Chapter XVIII: Whispers in the Night
As night prevails once more, Liz lies in bed, clutching a framed photo of Bennett. She brushes her fingers over his face and plants a gentle kiss on the glass.
"Goodnight, Bennett," she whispers before turning off the bedside lamp. Within moments, sleep takes her.
Liz finds herself standing in an abandoned building. The air is thick with dust, and patches of mold cover the damp walls. A single door stands before her, its heavy wood adorned with intricate carvings. Above it, inscribed in faded letters, are the words: "Capilia de Colegio."
She hesitates before stepping forward, when suddenly, a voice whispers in her ear:
"Catholicus sum, et ex animo suscipio mortem pro Deo; si mihi mille vivit, haec illi omnia offeram."
A shiver runs down her spine. But before she can react, the world around her shifts.
She is now inside a moving tricycle. The hum of the engine and the occasional honk of passing vehicles fill the air. Bennett sits beside her, nudging her gently.
"Hey, are you even listening?" he asks, grinning.
Liz blinks in surprise. "Huh? Oh, sorry. What were you saying?"
Bennett shakes his head, amused.
"Never mind."
As they pass a cemetery chapel, Bennett makes the sign of the cross. Liz instinctively follows suit but turns to him, curious.
"Why do we do that?" she asks.
"Why the sign of the cross in front of churches and cemeteries?"
Bennett glances at her and smiles, as if he had been waiting for her to ask.
"The sign of the cross is a reminder of our faith," he begins.
"It's not just a routine gesture—it's a prayer. When we pass by places like chapels and cemeteries, we acknowledge God's presence and show respect for those who have passed on. Cemeteries hold the bodies of people who once lived, loved, and believed. We pray for their souls, hoping they find peace."
Liz listens, intrigued. Bennett continues, his voice calm yet passionate.
"When we make the sign of the cross, we remember the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It's a declaration of faith, a way to bless ourselves, and a reminder that we belong to God. It also protects us from evil. That's why we do it in sacred places. It's like saying, 'Lord, I trust in You.'"
Liz nods slowly, taking in his words.
"I never thought of it that way."
Bennett chuckles.
"There's a lot about faith that we overlook. But when you start seeing it differently, it changes everything."
They arrive at a department store and hop off the tricycle. Inside, they browse through different sections, laughing at the odd items they find and picking up essentials. After paying for their items, Liz turns to Bennett.
"I want to check out the Cemetery Chapel."
Bennett raises an eyebrow but smiles.
"Really? That's new."
"It's just nearby, right? Let's walk."
He agrees, and they make their way there. The chapel looms ahead, solemn yet inviting. Upon entering, Liz is greeted by a life-sized crucifix and a depiction of the Santo Sepulcro. The eerie silence and the solemn atmosphere make her uneasy.
Bennett notices her discomfort and gently takes her hand.
"Relax. It's just a place of prayer."
Liz exhales, nodding.
"I know. It's just... different."
"Let's light some candles," he suggests.
As they approach the candle stall, an elderly woman selling candles smiles at them. Bennett grins back.
"Mrs. Alvarado?"
The woman's eyes widen in recognition.
"Bennett! It's been years. You were in my elementary religion class."
Liz looks between them, amused.
"Of course, you know her."
Bennett chuckles.
"I paid attention in class."
As they light their candles in front of the altar, Liz and Bennett begin talking about the odd things they've seen at funerals—mispronounced names, awkward speeches, and unexpected mishaps. Laughter echoes softly within the chapel, easing the somber atmosphere.
After leaving the chapel, they return to the department store, only to find Liz's grandmother waiting for them at the entrance.
Bennett smiles warmly.
"Good evening, Ma'am."
Liz's grandma nods approvingly.
"You kids took your time."
Liz sighs, realizing their outing has come to an end. As they prepare to leave, she turns to Bennett.
"Guess this is goodbye for now."
Bennett smirks playfully.
"For now. I'll call you later."
Liz nods, but deep down, she knows she probably won't answer. Not because she doesn't want to, but because she's lazy when it comes to calls. She watches as Bennett blows her a flying kiss before disappearing into the crowd.
Liz wakes up, gasping softly. Tears sting her eyes as she sits up, her heart pounding. She turns to the photo of Bennett on her nightstand, staring at it through blurry vision.
"There are so many regrets," she whispers, voice breaking.
"And all of them... were hurting you blindly."
She hugs the picture close, wishing she could turn back time, wishing she had been better to him when she had the chance. But all she can do now is move forward, carrying the lessons he left behind.
"Bennett," she whispers.
"I miss you."
Liz wakes up to the sound of birds chirping outside her window. She stretches and sits up, rubbing her eyes before reaching for her phone. As she unlocks it, a notification pops up: a reminder about the server training scheduled for this afternoon.
She quickly taps on Wyn's chat and types,
"Hey, we have training later. Don't forget."
A few seconds later, Wyn replies,
"Got it. See you then!"
Feeling the need to refresh herself, Liz gets out of bed and heads to the bathroom. The cold water rushes over her skin as she showers, waking her up completely. After drying off, she dresses in a casual outfit suitable for the afternoon training session.
In the afternoon, Liz and her grandma make their way to Ciudad Fernandina. The school grounds are bustling with activity as students chat and walk to their destinations. Upon arrival, Liz spots Wyn waiting near the auditorium. A bright smile spreads across her face as they hug.
"You made it," Wyn says playfully.
"Of course. I wouldn't miss it," Liz responds.
As they walk toward the training venue, Liz hesitates before speaking.
"I had a dream last night... about Bennett."
Wyn's eyes widen in curiosity.
"Really? What was it about?"
Liz recounts the dream, explaining how she and Bennett visited the Cemetery Chapel, how he reassured her when she felt uneasy, and how he gently guided her to light candles in prayer. She describes his warmth, patience, and the small yet significant moments they shared.
Wyn listens intently, her expression softening.
"Wow. Even in your dreams, Bennett is patient with you. He must have really cared for you, Liz."
Liz nods, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"Yeah... I think so too."
When she mentions the first part of her dream—the abandoned building and the mysterious whisper—Wyn furrows her brows.
"That part is strange. 'Catholicus sum, et ex animo suscipio mortem pro Deo'... It sounds deep, but I don't really get it."
"Me neither," Liz admits.
"But I feel like it means something important."
Their conversation is cut short as the other servers begin arriving. Moments later, Bro. Padilla enters the auditorium, his expression stern. The usual murmurs and laughter in the room quiet down instantly. He takes a deep breath and crosses his arms.
"Before we begin," he says, scanning the room,
"there's something I need to address."
The tension in the air thickens.
"I've noticed some of you being careless and disrespectful during mass. This is unacceptable." His gaze lands on a few individuals, who shift uncomfortably in their seats.
"Remember, serving is not just about being present. It's about reverence, devotion, and sincerity. If you cannot uphold these values, then reflect on why you are here."
A heavy silence follows his words. Liz exchanges a glance with Wyn, who simply shrugs.
Bro. Padilla then shifts to the lesson.
"Let's begin by discussing the difference between a chapel, church, cathedral, shrine, and basilica. Who can explain the distinctions?"
Wyn smirks and nudges Liz playfully.
"Here we go again. You probably already know this."
Liz laughs softly, recalling a memory of Bennett explaining it to her. She raises her hand and confidently answers, detailing each term's significance and differences. Bro. Padilla listens intently before nodding in approval.
"Excellent explanation, Liz. Well done."
Liz feels a quiet pride swell within her but, deep inside, she knows the credit belongs to Bennett. She whispers a silent thank-you to him in her thoughts.
Bro. Padilla continues his discussion, showing pictures of different religious sites. As he reaches the summary, he emphasizes a crucial point.
"At the end of the day, whether it's a chapel, church, cathedral, shrine, or basilica, what truly matters is that it is a place of prayer and worship to God."
He then connects this to the practice of making the sign of the cross when passing by churches and cemeteries. He poses a question to the group, and Liz, recalling another lesson from Bennett, answers confidently.
Bro. Padilla nods approvingly once more.
"Good answer."
The training session concludes, and Liz and Wyn walk toward the school gate. As they stroll, their conversation drifts back to Bennett.
"You've really changed, you know," Wyn remarks.
Liz tilts her head.
"What do you mean?"
Wyn smiles.
"I mean, back then, you used to be so cold to Bennett. I remember one time you went to school without me, and I ended up stuck at the park with him."
Liz laughs softly, feeling a mix of nostalgia and guilt.
"Yeah... I wasn't the best person back then."
Wyn places a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"But look at you now. You've changed for the better."
Liz's grandma arrives to pick her up, and before she leaves, she gives Wyn a grateful smile.
"Thanks, Wyn. For everything."
Wyn grins.
"Anytime. See you soon."
As Liz sits in the tricycle, she looks out the window, lost in thought. She knows that no matter how much she regrets the past, she can only move forward. And she promises herself—she will make it up to Bennett, to those she hurt, and to herself.
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