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The original was posted on /r/hfy by /u/Obsequium_Minaris on 2024-12-26 03:42:25+00:00.

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XXX

It didn’t take long for them to completely evacuate the distillery. Really, all Sable had to do was show her fangs again and make a few stray comments about being very hungry, and that was all it took for every employee to go sprinting back home. That left just Alain and his friends, and they wasted no time in helping themselves to some of the barrels of alcohol lying around.

“Are you sure about this?” Az asked as he picked up yet another barrel.

“Positive,” Alain replied. "Whatever’s going on down there, it needs to be stopped. And moreover, if anything is going to get Gibson’s attention, it’s this. Or am I wrong?’

Az stared at him for a moment, then shook his head. "No, this will certainly get him to come looking for us. The question is, are you prepared for when he finally goes hunting for you?’

“As I’ll ever be.”

Az’s gaze narrowed. “I’m serious, Alain. This man is dangerous, and for all we know, he could strike at any time.”

“Then it’s a good thing I have both of you with me,” Alain pointed out. “Unless you mean to imply you won’t be around?”

“We can’t watch over you every hour of every day,” Az warned him. “Sooner or later, you’re going to have to separate from us, and I’d bet money on that being the time he finally decides to strike. What will you do then?”

“The same thing we always do,” Alain replied. “Kill him before he can kill me.”

Az let out a tired sigh, then shook his head. “Forget I said anything… where did you want this?”

“Pour it down the tunnel,” Alain told him. “And that should be the last of it that we’ll need.”

Az nodded, then marched over to the tunnel and cracked open the barrel of whiskey, dumping its contents down the hole. It was the final barrel out of many; they’d collectively taken it upon themselves to commandeer all the alcohol they could find, then dump it around the distillery and the nearby abandoned building, as well as the tunnel connecting the two. Combined with the oil from Alain’s lantern, and he suspected they were in for quite the fireworks display when all was said and done.

“Alright,” Alain said, getting everyone’s attention. “I suggest you all get out quickly, because this is about to get pretty dangerous.”

“How were you planning to do this?” Sable couldn’t help but ask.

“Simple – I’m going to throw the lantern through an open window, right onto the big puddle of booze we’ve got going on inside the distillery. The flames should spread from it to the abandoned building, cleansing everything down in the basement. And before you offer – I’m going to do it. I know Sable is undead, and fire is a sure way to put her in the dirt for good. Az, I don’t know what you are, but I suspect you’re the same way.”

“You’d be surprised,” Az said, crossing his arms. “But I will indulge you, sure. Have your fun, I suppose.”

“What makes you think this is fun for me?”

“Because you’re a man and you’re blowing something up,” Danielle said in a bored tone as she examined her nails. “Seriously. You’re all basically the same when it comes to that sort of thing.”

Alain was taken aback, both at how bored she sounded and at how correct she was. “…Yes, well… let’s do this, then,” he announced.

XXX

A few minutes later, and they were all gathered outside the distillery. The three of them had taken up a safe position a ways away, while Alain approached one of the windows to the distillery, lit lantern still in hand. After a moment to take in a breath, he heaved the lantern through the window, watching carefully as it landed in one of the puddles of bourbon they’d poured out earlier. The glass shattered upon impact, and the oil and flames began to spread, quickened by the high-proof alcohol they’d spread around the building.

Alain began to walk back to his friends, watching as the distillery burned the entire time. By the time he joined the three of them, the flames had spread to the abandoned building, and they were both blazing.

“Alain,” Sable said, getting his attention.

“Yeah?” he asked. “What’s-”

He was taken aback when she pulled a bottle of whiskey from within her cloak, then tossed it to him. He cast a glance down at the label, his eyes widening when he saw that it was an aged bottle.

“Whoa…” he breathed. “Where’d you get this?”

“Stole it from the floor manager’s office,” Sable replied with a shrug. “It was going to burn anyway, so I figured I’d rescue it instead. Don’t drink it all in one place, and be sure to share it with the rest of us.”

“Okay, Mom,” Alain replied sarcastically, even as he opened the bottle and took a whiff. It was certainly strong, but not enough to stop him from taking a big sip before passing it around the group.

They must have been quite the sight, drinking a stolen bottle of aged liquor in front of two buildings they’d set ablaze. But somehow, all Alain could think of was how this was little more than the calm before the storm.

XXX

They only stood outside the two burning buildings for a few minutes before deciding they’d seen enough. Once the moment had died, they began the trek back to where they’d been staying. Naturally, Sable had taken the bottle of good liquor back after Alain had taken a few swigs from it, almost certainly to make sure he wasn’t getting drunk off of it. To his credit, he’d maintained his composure and managed to hold himself back from indulging too much, even if he’d really wanted to.

Still, Az had a point about what he’d said earlier – that this was almost certainly going to get David Gibson out of hiding, one way or another. And when that happened, he was going to have to be prepared for it, which meant keeping his vices in check for the time being.

That didn’t change the fact that he was disappointed at not getting more of the alcohol, though.

“I don’t know what we were thinking…” Alain lamented. “We could’ve easily made off with some more bottles before burning the place to the ground.”

“Alain,” Sable warned.

“I’m just saying. They’re all smoke and ashes now, anyway, so it’s not like we can go back… but if I’d been thinking, I would’ve nabbed a few more at the very least.”

The four of them continued down the streets of San Antonio. Others gave them a very wide berth as they walked, as was the norm, which Alain was more than thankful for, since it meant they’d notice threats much easier.

Which meant it took him barely any effort to notice the priest following behind them.

“Look alive,” he said to his friends. “We’ve got company.”

“How bad?” Danielle asked.

“Depends on whether you’re a sinner or not, I guess.”

Alain came to a stop and turned around to face the priest, as did his friends. The priest continued to approach, eventually stopping just a few meters away from them. Alain did not miss the two revolvers holstered at his waist; clearly, this was one of Father Alex’s men, come to find them.

“What do you want?” Alain demanded, crossing his arms.

“Alain Smith?” the priest asked, earning a nod. “I’ve come with a message. Father Corrin wants to see you.”

“What’s this about?”

“He wouldn’t say, only that he has information… and that it concerns your soul. He wants you to come alone to the church to meet with him.”

“Yeah, that’s not happening,” Alain told him flatly. “We just painted a target on our backs. I’m not about to give up on the added security of having a vampire and an Az by my side.”

The priest’s brow furrowed. “…If it makes you feel better, they can wait outside the church. It makes no difference to us, so long as some of the things he has to discuss with you remain private.”

“And why is that?”

“Because the sacrament of confession is supposed to be between you and God, with the priest there as a facilitator.”

Alain blinked, suddenly taken aback. “…Confession? Seriously?”

“Those were the terms for him providing you this information,” the priest said. “But if you’d like, you can refuse, and I will tell him to keep it to himself.”

Alain let out a tired sigh, bringing a hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose. “Good Lord… fine, I’ll do the stupid confession. Is that good enough for you?”

“I suppose so,” the priest told him. “Though I take issue with-”

“Yeah, I don’t care.” Alain turned back to his friends. “Guess we’re making a stop before heading back home.”

They all exchanged worried glances with one another, but didn’t argue, and together, they all took off after the priest as he led them to the church.

XXX

“Are you sure about this, Alain?” Sable asked as they approached the cathedral.

“Nope,” Alain replied. “But if these are his terms, then so be it, I guess. Hopefully, this’ll be quick.” Alain looked over to Az and Danielle. “Watch my back for me. I doubt he’d be dumb enough to try anything here, but you never know.”

They both nodded, and Alain took a breath before entering the church. It was empty inside, and lit only by a series of flickering candles; all the other priests and nuns were nowhere to be found. He could only assume that Father Corrin had requested they give the two of them a little privacy.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this…” Alain muttered, even as he searched for the confessional. He found it tucked away …

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