Chapter 370: Christine in Chapter 101 (Above) |
“God, hear our prayers, guide us, and strengthen our faith...”
Christine had been hearing her father’s prayer ever since she was a child.
A devout prayer under the window illuminated by light.
Somehow, that impressive image was what led Christine to the path of theology.
“Becoming a theologian means you can dedicate your body and soul to God. Can you do that?”
“Yes, Father. I can do it.”
“My Christine. How good and brave you are.”
There could be nothing better than her father’s hand gently caressing her head.
She wanted to follow this path just to receive that praise.
“When I grow up, I will be a great priestess like my father. Without a doubt!”
Young Christine had already decided on her dream: she wanted to be like her father.
Her father was a devout priest and also the owner of the largest synagogue in Dallas, Texas.
However, he was far from the evil owner often portrayed in the media.
She could assure that.
If that weren’t the case, he wouldn’t have provided shelter and food to a homeless child.
“This child’s name is Jeffrey Bishop. He has nowhere to go, so he’ll be staying here from today onwards. You must befriend him, okay, Christine?”
“Yes, Father.”
When her father left, Christine asked.
“How old are you?”
“Eleven.”
“You’re older than me. I’ll speak to you formally then.”
“Call me however you feel comfortable, Christine.”
“?”
Something seemed strange, but young Christine didn’t understand.
It wasn’t until she was older that she asked Jeffrey.
“Jeffrey, why do you always speak to me formally? You can speak informally to me.”
“No, Christine. I prefer to speak to you this way.”
Jeffrey always spoke to her formally.
At first, it was uncomfortable, but she thought he did it out of respect since she was the priest’s daughter.
“Jeffrey, let’s study together.”
“Study...?”
“Theology! Lately, I’ve been neglecting my studies because of school. Help me with what I don’t know.”
Christine, who had just entered high school, suggested studying together without knowing much.
Jeffrey was also busy with his theological studies, but he helped her without complaining.
He answered all her questions.
“Wow, you know more than I do, and I’m the daughter of a priest.”
“Since I live here, I study every day without fail.”
“So, what does this part mean? Here, in Revelation...”
Studying with Jeffrey was fun.
It was like having a personal tutor.
It seemed like they were getting closer, but that only lasted a few days.
“Christine, I can’t help you study anymore.”
“Huh? Why not?”
“Because I have to study too. Ask Nathan if you have any doubts.”
“I feel more comfortable with you than with my father.”
“...”
Jeffrey took a while to respond, perhaps thinking about something.
“Well, don’t look for me anymore.”
“...?”
What bothered him?
Was it uncomfortable for him to teach, or was it uncomfortable to get close to the daughter of the house owner?
Looking back, it seemed to be the latter, but regardless, Christine had to study alone.
“It’s boring to study alone...”
She felt hurt by Jeffrey’s rejection, but at the same time, she was curious about him.
“What led him to come here?”
At first, she wondered about that, but now that she’s an adult, she knows.
Her father explained the situation to her.
“Jeffrey? He had a difficult experience.”
“What happened?”
“There was a neighbor with mental issues. He suddenly started shooting, and Jeffrey became an orphan in an instant. He had no relatives and ended up living on the streets. He was a very unfortunate child. That’s why we took him in.”
Her father, Nathan, explained in detail why they took Jeffrey in.
“Jeffrey was very negative about life. He believed that God had taken his parents away from him. He wanted to know why. I told him that perhaps by studying theology, he would find the answers.”
Only then did Christine understand.
She understood why Jeffrey had devoted himself so much to studying theology.
And how he had become a deacon today.
“He worked with all his might to find God. Deacon Bishop succeeded.”
Lately, Christine had been neglecting her theological studies and felt insignificant.
Unexpectedly inspired, Christine devoted herself once again to her theological studies.
Without asking any more questions about Jeffrey’s past.
——————-
Now Christine is a respectable adult.
But she had a problem.
She was too focused on theology.
“Christine, you should go out a little. How long are you going to study in your room?”
“Because I like it. Besides, theological studies never end. One lifetime is not enough to learn everything.”
“Oh, God! Today is my birthday, are you not even going to come?”
“I’m going. How could I miss a day like this?”
“Really? We’re going to drink and everything, huh?”
“Yes, I know.”
“Great! See you at 7 pm in front of Wake Town. I’ll be waiting.”
Christine put down her phone.
She also closed the book she was studying.
She had studied theology tirelessly for her father.
One day of rest wouldn’t hurt.
“I’m human too. It’s boring just to study.”
Christine smiled and prepared to go out.
Her father, Nathan, looked at her and asked.
“Where are you going, Christine?”
“To a friend’s birthday party.”
“It’s okay to go out, but come back early, okay?”
“Yes, don’t worry.”
———————
“Come on, relax, will you?”
Her high school friend, Misha, took her arm and tried to convince her.
“It’s my birthday, okay? Christine.”
“Are you going to a club on your birthday?”
“We’re just going to drink, nothing more.”
“Do you think I’m going to believe that?”
“Come on, why not join the fun for once?”
Even a friend beside her joined in, and Christine couldn’t help but sigh.
She had gone out to celebrate a birthday party, and her friends had taken her straight to a club.
They kept it a secret until they arrived at the entrance.
How could she not be upset?
“Why did you trick me?”
“Well... if we had told you from the beginning that we were going to the club, you wouldn’t have come...”
Christine sighed once more and made a decision.
“It’s Misha’s birthday, so I’ll let it slide just for today...”
“Okay! Christine has given her consent!”
“Great! Are we finally going to a club with Christine?”
“Is it the first time you’re going to a club with us?”
Seeing her friends so excited made her smile despite herself.
Were they that happy?
‘Of course, it couldn’t be otherwise. They weren’t going to just sit quietly drinking.’
Christine had always turned down invitations to go to the club with the excuse of studying theology, but this time she decided to make an exception.
It was Misha’s birthday, and besides, today she also felt tempted to do something different for once.
“Let’s go!”
—————-
Boom- Boom-
As the night fell.
The club in Wake Town was packed with people.
The loud music and blinding laser lights.
The crowded people and the suffocating air weren’t for her, but...
“Hahaha!”
“Come on, dance.”
“Like this?”
“Hahaha!”
Her friends seemed to be having a great time.
Seeing them made her smile.
“Oh! I know this song!”
“We have to dance to this one!”
“Christine, come dance!”
Christine waved her hand at her friends’ pleas.
“I’m fine. I’ll stay here eating.”
“Like a true devout.”
“Well, let’s leave Christine and go.”
When her friends left, Christine was left alone, eating pieces of fruit.
She never liked alcohol, so she didn’t even try it.
Just being present already made her friends happy.
‘It’s Misha’s birthday. Spending a night like this is fine.’
Thinking about sending a message to her father so he wouldn’t worry, Christine took out her phone, but someone sat next to her.
At first, she thought her friends had returned, but that wasn’t the case.
“Wow, you’re even more beautiful up close.”
A stranger had sat next to her.
“Who are you?”
“How old are you? Looking for a boyfriend? How about we spend the night together?”
The man directly expressed his intentions while playing with her hair.
Wham!
Christine, with a look of disgust, pushed the man’s hand away.
“I’m not interested. Please leave.”
“Wow, I like that attitude! Girls need to have that spark. I like you, I love you.”
“I said leave.”
“Come on, let’s step outside for a moment.”
The man placed his hand on her waist.
Christine felt a chill run down her spine.
It was as if a snake had coiled around her.
She couldn’t take it anymore and stood up abruptly.
“Let me pass.”
“Where are you going? Oh, do you want to go out with me? You’re bolder than you seem. Have you changed your mind already?”
The man shamelessly grabbed her wrist and started dragging her outside.
“Let go of me!”
“Why are you acting like this? Let’s go.”
“I never said yes! I don’t want to go with you!”
“You’ll enjoy it. Trust me.”
The man, laughing sinisterly, used his strength to drag Christine away.
Even though she struggled with all her might, she couldn’t match the man’s strength.
“Help! Please, someone help me!”
Christine shouted, hoping someone would hear her.
“This man is taking me away by force!”
The man, momentarily surprised, stopped.
However, the deafening music drowned out her cry for help.
The man, recovering, continued dragging her.
“Come on, sweetheart.”
“Let me... huh?”
Suddenly, her arm was free.
She looked in surprise and saw that someone was choking the man from behind.
“Gack, gack!”
The man, suffocating, struggled until he collapsed on the floor.
“Oh.”
Christine looked at the person who had saved her.
But before she could thank him, her savior turned and left.
“Hey, wait!”
Wanting to thank him, she tried to call out, but her savior quickly disappeared.
“I didn’t even get to thank him...”
Although she couldn’t clearly see his face due to the darkness, she knew one thing for sure.
The person who saved her was an Asian man.