The First Betrayal by A. M. Clarke

kept hidden under a rock behind the wall. The noise was growing louder, but she finally managed to get the door open.  A big gust of wind picked up a bundle of dead leaves and propelled them past her front gate, and on down the road. An empty drink can had gathered with the leaves, rattled, and scraped on the pavement as it travelled causing the unexpected noise. It wasn’t what she expected to see, but the relief was immense. Close to hysterics, she quelled the rising laughter in her throat and went in to pour herself a large gin.
    Better!

Chapter Twenty Four
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    The church was quiet. It always was at that time of night. A small number of lights were always on, like a beacon of sanctuary, even though you couldn’t get in when it was locked. A sign of the times. The smell of incense always prevailed; no matter how long between uses or how long the doors were open. It permeated every knot in the wooden pews, each pained paint stroke of Christ’s final, tortured journey home to His Father, 'The Stations of the Cross.'
    Mike lit the first candles of the day, remembering as he did each poor soul that had perished in the last few hours. He went out to the sacristy to continue the abandoned sermon. Re-reading what he had already written, Mike discarded it. He had reconsidered, and in his head had mentally penned a new version.
    An hour and ten minutes later, Mike put down his pen and read over his work.
    'Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.'
    ‘We usually only associate this phrase with Our Lords prayer. From the beginning of time, trust and betrayal have walked hand in hand with good and evil. Temptation and trust equal betrayal, and our confessionals are full of people admitting to carnal thoughts of someone other than their spouse, or worse, confessing to actual adultery. One wonders if they had indeed wrestled with their conscience before making such a monumental decision. I call it monumental, because that’s exactly what it is. To give in to the temptation to cheat has so many consequences. A loved ones trust shattered, the heartbreak and the possible devastation of a family.
    As priests, we also have to face the same temptations, only our spouse is a lot more vengeful. You’ve all heard of the 'Wrath of God.' I jest, He’s not that bad, but as I said, we have to resist the physical side of our lives. Everyone is aware of the churches greatest shame, the ultimate betrayal of young children who trusted these priests. Temptation gives us the power to be better people and do the right thing. Let us pray together to try and take the high ground and put temptation where it belongs. 
    In Gods very own rubbish bin.’
    Not bad he thought, even if he said so himself. As he did a little back patting, he heard voices in the church. Someone needing spiritual guidance or just alone time. As he was about to round the corner and show himself, he recognised one of the voices. Evelyn. The other one he didn’t know. He paused and waited, unsure what to do. Then the voices changed, suddenly they were softer and gentler than before. He waited a bit longer and then the moaning started. Mike wasn’t an expert in these things, but he had a fair idea of what was going on. Creeping and then peeping around the corner, he couldn’t believe his eyes. There on Gods holy alter, were two women, Evelyn and Lucy Woodcock, doing things he had never even thought of. He tried to avert his gaze but he was drawn back.  
    Lucy was lying on the steps to the alter, her legs spread with Evelyn between them. Mikes body was doing the unthinkable, it, was betraying him, like literally never before. The sensual moans from Lucy were driving him crazy, and as Evelyn explored Lucy’s welcoming erotic regions, Mike struggled to contain himself. It seemed like forever, but within minutes, Lucy was screaming silently, she was too late, trying to respect the sanctum of the church. Evelyn moved upwards to Lucy’s mouth, and when she