Church Garden – Late Afternoon
The sun poured down over the chapel garden, flowers blooming in soft colors. Father Elijah sat on the stone bench, whispering a verse from memory.
Bella leaned in, pressed a slow kiss to his lips, fingers brushing his collar with care.
They were alone.
Or so they thought.
Behind a tree stood Marianne — a devout, sharp-eyed woman in her mid-30s. Respected in the congregation. Modest. Bitter. And deeply obsessed with Elijah.
She gasped.
Bella turned — her icy gaze met Marianne's.
And for a moment, no one moved.
---
Church Courtyard – Minutes Later
Marianne dragged Bella aside.
"You're disgusting," she spat. "A child. A witch. You seduced a man of God."
Bella tilted her head, perfectly calm.
"Maybe I didn't have to try that hard."
"I saw you." Marianne's voice trembled. "I could destroy both of you."
Bella smiled softly. "But you won't."
Marianne's face flushed. "Try me."
Bella leaned in, her voice cold and sweet.
"You love him, don't you? You've prayed for years hoping he'd look at you. But he never did. And now he's in my bed."
Marianne slapped her.
Silence.
Bella licked the blood from her lip and smiled wider.
> "Wrong move."
---
Bella's Basement – Midnight
Marianne woke in the dark.
Her hands were tied. The air was damp. Cold steel gleamed under soft candlelight.
Bella stood in front of her, barefoot, wearing white. Like an angel in hell.
"You should've walked away," Bella said softly, brushing Marianne's hair back.
"You're sick," Marianne hissed. "He'll find me—"
"No," Bella whispered. "He won't. He thinks you left town to visit your sister."
Marianne's eyes widened.
"I watched you," Bella said. "Every Sunday. Watching him. You prayed for him like he was a god."
She picked up a blade. "But gods don't answer the broken."
---
Church Altar – The Next Morning
A note was found on the steps.
No one knew who left it.
Inside: a single line.
> "God gives, and Bella takes Elijah's Room – Evening
He sat beside Bella, unaware of what she'd done. He kissed her cheek and said:
"I'm glad she's gone. Marianne was… strange."
Bella rested her head on his shoulder, eyes closed.
"She was," she whispered. "But everything's fine now."
---
Bella's Basement – Night
Three new jars joined the collection.
Blood floated like silk in glass.
One held a tongue.
One held a pair of eyes.
One held a single, gold crucifix necklace — belonging to Marianne.
Bella whispered to the jars:
> "If you see what's mine…
You don't get to live."
Then she turned off the light and went upstairs to meet her priest for dinner.