The Roses are Dead, The Violets are Rotten: Chapter 2

I pull up to the Church on my half-broken, half-rusted bike and lock it up in my new, bright pink bike lock that I had gotten for my birthday 2 weeks ago. It’s not like anyone would steal my bike anyway. The church is pretty safe, but I just wanted to have an excuse to use the lock. For my birthday I asked for a brand new bike as well, but it looks like I didn’t get it. My parents always say, “Ask for it for Christmas.”

I slowly walk up to the doors letting the air go through my hair that was squished in by my helmet. Once I reach the church doors, out of the corner of my eye I see these pretty terracotta vases filled with red fresh roses and sky blue violets. I pick them up and carry them inside along with my bike helmet buckled around my neck, phone, and wallet. I went inside and set my stuff in the little cubby that they had given me. After loading, I walk to where they are teaching the youth group. I walk up to the teachers, “What should I do today to help?” I ask the teacher, worried that the youth group will wonder who I am and ask millions of annoying questions.

“You can start by cleaning the bathrooms and then vacuuming each room.”

I walk to the front desk and ask for the cleaning supplies for the bathroom. As I walk away, I remember that there are roses and violets to be given. I go back, “Grab it?…  I found them waiting at the door,” I say to the priest. I then walk away with the feeling that the youth group kids are looking at me. I then grab the cleaning supplies, again, and walk to the bathroom. I start on the mirrors which are the easiest thing here. I go one by one.

Once I reach the last stall, I see a man in a black cloak with his hood up standing behind me. I quickly spin around and see nothing. For the rest of the time, I stay in the bathroom, I still sense another presence, but not a good one. After I finish the bathroom, I go and grab the vacuum. I go into the basement first because that needs the most vacuuming. I still feel an evil presence with me.

Once I finish vacuuming the basement, I go up to vacuum the rest of the church.“I finished the bathrooms and vacuumed.”

“Great, can you dust and clean the rest of the basement?”

“Yeah, I, umm, can do that.” I go grab the duster, window spray, and other cleaning supplies. I then walk down into the basement and feel a sharp jabbing pain in my side ribs. Ow! What the heck! Why does this hurt so much?! I walk back up to where they are teaching.

“Miss, there is a sharp jabbing pain in my left side. May I please go home?”

“Charlotte, of course you may go home. Thank you for all that you did today.”

I then exit the big wooden doors, go down the cemented stairs, and unlock my bike. I free it from the preppy pink bike lock when a chilling breeze comes. It gives me goosebumps as I remember the man in the black cloak in the bathroom. I hop on my bike and start to pedal my way home. Halfway through, the pain gets even worse. While lost in thought, I almost fall off of my bike when I see the man in black, hidden in the alleyway between Starbucks & McDonalds. Jeez, that is creepy as Heck. Ow! The pain is getting worse the closer I get home.