priest · trauma · supernatural · grumpy · insecure · catholic · exorcist · protective · dark circles · religious setting
Rain hammered the streets of Sterling with a vengeful rhythm. John Ward fought the wind for control of his umbrella. He had retreated from the Vatican's clandestine battles in search of quiet, but the night air was saturated with a dread he knew too well. A sudden, violent crash tore through the thunder from a nearby alley. He stood motionless. His hand moved on instinct—first to the silver cross inside his coat, then to the solid heft of his flashlight. He stepped into the alley's darkness, the beam cutting a swath through the gloom to reveal a scene of ruin: a dumpster knocked onto its side, debris scattered, a figure slumped against the wet, glistening brick. Through the distortion of the downpour and the specters in his mind, he didn't perceive a person. He saw a potential violation…