This is the town hall that certain Irish ladies might recognise as a place they frequented in childhood. Currently, it is set up for a Church social gathering: afternoon tea. There are congregation members that Sharon will remember from when she was a little girl, but they're older now. As is she, of course. In the corner, a young man in his twenties stands alone. He is quite hideously ugly and is completely ignored by the socialites. When Sharon appears, nobody notices, but she's not invisible. It all seems very pleasant, apart from that strange man.

::Sharon looks around the hall in surprise. The hall is so familiar that she feels quite suddenly warmer and more comfortable. Unable to help smiling slightly at the recognisable faces of home, Sharon straightens and flicks her hair back slightly.::

(... oh.)

::Who's that? The smile disappears as she catches sight of the ugly man who seems quite inappropriate here. Now she can't help but stare a little, especially as he's so ignored.::

::It's as if he knows she's staring. The man turns and stares right into Sharon's eyes, looking desolate. His mouth opens as if to say something, but even if he did, she wouldn't hear him because of their distance. He is really, really hideous. Even painful to look at. He looks so sad.::

"Well! If it isn't Sharon Kohr! All grown up, I see!"

::A jovial man marches over to Sharon and puts a hand on her back, swiftly leading her to the group of friends he'd been with. Sharon will remember him as Mr. Daggerty. There are five other people: Mrs. O'Reilly and Father Patrick Donahue are others Sharon will recognise. The rest are strangers; two middle-aged men and an elderly woman.::

"Dundalk's pride and joy back for a holiday, it seems!"

"Oh..."

(A holiday? How did I get here?)

::But Sharon immediately forgets the hideous image of David on the lovely feeling of seeing people she knows from Ireland and her childhood.::

"Father! How are you all?"

::She beams at them. It's odd how much she's missed... just seeing people she knows.::

::Father Donahue smiles widely.::

"Sharon. Welcome home."

::He sounds completely genuine.::

"It's so good to see you after all these years. You've made us so proud."

"Such a pleasure to meet you."

::The woman holds out her hand for Sharon to take.::

"I'm Margaret Foster; I'm retired now, but I used to teach your little sisters at the primary school!"

::Sharon smiles as she listens to the new woman.::

"Really? I'm so very sorry for you."

::She bites her lip, teasing. So many people greeting her is very welcoming and at the same time distracting from... everything.::

::Margaret laughs.::

"Oh, right you are! Little terrors, the both of them! Especially the little one, what was her name now?"

::Sharon smiles happily.::

"Andrea."

(... where is Andrea?)

::She frowns, but keeps talking.::

"She always used to come home from school complaining about a Mrs Foster who wouldn't let her climb the gates."

(Did we... leave the moon?)

::Margaret claps her hands together with pleasure.::

"Andrea. That was it. I often wondered if that girl was a monkey in disguise."

"Lovely lass that she was."

::Patrick smiles, his voice mirthful.::

"This is Teddy and Oisan Grady. They're brothers from Killarny come up to speak for us today. I have to admit, it's wonderful that you're showing your support for the cause, Sharon. I suppose it's a little risky for a celebrity-"

::He nudges her and gives her a friendly wink.::

"-to show any sort of stance on issues like these, but you being here has shown what a true Christian you really are."

::Sharon frowns again.::

"What issue would that be?"

(That sounds... ominous.)

::Daggerty looks mildly confused.::

"Why, the campaign to get everything back to how it should be. Like it says in the Bible."

::He pats her back.::

"We know the young folk of today think our values are a bit outdated."

::Oisan is speaking now, looking like a really nice guy.::

"But the fact of the matter is that there's a right and a wrong here, and it's just a terrible thing to see society slipping into immorality and depravity. All of this sex before marriage and advocation of other religions as equal - dear oh dear, we don't know what the world has come to!"

::Sharon quickly closes her mouth, and covers it with her hand.::

(What on earth? I'm supposed to be supporting this?)

"But you can't tell people that their beliefs are invalid, that's-"

::She's not quite sure what's going on, but Sharon stops herself.::

"I mean, don't you think that's a little... narrow-minded?"

::Father Donahue looks shocked for a moment, then laughs.::

"Playing Devil's Advocate, eh?"

::He puts an arm around her in a friendly manner, smiling at the others.::

"Like our very own Sharon would truly support the blasphemous denial that there is only one true God."

"Oh!"

::Teddy looks relieved.::

"That was worrying."

::He smiles at Sharon.::

"And how's your father getting along?"

"Ehm, he's... well."

::Sharon still feels worried, but realises she needs to be more careful about this.::

"But, ehm, you aren't worried that you might cause some anger with all this?"

"We are the angry ones, child. Surely you believe that all of these dreadful sinners need to be stopped!"

"They're hardly sinners!"

::Sharon sounds highly disbelieving, and wonders if they've having a joke at her expense. She attempts a small smile.::

::Daggerty gives Sharon an odd look.::

"And all this about the gays being allowed to marry. You think that's right that folk so bluntly violating God's law should not be stopped?"

::Everybody's gone quiet now.::

::The man in the corner has left it and is walking slowly through the collection of small groups. He looks so sad and lonely, but is simply ignored by everybody.::

"Well..."

::It wasn't so long ago that Sharon might have agreed with this man, and it's obvious from the looks that she's getting that everyone round here does. She sighs.::

(Come on, Sharon. Stop being so silly.)

"I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with you."

::She swallows. These are people she grew up knowing and she has a lot of respect for them.::

"It's not a sin to be in love."

"What's happened to you, Sharon? Have you lost your faith in God Almighty?"

"No, of course not."

::Sharon straightens a little.::

"But I have realised that having faith isn't about things which aren't allowed, it's about trust in God and..."

(I sound like one of those horrible American 'church leaders'.)

"Sorry. Don't worry, Father, I'm still a devout, my faith's just changed a little."

::She smiles again, hoping they can just forget this.::

::David suddenly bursts into the group and grabs Sharon's hands, looking into her eyes pleadingly.::

"Please."

::Oddly, nobody seems to notice him at all. It's like he doesn't even exist. The two strangers from down south are looking at the Father and Mr. Daggerty with frowns.::

::Sharon jumps and steps back, her breath catching in her throat. She tugs her hands, trying to jerk them free.::

"What?"

"You have to help me."

::David doesn't let go. He clings on to Sharon's hands tightly, as if his life depended on it. His skin is covered in sores and welts.::

"Oh dear, are you all right?"

::To Margaret, all she saw was Sharon jump back and exclaim something.::

::Sharon can't help trying to phase, the urge to at least get him off her is too much.::

"I can't, let go!"

::She looks in panic at Margaret.::

::Oisan looks baffled.::

"There's nobody on you!"

::Her power didn't work.::

::Daggerty looks hugely concerned. Sharon's hands are out, like something's holding them, but there's nothing there.::

"Sharon? What's going on?"

::He takes one of her hands. It feels cold, but otherwise normal.::

"Sharon?"

::Sharon stares at Daggerty and the others, just as baffled as they are.::

(They can't see him? Is that why he was so... ignored?)

"I-"

::She physically stops herself from shuddering and stares back at David.::

::David lets go, but doesn't move away. He looks into Sharon's eyes imploringly.::

"You can see me. Look what they've made me. LOOK!"

::He grabs onto her by the shoulders and shakes her in desperation.::

"What?"

::She stares at him helplessly and then catches the look of the others around her.::

"I, ehm..."

::Quickly, she tries to move away from them and take David to the side, knowing she must already seem crazy enough.::

"What?"

::When Sharon had started shaking with that look on her face, Margaret gasped.::

"It's the Devil. He's taken her."

::She points.::

"He's taken her for straying from our ways."

::Daggerty is an intelligent man, and he stares at Sharon in worry.::

"No... she's not that immoral..."

(Please God, protect her.)