"So, what time is the service?" You ask, realizing that there's really nowhere for you to run.
"Oh," the preist said, "We have a service any time someone needs us. The church is your ally, as is God, and his Saint."
"I've uhh, never found much solace in religion, Father," you tell him.
He arches an eyebrow at you, smiling kindly, "And why is that?"
You shrug, "I never really felt anything mystical or spiritual when I went to church in my youth. It's all just a bunch of dogma, and restrictive rules, touted by an out of touch bunch of old men. It's more about money and control than real transformation of a person."
The old priest's face lights up upon hearing you say the word, "transformation,". "I can assure you, that if what you want is transformation, the Church of St. Lupus will fulfill all your desires," he says, an almost sinister tone in his voice.
"All churches promise that, Father," you say, "But I've never seen the hand of God in anything, nor seen a miracle at all."
"I see the hand of God in your arrival here," said the priest, "even if you don't."
"How so?" you ask, wondering how he's going to justify you being here.
"You came here in fear, am I correct?" he asks, smiling wryly at you.
"I'll admit that yeah, I was a little freaked out. I've ...I've had a long night," you admit.
"Well, why did you come to a church, if there is no God? If there's no God, what about a church makes you feel safer? I certainly couldn't protect you; I'm an older man. The nuns? Sister Immaculata and Sister Grace? Do you think they could save your life?"
He had you there. "I..I donno, probably just the image of a church as a place of sanctuary, I guess," you say.
"What if I told you that we could take away all that fear? What if I told you that indeed, even the meekest of us, Sister Immaculata, could smite any man who crossed into this church to harm you?"
"I'd ask you to prove it," you tell him. "I'd suggest you back up that boast."