Church of The Damned [Short Story]

PROLOGUE

                      How long will you keep holding onto your faith? How long will you survive when you already feel like you're inside a cage? The one thing I, Anna Gomez, regrets? It's agreeing to come on this bone-chilling journey for a Science project. Questions are probably crossing over your mind as you read on, what was the journey about? What was the report about? Let the events of last week tell you.

It was the second Friday of September and our Science teacher formed groups for a project, which is a documentary video about anything as long as it's related to discovery and is creative and interesting. It should be at least done by the first of October. I was really hoping to be in a group with Charlotte Dela Rosa, who is a very bright student. She helps me in these kinds of activities and I'm looking forward to collaborating with her again. "Anna Gomez," our Science teacher called and I suddenly snapped back to reality, "You are in Ms. Dela Rosa's group." Oh, thank goodness my prayers are heard! I walk into the group and took a seat. It was a group consisting of 7 members, who are known to be simple people, except maybe three or two. Eric Rodriguez, a dangerous but elegant student in our class, is included in my list. Though, we do seem to talk sometimes. He's not literally dangerous though, what I meant was that he isn't a nice and shy type at school – a bad boy perhaps. Dylan Ramos introduced me to him cause he told me they got close, and also since he admitted that he liked me. If I heard that 10 years from now I would probably just laugh it off. "So, what's our plan?" Candidah Morales, a gamer, asked. Besides from her beautiful name, she is boyish 'cause of her imitation of male gamers she's familiar with online. Her high ponytail; large navy jacket and eagle eyes best describe her.

"How about we make a documentary about endangered animals?" Madison Mendez, a good friend of Charlotte, suggested. Charlotte seems to think it's a good idea.

"Oh no, honey, that's too boring for our eyes." Angelica Santiago retorts in a joking manner, "Plus, the other group seems to be doing the same." Angelica isn't really a bad person, she's well known for being social towards the others and active on our classes. When she spoke, everyone suddenly felt annoyed. Well, that seemed to be a disadvantage.

Our group went silent for a moment as Charlotte, our group leader thought for a minute or two. It was very puzzling for us, the members as well. Till one of our members raised his hand for a suggestion, and it was Dylan. Charlotte was kind enough to offer her attention to him, as he spoke with hesitation. "How about the haunted church a few blocks away from here? If we could investigate real ghost phenomena in there; make a documentary about it and try to prove it real then we could've finished the project instantly! All we have to do is stay for a few days there and see if anything goes wrong. Our teacher didn't specify if we should prove it right or prove it wrong so true or not – it's okay! Does anyone agree?"

Everyone hesitated at first, including me. The majority of our group is female so you would expect people to get scared. I can't even imagine myself inside a haunted church, even if it's for our documentary. Although, I never heard of that haunted church before, I know my friend has an obsession with books – so maybe that's where he got the information? "I agree to his suggestion, wouldn't you guys think it would be pretty cool for a change?" Eric Rodriguez finally spoke after minutes of silence. Immediately, everyone agreed like they weren't so scared thinking about Dylan's suggestion earlier. Like Eric's words were some kind of magic spell. Well, to be precise, a magic love spell. I didn't fell for that though, and now they look at me for my approval. I would say no but it fears me to be called weak, I took a deep sigh. "I agree," I replied, my voice shaking and eyes frightful.

Now we're here, arriving at Sta. Ana Parish Church in Baguio City. It is an old abandoned church in the middle of an empty field. You can tell no one dares to go inside because of the dead grasses around it, and it fits with the haunted church's walls. You could say here in Baguio it has a cold temperature, but just seeing the church itself – it feels like you're dipped in freezing water of the Atlantic. "Let's pack up; it's going to be a long week," Charlotte said drenched with sweat in a cold atmosphere.