Day 20.

“Couldn’t they just put her to sleep and come on in?”

Kon shook his head. “It’s not just a magic word, its a ceremony. A process. We would know long before it ever happened.”

I had more doubts and confusions than questions right now. In fact my brain felt a little fried. This sat normally on the pew in front of me, though slightly to the side. Everyone just sort of stared into their laps for a while. And the longer we sat there, the more I began to feel that this was absolutely normal. There was nothing peculiar about houses being alive and Sandmen being the villains. Maybe it was just that after the things I’d experienced, any sort of answer would have sufficed.

I don’t remember Thi standing up. I don’t remember her walking down the isle to the piano. I just remember being started from my contemplations by a gentle chord progression. She began to sing. To say she had a beautiful voice would have been an overstatement. Her voice was so innocent and young, that it could only have been described as sweet. That calming smile you get when you hear a kid singing a song, no matter how they sang it.

“When peace like a river attendeth my soul,
when sorrows like sea billows roll.

Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

It is well... with my soul... It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet,

Though trials should come,

Let this blessed assurance control,

That Christ hast regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed his own blood for my soul.

It is well... with my soul... it is well, it is well with my soul.

And Lord haste the day when my fate shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll.

The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

It is well... with my soul... it is well, it is well with my soul.”

The final word and chord echoed with such serene beauty as both voice and piano ceased. There was a power in her voice. I couldn’t move.

That was the second hymn she had played since I had come here this evening. It made sense; she was a cathedral. Hymns were what she heard all the time. She would have access to hymnal upon hymnal, building off the memories of what worship was conducted within her walls.

“Kon... you have to go. Something must be done about them.” Her little voice barely reached to the back of the church. She turned around on the bench. “If its even possible... if there is a rogue Sandmen...”

Kon immediately nodded and stood. “Thi, you need to get out of your corporeal form, just in case they come back.” He turned towards the door. I stood up.

“What about me?” I asked. He looked back.

“I... I don’t have a damn idea kid.”

“Can’t he stay here?” Thi was walking back to us.

“He could... It would probably be safest.” Then he left. I turned to Thi.

“I’m sorry...” she said, head hung. “I’m sorry for causing you so much trouble.”
“I... I mean, it’s... its fine,” I murmered. I saw her downcast eyes sparkling with moisture. She was crying, or on the verge of it. “Thi? Are you okay?”

She took a shuddering breath, sniffed, seemed to be desperately fighting back tears. “I’m scared...” she said.