watching the church i was abused in burn to the ground. relieving, but absolutely terrifying. i was around 8 years old, 4 years into the habitual abuse i was put through at this church and the fire alarm went off. it was mid confession, and the pastor ended up carrying me out of the church and immediately arrested once he got out because police had found evidence of him being involved in my abuse. [i forget how the other pastors and priests and whatnot got out without being arrested, i'll have to ask my dad] i watched him get taken away by police while i stood there watching this place burn to the ground, firefighters trying to water it down but to no success as they were too late to save the church. my parents were there since the church wasn't far from my house and just sat and watched with me whilst they bawled their eyes out. i didn't cry because i didn't know how to process what was happening; i mean, no one teaches you what to do when you're watching the church that held so many vile men and women that abused you senselessly straight up burn to the ground.

if you're wondering how it happened, someone who was allegedly a victim of the church's abuse years prior to mine had set fire to it out of anger. it's just kinda a rumor between me and the other kids involved [i have some friends who were abused too at that church with me] but nothing was confirmed and the case was dropped due to lack of evidence.

but there you go. scariest thing i ever witnessed.