The Exorcism…
Chapter 19
The night was cold.
A chilling, near autumn’s end wind blew through the town.
A crowd of citizens from my proud town gathered outside the Vampire’s home. They knew what was about to take place.
Inside the Vampire’s home, in the big, cold, nearly empty hall, I was kneeling besides Anastasia Rose, preparing myself for what was going to take place.
There was myself, the Doctor, the Vampire brothers and Anastasia herself inside the hall, awaiting the Exorcism.
And as the clock stuck twelve midnight, it was time to begin.
“Lord, have mercy.” The Vampires began.
“Lord, have mercy.” They repeated with me and the Doctor.
“Christ, have mercy.”
“Christ, have mercy.”
I looked up from my notes and started towards Anastasia. I could still hear her growling angrily. Outwardly I seemed calm. Inside… I was deeply concerned.
“Christ, hear us.” The Vampires continued with the ritual.
I looked back to my notes.
“Christ, graciously hear us.” We all said together.
“God, the Father in heaven.” Said the Vampires.
“Have mercy on us.” They said with both me and the Doctor.
“God, the Son, Redeemer of the world.”
“Have mercy on us.”
“God, the Holy Spirit.”
“Have mercy on us.”
“Holy Trinity, one God.”
“Have mercy on us.”
Anastasia’s growling grew louder.
I took hold of her hand to try to calm her, though it wasn’t Anastasia who was angry.
“Our Father who are in heaven,” The Vampires begin praying together.
“Hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation…”
Myself and the Doctor joined in to finish the prayer.
“But deliver us from evil…”
#SNAP#
“AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!”
#CRACK# #CRACK,CRACK#
Anastasia’s jaw suddenly cracked open as she screamed.
More cracking came from her neck, following into her arms. The paralysis was wearing off.
“Annie!” I held her hand tighter and tried to stop her from breaking free.
But then, with one mighty swing…“AAAAHHHH!!!” Anastasia suddenly swiped her arm and broke free from all the restraints that bound her arm and wrist.
The swing and swipe was so strong and so violent, she knocked me back and smacked my skull so hard, the blow sent it facing backwards.
“Uh!!!” I crashed to the floor.
“AAAAHHH!!!” Anastasia continued to scream as her locked joints continued to crack back into place.
But despite this dangerous distraction, the Vampires had to continue.
“God, by your name save us,” The Oldest Vampire continued the Exorcism. “And by your might defend our cause.”
The other three Vampire brothers joined in. “God, hear our prayer; hearken to the words of our mouths.”
The Oldest Vampire spoke the next verse “For haughty spirits have risen up against us, and fierce demons seek our lives; they set not God before their eyes.”
“See, God is our helper;” The other brothers joined in. “The Lord sustains our life.”
“Turn back the evil upon our foes; in your faithfulness destroy them.”
“AAAAAHHHHH!!!” Anastasia broke free from the restraints from her other arm.
I turned my head back round and saw Anastasia ripping off all her other restraints.
“Annie!” I raced over to try to stop her.
“Get off me!!!” Annie cried.
The Vampires continued while I battled to get Anastasia under control. At least her legs were still paralysed.
“Because from all distress you have rescued us, and our eyes look down upon our enemies.”
“Glory be to the Father.” They said together.
“As it was in the beginning.” The Oldest spoke solo.
“Aaaaaa…AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!”
Anastasia once again was too strong for me to hold her still.
Her legs cracked as her bones broke out of their lock.
The Doctor approached Anastasia with another shot of a paralysis drug.
“Hold on to her, Jack!” The Doctor took the end off the syringe.
But then, noticing what the Doctor was about to do, Annie struggled free of my grasp and pushed me back.
Swiping with her fists, she forcefully thrashed and knocked the Doctor flying of his wheelchair.
Anastasia, now free of my grasp, crawled over to the steps where at the top stood the Vampire brothers.
Anastasia struggled, her legs were still tied together.
But the demon inside her glared up at the leaders of the Exorcism against it.
“Save your servant.” The Oldest Vampire regained the Exorcism.
“Who trusts in you, my God.” The other brothers joined in.
The Oldest then continued alone. “Let her find in you, Lord, a fortified tower.”
“In the face of the enemy.” They all spoke.
Anastasia then spoke.
“Kayn gogh su nag Enohtu lut soll hentued nohloh! (Their god can not save this weak hearted child!)”
“Let the enemy have no power over her.” Said the Oldest Vampire.
“And the son of iniquity be powerless to harm her.”
“AAAAAHHHH!!!” Anastasia slammed her head down on the stone steps.
“Annie, no!” I ran to her aid.
“AAAAHHH!” Anastasia kicked her legs violently, trying to break free of her leg restraints and prevent me from stopping her.
“Stay away from me! You come any closer and she’ll suffer even further!” Annie grabbed hold of some skin where her forehead was bleeding, threatening to harm herself further.
Concerned for her safety, I had no choice but to stay back.
Annie then grabbed hold of her leg restraints and pulled fiercely. And then, the material tore.
Anastasia stood up from the floor with her feet now free.
She glared towards the Vampires.
Her glare then changed into a leer.
I wondered what she had to leer about…
Suddenly! The candle stands started to shake on their own.
The draft in the room began picking up speed.
“What’s happening?” I questioned. I’m not afraid of anything, but I was concerned at what was happening all the same.
The candle stands then lifted up on their own…and slammed to the ground!
#Bang#
Then they lifted up again.
#Bang#…
#Bang#…
#Bang#…
#Bang#…
The chandelier started to shake.
“This is the power.” Said the Second Youngest Vampire brother.
“You mean…god?” Said the Doctor.
“It’s not god…” As he realized what was happening, The Oldest Vampire continued the Exorcism as best he could.
“Lord, heed my prayer. And let my cry be heard by you…”
#BANG#
One of the candle stands crashed to the ground.
And then, the demon spoke.
“You can pray for forgiveness, you can pray for deliverance, you can pray your insignificant prayers. But hear this…god is not listening.”
The doors of the Vampire’s home began opening and slamming with the draft.
“You really think you can save this child of light?”
Then…everything moving in the room suddenly cessed to move.
“Hi kasha yoh!!! (I dare you)!!!”
Suddenly, the front door burst open.
Emma had heard the noise, the banging, the crashing, the screaming…
“Anastasia!!!” Emma cried as she burst through the doors.
“She’s no longer here!!!” Cried the evil possessed Anastasia Rose.
Anastasia ran for the door.
“Annie!!!” Emma tried to stop her as she ran, but her efforts were useless. She tried grabbing hold of her arm, but Anastasia just pushed her as the ran and threw her back.
Annie continued screaming as she ran out of the Vampire’s home and into the town.
The crowd that had gathered outside the Vampire’s home all gasped as Anastasia came out screaming in rage.
“Annie!” I chased after her.
“AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”
She screamed continuously.
She faced me, fell to her knees and continued to scream.
But then, she began pulling at the broken skin on her head.
“Annie, stop!!!” I ran to restrain her.
Wolfman and Behemoth jumped in to give me a hand.
“Try to keep her there!” Called the Oldest Vampire brother.
He turned to his book and continued the Exorcism with his brothers.
“Let us pray.” He began to pray with his brother amongst all the chaos.
“God, whose nature is ever merciful and forgiving,”
I noticed Anastasia’s breathing getting faster. Though she barely struggled at this point, she was facing the Vampire and glaring in rage.
“Accept our prayer that this servant of yours, bound by the fetters of sin, may be pardoned by your loving kindness.”
“He can’t here you!!!” Anastasia screamed.
The Second Youngest Vampire took out an orb of holy water.
“You dare touch me with that stuff!!!” Annie yelled.
“Holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,” They continued.
The Second Youngest shook the glass orb towards Anastasia, splashing drops of holy water on her skin and clothes.
“AAAAHHHH!” Anastasia squirmed as the water scolded her skin.
“Who once and for all consigned that fallen and apostate tyrant to the flames of hell,”
Anastasia was reacting violently to the holy water.
But as the Vampires continued their prayer, Anastasia stopped her struggling and turned her head straight towards the Vampire holding the holy water.
I saw her glaring at the glass orb and the pain it was causing her.
I then knew that the splashing and scolding of the holy water was only making her rage build.
And suddenly…
“AAAAAAHHHH!!!” She pulled fiercely from my grasp and gave a shocking punch to Wolfman.
Behemoth was still holding on, but not for long when Anastasia kicked him in the groin.
She then pulled away and ran towards Second Youngest Vampire.
“Ahh!” He cried.
“AAAAAAHHHHH!” She cried.
She grabbed him by the throat with one hand and snatched hold of the holy water with the other hand.
She grabbed hold of the glass so hard that it smashed in her grasp.
“YYYAAAAAHHHHHH!!!” She yelled in pain.
She released her grip on the Second Youngest Vampire and fell back.
The other brothers came to his need to see if he was alright.
We then looked to Annie, who was holding her arm in pain. There was steam coming off her arm and blood-red markings where the water had scolded her.
“EN EVADO (Get it off)!!!” She screamed. “EVADO!!!”
I wasn’t sure whether or not to help her. I just stared at her pain, rapidly thinking of what I should do.
With the Second Youngest Vampire brother recovered they continued with the Exorcism.
“Our father, who sent your only-begotten Son into the world to crush that roaring lion;” They said together.
Anastasia had stopped screaming and was trying to stand up.
“Hasten to our call for help and snatch from ruination and from the clutches of the noonday devil this human being made in your image and likeness.”
Anastasia started to laugh. Something was telling me that this wasn’t working.
“Your prayers can change nothing.” She spoke. “This child is going no where. Not alive, anyway.”
The Vampires paused their praying.
I watched as Anastasia continued to laugh as she dropped to her knees.
I was beginning to feel hopeless.
“Your wrong!” Said a voice from the crowd.
Sally walked to the front of the gathered citizens of Halloween Town.
Anastasia turned round towards her.
“Annie. I know your still alive, and I know you can hear me.” Sally began.
“Don’t lie to yourself.” Said the possessed Anastasia.
“There’s one person who can free you, Annie. And if it’s not god, it’s yourself.”
“Shut up!” The evil possessed Annie cried.
“Yeah, Annie.” Emma came forward. “You can fight this! I know you can!”
“Grrrrrr!” Annie growled.
“Annie, listen to me.” I tried. “This demon was wrong to think it could take you away from us! I know how brave you are. You’re too strong to be lost. I know you can hear me!”
“AAAAAHHHHH!!!” Anastasia screamed and she began crawling towards me, Sally and Emma.
#Splash#
“Aahh!”
The Youngest Vampire had taken out another orb and splashed Annie with holy water. The scolding prevented her from progressing further towards us.
“And as for you!” I called out, not to Annie, but to who or whatever was holding her possessed. “Your not going to succeed. Your not going to take Annie away. And I don’t say that out of despair, I say that out of hope!”
“Annie’s gonna live!” Cried corpse kid.
“Yeah! We’re not gonna lose her that easily!” Yelled Clown from amongst the crowd.
“Let her go!!!” Shrieked the Witches.
The whole town began to fade away from their fear as it soon turned into hope and courage.
Anastasia turned her head back round to the Vampires when she was once again splashed by holy water.
“Behold the power.” Said the Oldest Vampire. “Behold the hope and determination of all whom befriended your victim of possession. They will not allow you to succeed, and nether will we!”
“AAAAHHHHHH!!!” The possessed Anastasia screamed. “You…will…fail.” She whispered.
“I don’t think so…”
I ran to the front of my fellow people.
“My fellow citizens, this demon before you has tried to take our Anastasia Rose away from us. It has tormented her soul and made her suffer. And now, it declared that it shall take her life!”
My people listened as I concluded my powerful statement.
“Will we allow this demon to do such a thing!?!” I cried.
“No!!!!!!…”
The citizens all cried in a negative response.
“Aaaaaaa…..aaaAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!” The evil possessed Anastasia gave a bloodcurdling scream.
The town all cried words of hope for Anastasia and words of aggression towards the evil spirit whom dwelled within her.
“Annie’s gonna make it!” Cried Witherwing.
“You underestimated Annie!” Mr Hyde called out. “She’s stronger than you think!” Called the two Mr Hydes under his hats.
The Vampires saw their chance to begin the attack of the Exorcism.
“I command you, unclean spirit!” The Oldest Vampire cried. “Whoever you are, along with all your minions now attacking this servant of God, by the mysteries of the incarnation, passion, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, by the descent of the Holy Spirit, by the coming of our Lord for judgment, that you tell us by some sign your name, and the day and hour of your departure!”
“SSHHUUUUUUTT UUUUUPP!!!” Anastasia screamed at the top of her lungs. “AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!”
Suddenly, Anastasia flew back and slammed to the ground. It looked to me like someone pushed her, but no-one else was there.
“I command you, moreover, to obey us to the letter!!!” Cried the Second Oldest Vampire brother.
“AAAAHHHH…uuuhhhhh…”
We all suddenly witnessed something shocking.
A light beamed from Anastasia and a dark shadow was pulling away from her. The shadow then sunk back into her body and the light faded.
“What was that!?” Yelled Emma.
“The power.” Gasped the Oldest Vampire.
I gave my citizens some more encouragement.
“Keep going!” I cried. “Do what you can!”
The citizens all shouted louder.
The Vampires continued together.
“We who are ministers of God despite our unworthiness; nor shall you be emboldened to harm in any way this creature of God, or the bystanders, or any of their possessions.”
The light shone from Anastasia again and the shadow returned from within her.
“Aaaaaa….AAAAHHHH!!!”
“I cast you out, unclean spirit! Along with every Satanic power of the enemy, every spectre from hell, and all your fell companions; in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!”
I could do nothing but watch as the spiritual between Anastasia and the demon raged before me.
“You can do it, Annie! I won’t let it take you! You can do it!” I cried out to her.
“Be-gone and stay far from this creature of God!” The Vampires continued. “For it is HE who commands you! He who flung you headlong from the heights of heaven into the depths of hell! It is He who commands you, He who once stilled the sea and the wind and the storm. Hearken, therefore, and tremble in fear, Satan, you enemy of the faith, you foe of the human race, you begetter of death, you robber of life, you corrupter of justice, you root of all evil and vice!”
“AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!”
The light grew brighter.
The shadow pulled away from Anastasia’s face.
And then…I saw her.
“Annie!!!”
“Why, then, do you stand and resist, knowing as you must that Christ the Lord brings your plans to nothing!?” The Vampires continued. “Fear Him, who in Isaac was offered in sacrifice, in Joseph sold into bondage, slain as the paschal lamb, crucified as man, yet triumphed over the powers of hell!”
“Be-gone,” Cried the Oldest Vampire.
“Then, in the name of the Father,” Exclaimed the Second Oldest.
“And of the Son,” Called the Second Youngest.
“And of the Holy Spirit!” Cried the Youngest Vampire.
I could just see that the shadow was almost completely pulled away from Anastasia. The light was getting to strong to see.
The Vampires then all finished together.
“Give place to the Holy Spirit by this sign of the holy cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever!”
“AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!”
The shadow pulling away from Anastasia then soared out of her glowing light and rose into the night sky.
What that it? Was if finished? Did we do it?
The light was so bright where I last saw Anastasia that I couldn’t see her.
But then, I looked up where I saw the departed spirit.
I saw a dark smokey mist rising into the starry sky.
There was a faint screaming sound coming from the cloud of dark. And then I heard a whispered voice…
“I’m still alive…”
And then, the dark mist faded into the night.
That was it.
It was over.
We did it!
“Annie!” Cried a voice that snapped me out of my mesmerisation.
I saw Emma kneeled on the floor…and then…I saw Anastasia.
She was faced down on the stone ground. Her hair covering her face.
“Annie, are you ok?” Emma tried to turn her over.
I rushed to help.
I picked Annie up and rested her in my arms.
“Annie, say something.” I spoke to her.
She was shaking. I placed my hand on the side of her face. “Annie, look at me.”
Annie was still breathing, but just barely.
She was bleeding from all her previous injuries. She was stone cold. She was trembling in my arms.
The Doctor wheeled out from the crowd and hurried to us.
It didn’t take him long to know of the actions that needed to be taken.
“Get her to the lab! Now!” He cried.
I lifted Anastasia up off the floor and quickly ran with her to the lab.
Emma and Sally followed closely behind me.
If I had a heart in my cage of ribs, I’m sure it would be racing.
For the first time in my life, it was me who was haunted. I have before incited fear into peoples hearts, but never before have I felt fear in my own heart.
That very moment, I felt real fear for the first time.
I feared for what was going to happen to Anastasia Rose.
