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“And what do you ask of the church?”
“Baptism.”Gia and Riker responded.
Then Father Mike turned to Pinky and Prosper.“Are you ready to help the parents in their duty as Christian god parents?”
“We are.”
“Do you reject Satan?”
“We do.”
“And all his works?”
“We do.”
Ratatatatatat
The sacrament was interrupted by the loud popping sound of what strangely sounded like gunfire. That sound was immediately followed by several loud screams as the guests began to pour out from the church pews and run towards the exit signs.
“Riker what’s happening?” Gia looked at him in alarm.
“Get down!” Riker pushed her and the baby down behind the large baptismal font. Pinky hit the ground with Prosper on top of her. Prosper looked at Riker and said in a low growl “Tell me your holding.”
Riker shook his head. “In a church? Fuck no!”
“Somebody the hell is.”
“The shots sound like their coming from the front.” Riker whispered urgently, “Let’s get the women out through the back.”
“Father Mike?”
“Si sto bene.I got the wind knocked out of me, that’s all.” Father Mike sat slumped against the altar. He lifted his hand slowly toward them and made the sign of the crossAndare Con Dio.Do not wait for me, go quickly.” He whispered. “Go!”
Riker could barely hear him above the sound of screaming and continuous, rapid gunfire.
“Gia, give me Rourke, honey. Give me the baby!” Riker commanded his wife as he fought to keep the panic out of his voice. He was not surprised to have to pry his wife’s hand from their child. Riker tucked the infant up against his chest. Then he looked at Prosper “On three, we’re gonna move them through to the door behind the altar. There’s a stairway that leads to the bell tower. They’ll be safe there.”
“On three.” Prosper nodded.
Riker turned to Gia. “Hold on to my hand. Pinky? You follow right behind Gia. Prosper, you’re good to bring up the back. Just remember stay low. You ready? One, two, three.”
They ran quickly towards the back of the altar as the panicked screams of over two hundred people reverberated through the air and bounced off the church walls. Once they had cleared the doorway Prosper closed the door firmly against the sound. Riker gently but quickly handed the baby back to Gia while Prosper felt along the wall in the windowless narrow passage. “Got it!” He whispered loudly when a fluorescent light flooded the top of the staircase.
Riker moved the women towards the light. “There’s a fire door on the second level. It leads to the stairwell to the tower. There’s a large utility closet on the landing. They keep all the master keys in a cupboard to the left of it. They’re all marked. Take the key to the closet and lock yourselves in. Turn the volume off your phone but keep it on. Don’t open that goddamn door until you hear from me.” Then Riker kissed his wife and son.
“No! Don’t go back out there. Riker don’t go. Stay with us! Don’t go!” Gia pleaded, but Riker had followed Prosper out the door and they were already gone.
“Pinky, what are we going to do?" Gia whispered mournfully.
“Exactly what Riker just told us to do, honey. Now let’s start up those stairs.”
The sight that met the two men was pure pandemonium
Flashes of light and the staccato sound of rapid firing split the air as large chunks of plaster and full sheets of shattered stain glass window fell over the fleeing and panicked guests.
“How many shooters we got?” Riker ran towards Diego.
“I can’t tell yet. Shots are coming too fast. Could be a few, could be one with an arsenal.” Diego shouted back.
