Claire awoke the day after her arrival at the school, sore and aching all over her body. What had happened? Had she fallen down a staircase or something? But where were the bruises? And why did she feel funny...down there?

She groaned as she sat up in bed, looking down at her long white nightgown in confusion. Had she put this on last night? One hand went to the side of her head, the other rising unbidden to her mouth, her teeth biting down on the index finger gently. Claire winced and pulled her hand away, looking at the bite mark on her hand, just starting to heal. When had she done that?

Shaking her head groggily, she turned and set her feet on the ground, elbows going onto her knees in morning prayer.

Today was Sunday. Even though she had only been here for one day, and she should really be getting familiar with her class schedule, she couldn't help but think she needed to go to church.

Groaning slightly as she stood up, gown falling to pool around her feet, Claire shivered as a chill ran down her spine. She looked down, shocked to see her underwear was gone!

She frantically dashed to her chest of drawers, pulling out a pair of white cotton panties and a matching bra hastily. She strapped the too small bra on with a deep inhalation, pressing her breasts down to make them less obtrusive.

"To flaunt your body, is to call down evil upon you. So sayeth the Lord. Amen"

As she bent over to pull on her underwear, her long brown hair fell over her shoulder to slide along her arm. The sensation made Claire shudder for some reason, but she put it out of her mind as she squirmed slightly, pullng out the waistband of her panties to settle them on her hips. Oww, was it that time of the month already? She was so sore...

Taking a long dark blue dress from the drawer, she settled it down over her shoulders, buttoning up the collar to the neck as the drape of it fell down to her ankles. Turning to the bed, she picked up her headband, settling her hair underneath it carefully, before winding her rosary around her small pale wrist.

She got her sandles out of her suitcase and headed for the door, hoping to find directions to a chapel. She thought she'd seen one as they were landing the plane.

*****************************************************

Claire soon got directions from her floor's RA, thanking the girl quietly as she left the building. She walked down the sandy path, lost in thought, her fingers absently rollng the beads of the rosary around her left wrist.

Claire curtsied to the priest respectfully, wincing a bit from the ache in her hips.

"Oh, yes Father. I couldn't possibly miss a Sunday at church."

Claire relaxed, her nagging fears about what was wrong with her fading in the familiar scent of burning candles and old wood. She smiled brightly, looking about the old church as peace settled again over her heart. The cooing of the doves was a welcome touch, one she was not used to in a church, but that seemed fitting given the location of the chapel. The emptiness of the church worried her slightly.

Were none of the other girls even slightly devout? Was she going to be thought a freak for bothering to come here?

Claire decided it didn't matter if she attended the services alone. Her faith was her own, and the priest must share it strongly to still take such loving care of the chapel, if it saw such little use.

She smoothed her dress out neatly, the rosary around her wrist glinting in the candle light. She hoped to make a good impression on the elderly man of the cloth, especially if he was the only one residing on the island.

"This chapel is beautiful Father. Do you take care of it by yourself?"

As she asked the question, Claire found her eyes drawn to the bronze statue of Christ, a feeling of contentment washing over her.

This is where I belong. Thank you Lord, for letting me find this place, so that I might give You worship in Your house.

Claire was enraptured throughout the entire service, not even noticing after a few minutes that she was the only one in the room aside from the elderly priest.

He is an excellent preacher! I'm so thankful to have such a priest here. Maybe this won't be such a bad school after all.

She followed along with the Latin prayers word for word, her grasp of the language and nuance perfected from years of devotion. The fears she had melted away under the warm glow of familiarity.

When the old priest called for a time of silent prayer, Claire grasped her rosary firmly in both hands, cross dangling in front of her lips as she prayed to her Lord and Creator.

Thank you God for putting this priest here. You have blessed him with a strength of conviction that shines like the sun in my eyes. Thank you for giving me an escape from that empty house, with all of it's memories of mama and papa. Lord, the only thing I ask...is please...help me not be afraid of these strange feelings I wake up with. Please give me the courage to push through whatever this is and make a new life for myself here. Forever your faithful and humble servant, Amen.

Claire raised her head, blinking as she realised the priest had gone. She turned her head in confusion at the strange noise echoing through the room.

What is that?

Her eyes were drawn to the stained glass Virgin, widening as they saw the lifeles features turn down in a frown. She gasped as a glassy tear trickled down the Holy Mother's face.

Was she witnessing a miracle?! Had God favored her with a sign?!

Her heart began to beat like a drum as she rose and slowly walked to the window, hands clasped around the rosary in her grasp still in the position of prayer.

Claire shrieked as the Holy Mother exploded into a cloud of sharp glass. She covered her face and clenched shut her eyes as the razor pieces buffeted her. As the branches took hold of her clothes and hair she yelped again, twisting and fighting, trying to break free of the entangling limbs.

What had happened? Had she angered God somehow? What was happening?

*Blood stained her dress and streaked her skin, her bodice ripping to expose her white bra. Her hair became tangled in the limb, Claire cried out with each twist to try to get away.*

"Help! Please help me! Someone, anyone! Oh God, please!"