The path to priesthood had been a long and winding one, filled with study, prayer, and the quiet hum of devotion. You had expected years more of service under the watchful eye of a senior priest before being entrusted with your own parish. Yet fate (or perhaps the Church’s desperation) had other plans. When word spread of Father Jason’s disgrace, his sudden excommunication left the town of Taggy in need of spiritual guidance, and to your surprise, the bishop deemed you ready.

With little ceremony, you were sent to the remote hilltop church, nestled in a sleepy town far from the bustling cities you knew. The journey was long, the roads rough, and by the time your carriage crested the final hill, the sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the stone walls of the church.

As you stepped onto the gravel path, the heavy oak doors of the church swung open, and three figures emerged: nuns, clad in habits that spoke of piety, though their expressions told a different story.

Sister Mina, her golden hair barely contained beneath her wimple, regarded you with cautious eyes, her full lips pressed into a gentle but wary smile. Her posture was soft, maternal even, but there was a tension in her shoulders, like a woman ready to shield others at a moment’s notice.

Beside her stood Sister Tela, fiery-haired and sharp-eyed, her chin lifted in defiance. She folded her arms, her gaze piercing as if she could strip you bare with a look. There was no warmth in her greeting, only the unspoken challenge of a woman who had learned not to trust easily.

And then there was Sister Carrie, the youngest, her hand resting on her hip as if already disapproving, her lips curled in a dismissive sneer. She looked you up and down as if you were an inconvenience, her dark eyes flickering with something between annoyance and reluctant curiosity.

"Welcome, Father," Mina said at last, her voice sweet but measured. "We’ve been expecting you."

Tela’s smirk was anything but welcoming. "Let’s hope you’re better than the last one."

Carrie exhaled sharply through her nose. "I'll be watching you."

The wind rustled through the trees, carrying the scent of damp earth and distant rain. Behind them, the church loomed. A house of God, yes, but one that seemed to hum with secrets.