The boy began telling his story. "When I was four years old, I realized I could see ghosts. At first, I thought everyone could, but over time, I learned the truth. I could tell who was real and who wasn't, but the other children in the orphanage didn't understand. They avoided me, called me strange. No one wanted to play with me."
He paused, his voice trembling. "Then one day, a new nun arrived at the orphanage. Her name was Alice. She was kind to everyone and always had a gentle smile. She noticed me sitting alone and tried to befriend me. I pushed her away at first, afraid she'd see me like everyone else did. But Alice… she was different. She could see them too. The ghosts."
The boy's expression darkened. "Curious about me, Alice asked the other nuns about my past. That's when she learned my story. On a stormy night years ago, someone abandoned me on the church's doorstep. I was just a baby. No one knew my name or where I had come from. They took me in, but I was always treated like an outsider, like I didn't belong."
One evening, Alice approached him as he sat alone, talking to someone invisible. "Who are you talking to?" she asked softly. "Can I join you?"
The boy hesitated, then shook his head. "You can't see her."
"Her?" Alice asked, intrigued. "Who is she?"
The boy glanced at the empty space beside him. "Her name is Mary. She's five years old. She died… because her mother killed her. Her mother wanted to marry another man."
Alice froze for a moment, processing his words. The boy expected her to think he was crazy, but instead, she smiled gently. "Is she your friend?" she asked.
Embarrassed, the boy nodded. Alice didn't judge him. She saw him for what he was—an innocent child longing for connection. Over time, they grew closer. Alice spent time with him, painting, reading, and listening to his stories. She gave him a name: Alex.
One night, Alex woke from a terrifying dream. He saw the church engulfed in flames, the sound of screaming filling the air. Shaken, he got up and wandered toward the chapel. As he approached, he heard horrifying screams coming from the cemetery. Fear gripped him as he moved closer, thinking Alice might be in danger.
In the shadows, he saw a monstrous figure—a devil devouring souls. Alex tried to run to the church for help, but before he could reach the door, the devil's clawed hand grabbed him.
"You don't smell human," the devil growled, a sinister laugh rumbling in its chest. "You smell… like a demon."
Alex's eyes widened in shock. The devil sneered. "A demon inside the church? How amusing. But you… you're no ordinary boy. You're not human."