Three years ago..

Faint, hollow gospel music rung through the cathedral as Sister Apollonia pressed a large drop of holy water on each child's forehead with two fingers. "May you be blessed," she whispered to each one. When finished, the children rose and began to sing in unison. "Be silent," Sister Apollonia commanded. "May Christ bless each one of your souls and provide eternal life. Return to your abodes." The children scampered back to the parlor, settling down. Some played, some slept, and some ate. As dusk crept over the orphanage, a faint wail could be heard from the nuns' parlor. Sister Apollonia heard this, and rushed over. The child begged to return home, saying she was stripped away from her father. Guilt overtaking her, Apollonia tried to discreetly escort the child out of the premises and onto a bus. The child escaped, but her absence was noticed. Apollonia was punished for this. She was never seen again.

Present.. "You've all grown from a mere bud to a delicate flower. The lord has truly guided you to blooming. Now, we shall express our gratitude through immense prayer. No respite, no delay. Commence!" Whispering prayers engulfed the cathedral. Sister Victoria rushes over to a child and abruptly strikes their face, although it didn't interrupt the overlapping prayers. "Fix your face and posture for the Lord," she hissed. "Oh? Must I summon Father John, you wicked gremlin? Come along," she went as she took their hand and took them into a room. A faint, shrieking and whipping sound could be heard from just the benches. The consequences here could be severe at times. "Must she always strike us for the most subtle mistakes? All that poor boy did was arch his back," a freckled, fair girl with brown pigtails murmured between the words in her prayer.