Cecilia couldn't wait for the Twilight to dock; seven days to her was more than enough time to spend with ghosts and spirits. The ship came to a halt, and the anchors dropped. She bugged the usher to open the gates and lower the gangway so she could get out of the ship. But even before she could set a foot off, a booming voice called her "Miss Bermudez?"
She turned around and saw a burly man in a black coat and tie. "Sir Triple-A?" she bowed to the angel in respect.
"I'm going to have a meeting with the captain. Please join us," the angel invited the human, who was too embarrassed to refuse the invitation. She hung her shoulders and followed Triple-A to the conference room.
While they waited for the captain, Triple-A struck up a conversation with Cecilia. "How is your stay, so far in the Twilight, my dear?"
"It's been surreal, to say the least. The barge of the dead?" Cecilia lay her forehead on the table. "I'm bound to the one place I don't want to be," she sighed. "If I don't see spirits or ghosts? Will I still be bound to the ship?" she asked in earnest, hoping to hear the answer she wanted to hear
Triple-A lay back on his seat. "Technically, if you can't see spirits anymore, you will no longer see the Twilight, Uhm...I guess the ship would release you." Cecilia's eyes glistened at the prospect. "Before you consider relinquishing your abilities, let me say that to these lost and wandering souls, you are a beacon and a bright light in their darkness. Ghosts are still people you know; they have emotions and thoughts like you," Triple-A explained. "If you spare an ounce of your time to understand them, you may discover that not all ghosts are scary and bad."
Cecilia smiled, and before she could reply, the doors of the conference room opened. She sat up straight as Chris and his officers entered. They took their respective seats and glanced at Triple-A's direction. "Now that you are here, we can begin," the angel cleared his throat. "The book of life and death records a new death, Kaori Espino; however, instead of going here in the barge, she chose to linger around her daughter. Now, a faith healer has been killed, we need to find out why she is lingering around the living, and maybe we can take her back to the Twilight without any more loss of life."
"This sounds like a babysitting gig; can't the reapers handle this one?" Chris suggested that his demeanor suggests that he is not at all interested
"I already sent two reapers, but neither returned; they were destroyed by a powerful entity." Triple-A glanced in Chris's direction. "That is why you, Chris, will tackle this personally."
"What?" Chris blurted out in protest, "Why me? I already have too much on my plate. Why don't you go instead? You can probably end this problem in mere seconds."
"Oh, and Chris…I want you to take Miss Bermudez and work with her on this case." Everyone was dumbfounded and speechless.
"Can she handle this?" Chris vehemently disagreed with the idea of taking a human with him. "In addition, I didn't even agree to take this case you are giving me!"
"She needs to be exposed to these lost souls and see for herself that not all are bad. She will be of help to you. You will accept this case because I know you like to solve mysteries and flex your muscles when given the chance." Triple-A stood from his chair. "For now, I grant you all shore leave, reconvene tomorrow at thirteen hundred hours...dismissed," and waved goodbye as he left the room
All eyes turned to Cecilia, who plastered a stupid grin. "It wasn't my idea," she said, shrugging her shoulders as she ran out of the conference room and out of the ship
One PM the next day, Chris stood in the entrance of the gold deck and said to Cecilia the moment she arrived. "Follow me," he said in a surprisingly calm voice. "Chief Bustamante, you're in charge while I'm gone."
She followed Chris, trailing behind him. The two ascended several sets of stairs. "Uhm, Captain? Where are we going?"
Chris stopped at the precipice. "Beyond these stairs is deck zero, the place where the book of life and death is kept. Never go here without my consent, or a foul fate will befall you."
Chris turned after giving her the warning, "Are you the one to give that foul fate?" she fearfully asked
The captain glanced over his shoulder. "I wish it were me, but no." Chris continued to the door and opened it. "Anyone who trespasses into deck zero without my permission…will have their souls sucked by the book!"
The hairs on Cecilia's back stood on end as a cold shudder ran down her spine. "Maybe, I'll just head back, no point in going to a place where my soul could get sucked out of me with a straw?" She turns around, trying to creep away.
"Pink! Get back here," Chris called out as he entered the cabin. With a frown on her face, Cecilia turned around and hung her head, traipsing to the door.
However, the moment she entered, an expression of awe and wonder appeared. A large room with golden pillars that stretch up as far as the eye can see. Shimmering marble floors that echoed stability and strength with every step. Tall jade window frames adorn the walls, along with angelic warrior statues, and at the very end lies a circular obsidian pedestal with a floating open book. "This is the true form of deck zero." Chris stood tall as he explained to Cecilia what that place is. "This place is only accessible to Azrael and me, because it houses the book of life and death. The book that records every new life and all instances of death. The book must always be open…" Chris turned around, looking for Cecilia. "Pink?"
"Wow, such a beautiful statue," Cecilia observed while poking at the nose of a cherubim statue.
Chris scratched his head. "Come along now." Calling the attention of the human.
Cecilia followed Chris to the book, "Why are we here?" she curiously asked, wondering what a book could do to help them in this case.
"Kaori Espino," Chris spoke the name of the deceased, and the pages started to flip. "This book contains information about every soul that walked the mortal plane. The reapers that were sent to collect her soul were destroyed. I want to know how two powerful reapers could be defeated by a mere human soul." The pages stopped, and Chris read the information.
- Name: Kaori Espino
- Date of Birth: February 25, 1990
- Place of Birth: Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
- Date of Death: March 1, 2025 (aged 35)
- Place of Death: Quezon City, Manila
- Occupation: Shinto priestess
"A Shinto priestess, huh? But even if she were the supreme priestess, that wouldn't be enough to defeat a reaper, let alone two." Chris stroked his chin, trying to figure out an answer to the riddle. Chris turned to Cecilia; his eyes widened when he saw her reaching for the book.
Chris quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the book. Chris, however, overestimated the force of his pull, and Cecilia came crashing into him. The two stumbled the moment their bodies collided; the captain landed on his back while Cecilia was on top of him.
"Watch it, Pink, never…touch...the book!" When he opened his eyes, he was surprised to see Cecilia staring at him mere inches from his face. He pushed her aside and quickly stood up. He offered a hand to the girl, and she accepted. "Hands inside your pocket! Never touch the book; if you do, your existence will be erased. Mortal flesh cannot survive touching the divine... If you have any questions about anyone, just mention the name."