The Book Of Vincent. Chapter Twenty Three

Chapter Twenty Three

When Vincent got home, his mother was waiting for him.
“So, how was your religious cult thing?” She asked taking a swig of dome soft drink.
“Mom, please do not rip on religion. You know that is how most fights and wars started.” Vincent went and to a drink of some water.
“Vincent, I am just messing with you.” She put her arm around him and kissed the top of his head.
“I know. I just do not like it when you rip on religion. I know that you do not agree with religion, but please do not batch it. Anyway, I liked it so much that I will be going back next week with Cyri.” Vincent poured himself another glass of water. He did really enjoyed it, but his mom was not taking it seriously.
“So, going back next week. Alright. I personally do not like this.”
“Why not?” Vincent was starting to get agitated.
“Other than school related events, I just do not like you out side of this house.” Vincent put his hands on his mother's shoulders.
“Mom,” Vincent said, taking a deep breath. “There is nothing to worry about. Now, I know that you never had a good relationship with religion, but, this is just like when me and all my friends use to hang out last year. Except, this time, it is only me and Cyri. Really, I think you are getting yourself worried over nothing.” After that, Vincent went into his bedroom.

“So, what does your mom have against religion?” Cyri asked Vincent when they were waiting for the bus to pick them up one morning.
“She grew up in a strict Catholic house. She had religion shoved down her throat, the school she went to was beyond bad, as in they would beat the kids, and over all, was not a pleasant experience for her. When she was a teenager, she started looking into religion and started to realize that she did not agree with what the church has said about topic like science, other beliefs, etc.”
“Okay. I understand about your mother,” Cyri said, looking up at Vincent. “But you never told me about yourself? After going to Church, where do you stand?” Vincent thought about this for some time sense after Church, and he had one answer. He just hoped she would except it.
“Well, after me looking into religion, I have come to the conclusion that I am deist.” Cyri gave Vincent a blank stare. “In simple terms, I only believe that there is a God and an afterlife, and that is about it. The rest of it I do not believe in.”
“What is it about the other parts that you do not believe in?” Cyri said as they were getting onto their bus. Once they were seated in the back together, Vincent started talking.
“Just that, the other parts do not sit with me. Look,” He said looking at Cyri. “All I know is what I am and that is that. Anyway, to get off of this subject, tell me about this church you are dragging me off to?” Cyri gave hint of a small smile.
“Well, it is more, like I said, high class than the one we previously went to for starters. I have a few friends there that you maybe be interested in meeting, I do not really know yet. In terms of people to meet, there are a few that I might want to introduce you to, and you might make a few friends of your own. I do not know.”
“Which of our friends that were part of The Children Of Darkness go to this church?” Cyri cringed a bit. Even though it has been months sense the group split, she still had thoughts about what had happened.
“Coraline on occasion shows up. Same thing with Tad.” The moment she said this, Tad got onto the bus. He was dressed almost identical to that of Vincent: All black. The only thing that was different was that Vincent had on a black tie.
“You coming with us to Church next Sunday?” She asked him. Tad looked up threw the bangs that covered his face.
“More than likely not.” Then he was quiet. In fact, they all were quiet until Cyri and Vincent had gotten off the bus.
“What's up with Tad?” He asked.
“ I will tell you after school. Far too much detail right about now. See ya.” Then she went and turned to run toward her homeroom as Vincent went into his.

When school ended, both of them (being Vincent and Cyri) decided to walk home. Cyri thought that it would be best because it would give her more time to explain about all of this.
“Okay, this is why Tad has been quiet. He is a person that is beyond jealous of any guy that I end up being friends with. He has this die hard core love for me and while I do find that flattering, I do not feel the same way about him. He just never seems to learn. Back when we, you know, done that last year, he tried to talk me out of it. Remember that argument we had that you saw? He did not want anything that did happen happen. He is overly protective. I understand his concern, but I am a big girl all by myself and there are some things that I can handle all by myself.
“Now, I will admit that I have thought about dating him, but it would just seem weird, seeing as how I view him more as a brother. He hates that. But, he will just have to learn that we can never be together the way he wants us to be. I mean, there was that one time that we did kiss, but that was a one time only thing and it meant nothing to me, but I believe that it meant everything to him.” Vincent looked up quickly.
“Kiss?” When Vincent asked that, Cyri burst out laughing.
“Typical guys. Say anything about sex, drugs, or girls making out with them and their ears perk up.” Vincent scrolled at her.
“Do not!” Vincent testified. “I am just interested in the past and the lives of my friends. No harm in that really.”
“I guess not.” Cyri took a deep breath. “Let me explain about the kiss.” And right there, she explained about when she wanted to try and commit suicide once, how she was going to do it, and the overall aftermath of it all. Vincent listened with total concentration. When she was done, Vincent was stunned.
“Wow. That is one thing I think you never told me.”
“If I never told you, then why would I repeats myself?”
“It is, just kind of shocking. I mean, I knew that you have been threw hell and back, but, damn Cyri. Suicide? That is something I kind of thought that you would thought of doing, but actually going threw with that thought? Wow. Never thought you would do that.” They were at there homes.
“You used 'thought' a lot, you know that right?” Cyri said when they reached her front porch.
“I know. But as to why I used that word numerous times is beyond my understanding as of this point and time. But, when I think of a damn good of enough reason, I will let you know.” They were quiet for a few seconds.
“Well, I have to go now. See ya later Cy.” Vincent turned and walked to his home.
When Vincent was walking home, Tad saw and heard everything.

When Sunday had come around, Vincent found himself sitting next to Cyri (in her average cloths) in the back of Heidi and Mark's car, driving towards Cyri's main church. When they got there, it was about three times the size of the one they went to last week, but that only told Vincent that maybe these people maybe more stuck up than usual.
The interior of this church was very, spacious. Very wide, empty and huge. Vincent looked up and saw the second floor of the church and wondered what was the overall point. As he started looking around, he noticed a few plaques that stated that the church belonged originally to a private school system, but had to be sold and as such, the company that bought the building turned it into a Church.
Cyri grabbed Vincent and dragged him up the stairs and into the second floor. There was a sign along the way that proclaimed that they were headed into the Youth Centre part of the building.
When they got there, they saw this teenage boy, about five foot seven, thin, bad case of acne standing by the front door. When he saw Cyri, he went and grabbed her, hugging her. Vincent was taken aback by this, until Cyri separated themselves.
“Vincent, this is a friend of mine named Charles. He is someone I met when I first came here. Charles, this is Vincent.” Charles went and grabbed Vincent's hand.
“So you are the famous Vincent that Cyri will not shut up about, eh?” Vincent shot Cyri a glance. Cyri shot one back that told him not to worry.
“Why, yes I am. Cyri has not mentioned anything about you and sense we are on the topic of Cyri, what has she said about me?”
“Basically that you are a very good friend to her and that you have something of a desire to change the world and try and make it better. Now, as to what and how you are wanting to change the world, I do not know. But, lets hope that it does not require anyone to loose there life in the process, eh?” Charles burst out laughing. Cyri and Vincent put on fake smiles. “Hey, why don't we go into the main centre as not to make sure that no one thinks we are bumming around?”
Charles opened the door and allowed them all in. The entire area looked like a combination between a coffee shop, auditorium, and arcade. On the left hand wing, you had these tables against the wall were it looked like you could have an enjoyable chat with someone. In the middle wear about ten rows of twenty chairs apiece. At the front you had an electric guitar, bass, drum set, and microphone. On the right wing you had a table tennis set, chess table, and a pool table. In the back, you had a few speakers with a stack of music. From what Vincent saw, it was nothing that had interested him. They sat at one of the tables on the left hand wing.
“So, Sir Charles,” Vincent said in a jokingly manner. “Tell me about yourself.” Charles gave him a rather odd look. “When I talk to someone, I like to know a little or a lot, depends on what your taste is, about that person. So, if you can be so kind, please explain about yourself.” The only thing that was going threw Charles' mind was that this kid was weird. But, taking a deep breath, he told his life's story.

“I was born and raised here all my life. I was raised in the church sense my whole entire family volunteers here at this church. I meet Cyri when her family started coming here about earlier this month. And that is all of my life I kind of want to share. I like keeping to myself.”

Vincent thought that he will not be able to get anywhere with this kid, but oh well. He might as well not try to get into his mind. He is already in the mind of enough people as is. He sat back as Cyri and Charles kept on talking back and forth. Two things kept being brought up: This person named Landon and a gang called Angels And Demons.
“Angels and Demons?” Vincent asked them when he had enough of hearing the name being called out and about.
“Yes, why, never heard of them?” Charles asked. Vincent shook his head no. “Well, there is this guy who's nickname is Landon (no one knows his real name) that is some kid that goes to this church. You see, in this church, there are two types of people: Pure and Unpure. If someone is deemed Pure by this group, then they leave you alone. If you are deemed Unpure, then, well, they try to take care of you in a way they seem fit.”
“Explain some more.” Vincent asked sternly.
“Well, take for example this one family. The son became a Christian not too long ago. He let it out that he was originally Jewish. When Angels And Demons found out, they took care of him. They ended up, after church, beating the living crap out of him to no end. It is to me a shock that the poor kid is even still alive. I saw him as they were taking him out of the back of the church. He had blood gushed everywhere, beaten to a bloody pulp, and above all else, not at all in good condition.” Charles took out from his pocket a mini water bottle and took a sip.
“Okay, and how is it that no one knows who Landon is?” Vincent said, becoming more intrigued.
“Because he does not beat anyone up. He allows his gang to do it. He finds someone that attends here, deems them as Unpure, and then they are done for.” Vincent was about to ask something else, when Cyri got up.
“Vincent,” She said quickly. “Can I speak to you outside. Charles, give us a couple of minutes.” Vincent and her left a dumbfounded Charles at that table by himself.
“Look Vincent,” She said. “I know what it is that he just told you but I want you to listen to me carefully. I do not want to get The Children Of Darkness evolved with any of this.”
“Cyri, the point of the gang is to stop people like this. I mean, you seriously can not agree with these fiends tormenting others!”
“I do not agree with them, but they have as of yet not done anything to hurt any members of the group. I doubt that any of the members have heard of a Landon.” Cyri laid back against the wall.
“Vincent,” she said standing with proper posture again. “promise me that unless they hurt us, you are not to notify and/ or attack them at all. You understand me?” Vincent was quiet for a few seconds.
“Alright. But, if they do anything and I am notified of it, then I will take action.” Cyri scowled when Vincent said this.
“As close as I will get with you, I suppose.” Cyri said. Vincent rolled his eyes. As they stood there in silence, they started to hear the voices of others coming up the stairs. Other teenagers.
“Oh,” Cyri said, changing her serious tone to that of one that is happy and joyful. “I almost forgot. There is one person I want you to meet. But, I want you to promise me something.”
“Okay, what?”
“You must promise me that you will not over react when I tell you about this person.” Vincent laughed beyond the point of being hysterical.
“No. No, no, no, no, no. I can not promise anything like that. You can go and tell me what you want to tell me and my natural response may be to freak out then threw no point of my own, I would have broken my promise.” Cyri turned away then, with a slight smile on her face.
“Then forget it.” Cyri was about to walk away, when Vincent put his hand on her shoulder.
“That is an impossibility. To forget something this intriguing would be an exercise in mental torture-ment.” Cyri thought about it, and then decided to talk.
“Okay, but remember: You are the only one of my friends to know about this. One thing about me that no one knows about: I have been having a long term boyfriend.” When Cyri said this, Vincent thought that her had heard an atomic bomb go off somewhere.
“Boyfriend?” Vincent said dumbfound.
“Yes. His name is Donnie. Donnie Osbourne. He is around inside that main room somewhere. Well, come on. Time for you to make acquaintance with the guy I am seeing.” Right before Cyri opened the front door to the Youth Centre, Vincent grabbed her shoulder.
“Cy, how much does he know about your past?” Cyri was quiet for a few seconds.
“Not that much. And no, he has no knowledge of The Children Of Darkness. Happy now? Can we continue on with our lives?” Vincent let her go and followed her. This was not something he was expecting.