SEEING THE INVISIBLES

EPISODE TWO

I won't repeat what the pastor said; suffice it to say that it was a standard lecture about faith, love, hope, and prosperity. The pastor preached with zeal, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that he understood what he was saying. I was even more relaxed because he didn't have any embodiment.

Linda took precise notes on a jotter, opening to each Bible scripture quoted by the pastor. I tried to focus as much as possible on the service, but I couldn't help but steal looks and exchange smiles and giggles with Linda whenever the occasion arose.

The pastor came to a critical point in his sermon and invited those who were suffering from various ailments to come forward. The alter was soon crowded with all kinds of individuals, both those who had true illnesses and those who had only come to fulfill their duty.

We all engaged in prayer, led by the pastor, of course.

I heard a scream after we had been praying like this for a few minutes. I opened my eyes after closing them for a long time. And I noticed that one of the sick members who had come for prayers had set himself on fire. I gasped in surprise, but quickly realized it was just a symptom.

She trembled, turned, and swung around in an unsuccessful attempt to put out the fire. She finally collapsed on the ground and passed out.

I was still baffled as to where the flames originated when I noticed another person, this time a man, light up. The fire, on the other hand, had originated from somewhere. I kept a close eye on the pastor as he sprayed something from a bottle on the people he was praying for. Anyone who came into contact with the stuff burst into flames. For a brief time, I believed this was the real thing with which the pastor had been endowed until I noticed the vulture atop the choir mistress's head cackle and spit more of the material into the bottle. The choir mistress made a gesture whenever the vulture on her head was disturbed, which no one else could see. As usual, I had a good sense of what was going on. And it had nothing to do with me at all. As a result, I stayed put.

"Assist him."

Pachios' voice in my head was ignored.

HELP HIM, HELP HIM, HELP HIM, HELP HIM,

“No!” When Linda turned to face me, I realized I had said something out loud. “No weapon fashioned against me...” I continued.

She then turned around and resumed her prayers.

"Come on, Pachios," I thought. It's not like it's my business. I don't think anyone is going to get hurt, and I don't want to create a scene."

He said, "Look at them." I kept an eye on the choir mistress, who was also keeping an eye on those who had fallen to the floor. She had a delighted expression on her face. When I shifted my focus to the pastor, he appeared to be unsure of himself.

"If you don't help him, she will be his doom."

I told Linda to wait a minute, but I don't think she heard me since she was so fascinated by the other members who were surfacing. I entered the congregation at the altar and requested that the pastor prays for me. He quickly agreed and took me aside. He began to pray, and I followed suit. He placed his palm on my forehead, and I turned around and fell forward, requiring him to grab me before I collapsed.

I had enough time to speak in his ear while he was bringing me up.

" desist from using  the water."

“What did you say, my son?” He inquired.

"It's the water." You don't need it. It will ruin your ministry. You're aware of how your wife acquired it. You remember how you protested it before she persuaded you into accepting it.

This is not a way to honor the one you worship. And it isn't given away for free. Now is the time to let go of this phantom power before you get into trouble."

All the while, the pastor was holding my hand. The others seemed to leave us alone because we appeared to be praying together. For a brief time, I feared he was going to toss me off or summon security. If he did, it would be tough to explain to Linda. I held my breath...and then I felt him shake as he gently sobbed on my shoulder.

No, no, no. Please don't make a big deal out of it, and don't make any amusing announcements...

"Thank you so much, my child!" He was crying even louder now. I didn't sure what to do, so I patted him on the back and pulled myself free of his grip. I noticed people glancing at me with confused expressions as I walked back to my seat.

The pastor launched a final tearful “GOD bless you my son!” just as I was reaching my seat. Linda looked at me with a surprised expression on her face. I ignored her and turned to face my front, just in time to watch the pastor walk up to the alters' edge and pour the contents of the bottle into the floor. His wife, the choir mistress, appeared to be having panic attacks. He returned boldly and approached his wife. He snatched something from her hand without saying anything, and I saw the vulture scream furiously and fly away. His wife was taken aback. The congregation was watching everything, but they had no idea what the pastor's actions signified. Everyone was motioned to return to their seats. Then he began another sermon, this time on fidelity and purity, as well as the power of God's Word.

“All right, what was that about?” As soon as we walked into my flat, Linda inquired. The question had a negative impact on me. I was hoping for a "wow" from her when she took a look at my apartment. A two-bedroom flat with a living room and a modest but well-kept kitchen to the side. Two black “modern design” chairs with lime yellow cushions, one of which could be stretched to a sofa for improved comfort, a lime-colored rug with silver frilled edges, and two plastic green plants in black Chinese vases were among the items I had placed in the parlor. My LED TV, which hung between the plants like a technological shrine, and my sound system, which was attached to the wall with patch on nails, levitated to the sides. The wall was painted to match the lime on the chairs, with the window blinds being almost flawlessly white with a tint of green as final touches.

I was particularly concerned about Linda's question since, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't fabricate a believable falsehood. I had run through various situations in my imagination, but they all came out as weak. Every now and then, I'd consider giving her the truth, but another part of me would say, "eh?" Are you Insane "Have you ever seen a mentally unstable man with a girlfriend?" So I pushed that notion aside and focused on coming up with something to say. I had thought she would forget about it as we drove away.

“Well?” Linda's voice ripped like a cut into my thoughts. ” I turned around to see her standing with her arms akimbo on her beautiful curvy hips. She was dressed in black trousers and a blue clinging sleeveless shirt.

She wore a black jacket over her top for the service. When we entered the compound, she must have taken it off. Even though it was getting late (it was 4 p.m.), the temperature was still hot.

I took a few more moments to admire her beauty before responding. I wanted to appear as depressed as possible.

"It's a matter of personal preference."

"Like what?" you might wonder. She gave a response. "It didn't appear as if you were the one who required assistance; rather, it appeared as if you were the one who provided assistance." I noticed how you and the pastor lingered for a while, as well as his grateful expression when he eventually let you go."

"Are you meant to be closing your eyes?". I inquired, accusingly.

She laughed aloud. "Guy, you think I didn't see you because your eyes were wide open during prayers?" It was almost as if you could see things that others couldn't."

I went completely still. Did she have any idea? Was it possible that I'd let my secret out in some way? My heart began to race in my chest. She misinterpreted my shock for embarrassment when she observed my expression. She burst out laughing.

"It's all right, it's all right, it's all right, it's all right Maybe you'll tell me one day. But I hope you're not a big fan of rituals! This one in your room looks like this..."

I laughed out loud, relieved. She'd agreed to leave sleeping dogs alone for the time being. We sat down in the parlor to finish my task after I showed her about the home. I offered her a bottle of wine from my small bar, but she respectfully declined and instead accepted strawberry juice. The minutes ticked away until it was 6 p.m.

Linda hadn't bothered to put her jacket back on after I turned on the air conditioner. I wasn't complaining, mind you. Her exquisite arms glistened in the light of my room, and the scent of her hair was incredible when we put our heads together. We hadn't spent much time alone together, and I was desperate to do something that would bring me out of the friend zone.

We sat on the sofa I'd dragged out, almost wrapping the papers up.

“Would you like anything to eat for dinner?”

She looked up, a little taken aback.

"Jose, it's only six o'clock." "I'm not hungry at all."

"Well, it's probably a good thing I started early so you'll have something to eat by the time you are hungry, right?"

She took a breath and stopped. I couldn't tell you what she was thinking about since I didn't know what she was thinking about. I mean, just because I could see beyond what was usual didn't imply I could read people's minds, even if I was longing to know what she was thinking at the time. "Not tonight," she responded after a long thinking.

"Not tonight?" you could ask. I was a little confused. "How come I won't be able to make you dinner tonight?"

“Yes.” Looking up at me, she said. “This is my first visit to your home, and I don't believe it is appropriate to have dinner right now.”

What the hell were we talking about?

I sat down with a shrug. We had been enjoying a pleasant silence, but it had now become awkward. Despite this, we were still seated close together, and I could smell her scent. I became "hungry" all of a sudden. I needed to do something, anything, to divert my attention away from my current predicament. When you needed an occurrence, where was it?

"Can you tell me how you got this scar?" She inquired, her finger pointing to my wrist. I examined the scar, which I had received while attempting to leap a barb wire fence in elementary school. I told her with a smile.

I put my hand on her scar. My spine shivered as the current from her flesh passed through it. She remained silent while I stroked my fingers back and forth across her scar. My fingers slid down to her elbow and then back up. I stared into her eyes when she sighed. She still didn't say anything, and she didn't even look down. My heart was suddenly pounding like it was in a 100-meter race. We kissed as I slowly dragged her to me. Her lips were silky, smooth, and delicate. As we embraced, I felt her warm up, and her pulse seemed to match mine. I was about to unwind when I opened my eyes and saw the ghosts of my prior landlady.

Linda became aware of my stiffness and opened her eyes. She noticed my expression.

“What?” She inquired.

"Nothing," I murmured, attempting to entice her to return to me, but the opportunity had passed. She hurriedly stood up and put on her jacket. Despite the fact that the harm had already been done, the landlady fled right away. Linda fixed her clothes and picked up her handbag.

"I'm confident you can finish it, it's just one more page." Shessaid. I just stared at her, unsure whether to cry, protest, or plead. She was on her way out the door when I grabbed her hand and pulled her back to me. I swear her legs buckled as she let me kiss her, but she drew away at the last moment, smiled, said goodbye, and walked out the door.

"Hey, at the very least let me escort you," I screamed as I followed her out the door. She returned, laughing, and dragged me by the hand to the intersection where she would take a cab.

I offered to pay, but she declined gently. I knelt close to her ears and said, "If I upset you in any way..." just as the cab is about to drive away.

“No, no…” "It's just...," she said with a smile. I’m…”

"You're not married?" I exclaimed.

‘It's just, can we talk about it tomorrow?” she asked, chuckling.

"Now you're acting strangely."

She laughed once again, and the cab sped away.

I returned to my flat and took a seat by the front door. The deceased landlady approached and took a seat next to me. “Please accept my apologies.” She stated her case.

"Yeah, I guess it'll do," I responded.

“I ruined the opportunity.”

"Well, you did in a way," I responded.

She took a pause.

“You know, you should have a car,” she urged once more. "You could have dropped her off that way." Why don't you go get one? It's not as if you don't have the funds."

"I'm not a fan of automobiles." "What did you want?" I asked.

"I just wanted to let you know that I'll be departing for good soon." My daughter has gone to reconcile with her father, and I can see the bright tunnel clearly now. My soul will soon be at ease. I also wanted to express my gratitude for being a friend to me during these difficult times.

“Thank you very much,” I stated.

She grinned as she rubbed my shoulder. She said, "Nice lady." "They are lovely wings. I smiled. After that, she vanished.

When she was living, the deceased landlady was said to be a mother to everyone around her. I rarely encounter ghosts, only those with extremely strong spirits. I was relieved that she was finally breaking through the veil, though my joy would have been perfect had Linda permitted me one more kiss.