GODDESSBLESSYOUFROMDEATH, Case File 10: The Twisting Tiger Head

After sending the found money to Lieutenant Khem with instructions to deliver it to the deceased’s family according to procedure, the young inspector brought the troublesome kid to the interrogation room as ordered. Now, Singha was watching Thup being interrogated by the head of the investigation team.

“I’ve read your file and the previous interrogation report, but if I ask again, there shouldn’t be any problem, right?”

“Yes.”

“Ah, even if there was a problem, there’s nothing to be done anyway. It seems like Inspector Singha is negligent in his duty by letting a murder suspect roam freely.”

“Phii Singha’s not negligent!” Thup immediately interjected, causing King to stare at him with a fiercer look.

“Phii? You’re that close, huh?”

“N-no.”

Singha, who was in the observation room, muttered a curse under his breath, making Lieutenant Prom, who was with him, unable to retreat.

“How much longer is this going to drag on?”

“Should I go in and tell them, Inspector?”

“No need.”

“But will the Inspector release the kid, since there’s no evidence to hold him?”

Singha didn’t respond. Indeed, without clear evidence, they would have to release Thup from the station, but this kid had volunteered to stay with him. It was actually good; they could observe his behavior and keep him detained.

“This kid volunteered to help us with the case.”

“Huh? How so?”

“He has information about the case that might be useful.” Singha watched the interrogation through the one-way glass, not taking his eyes off, even when he was the one asking questions. This kid was trembling, not to mention King, whose nature and mouth were like a hunting dog. The kid definitely couldn’t keep up.

“Doing freelance work and other things, right?” Then he probably has enough time for this.

“I have a lot of client work, both online and framed art. If by ‘other things,’ you mean going out to commit crimes, then no.”

“Heh, good at answering, huh? Got a good coach, I bet.” King glanced sideways, knowing full well Singha was listening in, “In the first interrogation report, it says you were at the scene before the police arrived. What made you go there? And if you choose to give the same answer, I’ll have to throw you in the cell.”

Thup knew if he answered like he did with Singha, the man in front of him wouldn’t give him the chance to prove his truth as Singha did. But lying would be difficult for him.

“I… I think I’ve seen a corpse in that condition before.”

“Seen it before? You mean the murder from five years ago?”

“No, it happened before that.”

“Seems like you know it well, like you did it yourself.”

“I know it might be hard to believe, but according to what you’ve seen… according to what Inspector Singha has gathered as evidence, it should be enough to confirm that I didn’t go anywhere before that. The autopsy results also show when each victim died, and more importantly, I’m willing to come and help Inspector Singha solve this case. I’m not hoping for anything else.”

Singha looked into Thup’s serious eyes before turning to the cold face of King. Neither of them continued to argue. They just stared at each other, that’s all.

“Tell Lieutenant Khem too. If he gets all the search warrants sorted, have him call me.”

“Understood, Inspector.” Singha smirked before walking into the interrogation room.

“Good timing, Singha.” King greeted as he saw the newcomer enter.

“You can interrogate this kid as many times as you want, with the same results, so just read the file. Thup, get up.” Thup obeyed easily.

“I’m not done yet, you can’t take the suspect anywhere.”

“This kid is just a suspect. Not a defendant, I still need his statement and if you check the CCTV footage, the autopsy results, and the forensic condo’s statement. If you’re still suspicious, I’ll bring him back for more questioning.”

“Then he has to be detained here.” King stepped in front of Singha, his eyes showing displeasure.

“Detained? Maybe you’re too used to using your father’s power. What evidence do you have to hold him? It’s almost forty-eight hours now.”

“Just by looking at his behavior and initial statements, it’s clear.”

“How about this?” Singha approached and flicked King’s pristine black suit jacket without holding back, smiling at the corner of his mouth, “I’m the inspector here, this is my station. If you’re not happy… go ahead and complain to your dad.” King was pushed hard, staggering away from the door. He only glanced back before walking out of the room, with Thup quickly following.

The two walked out to Singha’s car, then drove straight back to the young inspector’s home without stopping.

“Will I cause you trouble with your friend, sir?”

“What trouble?”

“Trouble both with work… and your friend.”

“It’s according to the law that they can detain you for no more than forty-eight hours without evidence that you’ve committed a crime. As for the friend issue, well, he doesn’t even come close to that word.” The feeling of

Thup nodded understandingly, but even after hearing that, he was suggesting that there must be something more between the two than what Singha was admitting.

When they arrived at Singha’s house, Thup excitedly carried his bags out of the car. He had never slept over at a friend’s house or anywhere else besides the temple, his condo, or where he was now. He never knew how fun it was to stay over at someone else’s house like in the movies.

As Thup’s foot crossed the threshold, he felt a chilling cold before it turned into a gentle, soothing breeze.

“You said to yourself that you could sleep on the sofa.” The voice of the older guy brought Thup back to reality. The young man looked around the house and realized it wasn’t what he expected at all; it was messier than he thought from the brief glimpses he had before, which was just a small part of the house.

One side of the dining table was filled with various documents, while the other side was cluttered with instant noodle cups and ready-made rice boxes. The sink was full of glasses and plates, beer cans were scattered haphazardly around the corners of the house, but certainly, there were papers almost everywhere, no matter where you looked.

“That’s the kitchen, over there is the bathroom, and you are absolutely not allowed to go upstairs. Down here, you can do whatever you want, eat whatever you want in the kitchen, get it?” Thup nodded so vigorously his hair bobbed.

“I’m going to sleep.”

Thup watched Singha’s back as he walked up the stairs until he was out of sight. He sighed with relief before he started to tidy up, moving papers from the gray L-shaped fabric sofa to the coffee table. The young man surveyed the interior of the house; it didn’t make him feel anxious or agitated. It was cool and gave a sense of calm that he couldn’t find elsewhere. After another look around the house, he pulled out a white short-sleeved T-shirt and went into the bathroom to change. He had said he would make himself useful, so the first thing Thup decided to do was to clean the house for his older brother.

A pair of beautiful hands collect various pieces of trash into a black bag, gather all the documents and arrange them neatly on the table, trying to grasp the content and organize them into orderly groups. Beer cans are flattened underfoot before being placed in a separate trash bag. Plates and bowls in the sink are washed until they sparkle. The broom and mop are put to use, transforming the once cluttered house back into a clean and spacious place. Thup opens the fridge to put a bottle of water inside, but his jaw drops when he sees that apart from water, beer, and frozen food, there’s nothing else. He wonders how the older man manages to live.

Once everything is in order, Thup flops onto the clean floor, leaning back against the sofa. He twists slightly to relieve his muscles after nearly an hour of hard work. But then, the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs startles him, and he quickly sits up in a meditative pose.

“Cleaning up?”

“Yes… sir.”

Singha shrugs before walking over to the dining table. He looks at the documents, neatly organized by case. Mostly, he brings home unfinished work. Even when cases are closed, they tend to pile up until the end of the month when he deals with them all at once. And although he should have dealt with these by now, the current murder case is giving him a headache, leaving him no time to manage the house.

“Here’s a pillow and blanket. If it’s hot, turn on the fan or the AC.”

“Phii?”

“What?” Singha looks at the young man who stands up to receive the pillow and blanket with sparkling eyes.

“Are you hungry? I can cook, you know.” Singha folds his arms and leans against the table to get a better look at Thup. If he wasn’t dizzy from the case driving him crazy, he could swear he sees Thup with perky ears and a wagging tail.

“No, I’m going upstairs to work. Don’t make noise.” Singha who was about to go upstairs but stopped. “Actually, I have a question.”

“Yes?”

“You said you saw the ghost of a woman who looked like the victim from the murder case twenty years ago, right?”

“Yes.”

“Do you remember what she looked like?”

“Yes, I got it.”

“Draw it for me, please.”

“Draw her, sir?”

“Yeah, and do you have any relatives or acquaintances back home?”

“I have no relatives left.” Thup said with a sorrowful tone. “But I know an uncle; he was the temple’s caretaker when the old abbot was still alive.”

“Do you have a way to contact him?”

“Yes.” Singha handed his phone to Thup. His slender hand reached out first, typed something, then handed it back to the older man. “His name is Somak. He’s not the caretaker anymore. He’s almost seventy now.”

“Hmm.”

“Want some coffee? I can make coffee too.” Singha glanced at Thup again.

“Better spend your time thinking about where you lost that necklace, so you can stop bugging me.” Singha said, then walked upstairs again, leaving the young man looking forlorn before he returned to sit alone on the sofa.

“What will I do if I can’t find it?” Thup muttered to himself in the quiet room.

Singha entered his office next to his bedroom, filled with photos, notes, and string webs for investigation. He tried to find connections in all the cases, but it was the same old stories. The young man sat at his desk, reading through the summary report again. He was quite sure this case might not have started fifteen years ago after all. And the culprit they caught might be a scapegoat. Suddenly, the phone on the desk rang, breaking the silence. Seeing the name on the screen, he picked up without hesitation.

“Hello.”

[Hello, Inspector Singha, regarding the matter you submitted, we’ve completed the review. You can come in tomorrow.]

   “Thank you very much.”

[But it might be a bit difficult to talk, you know, even if a family comes to visit, the prisoner doesn’t talk to people.]

   “No problem. I think I can get him to talk.”

[…Okay, then tomorrow, when you arrive, give me a call.]

   “Yes.” Tomorrow we’ll finally find out if the criminal they said they caught is the real deal. His phone rang again. This time, it was Singha who picked up the call from an unknown number, put the phone to his ear, and thought, ‘Is this guy for real or just a scapegoat?’ started reading the document.

“Hello.”

[Speak nicely to me, won’t you?]

   “What a waste of time.” Singha rolled his eyes at the caller.

[If you hang up, you’ll miss important news.] Just as he was about to hang up, King interjected.

“Get to the point, I’m busy.”

[Busy or just don’t want to talk?]

   “Don’t want to talk.” The straightforward answer made the other end laugh throatily.

[Where did you put that kid?]

   “None of your business.”

[Singha!]

   Singha warned when the tone got too familiar, “Are you sure you want to use that tone with me?”

The voice on the other side sounded like he was commanding a subordinate.

[I’m here to help because I want to atone for the previous case.]

   “No need. You’re more of a nuisance than before. Look at the mess you’ve made, with the first search warrant issued.” Singha didn’t pay much attention to the caller as he was focusing on the crime scene photos.

[If I didn’t do this, would we even be talking?]

   “No, and even if you didn’t, we still wouldn’t. Are we done here?”

[Where’s that kid, Singha?]

   “At my house.”

[You let him stay at your home?]

   “So what?”

[Are you sure about letting him stay at home?]

   “Didn’t think about it.” Singha gets up to turn on his computer, then clicks to view an image file from the evidence storage. He zooms in repeatedly to inspect a suspicious object. While waiting for the image to sharpen, a sigh from the other end of the call catches his attention.

[There’s a safe house, why not consider it?]

   “Who do you think you are, King?”

[Someone you’ve been in bed with before.]

   “And?”

[Singha!]

   “If that’s all you’ve got to say, don’t call. You’re wasting my time.”

[You are wasting time with that killer kid, huh?]

   Singha rolls his eyes in annoyance. He chooses to hang up because what he found on the screen is far more important. Thup was right; there really is a doll. He opens a website and types “broken head doll” into the search bar. Not long after, images of roughly shaped human-like clay dolls appear on the screen. His sharp eyes carefully read every word.

Siakabal Doll: These are fired clay dolls shaped as both men and women, often crafted crudely since they’re made for spirits. The word “Kabal” comes from the Khmer language meaning head. So, you often see dolls like this with broken heads or necks. According to superstition, people make these dolls when in pain or to ward off bad luck, as if deceiving spirits and past enemies. They use the doll as a substitute for a living person, offering it as a sacrifice. These dolls are commonly seen with banana leaf trays and offerings at crossroads or floating in rivers.

When Singha finished reading, he compared the photos of the dolls from the internet and from the crime scene.

“It’s not the same… they’re not the same.” he muttered with a serious face, “The doll at the crime scene… its head was turned backwards.

A tiger’s head… the doll at the crime scene had a tiger’s head.

Singha’s eyes glanced at his phone screen, which lit up again, and the message there made him lean on the table and sigh wearily, ‘Someone has intruded the crime scene.’

 

GODDESSBLESSYOUFROMDEATH CHAPTERS HOME

  

   GODDESSBLESSYOUFROMDEATH, Case File 9: The Doll with a Broken Head

Thup stood on the ring with white gloves in hand, while in the other corner stood Singha, wearing black gloves and looking directly at him.

“Phii, but I… I’ve never boxed before.”

“The simple principle is if you don’t punch, you get punched. Ready or not?” The young man did nothing except put on the gloves on both hands and nodded to the young inspector, “Good, then keep your guard up, cover your face. If you get hit in the head, it’s over. Got it?”

“Y…Yes sir.” Thup raised his hands to guard as Singha was doing, feeling even more nervous as the older man approached.

“Don’t close your eyes.” Singha said in a deep voice before he started to bob on his toes back and forth, then lunged forward, throwing a punch at the young man in front of him. Even though the punch was slower and less forceful, it still hit Thup squarely on the cheek, knocking him down. “I told you, Thup, don’t close your eyes.”

“Sorry.” Thup rubbed his cheek lightly, shaking his head a bit to clear the dizziness from the punch.

Singha squatted in front of the young man, lifting Thup’s chin with his hand.

“If you close your eyes, you won’t see the incoming punch. When you can’t see, all that’s left is you can’t defend or dodge; it’ll just hit you in the face. Do you understand?”

“I understand now.”

“Again.” Singha stands up, watching the young man get into position once more. The black gloves trade a couple of blows before another punch is thrown at the same spot.

“Ouch!!” Thup cries out loudly before falling to the ground again, his prominent nose now bleeding slightly from the nostrils.

“This kid! I said don’t close your eyes, don’t stare at the punch without dodging. I’m going crazy.” Singha removes his gloves and throws them to the ground, then walks off the ring to grab some tissues, pressing them against the young man’s nose. “Don’t tilt your head back, keep it down.”

Thup lets this senior dab the blood from his nose without pulling away, his beautiful eyes still shining despite just being punched. Even with gloves and holding back, he’s in this state. Without gloves and full force, what condition would he be in? Singha looks incredibly cool.

“How have you even lived your life so far?” Singha asks, pressing the tissue to stop the bleeding.

“I’ve never fought with anyone before.”

“Never at all?”

“Yes.” Thup sat cross-legged, looking at his older brother with admiration in his eyes.

“So, what do you do all day?”

“I study, clean the monk’s quarters for the venerable, go back to university, study some more, then return to my room to draw.”

“That’s it?”

“Yes.” said Thup.

“No friends at all?” Thup shook his head, but Singha held his face still, not allowing him to move. “Why don’t you find at least one friend? You said you had a Buddha amulet, right?”

“When I was a kid, I couldn’t tell them apart. Which one was a ghost, which one was a person, right? Because of that, I often talked to ghosts, making people think I was weird. They gradually drifted away. When people started to fear, all they did was push away. At first, they just wouldn’t come near me. They wouldn’t let me play with them, then they saw me as something to avoid. My bag was often thrown outside, and things were frequently thrown at my head when I wasn’t looking. After a while, I forgot how to talk to people.”

As Thup spoke, Singha listened quietly. “Once you get used to being alone, you don’t know how to start again. That’s probably why I don’t have friends.”

“And how do you handle talking to clients about your drawings?”

“Mostly, I draw online. No need to meet face-to-face. For framed pieces, I have them transfer the money, then send the artwork.” Thup explained in a flat tone. Actually, he just realized he hadn’t talked to anyone at length since the old monk passed away. The first person to break that silence was sitting right in front of him. “Today at the temple… I met a ghost.”

“And?”

“He wore a tattered blue uniform, his body twisted out of shape, half his skull caved in, and the other half of his lip torn up to his ear. He mentioned a motorcycle and money. I know you don’t believe in these things, but let me prove it to you. You might not believe it, but could you check it out, please?”

The two looked at each other, smoking, until Singha noticed that one of Thup’s eyes was brown, like Khem, but the other was slightly lighter brown.

“The bleeding has stopped.” Singha stood up, looking at the young man once more before walking down from the ring. He turned to look at Thup, who still sat there looking dejected, “Want to go check out that ghost of yours? If you’re coming, let’s go.”

Thup immediately smiled, at least Singha chose to consider his words. The young boy ran down from the arena before coming to stand beside his elder. His beautiful eyes gazed at the tattoo on Singha’s right forearm without looking away. He tried to focus and saw that it was a tiger amidst red needle flowers.

“Your tattoo…”

“Why?” Singha draped a gray towel around his neck before heading towards the shower room.

“A tiger with needle flowers, huh?”

“Yeah, got a problem?”

“Not at all, it’s really beautiful.” Thup followed the older guy, his eyes still on the tattoo. There’s a belief that both the tiger and the red needle flowers can ward off evil spirits. He didn’t know if Singha knew this, but for him, it made him feel safer being close.

“I’m gonna take a shower. Wait here.”

“Phii, can I ask one more thing?”

“You’ve got too many problems, what now?”

“Tonight… where do you want me to stay?”

“Just sleep in the guest room here for now. Anyway, that bastard won’t let you go back to your place.” When mentioning this third person, Singha seemed to get annoyed again.

“Well… can I… stay with you?” Thup spoke softly, almost whispering.

“What did you say?”

“Can I… stay with you, please? I… I can wash dishes, clean the house, and cook. I can sleep on the sofa; you can use me for anything. But please, let me stay with you. Without you… I’ll get haunted by ghosts for sure, Phii Singha. I’ll be a good boy, really.” Thup spoke quickly, fearing he might get yelled at before he could finish. When there was no immediate response, he slowly looked up and saw Singha leaning against the door, arms crossed, watching him with a calm gaze.

“Okay.”

“Yes?”

“But if you make yourself annoyed even once, I’ll chase you back to sleep at the station.”

“Will… really, sir!!”

“Yeah, but there’s one thing you need to do.”

“Wha… what is it?”

“When that guy King interrogates you, absolutely do not mention ghosts, spirits, or anything like that. Agreed?”

“Why, sir?”

“Because it will make my job harder.” Singha tossed a water bottle to the boy in front of him, then walked into the communal shower room. Thup smiled, before his heart raced as he sat down on the floor in front of the shower room to wait for his elder to come out.

While sitting and looking at the water bottle Singha left, Thup felt the air grow inexplicably cold. He could sense someone staring at him. When he looked up, he saw a tall girl, about 178 cm, standing in the wide yard of the gym. Her skin was pale, almost bloodless. Her jet-black hair was long and messy, matted into clumps. Her eyes gazed at him vacantly before suddenly her dark pupils trembled and slowly rolled up, leaving only the whites of her eyes. Her originally smooth face began to contort as if in anger, her body, once still, started to twist. Her neck gradually tilted to the side until there was a cracking sound, and her soft sobbing turned into a gurgling in her throat like something was stuck. She made a motion as if to vomit thick, clotted blood with a foul stench, causing Thup to cover his nose. Then she fell to her knees, neck arched in agony, hair and nails falling to the ground, crawling around until whatever was blocking her windpipe came loose. She began to cry again, pitifully.

“Khun… Khun Meen, are you Khun Meen?”

‘Sob, uh uh…’

   She couldn’t stop crying. Gathering his courage once more, Thup, seeing this, tried because he too wanted this to end. He wanted to know what had happened, both now and what had occurred to the ghost girl more than twenty years ago.

“Uh… Khun Meen, can you tell me what happened?”

As she was about to speak, a red thread slowly emerged from her lips and began to sew her lips together until fresh blood spilled all over the floor. Similarly, her eyes were being sewn shut with the same red thread, little by little. Thup recoiled against the wall in terror as the spirit of Khun Meen fell to the floor. Then, another female ghost he had seen in her house appeared. Before the ghost of Khun Meen could yank hard enough to tear her neck, the haunting laughter made Thup, who was sitting hugging his knees, try to cover his ears because he didn’t want to hear those sounds anymore. She was smiling with a mouth stretched wide to her ears, her pale hand reaching out to grab his hair.

“Thup.” Both spirits vanished instantly after Singha nudged the frightened young man with his knee. “I just went inside for a moment.”

“Phii Singha… Phii.”

“What?” Singha observed the young man still staring forward, his gaze unwavering, but when he followed his gaze, he saw only an empty gym.

“Doll…”

“What?” Thup spoke so softly that Singha had to ask again.

“A broken-headed doll.” What Thup had seen before, he remembered it well. The thing that Khun Meen had vomited was a broken-headed doll.

Singha walked out of the gym and looked for his subordinate. Seeing Lieutenant Khem eating a late meal at a table, he approached him immediately, with Thup following not far behind, still not recovered from his fright.

“Lieutenant, have we ever had a motorcycle accident case before?”

“Plenty, inspector.”

“Find one for me. The deceased is male, riding a motorcycle, with injuries to the body, a crushed skull, torn lips, deformed body, wearing a blue uniform, possibly a gas station worker.”

“Just a moment. Why are you suddenly looking into an accident case?” Lieutenant Khem asked while searching for the accident case data on the computer.

“I want to know something, has the search I requested been completed yet?”

“It’s done, Inspector, but… the head of the investigation team has already taken it.”

“Hmm.” Singha expected as much; that bastard wouldn’t let him get ahead by more than one step.

“Oh, found it, Inspector. Looks like it was from the beginning of the month, yes, there was an accident at the intersection, a motorcycle was hit by a truck that ran the red light, the driver died on the spot. The relatives have filed a case. Huh? But how did you know, Inspector, how he died, you are exactly spot on.” Singha turned back to look at Thup, who was also looking at him.

“And what about his motorcycle?”

“It’s in the evidence storage. The relatives didn’t take it back.” Lieutenant Khem handed over the documents with both the storage number and pictures of the bike to Singha.

“I’ll go take a look, and Lieutenant, check out Santi Thammaram Temple for me, get me the history of both the monks and all the workers there.”

“Why do you need that, Inspector? I know the abbot.”

“Just bring it.”

“Yes.”

Singha walked towards the back of the station where there’s a warehouse connected to the building for storing evidence and larger items that can’t be kept inside. But before opening the door, he turned back to look at the kid who had been quietly following him.

“Close your eyes.”

“Pardon?”

“Half the stuff inside is from fatal accidents, so close your eyes.” Thup looked at Singha with pleading eyes, but seeing the serious look from the older man, he was quite certain Singha wouldn’t leave him alone if it wasn’t necessary. The young man slowly closed his eyes, slightly startled when he felt something covering his eyes another layer, the faint scent from it familiar to him; it was Singha’s scent. “Follow me carefully.”

Singha opened the door, and the chill from inside the warehouse didn’t faze him, but the kid behind him was certainly unnerved. This was evident from the hand that reached out to clutch his wrist. Singha stepped inside with Thup following closely behind, almost glued to his back. No matter where he dodged, the young boy followed without issue, which was a good thing. When they reached the motorcycle storage area, the young inspector looked around for the motorcycle as shown in the picture, and there it was, parked further inside the lot.

“Stay here, I’ll be right back.” Thup immediately grabbed Singha’s wrist.

“Just a moment, it’s inside. You can’t dodge everything.”

“Don’t leave me, okay?”

“I said I’ll be right back means I’ll be right back.” Thup pressed his lips together before letting go of the older man’s hand.

His eyes were covered, so he couldn’t see the scary things, but the clattering sounds and whimpering cries still echoed in his ears, making both hands tremble. The cold at his spine made him aware he wasn’t standing here alone.

‘Is he dead yet?’

‘It hurts so much.’

‘I want to go home.’

‘Why don’t we go together?’

‘Yak’

‘Yak’

‘Yak’

‘Yak’

‘Yak’

‘Yak’

The repetitive voices and the same words made Thup furrowed his brow until a pair of hands reached out to hold him. The young boy was so startled he jumped.

“It’s me.” Singha said as he walked a young boy out to the door before removing the handkerchief that was covering his own eyes. He showed what was in his hand to Thup, then tapped it on the boy’s forehead.

“What’s that?”

“Paycheck.”

“Pardon?”

“The salary of the motorcycle owner.”

“Ah… he probably wants this money to be returned to the family.”

Singha didn’t respond. He just looked at the boy’s face.

   This kid is right… he really saw something he shouldn’t have.

  

   GODDESSBLESSYOUFROMDEATH CHAPTERS HOME

  

   GODDESSBLESSYOUFROMDEATH, Case File 8: Kind Hearted Mister Singh

Thup was downcast after surviving a terrifying ordeal just a few hours ago. Now, he was sitting in the inspector’s office at the station, with the room’s owner present as well, but…

“I saw a ghost, Singha.” said Darin.

“There are only bodies; where’s the ghost?” retorted Say, unimpressed.

“If there are bodies, there must be ghosts, Say. Spirits linger, you know.”

“Why would the ghost you’re talking about haunt you? Why not the person who was hurt?” Say raised an eyebrow at his friend who was getting all worked up.

“Well… maybe they can’t move on!”

“Annoying.” Singha muttered nonchalantly, still not taking his eyes off the autopsy report that Say had brought.

“I really saw it, Singha.” Darin slumped back into her chair as none of her friends believed her. “What if it follows me home?”

“Tha… that won’t happen.” Thup said softly, yet enough to draw the attention of the three towards him.

“What’s that, handsome?”

“Nobody followed you, Doc.”

“Seriously!” Darin moved from the chair in front of Singha’s desk to sit next to Thup on the sofa. The young woman nodded, looking up at the older man, “How did you know?”

“He said he saw a ghost.”

“Heh heh.” Say chuckled, his life always rooted in science; things like this, unprovable, were beyond belief.

“Really?!” But for some like Darin, who chose to believe, there were no conditions, “You really saw a ghost, Thup? You really saw it, didn’t you? At first, I thought you were joking.”

“Uh… well, you see…”

“Call me Phii Darin, go on.”

“Yes… Phii Darin.”

“Sure you’re convinced this kid isn’t involved in the case with how chummy you are.” Singha objected.

“There are no fingerprints or DNA from Thup on the rope or the victim’s body. Plus, the blood on him is his own. I’ve read the report.” Darin raised an eyebrow at her friend while confidently patting the kid next to her.

“Evidence can be faked easily.” someone pointed out.

“Hold on. You want this kid to be the villain so bad. We checked the CCTV, didn’t we? You saw he was in the room, right?” Singha shrugged and continued looking at his documents, “So, Thup, did you really see a ghost?”

Thup bit his lip slightly, unsure if he should confirm this. He didn’t want to become a laughingstock.

“Hey, Rinn, since you’re free, why don’t you go treat his wound instead?”

“What wound?”

“On his hand.” Singha said without looking up. When Thup heard that, he showed both hands to Darin.

“Oh, what did you injure yourself with?”

“I was crawling around on the floor.”

“You’ve been quite the flower today, Singha. Do you hate this kid’s guts or what?”

“I don’t think it’s about hating the kid; it’s more about being annoyed with that guy King.” Say said, not taking his eyes off the Rubik’s Cube in his hand.

“King? Why?”

“There’s just been an order for King to investigate the case.”

“Really?! Aren’t we going to end up punching each other?”

“We’re on pins and needles, waiting.” Say looked up at his friend, who was reading the autopsy report with a blank expression, “But if you get into trouble with him, you’ll just get transferred again. He’s the police commander’s son, after all.”

“True, Singha, last time he took your job, you got transferred.”

“We’ll see, Say, about what you wrote was found in the deceased’s stomach, is that confirmed?”

“Yeah, just regular food. No foreign objects or poison, except this kid, who had hallucinogens in his system, probably started using them about a month ago.”

“Weird.”

“What’s weird?”

“The type of food found is similar.”

“I found that odd too. While it’s not strange for foods to be somewhat similar, these are almost ninety percent identical, especially for the victims named Kaew and the transgender person named Meen.”

“Both disappeared around the same time.” Singha added.

“Lieutenant Khem said you want the history of the crime scene?” Darin walked back to sit at the front of the desk to discuss serious matters.

“Um.”

“Here, the lieutenant sent me.” Darin handed three documents to the young inspector, “Singha, I’m telling you, this case is weird.”

“Haunted forest?” Singha skimmed through the details before asking with a doubtful tone.

“Yeah, it used to be just a regular forest, but one year, suddenly, the police here heard about a woman’s body found murdered there, and they never caught the killer. Once the news spread, people started to fear going there, and the locals who couldn’t afford funerals began dumping bodies there, turning it into a sort of no-name graveyard. Over time, more bodies, and people driving by started seeing ghosts crossing their paths or chasing cars, causing accidents. But it’s been decades, and now most folks have forgotten about it.”

“You telling me this means you’ve read up on it?”

“Nah, I sat down with an old cop who told me about it. Creeped me out, man, gave me goosebumps.”

“You love these kinds of stories.” Say teased.

“I think the killer must know this legend too, otherwise, why choose that spot?”

Thup, listening in, nodded, but only Singha noticed.

“I want evidence or reasonable doubts.”

“Some things just happen without reason, you know.”

“But catching a killer needs reason. Can you take ghosts to court?”

“I’m not talking about ghosts; I’m talking about someone using ghosts.” As Darin finished, the room’s lights flickered, and everyone went silent until a knock on the door startled Thup and Darin.

“Inspector, someone’s here to see you.”

“Let them in.”

“Long time no see, Singha.” a deep, teasing voice greeted as soon as he stepped into the room. The newcomer was a tall, lanky young man dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit. His slicked-back hair revealed a sharp, cunning face, eyes gleaming with mischief as always. “Ah, what’s up, Say, Darin?” His dark eyes fixed on Singha.

“Show your face, finish the job, and get out.” Singha said, tossing a file onto the table.

“Do we really have to work together on this case? Is that the way to talk to me?” The voice, though soft, carried an undercurrent of pressure, making Singha bite his cheek to suppress his irritation.

“Working with you, King, we better keep our evidence tight.” Darin said, clasping his hands together. “Catching the wrong suspect again, and you’ll throw the mess over to Singha like last time.”

“Such a vengeful team.” King, the young investigator, sneered before glancing at an unfamiliar young man on the sofa. “Is this the suspect?”

“Shut up.”

“Heh, still as feisty as ever. Here’s the deal. If you keep opposing me, I’ll send it to the police commander and take over the case. Or do you want to solve it together? Your choice.”

Singha chuckled under his breath, then stood up and walked over to stand in front of the taller man.

“Go ahead, detective, run to daddy.” Singha taunted, stepping closer until they were just inches apart. “Because only your dad can turn your mistakes into victories.”

Singha slammed the entire case file against the man’s chest, then grabbed Thup by the collar, pulling him up.

“You won’t take him anywhere; I’ll interrogate him again.”

“The investigation report is in there, go read it.”

“Parading the suspect around like this, aren’t you scared?” The fierce eyes stared at the young man behind Singha. “If he turns out to be the killer, your record’s doubly ruined.”

As Singha was about to lunge at the man, Thup grabbed Singha’s arm.

“Sure, I’ll go give my statement again, no problem.”

“I’ll call for you after I’ve read through all the files. Meanwhile, don’t you dare step out of this station. I’m warning you.” King said, then walked away, not forgetting to throw a mocking glance at Singha one last time.

“Your friend is really heated up.” Darin nudged Say gently.

“Want to spar with him now?”

“Hold on, I just came from checking on a patient at the hospital.” Darin said, removing Singha’s hand from Thup’s collar and leading the young man to stand by the door. “Singha, I’m taking him to get patched up.”

Singha watched the young man walk away with his friend. He sat back down at the desk, glancing at the file from fifteen years ago that he hadn’t given to King yet.

“Stay calm, Singha. If you lose control again, it won’t just be a transfer this time.”

“Yeah, trying.” Singha leaned back, looking up at the ceiling. “What did you find from examining the rope?”

“It’s a thirty-six millimeter Manila rope, with marks suggesting a mechanical device was used to hoist the victim, then tied to a tree. No DNA, the perp probably wore gloves. Also, all victims’ nails were completely cut off.” Say stood up.

“The perp knows how to cover his tracks. This isn’t his first rodeo.”

“Merk said this happened fifteen years ago, the perp was caught. Then five and ten years later, similar cases occurred. It might be a copycat. Check the autopsies from five, ten, and fifteen years back.”

“If it’s an old case, it’ll take some time. I might have to go back and forth between here and the forensic institute.”

“Yeah, just find the similarities and differences. I don’t think it’s just a five-year copycat.”

“I’ll report back when I find something.”

“Thanks.”

Thup is following behind Darin, listening to her endless stories. He keeps looking back, unsure about Singha’s condition.

“Get in there, so I can treat your wound!”

Both enter the same medical room where they once had a physical check-up. After sitting on the bed, Darin carefully removes a translucent white plaster and starts cleaning the wound anew.

“Where did you fall?”

“At the temple.”

“You went to the temple?”

“Yes.”

“What were you doing there? Was Singha with you?”

“Yes, Phii Singha was asking about the missing people.”

“Ah, so some victims went missing around there?”

“…Phii Darin?”

“Yes?”

“Do you believe in… ghosts?”

“I do.” Darin immediately looked up from cleaning the wound.

“Then… Do you believe in rituals?”

“Oh, now you’re giving me the creeps, why are we talking about this?”

“I don’t know how to tell Phii Singha because he doesn’t believe me. Could you tell Phii Singha to search the victim’s house?”

“Why? What are you suspicious of?”

“I’m not sure either. Just… thought it might yield something.”

“Those guys, Say and Singha, they don’t believe in the supernatural. Say is really into scientific principles, likes things that can be explained, proven. As for Singha, he prefers things with a logical explanation, but before he was indifferent, sometimes believing, sometimes not, until something happened, and he stopped believing in all that stuff entirely.”

“What happened?”

“You should ask him yourself about it. Ah, looks good now, the wound dressing is way better than that silly plaster Singha gave.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t be afraid of Singha, he might have a sharp tongue but he’s kind-hearted.”

“I think so too.”

“And where are you staying tonight? I saw your bag in Singha’s office.”

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“Go sweet-talk Singha, he can’t resist a plea.”

“Sweet-talk him? I’ll probably just get yelled at.”

“Give it a try. Right now, Singha is probably venting at the gym. Go find him.”

“Can you take me there, Phii? I don’t want to go alone.”

“Oh, don’t look at me like that, I’m all softened up now. Let’s go, but I won’t go in, or he’ll use me as a sparring partner.”

“Is Phii Singha really that fierce?”

“Depends on when. If he’s just training, it’s bearable. But if he’s in a bad mood, multiply that by ten… no, twenty.”

“Can I change my mind and stay here?”

“Too late, dear, because the lovely Phii Darin is going to help Say with some autopsy results. Get up and follow me.”

Thup had been following Darin all the way without making a peep or looking elsewhere, afraid he might see something he shouldn’t. When they reached the gym, he heard a loud crash from inside. Moreover, two policemen in tank tops and sweatpants were standing at the front, peering through the glass door.

“What’s going on in there?”

“Doctor! You scared us!”

“Look, inspector.”

“Why inspector?”

“Inspector broke one of the sandbags.” Darin nodded understandingly before turning to lightly pat Thup on the shoulder, “Listen, kid, this sacrifice will benefit the public.

“Go be a sparring partner for Singha for a couple of minutes; it might cheer him up. Are you up for it?”

“Pardon?” Thup raised his eyebrows in confusion, but before he knew it, he was pushed inside the gym.

His wide eyes met with the sharp gaze staring back at him. Thup swallowed hard before approaching Singha, who had just stepped away from the sandbag and was grabbing some water.

“Why are you here?”

“Phii Darin brought me.”

“Leave.”

“But—” The young man’s words were swallowed back when Singha flicked his eyes towards him, “I… I’m here to be your sparring partner.”

 

GODDESSBLESSYOUFROMDEATH CHAPTERS HOME

  

   GODDESSBLESSYOUFROMDEATH, Case File 7: The Temple

The atmosphere inside the car was so quiet that only the breathing of the two people could be heard. Thup looked ahead before quickly lowering his gaze to the floor. The temple entrance was adorned with beautiful paintings and inscribed with the words “Santi Thammaram Temple.” But what Thup saw was not just beauty; spirits and ghosts, both in good and deathly states, were crawling and floating around the front of the car. As the car drove in, these spirits slowly retreated. The car stopped in front of the main hall with its golden roof reflecting a dazzling light, beautiful befitting a major temple in the area.

“Are you going to wait in the car?” Singha asked as he unbuckled his seatbelt.

The young man sitting with him slowly looked up and reached out to grab the young inspector’s shirt. Though the car’s air conditioning was cool, sweat was beading on Thup’s forehead, temples, and brow.

“Inspector… Can I ask for something?” Thup’s trembling hand and fearful demeanor puzzled Singha.

“What?”

“Please don’t leave me behind.”

The young man looked up at Singha with pleading eyes.

“Keep up if you don’t want to be left behind for real.” said Singha as he got out of the car, leaving the young man to take a deep breath before hurriedly following. The young inspector walked, gripping Thup’s shirt all the way.

The temple grounds in the afternoon weren’t crowded, maintaining a serene atmosphere typical of religious sites. The wind blew, rustling leaves, some whistling as they brushed against each other, making it a peaceful place for those seeking solace and a final resting place for the dead. Throughout their walk in the temple, Thup kept his eyes on Singha’s shoes, because looking up would mean seeing the spirits that wouldn’t move on, crawling and floating around the temple grounds. Some crawled on the ground, while others floated aimlessly. The abbot once said that spirits still lingering are those who haven’t found peace, perhaps due to unfinished business or unresolved desires. These spirits could still find a way to cut those attachments, but some lingered out of vengeance, unwilling to be reborn. It’s best to avoid these.

Suddenly, Singha stopped walking abruptly, causing Thup, who was daydreaming, to crash into his broad back with full force. The young man rubbed his chin, which had been pointing down, causing his face to collide with the older man.

“Sorry!”

“You walk so closely, you might as well be me.”

“Please, Inspector, don’t say that! If they hear you…”

“Rubbish, Thup. It’s just me. If this world has ghosts like you say, then I’ve got one too, still in this body. No other ghost is coming in. It’s ridiculous.”

Thup could only blink, having never heard anyone curse ghosts before. Maybe this was why spirits scattered whenever Singha passed by. He truly believed.

“Hey, what are you two doing here?” A monk, around forty or fifty years old, stepped out from his dwelling to greet them.

“Greetings, Venerable Sir. I have something to ask.”

“Ask? What about?”

“Have there been any new monks or temple boys recently?”

“New monks? No, we haven’t reached the summer ordination season yet, and no one’s come for ordination.”

The monk led them away from the dwelling towards the main hall.

“As for new temple boys, I’m not sure. You’d have to ask the temple committee.”

“Where can I find them?”

“Right now? If not discussing with the abbot, they should be at the charity kitchen.”

The monk gave them directions to the charity kitchen before entering the main hall for his duties.

“Thank you.” Singha bowed politely before leaving.

“They have a charity kitchen here, nice.” Thup mumbled, not catching Singha’s attention, but suddenly, a hand gripping his shirt pulled him back, forcing Singha to stop abruptly again.

“What’s with you, Thup?”

“Hold on a second.” Singha turned back, frowning, but upon seeing Thup sweating, his eyes low and trembling slightly, looking scared as if seeing something, Singha sighed.

“You’re really annoying.” he brushed Thup’s hand off his shirt, startling the young man nearly to scream. If Singha left him here, it wouldn’t be good. The figure before them wasn’t a ghost like in the dramas, pale and lanky with long hair covering its face. One side of his skull was caved in, an eye bulging out, lips torn to the ear, teeth missing showing the bloody mouth, the body contorted, wearing what seemed like a tattered uniform, likely from some accident. The remaining eye stared unwaveringly at Thup.

‘You see this, don’t you?’

   The icy tone made Thup’s hair stand on end, his legs barely moving. Singha brushed his hand away, leaving him wondering what to do.

As Thup stood trembling, Singha grabbed his wrist and led him forward confidently. Thup focused only on Singha’s hand holding his until they reached a large communal kitchen, with nothing following them.

“Oh, young man, you’re late. There’s another round in the evening, but there’s still some green curry left, want some?” a middle-aged woman greeted them warmly.

“Want to eat?” Singha asked the younger man behind him.

“No, thank you.” Despite being very hungry, Thup had to decline, not wanting to waste the young inspector’s time.

“It’s okay. I’m just here to see the temple’s monk. Do you know where he is?”

“Oh, looking for Abbott? He’s over there eating bananas.” The lady pointed to a man in a clean white shirt sitting by the door.

“Thank you. And could you also look after this kid while he eats?”

“Huh?” Thup tilted his head at the speaker immediately.

“Hungry? Eat up. I’m just hanging here.” Singha said, releasing Thup’s wrist and heading straight for his target.

“Hey there, young man, sit down. Auntie will fetch you some green curry noodles.”

“Thanks, Auntie.”

Singha sat opposite an old man engrossed with bananas in coconut milk. The old man smiled warmly as Singha sat down.

“Here for lunch, young man? It’s probably all gone by now.”

“No, I’ve got some questions.” Singha said, showing his police badge. The old man, after a glance, introduced himself, “I’m a temple official, my name’s Khuean, fifty-four years old.”

“I want to ask if there have been any new temple boys or staff in the past one or two months, or if anything unusual has happened?”

“Hmm, no new temple boys, officer. But for staff, well, the same old caretaker. No changes recently.” Singha nodded understandingly. “As for strange things, let me think… Ah, yes, on Wednesday, someone came to the temple and suddenly freaked out about ghosts, even knocked over the green curry pot, making a big mess. Luckily it wasn’t too crowded that day; we could manage with other dishes.”

“Do you recognize these people?” Singha laid out photos of seven victims.

“Oh, I know this one, Thee, comes regularly since his wife passed. This little girl, Kaew, plays here often; her house is across from the temple. This one, Jom, used to be a temple boy during school breaks and often took food from the temple. Wait, this is the guy who knocked over the curry pot!” Singha looked, seeing the old man pointing at a photo of a young man, nineteen years old. “So, what’s this case about, officer?”

I can’t say much yet.

“We’re still investigating. I’ll come back if I need more info.” Singha said, standing up and nodding respectfully. But when he looked around, the kid who had been shadowing him was gone…

Thup is holding a green curry bowl, his eyes scanning for a place to wash it. He spots a sink and a dish rack not far from the makeshift kitchen. He noticed earlier that Singha wasn’t around, and disrupting him just to wash dishes would surely earn him a scolding, so he ventures out alone.

Thup dumps chicken bones in the trash before turning on the tap to rinse a plate. Suddenly, the water turns red and thick, far from normal. He drops the bowl in shock, water splashing his face. Turning around, he encounters a spirit of a man with a caved-in skull, standing just inches away. Despite the close proximity, he feels no breath, only his grip tightens on his trousers. Though trembling, he tries to act normal.

‘You see?’

   ‘You see?’

   Thup bites his lip, gathers courage, and walks away, but the ghost follows slowly due to its twisted legs.

‘Motorbike’

   ‘Money’

   The voice, as if speaking through water flooding his mouth, repeats the same phrases. After a few steps, Thup feels multiple eyes on him. He tries to run but trips over something, falling and scraping his hands on rocks. Turning back, he sees various spirits, each with different death marks. He didn’t trip over a branch or rock but over the upper half of a human body. As Thup tries to crawl away, the lower half of another spirit inches closer.

‘You see, right?’

   ‘You see?’

   “Help me!”

‘You see?’

   ‘You see?’

   ‘You see?’

   ‘You see?’

   ‘You see?’

   ‘You see?’

   ‘You see?’

   ‘You see?’

   ‘You see?’

   ‘You see, right?!!!!’

   A hand grabs Thup’s ankle forcefully, but suddenly all the ghosts and spirits vanish, replaced by a grip on his shoulder, making Thup jump in fright, tears streaming down his face.

“Roaming around, huh, you kid?”

“Inse…hic, inspector.” Thup rushes into a hug, forgetting himself. Now, he just wants the warmth of a living person’s embrace, not the cold body of the dead.

“What’s wrong with you? You’ve got me all wet, you troublemaker.”

“Please, hic, let me stay like this for a moment.” He feels his heart racing as he rests his head on Singha’s chest. Just this. He just wants this.

After several minutes, Singha peels the ghost-seeing kid off him and, grabbing his shirt collar, drags him back to the car. Singha can’t help but roll his eyes at Thup’s sluggish demeanor and red, teary eyes.

“Give me your hand.”

“Yes, sir?”

“Did you cry so much that your ears went deaf? I told you to open your hand.” Thup complied easily by holding both hands out in front of the young inspector. The first aid kit was pulled from the back seat, and Singha started cleaning the wounds on his beautiful palms. Though not gentle, it was better than leaving it untreated.

“It hurts.” Thup mumbled softly.

“You claim to be scared of ghosts, yet you wander around alone. Do ghosts have trouble finding you or something?”

“I was just going out to wash the dishes for Auntie.”

“Are you waiting for the dishes to dissolve into thin air?”

“Sorry, Inspector.”

“And stop calling me by my title. Are you worried people won’t know who you’re with?” Singha pressed harder on the wound as he spoke.

“Then what should I call you?”

“Oh? What’s my name?”

“Inspector Singha.”

“Is Inspector my name?” His sharp eyebrows furrowed as the kid in front of him started to get on his nerves.

“…Singha.”

“Yeah.”

“Can I just call you by your name?”

Singha didn’t reply, just gave a fierce look.

“Um… can I call you Phii Singha?”

A phone rang, interrupting before Singha could respond. He handed the plaster to the young man and answered the call.

“What?”

[Hey Singha, the police commander knows about your case now because someone reported the file was accessed. He asked me, so I had to tell him.]

   “Eh, never mind.”

[The police commander has already sent an investigation team.]

   “Damn.”

[There’s more trouble, the commander sent King.]

   “That bastard!!!”

[Are you swearing at the police commander?]

   “Whatever. Just that!” Singha hung up before driving off from the temple at an excessive speed, causing the young man beside him to hurriedly secure all the equipment and fasten his seatbelt. It was clear that Singha was just as scary as any ghost.

 

GODDESSBLESSYOUFROMDEATH CHAPTERS HOME

  

   GODDESSBLESSYOUFROMDEATH, Case File 6: The Seven Victims’ Information

Singha returned to the station around eleven. While his subordinates were saluting, they frowned, wondering who the young man carrying a bag behind their boss was.

“Is Lieutenant Khem back yet?”

“Not yet, Inspector.”

“Let me know when he returns.”

“Understood.”

Singha walked up to his office. As he sat down at his desk, the young man who followed him settled onto the sofa. Thup yawned, marking what felt like the hundredth time that morning. Not only had he been sleep-deprived, dragged around, but he also had to face various eerie incidents. His body was signaling its limits.

“Inspector, may I sleep?”

“Do whatever.”

“Thank you.” Thup nodded before lying down on the sofa. He lay on his side, watching Singha work with a stressed expression, flipping papers, staring at the computer screen, and occasionally cursing. The young man watched this for nearly half an hour before his eyelids slowly closed.

Hearing steady breathing, Singha looked up to see the problematic kid sleeping peacefully. His sharp gaze returned to the documents and an email from Merk. He was comparing the patterns of cases from ten years ago, five years ago, and the current one. If he had to guess, the killer was choosing victims based on religion. He’d have to watch out for potential targets across the country.

Singha glanced at the young man on the sofa again. Thup had once mentioned seeing spirits resembling murder victims when he was a child. If that was true, had it happened ten years ago?

He picked up his black phone to call Merk again. It took a while for the other side to answer.

“What now?”

“Has this happened before?”

“What are you talking about?”

“The seven corpse murders, has it happened before?”

[Hold on.] The sound of typing and pacing filled the line before Merk returned.

[Yeah, but the perpetrator was caught back then.]

   “Caught?”

[Uh-huh, it happened fifteen years ago too.]

   “Where did it occur, and who was the perpetrator?”

[Phuket, the criminal is a fisherman, his DNA is under the fingernails of one of the victims. Plus, it matches the DNA on the rope used in the murder. Five years later, investigators concluded it was a copycat murder, but the culprit hasn’t been caught.]

   Singha furrowed his brows so tightly they almost tied into a bow, finding the whole situation bizarre.

“Send me all the details.”

Send everything related to this case.

    [Yeah, but be careful, Singha. Both cases have seen multiple responsible officers changed.]

   “Why?”

[Because several officers died in unexpected accidents, that’s why the case hasn’t been closed; no one dares to handle it.]

   “Hmm, don’t forget to send the data, and also the name of the prison where the criminal from fifteen years ago was detained.”

[Yeah, yeah, let me know if anything comes up; I’ll inform the police-commander.]

   “Thanks.” Singha hung up and looked at Thup again, “Copycat murder…”

The young inspector muttered to himself. He reviewed all the information available and sighed; nothing connected.

The murder fifteen years ago was concluded by the police, but this kid claims he saw the same ghost since he was little.

Murders occur every five years.

The crime scene changes every five years.

Singha immediately woke the young man sleeping on the couch.

“Thup, wake up!” His heavy hand slapped on the young man’s arm, startling Thup awake.

“Y…Yes?”

“The ghost of a woman you’ve seen since you were little, how little?”

“Yes? Uh, since I can remember, maybe four or five years old. Why do you ask, inspector?”

“Four or five years old… four or five years old…” Singha repeated, making Thup listen intently, “And where were you at that time?”

“Srisaket.” Singha replied before heading back to his desk. He pulled out all the papers from the files and the printer, then pinned them onto the investigation board.

Thup watched as the young inspector meticulously arranged everything on the board. His eyes sparkled with admiration because at that moment, Singha looked cooler than anyone he had ever met.

“Recent events in the central region, five years ago in the north, fifteen years ago in the south, probably earlier incidents in the northeast. The culprits are still in prison. Previously, he grew up in Phuket, but never moved. No travel history by plane or train.” Singha paused abruptly, mumbling to himself, “So he might not be the original perpetrator.”

The young inspector grabbed his coat, ready to leave the room, but a young man quickly grabbed his arm.

“Um… Inspector, where are you going? Can I come too?”

“Stay here.”

“But…” Thup glanced at the door. The previous incident had just occurred; the door hadn’t even been changed yet. Something was bound to happen again.

Singha also looked at the door, noticing a shadowy figure through the frosted glass, becoming clearer. Thup’s grip on his arm tightened involuntarily.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Inspector, I’m back.” came Lieutenant Khem’s voice from the other side of the door, which made both of them sigh in relief.

Singha shook his arm free from the young man’s grasp, then opened the door with an annoyed look.

“I’ve got all the victim’s data now, shall we go over it?”

“Hmm.” Singha walked out of the room without looking back. Thup watched his broad back with a lingering gaze.

“Shall we go together, young man?”

“Can I go too?”

“Just in case you have any additional information, come on.” Lieutenant Khem waved his hand, calling Thup to join him.

At exactly noon, the task force began their investigative planning meeting. On the front investigation board were photos of the deceased and various pieces of information. Lieutenant Khem handed over hurriedly summarized documents to the inspector before starting his explanation.

“Shall we begin, inspector?”

“Let’s begin.”

“The first person we visited at home was a male victim, eighteen years old. His name is Jirayu, or James, living with his family of four – father, mother, and an older sister. He’s the youngest, and the house doubles as a store. He went missing last week. The last time the family saw him, he said he was going to a friend’s birthday party and never returned. A missing person report has been filed.” LiutenantKhem started with the victim’s background.

“The second case is a fifteen-year-old boy named Jomphon, or Jom, living with his grandmother. He does odd jobs to support his education. Usually, Jom does dishwashing or other odd jobs after school. The last time he was seen was six days ago; he told his grandmother he was going to sell flower garlands at a shop.” Lieutenant Prom briefed.

“The third victim is Phakphong, inspector.” Singha nodded before sharing the gathered information.

“Thirty years old, named Phakphong or Min, transgender, works as a car sales rep, lives alone having moved here six months ago. Neighbors reported seeing him one last day before, saying he was going to the temple before work but never returned home.” Singha concluded, gesturing for the next person to continue.

“The female victim, fifteen years old, named Orawan or Orn, is an only child. Her parents said she frequently runs away because she’s always with friends, so they weren’t alarmed. The last time they saw her was five days ago.”

“My turn, inspector. The male victim, nineteen years old, named Chonlathorn or Nui. When we informed and questioned his parents, they described him as a delinquent who often stays at friends’ houses for weeks at a time, so they weren’t concerned as they themselves are often away driving trucks. Neighbors, however, mentioned seeing him last when he packed his bags and left four days ago.”

“I’ll continue. The male victim, forty-three years old, named Thanakorn or Thee, currently lives alone in a garden house. His two children are studying abroad, and we’ve informed them. His wife passed away last month. Neighbors say the deceased went to the temple to make merit for his wife daily and would return around noon or afternoon. They haven’t seen him in three days.”

“The last one, a female victim, fourteen years old, named Kachakorn, or Kaew. She lived with her parents who run a store selling alms for monks. Her family reported her missing two days ago.”

“Seven days.” Singha said without taking his eyes off the investigation board.

“Sir?” Lieutenant Khem looked around in confusion, unsure what his superior was talking about.

“The killer has been active for a total of seven days.”

“Huh?!” The detective flipped through his documents anxiously, while Singha stood up and walked to the front of the board.

“James went missing seven days ago, Jom six days, Or five days, Nai four days, Theer three days, Kaew two days, and Min just went missing yesterday. It’s possible the killer might act daily, before hanging all the bodies at the crime scene yesterday. So, the whole crime spree took eight days.” Singha explained, his frustration evident as he slapped both hands on the table, making a loud noise. “Eight days of no leads, eight days where the police could do nothing!”

Everyone fell silent, not from being scolded but because they realized the same thing – the killer was acting day by day without anyone noticing.

“Get search warrants for the birthday party venue, the flower shop, each victim’s home, and the friend’s house they frequented. Hurry!”

“Understood, Inspector.”

“Have the autopsy results come in yet?”

“Not yet.”

“Khun Say said because there are seven victims, it might take all day.”

“If they come in, let me know.”

“Yes.”

“Alright, everyone, get to work.”

Singha leaned against the table, gazing at the whiteboard in front. “Another thing common to the murders from five, ten, and fifteen years ago is the timing of the crimes. Each victim was killed over seven days, with one day for disposal. It’s always the same.”

“Uh… Inspector.” Thup, who had been quietly listening from the corner, stood up beside Singha, despite feeling extremely nervous. “What about the temples?”

“Why?” Singha asked without looking back.

“The flower shop where Jom sold garlands is likely near a temple. The temple I used to live at with Luang Phu also had such a shop. Min visited a temple before work, Thirakorn went to make merit for his wife, and Kachokorn or Kaew’s family runs a religious goods shop near a temple.” The young man pointed to each victim’s photo, explaining, making Singha follow his gaze. “I think checking the temples wouldn’t hurt, right?”

Singha reviewed the investigation file again, then wrote down the locations on the whiteboard. His sharp eyebrows furrowed as he walked to the computer, typing in the coordinates. While the system processed, he looked at Thup with a steady gaze. Earlier, he had checked CCTV footage from the condo where the young man lived. Last week, Thup left his condo once, on Wednesday at 1 PM and returned by taxi at 3 PM. Aside from that, he only went out to throw trash or receive deliveries. From the evidence, it seemed highly unlikely he committed the crime. Singha turned back to the computer screen, then got up, pulling Thup by his collar to leave together.

The young man, trying to keep up, asked, “Where are we going, Inspector?”

“Home.”

“Home?”

“Changing cars. Are you coming or waiting?” Singha replied, still dragging Thup by his collar.

“I… I’ll come.”

“Then shut up and keep up.” Thup nodded vigorously, even though Singha couldn’t see it.

Both Thup and Singha walked back to the same motorcycle, this time Thup swiftly getting everything ready to avoid another scolding. Singha put on a jet-black helmet, never taking his eyes off Thup’s sheepish demeanor. Although the kid in front of him seemed timid, asthmatic, and occasionally annoying, he was quick to learn and observant. If you overlooked his ghost-seeing antics, he might be somewhat useful until the forensic fingerprint results came in, then they could part ways.

The large motorcycle drove up to a big village, where Singha parked in front of a large, white standalone house before pressing the remote to open the door.

“Wait here.” As soon as they entered the house, Thup cautiously observed the home of the intimidating inspector. Just as he suspected…

No ghosts indeed.

The front yard had two cars parked, no trees, no bushes, just plain concrete. It was clear the young inspector had no time to maintain it, hence the concrete. Thup peeked inside the house and found it decorated like a model home, with plastic still covering the floor lamps.

“Do you have to stare that much just to come inside?” Singha came out with car keys in hand. “Let’s get in the car.”

“Which one?”

“The black one.”

A completely black BMW 14 was Singha’s choice of vehicle today instead of his usual motorcycle, because the kid sitting with him kept jumping, making the bike swerve.

After leaving the house, Singha drove straight to their intended destination. Thup tried to strike up a conversation, knowing well he might get a stern look or a sarcastic remark.

“Do you know where we’re headed, Inspector?”

“Hmm.”

“Where to? Can I ask?”

“Temple.”

“Ah… which temple? Because we just passed one.”

Singha glanced at Thup from the corner of his eye, but seeing the innocent look from the kid next to him, he swallowed all his curses.

“All the locations where the seven victims disappeared were not far apart, and there was only one temple in that area.”

“Once we get there… Can I wait in the car?”

“Why?”

“Well, in the temple… it’s not just holy things there.”

 

GODDESSBLESSYOUFROMDEATH CHAPTERS HOME

  

   GODDESSBLESSYOUFROMDEATH, Case File 5: Testimonies of the Living and the Dead

A chilled soda can was brought to Singha’s lips; he chugged it down in one go. Though he wished it were a strong alcohol, during work hours, all he could do was dream. His sharp eyes glanced at a white-skinned young man, who had been in a daze ever since they left the scene, two kilometers away. “Here we are, officer. Yesterday, my husband was watching the store because I was at the hospital with our child.”

“Hello.” Singha greeted a man in his forties, trailing behind his wife of the same age. He led them inside the shop for a more comfortable chat.

“Hello, what’s going on? My wife called me home urgently, just when I was about to catch a big fish.”

“I need to ask about last night, between 11 PM to midnight. Did a pink taxi, driven by a man in his forties or fifties, stop here?”

“A taxi… Oh! Yes, yes, he mentioned he dropped off a passenger by the roadside forest but was too scared to pick up anyone from there.”

“Did he say anything else?”

“Just a bit. He was unsure if he should pick up anyone because that area is risky at night.”

“Why is that?”

“There are frequent accidents there. I heard from my father it was once a mass grave for the unclaimed dead.” Singha glanced at the young man still sitting outside. “I’m still puzzled about what that passenger was thinking. When I asked if he was sure about picking up a real person, the driver just sped off.”

“Has anyone been around here or gone into that forest in the last few days?”

“Just last night, the police and an ambulance were coming and going. After 9 PM, everyone here is usually in bed. I stayed up late watching football, so I saw a bit.”

“Thank you for the information.” Singha stepped outside, sighed, and noticed the young man still in a daze, with water droplets forming a wide circle from the can on the ground. He didn’t know what the kid had seen, if anything, but the information matched what Thup had said in many ways.

Singha took out a cigarette, held it in his mouth, lit it, and inhaled the nicotine into his lungs. Now, it wasn’t just about the case; there was also the matter of ghosts. From the perspective of someone who doesn’t believe or seriously follow any religion, this kind of thing was utterly ridiculous.

“Inspector, you smoke?”

“Yeah, want one?” Singha offered a fresh cigarette to the young man sitting in front of him.

“I don’t smoke.” Thup replied, shaking his head, then pressed his lips together. “So, what’s next?”

“We’ll have to wait for the autopsy results. Right now, we don’t have any useful information.” A puff of white smoke drifted into the air after he spoke.

“And what about what I mentioned?”

“I think the perpetrator chose that place because it’s a cemetery. A kid who saw a ghost told me so. What do you think, does it sound believable?”

“…No.”

“Yeah, good to know.” A phone rang, interrupting their conversation. Singha picked it up, exhaling smoke into the air, “What is it?”

[Where are you, Inspector?]

   “Near the crime scene.”

[I’ve already questioned the victims’ families. There are four more to go.]

   “What did you find?”

[It seems the times the victims disappeared aren’t consistent.]

   “The killer can’t just take them all at once; it would be too hard to control and suspicious.” Seven victims disappearing all at once…

[I’m heading to the fourth victim’s house now, and I’ll report back to you, Inspector.]

   “Send me the list; I’ll go to the fifth victim’s house myself.”

[Understood.]

   “Hey, Lieutenant, also look up the history of the crime scene for me. Find out who owns it now, who used to own it, everything.”

Or has it been used for something before?

    [Understood, Inspector.] After Lieutenant Khem hung up, Singha walked over to dispose of his cigarette butt in the designated spot.

“Get up, Thup.”

“Where are we going?”

“To the victim’s house.”

“And… should I come along?”

“Are you the one who killed the victims?” Singha crossed his arms, his eyes level but probing.

“I didn’t kill them.” Thup replied, his voice firm.

“Then let’s go.”

It didn’t take long for Singha and Thup to reach the fifth victim’s house out of the total seven. They parked their motorcycle in front of a clean white townhouse, but the house was eerily silent, with no signs of life. Singha rang the bell several times, but no one answered.

“Uh… the homeowner isn’t here.” a woman from the neighboring house called out.

“Do you know who they might be with?”

“They live alone.”

“I’m a police officer. I need to ask about the owner of this house.”

“Uh, sure. But what happened to Min?”

“It’s under investigation. I can’t give details yet, but Pakpong or Min has passed away.”

“What!!! No… that can’t be true, officer. What happened?”

“Do you know anything about her family?”

“I… I only know Min left home because of family issues regarding gender transition, but I’ve never met them. She’s been renting here for six months, and works as a car salesperson.”

“When did she go missing from the house?”

“I think it was yesterday evening; I was supposed to bring some curry to her place, but she wasn’t there.”

“Had she mentioned or told you anything unusual before?”

“Well, there were some work-related things occasionally. She was kind-hearted, cheerful, always going to the temple regularly.” Singha nodded understandingly, “We were just talking about going to make merit together this week.”

“And before that, had anyone visited her house or been lurking around?”

“As far as I know, no one. I work online from home and haven’t seen any strangers.”

“And the last time you spoke before she left the house, did she say anything?”

“She complained about having bad luck before going to work.”

“What time did she leave that day?”

“Around half past six. Normally, she goes to work at seven, but she was going to the temple to make merit, so she left earlier.”

“Did she drive?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you. If there’s anything more, we might need to call you to the station again for further statements.” Singha bowed politely, then glanced towards the deceased’s house.

His phone rang again; Singha answered without looking, guessing who it was.

[Inspector, we’ve interviewed the victim’s family and close friends.]

   “Meet me at the station.” The young inspector replied, hanging up. He quickly mounted his motorbike, put on his helmet, and when he turned back, he cursed seeing the young lad, Thup, still standing there, “Thup, what are you spacing out for? Get on, quick!”

“There’s… someone in the house. No, not someone, something.”

Singha furrowed his brow, looking back at the house, only to see emptiness.

A young man hurriedly grabbed Singha’s shirt, the clear window showing a gap in the curtains just enough to see inside. At one moment, Thup saw eyes, stark white, staring right at him. The corner of the mouth slowly curled into a sinister grin, a smile beyond what any normal human could muster.

“Tha… I… I need to inspect it.” Thup, in fear, made the young man look back into the house again, but no matter how many times he looked, all he saw was an empty house.

“Get in, we don’t have a warrant today, can’t go in.” The young man quickly got into the car, burying his face into Singha’s shoulder, trembling.

“Who told you to—”

“Th… I won’t lean on you then.” The young man looked up, eyes closed, his hands that were on his thighs while riding the motorcycle now clutching Singha’s shirt instead.

The bodies of six victims were taken to the forensic institute, while another was brought to the lab for an autopsy.

“Damn it, I’m going to sue Singha!”

“About what?” Say replied to Darin while putting on gloves.

“About bringing the victims’ bodies here!”

“I told him, otherwise, how would we handle so many corpses?”

“Just use your staff here, why drag me into this?”

“Come on, get dressed. We’re starting the autopsy.”

“Goddamn it!” Darin, frustrated, started putting on her work clothes, dragged back into this despite trying to avoid it.

“Autopsy starts at ten twenty-four.” The sharp eyes looked at the victim on the table, “Male, forty-three, signs of strangulation and deep neck wounds.” The assistant repeated, jotting it down.

“And do we cut this red thread?” Darin asked hesitantly.

“Don’t be like that. Normally, they don’t touch it; it’s sewn and closed so you can’t see. Don’t want to talk about it, Say?”

“How are we supposed to do an autopsy if we don’t cut it? Should we ask him personally?” Say shook his head slightly before turning the body to look for more clues.

“Knife” – the sharpness of the blade slashes through, Darin raises her hand.

The tip of the surgical knife reflects the light shining down, precisely tracing from the neck to the abdomen. A prayer before helping his friend spread open the ribcage to view the internal organs.

The ribs are cut away with pliers to allow Say to remove the internal organs for examination. Every step is meticulous until they reach the stomach.

“Did the deceased have any medical history?”

“Yes, diabetes.” Darin replies after checking the file. Before Say looked into the mouth of the deceased again, he noticed dentures.

“This isn’t the first murder victim.”

“Obviously, the other two in that freezer already have maggots.”

“Have you sent the maggots to the entomologist?”

“Yes, I have.”

Say scrapes the stomach wall into a bottle and hands it to the assistant with the camera, “Take this to toxicology, and I need a list of all medications the deceased was taking.”

“Yes.”

“The food wasn’t chewed properly. Plus, being diabetic probably slowed digestion. Look, there are still chunks of chicken.” Darin remarks, shaking his head slightly.

The autopsy continues until completion, only a red thread remains uncut, which Darin requested to be left for later.

“Scissors.” Say takes the scissors from his friend, slips them under the red thread on the victim’s eyelid, and as soon as he cuts it, the lights go out.

“Shit! What the hell!”

“It’s just a power outage. Why are you freaking out?”

“This place never has power outages!!” He gropes around, “Aaaah!!!!”

Darin shrieked just before the lights went out. Darin, who had fallen to the ground, was grabbing Darin while screaming as a loud thump echoed. Moments later, all the lights in the room flickered back on. His face was a mask of shock.

“Just now… did you grab my hand, Say?”

“I was holding scissors, how could I grab you?”

“Someone grabbed my hand!” Darin glanced at the figure on the bed before backing away. “I told you not to cut the thread!”

“Get up, get up!” Say put down the scissors and helped his friend up. “You might have just touched the corpse’s hand by accident.”

“I know where the corpse’s hand is supposed to be; it was outside the bed just now!”

“Look, the hand is still in the same place, and with that chest cut open, how could it move?”

“…” I mean when it’s not alive anymore! I really felt it, Say!”

“If you can’t handle it, wait outside. I’ll continue the autopsy.” Darin slowly stood up, looking at the corpse, unchanged from before the lights went out, except the left eye where the thread had been cut. He swallowed hard and clenched his lips.

“I’ll stay.” After all, she was a doctor; abandoning her duty wasn’t in her nature.

A chill ran down Darin’s spine as she turned around, but there was nothing there. This case was strange from the start, and the deeper they dug, the stranger it got. She wasn’t sure if she was dealing with a human killer or something beyond death.

 

GODDESSBLESSYOUFROMDEATH CHAPTERS HOME

  

   GODDESSBLESSYOUFROMDEATH, Case File 4: The Owner’s Territory

Chaos erupted at the station after a loud banging on the inspector’s door, and the sight of scratches all over the door made everyone’s hair stand on end.

Singha was at his desk, with Lieutenant Khem reviewing CCTV footage across from him, and a young man, clearly terrified, hugging his knees not far away. Ever since Thup arrived at the station, weird things had happened so often that many officers were talking.

“No one was at the door this time, Inspector.”

“How can there be no one? We all heard the noise, and looked at the scratches on the door—if it’s not a person, then what, a ghost?” Singha snapped, frustrated. He was stressed enough tracking down a killer without dealing with this nonsense.

“I’ll check again.” Even Lieutenant Khem, usually his confidant, dared not say more. Singha shot a fierce look at Thup before sighing in irritation.

“Have you checked this kid’s room yet?” Singha glanced at the clock.

“Yes.”

“The search warrant comes at six in the morning.” It was now half an hour to six. “Inspector, look at the footage from when the noise happened.”

Singha watched the footage from outside his room; it showed no one entering, exiting, or even walking by. After about five minutes of stillness, scratches began to appear, but no figure was visible. The door shook slightly, but when he arrived, everything was calm.

“You can’t see her, Inspector…” The young man on the couch said, drawing the attention of the two officers.

“But I…”

Thup watched the video repeatedly. While others saw an empty frame, he saw a woman in tattered clothes, hair disheveled, scratching at the door.

“What do you see, kid?”

Thup looked up, meeting Singha’s eyes. Only he understood what Thup was seeing.

“Stand up, Thup.” Lieutenant Khem quickly asked, seeing something in his reaction.

“Where are you off to, Inspector?” his boss was unlocking the handcuffs from the young man.

“Work.” Singha replied, walking back to his desk, picking up his badge and holster, slinging them over his shoulder. “Keep an eye on this place, and if anyone asks, tell them I’m out solving a case. Also, fix that door, it’s annoying the hell out of me.”

“Solving a case? What case, Inspector? Inspector!!” Singha ignored the calls from behind as he headed towards the parking lot, with the suspicious young man trailing close behind.

Once there, Singha mounted his sleek black motorcycle, handing a helmet to the follower. Seeing the young man put it on awkwardly, Singha realized how little life experience this kid had.

“Do you realize you’re the most problematic suspect I’ve ever dealt with?”

“Sorry.” came the reply, with a voice of reproach and a face like a scolded puppy, making Singha want to slap the helmet onto his head. He yanked the helmet back, put it on properly, and secured all safety measures.

“Get on.” Singha called, “if you can’t ride a motorcycle, I’ll leave you here.”

Thup awkwardly climbed onto the bike, sitting stiffly behind Singha.

“Have you ever rode a motorbike?”

“I usually ride motorbikes, but the drivers never make me wear a helmet.”

“Give me directions.”

“To where?”

“Your condo.” Thup nodded reluctantly before starting to direct the way. At this predawn hour, Thup never imagined he’d be outside his room, especially without his protective amulet. He had to keep his head down against Singha’s back to avoid seeing anything he shouldn’t. He only looked up occasionally when Singha asked for directions.

With few cars on the road, they reached a medium-sized condo in less than half an hour.

“I’m… not under arrest anymore?”

“No way.”

“So, are you coming to the condo? Why me?”

“To check the room of someone involved in the case.”

“Isn’t it… Don’t you need a search warrant first?” Thup tilted his head in confusion.

“Oh, then I’ll just leave this here and go back to get the warrant.” Before Singha could put his black helmet back on, a white hand grabbed his shirt.

“Uh… never mind.” One thing Singha noticed after spending hours together was that this person needed someone around. Left alone, he often showed fear, sweating, and trembling eyes. Clearly, the kid was scared of something.

Thup led Singha to his own room. At the condo, it wasn’t luxurious, but it was comfortable with all amenities and security.

“We’re here.”

“Open it.” Thup nodded quickly, touched a new temporary key card from the management, and opened the door.

The young man’s room was simply decorated with warm tones, clean, with a separate bedroom. The workspace was neat, with a drawing board, screen for drawing, and a desktop computer. Everything was orderly, unlike Singha’s place.

“Where do you want to search, Inspector?”

“Everywhere.” Singha scanned the room, finding nothing unusual, then looked back at Thup.

“So, where should I sit to stay out of your way?”

“Go take a shower.”

“Huh?”

“Are you planning to walk around with blood stains all day?” Singha handed Thup an evidence bag to put his clothes in.

“Take off your clothes.”

“Yes.” As the slender hand was about to grab it, the plastic bag in front was pulled back.

“Take them off here.”

“Yes!” Thup’s voice cracked in surprise. The inspector in front of him wasn’t joking, “Is… is the inspector serious?”

“Yeah, hurry up.” Singha watched the young man slowly remove his jacket, followed by a blood-stained t-shirt. Though the young man wasn’t particularly muscular, he wasn’t skinny either. His pale skin indicated he wasn’t much of an outdoors type.

Thup hesitated for a moment before unzipping his pants. Singha looked at him with a cold demeanor. No matter how innocent the young man seemed, he wouldn’t risk letting evidence like clothes be tampered with. They’d need further examination anyway.

“Inspector, may… May I get a towel?” The young man’s fair face blushed slightly with embarrassment. Singha rolled his eyes, annoyed, before stuffing the clothes into an evidence bag.

“That’s it, go do whatever.”

“Can you inspect the room for a while, please? Don’t leave yet.”

“There are amulets and blessings everywhere; your room is practically a mobile temple. What else is there to fear?” After putting on gloves, Singha began a thorough room search, using a black light to check various spots. The room wasn’t large, with a bathroom attached to the bedroom. The living area connected to the kitchen and an external bathroom, with a balcony off the kitchen. If a murder happened here, the neighbors would have heard something.

After a detailed search and finding nothing suspicious, Singha removed his gloves, took the evidence bag, and knocked on the neighboring room’s door. It didn’t take long for the door to open, accompanied by a puff of smoke.

“Hello.”

“Who are you?”

“I’m an officer.”

“Shit, the police!!!” The hip young guy in the next room rushed back inside, stuffing his weed paraphernalia into a box, then opened the balcony door to clear the smoke. “It’s legal now, officer!”

“I hope not. I have some questions.” Singha chose to ignore the other issue as he was here only to investigate a murder.

“Wh…what?”

“The room to your left, do you know him?”

“That reclusive kid? Yeah, see him when buying stuff downstairs.”

“Did you see or hear anything from his room last night around 7 PM?”

“Hah! That kid’s like a nutjob, he was freaking out last night and then rushed out somewhere.”

“Did he leave alone?”

“I think I saw a woman leave with him just as I was about to yell at him…had a bit to drink though.” Singha sighed at the response.

“Can you describe the woman?”

“Scruffy hair, maybe in a headscarf. You’re asking a lot, officer, what’s up?”

“Thanks for the info.” Singha lost interest in the neighbor, heading downstairs to talk to the condo’s management instead. He requested the CCTV footage from last night and files from the past two weeks.

The neighbor’s words lingered in his mind because Thup had also described a ghostly woman following him. With keen eyes, he intently watched the footage, confirming what the neighbor said, but there was one discrepancy: Thup left his room and took the elevator alone, getting into a taxi at the condo’s entrance, no woman in sight. So, what did the guy see?

“Here you go, officer.”

“Thanks.” Singha returned to the floor, entering the room again to find the young man curled up on the sofa in a hoodie and gray sweatpants.

“Inspector!” Thup exclaimed joyfully, his eyes sparkling, “I thought you had already left.”

“Are you suggesting I should stick to you like glue?”

“No, that’s not what I meant…”

“Go pack your bags.”

“Pack… to go where?”

“Or do you want to stay here?”

“If I go, will I get to stay with you, Inspector…?” Thup tilted his head, looking hopeful.

“Why me?”

“Every time I’m near you… I never see ghosts.”

“That’s it?”

“Yes.”

“Alright, go pack your things.” Singha cut in, annoyed. It was better if the kid decided to come along, keeping him in sight just in case something happened again. Even with the video evidence from the condo, it wasn’t enough to clear all doubts. He still needed to keep an eye on the kid.

Thup nodded eagerly before rushing off to pack his belongings, unplugging all electrical devices except the fridge to save power and prevent future hazards. He was back in front of Singha in a few minutes, with a black satchel.

“I’m easy to live with, easy to feed, easy to take care of. I’ll cooperate with everything.”

“Let’s see if you’re as easy going as you claim.” Singha said, leading the way out of the room to the elevator. Thup glanced repeatedly at the man beside him with an admiring look, appreciating the time they spent together. He admired Singha’s competence, coolness, decisiveness, and toughness, yet there was a hint of kindness. Despite his harsh words and rigid demeanor, he wasn’t cruel. Plus, when near him, Thup never encountered ghosts.

“Are we going back to the police station?” Thup asked as they reached the car, putting on his helmet by himself, hoping for a word of praise. But Singha’s response made him feel suddenly weak.

“I’m heading to the crime scene first.”

“Uh… to the crime scene, right? Do I have to go too?”

“Or should I drive you to the station?”

“Even without you, Inspector, I’d still get haunted.” Thup muttered before hopping onto the back of the motorcycle. Whether night or day, he had seen things he shouldn’t have. Now, the only certainty was clinging to Singha until they found the pendant or another solution, because once this case was over or he was cleared, Singha would surely keep him at arm’s length.

The black motorcycle headed towards the forest outside the city. Though it was morning, the forest’s atmosphere was no less terrifying. Thup grabbed Singha’s shirt as he glimpsed the ghost of a chubby man behind a large tree, his face pale and covered in blood, his skull cracked open, revealing brain matter. Probably an accident victim. After looking down the entire way, they finally stopped at the same spot where the taxi had dropped him off the night before.

“What’s with you, looking so pale?” Singha asked after the young man took off his helmet.

“Nothing.”

“The taxi dropped you here, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then what did you do next, from the moment you stepped out of the car?” Thup glanced around the eerie forest before turning back to Singha.

“I saw an old woman with a lantern over there.” Thup pointed to an empty space on the left, “So I followed her.”

“Go on then.” Singha not so gently pushed the young man forward.

They walked deeper into the forest. Despite it being daytime, the tall, dense trees blocked most of the light, creating a gloomy atmosphere, making Thup look back at Singha every two minutes.

“It was very dark then. I’m not sure if I remember correctly, but I think I fell down right here.” Thup pointed to a log knee-high. Upon closer inspection, they found a scratch on the bark which was the cause of the wound on the leg of the kid next to him.

“And then what?”

“And… I just kept walking.”

“Afraid of ghosts, yet you come out late at night, in the forest no less, following someone with a lantern, tripping and falling but not turning back, running until you reach the crime scene, doesn’t that sound odd to you?” Singha glanced at Thup from the corner of his eye. If anyone heard the whole story, they’d think this kid is suspicious without a second thought.

“Yes.” replied Thup after reflecting on his own words. It did sound suspicious. He wasn’t surprised that Singha didn’t believe him.

“Follow me.” said Singha, leading into the forest back to the crime scene. The area was now cleared, only yellow tape marked the boundary to keep people out. Last night’s light rain had made the ground soggy, making it pointless to look for more evidence. “Each victim was killed elsewhere before being brought here. It’s not easy to get a body up a tree.”

“Don’t step there!” Thup grabbed Singha’s shoulder just as the young inspector was about to step into a muddy puddle.

“Why?”

“Someone’s not happy.”

“Who?”

“This place… it’s not empty. It has an owner.”

“What are you talking about, Thup? Where’s the owner?” Thup didn’t answer, just stared ahead with trembling eyes. When Singha looked in the same direction, he saw only bushes and large trees.

“I think the killer chose this place for a reason… The murder must have a reason for choosing this place.”

Suddenly, Thup gripped Singha’s shoulder tightly, seeing spirits of both men and women staring back with displeased eyes. From one to two, from two to three, until he saw dozens of spirits glaring through the large bushes not far away.

“This place… must have been a cemetery before.”

 

GODDESSBLESSYOUFROMDEATH CHAPTERS HOME

  

   GODDESSBLESSYOUFROMDEATH, Case File No. 3: Merely Three Bits of Information

After the interrogation ended, Lieutenant Khem allowed Sir-Danai, the taxi driver, to leave, not forgetting to warn him that he might be called back for further questioning. The current information seemed insufficient to connect any dots. Singha thus decided to request all case reports from the teams on the ground and returned to his office, with the young suspect following behind.

“Inspector, here are the case reports. This one is the witness statement, and this is the preliminary autopsy report from forensics.” Lieutenant Khem, who had just followed him in, glanced briefly at the young man standing in the corner of the room. “Uh, should we take the suspect back to the holding cell as usual?”

Singha didn’t reply immediately. He merely turned to look at the visibly nervous young man. There were many reasons to suspect him, and without a better alibi than a ghost, he remained the prime suspect.

“Keep him in another holding cell when one is available.”

“Understood.”

Grrrrr

The sound of the young man’s stomach growling interrupted the conversation, followed by laughter from the elderly policeman standing by the door.

“Sorry.”

“It’s almost three. Inspector, do you want a snack or something? I’m heading out to buy some.”

“Get whatever, and a coffee for me too.” Singha said, handing over some money to his subordinate before sitting back at his desk.

“Hey kid, want something?” Thup was just a suspect, not enough evidence to conclude he was the perpetrator, so Lieutenant Khem didn’t want to pressure the young man too much.

“Can I have a boxed lunch, please? But… my wallet…”

“No worries, Inspector is footing the bill.” Khun Khem said, waving a purple banknote.

Thup looked back at the person reading documents with pleading eyes. He kept staring even though Singha didn’t look up, until finally, the young inspector couldn’t help but speak out in annoyance.

“Order whatever you want, and get some for the guys on duty too.” Thup said, pursing his lips.

“Yes, inspector. I’ll be right back.”

Once Khun Khem left, the room fell silent, filled only with the sound of flipping papers and keyboard clacking. Thup tiptoed to the sofa, careful not to disturb the working person. Fatigue slowly crept over him, making his eyelids heavy. He slapped his cheeks repeatedly, fearing that if he fell asleep now, he might wake up back in the same old cell.

Meanwhile, Singha, engrossed in case files, glanced up when he heard a sound from the sofa. The first person’s background he looked up was this suspicious young man in front of him. There was barely any information; just someone who had moved to the city from a university town in the Isan region. No clear parental history, but the application form for university mentioned a monk.

“What do you usually do in your free time?” Singha asked without looking up.

“Huh? Are you asking me?”

“There are only you and me in this room. Who else should I ask, your mother?”

“Uh… please don’t say it like that.” Thup said, looking around nervously.

“I just watch movies or draw pictures.”

“Anything else?”

“Uh… that’s it. I don’t really go out much.”

“Why?”

“There are things out there I don’t want to see.”

“But you choose to go into the forest at night? Do you know that just makes you closer to being a villain?”

“I… I think it’s happened before.”

“What do you mean?”

“People with their eyes and mouths sewn shut… I’ve seen it before.” Singha placed the file he was holding down, crossed his arms, and stared at Thup intently. “You might not believe what I’m saying, and that’s okay. I just want to share in case it might be useful.”

Thup pressed his lips together before letting out a deep sigh. Normally, he didn’t like talking unless necessary, especially about such personal matters, but Singha made him feel safe.

“I… I’ve seen ghosts. Since I was little, I thought it was just temporary, but it wasn’t. When I was at the temple, the monk helped me a lot. I never had friends my age because I couldn’t tell the difference. The monk gave me a necklace before he passed, to distinguish between the dead and the living. Before all this happened, before I dreamt about the forest incident… I’ve seen it before. I saw a woman whose eyes and mouth were sewn shut with red thread. So, what I’m saying is, this might not be the first time.”

Thup glanced at Singha with fear, seeing the young officer didn’t respond. “That’s… that’s all.”

“Here you go, sir, steamed beef with a fried egg, not fully cooked. And for this little one here, who looks like he doesn’t like spicy food, I got fried rice. Can you eat this?” LieutenantKhem interrupted, holding out food boxes with a broad smile. Thup’s fatigue momentarily eclipsed his fear.

“Thank you, Lieutenant.”

“Just call me Lieutenant Khem.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant Khem.”

“Eat up.”

Singha left the room without a word, making Thup’s heart skip a beat again. He knew it was hard to believe, especially for someone like Singha who seemed skeptical about such matters. He didn’t expect the young officer to believe him, but he wanted to be of some use.

“Have I made the officer angry?” Thup muttered.

“Nah, he’s always like this.”

“So, Lieutenant Khem, the inspector doesn’t think I’m… the culprit, right?”

“Not exactly, but the man is decisive. If he thought you were the bad guy, you’d be sleeping in a cell by now, not wandering around like this. Come on, eat up, young man, I’ll unlock your cuffs first. After you eat, I’ll lock them back up.”

“Thank you.” Thup smiled and bowed in gratitude.

Meanwhile, Singha, the young inspector, stepped out to the station’s parking lot, lighting up his usual brand of cigarette. He inhaled deeply, the nicotine hitting his lungs to calm the chaos in his mind. After half a cigarette, he pulled out his phone and dialed a contact at the Central Investigation Unit.

[3 AM] A groggy voice answered.

“Merk, I need info.”

[I’m trying to sleep here.]

   “Multiple homicides, victims sewn at the eyes and mouth with red thread.”

[Are you even listening to me?]

   “The case might be years old. I need all the info on similar or related homicides.”

[You’ve got to be kidding me, hold on.] There was a rustling on the other end. Singha stubbed out his first cigarette and lit another. [Seems like there’s something, I’ll send it over.

“Hmm.”

[Why suddenly interested in a case from five years back?]

   “Five years ago?”

[Yeah, similar reports from five years back. Wait, there was something ten years ago too.] Singha’s eyebrows furrowed. [It’s an unsolved special case, why the interest, Singha?

“Because I’m dealing with this damn case now, send everything over.”

[I’ll have to inform the commander then.]

   “Hold on, the commander will make things even more complicated. Let’s wait until we have more to go on.”

[Singha, that’s the commander!]

   “Just this much.” Singha hung up before taking another deep drag, thinking if this case had really happened before and multiple times without the culprits being caught, then it’s dangerous!

Singha returned to his office, rolling his eyes slightly. Upon entering, he saw his subordinate casually chatting with the problematic kid. There was also an empty food box on the table.

“No work to do, Lieutenant?”

“Not yet, sir, waiting for your orders.”

“I’ll send some info your way, gather it up for me.”

“Sure, and are you going home tonight, sir?”

“No.”

“Understood.” After Lieutenant Khem left, Singha forwarded an email he received from a friend at the central investigation unit, then continued reviewing each victim’s background in detail.

“Sir?”

“What?”

“Can I sleep, sir?”

“Want a bath and a soft bed too?”

“Really?” The young man asked excitedly, but seeing the stern look, he returned to his curled-up position, “Guess not.”

Thup looked at the blank paper and pencil on the table. The young man sat on the floor, doodling aimlessly because sitting still would surely put him to sleep. Now, the room was filled only with the sound of turning paper and the scribbling of a pencil.

Singha read through the victims’ backgrounds, trying to find any connection. But aside from their ages being all over the place, nothing matched – not their professions, addresses, or even lifestyles. Typically, serial killers choose victims with something in common, be it physical traits or shared data points, but here, there was nothing. The only consistent factor was the method of killing.

Singha reopened the emails, carefully reading through each detail. The case from five years ago occurred in a northern province, with seven victims all sewn up with red thread at their eyes and mouths, just like now. Reviewing those victims’ profiles, it was the same – no connections among them.

“So, what’s the killer’s selection criteria?”

Age? Indeterminate.

   Gender? Indeterminate.

   Occupation? Indeterminate.

   Residence? Indeterminate.

   Religion?

   He spread out all the papers on the table, going over the religion section. And there it was – every victim, from the recent cases to those five and even ten years ago, followed the same religion.

Buddhism.

   This was the only link found so far.

A grunt from someone slumped over the guest table caught Singha’s attention. Walking over, he saw the young man had been drawing. Picking up the artwork, he frowned. It was a picture of himself, looking stressed while working. Given the skill, the kid claiming to be a freelance artist wasn’t exaggerating. Singha shook his head, placed the drawing back, threw his coat over the young man’s head, and left the room, locking the door behind him. He headed to the forensics lab to re-examine all the victims’ bodies.

In the chilly morgue, the bodies had been neatly stored in refrigerated cabinets. Singha glanced around, his eyes scanning each cabinet, pondering deeply. Just knowing the victims’ religions wasn’t enough to catch the killer. He needed more, anything to solve this case and nab the murderer.

Thup, roused by the sound of a door closing, groggily reached for a solid black leather jacket, holding it as he looked for its owner, but found no one. A slight smile crept on his lips as he inhaled the jacket’s pleasant scent. Who said inspectors were always tough?

Before he could relax, a sound like nails scratching on wood jolted Thup. Turning slowly, he saw the shadowy figure of a woman outside the glass door again.

“What… what do you want?” he asked tremblingly, but received no answer, only a muffled groan from outside. “Are you… the one behind this?”

Before he could finish, a loud banging on the door shook the room as if the person outside was filled with fury. Thup, trembling with fear, hugged Singha’s jacket tightly, trying to close his eyes but curiosity about who was on the other side kept them open. The sound was unmistakable; it was the same eerie groan he had heard from his childhood.

It was that ghost he had encountered before.

The door swung open, flooding the room with light. Through his tears, he saw not a ghost, but Singha’s stern face approaching.

“Check the CCTV.”

“Understood, Inspector.”

“What now, Thup?” Thup turned to look where Singha pointed, noticing long scratches on the door revealing the wood beneath.

“If she wasn’t here to tell me something… then she must want me.”

 

GODDESSBLESSYOUFROMDEATH CHAPTERS HOME

  

   GODDESSBLESSYOUFROMDEATH, Case File 2: Statement from the Taxi Driver

Singha was standing in the observation room, his sharp eyes fixed on the pale young man in the interrogation room. The observation room door opened, and Lieutenant Khem entered, handing over the case file to his chief, who was still glaring at the young man.

“He answered all questions the same way, Inspector.”

“Did anyone else see anyone else in the area?”

“No. The police initially at the scene didn’t see anyone either.”

Lieutenant Khem turned to look at the young man in the interrogation room and sighed. “I don’t know. I think this kid doesn’t seem like a killer. Not just because of his innocent face, but also because his statements show no inconsistencies. Plus, the fact that he had to take a taxi to the crime scene, he couldn’t possibly have transported all the bodies there, right?”

Singha didn’t respond as he was reading the case file in his hands, just as the observation room door opened again, this time with Lieutenant Prom, a young officer who had recently transferred.

“Inspector, here’s the driver’s information. We’ve issued a summons for him to come in for questioning.”

“Hmm.”

“Also, Dr. Say is back.”

“And the victims’ bodies?”

“They’ve been sent over as well.”

Singha walked back into the interrogation room. As soon as the young officer entered, Thup straightened up automatically, feeling tense.

“Stand up.”

“Where…where are we going?”

“Back to your cell. We need this room.”

“Can I stay somewhere else? Another cell, storage room, anywhere but not that cell, please. I’m begging you.” The young man was visibly agitated.

“What’s wrong with going back there?”

“You wouldn’t believe me anyway… right?”

The young inspector puffed out his cheeks in frustration.

“Inspector, Dr. Say is asking for you.” Sergeant Khem opened the door to inform his boss.

“Yeah, I’ll be there in a minute.” Singha grabbed Thup by the collar, making him follow, disregarding his near-tearful state. “Lieutenant, is there any other room available?”

“Just that?”

“Yes.”

Singha dragged the young man by the back of his shirt, making him follow up to the upper floor of the police station. Despite the small distance in their steps, it seemed Thup couldn’t keep up with the person in front at all.

“Officer…sir, I…I can’t keep up.” Thup gasped, his shirt collar pulled so tight he could barely breathe, but the person ahead showed no signs of slowing down.

When they reached the front of an office door clearly marked with an inspector’s badge, Thup pressed his lips together. The door was opened just as Singha pushed the young man inside. He then went to retrieve a key from his desk drawer. This room would do for a temporary holding place, at least until the investigation was over. There was only one entry and exit. Thup chose to sit on the long black sofa cautiously, looking around the room warily.

“If you’re going to be difficult again, you can go back to your old cell.”

“Thank…thank you.” The ringing of a phone from his jeans pocket didn’t stop, forcing Singha to answer, though he kept his eyes on the young man.

“What?”

[Where are you?]

   “Upstairs.”

[Come down, Sing, I’ve got something to show you.]

   “Wait a moment.” Singha hung up quickly, walked to the small fridge in the room, grabbed a bottle of water, and tossed it to the young man on the sofa. “Don’t cause any trouble.”

“I’ll stay here.”

“Thank you, Inspector Singha.” The addressed man glanced slightly before walking out, not forgetting to lock the door from the outside.

He walked downstairs, then opened the door to the forensic department. The clattering sounds from the autopsy room didn’t unsettle Singha at all. Once inside, he found his friend, a young man with red hair contrasting with the white lab gown he was wearing, pacing between the three autopsy tables and the four open body storage units behind.

“What have you got?”

“Come here, put these on.” Singha grabbed gloves from a box and put them on before standing next to his friend. “The seven victims’ bodies show no physical similarities. This corpse is an eighteen-year-old male. That one’s a forty-three-year-old male. And that one’s a fourteen-year-old female.” Say pointed to the bodies laid out on the tables in turn, then turned to the body storage units behind.

“This one’s a fifteen-year-old male, that one’s a nineteen-year-old male. And the last one is a fifteen-year-old female.”

Singha scanned each corpse, particularly lingering on the body of the young girl.

“I know what you’re thinking, the killer isn’t specifying the type of victims here. It’s sloppy work, Sing.”

“It’s not certain there’s no connection yet. We’ll see once we have detailed backgrounds of each.”

“Yeah, I hope so.” Say walked back to the first body’s table. “Each body was treated the same: sewn eyes with red thread and lips sewn shut in an ‘X’ pattern. Look here, the victims’ necks have ligature marks from rope, but there’s something deeper.”

“Wire?” Singha leaned in to examine the victim’s neck. Apart from the bruising from the rope, there were also small, deep cuts.

“Not sure yet, but I think so. These cuts are the cause of death, strangulation until asphyxiation. The victims probably didn’t see it coming. The more they struggled, the tighter the wire-like material cut into their necks from behind, slicing deeply into the flesh. I think the killer is probably a teenager or maybe young adult, possibly around one-eighty centimeters tall or more.”

“And at the crime scene, did you find anything else?”

“There’s nothing suspicious, but you might want to look at the photos again. There are two sets of footprints: one from our police and the other from the suspect.”

“That kid is over one-eighty centimeters tall.” Singha muttered to himself.

“The thread sewn over the eyes and mouth of the victims probably isn’t to prevent them from calling for help; it’s more likely due to some psychological repression or mental illness, to torment the victims more.”

“Examine the neck wounds and the thread too, just in case. And if the victims were still conscious when strangled, they might have struggled or fought back. Check under their fingernails for any DNA traces from the killer.”

“Okay, I’ll handle it.”

“If you find anything else, let me know, and I’ll need the autopsy reports.”

“I’ll get them to you.” Then they both went back to their respective duties.

Singha walked back to the interrogation room because he received a message that the taxi driver was there waiting to give his statement. However, his steps suddenly halted, and he changed direction towards his own office instead.

Thup was in the chief’s office in the station, looking around before slumping back into the sofa weakly. He stared at the white ceiling, sighing. If he hadn’t lost the amulet given by the monk, he might not have dreamt of that and seen these things again.

“What should I do?” Thup muttered to himself, but suddenly, he noticed a dark shadow passing by the glass door. His once calm heart raced again. The young man reassured himself it was probably overthinking due to exhaustion from not eating or sleeping for hours. His eyes fixed on the frosted glass door until he saw the figure of a woman gradually become clear outside. Thup hunched over again, thinking if he didn’t look up, he wouldn’t see those frightening things, but then the sound of the doorknob turning made his heart sink, “Please don’t scare me, don’t scare me.”

“Will there ever be a time when I meet you under normal circumstances?” Thup looked up immediately.

“Inspector!”

“Do you remember the taxi driver’s face?” The familiar voice asked.

“Y…Yes.” When Singha got the answer he wanted, he unlocked the handcuffs.

“What are you staring at?” the young policeman asked, noticing the kid in front of him couldn’t take his eyes off the door.

“Nothing.”

“Get up and follow me.”

“Where are we going? You’re not taking me to the cell, are you?”

“And what if I am?” Singha replied irritably, rolling his eyes as the kid hesitated to follow.

“Come on.”

As they neared the interrogation room, Thup suddenly halted, turning to look down the hallway leading to forensics. He saw a girl standing at the end, sobbing. Instead of tears, drops of blood flowed down her cheeks.

“The girl…”

“What about her?”

“I… I see a girl standing there.” Singha looked where the pale finger pointed but saw only emptiness.

“Describe her.”

“She’s young, with long black hair down to her back, wearing a yellow t-shirt and jeans overalls…”

Singha furrowed his brows, then grabbed Thup by the collar, urging him to move.

Just like back then. She said the same thing.

Thinking about it, Singha puffed out his cheeks in frustration. This kid was at the crime scene, he must’ve seen the bodies already. He couldn’t afford to entertain such nonsense.

They reached the observation room, where the interrogation began. Singha had to keep an eye on both the taxi driver and the suspect beside him.

“Is this the guy?” Singha asked.

“Yes.”

“Name?”

“He’s called Danai.”

“What color taxi?”

“Pink.” Singha nodded in acknowledgment, then glanced into the interrogation room about to start.

“Good day, Danai, got the summons?”

“Just a bit.”

“Shall we get started then?”

“Uh… maybe not.” Must have been quite the shock when you got it, or do you want a drink first?

“Alright, let’s begin. Today, we’ve invited you to ask about a passenger who rode in your taxi last night.”

“I’m not sure if I’ll remember.”

“Just whatever you can recall. You drive a pink taxi, a Toyota, license plate number 487, correct?”

“Correct.”

“Your name is Mister Danai, correct?”

“Correct.”

“Last night, from dusk till midnight, a passenger, a man in his mid-twenties to thirties, hailed a taxi in front of a condo for a ride out of town. Remember him?”

“I remember… that young man…” The taxi driver paused for a moment, nodding vigorously before answering.

“Do you recall what he was wearing?”

“Ah, if I’m not mistaken, he was in a white T-shirt, with a gray hoodie. Not sure about the pants, but he was tall, fair-skinned, and quite handsome.”

Thup looked down at himself before turning to Singha with a gleaming eye, probably because the taxi driver’s description matched him perfectly.

“Can you tell me what his demeanor was like before getting into the car, during the ride, and when he arrived at his destination?”

“When he hailed my taxi, he seemed very anxious. During the ride, we didn’t talk much, but I asked him what he was going to do in the middle of the forest at this late hour. The young man replied that he thought something bad might happen.”

“And then what happened next?”

“While driving, the road was deserted, and the atmosphere was very quiet. So, I turned on some music and we didn’t talk much. After a while, the kid suddenly told me to stop the car. After paying, he asked me to wait, then he walked straight into the forest.”

“Did he take anything with him, or was anyone with him?”

“It looked like he went empty-handed, and no one was with him, but…”

“But what?”

“But… Some of my taxi driver friends have told stories about people encountering something strange around there often. I’m scared of ghosts myself; I only stopped for a moment before I felt eerie and drove off.”

“Where did you go after that?”

“I parked at a store about two kilometers away because I wasn’t sure if I should wait for him.”

“About those stories, can you tell me what they are about?”

“Well, around there, they say people have seen an old woman, or sometimes a young woman, standing in the forest by the road. She wears a blue blouse, a sarong with green floral patterns, and carries a lantern. They say if you drive by half-asleep, you might see her crossing the road. If you stop, bad luck often follows, leading to accidents. Now, no one stops there anymore.”

“A ghost?”

“They say it’s a local deity or a forest spirit.” The taxi driver explained, excitedly rubbing his arms.

Singha sighed before turning to look at the young man standing beside him.

“I’m not lying, really.” Thup said.

“I haven’t even asked.”

“… “

“I don’t know how to convince you, Inspector, but I really didn’t kill anyone. I told you, it was a ghost.”

“Ghosts don’t use wire to kill people or sew their eyes and mouth shut, so keep your ghost story to yourself.”

Looks like this case won’t be straightforward.

  

GODDESSBLESSYOUFROMDEATH CHAPTERS HOME

  

   GODDESSBLESSYOUFROMDEATH, Case File 1: The Curse of the Solitary Cell

At the police station past midnight, aside from the duty officers and those waiting off their hangover, it wasn’t as bustling as daytime. The quiet atmosphere ended when a van carrying a suspect parked in front. Two officers escorted a composed young man inside. Just then, the previously calm wind suddenly gusted stronger for no reason.

“Who’s this, Lieutenant?”

“A suspect.”

“Ha! Someone this good looking?”

“These days, you can’t judge a book by its cover. Let’s go, open an interrogation room; the sergeant will deal with him.”

“The rooms are full. Two are being repaired, cameras and wiretaps, and one is in use.”

“Then put him in a solitary cell for now.”

“Uh… can you open it yourself, sir?”

“Don’t be silly, go on, hurry! If the inspector sees this kid still roaming outside, we’ll get an earful!”

The young man glanced at the two officers bickering. He was led inside, past desks, past the staff room, until they reached the holding area. The stifling atmosphere made the young man turn away with every step echoing on the floor. He looked around warily, and when they reached the innermost cell, he saw a man sitting facing the corner, radiating a chilling, eerie vibe. This cell felt different from the others, darker and more ominous.

The sound of the iron door creaking was painfully loud. The officer pushed Thup inside without much care.

“Stay here, don’t cause trouble. An officer will come for a body search.”

“Uh… sorry, but do I really have to stay here?”

“Looks like it. The interrogation rooms are full, and you won’t be here long. We’ll call the doctor soon.”

“Uh… but here… will something happen?”

“Hey kid, you ask a lot of questions.”

“So… so that means I have to stay in this room alone, right?”

“And you want me to just sit here and watch? That’s a weird question.”

The young man slowly sat down on the floor, gripping the bars tightly, his eyes slightly trembling, before softly beginning to chant.

“Namo Tassa Bhagavato Araha.”

‘I should have killed them all. I shouldn’t have left any.’

   “Arahato Samma Sambuddhassa Namo Tassa.” The young man recited the chant while looking down at his own feet.

‘I don’t want to be locked up, locked up, locked up.’

   “Bhagavato, a… Arahato, Sa… Samma Sambuddhassa.” A chilling sensation made the young man’s chant become stuttered, his beautiful hands gripping the bars so tightly that veins were visible.

‘Need to escape, must escape.’

   The sounds of movement behind him didn’t arouse curiosity; the dragging footsteps, the sounds of tying something, continuous, like the mumblings of wanting to escape. He didn’t even want to guess what kind of escape that was.

‘Gasp! Cough! Gag! Cough!’

   The sounds of agony made the young man quickly cover his ears. The rustling of clothes, the flesh hitting, screams like someone out of breath, until after four minutes, everything returned to its original silence.

Shaking, the young man slowly removed his hands from his ears. He saw nothing in his peripheral vision, so he gradually turned his head to look behind, only to see an empty room. He sighed in relief, but as he was about to relax, a drop of water hit his forehead, making his heart race again. He breathed heavily and looked up.

!!!!Kid

   The image of a young man in tattered clothes is hanging from an upper beam, a thick rope around his neck. His eyes bulge out, his face is a ghastly green, not like someone who has just died. The source of the water droplets on his forehead is from his tongue sticking out. This horrific sight makes the young man tremble with fear, backing away until he hits the wall. His eyes widen as the hanging body slowly inflates and eventually falls to the ground. Instead of the scene disappearing like when he still had the monk’s necklace, the body now slowly moves, its swollen face glaring at him with vengeful eyes before crawling towards him, mumbling,

‘Run, run with me, do it.’

   “Please, stop, don’t, sob, don’t do it.” The young man pleads, hands clasped, as the ghost crawls closer.

‘Come with me, die like me!’

   The young man shuts his eyes tight, trembling, knowing that believing even a word could seal his fate.

While he sits curled up, eyes closed, hoping the nightmare would end, a cold breeze blows in, like before…like in the forest.

“Who said to take this kid to Khun Darin, lieutenant?” a deep voice asks from the front.

“Uh, Khun Darin said to take the suspect to the room, but no one dared to come.”

“Too scared of nonsense to work, eh? Pathetic!” The irritated voice makes the teary-eyed young man look up from the sneakers to the dark jeans, tight black t-shirt showcasing abs, to the leather jacket sleeve brushing back hair in frustration, “Get up, follow me, and if you think of running, you’ll regret it.”

The ghost is gone…it vanished.

   Singha looks at the young man, who is looking around in panic, just like when he first saw him.

He had just returned from directing the scene when he asked others about the new suspect; they all pointed to the solitary confinement room. On his way, he heard sobbing mixed with chanting from inside, confirming it was this kid.

A young man is handcuffed, led by an officer at the front and another at the back. They are heading to the nursing department for a body check before the interrogation process begins.

A rough hand pushes open the door to a clean, white room, indifferent to whoever might be inside.

“Damn! You scared me, Singha!” a tough-looking woman exclaims. Her jet-black hair is clipped up hastily, and she pushes up her thick-framed glasses before throwing a half-eaten apple at the newcomer. “Ever heard of knocking? Manners, dude!”

“I’m a police inspector.”

“And?”

“Brought a suspect for a body check.” He pushes forward.

“Suspect?”

“Yeah, murder case.”

“Seven bodies, in the forest, right?”

“How did you know?” Singha pulls the young man forward.

“Your buddy’s got a mouth like a loudspeaker. How do you shut him up?” Darin, a former forensic pathologist turned nurse because she couldn’t handle the ghosts, puts down her files and walks into the examination room, followed by the suspect and Singha. “Say called to prepare the autopsy room. He painted such a vivid picture, I’m still creeped out.”

“Delusional.”

“Yeah, because tough guys like you aren’t scared of anything.” Darin hands over the consent form for the body check to the young man, who is staring at the floor. “Read it carefully, then sign here, so we can start the check.”

“Uh… me…” The young man suddenly stops talking and starts reading the document.

“You sure we’ve got the right guy?” Darin whispers to Singha, standing beside him.

“He was at the crime scene.” Singha whispers back, his sharp eyes not leaving the visibly nervous young man.

“About the size of you but seems like a light kick could topple him, yet he supposedly killed seven people and hung them on a tree. That can’t be right.”

“Out of anger, intentional murder, or even a cover-up, anything could have happened until we investigate.”

“Done.” The young man handed the file back to the two.

“Because I’m a woman, I need Singha to find a man to be with, are you okay with that?”

“Yes.” The young man stared at the person leaning against the wall with a gleaming look.

“Alright, let’s begin.” Darin placed the file on the bed, starting to examine the young man, including drawing blood for tests. Even external bloodstains were collected, “Look at this wound.”

Pulling up the trouser leg revealed an open wound. Though not deep, it was suspicious enough not to be ignored. The routine examination proceeded, with the young man occasionally glancing at the person by the wall, but upon meeting eyes, he quickly looked away.

“Yes.” The young man stared at the person leaning against the wall with a sparkling look in his eyes.

“Okay, let’s get started.” Darin picked up a file from the side, placing it on the bed before beginning to examine the young man’s body, including drawing blood for testing. The external blood stains were collected as well. “There’s this wound.” she noted during the examination.

The rolled-up trouser leg revealed an open wound. Though not deep, it was significant enough not to be overlooked. The procedure continued with basic steps. Occasionally, the young man glanced up at the person standing by the wall, but when their eyes met, he quickly looked away.

“Name?”

“Uh…yes, sir?”

“What’s your name?”

“Thup. My name is Thup.”

“Age?”

“T-t-twenty-five.”

“Oh! The year of misfortune.” Darin chimed in. “Sing, you’re also in your year of misfortune, right?”

“Get back to work.”

“I know, I know!” Darin continued the examination. After documenting everything, including photos and data in the file, she then proceeded to dress the wound.

“The next step is an interrogation. So, don’t make it hard on yourself. Don’t lie, and don’t think about running.”

“I…I really didn’t do it.”

“Everyone caught on charges like these says the same thing.”

“Can…can I ask for something?”

“The only right you have is to a lawyer.”

“Can…can I stay somewhere else? I can stay anywhere, even in this room, but not that cell, please.”

“The cell? The one at the very end?”

“Yes.”

“I see. I told them to bring you in, and they were reluctant, turns out it’s because of that rumored haunted cell.”

“When are you guys going to stop believing in this nonsense? Ghosts, really? It’s all in your heads, just psyching yourselves out.”

“Sing, I won’t argue if you don’t believe me, but there’ve been several detainees who ended up killing themselves in there. Not just one or two.”

“By…by hanging, right?” The young man looked up, and both Singha and Darin raised their heads.

“Yes, how did you know?” Darin said, startled. “The first detainee caught for a family massacre used his own blood to write a farewell on the floor before hanging himself with a cord hidden in his pants. After that, anyone locked in that cell has tried to kill themselves, some succeeded, some didn’t. It’s creepy. Even though it happened five years ago, hardly anyone uses that cell anymore. Okay, we’re done here.”

“Stand up.” Singha ordered the young man again. “When you get the test results, bring them to me, and if Say comes back, let him know too.”

“Right, right.”

Singha escorted the young man to the interrogation room, which had just been repaired. Standing next to each other, he noticed the young man was only slightly taller than him.

“Thup Thammawat Wirakitthada, twenty-five years old, currently working as a freelance illustrator. No record of parents. No criminal record.” Singha read through the profile of the person sitting across from him, item by item. Meanwhile, Thup just sat there, nodding along. “The current address is twenty kilometers from the crime scene. Want to explain why you were there and how you got there, seeing as there’s no record of a driver’s license here?”

“I can’t drive.”

“And then?”

“So, I took a taxi.”

“Do I have to dig for every detail, or are you going to spill it all at once?”

“Sorry. I…I had a dream. I dreamed that something bad would happen there. So, I went. I told the taxi driver to wait, but he didn’t.”

Thup looked up at the young inspector across from him, who had a stern look on his face.

“Are you going to tell the truth, or spend another night behind bars?”

“I’m telling the truth. You might not believe me, but I’ve told you everything I can. I remember the taxi’s license plate. I remember everything.”

“Then tell me.”

The young man wrote down the taxi’s license plate and slid the paper over.

“After I got out of the taxi, I saw an old lady about to walk into the woods. I followed her, and the deeper I went, the more I felt like I was going somewhere I shouldn’t. Next thing I knew, I was standing there. I was so scared I tried to run, but no matter how I ran, I kept circling back to the same spot until the police found me. I tripped over a branch and fell, and then you caught me.”

“If you saw an old lady, where is she now? Who is she? Why would you follow a stranger into the woods?”

“I didn’t see her face clearly, but she was wearing a blue collared shirt, a green floral scarf, and she was carrying an old-fashioned lantern. I heard a sound behind me, so I turned for just a second, and when I looked back, she was gone.” After hearing the story, Singha sighed and puffed out his cheeks in frustration.

“Did you listen to what you’re saying? Anyone believing you is an idiot!” Singha stood up, slamming the file onto the table, making the young man jump. “You think you’ll avoid prison with this ridiculous story?”

“I…I’m telling the truth. I really didn’t do it.”

“Damn it!” Singha stormed out of the room in frustration. It wasn’t just the young man’s story that angered him; it was also the fact that the young man’s physical demeanor didn’t show any signs of deceit. If he wasn’t telling the truth, he was certainly a skilled liar. “Lieutenant, go take his statement, and bring me the case report.”

“Yes, Inspector.”

“Lieutenant, look up the taxi’s information and bring the driver in for questioning.”

“Understood.”

That problematic kid.

 

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