THE PRIEST OF SANTA MARIA

  { PT.  3 } - When they finally reached the top, an explosion of mass proportion sent a crippling tremor through the vessel. Seismic vibrations rumbled through their bodies as the ship wavered from side to side, enough to send them bouncing against the railings behind them. Frya grabbed the handle and pushed on the bulkhead door. Its weight felt like a ton of scorched metal. It's stuck, she yelled. Angelica pushed the door with all her strength. It relented but an inch. There's something on the other side. Behind them, the fire crawled towards them as if its conscious purpose was to seek out and devour the living. Sounds of whipping, crackling and buckling grew ever closer as did the rise in humidity and the diminishing oxygen. We don't have much time left, yelled Frya. Christiano stepped forward and gave the door a kick. The obstacle on the other side moved slightly before bouncing back. He followed with a succession of hard kicks--giving little chance for the object to r...