Skylights [Intro]

A normal morning in Harrow City doesn't exist. There is always something that happens to make the day "out of the ordinary", but most just go about as if the day is just any other day. A primary grip onto sanity is the main reason for this, and a good reason at that. The people of Harrow do many things to keep themselves sane. Of these things, probably the most influential is, of course, worship; belief in a higher being.1

Belief. What a funny concept. Right along the lines of "hope and salvation for Harrow City". None the less, belief is the main aspect of society that keeps Harrow sane. If the belief of God and the angels and the demons and devils is true or not, however, the world may never know. That is...2

"Father, forgive me, for I have sinned..." Alfred Wight said as he made the sign of the cross above his chest, bowing his head in the stain glass light of the Saint Thomas. It was a calm, Sunday morning, just after the service had ended. The clergy had all retreated to their studies and Alfred was left alone in the hall, bowed before a massive crucifix. He began confessing, as he usually had, but today, however, he added something different.3

"Father... My greatest sin that I have committed..." he began this confession. As he did so, ravens and other carrion birds seemed to fly from the shadow, landing perch on the seats and pews and other symbols and decorations of the cathedral, all stopping, seeming to watch his confessions. "This sin... is my thought... It is not on purpose, I assure you," Alfred began to make excuses as he continued on, the birds all gazing upon his pathetic form, "It is... my lack of... Lord, please, give me a sign that you exist... I need to know that my beliefs are rightly placed... I don't want to walk in the shadows anymore."4

Silence. That's what followed his confession. The birds stared silently, barely moving, not even breathing, as if they were already dead and gone. In wrath he stood; his brow furrowing as he yelled aloud. "I do not care if God is to answer me anymore!" Alfred had become infuriated at this point, though he was not entirely sure why, "Someone answer me! What is this world to come to!? I lust for an answer! I would sell my soul to know!"5

As those words left his mouth, the ravens and other carrion birds began to laugh and cackle, as if they were from the mouths of men. Alfred spun, his heart pounding, almost feeling as if it were trying to rip from his chest. His pride he had built up from pulling the gall to yell to the Heavens was long gone. The once calm, clear sky fell quickly into darkness and the door to the cathedral blew open with a violent gust of wind.6

"Answers!" one of the birds screamed and fluttered its wings, feathers molting off and falling to the floor.7

"Answers!" another repeated, the birds cackling like men once more.8

"What-What is this?" Alfred said, fear completely saturating his voice. He was terrified, as most normal people would be at this time, his eyes and quivering form showed it.9

"You wanted answers..." a vulture hissed, hopping along a pew, its milky white eyes glaring at Alfred as best a vulture's could. Saliva dripped from its beak onto the pew's cushioned seat, corroding it, warping the red velvet to a jet black.10

"Beggar..." a raven cawed in a scratchy voice, hopping to a pew closer, "You wanted the truth... Jealous of our knowledge..."11

"Begged..."12

"Pleaded..."13

"Answers!" they all began screaming as Alfred backed up against the crucifix he had just bowed before moments ago. Tears of fear ran down his face as he questioned himself if he was going to live to see his family again. His heart sank and he fell down, leaning against the cross, jabbering on about things completely unrelated.14

The birds cackled loudly, the door to the cathedral slamming shut, the cross on the door spiraling upside down, burning brightly as if on fire.15

Just a week later...16

"Huh, that's strange." Brother Pole said as he closed his car door. He tossed his bags up on top of the car, locking his door.17

"What's strange?" the other clergyman asked as he closed the door, stepping around to the front of the car.18

"Alfred isn't here. He's always here before us for confessional..."19

"Well, perhaps he's finally realized that he doesn't need to confess for being greedy too often, or whatever he says each time..."20

"Or being slothful on his duties... What a crazy bastard."21

The two clergy men laughed as they stepped up to the door. They stopped, both noticing the same thing at once; The upside down cross still glowing orange with the intense heat. "What the devil...?" Brother Pole said as the other clergyman shook his head.22

"I told you... something's happening!" the other said and reached his hand out, grabbing onto the cross. He screamed loudly and pulled his hand away, deciding it to be better not to try and turn the cross back around, for fear of burning his hand any more.23

"God does not exist!" the voice of Alfred screamed from within the church. Both men looked at each other and opened the door, stopping just a few feet within the cathedral.24

The interior of the church had changed from its once so holy persona. All of the crosses were flipped upside down, even ones in which it would be impossible to change, such as the crosses on the stained glass windows. Alfred hadn't moved from his spot. He lay on the floor beneath the shadow of a large pentagram that was not there before, crying, his tears had began to run red with blood. All over the walls and floor, written in blood were the words: "God does not exist."25

The clergymen called the police and ran back out to the car. Just a few days later, the church was fine, and service continued as usual. Alfred Wight was placed in Harrow City Sanitarium, back way in the back away from any of the other people that had gone crazy. Neglected, for fear of his insanity spreading, he died in his cell. Though, not a soul would know, since even in death they were too afraid to check the room.26

A few years passed, and everyone moved on with their lives. The room was left as is, the body of Alfred slowly decomposing, much slower than any normal person should. Not that anyone would notice. Not even his family, his wife, and his kids. Everyone was afraid, and for good reason. He challenged all that gave hope to Harrow City.27

However, the story did not end there, oh no; that would be too simple. Way too simple for Harrow City. The skylights were still burning bright, and as long as they did, there would always be more. Always.28