Free Chimes of Passion by Joe Mudak Page B

morning, he couldn’t remember, but it didn’t seem all
that bad an idea at the time. “How long do you think it’ll be
before the storm lets up?”
     
    “Hard to tell, but I think we should
plan on sleeping here tonight.”
     
    “Assuming no one tries to kick us
out.”
     
    “Assuming no one tries to kick us out.
Right. Do you think there’s anyone else in here besides us
five?”
     
    “Well, someone lit these candles.
Whether they’re still here right now, I can’t say.”
     
    “So, what do you think this place is?
Something about this place feels ... I don’t know. Off?”
     
    “I get that same feeling, Pete. I’m
not sure what this building’s used for now, but it definitely once
was a church. I don’t think they have services or rituals in here
any more, though.”
     
    “Yeah. I’d think there’d be a cross,
or a picture of Jesus, or something if it was still being used as a
church. What do you think it’s used for now?”
     
    “No clue. For tonight, I’m hoping it
can be used as a haven for five wet and weary travelers. Here’s
hoping the owner or owners of this place don’t mind us being
here.”
     
    As if on cue, a loud clap of thunder
struck the ground somewhere on the grounds outside the building,
lighting up the sky through the small windows in the top of the
walls.
     
    Irene, startled by the unexpected loud
noise, jumped. The three women were standing in a hallway, lit with
candles similar to the ones they had seen in the main sanctuary.
Midway down the hallway stood a large wooden door. For the time
being, this was their goal.
     
    When they reached the door, the three
women couldn’t help but notice the ornate markings on the door
itself. There was text across the top, written in a language and
alphabet none of them recognized. Two images were engraved below
the text. On the left side of the door was the silhouette of what
clearly appeared to be a woman. It was hard to tell based upon its
appearance whether she was standing or lying down, but her legs
were slightly askance and her hands stretched above her head. On
the right side of the door was a man’s silhouette; the man’s
figure, slightly larger than the woman’s, was in by and large the
same position. Both images were remarkably well-defined, especially
for an engraving into a wooden door.
     
    Alyssa’s eyes darted back and forth
between the two pictures chiseled into the door. “Do you think
they’re naked?”
     
    Irene didn’t want to dignify that
question with a response. Lynda responded to Alyssa’s question with
a grunt as she reached forward and turned the doorknob.
     
    The door creaked open to reveal what
looked like a medieval sitting room. The three friends assessed the
decor: chairs placed around the room along the walls and a large
table which bore nothing save for a bowl with a small pool of
water, and more candles for lighting. The light from the candles in
this room danced across the surface of the water.
     
    “We might as well get changed here,”
Irene finally spoke, as she started to search through her bag for
clean underwear.
     
    Alyssa placed her bag on one of the
chairs and did the same. Lynda walked closer to the table and put
her bag down on the table. She started to open her bag but stopped
before she had the opportunity to find something. Taking a deep
breath, she spoke to her friends, “Do you smell
something?”
     
    “Like what?” Irene
countered.
     
    “Oh, I don’t know. Something in here
smells sweet and relaxing. It smells like ... lilacs. You know,
what I smelled outside. Are you saying you don’t smell
it?”
     
    Irene sighed, “Nope.” Alyssa simply
shrugged her shoulders.
     
    Lynda inhaled deeply. When she opened
her eyes, she casually removed her blouse and skirt and folded them
neatly on top of the table. Once she had stripped down to her
underwear, she felt the need to know more about this smell. “If
someone’s growing flowers down here, I’d like to know