The blue hue flickered in the dim moonlight, leading us to the edge of the city, in front of the chruch. It went under the heavy wooden doors of the church, glowing like a beacon against the darkness.
"As expected," I sighhhed.
Hina looked at with a surprised face and curiosity. "What does this an, Esther?"
I glanced at her briefly before turning my gaze back to the eerie glow. "Jake ca here before he fell into the sewer."
Her eyes widened in shock. "Oh... so you're saying the church is involved in this?"
"Maybe..maybe not.." I replied, my voice steady but cautious. "Can't say for sure. Let's go inside and figure it out."
Before she could respond, I strode forward, pushing the creaking doors open with a deliberate motion. The sound echoed ominously in the stillness of the night.
Hina hesitated for a mont, her eyes darting around nervously before following . "Oh, so we're just... going straight in? No hesitation? Cool. Cool, cool, cool..." Her voice trailed off behind as she muttered to herself.
The interior of the church was vast, almost oppressive in its grandeur. Torches of fire lined the walls, their flas casting flickering shadows across the worn stone. Rows of massive pews stretched in perfect alignnt, leading to an imposing statue of Christ at the far end. The air was thick with the scent of incense and old wood.
"This place feels holy," Hina whispered, her voice barely audible. "I don't think they would do anything wrong to anyone. I an..I also visit this chruch often—"
Her words and the way she had grabbed the back of my hoodie didn't go together as her fingers clutching tightly while her eyes darted nervously toward the looming darkness around us.
I turned my head slightly, glancing at her. "If it's so holy, then what are you afraid of?" I asked, my tone as dry as ever. My gaze shifted downward to her fingers, still gripping my hoodie.
Realizing what she was doing, her cheeks flushed a deep crimson. She quickly let go and clasped her hands behind her back, her gaze darting away.
"What are you talking about? I'm not afraid," she muttered, attempting a nonchalant whistle that only made her look guiltier.
I sighed, shaking my head, and continued walking forward. "Let's just keep moving."
The silence stretched as we wandered deeper into the church. The faint crackling of the torches was the only sound accompanying our footsteps. The rows of pews seed endless, each one identical to the last.
We began exploring different parts of the main hall. Hina was drawn to a shelf filled with old books near the corner. She plopped herself down, flipping through a particularly thick book and humming a cheerful tune, completely at odds with the atmosphere.
anwhile, I approached the massive statue of Christ at the altar. Its gaze seed to follow as I moved closer. My fingers hovered over a small drawer embedded in the pedestal.
Just as I reached out to touch it, a voice echoed from the shadows behind .
"What are you two doing here at night?"
The voice was calm, almost serene, but it carried an undeniable weight that made my hands stop.
I turned slowly to see an old man stepping out of the shadows. He was tall and thin, with a presence that seed to fill the entire space. His robes were pristine, and an ornate emblem rested on his chest. His face jad wrinkles of age, but his eyes behind his wire-rimd glasses were sharp and calculating.
Hina scrambled to her feet, hastily placing the book back on the shelf. She bowed slightly, her voice filled with respect. "Good evening, Father. I'm sorry, we didn't an to intrude—"
The priest's gaze softened as he recognized her. "Hina. I rember you from mass," he said with a kind smile.
"Yes, Father," she replied, her voice still tinged with nervousness.
His attention shifted to , his smile never wavering. "And who might you be?"
I t his gaze without flinching. "I ca from another country. This is Hina, my friend. I wanted to see this church, so I asked her to guide ."
His smile widened, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "It's rather late for a tour, don't you think? Perhaps you should return tomorrow morning."
I shook my head, my tone firm. "I'll be leaving tomorrow. If I'm going to see it, it has to be now."
Hina blinked rapidly, her anxiety evident as she glanced between the priest and . Her discomfort grew with each passing second because of how casually I was saying things.
The priest studied silently for what felt like an eternity, his piercing gaze dissecting . The silence was long and our stare didn't leave each other.
Finally, he smiled again. "Very well. I see no reason to deny you. Follow ."
His agreent felt anything but reassuring. There was sothing unsettling about the way he looked at , a quiet tension that made only feel more suspicious of him.
He started walking ahead and we both followed him. My eyes were fixed on the his back as he led us through the church.
The hallway he took us down was narrow, lined with torches that illuminated the way.
Hina's footsteps echoed softly against the stone floor as she walked beside humming song, her posture more relaxed than before. There was a lightness to her body.
I raised a brow and asked, "You're not afraid anymore?"
She glanced back at , flashing a small, playful smile. "The priest is with us. He's such a healing person, you don't even know."
The priest, walking a few paces ahead, turned his head slightly over his shoulder. He calmly smiled as he said, "I'm flattered, Miss Hina."
I sighed softly.
He led us further through the church, pausing occasionally to point out various rooms and paintings that adorned the walls. Each piece ca with an explanation which he delivered in the soothing cadence of soone who had rehearsed the stories countless tis. He spoke of the history of the church, the figures depicted in the artwork, and the lives of saints.
Hina, ever the eager listener, hung on to his every word, nodding and smiling in response. She even asked a few questions, and her polite laughter filled the corridors.
I trailed behind, my gaze scanning the surroundings more intently.
At one point, Hina turned to , her face lit up with a contented smile. "I don't think we'll find anything wrong here," she said confidently.
I didn't answer.
The doors of the lower ground opened and we continued walking.
—Then, I stopped abruptly. My footsteps ca to a halt, the sound breaking the steady pattern of our walk.
Hina, noticing my pause, turned around with a curious look. "What happened, Esther?"
The priest also stopped, his expression calm as he glanced over his shoulder. "Hmm?"
I stood still, my left hand resting in my pocket as I slowly removed my right hand outside. My eyes fixed on the ground. Slowly, deliberately, I raised my right hand and pointed toward a heavy wooden door on the right side of the corridor.
"Here..." I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper.
Hina's eyes followed my gesture, confusion flickering across her face. "What about it?"
I didn't respond imdiately. Instead, I lifted my gaze, my eyes eting the priest's. His calm deanor hadn't faltered.
"I want to see here," I said, my tone firm.
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