[ A Farcry Fanfic ] Remember The Sins

[13] Understandings

Max and Carmen were outside the church.
He was staring at the concrete stained red from old blood. She could see Max was very uncomfortable

"Don't like churchs?" She was still admiring Max's tattoos, the sun on his back locking her attention

"It's not that, it's just my dad and I have a complicated relationship" Max took a deep breath "He's not going to like the fact I joined the church, no matter the reasons" Max pushed through the door, Jerome was talking with someone

The church was in a horrible condition, pews broken, spots in the roof we're missing, burn marks littered the floor, Max was saddened by the state of it, it was his childhood home after all

"I'm going to the Henbane for a while, John has his men out looking for me and I don't want to be getting caught anytime soon"
The man replied as he left, he was wearing a officers uniform, carrying multiple guns and weapons. The man left but stared at Carmen as he walked by, she looked so familiar to him.

"D-dad" Max coughed out

Jerome looked up, and smiled before looking down at his chest,
GREED
"John marked you son?"

"Yeah, I actually wanted to tell you something dad..."

"John's going to pay for this, he can't just tattoo people who don't want it" Jerome was frustrated walking over and putting his hand on maxes shoulder

"That's the thing dad, I let him mark me." He let out sharply.

"What do you mean you 'let' him mark you?"

"I mean, I confessed and atoned" Max's voice dripped with venom

"Have I failed you? Have none of my teachings gotten through?"

Carmen walked over by the doors locking each one.
"Is anyone else here?" She asked

"No, just us now" Jerome was still staring at Max's tattoo

Carmen walked back over to them
"Max's is a spy, he's not joining so cut him some fucking slack!" She was visibly annoyed

"Car... Calm down, it's fine he gets like this" Max pulled her shoulder
"Let me deal with him okay?" Max pleaded with her

"You should stand up for yourself" she grumbled as she walked twords the corner of the church waiting

"She's right dad, I'm just keeps tabs that's all"

"Why'd you come here anyways?" Jerome seemed somewhat relieved. "I'm glad you are not actually joining them"

"I had some questions about Joseph.."

___________________________________

"What the fuck John?" Hope was furious

"The needed to be taught a lesson. Go home hope, I'll pick you up later for the baptism" he pushed her away, she wouldn't understand

Hope went back to the ranch, she wanted to cry. She knew 'The Baptist' was a sadist, but nothing like that. Hope waited for John and after a few hours he returned home looking stressed

"Come on, I wanted it to be private" she nodded her head, she could see the stress of John's face. She walked twords the car and let John drive

John pulled her twords the water gently, holding her had as he passed her to Joseph who was standing knee deep in the river.

The waters were calm, peaceful

"Come my child, let the water wash away your sin, and let your soul be freed" Joseph pulled her twords him and leaned her into the water, she vision became blurry and she saw stars, and once she was pulled up she felt different, she felt free.

Time faded in and out afterwards. She remembers Joseph whispering in her ear to keep John safe from himself, she remembers John kissing her forehead and pulling her near.
She was under the influence of bliss, but she remained quite sober. John pulled her into the bed keeping her tucked in. He found her adorable.

_____________________________________________

Jerome had pulled Max aside taking a seat on one of the pews.

"What did you want to know?" Jerome was cautious

"Everything, you knew him best before the peggies became their own thing right?. Joseph mentioned some things I want to clear up."

"Well ask away son" Jerome called most people son, but with Max it was more drawn out, more personal, you could hear their bond just from the way he spoke.

"How many times has Joseph heard the voice?"

"Two, from what I know, once when he was younger and once after being mugged."

"Hmm, alright.." Max paused trying to think if he should tell Jerome about the voice apparently speaking to him

"Why that question first? I know you always do the most important thing first" Jerome crossed his arms before cocking his head

"It's not the most important it's just the one that varies the most"

Max and Jerome spoke for what seemed like hours and Carmen tried to figure out why that deputy seemed so familiar.
_____________________________________________

Hey the story isn't dead after all!
Sorry guys I've been super busy lately, but here's a short filler chapter.