The church was on Poison territory, so it was pretty far from Chip's house. We left at six to give us a good amount of time. 

"So, the plan is to talk to the Voices or whatever, and see what giving bodies to Faeyar is." Chip explained as I intently listened. 

"I think we should investigate the victims more. There has to be some connection, maybe something to do with the diner?" I suggested. 

"How would we do that?" I thought for a minute, then came to a conclusion I didn't want to. 

"I'll look into it." Chip looked at me confused, but did not ask when I didn't elaborate. 

We arrived at the church at sunset. The stone and marble building was covered in creeping moss that reached for the colorful windows. The grand building was probably the nicest in town. The arching doors were propped open, inviting us inside. The sun streamed in, illuminating the pews and red carpet. The tall ceiling was something that was very uncommon in our town's usual architecture. Two boys were already seated. One had short ebony hair, with pale skin and dark freckles. The other's hair was curly and scruffy, also black but with a grey-blue tint to it. Both of their eyes were a brown color. Their heads both swiveled around to look at us. 

"Hey, Chip! You actually came." The scruffy one called, getting up to greet us. He was very thin and tall, while the other was quite wide and broad. 

"Hey Henry." Chip shyly said. Henry looked to me with a smile. 

"Hey, I'm Henry and that's my brother Dashe over there." Dashe had got up and walked over to shake my hand. 

"Rowen." I gruffly said. 

"You guys are early, the meeting doesn't start for another 30 minutes." Dashe said as he silently glazed his eyes over me. 

"Yeah, I live pretty far away so we left super early to be on time." Chip said. "Why are you two here?" 

"Our mom helps out the Voices before meetings." Henry gestured to a blonde woman toward the back of the church. 

We chatted for a while, Chip and Henry excitingly exchanging words while Dashe and I listened. The minutes passed by quickly, the start of the meeting approaching. The swing of doors periodically sounded, letting in a different member each time. Some were ones Chip recognized, but most were adults. We situated ourselves near the back, carefully watching each individual. 

"I can't believe there's this many members." Chip whispered. I nodded in agreement, I had never heard of this strange thing before Slate. As his name crossed my mind, the boy caught sight of me and hurried over. 

"Rowen, hey!" He sat next to me on the pew, smiling. "I can't believe you're here. You brought a friend, too?" Chip shyly waved from the other side of me.

"I'm Chip." 

"Slate." His dark eyes looked at me, raising his eyebrows. "What interested you two to come?" Chip and I looked at each other. 

"Just wanted to see what it was all about." Chip explained, technically telling the truth. Slate nodded. 

"Do you mind if I sit here?" I was about to protest, but Chip accepted before I could speak. To the front of the church was a small band of peculiar instruments. There was a large xylophone, a violin and a few large drums. The music started, carrying a strange sound in the air. It was exotic, enchanting, almost dangerous. It reminded me of the beach in my dreams. The air smelled like sweet smoke, swirling around with the sound of waves crashing against a sandy shore. The colors had started, creeping down from the ceiling. They started to surround me, choking me. My heart started to race, I've never felt panicked during music before. I gripped the pew under me, struggling to hold onto reality. My eyes locked on the figure appearing from the shadows. A long clock dragged beneath its feet, a mask and hood covering the head. Its gaze floated across the crowd, and as it came to me our eyes seemed to lock. It paused, and raised its hands in the air. Another figure approached it, holding a statue; placing it in the other's raised arms, it knelt down. This aroused movement, others kneeling down as the violin strung a long, suspenseful note. Slate and Chip followed, but I stayed in my seat, for I feared if I let go of my seat I would be hurled from reality. The note ended, as did the colors, evaporating around me. I drew in a breath as everyone returned to their seats. I felt something on my right shoulder. Chip's chin rested on me, looking up at me with concerned, dark eyes. 

"Are you okay?" He whispered. Nodding, I tried to tear my eyes from his and return to the figures on the church stage. I couldn't seem to stop, as his expression didn't change. "You saw something, didn't you?" I hesitated.

"I'm fine..."

"No you're not." I rolled my eyes and looked back at the stage. He turned his head as well, not taking it away from my shoulder. The statue, which was the same symbol of the necklace Slate showed me, had been placed on the ground. 

"Good evening!" The main figure spoke. Greetings from the audience followed. "I am your Voice for tonight." The voice was robotic and distorted, I assumed to conceal their identity. "I see there's some new faces tonight, welcome. Tonight's message has been prepared in response to current events." The silent understanding of everyone lingered in the air. "These murders give us all even more reason for faith... It shows another example of how flawed the human race is- destroying everything in its sight... even its own. It is vile, and Faeyar continues to look down in disgusted rage. We, his followers, are the only ones that can put an end to this. Our job is to spread the news to everyone; we must convert as many as we can. The Voices are all working very hard with the Orilon police to identify and take down this murderer. We shall make Orilon a safe town, guided by Faeyar until humanity ends. As always, those who wish to contribute to the Follower meetings or are interested in becoming an official member are free to talk to any of the Voices after our meeting is over." With that, the Voice started to preach about the actual religion, boring stuff. Chip seemed enthralled, not lifting his head from my shoulder. I zoned out for a while, hoping this would end soon. 

Everyone was finally dismissed; some stayed and chatted while others disappeared into the night.

"I'm going to talk to the Voices and ask if I can help with the investigation." Chip said, starting to trot away. 

"Don't you want me to go with you...?" I asked.

"I can do things by myself, Rowen, I'll be okay." He reassured me with a smirk and continued to path to the masked figures. I fought the urges to follow him and glare at anyone that looked his way, to call out and tell him to be safe. He's not a child, he can handle himself. 

"I'm glad you came." I heard the voice sound behind me. I whipped my head around to face Slate. He had a denim jacket on, with indigo jeans to match. A white shirt was tucked in, separated with a black leather belt. "It's nice to see you again." 

"How so?" I tentatively asked. He smirked at the question, carefully stepping closer. 

"I like you, of course. I wanna get to know you a little bit... I'm sure Faeyar won't mind that we're using his meetings to bond." His gaze was firm but warm, making it hard for my eyes not flicker to escape it. I felt my chest tighten.

"D-don't think being nice to me is going to convert me." I growled. He lifted his hand to me chin, carefully placing his index finger under it and his thumb on the corner of my mouth. I was so shocked by this I felt paralyzed. Why wasn't I moving? I felt my chest clench up again, tighter this time. 

"I can at least try~" He hummed, gently raising my head closer to his. I gritted my teeth as my face went hot. A smile appeared unexpectedly. His boisterous laugh sounded as he let go of my face and clasped his hand on his forehead. "I'm just teasing." He said. I collected my cool again and let out an angry sigh. 

What the hell was that? I couldn't think for long before the dark head of curls appeared in front of me. I ceased the opportunity to leave, grabbing Chip's wrist.

"Your mom is going to kill me, we should go home." I hastily said, Chip's dark eyes innocently peering at me. 

"I could drive you there." Slate offered, to which I immediately rejected.

"No thanks, we're good. Let's go." I turned to the short boy who seemed utterly confused, but didn't object as I pulled him out of the church. We walked some ways before he opened his mouth.

"What was that?" 

"I needed to get out of there." He seemed content with this answer, and didn't pry further. "What did the Voices say?" 

"They said I was too young to help. I told them that they seemed to be targeting my mom and how I wanted to help her, and they eventually asked if I wanted to work for them." 

"...Work for them?" Memories of me "working for" the Beasts flashed through my mind. 

"They said they would pay me to play in the band and help with lesson plans. I don't have to join, though." I was suspicious of this.

"Chip, no." 

"Why not?" His voice raised barely, but enough for me to notice. 

"These guys are creepy... What if they kidnap you if you refuse to join and torture you or something. They're bad news, I don't want you alone with them." 

"Oh, but I'm sure if it was you who was alone with them, you'd be fine." His tone was harsh, something I rarely heard. 

"Yeah, I know how to defend myself." 

"And I don't?! When will you stop treating me like a little kid?" I stopped in my tracks and faced him.

"No, you don't. I have been living on the streets for years- you haven't. I need to know how to protect myself, and I have before- you haven't. I'm not treating you like a little kid, I'm treating you like someone who doesn't know what's good for them." My words were clear and sharp, cutting through his defense. 

"You're seventeen! Stop acting like you're this wise adult when you're not! I can choose what's good for me, I can make my own choices. I don't want you to babysit me anymore!" His eyes flared with anger, his hands moved with his words. "I hate it when you treat me like this! I just want to be normal to you..." Chip's words grew quiet. 

"What do you mean?" I returned the soft tone, hoping to calm him down.

"I don't want to feel like I'm this thing you're supposed to protect and baby. I want you to know that you don't have to worry about me... I'm the one that should be worrying about you." His gaze softened yet again, looking helplessly in the other direction. We stood in silence, hearing the cold wind gust around us. I walked closer, and it was like my body started to move by itself. I lifted his head up just as Slate had done to me, gazing at him with fixed eyes. 

"Chip... I worry about you because you're all I have. I feel guilty that I drag you into my drama and that you have to deal with me. I just... have this obligation to myself to protect you." I paused, my focus fading away and not even noticing Chip's expression. "I don't want to lose you." I felt vulnerable and scared at these words, almost like speaking my fears out loud would bring them to reality. 

"Rowen." Chip's whispered voice brought my eyes to his. 

"Yes?" I asked after he left a long gap after my name. 

"I'm never leaving you. Ever." His face was determined and warm and all the emotions I couldn't piece together. I wanted to believe him, I wanted to ask him if he promised... but I quickly remembered promises didn't mean anything. They were empty words that only disguised true intentions. Believing them only brought more hurt, and makes you think that maybe you weren't worth that promise. Maybe it was my fault? I wouldn't let myself fall for something that stupid again. 

That's why I surprised myself when I let the words slip out of my mouth.

"Promise?"

"I promise."