Page 27 of Sanctuary

I watch as he walks down the center aisle of the main room. The sanctuary is set up with about a dozen wooden pews on both sides of the aisle. A pulpit and table at the front along with two pews for a choir below a big cross. There’s a round stained-glass window in the back and very narrow plain windows along both sides. All of them are still intact. They haven’t been broken by time, weather, or vandalism. There’s a door in the front on the right, and that’s where Aidan disappears.

I scoot closer to the stove as I wait. He didn’t close the small door of the stove yet, so I can see the flames flicking inside. I’m pretty sure I would have frozen to death if Aidan hadn’t managed to start that fire.

It’s been a few minutes when he returns through the same door he disappeared into. He’s carrying an armful.

I straighten up excitedly as he approaches and then sets down what he’s found.

A couple of thick red table coverings that look fancy. Almost ceremonial. They’ll work as blankets. Two black clergy robes. A few long velvet pew cushions. A large jug of water.

“Oh wow, water. That’s an unexpected bonus.”

“Yeah. Not sure what it was used for. But at this point, we’d even drink holy water.”

“That’s for sure. But I think this must have been a Protestant church since there’s a pulpit up there instead of an altar. So we’re probably safe from sacrilege. Are we really going to wear these robes?”

Aidan shrugs. “It’s all we have other than our wet clothes. But it’s up to you.”

“We’re never going to feel warm and dry if we don’t get out of these clothes, so we probably should.”

“Agreed.” He hands me one of the robes and then leans over to start prying off his shoes. “Can you manage, or do you need help getting undressed?”

I give him a little glare, although from his tone it’s obvious he’s teasing. “I can manage.”

He shoots me a half-smile before he turns his back to me.

It’s actually harder than I expect to peel off my wet jeans without putting weight on my bad leg. It takes some uncomfortable contortions, but I manage. Then I pull off my sweatshirt, t-shirt, socks, bra, and panties, since all of it is soaked through. I pull on the robe. It’s thick and heavy and way too big, but it covers me completely and is a lot more comfortable than my wet clothes.

“I’m covered,” I tell Aidan. I’ve turned to face away from him to give him the same privacy he’s given me.

“Me too.”

We both turn around and inspect each other.

Aidan chuckles. “We look like we’re on our way to the perviest graduation ceremony ever.”

I can’t help but laugh at this. “Oh well. At least we have something dry to put on. We should lay out our clothes in front of the fire so they dry.”

We do that. Then arrange the cushions and blankets so we each have a place to sit and lie down. Aidan fills up his canteen and the bottle I use for water from the jug.

We check our bags to see what food we have available. Between us, we have a loaf and a half of bread, three potatoes, and quite a bit of dried fish and pork jerky.

“This should last us a couple of days at least,” I say. “Surely by then the storm will have passed and we can at least get back down to your cart.”

He nods. “Let’s hope so. Until then, we’re stuck here.”

“I guess it could be worse.” I sigh, looking around. Just my luck. Trapped in a church on the top of a mountain with the most annoying man in the world.

He’s being less annoying than usual at the moment, however. Maybe he’ll keep reining in his obnoxiousness until we get out of here.

“The main inconvenience will be going to the bathroom,” I add as I’m suddenly conscious of needing to pee.

“I guess we can step outside,” he says, frowning as he thinks this through.

“You can. But squatting with my ass in the snow isn’t exactly ideal for me, especially with a bad leg.”

He chuckles at this. “True. I suppose we can find a pot.”

I groan softly, but I don’t complain. Ever since almost everyone lost power and plumbing after Impact, we’ve had to use the bathroom in all kinds of awkward and embarrassing ways.

---