The Queen stood slowly as the rest of them fell to their knees. The Queen never stood in front of them, she was always seated before they entered the cathedral. Something serious was about to unfold and the room was pulsating with a thousand racing heartbeats. The stark silence felt heavy and wet, like the weight of a cloud just before a rainfall. Her eyes peeled across the room looking for weakness, someone with their eyes averting her gaze. The Queens presence never felt thicker, never held more substance than in this singular moment.

“Rise.” said the Queen.

And so they did. As their feet struck the floor the crowd swayed uneasily. Looking at one another with fear beneath their brows, a soft murmur filled the cathedral. The Queen let a smirk run across her face, her eyes like flames watching the town stand before her. She knew something the rest of them didn’t. She was on her feet to make a statement, she was on her feet to make an exit.

That’s when the acid fell from the ceiling, like rainfall disintegrating the towns people. The Queen and her men all protected by the vault at the front of the room. Acid, burning like a cigarette butt to silk, their skin was melting. The towns folk began screaming in horror, they bolted for the doors to escape. Every man, woman, and child stood in panic beneath the reigns of her sadistic power. Singed by venom that fell from the heavens, people began collapsing and gasping for their final breath. The Queen’s smirk had not only lifted, but grown into a wicked smile.

“Good riddance” she whispered.