Will sat in a church surrounded by the smell of dust and stone, of wood and leather bound books. A whiff of wind came from outside, carrying in the smell of wildflowers. He leaned back onto the church pew, listening to the thumping of feet idly swinging against the floor.

Enter the priest.

He was a peculiar man, old and washed out, like most things in this small village at the edge of a flower field.

Will peered up at the statue of virgin Mary looking up at the heavens, Hands clasped just so. Her face void of any expression, washed in the pale morning light. Made of stone and painted delicately by hand many many years ago.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth;

and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord,

Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead;

He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.

Will goes out with the other kids. It's cold. All he can see is the seemingly endless field of wildflowers. They go back in.

Enter Nico, he arrives with his father, everyone's whispering, It's the new kid. It was rumored that he had recently moved into the sleepy town with his father and younger sister after his older sister and mother's untimely death.

The kid turned around and Will's breath got caught in his throat.

Hair as dark as night, eyes as dark as sin, and as pale as angel wings.

He was wearing a silver ring shaped like a skull. Silver rings and silver wings. Will off-handedly thought.

He was wearing a bomber jacket.

Lost sister, lost mom, lost cause. The townsmen whispered. Lived with his father, obscure man. Barely there. Rumored to be rich...

Cut to Will's house.

It's a broken house, father gone and his mother a wisp of what she once was, his stepfather; homophobic.

࿐ׂׂ༘ૢ FLASHBACK TO WILL COMING OUT ׂׂૢ་༘࿐

It was horrible. Will had just come back from an afternoon picking blossoms in the flower fields.

He had finally worked up the courage to talk to his step father about... everything. 

A big mistake.

Clothes wet with tears and blood stains, the sound of his mother praying for God's mercy.

Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love...

Strands of gold hair fall on the soft threadbare carpet,

... In your abundant compassion, blot out my transgressions...

Crimson splotches on walls oh so carefully bleached and scraped bare.

...Thoroughly wash away my guilt; and from my sin cleanse me...

Will thinks of angel tears and broken wings, of fallen gods of all things.

... For I know my transgressions; my sin is always before me...

Of ticking clocks and the little specks of his blood on the figures of boat docks on the mantle.

... Against you, you alone have I sinned. I have done what is evil in your eyes...

Running, running down the hall...

...You desire true sincerity, and secretly you teach me wisdom...

To hide in the depths of his room,

... Cleanse me that I may be pure. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow...

To search for the solace he finds in the dark, away from his step-fathers cruel fists and words.

... You will let me hear gladness and joy; the bones you have crushed will rejoice...

Among the crushed gypsophila blossoms

... A clean heart create for me, God; renew within me a steadfast spirit...

...Amen...

He's found.

࿐ׂׂ༘ૢEND OF FLASH BACKׂׂૢ་༘࿐

His mother calls his name. He perks up a little, maybe she's finally going to say something, anything to soothe his mind.

"Eat all of your food, you're getting thin.".

He resumes eating. Bland and white, the food is boring, and the silence deafening.

He finishes his meal.

His stepfather will be here soon.

END OF PART ONE