Capítulo 32: Ambush (2)

Trinity looks away, her gaze falling on the flickering candles that line the altar. Doubt flickers in her eyes, mingling with the shadows cast by the dim light. "Save them?" she murmurs, almost to herself. "How can I save them when my duty requires me to kill the sinners who have become tainted beyond redemption? How can I restore balance when it means I must also take life?"

Father Solomon steps closer, his voice gentle yet firm. "Your role is not an easy one, Trinity. It is fraught with moral complexity and profound responsibility. But you must understand, saving these souls doesn't always mean sparing their lives. Sometimes, salvation comes through purification, through ending their torment. Souls who have been broken often break other souls."

Trinity clenches her fists, her knuckles turning white. "I understand that in theory, Father. That said, I don't know if I'm the right person. It's not in my nature to save anyone. In fact, I've killed more souls than I've saved, simply because I could. Before that fateful night when I damned my own soul to purgatory, I killed sinners indiscriminately. I killed them if they looked at me the wrong way. I killed them if they annoyed me. I killed them even if they were trying to help."

"Yes, I'm well aware of your past activities Trinity. You came here often and confessed, even if you had no intention at the time of seeking absolution. You didn't confess in the hopes of being forgiven, but rather to reflect on your actions with a neutral party. I believe you needed to know if you were still human despite your inhumane actions. Being welcomed here confirmed that you were not a monster. Because if you'd already become a monster, I'd surely cast you out of here."

Trinity seems surprised by his words, but then wears a slight smile. "I hadn't considered it much back then, but reflecting on it now, I think you may have been right Father. I'd all but given up on living as a human soul in this world and used killing as an outlet for my stress and my pain. However, I never wanted to become a monster. HE was the monster in my eyes, and no matter the wrong I may have done, I justified it by saying that I'd be fine as long as I'm not like him."

Shi floats closer, her form shimmering with a soft glow. "Trinity, you've always had a strong sense of justice. You know the difference between those who can be redeemed and those who are beyond saving. I know you've never killed anyone truly free of sin here. After he killed me, I had no physical form, but I remained dormant inside you and saw this fact. Trust your instincts."

Father Solomon nods in agreement. "Shi is right. Your compassion is not a weakness, but a strength. It's what sets you apart and makes you the leader this city needs. The balance you seek to restore is not just about life and death, but about justice and mercy. You must be the judge."

Trinity's shoulders slump slightly, the weight of her responsibilities pressing down on her. "I fear I might lose myself in this role, Father. That I might become as ruthless as the sinners I'm supposed to judge. In fact, it's essentially my job now and what's expected of me by my boss."

Father Solomon places a comforting hand on her shoulder. "That fear is what keeps you grounded, Trinity. It's what ensures you never lose sight of your humanity. Remember, you are not alone in this. You'll find allies, friends, and have a sister who will always be by your side."

Trinity takes a deep breath, drawing strength from his words. She looks up, her eyes meeting Father Solomon's with renewed determination. "You're right. I must find a way to balance my duty with my compassion. I owe it to the people of Limbo, to the souls trapped in this eternal twilight. I can't promise that I will be merciful to them, but I'll seek to give them fair chances."

Shi smiles, her form glowing brighter. "That's the spirit, Trinity! We'll face this new threat of danger together, just like we always have. Not even that man could separate us, we got this!"

Father Solomon steps back, his gaze steady. "Whatever comes, know that you have the support of the cathedral. We will stand with you in the fight to protect this city and its people to the end."

Trinity nods, her resolve hardening. "Thank you, Father. I appreciate your dedication to me and my mission. You were a helpful guide, as always. We'll come again soon. Please take care."

"Of course, my dear child. I would never turn away a child of the lord, even in a place like this."

Trinity smiles and turns to leave with a final wave. Shi also waves at him. "Bye, bye old man!"

As they leave the cathedral, the weight of their mission presses upon them, but Trinity feels a newfound clarity. She knows the path ahead will be fraught with danger and difficult choices, but she is determined to navigate it with the integrity and compassion that define her.

As Trinity and Shi step out of the cathedral, the air outside feels heavier, the shadows darker. Trinity's mind is occupied with the weight of their conversation, but she pushes forward with determination. Her phone buzzes in her pocket, pulling her back to the present situation.

She glances at the screen and sees Geralt's name. With a sigh, she answers the call. "Miss Trinity, where are you?" Geralt's voice is filled with concern and a hint of irritation. "You and Shi went out without me? You promised to call for me. I told you how dangerous it is out there."

"We're fine, Geralt," Trinity replies, her voice soothing. "We went to the cathedral to talk with Father Solomon. I did knock on your door earlier, but I also should have called you. I'm sorry."

There's a pause on the other end, then a sigh. "Just... be careful. Meet me back here before dinner, okay? I'll drive you. I don't want to have to worry about you more than I already do."

"Alright, we'll meet you back at the apartment Geralt," Trinity promises. "See you soon."

She hangs up the phone and slips it back into her pocket. Just as she turns to Shi, a young boy approaches them. His face is streaked with tears, and he looks up at Trinity with pleading eyes.

"Please, Miss," he sobs. "You have to help my sister. She's hurt and I don't know what to do."

Trinity's heart aches at the sight of him. She recalls a time she pleaded for help too to no avail. She kneels down to his level, her voice gentle. "Of course, we'll help. Show us where she is."

The boy nods and starts leading them through the narrow, winding streets. As they follow, Shi hovers closer to Trinity, her form flickering slightly. "Trinity, I don't know why, but I suddenly feel very sleepy," Shi murmurs. "I've also got a bad feeling about this. Can we trust this boy?"

Trinity glances at her sister, concern in her eyes. "It's alright, Shi. You've never been out this long; your power may be drained. You should rest inside the amulet for now. I can handle this."

Shi hesitates, but nods reluctantly, her lethargy taking over. "Be careful." With that, she retreats into the amulet hanging around Trinity's neck, the faint glow dimming as she settles into rest.

The boy leads Trinity to a run-down apartment building, its exterior crumbling and covered in graffiti. They climb the creaky stairs to the third floor, the dim light casting eerie shadows on the walls. The boy stops in front of a door, his eyes wide with fear. He looks back at her and points.

"She's in here," he whispers. He backs away from the door, clearing a path for Trinity to enter.

Trinity takes a deep breath and opens the door. The room beyond is dark, but she can make out several figures moving within. As her eyes adjust to the gloom, several wicked smiles surround her from every side, and she realizes too late that she's walked straight into an obvious trap.

The door slams shut behind her, and a harsh light flickers on, illuminating a group of Death Sinners surrounding her. Their eyes glint with malice, and sinister grins spread across their faces.

"Well, well, well," one of them sneers. "Look who we caught. The Death Sinner Queen herself."

Trinity's heart pounds in her chest, but she keeps her expression calm and defiant towards them. "Congratulations, you've caught me. Now what will you do with me? What do you even want?"

The leader of the group steps forward, a tall, imposing figure with a scar running across his eye. "We want to send a message, Queen. You've been missing for over 100 years, and that man you left in charge previously fucked us. Limbo is no longer under your control. It belongs to us now."

Trinity's eyes flash with anger. "You think a group of Death Sinners can overthrow the balance? You're mistaken. Beyond being your Queen, I'm also a Death Reaper and can erase your souls."

The leader chuckles darkly. "Oh, we're well aware of your powers Queen, but you're clearly underestimating us. We'd never stand a chance in a fair fight one on one, but we're not so weak when we team up. Look around, there's twenty of us, and only one of you. Your Divine Weapon is asleep, courtesy of the generous marketplace vendor who offered you that red stone. It's actually a cursed stone that weakens divine powers over time. You still have it, don't you?"

Trinity touches her pocket and feels the stone roll against her thigh. "You sinner bastard. You're the reason Shi became so sleepy." She removes it and smashes it on the ground. "I'll kill you!"

The man laughs with amusement. "We'll see about that. We happen to know that you're still super weak despite your power, and the only way you'd stand any chance against us would be to rely on your Divine Weapon. So, we naturally had to take her out. She won't be waking up anytime soon, so don't count on that. We can't kill you, but we can imprison you. Take her."

Before Trinity can effectively react, the Sinners close in, their hands reaching out to grab her. She fights back with all her strength, but their sheer numbers are against her, above all. As they drag her deeper into the apartment, Trinity's mind races. She needs to find a way to escape and to reach Geralt. In the scramble, one sinner snatches the amulet from around Trinity's neck.

"No! Don't touch that!" Trinity has a burst of strength and manages to lunge forward at him. "I won't let you have my Shi! That's the one thing you can never have! Give her back! Give her back to me-." A blunt object strikes her from behind, knocking her out, as everything goes black.