City lights, rain-soaked asphalts and smog-filled streets.

A slick bike and its lithe rider zoomed through the heavy traffic with ease. The blazing destination reflected on the beetle-black helmet grew larger with every swerve through the narrow gaps between the stagnant cars.

Thousands thronged the temple on the waterfront. Lanterns, spotlights and burning braziers turned the midnight waters gold. Aspiring photographers flocked to the riverside for a chance to capture the temple’s reflections on the still waters, resembling an underwater palace.

Eager devotees rushed into the temple with glowing incense while curious tourists followed with their flashing phones.

Concert-like music echoed into the night. Cars and bikes offered their greetings with cheerful honks as they turtled past the freshly-painted temple walls. Despite the cheerful chatters and bright instruments mingling in the air, the night remained chilly.

The bike revved into the temple compound. Parents stared while children pointed at the disembarking rider. Clad in dark leather the same shade as the night, the biker stood out among the sea of colourful devotees. Their curious glances broke when a group of monk rushed to the black biker.

Expecting a rowdy reprimand, devotees and tourists alike were shocked to see the monks assisting the biker.

Bowing, the holy men took the helmet and leather outerwear from the biker with two hands. Cameras flashed amongst the curious chatters, a viral video moment in the making.

Elders gasped when the monks helped the biker into a kasaya of saffron and gold, the signature robe of a distinguished monk. But what they saw next blew their minds like the big bang.

The black biker was an abbess—a holy woman.

The crowd parted as she walked towards the prayer hall. Bald like the other monks, her egg-shaped head glowed like a halo. She looked like a saint under the moonlight.

Children began bowing, then their parents and eventually the stubborn elders followed suit. She nodded slowly to each one, her heavy-lidded eyes acknowledging all. Her motherly smile was disarming. Even the babes stopped crying in their mothers’ sticky and uncomfortable arms.

Soon, the crowd followed her like ducklings.

Other devotees minded their own business by feeding the burning braziers with paper offerings. Columns of ghost-white smoke dispersed in the air with a calming sweet scent.

More offerings were brought into the temple. Sweets, fruits, chips and every kind of junk food that parents would keep away from their children. But tonight, these offerings were not for the gods.

Altars piled high with steamy food and chilled alcohol. The donation boxes were a robber’s wet dream. They were filled to the brim, begging to be stolen. But tonight, no robbers would take these donations.

No, not tonight. The appearance of the full moon signified the 15th of the lunar month—the day the gates of hell were opened.

Aptly coined as the Hungry Ghost Festival, starving souls in hell were given a month-long break to satisfy their hunger on earth.

Devotees believed these souls would wreak havoc if their demands were not met. They would prepare offerings to ward off ill luck and unwanted tragedies.

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No robber would be foolish enough to mess with the offerings for the hungry ghosts.

But the Venerable Shen was not here to soothe the tormented spirits. She came because felt a strong pull to this place. Something life-changing was about to happen here.

She climbed the temple steps and stood before an enormous stone burner. Overflowing with half-burnt joss sticks, the grey-white ashes rained down and stained her pristine black loafers.

“Venerable Shen,” said a bald man with a straight beard. The long wispy mustache above his lips reminded the abbess of catfish whiskers.

“Chairman Lim,” she said with a small nod.

“It's an honour to have you grace our humble temple. I thought you might need these.” He offered her a bundle of smoking incense.

Without batting an eye, she said, “Thank you, Chairman Lim. But I believe my Kawasaki has contributed enough to the rising temperatures.”

Ignoring the gaping chairman, she put her hands together and bowed towards the prayer hall behind the stone burner. She then turned towards the sky and bowed.

With her arms up in the air, the long sleeves slid down to her elbows, revealing a smart watch. She ignored the vibrating device.

Further in the temple compound, she left her simple shoes among the sea of Jordans and Hermes, and entered the gilded praying hall. Pressing her hands together, she knelt before the life-like statue of the patron deity.

Again, the action caused her sleeves to slide down to her elbows. Wide-eyed devotees stared at the watch. Ignoring them, she drowned out the gossip with a pair of earpods.

She ignored the vibrating device a second time.

Touching the lacquered floor with her head, she spoke. Her lips moved but no sound came. It was a conversation between her and the deity—only the gods knew what had been said.

When the last words were spoken, the pressure on her shoulders lifted, the colours around here seemed brighter, full of life. She sat upright and smiled at the statue, before bowing again in gratitude.

Something was following her. But that something was gone for now.

The smart watch vibrated again, but she didn't ignore it this time.

“Venerable Shen, I'm so glad you picked up,” said a feminine voice.

“You made it difficult not to,” said the abbess quietly.

“I… what’s that tapping sound?”

“Temple block—a monk is reciting a prayer now. ”

“I-I’m not interrupting, am I?”

“You already did—straight to the point!”

“I’m sorry, Venerable Shen. But we have a situation—I’ve been hearing it again. And… and my husband’s seeing it too.”

“Was it alone?”

“No, it claimed our parents were with him. But we couldn't see or hear them. Please, you must help us. I begged you—this can't happen, not again.”

The abbess kept silent, she opened her lidded eyes slowly. Empty pupils stared at the floor before her, she was not looking but contemplating.

“Venerable Shen?”

“Is it hostile?”

“No, I don't think so. It seemed shy. Why?”

“Bring it to me.”

“W-what? How are we going to do that? It’s not like we can just drive him around town.”

“It’s simple—just ask it to follow you.”

“No! We don't want to be followed—especially not by it!”

“Don’t touch it and don't tell it your name. I'll be waiting for you at the waterfront.”

She tapped the red button on the watch and immediately felt another weight lifted off her. There were more than one following her and it had eavesdropped the entire conversation!

She turned her gaze towards the statue. The shadows beneath statue’s seemed abnormally dark, like it was tired. The spirit that it had failed to ward off must have been one of the greater spirits.

The fine hair on her arms stood straight up. She had seen her fair share of the supernatural before abandoning it for the path to enlightenment, but the thought of a spirit strong enough to withstand a divine ward shook her to the core.

No. What she felt was not important. She touched her head to the floor and thanked the patron deity.

The abbess stood up with grace and walked backwards towards the exit. The sea of devotees parted for her. She walked out, accompanied by the monks and newly added devotees from the prayer hall.

She did not stop at her motorbike, instead, she kept walking till she exited the temple compound, leaving the masses confused by the high arch gate.

She kept going and eventually reached the waterfront.

The waters were longer still. Dark clouds rolled above the sleepy town. Her robes fluttered with the strong gust.

Something life-changing was about to happen—she was sure of that now. Whatever it was, it had something to do with the call earlier.

The spirit seemed eager too—she must assist them.

“Siri, please call my son.”

“Calling Erland.”