Long time ago, there was a prosperous country. The land was fertile, and the people were happy. However, the joy didn't last long. The country was soon afflicted by a plague. Countless people's lives were taken from the disease.
The Great Plague spread its wing across the country─to the north, south, west and east of the land. Its vicious fangs drew more and more blood, killing left and right mercilessly. The once prosper and fertile country was changed to a barren, horrid land of the dead.
One of the Great Plague's victim was a man from the Southern Village. He was very young, as green as the spring's leaves. The man was affected by the deadly disease, dying in a painful agony as the Death came to claim his life.
"O Mighty Lord, I do not want to die yet!" The Lad lamented, drowning in his own tears and blood. "O Mighty Lord of Heavens, I do not seek to see the darkness of the dusk! I beg of you, please let me live to see the day and the sun again!"
The Lad begged and cried, but to no avail. The Death has come to his deathbed.
"Take my hand, Young Lad," Death said to him, "For you shall dance together with your kin in eternity."
"O Death, please spare my young soul. I am not ready to face my demise yet!"
"Fear not, human child. The darkness is only a while. You shall see the light of the Heaven soon enough." The Death gently lifted its scythe.
"Rest assured, Young Lad."
The Great Plague left its mark in the pages of history, staining the country with the red of people's blood. Days, months, and years passed peacefully afterwards. Seasons changed swiftly, as fast as the wind changes its course.
Everything changed. Fresh greens were blooming on top of the once arid grounds. The deserted villages, once devoid of life, was rebuilt again by people moving from another country. Laughter and joy resounding throughout the land once more. New life emerged from the traces of demise, left by the Great Plague.
Two hundred years have passed since then. The Great Plague slowly fade away from people's minds, and became nothing more than a mere legend, spoken from the mouths of their elders.
However, there was one soul resisting its fate. Despite the flow of time had erased the village's existence, it refused to bow down to its destiny. It continued to flicker around, wandering in endless agony─writhing in the painful moment of its death, being repeated over and over again.
Within a small church, a solemn service was being held. A group of young lads and maidens sung praising hymns with their golden voices.
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake."
A young priest was speaking at the podium. His name was Karamatsu. He possessed a voice so gentle, yet so strong and confident. He was unaware of that gift of his had captured so many hearts of the village's young maidens.
"Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."
The young priest continued the sermon. Some of the young women watched him with full attention, faint blushes colored their cheeks. The priest was quite a charming young man himself. It was so unfortunate for the village maidens who took interest in him, for he already took a vow of chastity.
"May the grace of our Lord be with you all. Amen."
"Amen." The people spoke in unison, following Father Karamatsu's lead.
The service's procession was done. When the worshippers left the church, an old bishop greeted Karamatsu.
"Good day, Father." The bishop smiled. "You are looking good as usual, I see!"
"Ahh, Bishop! Good day to you too! What's the occasion? I am so happy to see you here!" Karamatsu cheerfully shook the bishop's hand with glee.
A black-haired young man showed up from behind the bishop's back. Judging from his appearance, he was the same age as Karamatsu, or even younger than him by two or three years. He was wearing a new cleric's clothes under an oversized, brown coat─must be a newly-ordained priest, according to Karamatsu's observations.
"Father Karamatsu, I'd like to introduce our newest member of clergy."
"You may call me Soki. Pleased to meet you, Father." The young priest introduced himself.
Karamatsu shook the young priest's hand. It was cold─icy cold. Karamatsu was taken aback from the young priest's similarly sharp, freezing gaze.
"Ah, I'm sorry. I was...distracted." Karamatsu apologized to the young priest, smiling awkwardly. "I mean, you're so young...but you decided to join the clergy─"
"It's fine. I get that a lot." The young man smiled back, although his expression was still dark and gloomy. This reaction churned Karamatsu's stomach even further.
"Would you kindly escort Father Soki to the monastery, Father Karamatsu?" The bishop asked. "When you are done, I'd love to chat over a tea with both of you youngsters."
"Yes, Bishop." Both of the young priests answered simultaneously. They bowed to the old bishop, and went out of the church. Karamatsu showed the way to the monastery for his junior fellow. It was right behind the church's building.
"This is where we live, Father Soki. You can stow your belongings in your room," Karamatsu pointed at a door. "Please, make yourself at home."
"Thank you." The young man called Soki opened the door and entered the room. He dragged his briefcase, making screeching noises to Karamatsu's uncomfortable ears.
"By the way, Father," Soki took off his coat. "From what I've heard, it seems that there was a plague decimating this village two hundred years ago. Apparently, no one survived the plague. Is it correct?"
"Yes, that's what I heard about the Great Plague from the village elders too." Karamatsu answered. "Are you interested in this village's history? You can check our library's records about─"
"Where is this library? And how can I get there?" Soki asked the priest abruptly. His eyes were empty, only filled with void and shadows of uneasiness.
"Errr...you can go straight from the church to the west, and then to the north of the village's post office. It's right next to a flower shop." Karamatsu uncomfortably answered Soki's question. "Okay, shall we go meet Bishop and have some tea─"
"Thanks, but no thanks." The younger priest quickly cut off Karamatsu's words, showing no interest at all. "In fact, I could use some leg work to go to the library. See you again, Father Karamatsu."
Soki went out of the monastery in seconds, leaving Karamatsu puzzled and perplexed at his antics.
"Seriously, that person is...quite creepy..." Karamatsu mumbled, a drop of cold sweat running down his neck.
It mumbled, shivering alone within the dark.
"It's so cold."
A fading existence, stuck between the world of the living and the dead. It trembled, hugging its knees─longing for warmth and the light for so many nights.
"It's so lonely."
A fading soul, rotting between the world of the living and the dead. It cried tears of blood, running down from its decaying pair of eyes─wishing to end its never-ending misery for so many years.
"...it's so fragrant."
Smell of warm tea, smell of sweet sugar, smell of baked cookies.
"I wonder...what is it?"
Smell of anxiety, smell of uneasiness, smell of cold sweat.
"I shall follow it."
A fading spirit, trapped between the world of the living and the dead. It opened its eyes once again, greeting a blinding ray of light─hoping to find its long lost path.
Karamatsu waved at the bishop, who was leaving the church and went back to the country's capital. When the bishop was gone from his sight, he sighed.
"Urgh, this is going to be really awkward," Karamatsu groaned. "It's just me and Soki─that cold, creepy man...living together in the monastery...just the two of us..."
Karamatsu entered the church's building, slapping his face. "What am I thinking? I shouldn't complain! If that is my task, then I must faithfully follow Bishop's orders! Yes! Yes, that's it! I should become an example for Soki─become a good shepherd for everyone in the village!"
Suddenly, loud crack noises were heard from inside the confessional booth. Karamatsu yelped. He was sure that no one was there, except himself.
"W─who's there?" He asked, slowly sneaking his way to the confessional. No answer.
Karamatsu opened the confessional's door, carefully peeking in the dark chamber. His eyes widened in horror after finding the source of the noise. It was a young man. His skin was pale, almost transparent. Numerous candlesticks were attached on his head. Without warning, the young man jumped towards Karamatsu, causing the latter to scream in terror.
The young man pinned him to the floor, sniffing his clothes.
"You smell good..." The man grinned. His dead eyes were lit in curiosity. "Is it tea? Is it chocolate cookies? Can I take a bite of you?"
"W...WAIT...WAITWAITWAITWAIT!"
"I want to take a bite...can I? Thanks for the food!" The young man cheerfully plunged his teeth to Karamatsu's neck.
"OWWWW! OUUUUCH! WAIT! WAAAIIIIIIT! IF YOU WANT COOKIES, I'LL GIVE YOU SOME! LET ME GOOOO!" Karamatsu was flailing in panic, accidentally launched the young man across the room. The man stood back up, approaching Karamatsu with joy.
"Really? Can I really have cookies? Oh, I also want to have some tea, if you don't mind."
"Y─yes...sure..." The young priest stammered, taking a tray of tea and cookies from inside another room. It was the bishop's leftovers, but the man gobbled it all up.
"Who are you?" Karamatsu asked. "What are you doing inside the confessional?"
"Thanks to your smell, I was just awoken from my long slumber. In the past, my name is Todomatsu," The young man answered, still chowing down the cookies. "You can call me 'Totty'. Who are you?"
"I'm Karamatsu. I'm a priest that's been living here...umm...I don't want to sound mean, but...are you a ghost? I mean...your skin is so pale, and your eyes were dim...you don't look like you're alive anymore..."
"Yeah, I think so. I was dead a long, long time ago."
The ghost who called himself Todomatsu finished his last bite. He licked the crumbs off of his transparent fingers with delight.
"Ummm...Totty, wasn't it? May I ask you a question?" Karamatsu cautiosly lowered his head after noticing a strange glint on Todomatsu's eyes.
"Go ahead."
"Why are you still here? What caused you being held in the living world, without being able to pass on?"
Todomatsu scratched his head. One of the candles fell off, but one instantly grew back from his skull. Karamatsu shrieked.
"I was lost." The ghost spoke, in a cold, shivering tone. "I lost my faith when I was dying. I was tormented by this immense pain piercing my head."
Todomatsu pointed at the candles on his head. "These candles. No matter how much I tried to took them off, they'll always grow back and pierced my skull. Again, and again."
"You poor, poor thing." Karamatsu shook his head. "You were bound by that pain for so many years? That's why...you're unable to pass away peacefully?"
The ghost nodded. His dim eyes sparkled in a sad glow.
"When did you die? And how did you die, Todomatsu?"
"I'm not going to answer your questions any more, Father." Todomatsu giggled. "Only if you bring me more cookies and tea...maybe I'll change my mind."
"Hey, I'm trying to help you here! I need to know your story, or knowing about your problems to help you out!" Karamatsu protested, feeling somewhat irritated from the ghost's quirky antics.
"I'll talk more about myself later. Let's have a bigger tea party the next time we meet, Father." Todomatsu slurped, waving his hands and walked into the confessional. "See you again!"
"Hey, hey! Todo─"
When Karamatsu opened the confessional's door, no one was there. Todomatsu had disappeared, like a smoke in the air.
Later in the evening, Soki went back to the monastery. Noticing his arrival, Karamatsu opened the front door.
"Welcome back, Father Soki." The older priest greeted nervously. He felt an overwhelming intimidation coming out from Soki's sharp gaze.
"Yes. Good evening."
"How's the library?"
Soki diverted his eyes, passing through Karamatsu like he was nothing. "It's quite useful for my research, for now."
"Research...? Huh?" Karamatsu was perplexed by the younger priest's unlikely answer. "Are you studying about our village's history for research purposes─"
"Hold on for a second."
"Huh?"
Abruptly, Soki grabbed Karamatsu's arms. He sniffed his senior's clothes, much to the latter's embarrassment. Karamatsu's face lit in bright red.
"F─Father Soki?! What are you doing?!"
"...you smell like death."
"Huh?! Ehhh?!"
Soki released Karamatsu from his grip, but he kept his intense stare to watch Karamatsu's eyes.
"Tell me, Father Karamatsu..." The young priest asked. "Have you ever seen...or at the very least, sense something unnatural lurking in the church? Like...ghosts, for example."
"Wh...what are you talking about? I've been living here for years, and I never seen any ghosts." Karamatsu lied, trusting his gut feelings to not tell the truth to the menacing priest. He started to feel uncomfortable from Soki's cold gaze.
"...? What is this?" Soki pinched Karamatsu's neck. In an instant, Karamatsu felt a sting on the area where Soki touched him.
"Owwww! What?!"
Karamatsu gasped. It was Todomatsu's bite mark. He stuttered, quickly hiding the mark with his collar. "Ah, no! No! It was one of the village's children! I was playing with them, and this one child bit me really hard..."
Soki didn't say anything afterwards, but his pair of dark eyes kept staring at Karamatsu with suspicion.
"I see. Good evening, Father Karamatsu."
The young priest entered his room without any words spoken, leaving Karamatsu confused and puzzled. When Soki closed the door, Karamatsu sniffed his own sleeves.
"...why do everyone I meet today sniffs at me? Am I smelling that bad?"
Soki's words earlier sparked Karamatsu's curiosity.
"Ghosts...huh...I wonder, what is Todomatsu doing right now...ouch..." Karamatsu rubbed the bite mark on his neck. "If he really is a ghost...then he couldn't leave a mark like this, right? Oww, it still hurts..."
It hurts.
They tied me up. They stabbed my scalp with these burning candles.
It hurts. It hurts.
That aside, my chest felt so hurt from this disease. I coughed up blood from my mouth. My entire body was scorching hot.
It hurts. It hurts. It hurts.
Save me, please. Someone. Anyone.
Help me.
And then, he came before me. He was standing there, raising his gigantic scythe at me.
Help m─
The next week, Karamatsu prepared a small table right in front of the confessional. He decorated the table with a white-laced cloth. A pot of tea, a basket of fruits and sweet-smelling cakes were also set on the table. He knocked the confessional's door, calling out for his mysterious new friend.
"Totty. I'm here. As I promised, I brought you tea and sweets."
The door opened, and the young man's ghost emerged from behind the confessional. His face brightened with joy.
"Hello, Father. Let's have some tea, shall we?"
Both of them sat together, pouring the fragrant black tea to their cups. Todomatsu gobbled up the cakes with gusto.
"Totty, how did you die?" Karamatsu took a sip from his own cup. "Looking at your appearance─grey skin...pale eyes...did you die from the plague, two hundred years ago?"
"Did I? No...I don't think I died from it." Todomatsu dropped a cube of sugar into his tea, swirling the teaspoon rather fast. "Indeed, I caught a painful disease when I was alive...but the Ritual was probably my cause of death."
"Ritual?" The ghost's statement piqued Karamatsu's interest. "Tell me more about it."
The ghost was playing a cherry on his hands, before eating the fruit. "When I was sick, the villagers took me to the chief's place. They said that the Ritual would save their village from the plague, so..."
"What have they done to you?"
"It was horrible, Father. I never felt any pain worse than that." Todomatsu stopped eating, his face was serious. "They sacrificed me, believing that my death would save them from the disease."
"There. That confessional..." The ghost pointed at the wooden compartment, smiling bitterly. "I was dying there, tied up onto a table...with candles drilled into my head."
Karamatsu quickly made a cross with his hands. "O Lord, please save this soul of a lost lamb. Ease his burden and pain, let him rest peacefully in your Heavenly Kingdom."
"Heavenly Kingdom? Heh..." Todomatsu bit an apple from the basket. "I'm really sorry, Father...but it looks like that I'm not invited to go there."
"Why would you say so? You should believe in God, Todomatsu. If you believe in Him, you may be able to pass on."
"No, I can't. The Ritual have bound my restless soul to this world. No matter how much I pray, no matter how much I beg...I'm still here."
Todomatsu took Karamatsu's arm, forcefully crammed a crushed cake in the priest's hand. His face turned alarmingly eerie, while chuckling coldly.
"I'm still here, Father. It's been two hundred years of hell, yet I'm still here."
The ghost licked off the cream on Karamatsu's fingers─who was incredibly flustered. Suddenly, Todomatsu bit one of his fingers, causing him to shriek.
"Owww! What are you doing?!"
"Thanks for the food." Todomatsu sneered, hopping from his seat and walking away to the confessional. "I would love to have you as a friend...for eternity, you know..."
The young man's pale, almost transparent ghost licked the remaining cream on his hand. "Say, Father...when you died later in the future, will you join me in an unholy union of wandering souls? We can have tea parties together, forever."
"I must refuse your offer, Totty." Karamatsu sighed. "I have dedicated my life as a shepherd, to guide lost lambs like you back to the right path."
Todomatsu clicked his tongue, before disappearing into the confessional. "Huh...how boring..."
A footstep was heard from outside of the church. Karamatsu turned around, and found Soki enetering the building.
"Father Soki? What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same. Who were you with?"
Karamatsu frantically stood up from his seat. "Uhhh...it was a guest from the neighboring village. He was just leaving..."
"Strange. I didn't see anyone coming out from the church." Soki raised his eyebrows.
"Uhhh...well, he went out by the back door..."
Karamatsu was sweating a lot. He knew that Soki wouldn't buy his words, but he couldn't think the other way. The younger priest grabbed his hand, looking intently at a bite mark and lumps of cream on his finger.
"It seems that your guest isn't just an ordinary one." Soki muttered coldly, causing Karamatsu to broke more sweat.
"No, that's not─"
"I don't care about you having an unholy liaison with others, Father Karamatsu. It's none of my business." The young priest stared sharply. "I only care about the existence of a restless spirit, residing within these walls."
Soki walked past his fellow priest, hissing with disgust.
"You reek of death, yet you're still alive. How's that even possible?"
The young priest walked out of the church. Karamatsu was standing still in silence. The strong, nauseating sweet aroma of the cake and tea stinging his nostrils.
"I'm feeling dizzy..."
Somehow, Karamatsu lost his consciousness from the intoxicating smell. Later at night, he found himself in his room, laying down on the bed. The moonlight shined through the windowsill. His head was jumbled with confusion. The cake's choking, strong smell filled his lungs.
"What happened...? Who brought me here...?"
"Good evening, Father!
Karamatsu jumped from the bed, startled by the loud voice. A young man was standing at the corner of the room. His eyes were shining in red color.
"Wh─who are you? How did you get in here?"
"Relax, there's nothing to be afraid of."
The man walked towards him, showing his appearance. He was sharply-dressed, with a large pair of wings on his back. The man grinned menacingly.
"You're...you're a demon!" Karamatsu yelled in fear, reaching out to a small wooden cross on his table. The Devil laughed, snapping the cross into pieces with his tail.
"Please, go easy on me, Father...I don't wish to bring you harm..."
"What do you want?! The House of God is not a place for you to dwell!" Karamatsu yelled, putting up a brave front even though he was scared deep down.
"House of God? This is just a monastery, isn't it? You should be grateful to me for bringing your heavy ass back here from that stinking place!" The Devil chuckled. "Well, I was stumbled to a cheeky brat's spirit that was bound in the church...and he would make a good companion for me, I think! He would make a perfect plaything for me!"
Karamatsu clenched his fists. His face turned red, burning with anger. "Stay away from Todomatsu, Devil!"
"Todomatsu? Who? That ghost's name? What a sweet name! Maybe I should call him Totty when I get to lay my hands on him! Heheheheh..."
"You perverse, immoral demon! You shall not bother Todomatsu!"
"What are you getting so worked up for?" The Devil laughed mockingly. "He's just a ghost!"
"He's not just a ghost! He's my friend, and he seeks for help to appease his soul!"
"Bah, he never asked you to help him. Don't make things up, Father!"
"I am a servant of God," Karamatsu took out a rosary from his drawer. "It is my duty to bring salvation for those who needs it! I won't let you harm Todomatsu, even if it costs my own life!"
"Hahahaha...duty this, duty that...you're not so different with that guy, eh? But whatever, I feel entertained enough with your cheesy lines already! I'm gonna go for seconds later. Bye bye, Father!"
"'That guy'?! What are you talking about?!"
The Devil laughed, disappearing into a cloud of bats. The black cluster flew out of the window, melting into the darkness of the night.
Meanwhile, Soki was standing at the monastery's roof. He clenched his teeth in anger.
"That damned Devil, always getting in my way..."
The young priest was covered in a thick, black smoke. His appearance was changed─from a priest to a pale figure clad in black robe. He clutched his large scythe, its blade was shining under the silver moonlight.
"What's in your store this time, Devil?" He grinned. "Maybe if I'm lucky, I can also reap your soul and kick you back to Hell."
O Lord in Heaven, please grant me strength to conquer Evil.
Keep my eyes clear from his temptations, for I shall fulfill my duty as your loyal servant.
I shall fulfill my duty to bring salvation for the stray lambs who seeks your guidance.
Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
Amen.