Papa Don't Preach.

The Ministry was silent and still, there was no one around. The hallways were bright while night lingered outside of the unholy church, all was calm. The ghouls and ghoulettes had settled down for the night, they were sleeping soundly in the cellar. Sister was working hard in her office, she ran the Ministry single handily while Papa Nihil spent most of his day in his office playing on his typewriter. But unknown to some there was a disturbance in the unholy force, something was amiss. There was no sign of Papa, he was missing.

Cardinal Copia was relaxing with his rats in his room, his favourite nameless rat curled up on his lap while he was looking through his puzzle book. This is how he spent his nights at the Ministry, he enjoyed the quiet moments between his duties at the unholy church. Turning a page in his book his attention was caught by someone's voice echoing throughout the building. He immediately placed his puzzle book down on the coffee table, he was unsure what was going on but he planned on finding out. Two of his rat jumped from his couch when he got to his feet, he told them to wait here while he went to investigate. Wandering through an open doorway he found himself in another room, this was his lounge. A fireplace and a couch on the other side of the room, it was minimalist but cozy in the winter months. He headed towards another open doorway, his hands fidgeting before he peered in the hallway. He looked both ways, the hallway was quiet. Nobody was around, the hallway was deserted. Everything looked normal, nothing was amiss. He was about to rejoin his rats back in his room, but the voice echoed throughout the hallways once again.

THAT BOY!

Copia's eyes grew wide, he had forgotten about Papa. A commotion from around his ankles caught his attention, his faithful rats were squeaking and trying to climb up his red clergy cassock. He reassured them that everything was going to be okay. He hated seeing his rats in distress, some of them lingered around his feet in fear while others looked up at him with curiosity. Their little noses twitching and tails swaying he beckoned them to stay in his room, but most of them were already in the hallway.

" I will go and see what Papa wants, okay?" He said before he stepped into the hallway. " You stay here, I will be back soon. Bye bye! I love you, I like you."

Copia's rats had to be shooed back into his room, some of them wanted to go with him. But he wouldn't allow it in case any of his furry children got hurt, he wanted them safe and sound in his room until he got back. He guided them back into his room before he looked along the hallway, he dared not think what Papa was going to say to him. Walking forward he tried to act cool, he didn't want anyone to see him nervous. Sister wasn't around to give him any support or protect him from Papa's wrath, he was on his own this time. Turning right into another hallway he walked passed Papa Nihil's office, he already knew where he was going. He had rode his tricycle round these hallways countless times, he knew every nook and canny of the unholy church like the back of his hand. Copia stopped in the middle of the hallway, it was a crossroad of hallways. One way lead to the chapel, another way lead to the dining hall and the other way lead back to where he had come from not long ago. He looked at each hallway in turned until he stopped dead in his tracks, the way he needed to go was blocked by the kids who lived at the Ministry. His gaze met their own, their pale skin and dark circles underneath their eyes freaked him out. They stared each other down until the kids spoke together, their voices breaking the silence between them.

Don't go, play with us!

" Listen, listen. We will play later, okay?" He said, he didn't take his gaze off the kids. " We will do something fun, uh? We can play ball, anything you want..."

The kids looked at each other and spoke in tongues, their own unique language. Copia had no idea what they were saying, he remained still and watched them closely. He didn't trust them, they had scared him more than once around the Ministry. The kids turned their attention back towards him, they stared at him before they hurried towards him. He covered up his eyes and became rigid, he dared not look. He heard their footsteps hurrying passed him, he peeped through his fingers and looked along the hallway. The kids had disappeared, he couldn't see them anywhere. A sigh of relief escaped his lips, he was grateful that they were gone. He had enough to deal with right now. Copia adjusted his clergy cassock and ventured forward, he acted cool with a swag in his walk. Turning right into another hallway he soon heard hurried little footsteps, he stopped dead in the middle of the hallway and looked behind him. There was a little brown rat scuttling after him, he sighed to himself and turned around to face one of his many furry companions. His arms flapping around in annoyance at his side before he knelt in front of his rat, his little friend must have followed him without his knowledge.

" What do you want, uh?" He asked.

Squeak, squeak!

" No, you cannot come with me little one." He said, his hand reached towards his rat and he allowed his beloved pet to touch one if his fingers with it's tiny paws. " It is too dangerous, what if it is a monster?"

Squeak, squeak!

" Monsters are real, are you say I am lying?!" He asked.

Squeak, squeak!

" Yes, yes. I know it is just Papa." He said with a sigh. " But I am in trouble, not you."

Squeak, squeak!

" No, no. I do not know what I have done..." He paused for moment. " Okay, I know what I have done! I just forgot, it happens you know."

Squeak, squeak!

" I will be careful, do not worry." He said.

Squeak, squeak!

" I love you, I like you too." He said.

Squeak, squeak!

" You wait here, okay?" He said, he stood up straight before looked down at his furry friend. " I will be quick. Bye bye, see you soon!"

Squeak, squeak!

The little brown rat stood on it's feet and looked up at his master, there was fear in it's big brown eyes. He blew a kiss at his rat before he ventured down the hallway, he didn't have far to go now. Most of the Ministry's hallways looked the same, the odd stain glass window reflecting beautiful colours onto the tiled floor and metal candelabra lamps burning brightly in some of the hallways. Copia always found the hallways very clean, he often wondered who tidied the building since there was hardly anyone around when he stayed at the unholy church. It wasn't long until he stopped outside of a wooden door, he rested his hand on the door and drummed his finger tips against it. He knew Papa was on the other side, he dared not ask if he was still there.

There was light shining through the gap underneath the doorway, it was Papa Nihil's bathroom. Copia now recalled the past favour, he had screwed up this time. His hand reached towards the door handle, his fingers wrapped tightly around it. He had to muster up the courage to open it, he gulped hard and pushed the door handle down. The door creaked and light crept into the hallway, the scent of lavender wafted from the room. But he paused when he heard a loud groan, he had no other option but to ask if anyone was there.

" Papa, are you there?" He asked.

There was no reply, he was unsure if Papa was even in his bathroom anymore. Maybe Papa had returned to his office, it had been hours since he had last seen him. Copia gulped hard once again before he slowly opened the rest of door, the door creaked while he stepped into the bathroom. His gaze wander around the room, it was dimly lit. The room's dark wooden walls made the bathroom look dull, there were two little candle holders lighting up one part of the room where a gold framed mirror was hanging above a sink. But his gaze soon settled on a familiar face, he had finally found him. Papa Nihil was sitting on the toilet with his underwear around his ankles, the expression on his face told him that he wasn't amused with Copia's little mishap. Their gaze met, he dared not speak just yet. A nervous laugh escaped his lips, he was in a lot of trouble yet again. Copia closed the door behind him and approached Papa, his palms meeting his head bowed slightly at him. This wasn't the first time he had been in the bathroom with Papa, he had brought him the telephone many times when Sister was in hospital. He stood up straight and stared at the elderly man, it wasn't long until Papa's voice broke the silence between them.

" Cardinal!" He said.

" Hello, Papa. How are you doing?" Copia asked.

" Where have you been?!' He asked, his pale coloured eyes were full of annoyance. " You said you would be back in jiffy! That was six hours ago, Cardinal! What have you been doing?!"

" Sorry, sorry..." Copia replied, he spoke while he moved his hands. " I got waylaid, but I am here now. I will get you some toilet paper, do not go anywhere. I will be right back!"

" Yes, yes..." He said.

Papa beckoned Copia to leave the bathroom, he still wasn't happy with the Cardinal. He had left him in the bathroom for hours. It seemed to happen a lot since Copia moved to the unholy church, whatever he did never seemed to please Papa. Sister always praised and encouraged him to do his best, but Papa mostly yelled him for his clumsy behaviour. He gave the old guy a wave before he headed towards the door, but he soon heard two familiar words that Papa said to him often.

" That boy..." He grumbled.