Bad Habits: A Dark Anthology - Yolanda Olson Page 0,68
she’d be scandalized by the way I do it with my hands in my underwear and her face in my mind. Everything I’ve held back for years is rising to the surface, bursting at the seams of my faith and trying to break free. Sister Faith is the catalyst, bringing forth a forbidden attraction I’ve long been suppressing.
“Chastity, Kindness, Patience, Temperance, Charity, Humility! All six of these heavenly virtues must be cherished, valued, and upheld. Do you understand me?” Mother Bitch states clearly to all the nuns present in her office, even though we know this already. “Sister Emily, pay attention!”
She slaps the cane against her palm with a loud thwack, cutting off the mumbles and mutterings between some of the girls when they jump at the unexpected noise. However, the sharp sound of the wood in her palm is a welcome reminder to me of my pink backside currently glowing with the red stripes of punishment. I swallow back the groan of pleasure and refocus on the lesson going on in front of me.
“Sister, aren’t there seven heavenly virtues?” a sweet, high voice pipes up.
“Raise your hand if you wish to speak, girl!” Mother Bitch snaps.
Flickering my gaze toward the interrupter, I’m surprised to see it’s Sister Faith.
I’d never have pegged her for a troublemaker. Could it be that her angelic looks are deceiving? At Mother Bitch’s admonition, she blushes and falls silent, bowing her head in apology. Mother Bitch walks down the line of nuns to stand in front of her and lifts up her chin with the end of the cane. Sister Faith fidgets with her hands, looking like a deer caught in a set of headlights.
“Sister Faith, I think you may need some lessons in holding your tongue and not interrupting,” Mother Bitch reprimands.
I struggle not to think about where my roommate could be holding that quick tongue of hers.
Mother Bitch throws a glare toward one of the other girls when she giggles. “As I was saying, while it's important to personify each of the heavenly virtues, you can not do so without showing true diligence in all areas. It’s my belief that diligence is the most important virtue, and it’s my task to ensure that each one of you excels in this aspect while serving our Lord. Now, I want each of you to explore the gardens and the abbey, and think about how you will fulfill your duties to our Lord and the Sisters of Our Lady of Heavenly Hope. Faith, you will remain behind, I need to discuss something with you.”
As each of the girls files out of the room, some look thoughtful and others look confused; I ignore them in favor of Faith whose own expression is decidedly nervous. I linger outside the door, listening as I wait for Faith to finish with Mother Bitch. I’m not sure what makes me linger. Maybe it’s curiosity because I’ve never known Faith to behave in a manner that’s less than perfect before now.
“Now, Faith. You must remember not to interrupt when I’m speaking. If you do so again I’ll have you on your knees with your backside bare, saying your Hail Mary’s while I whip your skin red. Do I make myself clear?” Mother Bitch scolds.
I try hard not to imagine how pale the skin of Faith’s ass could be. If her creamy complexion is anything to go by, I imagine her buttocks would be like two beautifully unblemished moons. She’s unfailingly modest, so even though we’ve been sharing a room for two weeks, I’ve never seen her in anything less than a long cotton chemise. My imagination runs riot at the thought of Faith being punished like I’ve been so many times before. God, give me strength, I pray silently. I have to dismiss this train of thought before I delve even further into sin.
“You’re dismissed, and you would do well to remember the rules in future,” Mother Bitch concludes.
When Faith sees me loitering outside the door, she throws me a quick smile, and a knowing look, that almost begs me to ask what she’s thinking. I consider following Faith when she walks past me, no doubt going to find a quiet spot to pray and reflect, but instead, I choose to retire to my room to pray and reflect in my own way.
I walk through the halls and corridors of our convent, my footsteps the only sound breaking the immaculate silence surrounding me. No one is around, and I slip further into