Before It All Began (Part 1):
Iām sitting in church, just like every Sunday, shortly before the service begins. In my usual seat in the front row. Itās 28 degrees Celsius, and itās already this hot early in the morning. I have no idea what God was thinking, but this church doesnāt have air conditioning. Itās hot, but wellā¦ what can you doā¦
Suddenly, it turns coldā¦ That canāt be right. It was just incredibly warm a moment ago. I notice the goosebumps on my skin and look around. Nobody else seems to notice the cold. Everyone is waiting for the pastor to begin his sermon. Am I hallucinating? How is this possible? Itās freezing! I look aroundā¦ I know the people who come here every week, and I also know the ones who come less regularly. Iāve been attending this church for far too long not to notice a new face immediately. On the left, up in the galleryā¦ someone is sitting there. I donāt know himā¦ I know where the cold is coming from. I canāt stop staring at him. I want to look away, but I canāt. He scares me. Heās looking toward the pulpit. Black hair, pale skin, a black shirt, a black belt, black trousers, black shoes. Everything is black. Heās even wearing black gloves, for Godās sake, and itās 28 degrees. Wellā¦ it was 28 degrees. I look him up and downā¦ until I reach his faceā¦ I bet he even has fangs. He looks like he belongs to another era. His presenceā¦ itās soā¦ aristocratic? Can you even say that? I donāt know, but it suits him. I canāt look awayā¦ Oh Godā¦ he noticed. Heās looking at meā¦ No smile, no blinking, heās simply staring at me the same way Iām staring at him. His gazeā¦ it pierces right through meā¦ those ice-blue eyes. Heās beautiful. He doesnāt look kindā¦ he looks dangerous, like a walking red flagā¦ I have to leaveā¦ I have to get out of hereā¦ but something is holding meā¦ I canāt leaveā¦
The pastor begins his sermon, and I finally manage to look away. Thank God. I try to follow what the pastor is saying, to understand his words, but that manā¦ over and over again I find myself looking back at him, as if Iām caught in a current I canāt escape. He looks like the Devil himself. Shouldnāt he be burning? Shouldnāt he burn inside a holy house of God like this? He doesnāt belong here. Heās never been here before. He should never come back. The hour passes. The stranger listens to the pastor and doesnāt spare me a single glanceā¦ thank God. But somehow I canāt shake the feeling that he still notices meā¦ notices the way Iām staring at him.
The sermon ends. Normally I always stay a little longer and talk to the clergy and the other church members, but not today. I have to get out. Away from this man, whose mere presence makes the entire room freeze.
I leave the church and quickly head into the first cafĆ© I can find. The Albatross CafĆ©. Thank God thereās a free table in the back corner. I quickly order a little cake and a cup of tea. I just need to calm down, settle into the cafĆ©, and get that man out of my mind. I hope I never see him again.
My little cake tastes fantastic. Just as Iām about to reach for my tea, I see him. A man. Noā¦ not just a man. That man. He walks over to my table, pulls out the chair, and sits down. Not a single word asking if he may join me. No hello. Nothing. He looks at meā¦ andā¦ takes my tea. Has he completely lost his mind? Thatās my tea. I paid for it. He canāt just take my tea! I was just about to say something when he looked at me with a warning, almost scolding expression, as though he already knew I was about to complain. His gaze is so piercing. And once again, it turns coldā¦ He seems so calculatedā¦ He scares me. Damn it, heās just some random guy! But what if he really is the Devil? The Devil in the flesh? No! No, no, no. I donāt believe thatā¦ I donāt want to believe it. He keeps staring right through me.
āYou are afraid of me.ā
It isnāt a question. Itās a statement. Was it really that obvious on my face? No. Iām usually very good at hiding my emotions whenever I choose to. He couldnāt possibly have seen it.
Without even thinking about it, I say, āYou donāt belong in a church. You should have burned. Why didnāt you burn?ā
āYou overestimate the power of a church, little mouse. God may be by your side, but He isnāt the only one watching you.ā
What? What is that supposed to mean? And why little mouse? Iām not a mouse! Yes, Iām only 150 centimeters tall, but does he really have to reduce me to that? And what does he mean by watching? Is he stalking me? I donāt know him. Iāve never seen him before.
Without me commenting on what he just said, he continues, āYouāre as inconspicuous as a little gray mouse who faithfully goes to church every Sunday. Unassuming, innocent, and faithful. The name suits you.ā
I canāt believe what this guy just said. I never spoke those words out loud. I only thought them. How did he know? I have to get out of here. Right now. This cannot end well. Iāve listened to far too many true crime podcasts to go along with something like this.
Without another thought, I grab my little cake, get up, and walk away. I donāt care about the tea anymore. That strange devil can have it.
As I step outside, the warmth hits me almost instantly. I can feel my heart pounding. Godā¦ itās beating so unbelievably fast. Was I really that scared? That nervous? I canāt believe it. Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. I need to get home. Now.
I turn the corner andā āOuch!ā I slam straight into something solid and stumble backward, landing on the ground.
āOh, Iām so sorry! Did I hurt you? Are you okay? You look as white as a sheet. Are you scared? Or do you need some help?ā
I look up, and a hand is stretched out toward me. I take it and am immediately pulled to my feet andā¦ā¦oh my Godā¦
How ridiculously tall is this guy? He could be a professional basketball player. I decide to ignore the question about whether I need help. Iām certainly not going to tell him about that weird devil.
āUmmā¦ thank you for helping me up. Iām fine. How tall are you?ā
āHahaha. Iām 230 centimeters. And you? Youāre really, really tiny.ā
āYeah, I know. Iām only 150 centimeters tall, but thatās not exactly my fault. Just like your height isnāt yours.ā
I take a closer look at him. Heās actually quite attractive. When he laughed, I caught a glimpse of the silver tongue piercing in his mouth. He also has two silver lip rings, one on each side of his lower lip, and a silver nose ring in his right nostril. His ears are pierced as well, with simple silver studs. Bright blue eyes. Blonde hairā¦ Wellā¦ Only half of it. It looks like he dyed part of his hair pink, but the color has started to grow out. Then thereās his outfitā¦ gray-and-black ripped jeans with a chain belt and a pink-and-black sweater full of holes. On the front is a picture of Foxy from Five Nights at Freddyās.
He notices me looking at him.
āAre you really okay? You honestly donāt look very well. I donāt want to be pushy, but something clearly seems to be bothering you. I know! How about I take you out for something to eat? It might help take your mind off whateverās going on. What do you think?ā
Oh God, no one has ever asked me that so directly before. But then againā¦ heās not bad-looking. Besides, Iām still scared of the black-haired devil. Who knows if heās not following me. Maybe it would actually be better to go out for dinner with the guy standing in front of me. Iām still full from the little cake, but I can just order something small. And being treated to a meal is always nice.
āSure. Letās go get something to eat. By the wayā¦ whatās your name?ā
āIām Mad. And whatās yours?ā
Mad pulls out his phone and types something. Then he slips it back into his pocket.
āItās nice to meet you, Mine.ā
I glance around one more time, just to make sure the devil isnāt lurking somewhere nearby. But I canāt see him. Of course, Mad notices.
āIs everything reallyā¦ā
āYes, everything is really fine. Itās sweet of you to worry, but Iām okay.ā
āAlright then. Iāll believe you. Letās go find a restaurant.ā
āSounds like a good idea.ā
Mad and I find a nice restaurant and end up spending the entire day together. Heās eloquent, unbelievably funny, and incredibly attentive. On top of that, he doesnāt judge me for my faith, which is already a miracle in itself. Itās genuinely wonderful spending time with him. Weāve already made plans to see each other again over the next few days. I have no idea what this might turn into, butā¦ weāll see.
Just as I get lost in my thoughts, wondering what I actually want from him, he asks,
āI know we havenāt known each other for very long, but I wanted to ask you something anyway. I told you yesterday that I live in a shared house, and honestlyā¦ my friends and I are looking for another roommate. Iād really like you to meet the other two. Andā¦ maybe youād even like to move in with us.ā
Roommates? Iāve never even thought about living in a shared house. Iāve always been used to living on my own.
āI donāt know, Mad. Iāve never lived with other people before, so I have no idea what that would be likeā¦ I canāt give you an answer yet.ā
āIāve got an idea. How about you come over later today and meet the other two?ā
āOh, come on. Weāve been seeing each other for a week now, and they donāt bite. You can trust meā¦ or have I given you any reason not to?ā
Noā¦ actually, he hasnāt. He has never done anything that made me uncomfortable. And maybe meeting his friends wouldnāt be such a bad idea. Theyāre probably nice people tooāotherwise Mad wouldnāt be friends with themā¦ I think.
āAlright. Iāll come over to your place this evening.ā
āPerfect. Iām looking forward to it. Iāll text the other two and let them know weāll be there at six.ā
