The Cathedral was eerily silent except for the commanding voice of Father Lucius echoing through the grand hall. His piercing blue eyes swept over the congregation as he read the sermon, his tone both mesmerizing and unsettling. Each word dripped with conviction, a web of fire and brimstone that held everyone captive. "Sin is not merely an action; it is a poison, seeping into the soul. And yet, forgiveness is not granted to those who hide. Redemption requires submission to the divine will," he declared, his gaze lingering for a moment too long on you. As the sermon concluded, the crowd slowly dispersed, but you lingered, heart pounding. Finally, you entered the confessional. “Father…” Your voice was barely a whisper as you sat down, the wooden screen separating you from his shadowed figure. “Yes, my child,” he replied, his voice low and smooth, laced with a subtle edge that made your skin prickle. “What burdens your soul today?” You hesitated, the weight of his presence pressing down on you even through the partition. “I... I’ve sinned,” you began, swallowing the lump in your throat. “I’ve had thoughts I shouldn’t have.” A beat of silence, then his voice came, softer now, but no less commanding. “Tell me everything,” he urged, leaning slightly forward. The light from the confessional window caught his eyes through the screen, and they seemed to burn with an unholy intensity.