When the mass ended, mother went to the priest. He was a good friend of our family, she says.
But I didn't know.
Some details in this parallel world doesn't match the real-world.
The priest's gaze went towards me. He wasn't able to see Alicia. But somehow he knew something.
"Anthony, you're quite the young man. Things might be hard for you, and they will keep getting harder. But don't lose faith." He said with a warm smile.
Then they talked a bit, and I excused myself.
I took Alicia outside and walked around. We saw a lot of spirits roaming around in their ghosts forms.
Some grieving, some just walking around aimlessly.
"Brother, look. There's a kid crying." She pointed at the little ghost curled up sobbing behind a pillar.
"Go ahead. You want to play with the kid?" I said, walking towards it.
"Can I?"
I nodded. And let go of her hand. She ran towards the kid, and crouched beside it.
From where I was standing, she was coaxing it. Then moments later....
"Brother. His name is Elijah." She said smiling.
The two of them walked towards me. Hand in hand, with my sister guiding him.
"You've made a friend." I smiled at them.
Elijah looked up at me and stared.
"You can see me?" He asked, amazed.
"Yes. I can." I said simply.
The other ghosts around us suddenly halted. They're looking my way.
Our way.
Then with the blink of an eye....
They're all, hovered around me.
"He can see us."
"He can talk to us."
"He can help us."
[TASK ACQUIRED: HELP AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.]
I grunted. Once it became a task, I'm obliged to do it.
"One at a time. And not here. One representative would be enough. Write down your grievances, regrets, or anything that's holding you back from crossing over. Or I'll never entertain any of you."
They all looked at each other, like their eyes conversing.
And somehow, I made an appointment system for them.
One stepped out introducing himself as Juan. A former call center agent who died from over fatigue.
He volunteered to handle the lists. So I agreed.
Makes it easier for me.
They all look, full. No traces of any stitches or disfigurement from their faces. Most might have died from illnesses.
I left them from their little meeting, while my sister still held Elijah's hand in hers.
We went to a much better place, isolated from the chaos of the other ghosts.
"So, Elijah, what do you wish for?" I sat on a bench, and looked around for people.
When there's none, and quite a distance away from me, I looked at Elijah.
"My mama always cry when she go to church. I don't want to see her cry." Elijah said softly.
[HOST, ELIJAH'S PARENTS ARE HOLDING HIS CROSSOVER BACK. THEIR DESPERATION AND REGRETS OF WANTING HIM BACK STOPS HIM FROM MOVING FORWARD.]
"I see. So where do you live? Do you still remember?"
Elijah nodded and pointed towards the house across the church. Where there's a store.
It would be easier to make and excuse for a little talk that way.
I walked towards the church gate, but Elijah stopped. The same worry, Alicia had about getting blocked.
But with Alicia's brightness, and gentleness, she held Elijah's hand and smiled.
"It's fine. My brother can help us go to places." She said smiling.
We stepped out of the gate without a problem.
Seeing this, the other ghosts, who desperately wanted to leave the church followed us.
But was blocked by an invisible barrier, that only they can see.
We headed straight towards the store, and pretended to buy something.
"Ayooo...Can I buy softdrinks please." I said peaking at the little window.
A middle aged woman walked towards the little window. She looked stressed out. And still wearing a black pin on her shirt.
Which symbolizes, they're still mourning their loss.
Elijah must have died not too long ago.
"What kind of softdrinks do you want?" She said with a hollow voice.
"Mama! Mama!" Elijah called out. But she couldn't see or hear him.
"Elijah."
Just one word.
She looked at me in confusion. If she heard it right.
"What did you say?" She asked, stopping whatever she was doing.
"He's your son right? Four years old." I said, and peaked through the little window again. "I know this sounds crazy but, if you want to hear more, talk to me."
She was suspicious of me. And that's understandable. Crimes were everywhere, especially scammers.
And I know, I sounded like one.
"Get lost!" She closed the little window with quite a force.
"Alright. If that's what you want. I'm not forcing you. But hear this for a bit."
[COMMUNICATION SKILL LEVEL 5 ACTIVATED.]
[SKILL LET THEM SEE YOU LEVEL 2 ACTIVATED]
"Elijah, let your mama see you."
Elijah nodded and passes through the store, directly inside the store.
I heard a loud thud from the inside. Then a man came out from the house towards adjacent store.
"What's wrong?" He asked, as he saw his wife on the floor, looking at the air with tears in her eyes.
"E-Elijah... My baby!" She started sobbing.
The man looked heartbroken seeing his wife like this.
"Elijah, let them see and hear you."
Since my communication skill leveled up to 5, I was able to make the ghosts form my task lists communicate with the target.
Not just see them but talk to them, too.
Perks of having the system.
The man also stumbled back as he saw Elijah's ghosts.
And recovered immediately, hugging him. They're all crying now.
A reunion out of the blue.
I didn't interrupt them. And Alicia looked at them with happiness. She knows how that feels.
Since when I figured out I was able to do this... Alicia and our parents had that moment too.
But it's not permanent. They're only able to see Elijah for three minutes. And still thrice per target.
I gotta make use of it properly, moving forward. And since I've got future ghost regrets I need to settle.
I'll be gaining points and master the system. Hitting two birds with one stone.