Re: The Book of Lucia, Chapter XVI - Beware of False Prophets
Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2026 7:57 am
As soon as she stepped into the minibus and every head aboard swiveled to stare at her (and her blonde companion), Tris wondered if she’d made a really bad decision here.
She was used to being the centre of attention, being blessed with the sort of looks that turned heads wherever she went. It wasn’t that. It reminded her of some pubs back home, the ones where every local turned to look and went quiet the second someone new set foot inside.
It was more than a touch creepy and she thought quite seriously about turning around there and then. Her dignity wasn’t worth being kidnapped by some crazy cult of nun-wannabees. But Sister Chastity’s fulsome frame blocked the exit, the tall blonde’s hand gently but insistently steering her to a seat.
And, however much Tris might want out, she didn’t want it badly enough to throw herself out of a moving vehicle.
So instead she sat back, let the oddly soothing chatter wash over her with the odd ‘mmm’ when it seemed required and stared out the window. At the least, she supposed, her day definitely wouldn’t be dull.
And she was getting to see a side of Japan she hadn’t seen before – Tris hadn’t so far got out of Tokyo, so this was proving some of an eye opener for her. Instead of the busy streets and the modern roads, they wound their way up a track that clearly hadn’t been maintained for years under the shadow of old, gnarled trees with skeletal fingers clawing at the skies. Tris couldn’t help but grin.
Just like home.
A murmur from the rest of Chastity’s cadre brought her eyes forward, just in time to get her first look at this ‘church’ they had all been talking about. Sure, she knew there were Christians in Japan, had been for years, but that didn’t mean she expected an actual church.
Pausing as she left the minibus, the redhead raked a glance over it, lips curling dismissively. It looked big enough, she supposed. She didn’t care for it, probably wouldn’t have done even before it had been left to rot and ruin.
But she was there now, so Tris followed Sister Chastity to the steps and up, making sure to watch where she put her feet. Wondering, as she did, whether they’d been left like this as some sort of stupid ‘trial for the faithful’.
It just seemed on brand.
“Got to say, Chaz,” she sniped, “This place isn’t impressing me much so far. Do you even have wi-fi?”
Actually, Tris was starting to doubt if they had running water…
She was used to being the centre of attention, being blessed with the sort of looks that turned heads wherever she went. It wasn’t that. It reminded her of some pubs back home, the ones where every local turned to look and went quiet the second someone new set foot inside.
It was more than a touch creepy and she thought quite seriously about turning around there and then. Her dignity wasn’t worth being kidnapped by some crazy cult of nun-wannabees. But Sister Chastity’s fulsome frame blocked the exit, the tall blonde’s hand gently but insistently steering her to a seat.
And, however much Tris might want out, she didn’t want it badly enough to throw herself out of a moving vehicle.
So instead she sat back, let the oddly soothing chatter wash over her with the odd ‘mmm’ when it seemed required and stared out the window. At the least, she supposed, her day definitely wouldn’t be dull.
And she was getting to see a side of Japan she hadn’t seen before – Tris hadn’t so far got out of Tokyo, so this was proving some of an eye opener for her. Instead of the busy streets and the modern roads, they wound their way up a track that clearly hadn’t been maintained for years under the shadow of old, gnarled trees with skeletal fingers clawing at the skies. Tris couldn’t help but grin.
Just like home.
A murmur from the rest of Chastity’s cadre brought her eyes forward, just in time to get her first look at this ‘church’ they had all been talking about. Sure, she knew there were Christians in Japan, had been for years, but that didn’t mean she expected an actual church.
Pausing as she left the minibus, the redhead raked a glance over it, lips curling dismissively. It looked big enough, she supposed. She didn’t care for it, probably wouldn’t have done even before it had been left to rot and ruin.
But she was there now, so Tris followed Sister Chastity to the steps and up, making sure to watch where she put her feet. Wondering, as she did, whether they’d been left like this as some sort of stupid ‘trial for the faithful’.
It just seemed on brand.
“Got to say, Chaz,” she sniped, “This place isn’t impressing me much so far. Do you even have wi-fi?”
Actually, Tris was starting to doubt if they had running water…
