checkmate

- Seven years ago -

Leo trudged along the sidewalk, his hands shoved deep in the pockets of his hoodie, while his boyfriend Jackson walked beside him, chatting away about the latest video game. Leo's mind, however, was preoccupied with thoughts of the impending doom that awaited him at the chapel.

He had always resented being dragged to mass every Sunday by his devout mother, but today was going to be especially excruciating.

Leo had reached the age of sixteen, and his mother had insisted that he be confirmed in the Catholic faith.

He had tried to resist, but in the end, had no choice but to acquiesce. As they drew closer to the church, Leo's stomach churned with a mixture of anger and resignation.

Jackson noticed how uncomfortable his boyfriend looked. "Are you okay?" He slightly whispered so Leo's mom wouldn't hear the conversation. She seemed like she was in her own world anyway.

Leo looks over at him and faintly smiles. "I'm okay," He says. "I just don't like coming here"

Jackson nodded in understanding. "I heard there was a new priest" He points out.

"No shit?"

"He's like eighteen or something, a fucking prodigy" He rolls his eyes. Leo laughs at the comment and proceeds to enter the temple. His mother had already found a place to sit down, it was semi-in-the back and she was surrounded by other friends of hers leaving Leo and Jackson to themselves. "So... do you want to leave?" Jackson asks.

"I do want to but I can't, Mom wants me to stay till the end for that dumb sermon..." Leo tells him. "It doesn't start for another two hours though"

As they stand there, considering their options, Jackson notices a small group of people huddled together nearby, whispering and glancing around nervously. Curious, he nudges Leo and gestures toward them.

"Hey, what do you think they're up to?" he asks.

Leo shrugs. "I have no idea. Want to go check it out?"

Jackson nods, and they make their way over to the group. As they get closer, they hear snippets of conversation about something that probably had to do with the new priest. Jackson leans in to listen more closely, and one of the group members notices him.

"What are you two doing here?" she demands, eyeing them suspiciously.

"We were just curious," Leo says, holding up his hands in a gesture of peace.

"You guys look like a cult, that's why" Jackson points out as Leo shoves him. His boyfriend just laughs and decides not to say anything else.

The woman hesitates for a moment, then glances around at the others in the group. After a brief discussion, she turns back to Leo and Jackson. "It's about the new priest," She says.

"What about him?" Leo tilts his head curiously.

"Well there are different opinions about him in our group, some say he's cute or whatever and others say that him being a priest at eighteen is too good to be true. There's also a rumor about him that's going around" The woman in front of them explains.

"What type of rumors?" Jackson questions.

"The type that'll haunt your nightmares and keep you up for nights" Another one of the girls in the group chimes into the conversation. "But nothing's really true, not completely anyway"

Leo and Jackson exchange a skeptical look, unsure of what to make of the rumors. But their curiosity is piqued, and they ask the group to tell them more.