Father McKenzie was overwhelmingly content and proud of himself, in fact, he saved his own skin from the authorities who are currently looking for him in the entire small city Boston. Not only he was ensured with a home or a place which he could call it home- the Salem's local church and the dorm room where he would spend his lonely and peaceful nights, without worrying about the hazards, but also he got along with some of the priests and nuns, whilst other members of the clergy weren't his cup of tea and just gave them cocky, artifical smiles to have their numbers. Furthermore, he introduced himself to them and not amplifying about his life so much, factly, he possesses abundance of secrets. 

The evening hours dawned in the small city of Massachusetts as Alexander was in his dorm after having a dinner with the nuns and the priests. The dorm where he settled down was sufficiently spacious and cozy for him. There was a single plain wall bed with an oak nightstand, keeping some of his belongings in the drawer. An obsidian indochine rug beside the old, creaky door. A middle French window with closed black embossed velvet curtains. A desk against the middle window with a mere wooden chair. A gothic armoire was in the west side of the dorm, empty to basics inside. It's pressumed to be used for storing garments and attires. A candle stood untouched on the desk. He unpacked some of his belongings including clerical attires he kept in his leather suitcase, sorting them in the wardrobe where they exactly belonged. 

Alexander's back collapsed on the bed as his azure eyes fixed on the ceiling as his mind sunk in profound, doubtlessly fuzzy thoughts, sinking in his overwhelmed mind, unable to relax for a second. He really cannot put a finger on his cryptical glee. It was unpredictably soothing for him. Factually because he was much safer, happier far away from the issues he dragged with himself in Boston and Briarcliff's scandalous deeds which he affected the wretched souls and its general conditions. Alexander has never been in peace for months...probably years since his engagements are engulfing him to bones. He relished the nocturnal hush as much as he permitted. 

He took a deep breath, shortly before commencing with his evening prayer as his stamina verged, betraying his frail skeleton to fall asleep in a matter of minutes. 

The flame of the candle light illuminated partly the room as the juvenile monsignor's positioned body loomed a sillhouette, reflecting on the wall.

"O my God, at the end of this day I thank You most heartily for all the graces I have received from You. I am sorry that I have not made a better use of them. I am sorry for all the sins I have committed against You. Forgive me, O my God, and graciously protect me this night. Blessed Virgin Mary, my dear heavenly mother, take me under your protection. St. Joseph, my dear Guardian Angel, and all you saints of God, pray for me. Sweet Jesus, have pity on all poor sinners, and save them from hell. Have mercy on the suffering souls in purgatory..." He prayed his heart out, expressing his gratitude to God for sheltering him under his roof of light and safety, despite his inevitable sins he has committed and wrecked with a hammet on trillions of pieces broken vows.

Then he got briskly rid off his clerical attire and changed himself in a cotton, comfy pyjamas as he blew out the candle light, consequently hopping up in the bed.

***

A door tap caught Sister Molly's attention instantly as she was desolated inside the church after her evening prayer. She walked up to the double goth doors as she sighed dramatically until her hand pushed with force the double doors.

She was met with the darkness and an average tall female figure, dressed in Boho style garments.

"W-who are you?" The middle aged nun enquired incredulously, arching an eyebrow.

"I am Sally Whigham, an oracle." Tbe younger wkman extended her arm, offering a handshake to the older one. A coy smile honed on her face. "And you are..." When Sally was about to further with the sentence, she was cut off by the nun.

"Sister Molly!" Molly stretched her arm as thry shook hands together, barely breaking a mutual eye contact. "I am so pleased to meet you!"

"I am either too, Sally." The young oracle introduced herself formally. 

"Do you know why I am here at last?" Sally asked a rhetorical question as she awaited for Molly's  cunningness to work out like a functioning gear of an old, rusty machine.

"No! I am sorry." The nun wasn't aware for what the oracle doing in the church, looking for a nun.

"It's alright, Sister. You can come over my tent." Hence, the older brunette gaped sceptically the younger one. 'We should urgently discuss something important just both...of us. Only!" Molly nodded her head in agreement without further arguing and questions.

***

"Whoa, is that your tent?" The brunette nun escorted the oracle who guided her to the multicoloured tent, where Sally and Kaitlyn lived. 

"Yes, that's my home." The younger woman retorted as they were approaching the grand tent's front door. 

Sister Molly was beyond astound once she figured out that this young lady actually lived in a tent, reminding her of a refugee. It was far eccentric for a young woman like her to live in such place especially during the chilly seasons, wondering how she would survive. As an addition, the sister of the church refrained from asking additional questions Sally as she didn't want to ruin her first impression and sound harsh and brash in the same time. 

Once they arrived inside and Sally guided Molly to the crimson red door's room, she let her guest to enter first as she seated momentarily and expressed her gratitude. When the both women sat against each other, Molly asked reluctantly:

"I would like to ask what do you want to speak to me that urgently."

"Sister, do you mind if I am actually the person who enquires you?" The oracle questioned seriously as she gathered a cigarette from her cigarette pack, liting it up as she took a puff off it, a dinky dim, omitted from her nostrils and lips. 

"Sure."

"Good! Before to start, I am offering you a cigarette." 

"No, no, thank you, Sally!" It wasn't particularly the first time, addressing the young oracle with her real name. She lifted her forefinger past the cigarette pack that Sally held, rejecting affably, but cold-bloodedly enough to be versatile what she wants. In the meantime, Sally's forehead creased as she arched an eyebrow in perplexion as she knew almost every visitor who attended her tent for predictions didn't ejected the offered cigarette. The member of the clergy offered a warm-hearted, reassuring smile.

"Oh come on, Sister! Do not pretend like you are not a smoker."

"I have never smoked ever in my life. Therefore, I am not into this thing." 

"Oh okay! Pardon me." The juvenile brunette excused herself as she withdrawn the cigarette pack, setting it on the table aloof her as she wiped her sweaty eyebrow. "The majority of the people who have arrived here for my predictions and talk about magic, have never neglected the cigar offer."

"Oh!" The nun gasped. "Let's go ahead." She changed the topic as she preferred to discuss the grave issue, finding a solution to it.

Without response after taking a drag off her cigar length, the oracle pretended to clear her throat, moments before to raise the topic about the dubious priest.

"Do you remember when the police came in the church earlier today?"

"Yes, I do." The middle aged woman replied sharply, subsequently releasing an idle inhale.

"Did they peculiarly warned you about the man who you used to be his tutor, if I am not correct?"

"Exactly!"

"So let's be specific in the details," The tension escalated suddenly once the oracle commenced to inquire the woman of the clergy, meantime she hissed, her other hand snaked around the violet crystal ball as she briskly glimpsed down at it, making sure if she hasn't casted unintentionally a spell. "what they did exactly informed you about your ex-apprentice?" Sally aloofly carried on, insisting stubbornly for the details.

"I can remember, we discussed with the police about Briarcliff's tear down, besides the undeniably volatile conditions which not only endangered the staff's lives, but most of all the patients. Starving to death. Left on the threshold of the fate unclothed. Filthy. Bathing themselves in their own feces. " She paused as she attempted to regain a composure in her speech though once she progressed with the monologue, the more nauseated she got especially when the authorities informed her about Father McKenzie's rape case a couple of years ago. Little did she know the epiphany affected her.  She didn't perceive in the same way her former pupil ever again just like before until the rape case that broached her heart, leaving its unfixed holes of the hollow in the foreground.

"Mhm!" Sally thrummed, nodding as she affirmed her words. "Go ahead!" Her dangled lips around the cigar length lingered as her hazel eyes stared up at the older woman's amber irises. 

"Father McKenzie is responsible for the misery in the notorious madhouse where Lana exposed the horrors inside it. Let's not forget, the cops clarified me about him..." She stuttered as soon as she peaked in the last sentence, whereas Sally raised an eyebrow, her face flushed in rage when the name of the rapist was mentioned out loud."...that...that...he was being involved in rape case, days before his election as an administrator of the mental hospital."

When Sister Molly admitted what the police officers have told her as an unrevealed fact about him, the young oracle was far from gleeful and serene, hearing all this. Due to the fact, it's not leaked circumstance by anyone but one of the sisters, who has spent significant years with the sinful, selfish, canting man of the cloth. The blood in her veins boiled vigorously, uncontrollably.

"Oh God! The rape case?" Ms. Whigham whispered as she exhaled dissatisfied. Consequently the nun just nodded her head, validating her utterance. "Oh! This sounds so similiar...so plaguing." Further, Ms. Whigham repressing her sobs.

Intense sillence fell between the both women as Sally slightly lowered her head, inhaling and exhaling as she had trouble after being reminded about the nightmare she has experienced mishap that delivered her one of the best things in the world she has craved for years. During the intensive silence, the nun had her chance to survey in scrutiny the oracle, noting her shame, guilt and upset state. The young woman's hand crawled on the table as her cigarette sat in the ashtray, the dim diffusing in the room. 

As a predicament for breaking the silence, the middle aged lady extended her arm as she cupped Sally's rested smooth, small hand. In the meantime, a soothing, maternal smile creeped on Molly's face as her amber eyes were fixed on the younger woman, tilting her head and noting the smile looming on her face. She returned the smile with a youthful, emotive one. 

"Child, you have been raped by him?" Sister Molly quietly posed the question.

"Mhm." Sally responded efortlessly as sparks of distress and pain reflected her gorgeous, evocative hazel eyes. 

"What he did to you? Feel free to share it with me."

"Urgh," Sally grunted in pain as the graphic flashbacks from four years ago had splashed in her mind. "...Sister Molly, I have to confess something."

"What is it, my child?" The elder brunette inquired concerned, squeezing her hand as her thumb managed to knead her fingers.

"I was in your head when the police told you about the rape case."

"What?" Molly chuckled awkwardly. "What do you mean?"

"I was in your head. You recalled the flashbacks as you imagined the rape with Father McKenzie and his victim." Then she dramatically paused, taking another drag off her cigarette as the sister of the church couldn't believe how the supernaturalism still existed especially in the late 60s. "I am his rape victim." All of a sudden, the member of the clergy's face horrified as it became pale and she was now in dumbfounding condition, incapable of combating to release the dark spirits and negative emotions and feelings which infected every cell of her mind. 

"W-what? Is that possible?"

"Yes, it's possible, unfortunately...Sister Molly, he raped me as he invited me in his dorm to pray and shortly after he locked me and trapped me in his indecent claws. He violated me. He used every part of my body for his own pleasure which the church and God have forbidden him." Sally emphasized the words rape and indecent claws as her voice tone drastically changed in every sentence as her wrath wasn't oblivious for the holy woman at all. "Father McKenzie impregnated me and fortunately, I have a beautiful girl from him." When the nun heard the last words she just smiled innocently to Sally until her smile faded down due to the oracle's razor-edged words, stabbing right into her fragile, enveloped in gold heart of Molly, bleeding and bleeding as the thick blood trinkled down. 

"Do not smile, Sister! It's not a punchline. Guess what he has done whether during my pregnancy or when I gave a birth!" Sally kept on with her deplorable monologue as a handful of tears betrayed to well in her mesmerizing hazel eyes, gushing down her soft like peaches cheeks. In this moment, the older lady listened attentively. "He did never bother to pay a visit to the woman who he raped even to see once his lovely child. Made from flesh and blood!"

"Luckily, my child mustered up with the fact the father is gone but...the mother is there." Sally bit her bottom lip as she whispered very softly and a thumb of her free hand wiped her tears. "Kaitlyn is an amazing girl. She has inherited the majority of the facial traits by me unlike the hair color and some other significant traits whether her father's or interweaved with ours...Kaitlyn is the mini me."

Molly couldn't oppress a smile as Sally sobbed inwardly, wiping her drying tears at last. She felt eventually the ounce off her shoulders, being comforted by the nun.

"It's okay, dear. I pressume your child, made of flesh and blood is as splendid as you."

"I cannot disagree with you, Sister!"

Lastly Sally took a last drag off her cigarette, thereafter stubbing out the cigar in the ashtray nigh her. 

"Forget about Father McKenzie! I cannot forgive myself how I didn't inform the police when they questioned exactly where's his current location...and I just pretended like I don't know where's his residence...answering them Somewhere in Massachusetts!."

"And do you know where is he now?"

"I know." Suddenly the oracle's eyes widened in amusement, placing her other hand on the older woman's one. "In Salem!"

***

"Sweetheart, sweetheart?" The first words which Jude heard when she has fallen asleep in a profound sleep on the king sized bed in the bedroom were Timothy's ones. She didn't open her eyelids yet, lying on her tiny stomach as the softness of the matress consoled her. She grunted something and turned on the other side. 

Timothy held a floral cup of herbal tea, setting it on the night stand as he held Agnes in his one arm whose big hazel eyes gazed her mother as the former priest crouched down, rocking lightly her shoulder.

"Rare bird? I have brought you a tea." He whispered in her ear in velvety voice as she reluctantly blinked.

Seconds later after she rubbed her drowsy eyes and stretched her arms, she turned to Timothy as their eyes met, locked up his two pair of chocolate irises. 

"Oh, Timothy..." She stared in awe up at her daughter, extending her arm to cup her cheek as she cupped Timothy's cheek with her other hand, her thumb kneading their cheeks featherly. "Agnes! My precious!"

"How did you sleep?"

"It was a total nightmare." Moments later, she grunted in frustration, ignoring the headache that tortured her head. "Ugh, Christ! My head." She rolled her eyes as she opted to overlook the headache by locking up his chocolate eyes.

"Mommy, are ya alright?" The young girl enquired concerned. 

"I am fine, sweetie. Mommy's just needs..." Jude evoked calmly as she didn't care about the pain in her head until she released a high-pitched scream in agony when the pain verged. "Arghhhh, my head!" 

"Honey, please! I brought you a tea. I am going to look for the aspirin whilst Agnes," He handed the little girl as she removed her hands from their cheeks as she held the youngest Howard in her arms, clinging her to her chest as an angelic smile distort across her lips. "will be in your arms, calming you down."

Afterwards the former monsignor storm off in the bathroom, rummaging in the medical cabinet for aspirin until he found it.

"Mommy's got you, my little angel!" The middle aged mother exclaimed cheerfully as she peppered with kisses the little girl's temple. 

"Mama, I luv you!" 

"Mama loves you too, sweetheart!" She tucked Agnes's wavy golden hair behind her ear.

In the meantime, Timothy left the en-suite bathroom as he rushed up to Jude, handing her the aspirin as she put it promptly in her mouth, swallowing it as she sipped the warm tea. Agnes Jude couldn't contain a smug smile as she watched her mother as she was busy drinking tea until she utterly swallows the pill for a headache. Timothy stood in the right side of their bed as he crouched down again, observing by the way she drank the herbal tea and the other mini Jude's hand cupped her jawline as she finished with the tea, leaving the cup on her nightstand.

Jude's headache vanished as the unbearable pain her head was oblivious to her and she didn't quarrel about it. 

"Are you feeling better, Judy?" Timothy questioned her as he cupped her jaw, watching her happily. 

"Yes, I am. Much better!"

"Glad to hear it!"

"I love both of you so much!"

"I love you very much too, Mommy!"

"I love you equally very very much to death!" Timothy snaked arms around their shoulders as he dragged them in a loving, warm hug. 

***

"Frank, it's amazing we got rid off this imbecile, roaming in Boston." She pulled the top off the beer can as Frank did seconds prior her, seating on the leather sofa in the living room whilst Shona was drawing on the desk in the bedroom.

"Yeah, I don't care wherever he's gone. It matters our victory over his missing."  He rose his beer can as the security guard stated jubilantly.

"Exactly! Let's raise a toast for us..." Their medium sized cans ticked lightly as they lifted them up. "...for honor and for Father McKenzie's disappearance." Valerie declared gloriously as she sipped the weak alcoholic beverage, subsequently holding it in her hand. 

"I hope the cops one day find him and arrest him for his crimes." 

"I hope either too, Frank." The red-haired maid swatted lightly his shoulder as they couldn't suppress a snigger, vamoosing her throat. "We will be fine without him."

"God is smiling to us and Boston." 

"Indeed! When Father McKenzie is there, therefore God is frowning." 

"Do not make me laugh so hard, fella!" Frank burst out laughing as the young woman joined him, closing her eyes as she yielded an ecstatic seizure, rejoicing tears tumbling down her face as the laughters swam in the room. 

"I cannot! It's your fault to have such a friendly company next to you."

All of a sudden, a knock on the door interrupted the both adults as they halted, keeping their tongues behind their teeth. 

"Oh!" She sighed in a relief as she left the beer can on the coffee table, rapping faintly the former cop's shoulder, offering him a genuine, amiable smile. "I will be right back, Frank. I am wondering who's disturbing us in the middle of the night."

He just smiled as he watched his beer can, his fingers idly playing with the twisted can's top, whereas the housekeeper walked out of the living room and strolled up to the front door, unlocking it until an average tall female figure stood beside the threshold, dressed up in Boho clothes.

To be continued...