Shadows of Faith
The night was dark and cold as Logan and Kurt made their way back to the hotel, their breath visible in the icy air. The abbey’s haunting presence lingered in their minds, casting a shadow over their silent walk. The snow crunched underfoot, the only sound breaking the tense stillness that had settled between them. Logan’s shoulders were tense, his hands shoved deep into his pockets as he strode ahead, while Kurt trailed a few steps behind, his expression tight with barely concealed emotion.
Neither of them spoke as they approached the hotel, the warm lights glowing softly in contrast to the chill outside. They entered the building, the blast of heat from the lobby’s heaters a jarring shift from the frozen air outside. Logan kept his head down, heading straight for the stairs without a word. Kurt followed, his footsteps quickening as his frustration simmered over.
The silence stretched as they reached their room. Logan pushed the door open and walked inside, tossing his jacket onto a chair. Kurt closed the door behind them and stood there for a moment, the weight of what had happened still pressing heavily on his chest. Finally, he couldn’t keep it in any longer.
“Logan,” he started, his voice sharper than he intended, “what you said back there, about my faith… it was not right.”
Logan glanced over his shoulder, his brows furrowing. “What’re you talkin’ about?” he replied, his tone gruff and dismissive.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about,” Kurt said, stepping further into the room. “You compared Catholicism to that—” He struggled to find the words, gesturing vaguely as if he could banish the memory of the twisted abbey with a wave of his hand. “To that abomination of a cult. The Purelight is nothing but evil, twisting scripture to serve their hatred. My faith is not like that.”
Logan exhaled sharply and turned to face Kurt. “It’s all the same, ain’t it?” he said, his voice rising. “Religion’s just a tool people use to control each other. Sure, some folks might do good with it, but at the end of the day, it’s about followin’ rules, fearin’ some invisible power, and thinkin’ you’re better than the next guy because of what you believe.”
Kurt’s eyes flashed with anger as he took a step closer. “No, Logan, that’s not what it is at all! Faith is more than just rules—it’s about love, compassion, finding meaning. Yes, there are those who misuse it, who take words out of context and twist them into something evil, but that does not mean faith itself is to blame!”
Logan’s jaw tightened, and he ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “Look, I get it—you need somethin’ to hold onto,” he said, his voice rough. “But you saw what they were doin’ back there. They were spoutin’ scripture just like any other preacher, and it was still twisted as hell. I’ve seen enough so-called holy men in my life to know that there’s always some dark side.”
Kurt’s fists clenched at his sides. “Just because people use faith for wicked things doesn’t mean it’s all wicked,” he argued, his voice thick with emotion. “The words they were using—yes, they were from scripture, but taken out of context. They corrupted them to justify their actions. That’s not faith, Logan—that’s perversion of it.”
Logan shook his head, turning away slightly. “Maybe,” he said, his voice lower. “But it’s all a mess, either way. I just don’t see how you can have so much faith in somethin’ that’s been used to hurt so many.”
Kurt took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. “Faith isn’t about ignoring the darkness,” he said quietly. “It’s about trying to bring light into it. It’s not blind acceptance, it’s… choosing to believe there’s something good worth fighting for.” His voice softened, the anger giving way to a hint of sadness. “You don’t have to understand it, but you shouldn’t dismiss it, either. Not when you know how much it means to me.”
Logan turned to look at him, and for a moment, there was a flicker of something in his eyes—regret, perhaps, or understanding. “I didn’t mean to… hurt you, Kurt,” he muttered, the words coming out gruffly. “I just don’t see things the same way you do.”
“I know,” Kurt replied, his shoulders slumping slightly. “But that doesn’t mean you should dismiss my beliefs as if they are nothing.” He met Logan’s gaze, his eyes filled with quiet intensity. “Especially when they are part of what makes me who I am.”
Logan didn’t answer right away, and the silence stretched between them, thick and uneasy. Eventually, he gave a small nod. “Fair enough,” he said. “But if you’re gonna fight me on this, then you’d better be ready to show me what’s so great about it.”
Kurt let out a small breath of relief, his lips twitching into a faint smile. “I’ll hold you to that,” he said. The tension in the room eased, though it didn’t entirely disappear. There was still an unspoken weight between them, lingering just beneath the surface, but at least for now, the immediate heat of the argument had passed.
As the night wore on, they settled into a tentative truce, each of them quietly grappling with the words that had been exchanged. The shadow of the Purelight loomed larger than ever, but there was a deeper understanding growing between them—a fragile connection that, despite their differences, refused to break.