When We Were Still Human by Vaughn Foster (best ereader for textbooks .txt) 📕

stalling, until something plausible rolled into sight. “It’s a faith-based non-profit my mother used to work for,” she started. “They want to level one of their biggest buildings. After it’s rebuilt, they’ll lay off ninety-percent of staff and continue under a different business model.”

The priest made an understanding noise. “I can understand why this is stressful for you.”

“Yeah.” Val took a deep breath. It wasn’t the truth, but it was enough of it to be taken seriously. “It’s for a good reason. There’s a lot of corruption and the current way they’re running things has some… problems. If I work for them, maybe my voice can help guide the new order of things.”

“Maybe it could,” the priest responded. “But I feel like there’s a but in there?”

Val gave a dry laugh. “But if they’re right, then the way I’ve always seen the world has been wrong. I used to really believe in their mission. Now, they’re telling me they’ve been screwing up for years. Everything in me says that they’re right. That this time, they really are doing God’s will, or whatever. But what if I’m wrong? I’m afraid that we’ll fire good people with the bad, and their families will suffer. I’m afraid we’ll tear down the whole damn neighborhood and find out we miscounted funds and can’t rebuild. I’m afraid that if I actually try to do something good with my life, I’ll just hurt everyone.”

The priest was silent for a moment. “I can understand your dilemma,” he said finally. “Quite a few years ago, I was in a similar situation. I felt called to join the priesthood. To make a difference. At the same time, every day I turn on the news, a monster is being marched out of his parish in cuffs.”

Disgust cut through his voice, and Val could imagine a scowl behind the barrier. “What did you do?” she asked.

“Allow me to answer you with a question. Do you feel like you’re being driven towards these people? Like something deep inside is screaming you should do this or you’ll miss your destiny?”

Val coughed back a profanity and slumped back in her seat. “It’s like I’m being called by heaven itself.”

“Then answer that call. We do not choose our destinies, but merely whether or not we follow the path God has laid for us. You can refuse, and God can allow it. But his Will will still be done— with or without you. Does that make sense?”

“Yes, a lot of sense actually. Thank you, Father.”

They sat in silence for an uncomfortably long time. For a brief moment, Val wondered if the priest had walked off, but a booming sneeze violently marked he was still there.

“Excuse me!” he exclaimed, surprise clear in his voice. “Allergies.”

Val nodded, then remembered he couldn’t see her. “I’m… I’m not sure what people usually do at this point.”

The priest laughed. “How about I say a prayer?”

His voice was soothing. It was like a warm blanket had been draped around her shoulders and her breathing relaxed. Val started to nod in agreement before catching herself again. “Sure. That would be nice.”

The priest cleared his throat. “Lord God, creator of heaven and earth—”

Val had only just bowed her head when her eyes shot open.

Creator

The cave and its twisted murals rose like steam in her mind.

Creator.

She felt the beat of her heart beneath the branding that screamed out what she was. That marked who made her.

A soft “amen” broke the spiral, and she was again in St. Andrew’s.

Taking a deep breath, Val sat up and shook the memory off like cobwebs. “Thank you. I needed that.”

Before the priest could answer, she was on her feet and out the confessional. The looming archways felt impossibly warm and suffocating at the same time. The eyes from countless figures and paintings followed her back through the sanctuary. Some, she thought, were encouraging. Others, like the Madonna, seemed to hold nothing but disdain and disappointment. Finally, she was pushing open the wooden doors and standing in the cool night air. The city was surprisingly quiet at night. The day before, all the shops were open and people milled about in waves. Tonight, however, everything was still; except for the occasional passing car. Maybe it was only New York that didn’t sleep.

“Yo.”

Val jumped and turned to find Vladimir leaning against the side of the church. “What are you doing here?” she asked, still a bit startled. The sight was jarring. Fluttering black coat, black eyes, and fangs white enough to cut through the shadows were an impossible image on church grounds.

He gave his ever-sarcastic grin and gently flipped his hair back. “For you, beautiful. Why else? I assume you’ve made up your mind?”

“Yes,” she said quietly. The word felt foreign on her lips. “I’ll go with you.”

“Perfect.”

They walked around the city for nearly an hour; Vladimir droning on about whatever came to his mind and Val lost in thought. She could barely believe she was going along with this. No one had explained what she was supposed to do, or how this Kairos was to be achieved. Perhaps she could argue her way into a more passive role—one that didn’t involve directly killing people. Either way, it was her only option. From the inside, maybe she stood a chance at sailing the ship to a less destructive shore.

Val ran into Vladimir as he came to a sudden stop. He spread his arms and slowly spun in a circle.

“Valentina—”

“My name is Valerie.”

“Valentia,” he continued. He waved as if to encompass the whole city and the world beyond. “The night is young, we are here. We should have sex.”

Val’s cheeks flared bright red. “Excuse me?”

Vladimir leaned back against the brick wall of the building behind them. “I am an attractive man and have