've been letting on. It doesn't matter if what he told you is true or not. Why? Because 'you' of all people don't get the right to judge me. So quit playing hero, you dumbass fake."
"This isn't about me anymore! Everyone is watching out for you. You're crazy, you do things on a whim and always act like you know everything. At least I feel sympathy for those people and because of it I'm devoting my entire life to help others, but what about you huh?
"I know I'm not a cop who has 'seen it all', but I sure do know when someone is sorry. I might've become the devil himself a few days ago but you have always been one."
Mark's words hit Damian hard. Damian smirked and said, "I wonder what if the families of those dead people are looking for them.
"Mark, do you have any ideas what I should say if I meet one of them? 'Your family is dead', no that's too harsh. Oh! I know, 'They ran to a cop to save their life but he killed them to save himself', and since I'm a good person I might even help them with a ring or two on your behalf."
Mark dropped the last demon corpse on the floor, "Y'know, I've had it with your bullsh*t. You can suck my balls."
He slammed the bed floor door shut and went to sit in the driver's seat. He shut the door and rolled up the window.
Sigh… Damian walked to the window and knocked.
"Hey, how 'bout you reduce the difficulty of clearing the demons in this area for old times sake? Like you said, 'This isn't about me anymore'. I might be bad but those people don't deserve to die, do they?"
Mark rolled down the window and mumbled, "I'll make them not attack."
"Such a kind hero. I wish I could be you someday." Damian said sarcastically and went back to his teammates.
A few minutes later, David Dolan arrived at the truck holding a shotgun and an axe.
"So where are we going?" He asked.
"Queens."
* * *
At Saint Rose of Lima Church, in the chapel.
"Are-Are you really sure that you don't remember anything? If you don't remember then it could just be functional amnesia. It's not that common but it's a thing." Karin said.
"I'm damn serious. I ain't joking, I'm sure I don't have brain issues. Are you sure I'm the one with the brain issues?" Jasmin was now thinking maybe Karin was the one with the problem.
"Then how do we explain this?"
Stump! Stump! Stump!
Several priests marched into the chapel with Bishop Clement, Mother Grace and Sister Deloris.
Karin stood up from the pew and asked, "W-What is all this?"
"I hope you understand Miss Karin, potential threats need to be regulated." Bishop Clement said as the priests walked up to Jasmin and grabbed her by the arm.
"Wh-What is this?! I'm not crazy! I didn't do anything! Where are you taking me?! Let me go! I will press charges! Karin! Tell your friends to leave me alone! Karin! I'm not crazy!" Jasmin cried out as they took her away.
"Hey! What are you doing to her?! Why are you taking her away?! Leave her alone you assholes!" Karin tried to follow but was held back by some priests.
"Miss Karin, please forget what happened here. It was just a minor issue. It seems she wasn't affected by Her power." Bishop Clement followed behind the priests.
"What do you mean?! What are you people up to?!" Karin screamed.
"Karin, please calm down. It's for the best." Sister Deloris tried walking up to Karin.
"Don't come any f*ckin' closer." Karin retorted
Mother Grace smiled and ordered Sister Deloris, "Pin her down dear. Saying such a thing in the house of God is disrespectful."
Sister Deloris rushed up to Karin. The latter tried pushing the former away.
Sister Deloris dodged Karin's hand and tackled her from behind and slammed her face on the floor. Then she held Karin's hands in place behind her back.
"Karin dear, there are issues that need to be kept confidential and I implore you to comply."