Page 9
Story: Love & Other Atrocities
He writes down a note. “And what activity has there been?”
“Voices…I mean, one voice, in my head. Uhm…shadows? Like, a shadow creature, and weird stuff with the TV and lights.”
“Destruction of property?” Father Benjamin motions around the apartment, which does look like it was hit by a particularly violent poltergeist. Unfortunately, that’s all on me.
“Yes,” I say. Annoth snorts in my head. “Yes, she’s been quite destructive.”
“She?” The priest raises an eyebrow. “A female demon? Interesting.”
“Well,” I say with a shrug and an involuntary grin, “it’s the 21st century now. Women run the world, right?”
His face splits into a smile and he actually laughs. It’s a bit loud and ridiculous, but it makes me smile even harder. “I can see she hasn’t damaged your sense of humor. That’s good.”
This is quite painful for me to witness,Annoth says dryly, and I clear my throat, trying to get the conversation back on track, even though all I want to do is make him laugh again.
He clears his throat too and the smile disappears. “Has the entity told you her name, or made any demands?”
“She said her name was…Annoth’zagoz, and she wants me to…commit crimes, I guess? She said I should strangle the neighbor’s dog, hurt people, stuff like that.”
“And…have you given into any of the demands?”
“Of course not!”
“Have to ask.” He holds his hands up, then sets down the notebook and pen. “Now, if you follow my directions, this might be quick, but I can’t promise it’ll be painless. Ready?”
“I guess so,” I sigh.
“Sit on the couch, please.”
I move over and sit down, anxiously running my hands through my hair and scratching the two-month beard I’ve managed to grow.
“Have you done this before?” I ask as Father Benjamin takes a large crucifix out of his pocket.
“Of course,” he replies with a reassuring smile. Somehow, that doesn’t make me feel better.
“How common is…demon possession?”
“Mr. Keating…” he laughs. “I’ll need you to be quiet for this first part.”
“Right,” I sigh. “Sorry.” He holds the crucifix up and starts speaking quickly and quietly in Latin. I learned some for my Confirmation classes as a kid, but I can’t follow anything he’s saying, so I just clench my hands together and close my eyes.
Nothing is happening,says Annoth.Why is nothing happening? I ought to be able to feel myself being drawn out of your body.
“I don’t know,” I reply out loud, not thinking. Father Benjamin falters slightly and looks up at me with his eyes wide. I just shrug my shoulders, trying to stay silent as he continues speaking in Latin.
This is ridiculous,Annoth seethes after another full minute where nothing happens.This priest is either incompetent or fraudulent and must be dealt with accordingly.
“No!” I snap.
The priest stops speaking and lowers his crucifix. “Do you feel anything?”
“Uhh…yes, she’s…she’s resisting it,” I tell him. “She’s fighting it.” He looks slightly taken aback, but goes back to his bag of supplies and returns with a clear, plastic bottle bearing a gold cross.
“Holy water,” he says. “Sometimes…it takes more time for it to start working.” I close my eyes and nod as the droplets hit me. He continues speaking in Latin, but I still don’t feel anything other than Annoth’s anger building.
I try to talk to her down inside my head.Just be patient.
I am patient,she snarls,but something is very wrong here. This priest is not a believer. It is the only explanation.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9 (Reading here)
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109