Saint's Prison - Chapter 75

Salvation lies in the writhing darkness

I enter the pilgrims’ building.

The sunlight shines through the windows, illuminating the same unchanging pilgrims’ building.

It’s made of the same stone as the monastery, but it gives a somewhat warmer impression.

A rectangular, aged table. Messily placed chairs.

A fireplace where the firewood has burned out and scattered soot.

I look around and then head upstairs.

Silence.

It’s a fitting example. Even the sound of footsteps is absorbed in this quiet, lonely place.

It’s strange. Why do I feel that way? I disguise the discomfort in my chest with a deep breath and silently climb the stairs.

In front of me is the door to Sophia-san’s room.

It’s just an ordinary door. I gently grip the doorknob.

Slowly, as if to check, I pull the doorknob.

A dissonant sound came from the door.

Somewhere dim and stagnant interior.

Chills run down my neck.

I step in and call out Sophia-san’s name quietly.

“……Sophia-san?”

No answer.

Instead, a creaking sound came from the bed in the farthest corner. Is she sleeping? I approach slowly.

“Sophia-san, it’s Andrew.”

I can’t see Sophia-san’s face as she covers her head with a linen blanket.

I stand beside the bed and speak to her as gently as possible.

“I’m sorry for coming in suddenly. I was worried about you, Sophia-san, so I came to see how you were.”

A small groan sounded. I was surprised by her hoarse voice.

Sophia-san’s voice is usually gentle and easy to hear.

This makes me worry even more.

Although it’s rude, I try to gently lift the blanket.

As I try to do so, a strong force grabs my wrist.

“……Uwah!?”

A pale blue hand stretches out from the blanket. How can such a slender arm produce such strength?

“……So, Sophia-san?”

“I can hear it… the sound of something crawling. The laughter. All the time, all the time. Even if I cover my ears, even if I pray to God, I can hear it. It doesn’t stop, it doesn’t stop. Why, why? What did I do? What did I do?!”

A confused voice. My wrist is tightly gripped.

Because she moved so violently, the blanket fell off.

Her eyes filled with madness shone brightly.

Dark circles under her eyes. Disheveled hair.

Her appearance was far from the calm and beautiful Sophia-san I knew before.

She’s clearly not sane.

“Sophia-san, it’s okay. It’s okay. There’s nothing here to hurt you. It’s okay. I’m here.”

“That’s right. I’m here. It was scary, wasn’t it? It was painful, wasn’t it? But I am here beside you now. Here, I am here. So, it’s okay.”

Auditory hallucinations and delusions… I’m not a doctor, so I don’t know for sure, but the symptoms are similar to schizophrenia.

I try not to deny Sophia-san’s words as much as possible.

I sit on the bed and smile at Sophia.

“Sophia-san, then I’ll perform a charm for you. I’ve experienced its effectiveness, so it’s guaranteed. …Close your eyes. Turn your face this way.”

As Johanna did before, I rub my hands together, warm my palms, and place them on Sophia’s temples.

I feel the warmth of my hands gently being transferred to Sophia-san.

I gently and slowly massage her temples.

“Doing this will make you feel at ease, right? Focus your awareness on my hands. See, it’s okay. It’s not scary, right?”

At my words, Sophia-san nods several times.

“Yes, yes. It’s warm. Very, very warm.”

“Yeah. Sophia-san is okay. You were scared, weren’t you? It was painful, wasn’t it? But now, I’m by your side. I’m here, I’m here. So, it’s okay.”

“Yes. Yes, Andrew-san. Thank you. Ah, no matter how much I prayed, it was useless. I can’t hear anything. Ah, ah. Please, don’t leave. Stay with me.”

“Of course. Now, please rest like this. I’ll be watching you here. Sophia-san is never alone.”

“Yes,” Sophia-san nodded. She nodded and smiled with relief.

After a while, I heard a peaceful snoring from Sophia-san. Looking at the dark circles under her eyes, she probably hadn’t been able to sleep much.

I pick up the fallen blanket and put it on her.

(…The sound of crawling, huh?)

There are too many things that come to mind.

An unbeliever.

Earlier, I said that Sophia-san’s symptoms were similar to those of schizophrenia, but that also applies to me. Sounds and voices that shouldn’t be heard, and hallucinations.

Am I going crazy? Is this world going crazy? Or is it both?

Ah, I have a bad feeling.

To deceive myself, I hold Sophia-san’s hand. Then, I close my eyes and pray.

―――May peace come to this nightmare world.

Author’s note : This is the end of this chapter.

From the next story, a kind of prologue will begin. Time may go back and confuse, but I would be happy if you could join me.

Tln : the author decided to writes about andy and amal first encounter. might as well enjoy it before the storms 🙂