CHAPTER 2-4: CURIOSITY

Marina and Charlie entered the church, the rotting floorboards creaking with each step. Despite the open door and numerous broken windows, the room retained a smell of dust, mold, and decay.

Looking around, they saw that the church was empty, save for a few rotting pews. Had they been left behind by the caretakers, or were they just the last remnants of progressive theft, Charlie wondered. Scanning the room for any other forgotten artifacts, he noticed a small ash-pile, surrounded by rubbish, in the far corner of the room.

“Someone’s been here recently,” he said, pointing it out to Marina.

“Probably just kids,” Marina said.

“Could be squatters,” Charlie said.

The thought of confronting vagrants who might perceive Marina and his curiosity as trespass upon their property made him more than a little anxious. Marina, on the other hand, had no such concerns.

“Why would anyone squat in our sleepy little town?” she said.

“Good point,” Charlie said, smiling.

“Have you noticed there’s no crosses anywhere?” Marina said.

Charlie looked around the walls. “I guess they took them all when they left,” he said.

“Hm,” Marina said, dismissing his suggestion. She had always subscribed to the local urban myth that the patrons of the church had been followers of some obscure cult, and the lack of classical iconography merely confirmed her suspicions.

Charlie stepped into a beam of yellow sunlight, disrupting the dust motes floating within. He looked out the window at the setting sun, reminding him of his time schedule.

“This is pretty boring, Rina,” he said, hoping she would agree and they could leave.

Instead, he turned to find her rattling the handle of a door at the back of the room, unsuccessfully trying to open it. Persistent, she put her shoulder into the effort, and the door reluctantly jarred open. By this time, Charlie was halfway across the room to her. Marina leaned into the void, looking around within. All that she saw in the windowless room was a wooden staircase spiraling up the walls.

“Looks like the bell tower,” she said.

Stepping back out, she turned to Charlie with a cheeky smile. This made him a little nervous. He’d seen that smile countless times, and it always lead to some form of mischief.

“Let’s ring the bell,” Marina said.

Before awaiting a response, Marina turned and disappeared into the darkness. Knowing he had no say in the matter, Charlie hurried after her.

Entering the tower, he noticed a bundle of thick rope piled on the floor. Stepping up to it, he realized it was most likely from the bell above.

“Marina,” he called out.

Marina stopped, already half way up the tower. She leaned over the railing and saw Charlie at the bottom, looking up at her.

“What?” she said.

“I don’t think we can,” Charlie said, pointing to the rope at his feet.

“Yeah, I saw that too,” Marina said. “It’s okay, we’ll just do it manually.”

Before Charlie had a chance to respond, she was once again running up the stairs, and once again, Charlie followed. He had always admired her optimism and enthusiasm, but often found himself struggling to keep up.

At the top of the stairs, Marina was awed at the view. She could see, unobstructed, in every direction, from the ocean on the east to the hills on the west, with the sun hanging low over them. She looked for her house, but couldn't distinguish any of the town’s buildings.

Charlie climbed the last few stairs, joining Marina. “Nice… view,” he said, short of breath.

“Are you puffed?” Marina laughed.

“Kind of,” Charlie said. “It’s bigger… than it looks from the ground.”

“I can’t see our houses,” she said, staring off to the south.

“Can you see the church from your house?” Charlie said.

“I don’t think so.”

“Then that’s why,” Charlie said, waiting for the cogs to tick over while he looked around.

The church bell was probably five-feet high, and surprisingly untarnished. Surrounding the bell on all sides was a narrow, wooden platform, part of which they were currently standing on. Charlie noticed movement out of the corner of his eye and turned to see Marina cautiously making her way around the the far side of the bell.

“So how—” Charlie began, before being cut off by the ringing of the bell.

Marina leaned around the bell, smiling proudly at Charlie, who was wincing at the sound.

“I think I can do it louder,” she yelled. “Get ready to cover your ears.”

Marina disappeared behind the bell once more and Charlie covered his ears, wincing again in anticipation.

The bell rang out, much louder than the first time. Marina walked back around to Charlie, hands on her ears. She yelled something at him but it was masked by the still-ringing bell. He frowned and shook his head, hoping that was enough to convey that he couldn't hear her.

They both stood there, idly looking around as the ringing wound down, Charlie noticing that the sun was now touching the distant hills.

Once it was quiet enough to uncover her ears, Marina pressed her hands up against the bell to stop it ringing, the vibration sending chills through her body. Charlie let his hands down.

“I was saying, do you want a turn?” Marina said.

“I think I’ll pass,” Charlie said. “I should probably be getting back.”