𝐈𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐭 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

C H P T E R_ F I V E

"Uncle Fernando," Mylo called out.

The priest looked up, his face breaking into a kind smile. "Mylo, it's good to see you. And you've brought friends."

He was a middle-aged man in his forties, with a short beard that added a rugged charm to his kind face. His hair was dark and slightly graying at the temples, giving him a distinguished look. He wore simple robes.

"Yes, Uncle. This is Lucas, Harrison, Archie, and Steven," Mylo introduced us.

Father Fernando nodded. "Welcome, all of you. Any friend of Mylo's is a friend of mine."

Archie looked at the wooden statue with a reindeer head and raised hands, and couldn't resist making a comment. "Is that what people thought Jesus looked like around here?"

Father Fernando laughed, a deep, hearty sound that echoed through the dimly lit room. "No, no, that's not Jesus," he said, shaking his head. "That's Moder. It's a divine entity that has protected these woods and the village for many years."

"Moder?" I asked, intrigued.

"Yes," Fernando continued. "Moder is a guardian spirit, a blend of our ancestors' beliefs and the natural world. We honor it here, in this place where Christianity and our old traditions meet."

"That's... interesting," Harrison said, glancing at me with a raised eyebrow.

Archie, still amused, nudged Steven. "Well, at least we know we're not alone out here."

Steven chuckled. "Yeah, if we get lost in the woods, we can just ask Moder for directions."

Archie stepped forward. "Uncle Fernando, Can you tell us more about Moder andhowbit all began?"

Father Fernando nodded, his expression turning thoughtful. "Of course. Our village has many stories, and Moder is at the heart of them. Come, sit, and I'll tell you what I can."

We took seats on the wooden benches, ready to hear the tales of this strange, timeless village. Mylo stepped forward, looking a bit sheepish. "Where's the washroom? I need to take a leak."

Father Fernando chuckled and pointed towards the back of the building. "It's just out the back door and to your left."

Harrison chimed in, "I need to go too." He patted Mylo on the shoulder, and the two of them headed towards the back of the building.

As they disappeared through the door, the rest of us settled onto the wooden benches, Father Fernando took a seat opposite us, ready to share the stories of the village.

Archie leaned back, looking around the room. "So, this Moder thing... does it, like, protect you from wild animals or something?"

Father Fernando nodded slowly. "In a way, yes. The spirit of Moder is said to watch over the village and the surrounding woods, keeping us safe from harm. It's a blend of our old traditions and the natural world."

I glanced towards the door Mylo and Harrison had gone through, feeling a bit uneasy. "Do you really believe in Moder?"

Fernando smiled kindly. "Belief is a powerful thing, Lucas. Whether it's true or not, the belief in Moder brings our community together and gives us a sense of protection. In many ways, that's more important than the reality of its existence."

Steven nodded thoughtfully. "Kind of like a symbol of unity."

"Exactly," Fernando said. "Now, while we wait for your friends to return, let me tell you a story about how Moder first came to be worshipped in these parts..."

Father Fernando settled back, his eyes twinkling as he began to recount the tale.

"A hundred years ago, there lived a very powerful sorcerer in these woods. He was a man of great wisdom and kindness, deeply in tune with the natural world around him. The sorcerer loved the woods and the animals that resided here. He had one true friend: a magnificent reindeer with huge, sprawling horns.

"One day, tragedy struck. The reindeer was found killed, its majestic horns taken by poachers. The sorcerer was heartbroken, left in deep despair over the loss of his dear friend. Consumed by grief and anger, he decided to use forbidden magic to avenge the reindeer and protect the forest.

"He performed an ancient, powerful ritual, binding his soul with that of the reindeer. This fusion of man and beast gave rise to Moder, the guardian spirit you see depicted in the statue. Together, as one entity, they protected the forest and vowed to lead anyone who dared to harm it to despair.

"Since that time, the spirit of Moder has been revered by our village. It's said that those who respect the woods and its creatures are blessed, while those who harm them face the wrath of Moder."

As Father Fernando finished the story, the room fell silent. The flickering candlelight seemed to make the shadows of the reindeer-headed figure on the wall come alive.

Just then, the door creaked open, and Mylo returned, looking slightly more relaxed.

"Did we miss anything?" he asked, glancing around.

As Mylo settled back onto the bench, I noticed Harrison wasn't with him.

"Where's Harrison?" I asked, trying to keep my voice casual despite the unease I felt.

Mylo shrugged. "Oh, he told me I could go ahead. He needed to take a number two."

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, feeling a bit more at ease. Father Fernando stood up and stretched. "Well, you all are welcome to explore the church. I have some duties to attend to, but if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

With that, he left us to our own devices. We wandered around the church, taking in the various paintings and carvings on the walls. The stories depicted a man merging with a reindeer, becoming the guardian spirit, Moder.

"These paintings are incredible," Steven said, peering closely at one of the murals.

Archie nodded. "Yeah, it's like a whole history lesson in art form."

We moved from one painting to another, each depicting different scenes of the sorcerer and the reindeer, their battles, and their protection of the forest. As the minutes ticked by, I couldn't help but feel increasingly anxious about Harrison's absence.

"It's been more than 15 minutes," I muttered, glancing at my watch. "Harrison should be back by now."

Archie, ever the joker, tried to lighten the mood. "Maybe he's having an epic battle with a giant spider in there. You know, those bathroom encounters can get pretty intense."

Steven snorted. "Yeah, or he's just trying to figure out how to flush."

I started to walk towards the back door where Mylo and Harrison had disappeared earlier. "I'm going to check on him," I said, trying to keep the concern out of my voice.

"Want us to come with you?" Mylo asked, sensing my unease.

I shook my head. "No, it's fine. I'll just be a minute."

As I headed towards the back of the church, the flickering candlelight cast long shadows on the walls. I pushed open the door to the small hallway, the cool air rushing in as I stepped outside. The sounds of the village faded behind me, replaced by the rustling leaves and distant chirps of the forest.