''I have opened a hospice in the northwestern part of the city where most of the patients are being cared for, most of my people are over there alongside bolstering our militia.'' As Belmont speaks, the nuns resume their duties, pointedly ignoring you. ''The number of afflicted souls is around...'' He briefly pauses. ''...130, and as you can see, all of them are catatonic, so I had to pull some strings to get the proper nutritional supplements to keep them alive.''

''What in the world is afflicting them? A disease?'' The instinctive fear of sharing the burden of these poor people is more than enough to supplant your curiosity.

''I cannot say. A curse? A drug? A disease?'' Belmont shrugs and turns to look at your group. ''What’s left of their souls is so fragile I dare not put any strain upon them, lest I risk killing them myself. If they are ever cured, I doubt any of them will remember who they were.''

''This phenomenon started last month. People reported loved ones or strangers remaining catatonic in beds or wandering the streets at night in a constant daze, so I had my people gather them and, so far, have kept the news quiet because of the low number of victims. There was an explosive number of patients during the initial two weeks. Only a trickle is reported by my acolytes now, thank the Father.''

''Shouldn-''
''It is too soon to acknowledge this situation as a proper crisis.'' Belmont interrupts you. ''I can’t give proper directives until I know why this is happening. Is it a disease? Then it’s not concentrated in a district or area. A curse? Then our culprit is at large. A drug? I’ve never come across something that comes so close to obliterating someone’s soul.''

Mother’s Mercy. You, Seyraphal, and Shigeko can only look around as the nuns continue nursing the patients, moving them to prevent bedsores.

''Unfortunately, we’ve been facing an increase in the deaths of our patients.'' The bishop continues; he seems strangely in his element here. His voice and emotions remain measured. ''Some wake up at night in agitated delusions, screaming about hearing a song and seeing an ''It'' that is pursuing them. Their souls soon exit their bodies, leaving behind shells that need to be euthanized or risk invasion by hungry spirits from the Red.''
A song!? Okay, this is odd. Should I tell him about yesterday? Shigeko and Seyraphal look as surprised as you are.

''This situation has been going on for a month?'' He nods at your question. ''...Yet the neglect of the Mamonos has been going on for far longer.''
Belmont shrugs. At least he’s not trying to justify himself.
''What’s down there?'' Shigeko points to a stairway leading further down at the far end of the basement.
''Large storage area for perishables and medicines,'' Belmont replies quickly and, with a brief look around at the nuns, steps closer to speak in whispers.