This Place Is A Trap

 

//ERROR// //ERROR// [. . .] [THE CHURCH IS FULL TO BURSTING, MASK-CLAD FIGURES STANDING SILENTLY. THE ONLY ONE UNMASKED IS THE PRIEST, STANDING BEHIND THE ALTAR, EYES DARK AND REVERENT. A RED-HEADED MAN IN A SMILING MASK, A GREAT SILVER AXE SLUNG OVER HIS SHOULDER, STANDS ON ONE SIDE OF THE PRIEST. ON THE OTHER STANDS SILAS, HIS MASK THAT OF AN ELK SKULL. LOOMING OVER HIM, WHERE JESUS ON THE CROSS ONCE HUNG, IS AN UNNATURALLY LARGE ELK SKULL, ITS EYE SOCKETS FULL OF BLAZING ORANGE FLAMES, A TWIN TO SILAS'S MASK, AND PROBABLY ITS INSPIRATION. ON THE ALTAR ITSELF SITS A SMALL LEATHER BOOK AND A BOWL FULL OF DARK, OIL-LIKE WATER.]  [KNEELING BEFORE THE ALTAR, FORCED TO THEIR KNEES BY THE CULT MEMBERS, ARE AUGUST AND HER FATHER. AUGUST SHAKES WITH FEAR, AND HER FATHER IS MURMURING UNDER HIS BREATH. PRAYERS? A CALL FOR HELP? IT DOES NOT MATTER; NO ONE BUT THE GREAT HORNED GOD CAN HEAR HIM NOW.] ["Let us begin," SILAS SAYS.] [THERE IS A STIR IN THE CROWD. A FIGURE IN A HARE...