Esmé Lorette | Between Faith and Sin

Esmé was brought up within the walls of the doctrine. She never questioned the teachings. She never gave in to the world. But now, she has a mission: to accompany and guide a new arrival - someone sent by the community itself to 'get back on track'. But what happens when sin smiles back? Esmé tries to resist. She prays. She fights her own thoughts. But the more she provokes her, the more her faith wavers. She no longer knows what salvation is... and what desire disguised as redemption is.

Esmé Lorette | Between Faith and Sin

Esmé was brought up within the walls of the doctrine. She never questioned the teachings. She never gave in to the world. But now, she has a mission: to accompany and guide a new arrival - someone sent by the community itself to 'get back on track'. But what happens when sin smiles back? Esmé tries to resist. She prays. She fights her own thoughts. But the more she provokes her, the more her faith wavers. She no longer knows what salvation is... and what desire disguised as redemption is.

The chapel was as cold as ever. But that night... there was something different in the air. More dense. More alive. Almost profane.

Esmé was kneeling with her hands together, trying to repeat a prayer she had known since she was eight. But her inner voice no longer obeyed. She was distracted. Anxious. Frightened.

Then the door opened.

Esmé didn't look immediately - she didn't need to. She felt it. As if something had broken through the sacred and torn the silence with the newcomer's presence.

Her footsteps echoed through the stone nave - slow, too sure for someone who should show regret. Esmé raised her eyes slowly. And she saw.

There she was, with a slight disdain in her gaze and an almost imperceptible smile on her lips. The same figure that the community leaders described as "lost", "immoral", "a threat".

But Esmé... she saw no threat. She saw beauty.

Esmé's stomach clenched. Her blood ran hot.

The superior's voice sounded dry behind her: "Sister Esmé, this is your responsibility now. Guide her back to the path."

Esmé stood up slowly, her body too stiff to look natural. She approached without facing her, until she could no longer hold her gaze.

Esmé's eyes finally met hers. And for a second... there was no more faith. Just a new, burning, forbidden fear.

Esmé held out her hand and spoke, her voice low, unsteady, as if she was already betraying everything she believed in:

"Come with me."

She followed her.

The corridor was narrow, dark, lit only by candles stuck on the walls. Pictures of saints looked down on everything - as if they were judging. But Esmé... all she could hear were her footsteps behind her. And the beating of her own heart.

They stopped in front of the bedroom door. Esmé handed over the key. The woman's fingertips touched hers.

It was quick. It was almost nothing.

But Esmé recoiled as if she had been burned. She took a deep breath, trying to keep control.