10 Minute Tales

May 7 - The Unseen

The church's ominous rafters hung silently above him, the darkness swallowing what pitiful light the candle could throw. He looked around cautiously, the howling wind echoing through the abandoned building. The pews, once so ordered, once taking the masses of people eager to hear the word of their god, now laid scattered and abandoned, dust coating their seats. He brushed some away with his free hand, looking at the book there. They were musty and chewed, given to the worms. He chuckled at the irony. The worms have internalised the Good Word more than any human ever could. He looked around again, sighing quietly as a prayer for salvation danced through his mind.

"Spirits that inhabit this place." he called out, his words echoing in the still air. "I call to you. I would speak with you, and ask you to leave this place." The door rattled as it strained against the wind, but that was the only noise that responded to him. "Should there be any spirits, I ask you to come out! I bring you the offering of incense and gold!" he brought these out, lighting a stick of incense and letting the scent drift through the air. As the calming smell permeated the room, he brought out a few gold scraps and placed them on the collection plate. One of his candles snuffed out suddenly. He tensed up subtly. Somebody was here, after all. "I trust this is to your satisfaction, spirit. Please, come to me, let us speak." another candle snuffed out. He frowned, cautious. This much progress was concerning; one more candle and the spirit would form, but it was meant to take more time. This spirit was restless. He sighed. "I shall enter the world of darkness to speak with you. Extinguish this final door to the light, that we may meet properly." no sooner said than done; the final candle extinguished, accompanied by a crash of thunder. The howling of the wind, the shuddering of the church, even the crash itself quickly faded to silence. He braced himself. The spirits would try to claim his body, and he wouldn't be able to defend with mere physical tools. He could feel the battering against his spirit, a fatigue that wore him down. The spirit he sought, at least, was here.

"What would you have with the unseen...?" it asked, voice echoing with the eternity it faced.

"Your manifestations terrorise the ancestors of the villagers you guided. They have asked me to converse with you, to ask for you to leave these villagers in peace."

"They have angered me...! They no longer heed Her word... you must have them return to the church...!"

"They have built a second church, fearing for the state of the church you inhabit. Your haunting them has inspired them to seek spiritual refuge; they pray more fervently than before." he couldn't help but grunt quietly. The spirits were starting to take their toll; he'd handled longer, but not by much.

"Is what you say true...?" the spirit asked. "Do they seek asylum in Her light...?"

"It is. They do."

"Wonderful..." a small glow formed, showing the priest and his relieved face. "You have... saved me..." the glow faded, as did the saved spirit. One more rested spirit... infinity to go.