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true_writers 3. Who is your salvation?
Sep. 13th, 2008 10:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sacredeyes Peninnah had become accustom to having visitors at all hours of the day and night. Often it was someone who wanted nothing more than to pray in peace. Others came for advice on matters of faith. There were those who returned weekly or monthly to hear her words. She was not a priest but often enough she served in that capacity.
This day had proven to have a few visitors as most Saturdays did though they had come in from walks to pray or simply admire the church and church grounds. The day was quiet and the night had continued in peace until well after midnight. She practiced her knitting by a small lamp in the sanctuary. She was trying to make a sweater for Agatha though it was not the best she still did not give up.
As she continued to work Agatha scratched at her leg. It was unusual for her small dog to bother her. The first thought was that she needed to be left out. Peninnah walked with her to the door and went out into the dark. She didn't take a light as her vision was suitable for the dark. A noise caught her attention in the gardens that brought a loud yap from Agatha. The curiosity was too much to ignore. When she saw the source her heart felt heavy. It was a woman and she could already hear the sobs and smell blood.
Peninnah approached gently. "Miss?"
She looked up startled and terrified as a small child who had recently woke from a nightmare. "Don't...I ... if he finds me."
Peninnah glanced around before moving further into the shadows beneath the tree. "You are safe here."
The woman was shivering and without a thought Peninnah stripped off her robe to cover her. "I will help you inside."
The woman was grateful but pulled away after the cloth was wrapped around her. "He'll come and hurt you too."
"You will be safe inside." Peninnah offered her hand to the woman. "I promise none will harm you or I."
Slowly she took her hand and came out of the area beneath the apple tree. "Oh no!"
She clung to Peninnah staring fearfully toward the gates. Peninnah felt it. There was a person on the property. The anger was there and hate rolled in waves from the figure she could not yet see.
"Shhhhh." Peninnah comforted her as best she could while trying to decided what to do. "No one will harm you. I will not let them."
"Christy. I know you're in here."
The voice seemed ominous enough to send a small shiver through the girl Peninnah estimated to be in her late teens or early twenties. She was young and bloodied. A bruise was already forming on her face.
"He has a gun." The girl finally spoke in a shaking voice. Peninnah knew exactly what a gun was and the danger they were in. At a loss for action Peninnah stayed with the frightened young woman. Her senses were strained as she tracked his movements through the churchyard.
"I believe it will be safer for us inside." Peninnah had no idea what else to do but the shivering woman had her more worried than the man who was walking in the garden.
"No. He'll see us." She was far too frightened. Peninnah sat still with the woman and Agatha.
"I heard you. Why don't you come out?"
Peninnah could see him clearly in the dark walking toward them. He would find them soon if she did not take action. "Wait here with Agatha."
The girl nodded in the dark and clung to the small dog. In the situation Peninnah had forgotten she was unrobed as she walked toward the man. She was silent in the dark still uncertain as to what to do. Time was running short. A sob came from behind her. She saw the gun raise up toward where the young woman and Agatha remained hidden. Duty took control when Peninnah pounced on him. Despite her curse and mismatched body she hit her target. Even her small frame propelled through the air was large enough to knock the man from his feet. The gun skidded across the stone path.
Peninnah landed on her feet but the pain of the impact on her already overtaxed legs caused her to cry out. The man was on his feet cursing but Peninnah couldn't bear to stand. Tears were welling up from the spikes of pain. She couldn't defend herself from the much larger individual with the pain preventing her from bearing weight. With no other choice she waited on weary legs. The pain was becoming worse with every passing moment. He was speaking but the pain drove understanding away as she held her ground. She didn't wish to kill but this man seemed persistent.
He reached for her and that is when she acted. Her wings unfurled and she growled at him letting him see her as she was many years earlier though her body had changed the fear she could cause with appearance and surprise had not. His intent was replaced by a cry of shock. She still had the effect on invaders that God had intended. The man fled from her presence as if a bear were chasing him down. He left the grounds in moments. Slowly she closed her wings and turned her attention back to her original purpose.
"Christy." Peninnah whispered unsure if she could make it back to the young woman or not. Agatha came out followed by the woman. She half collapsed on Peninnah who drew up all her strength in order to help the injured woman to the church. The inside was dimly lit which Peninnah was glad for now that she was disrobed.
"You can sit here and I will contact the police." Christy didn't reply or make it to the chair. She sunk down on the sanctuary floor. there was nothing more Peninnah could do. Her own weakness was taking its toll. In the living space she pulled on another robe before dialing 911. The ringing seemed to go on forever.
"Hello, New York City 911. What is the nature of your emergency?"
"I found a young woman who is injured." Peninnah answered uncertain as to what they wished to know.
"What injuries does she have?"
"I believe she has been beaten but I can not be certain." Peninnah responded growing more worried for the woman in the other room. "There was a man after her with a gun but he has left."
"What is your location?"
"We are inside St. Julien's. I believe the gun is still out in the gardens."
"I am sending police and an ambulance to your location. Are you injured?"
Peninnah faltered because she could not go to the hospital to be examined but she had no desire to lie. "I have been frightened but I shall be ok."
"The police are on their way." The responder was trying to keep her calm.
"I should return to the young woman." Peninnah did not like the phone though she knew well the service it provided.
"The police are arriving now. You will be alright."
"Thank you." Peninnah hung up when she heard the sirens outside. The lights were already showing through the stained glass. Christy was sitting on a pew now. This was the first moment that Peninnah could see what had happened to her. She had bruises, lacerations and her clothes seemed dirty and torn.
"You will be safe now." Peninnah stated before moving to answer the door.
"Detective Michaels NYPD. We received a call about an injured woman."
Peninnah gazed at the man at the door, the badge and the paramedics. She wasn't observing the persons but their minds and intents. Fear had her on edge. "She is in the sanctuary."
Peninnah let them in. Three doctors and five officers in total came in. The detective stayed with her near the door.
"Are you the one who called 911?"
Peninnah nodded watching the others care for Christy.
"I am going to need to ask you a few questions." The detective had a pad of paper out.
"May we sit?" Peninnah was already moving. The weakness in her legs was increasing with every moment.
"Of course." The detective followed her to a near by pew. "What is your name?"
"I am Peninnah." Peninnah was worried they would ask for a last name but they did not.
"Can you tell me how this all happened?"
Peninnah was watching the young girl as she spoke. "I was here knitting when my dog, Agatha started scratching at my legs. I thought she needed to go out for the evening and took her outside."
"What were you doing at the church this late?" The officer was writing notes.
"I am the caretaker of the church while the Father is away for business travel." Peninnah pulled her attention from the crying woman. She could feel the sadness and fear.
"Please continue."
"I took Agatha out into the gardens and heard something. That is when I discovered Christy under our apple tree in the back. She was very frightened and I could see that she was injured. I gave her the robe she is wearing because she was shivering." Peninnah continued her explanation. "She told me someone was following her with a gun. I believe she was afraid of being injured further. I attempted to convince her to come inside but the man was already approaching. I thought perhaps I could speak with him and he would leave."
"Then what happened?" The officer asked politely.
"I saw him raise his gun. He had been calling to her and said he knew where she was when he raised the gun. I did not know what else to do so I knocked him down and he dropped the gun when he fell."
Detective Michaels' gave her a very curious look. "How did you knock him down?"
"I jumped into his side." Peninnah could deduce they were asking because of her size. "I believe I could knock him down because he was no expecting me. I believe it startled him and he ran off after. I helped her inside and called 911."
"Thank you. Can you describe the man with the gun?"
Christy was on a stretcher and being taken out as they spoke. Peninnah watched growing thoughtful. "He was perhaps a few inches taller than you are. Broad in the shoulders and wearing a light blue shirt. His hair was short and dark. I think he was wearing dress shoes because I could hear them on the cobblestone outside. I'm sorry but I did not get a good look at his face because it was dark."
"Thank you." Detective Michaels closed his notepad and stood up.
"Would it be possible to visit Christy at the hospital?" Peninnah was very worried.
"If she needs to stay I will have an officer contact you."
"Thank you." Peninnah commented as the detective left. Just as quickly as it had started the commotion was gone. Peninnah felt exhausted as she sat there. The pain still had not disappeared and she feared damage to her leg. Even in the face of injury she still worried more for the woman who was being taken to the hospital. There was an aspect of these event that sat well in her mind. For the first time in years she had done the duties she was created for. Her faith had increased in a short matter of time. Perhaps this was a sign that she would soon be herself once more. It was a hope to hold but for now she wished to pray for the young woman she had recently saved.
Words: 1888
This day had proven to have a few visitors as most Saturdays did though they had come in from walks to pray or simply admire the church and church grounds. The day was quiet and the night had continued in peace until well after midnight. She practiced her knitting by a small lamp in the sanctuary. She was trying to make a sweater for Agatha though it was not the best she still did not give up.
As she continued to work Agatha scratched at her leg. It was unusual for her small dog to bother her. The first thought was that she needed to be left out. Peninnah walked with her to the door and went out into the dark. She didn't take a light as her vision was suitable for the dark. A noise caught her attention in the gardens that brought a loud yap from Agatha. The curiosity was too much to ignore. When she saw the source her heart felt heavy. It was a woman and she could already hear the sobs and smell blood.
Peninnah approached gently. "Miss?"
She looked up startled and terrified as a small child who had recently woke from a nightmare. "Don't...I ... if he finds me."
Peninnah glanced around before moving further into the shadows beneath the tree. "You are safe here."
The woman was shivering and without a thought Peninnah stripped off her robe to cover her. "I will help you inside."
The woman was grateful but pulled away after the cloth was wrapped around her. "He'll come and hurt you too."
"You will be safe inside." Peninnah offered her hand to the woman. "I promise none will harm you or I."
Slowly she took her hand and came out of the area beneath the apple tree. "Oh no!"
She clung to Peninnah staring fearfully toward the gates. Peninnah felt it. There was a person on the property. The anger was there and hate rolled in waves from the figure she could not yet see.
"Shhhhh." Peninnah comforted her as best she could while trying to decided what to do. "No one will harm you. I will not let them."
"Christy. I know you're in here."
The voice seemed ominous enough to send a small shiver through the girl Peninnah estimated to be in her late teens or early twenties. She was young and bloodied. A bruise was already forming on her face.
"He has a gun." The girl finally spoke in a shaking voice. Peninnah knew exactly what a gun was and the danger they were in. At a loss for action Peninnah stayed with the frightened young woman. Her senses were strained as she tracked his movements through the churchyard.
"I believe it will be safer for us inside." Peninnah had no idea what else to do but the shivering woman had her more worried than the man who was walking in the garden.
"No. He'll see us." She was far too frightened. Peninnah sat still with the woman and Agatha.
"I heard you. Why don't you come out?"
Peninnah could see him clearly in the dark walking toward them. He would find them soon if she did not take action. "Wait here with Agatha."
The girl nodded in the dark and clung to the small dog. In the situation Peninnah had forgotten she was unrobed as she walked toward the man. She was silent in the dark still uncertain as to what to do. Time was running short. A sob came from behind her. She saw the gun raise up toward where the young woman and Agatha remained hidden. Duty took control when Peninnah pounced on him. Despite her curse and mismatched body she hit her target. Even her small frame propelled through the air was large enough to knock the man from his feet. The gun skidded across the stone path.
Peninnah landed on her feet but the pain of the impact on her already overtaxed legs caused her to cry out. The man was on his feet cursing but Peninnah couldn't bear to stand. Tears were welling up from the spikes of pain. She couldn't defend herself from the much larger individual with the pain preventing her from bearing weight. With no other choice she waited on weary legs. The pain was becoming worse with every passing moment. He was speaking but the pain drove understanding away as she held her ground. She didn't wish to kill but this man seemed persistent.
He reached for her and that is when she acted. Her wings unfurled and she growled at him letting him see her as she was many years earlier though her body had changed the fear she could cause with appearance and surprise had not. His intent was replaced by a cry of shock. She still had the effect on invaders that God had intended. The man fled from her presence as if a bear were chasing him down. He left the grounds in moments. Slowly she closed her wings and turned her attention back to her original purpose.
"Christy." Peninnah whispered unsure if she could make it back to the young woman or not. Agatha came out followed by the woman. She half collapsed on Peninnah who drew up all her strength in order to help the injured woman to the church. The inside was dimly lit which Peninnah was glad for now that she was disrobed.
"You can sit here and I will contact the police." Christy didn't reply or make it to the chair. She sunk down on the sanctuary floor. there was nothing more Peninnah could do. Her own weakness was taking its toll. In the living space she pulled on another robe before dialing 911. The ringing seemed to go on forever.
"Hello, New York City 911. What is the nature of your emergency?"
"I found a young woman who is injured." Peninnah answered uncertain as to what they wished to know.
"What injuries does she have?"
"I believe she has been beaten but I can not be certain." Peninnah responded growing more worried for the woman in the other room. "There was a man after her with a gun but he has left."
"What is your location?"
"We are inside St. Julien's. I believe the gun is still out in the gardens."
"I am sending police and an ambulance to your location. Are you injured?"
Peninnah faltered because she could not go to the hospital to be examined but she had no desire to lie. "I have been frightened but I shall be ok."
"The police are on their way." The responder was trying to keep her calm.
"I should return to the young woman." Peninnah did not like the phone though she knew well the service it provided.
"The police are arriving now. You will be alright."
"Thank you." Peninnah hung up when she heard the sirens outside. The lights were already showing through the stained glass. Christy was sitting on a pew now. This was the first moment that Peninnah could see what had happened to her. She had bruises, lacerations and her clothes seemed dirty and torn.
"You will be safe now." Peninnah stated before moving to answer the door.
"Detective Michaels NYPD. We received a call about an injured woman."
Peninnah gazed at the man at the door, the badge and the paramedics. She wasn't observing the persons but their minds and intents. Fear had her on edge. "She is in the sanctuary."
Peninnah let them in. Three doctors and five officers in total came in. The detective stayed with her near the door.
"Are you the one who called 911?"
Peninnah nodded watching the others care for Christy.
"I am going to need to ask you a few questions." The detective had a pad of paper out.
"May we sit?" Peninnah was already moving. The weakness in her legs was increasing with every moment.
"Of course." The detective followed her to a near by pew. "What is your name?"
"I am Peninnah." Peninnah was worried they would ask for a last name but they did not.
"Can you tell me how this all happened?"
Peninnah was watching the young girl as she spoke. "I was here knitting when my dog, Agatha started scratching at my legs. I thought she needed to go out for the evening and took her outside."
"What were you doing at the church this late?" The officer was writing notes.
"I am the caretaker of the church while the Father is away for business travel." Peninnah pulled her attention from the crying woman. She could feel the sadness and fear.
"Please continue."
"I took Agatha out into the gardens and heard something. That is when I discovered Christy under our apple tree in the back. She was very frightened and I could see that she was injured. I gave her the robe she is wearing because she was shivering." Peninnah continued her explanation. "She told me someone was following her with a gun. I believe she was afraid of being injured further. I attempted to convince her to come inside but the man was already approaching. I thought perhaps I could speak with him and he would leave."
"Then what happened?" The officer asked politely.
"I saw him raise his gun. He had been calling to her and said he knew where she was when he raised the gun. I did not know what else to do so I knocked him down and he dropped the gun when he fell."
Detective Michaels' gave her a very curious look. "How did you knock him down?"
"I jumped into his side." Peninnah could deduce they were asking because of her size. "I believe I could knock him down because he was no expecting me. I believe it startled him and he ran off after. I helped her inside and called 911."
"Thank you. Can you describe the man with the gun?"
Christy was on a stretcher and being taken out as they spoke. Peninnah watched growing thoughtful. "He was perhaps a few inches taller than you are. Broad in the shoulders and wearing a light blue shirt. His hair was short and dark. I think he was wearing dress shoes because I could hear them on the cobblestone outside. I'm sorry but I did not get a good look at his face because it was dark."
"Thank you." Detective Michaels closed his notepad and stood up.
"Would it be possible to visit Christy at the hospital?" Peninnah was very worried.
"If she needs to stay I will have an officer contact you."
"Thank you." Peninnah commented as the detective left. Just as quickly as it had started the commotion was gone. Peninnah felt exhausted as she sat there. The pain still had not disappeared and she feared damage to her leg. Even in the face of injury she still worried more for the woman who was being taken to the hospital. There was an aspect of these event that sat well in her mind. For the first time in years she had done the duties she was created for. Her faith had increased in a short matter of time. Perhaps this was a sign that she would soon be herself once more. It was a hope to hold but for now she wished to pray for the young woman she had recently saved.
Words: 1888
