Goddess Bless You From Death

Case File 27.

"The dolls are only a part of the evidence. They help us understand the killer's method of selecting victims."

"So, the killer chooses victims based on their birth days, right?"

"Yes, judging from the pattern, the incidents from five, ten, and fifteen years ago follow the same criteria." Singha rubbed the inner corners of his eyes out of habit. "The information I have only narrows down the search. We'll need more details."

"So, all we can do is wait!? I'm scared, Singh!" Darin spoke up and sighed.

"We'll wait, but we don't stay idle. I will investigate the first case in more detail. We might find more clues."

"Where?"

"Sisaket. It'll take about three days."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah," Singha replied, looking up at Thup and then back at the seven dolls on the table. "I also want to verify a few things."

"Gosh, why can't it be a normal criminal!?"

"Sei, look after Rin and keep an eye on the kid named Jump and things at the station. I'll be quick."

"Alright, Jump's condition is stable, but we can't let him out. What about the other two?"

"I've approved them to stay in the vacant rooms. Lieutenant Khem will handle the rest."

"Alright, alright."

After assigning tasks to his subordinates and attending to other matters, Singha took Thup back home to pack for their trip.

"P'Singh."

"Go ahead."

"Are we really going?"

"Do you think I'm joking?"

"But... what if this is bigger than we think?"

"What do you mean by 'bigger? Is it bigger than having more people die?" Thup pressed his lips together before zipping up his backpack. "We need to find someone who can help with this crazy black magic stuff and investigate that cop's house further."

"Further? So, you already have some information?"

"Yes," Singha closed the bag, threw it on the sofa, and handed the documents on the table to Thup.

"Montach? Who is that?"

"Uncle Keun."

The seven dolls were laid out on the forensic table, with Singha, Thup, Sei, and Darin standing by and observing them.

"These are the dolls causing all the trouble?" Sei asked, pointing at the items on the table, only for Darin to smack his hand away.

"Yes."

"So, what's next? We've found all the dolls."

"Sisaket Police Station? Huh?!"

"Yes, Uncle Keun used to be a police officer at the Sisaket station. He resigned twenty years ago. Does that ring a bell?"

"That's.." Thup furrowed his brow. This information matched what he got from Uncle Chai.

"We need to investigate this, too." Singha picked up his and Thup's bags and walked out of the house, leaving the young man with the papers in his hand and a sense of doubt. "Are you coming? We need to make a stop first."

"Where to?"

"The meditation centre."

The jet-black car drove through the wooden gate of a meditation centre. Singha parked under a tree and got out to take a deep breath of the familiar fresh air. This place didn't have large buildings or extensive facilities, just the tranquillity of the trees and the quiet peace.

"Here?"

"Yeah."

Thup followed quietly behind him, not straying far since the sky was turning orange; this wasn't a good time for him to be in such a place.

After a long walk, they arrived at a row of small, single-story wooden houses. Thup looked around, taking in the meditation retreat yard and the walking meditation area, which appeared to have been in place for a long time. He followed Singha to one of the houses, where Singha knocked gently. Soon, the door opened.

"What brings you here, hmm?" An elderly woman greeted them with a gentle smile. Her shaved head and white robes indicated she had renounced worldly desires.

"Just visiting. How are you, Mom?" Thup blinked, turning his gaze to his big brother.

"Shall we go for a walk and talk?" Singha's mother smiled at her son and then at Thup, who stood behind him.

A gentle breeze rustled the leaves. Thup observed the mother and son as they strolled and conversed, their serene and easygoing manner making him feel at ease.

"How have you been, dear? Did you have proper meals?"

"Same as always. However, I've been busy with a case lately, so I haven't had the opportunity to visit. How about you?"

"I'm just going with the flow of life," she said, smiling and turning to her son. "Singh, is there something troubling your mind that brought you here?"

"It's just that the anniversary is coming up. I might not be able to come this time." Singha's voice and eyes grew sombre, making Thup stop in his tracks. He didn't think he should hear something so personal about his big brother.

"Whether you come or not, meet or not, if you have good intentions, your sister will know. You don't have to worry." She gazed at the sky, now turning purple as night approached. "Singha... Be extra careful these days, okay?"

"Yes?"

"Your heart is yours, and your body is yours. So, trust yourself. Trust what you think and trust what you do." Singha looked at his mother, a puzzled expression on his face. 

"The young man who came with you..."

"Thup?" Singha turned around to see that the boy who had been trailing behind him was gone. His thick eyebrows furrowed immediately, as something always seemed to happen whenever they were apart.

"Where did he go?"

"He's safe here." Singha's mother smiled gently before sitting down on a cushion under a large tree. "You can't see, but that boy can. You can't hear, but he can. So, listen to him."

"I'm listening... Trying to pay attention in a way I never did to my sister."

"Maysa doesn't blame you, and neither do I. So, the person you need to forgive the most is yourself. It's all in the past, Singha. Those things are all in the past."

Thup was sitting with his knees hugged to his chest in front of Singha's mother's house. Strangely, he didn't feel scared or creeped out, even though he was alone in the dark. There was only a gentle breeze that helped calm his mind.

"Sitting here, aren't you worried about mosquitoes, Layman?" A hoarse, deep voice from behind startled Thup. "Haha, I didn't mean to startle you."

"S-Sorry." Thup turned and saw an elderly monk with a kind smile. Seeing his dark ochre robe, Thup knelt and bowed, just as he used to do for Luang Pu.

"Heh, old as I am, scaring kids isn't good. But why are you sitting here alone?"

"I'm waiting for my brother."

"Alright, alright. While you wait for someone, someone is waiting for you, too."

"What? What do you mean, Luang Pu?"

"Ah, that's life. Well, let me give you a blessing."

"Itisukhato arahangbuddho namobuddhayapathaveekongka

phrabhummadeva khamamihang."

Thup raised his hands to his forehead and bowed as he received the blessing. When the chanting ended, the monk's hand touched his head. A feeling of cool comfort and warmth spread through Thup, making him slowly close his eyes before it gradually faded away:

"What are you doing, Thup?"

"I was just paying respects to a monk-" But there was nothing there, only the empty ground.

"What monk?"

"Well.."

"If he came to give you a blessing, then it's a good thing," Singha's mother said. "Don't you need to catch a train, Singha?"

"Yes. I'll go now, Mom. I'll visit again when I get back." She looked at her son for a long moment before placing her hand on his soft hair.

"Have a smooth journey and return safely."

Singha and Thup got into the car, ready to head to the train station, where their train would depart in an hour and a half. As the car moved out of the wooden gate, Thup noticed something on a stone tablet.

"Wait a second, P'Singh," Thup said, his eyes fixed on the distance, lips pressed together tightly. The elderly monk he had just seen was the one who restored this place. Most importantly… He passed away nearly twenty years ago.

"Is something wrong?" Singha asked, noticing the young man's silence.

".." 

Thup turned to his big brother and smiled, his expression more relaxed. "I just received a blessing for a safe journey."

[This chant is used to protect against incoming dangers. When travelling or going to unfamiliar places, it serves to ward off spirits, ghosts, and other dangers.]

The sound of machinery filled the train station. The long vehicle, packed with passengers, was about to leave the platform. The bustling noise of people boarding, saying goodbyes, or selling items kept the atmosphere lively. Singha and Thup boarded a special overnight train from Bangkok to Sisaket. They wandered until they found their seats, but what made Thup give Singha puppy eyes was that they were five seats apart.

"Relax. We'll sleep soon," Singha said, ruffling the young man's soft hair. "If you need anything, just come over."

"Okay," Thup reluctantly walked to his seat and put his bag under it, just as the train whistle sounded, signalling its departure.

The bright lights of the station gave way to scattered lights along the way. The gentle rocking and the sound of the train on the tracks excited Thup. He didn't know what they would encounter, but the thought of returning home after a long time warmed his heart.

"Is that your little brother?"

"Excuse me? Oh, no." Singha replied to the man sitting across from him.

"Would you like some water?"

"No, thank you," Singha replied, picking up documents to read, seemingly wanting to end the conversation with the man, who was as sturdy as him, with fair skin and square glasses that didn't match his sharp features.

"Going home or on a trip?"

"On business." Singha glanced up, noticing the man's eagerness to chat.

"Judging by your serious demeanour, I'd guess... you're a cop, right?"

"Are you a cop too?"

"No, I'm a doctor. Do I really look like one?" The man chuckled, leaning on the table with his elbow.

"Seeing you interrogate me, I thought you might be." Singha's soft yet cutting words amused the man. As he was about to continue the conversation, a bottle of water was handed to Singha.

"Brother, I can't open this," Thup said. Singha took the water bottle and opened it for him. After that, Thup returned to his seat without saying a word. It wouldn't have been so strange if it weren't for...

"Brother, I forgot my toothpaste. Can I borrow yours?"

"Brother, wanna go wash your face with me?"

"Brother, can you open this for me?"

"Brother.."

"Brother..."

"Brother.."

The young doctor's conversations were interrupted almost every time until it was time for the staff to set up the beds. This meant his chance to build a relationship had come to an end.

"If you need anything, just call me," the owner of the upper bunk said as he opened the curtain to talk to Singha, who was getting ready to sleep on his lower bunk.

"I don't think there's anything to disturb you."

"Do you reject me because you don't like me or for some other reason?"

"I don't like anything annoying, and if you don't shut up and go to bed, I'll throw you to sleep in the baggage car."

The young doctor gaped at him, but seeing the stern look from Singha's eyes, he chose to close the curtain and give up his idea of flirting with the police officer.

Time passed until it was nearly eleven. While Singha was packing the documents he had brought with him and getting ready for bed, he felt someone standing in front of the bed curtain. When he reached out to open it, he found the kid who had been pestering him all evening.

"What now?" Singha glanced at the pillow Thup was holding.

"I heard some strange noises."

"This is a train. It's always noisy."

"...The upper bunk is small. My legs are too long to fit." Thup squatted down on the floor in front of Singha's bed.

"The lower and upper bunks are the same size."

"I'm afraid of ghosts."

"You're using that excuse now?"

"Well, an old man is walking back and forth." Thup pointed to the empty aisle, but in his view, there was an old man with a cane walking through the door, only to reappear a few minutes later to continue his pacing.

"If you can point him out like that, you're not scared, you little brat."

"But I usually sleep with you," Thup said softly but clearly. Making Singha sigh.

“There!"

"The space is small, and I still have to squeeze in with you! Get in, Thup grinned widely, his eyes nearly closed, as Singha allowed him to sleep in the lower bunk. The space, which comfortably fit one person, was now packed with two men lying on their backs, barely able to move.

"This is driving me crazy," Singha said, turning to face the aisle because he couldn't stand the cramped space.

"Brother."

"What now? If you keep causing trouble, I'll kick you to sleep on the floor."

"That man up there... Did he hit on you?" Thup pointed to the upper bunk.

"Why do you ask?"

"No reason."

Singha rolled his eyes before turning back to Thup. "Yeah, he did, and we became a couple a moment ago."

"Huh!!?"

Thud!!

"Ouch!" Everything happened so quickly. Thup, startled by Singha's words, jumped up and hit his head on the upper bunk, then collapsed onto Singha's stomach with a groan.

"Serves you right. You're such a hassle."

"It hurts."

"Your head's not broken. You're not dead. Now sleep." Singha turned back to his original position and closed his eyes, ignoring Thup, who was behind him, rubbing his head and looking at Singha with a sad expression.

Nearly two hours passed, and midnight turned into a new day. Singha slowly opened his eyes and turned to the child, who was breathing steadily behind him. He placed a hand on Thup's head, where it had bumped, and found a small lump but no serious injury.

"You little troublemaker."

"Mmm," Thup murmured, turning to hug Singha's waist out of habit. Oddly enough, the police officer felt used to this action as well.