"Mr Hale! Mr Hale!"

A junior preist was in the vestry when he heard a call for help. He hurried out and rushed to the door and unbolted it.

"Just a moment," finally he opened the heavy door and saw the young woman standing there, "hurry, come inside."

The girl walked in shaking. She appeared to be crying. Once inside, he shut the door and locked it. She turned to him. He wasn't Reverend Hale. He was new, but she didn't care. She needed comfort now. She then pulled him into a hug and cried. He was slightly surprised because he didn't ever get hugged by anyone, but he could see she was distraught so he held her gently trying to comfort her.

"You're safe here, my child. Please, come and sit down. I am the abbe de Coulmier...I mean, preist Coulmier. Sorry, my parents were French so I'm used to saying my title in French. The reverend Hale found it amusing," he smiled slightly and guided her to one of the benches.

"Is my mother here? Belle Gold?"

He was confused because he never met anyone by that name.

"Or atleast...my father, he's not religious, but...is he here? Rumpel Gold?"

"...I'm sorry, there is no one here. Not even the reverend. I kept the doors open for as long as I could, I'm the hopes that the townsfolk might come here for shelter, but then...they came...those ungodly creatures, and I had to close the door to keep them out. Nobody's been here other than yourself."

"...," she dropped her head and then broke down sobbing. What if...what if her parents were eaten by those monsters? What if everyone was?

"Please, do not lose hope my child...," he placed his hand on her back, "... just because they're not here does not mean they're gone. They are probably taking shelter somewhere. I shall pray for their safety. I have been praying for the safety of all the townspeople all evening, and you are here, so my prayers are being answered."

Sarah rubbed her eyes, "this is my fault. I shouldn't have run away. I saw three of my friends were eaten. I don't know which of the two, but one I recognized. She and her grandmother run the diner in town...she's...she's been eaten...it's all my fault. All because I didn't listen to my father...my mother was in trouble. Some bad men wanted to hurt her...I hurt them...badly...I-I murdered them...I was...scared for my so life I ran...and now this...," she broke down again.

Coulmier felt bad for her now. She was definitely sensitive and very concerned for her family. And now lost three friends, he placed his hand on her shoulder trying his best to comfort her. She lifted her face up and he handed her his hanky. She then wiped her tears away.

"It's not your fault, my child," he reassured her, "you were saving your mother. You were protecting her..."

"But I was told my father to...never hurt anyone. Once he finds out...he will disown me..."

"No he won't. If he loves you dearly, he won't disown you. Have faith my child, the bond between parent and child is sacred, he won't disown you. And none of this is your fault," he thought for a moment and looked at her sadly, "would you like to light some candles, for the friends you lost?"

"...," she didn't know what it would do, but maybe it was something he did in France. So she nodded.

He stood and guided her over to the alter and used some matches to light three candles, "we light candles in memory of the ones who have recently passed. Try to take comfort that their souls are in heaven now. They're at peace."

She sensed Ruby wouldn't, because she wasn't religious. But he was just trying to make her feel better. Suddenly she jumped slightly hearing thunder.

He placed his hand on her shoulder, "it's alright, it's thunder. Come, would you like something to eat? You've been through a lot, you're more than welcome to stay here."

"...," she then nodded and followed him. She then pulled Anne Marie out of her bag and the kitten looked at him and meowed.

He then smiled brightly, his face lighting up, "oh hello. And who is this little one?" he tickled the kitten gently under the chin.

"Anne Marie. I found her...she was all alone and her friend was...gone..."

"Awe, the poor thing...hello Anne Marie, I'm François...," he then looked up at Sarah and smiled, "how very kind of you to rescue her. You have a good heart."

"...thank you...my...my name is Sarah by the way...Sarah Gold."

He then offered her his hand to shake, "it's a pleasure to meet you Miss Gold, May I call you Sarah?"

"...you may," she blushed more. She took his hand and he gently shook it.

"You may call me François if you like, or just Abbé, the reverend Hale always called me that. But really, whatever you're comfortable with," he smiled.

Sarah blushed more. She was shy, but he seemed like a cute priest. But she never knew Reverend Hale was teaching a new priest.

"Alright."

He brought her in the back and grabbed a bowl and opened a can of tuna for Anne Marie. Sarah set her down and she gobbled up the food and water next to the food bowel. Coulmire then opened the ice box.

"What food do you like?" he asked, "there's lasagne, spaghetti bolognaise, macaroni cheese...," he continued to search through the ice box.

"...I like spaghetti...," she blushed.

"Spaghetti it is," he smiled and then went to prepare it for her. Whilst it was cooling he made her a mug of hot chocolate and handed it to her.

"...thank you," she blushed more.

She set it down, but she jumped again and squeaked because the thunder was louder.

"...would you tell me about the town, Sarah?" he asked as he sat down facing her at the table "I haven't been here that long, and the reverend kept me busy so I never had the opportunity to go into the town."

He was trying to keep her distracted from the sound of the thunder.

"...," Sarah then nodded, "it's a small town. The only restaurant is Granny and Ruby's Dinner. Regina is the mayor. She was very rude and nasty before I was born, but once I was born she changed. My father use to be the true owner of the town. He basically worked with Regina. But he changed. Our town is very magical. Especially my father's pawnshop. It's one of my favorite places in town. His pawnshop though isn't any normal pawnshop. Instead of money, you have to make a deal with him. Then there is David Nolan, he is the sheriff of the town. His wife Mary Marget that runs the school. Henry is my best friend since we were young."

Coulmier smiled, "how interesting. A magical town. It sounds like a wonderful place to live. Once it is safe again, I would very much like to look around. Perhaps you could give me the tour sometime?"

"...sure," she blushed.

Suddenly they heard a thud upstairs. Sarah and Coulmier froze. He then stood up, looking confused, "there's no way inside here, I don't understand what that could be. Wait here, lock the vestry door behind me as I leave. I'll go and investigate," he then walked to the door and went into the hallway and slowly climbed the stairs.

Sarah didn't, but she stayed by the door. Coulmier held a flashlight when suddenly the lights went out. He turned it on and looked around. Suddenly he saw a faceless corpse laying on the floor. But he instantly knew who it was. It was Hale with a gun in his hand, but it looked like he had been dead for a long time. He fell back and shivered. He grabbed his flashlight and heard a groan in the hallway. He walked in and jumped seeing a nun before him, but she was a corpse. She was the one making the noise.

Coulmier quickly got up and ran down the stairs and he and Sarah shut the door.

He bolted the door and stood with his back against it, breathing hard, "...I-I need to find something to use...as a weapon," he then hurriedly looked around and saw the poker in the stand beside the fireplace. He swallowed hard but grabbed hold of it, "you really need to lock the door behind me this time. So that you're safe, alright?"

"B-but...," she was worried now. The door started to bang and she squeaked, but still had her back against the door.

He hurriedly moved her back, "hide beneath the table. Close your eyes. Try not to be afraid. I'll do what needs to be done to keep you safe," he gently held her face and looked into her eyes, "trust me, my child."

Sarah looked at him, "be careful." She teared up and she hid with Ann Marie.

He took a deep breath and gripped hold of the poker as he unbolted the door. Before the nun corpse could get inside he swung the poker hard and knocked it back. He then repeatedly brought the poker down over its head beating it hard.

Sarah shivered and shut her eyes holding her kitten. Soon she heard silence. Then footsteps to the table. The table cloth moved away and she felt hands on her face. She opened and saw it was Coulmire. She teared up setting Anne Marie down and hugged him.

He hugged her back and she could feel he was shaking. He closed his eyes, "may God forgive me for taking a life, I only pray I ended the poor creature's misery."

"Did it hurt you?" She asked looking at him and held his face. He had black ink spots on his face. It was probably the monster's blood. She got out and grabbed a rag and gently cleaned his face.

He closed his eyes as she wiped his face clean, "thank you, Sarah, and no, I...I didn't give it chance to hurt me."

She slightly smiled and hugged him. She was glad he was ok. Anne Marie then came up and climbed up on his leg.

He chuckled softly and tickled the kitten behind her ear, "I think she actually likes me," he said, sounding surprised.

"...," she smiled and hugged him again with her arms around his neck and kissed the side of his head, she was just happy he was alright. Of course that Anne Marie liked him too.

"oh...," he chuckled and blushed, "thank you," he gently hugged her back.

"I'm just glad you're ok...sorry," she blushed more.

"No, you don't have to be sorry. It's fine really. I'm just not used to it, with being a preist and all."

"...I get that," she blushed.

"But it's fine. Expressing affection and emotion is good. So please don't be embarrassed over it."

She blushed more slightly smiling.

Coulmier blushed as well, but then Anne Marie meowed at him with her paws on his chest.

He chuckled softly and smiled at the little kitten "that's right, Anne Marie, affection from you is nice too," he then carefully set her on the chair and took the spaghetti out of the oven. He plated it up for her and set it on the table, "enjoy your meal. I'm going to go and...clean upstairs....you may have my room, I'll take the reverend's room."

"...you...you want me to help?" She asked.

He went to her and shook his head. He took her hands comforting her, "I will be fine. I don't want you to be sick." He hesitated, but he leaned in and kissed her forehead. He then took care of the corpse of the nun.

Once he took the corpse of the nun outside he locked and bolted the door. He then went upstairs and carefully wrapped the body of the reverend and said a prayer. He then carried the body to the attic, as he didn't know what else to do with it. He didn't want to put it outside. Once he'd done he went back downstairs to Sarah, "if you like I'll show you to my room, I mean, your room."

Sarah was putting her dishes in the sink. She heard him when he spoke and nodded. She picked up Anne Marie and her bag. She then followed him.

He led her to his room, he lit the lamp on the bedside table, "it's clean, I promise. I changed the sheets this morning. And if you need anything I'll be right next door."

Sarah turned to him after she set her bag and kitten on the bed. "Thank you, Abbe...," she then hugged him again with her arms around his neck.

"Of course. I hope you sleep well. Good night Sarah," he hugged her back and kissed the top of her head.

She blushed at him. She then kissed his cheek. Instantly he remembered the woman he met and she fell for him back in France where he had sexual dreams of, but he never was in relationship with or inlove with her back. He swallowed and just kissed ontop of her head again. He then pulled back and walked out. Sarah didn't want him to leave, she didn't want to be alone. But she just met him. She then went to the bed and climbed into it. Anne Marie snuggled by her and fell asleep as well.

Abbé prayed before he removed his gown and shirt. He left his pants on and lay on the bed. It took him a long time but he finally fell asleep.

Sarah prayed a soft prayer for her parents. She just missed them. She tried to sleep that night, but couldn't because of the storm. She teared up, "...Daddy..."