Chapter 10 – A Ritual of Hope

A silent fear hung over the night. Standing in the dimly lighted living room of the Collins, holding a battered leather-bound book, was Pastor John. The house's air felt heavier than usual, as though it had been holding its breath in anticipation of an event. There was not much time left. With every day that went by, Eva had fallen farther and further into the spirit's clutches, and she would be lost forever if they did nothing.

When John opened the book, he discovered a ritual that had been studied for years and whose pages were so old that they were fragile. The purpose of the rite was to drive out the most evil spirits, but there was a catch.

With a solemn and steady stare, John stated, "This ritual will only be successful if you all participate." "We must stand together. It will fail if there is any uncertainty or division. Your mistrust and fear will be sensed by the spirit. It is going to turn it against us.

With his arms folded, Thomas stood rigidly by the fireplace and turned to face each of his children. Ethan stood clenching his fists and scowled at David, who wore an unnervingly composed expression. Lily hugged her doll, mute and wide-eyed, while Simon moved uneasily behind them, too scared to look anybody in the eye.

"It won't be simple," John said. "The spirit will defend itself." It will attempt to cause you to distrust one another. However, fear prevails if you allow it to do so. Do you get it?

Thomas grimly nodded. "We'll carry it out."

But it was far more difficult than Thomas had thought to get the kids to cooperate.

David was not someone Ethan trusted. With his arms folded and a frown engraved on his face, he stood. He said, "How do we know he won't mess this up?" He has been conversing with that item! He is involved in this!

Thomas gave Ethan a stern glance. "Your brother is David. We must work together to accomplish this.

David returned Ethan's gaze with an odd, sly smile. "You will see," he muttered. "He's going to improve everything."

Ethan muttered under his breath as he turned away in annoyance. Simon gripped his father's arm as he shook in terror. "Does this have to be done?" he wailed. "I'd prefer not to."

Thomas knelt down to look into his son's eyes and said, "We have to, buddy." "We must assist Mom. Are you able to have courage for her?

Simon paused, his bottom lip quivering. Lily held on to her doll even more tightly as she stood so near her siblings that she appeared to blend in with them.

The voice of Pastor John was forceful. "This won't work if you don't cooperate."

Thomas sensed the brittle tension between his kids, their dread threatening to blow everything apart before they had ever started. However, they were at a loss.

"We must make an effort," Thomas remarked softly as he turned to face each of them. "For Mom."

Ethan nodded grudgingly. Simon remained motionless while sniffling. David grinned.

The ceremony was ready to start.

Holding hands, they sat on the floor of the living room in a circle. The room seemed to be closing in on them from all sides, and the air felt heavy. With his tone fluctuating in a mesmerizing cadence, Pastor John knelt in the middle and chanted gently from the ancient book.

"We address you by name, Spirit of Darkness... We threw you off this ship... We get back what was taken.

With every phrase, the temperature dropped, and a coldness crept into their bones. A unexpected burst of wind rushed through the room, putting out the candles that were flickering on the mantle as the windows shook in their frames. In the corners, the shadows started to expand and move, curling like smoke as they moved on their own.

The front door flew open with a powerful bang, and then there was a loud slam that reverberated throughout the house. The entire home seemed to be opposing the ceremony, as evidenced by the groaning and buckling walls.

"Remain together!" John yelled above the wind's howl. "Avoid breaking the circle!"

As the room appeared to come to life around them, the kids held onto each other's hands and closed their eyes shut.

The whispers, low, sultry, and nasty, then came.

"Ethan, you're by yourself... Nobody is interested in you.

"Simon... Little boy, flee... Before it takes you, run.

"You don't belong with them, David. You should be with me.

Ethan uncomfortably tightened his hold on Simon's hand. "Avoid listening to it!" he yelled. Simon, meanwhile, curled into himself and whimpered.

Like vines, the whispers coiled themselves around their thoughts as they slithered within them. The spirit was attempting to tear them apart.

Eva started thrashing wildly in the middle of the circle, her body twisted in strange directions. In her mind, her eyes rolled back, and her skin turned pale and slippery with perspiration. The monster struggled to remain inside her, enveloping her soul in smoke of its sinister presence.

Something deep and inhuman, not Eva's voice, snarled from her mouth, "She's mine."

Although Thomas's heart began to race with fear, Pastor John's voice stayed calm. "Wait a minute! Hold on tight!

With a spine-tingling scream that reverberated throughout the house, Eva's back arched agonizingly as black smoke snaked about her. It oozed from her eyes, mouth, and skin, yet it refused to go. It was clinging to her.

"You're nearly there!" John yelled. "Remain persistent!"

With sweaty hands, the kids clung frantically to one another. Glass fragments flew like daggers across the room as the windows smashed. Picture frames and books fell to the ground as the walls trembled.

"It's functioning!" John sobbed. "A little more time!"

However, then...

David's face transformed in the midst of the confusion. Something sinister, unsuitable for his youthful face, took the place of his calm grin. He let go of Ethan's hand, breaking the circle.

"No, David!" Reaching for him, Ethan yelled, but he was too late.

"He's my friend," David muttered, smiling once more, his smile chilly and knowing.

The ceremony broke in a moment. The black fog that had started to escape Eva's body suddenly re-formed itself, encircling her spirit with new vigor. Eva's voice was cracked and raw as she shouted in pain, and the house's lights flickered wildly before going dark.

The wind subsided. The murmurs stopped. There was silence.

In the middle of the circle, Eva lay still, her chest expanding and contracting with ragged, faint breaths. But the spirit was still inside her, and the shadow was still there.

Thomas's heart broke as he fell to his knees.

While holding Eva's head in his hands, he muttered, "No... No, no, no..." "We were very close."

With his hands shaking, Pastor John reclined. The ceremony had not worked.

And David, well, David simply grinned.