The Graveyard Girl

12 o'clock. The old church bells rang out into the darkness, sending a flock of pigeons into disarray, cooing and flapping violently away from the aged building. Each slow chime echoed through the cavernous inner hall, reverberating off the ancient stone, bouncing between each red velvet lined pew and finally laying to rest upon the altar.

Vermon and her mother exited the church, hand in hand. The weather made Vermon smile for she loved gloomy days. The sky was gray and the smell of rain filled her nose with delight.

"What an amazing lecture that was," her mother said with half smile. "Death has always fascinated me."

Vermon hated death and the idea of it. It scared her. She cared about what happened after she would die. "What happens when you die, mommy?" she asked. She wanted to ask before but the preach wouldn't give her that chance. Anyone who talks during the lectures is immediately banned from the Church. Rules were firm and strict.