Sacred Prayer

The smell of dust and worn books filtered through the air, wafting past a young girl who rushed through the hallways of the quiet house, giggles and the sound of footsteps echoing off the hollow walls. Small hands brushed past a doorframe, using it as leverage to slide into the living area where a woman with blonde curls that bounced on her shoulders stood, a white summer dress kissed at her ankles, soft baby blue eyes following after the little girl who had raced in, only to glance back towards a boy with brown curls matching the woman.

"Conan? What did I say about running around the house!" The woman huffed, shutting the book in her hands and placing it down onto the wooden coffee table.

The young girl came to a stop, the boy colliding with her back as they both tumbled to the floor a yelp exiting the two as they sat for a moment- The little girl shoving at the boy's face.

"Marcie started it!" He pointed at the young girl whose eyes lit up with betrayal in which she opened her mouth to snap at the boy, only for him to move away from her and towards his mother.

"I did not!" She barked, arms crossing over her chest as vermillion eyes glared at the 'innocent' hazel ones. Ebony strands clouded her gaze, being pushed back at the tilt of her chin being raised higher.

"You're the one who started chasing me with mud covering your filthy hands!" She argued, brows furrowing though- She was far from true anger, the smile that twitched at the edges of her lips being a dead giveaway.

The woman pinched the bridge of her nose, letting out an annoyed sigh and a silent 'save me Lord' before stilling herself and rolling her shoulders back.

"Well, then- Conan, no more chasing Marcie with muddied hands. Also-" She paused for a moment, watching Marcie stand from the floor and dust herself off, the dress that stopped at her knees was littered with mud.

"Marcie, sweetheart, we should probably get you cleaned up before your mother comes, hm?" She gave her a soft smile, eyes crinkling slightly, and the hint of a dimple made its way through.

"Yes, ma'am." Marcie chirped, following after the woman as she led her towards one of the backrooms, Conan having rushed out after his mother told him he cannot follow them.

Life had been much simpler when Marcie was only ten, having her way around the village as if she owned it- Plucking bread off the baker's shelves without so much as a glance from the owner. It was a life, a good one.

But no life stays simple now does it?

The chatter of priests and priestesses flowed through the church's corridors, young men and women were gathered this early Sunday morning by the high priests, they were to be taught the ways of the church; As if they hadn't grown up here. Marcie had, so she sat in one of the pews with a look that screamed boredom. She'd rather be anywhere but here if she was being fair- She was tired of listening to the same thing over and over again from the mouths of old men who look like they're about to turn to dust any second.

She had her feet kicked up on the back of the pew in front of her, hands clasped on her abdomen while her gaze settled at the front perhaps, she could sneak out. No, it'd be relayed back to her mother by some goody two shoes and that wouldn't end well at all. She groaned, craning her head back on the pew, eyes making contact with familiar hazel ones.

"Bored?" Conan grinned, voice as smooth as honey and far from what it used to be. He was dressed in a white robe- The hood resting on his broad shoulders.

"Bout as bored as a fuckin' dog without a bone." She grumbled, much like Conan- Marcie had also changed, in the worst of ways.

At least that's what her mother says.

"I swear I've heard him recite this a thousand times over." She lifted herself off the pew- Her robe dropping to cover up the black boots that she wore.

Conan huffed out an amused laugh, dazzling eyes following her movements as she hopped over the pew and into his, plopping down and drooping down like melted ice cream. One of her arms balanced on the back of the seat, right behind Conan's neck.

"I can hear your mother now-" He started, chuckling at the way her eyes rolled, and a scowl overcame her bored expression, nose scrunching up and brows furrowing just slightly.

"Sit up straight, quit acting like a toddler who had too much sugar." He mocked in a high-pitched voice, bumping an elbow into the woman's ribs which caused her to hit him back even harder, earning a grunt from her victim.

"She can survive." A sharpening grin stretched across her features, lighting up her eyes. Conan has been her best friend since birth, her right-hand man, and accidental cover-up when she got into too much trouble. With that in mind- She sucked in a breath, the hand that rested close to her partner-in-crimes shoulder suddenly grabbing onto it, she tugged him into her side as a devilish glint flashed in her eyes.

"Think we can sneak out of here?" Her voice lowered, gaze shifting towards the priest who was going off about something, his hands raised, and grey dusted brows furrowed.

"Have a nice little stroll through town, maybe?" This got Conan to roll his eyes, putting a hand on her cheek and shoving her away despite her protests.

"I'd rather not get in trouble with the high priests...Again." He griped, shooting her a warning glance. The glance didn't cause any reaction out of Marcie, besides a pleading look.

"C'mon golden boy, you wouldn't deny little ol me, would you?" She leaned forward, elbows resting on her knees and her hands cupped her cheeks, squishing them slightly.

"I'm too cute to be denied." Her grin seemed to grow, eyes crinkling slightly with a fury of mirth and rebellion. She was far from the image of her mother, the priestess who held the title of the clergy, a woman of authority and an undying faith.

Her father couldn't be talked about the same- A priest yes, but one whose faith withered out and eventually- caused him to leave town. Conan always commented about how she looked and acted- exactly like her father.

Conan swallowed, muttering something about 'those fucking puppy eyes' and groaned in frustration, head tilting back slightly, brown curls falling into his eyes.

"Alright! Fine, fine- But you owe me, you hear me?" He scoffed, moving forward and gripping the edge of the pew, eyes rolling when she grabbed his arm and started tugging him out of the pew.

"Yeah, yeah- whatever." She tsked, waving him off with her hand. moving her grip from his bicep to his hand, earning a bristled look from him.

She hadn't noticed the look, her gaze being on the side door that led to their small 'hangout', a lush, birdsong-filled cove; Where the trees were laced with vines dotted in white flowers and the creek flowed gently through the landscape.

It was like it had been stripped right out of a movie or a book- At least...From what Marcie had read. It was a rarity that only she and Conan knew of, hidden and tucked away from the care mothers and everyone else who tried to find them.

She shoved the door open with her shoulder, sticking her foot out to hold it open for Conan which left her hopping in place for a moment until he was fully out, the two sucked in a breath, shooting a glance to one another that read.

Freedom.