Chapter 5: Sectres

In the cab, Father Cedric sat in the backseat, staring out the window, his expression troubled. Manong Jojo, the driver, glanced at him through the rearview mirror. He noticed Father Cedric's distant gaze and the weight of something unspoken on his mind. "Father Cedric, you seem troubled. Is something on your mind?" Manong Jojo asked gently. Father Cedric glanced at him but remained silent, his lips pressed into a thin line. Manong Jojo felt a pang of disappointment but understood that Father Cedric wasn't ready to talk. To break the silence and ease the tension, he asked, "Father, can I turn on the MP3 player? It might help pass the time." Father Cedric nodded. "Yes, go ahead." As the soft hum of music filled the cab, Father Cedric eventually drifted off to sleep. But his rest was far from peaceful. In his dream, the world around him shifted to black and white. He woke within the dream, disoriented, and looked at Manong Jojo through the mirror. Manong Jojo's face was pale, his lips curled into an unsettling smile. An eerie melody began to play, and Manong Jojo started singing in a haunting tone:

"Your faith will bring you curse, Believing in a false god is even worse. Come and join my sanctuary, Or I'll kill everybody. The night shines, and the moon glows, This world will be ours; we'll strike them in one blow… Rapapum… pum… rapum…"

A chill ran down Father Cedric's spine. Suddenly, a child appeared beside him, tugging at his sleeve. "Don't listen to the song," the child whispered urgently. "When you arrive at the convent, check the chapel. I will help you." Before Father Cedric could respond, a demon materialized in front of him, its face inches from his own. It let out a piercing scream, "Boo!" Father Cedric jolted awake, gasping for breath. His heart raced as he realized it had all been a dream. Manong Jojo glanced back, concern etched on his face. "Father, are you alright? You were breathing heavily," Manong Jojo said, trying to calm him. Father Cedric wiped the sweat from his brow. "Damn these demons… They won't stop haunting me since I arrived from the Vatican." Manong Jojo offered a reassuring smile. "Father—well, I know I should call you Father, but let me give you some fatherly advice, son. You might be losing confidence, but don't let it consume you. Heaven won't abandon us. Keep the faith. We'll get through this." Father Cedric took a deep breath, nodding slowly. He felt a sense of calm returning. Suddenly, Manong Jojo slammed on the brakes. The car screeched to a halt. "What happened?" Father Cedric asked, alarmed. "There's a little girl in the middle of the road," Manong Jojo replied, his voice trembling. Father Cedric scanned the road. "Where? I don't see anyone." He stepped out of the car to investigate, but the road was empty.

Confused, he returned to the car, only to find they had already arrived at the convent gates. Father Cedric called Sister Elena to announce their arrival. The gates creaked open, and Manong Jojo drove inside. Mother Superior greeted them warmly. "Welcome back to the convent, my boy," she said, her voice filled with warmth.

"Thank you, Mother Superior," Father Cedric replied, still shaken but grateful to be back.

The sisters helped unload Father Cedric's belongings while Mother Superior approached Manong Jojo. "Jojo, it's past midnight. Why don't you stay here for the night? You can return to the seminary tomorrow." Manong Jojo agreed, grateful for the offer.

The Next Day – 2 PM

Father Cedric strolled through the convent grounds, his mind still clouded with unease. As he approached the chapel, he noticed the statue of the Virgin Mary. His eyes widened in horror as he saw the seals and incantations surrounding it.

Furious, he stormed into Mother Superior's office. "Mother Superior, what in God's name have you done? You know how the Church views seals and incantations!"

Mother Superior raised a hand to calm him. "Child, it was the only option. Without them, the entire convent would have fallen under that thing's control." Father Cedric took a deep breath, his anger subsiding. "I'm sorry, Mother.

My mind is… overwhelmed." She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It's alright, my boy. We're all under great strain." Just then, Father Cedric's phone rang. It was Bishop Santiago. "Father Cedric, I've gathered some information about the convent's history.

You should hear this." Mother Superior gestured for Father Cedric to put the call on speaker. Bishop Santiago's voice filled the room.

"Before the convent was built, it was the residence of Governor General's mistress during the Spanish colonization. Her name was Samantha, a woman of unparalleled beauty but also of dark desires. She came from a family known for crafting love potions and hexing their enemies. Samantha was jealous and cruel, ensuring no other woman could capture the Governor's attention. She even neglected her daughter, Emilia, as she indulged in her own pleasures. When the Governor discovered her infidelity, he abandoned her. Left to her own devices, Samantha turned the house into a den of vice, attracting those consumed by fleshly desires. She became obsessed with eternal youth and power, performing dark rituals that required the sacrifice of young girls.

The townsfolk revolted when they discovered the horrors within her home, but it was too late. Samantha had transformed into a succubus, a demon of seduction and destruction. Five men of faith—three Franciscan priests and two local witch doctors—joined forces to defeat her. They sealed her body using blessed water, clay from holy ground, and salt.

That sealed body is now the statue of the Virgin Mary in your chapel. The victims' remains were buried beneath the chapel, and Emilia's incorruptible body was wrapped in white linen, marked with protective sigils by the witch doctors. The priests consecrated the land, turning it into a convent to erase its dark past."

The room fell silent as Bishop Santiago finished his tale. Mother Superior's face paled. "No wonder the spirit trapped in Sister Elena's pendant feels so familiar…" Father Cedric's mind raced. "What do we do now?" Mother Superior stood, her expression resolute.

"We prepare for the exorcism. But if it fails, we'll need more help." She stepped outside, where two mysterious monks stood waiting. She began to recount the convent's dark history, knowing their assistance might be the only hope they had.

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