The church

The trio took a carriage to their location. Because of Zion's suggestion, they did not stop directly at the location, but at a street a kilometer or so away.

"So… what should we keep our eyes open for?" Alicia asked.

"A church. It'll be a building shaped like a church. And behind it would be an endless forest. So it's probably at the end of the street."

"Right," Zion confirmed. He held out a paper that contained the name of the building they were looking for.

It didn't take too long.

Like all the other buildings on the street, the church was rundown. It was composed of brown bricks, withered, thorny vines sprouting out at those spots where the bricks were broken.

"This is already looking very… eerie."

Lunan held his torch ready, tightly. He opened the rotted wooden door at the front with caution, attempting to make a minimal amount of noise.

Alicia immediately walked forward, being the one with the sword. The group's defense. 

Lunan held any necessary supplies in his backpack.

Zion was the compass, and the individual who would do all the hard work. He did have one weapon for his own self-defense, which was a wooden bat.

The torch illuminated the dim room, the only source of light barely pushing through the dirty stained windows.

It roughly resembled a church. The sanctuary at the front, the altar within it.

Wooden chairs with red cushions were set in rows.

Everything was in a concerning condition. Dust covered the chairs. The only thing that was slightly clean was the altar up front.

I have this weird feeling… like something is lurking close by.

Lunan's eyes wandered around, shooting at every corner.

"There's a door!" Zion yelled out. 

Both Alicia and Lunan, who were searching around the church, shot their heads in his direction.

At the left corner of the church, there was indeed a door, that matched the color of the interior wall so well that you would need to be paying incredible attention to see it.

"Wow. Good eye, Zion!" Alicia cheered.

"So strength isn't all you've got, hm?" Lunan walked toward him.

Zion opened the door. It produced a loud creak. More dust filled the air.

Opening the door revealed a dark staircase.

"I'll go in first. What if something suddenly jumps at us? You guys are lucky you brought me here, heh."

Alicia spoke proudly. Lunan rolled his eyes.

"Thank you, Alicia,"

She walked toward the door, with gentle steps.

"for making it a little easier for me."

Huh?

Zion smiled.

He gripped his bat tightly, swinging with two hands.

Crack!

The sound of wood hitting Alicia's skull echoed throughout the church. 

Her eyes went white. 

She collapsed, falling down the stairs.

After a few seconds, a loud thud was heard.

At the bottom of the staircase, Alicia's body rested, pooling blood.

Lunan's eyes grew stagnant.

They then widened in alarm.

Shock.

His lips parted silently.

His first thought was to cover his eyes, to hide away from the scene. 

But if he did that, he was afraid that he'd die.

Who is the man in front of me? I don't know him anymore. He thought.

A man who could kill so easily. What's to stop him from killing Lunan at a whim?

He kept his eyes steady. Full of fear.

Zion turned around slowly.

"You know, this didn't have to happen. You didn't have to bring Alicia along."

"…"

Only one word escaped Lunan's mouth.

"…Why?"

" 'A sacrifice with high spirituality would please our god.' "

Zion recited with a finger up.

"An elf like you? I knew you would have a lot of spirituality. So I figured that capturing you would please him."

"You're… crazy."

"Crazy? I'm enlightened, Lunan."

His bloody wooden bat tapped the floor. Echoing.

"How… how long have you been in this cult?"

"Cult is an inconsiderate word, Lunan. I really do prefer 'church.' And, I've been in it for my entire life."

"So… it was all fake?"

"I enjoyed the time with you guys, and I wish I could've spent more time with you two, but my faith calls to me."

"You're crazy."

"Stop calling me that."

"Fucking sick. Crazy."

Zion wound back. But instead of striking the side of his head, Zion struck his knees. Lunan shrieked, sprawling on the ground. 

"I told you to stop calling me that!" Zion this time yelled.

He grabbed Lunan by the ankle. Slowly, he pulled him down the stairs.

Lunan felt every sharp step punching against his back. Along with the roughness of Zion, it all added up to tremendous pain.

He was thrown into a cellar, his weak body sliding against the stone helplessly. Zion bolted a chain, locking him away.

Besides him, was Alicia's body.

Lying there, quietly. Eyes shut.