The Ghoul Next Door

chapter Thirty-Five

While waiting for Cooper, I scrolled through my camera to look at the photos I’d snapped. A few of the shots were completely dark. But then I spotted one photo and I knew that a demonic force had been trying to emerge. I noticed the apparition in the photo right away. It was startling to see the proof that the spirit had been there. Without a doubt, there was an evil spirit in the home.

Jennie was still in a daze and not really talking to anyone. I looked to her boyfriend and said, “Believe it or not, the man and young girl are good spirits. They are trying to hold the bad one back, but I’m not sure how long they’ll be able to keep it at bay.”

He wiped away tears as I wrapped my arm around his shoulders and squeezed. “I know it’s hard to see with something attacking Jennie like this, but you have to stop crying and be strong. Like Cooper said, it feeds on the fear. We can’t give it any more energy.”

He nodded in understanding.

Trying to ease his apprehension, I asked, “There was an old barn behind the house. Did you go back there often?”

Ben nodded again.

I shook my head. “The evil spirit likes to hang out back there, watching and following you.”

He ran a hand through his hair. “Well, it’s obvious that something is telling us to get out of this house. A lot of people have experienced stuff when they come here too.” He shook his head. “I didn’t believe Jennie at first and I feel horrible for that.”

Finally Cooper returned with religious paraphernalia in hand. “We’ll do it in the living room,” he said. “We need a lot of space.”

I placed my arm under Jennie’s and helped Ben move her into the other room.

“Do you think this is such a great idea?” I whispered to Cooper.

He met my gaze. “Trust me. I know what I’m doing.”

After we sat Jennie in the chair, I turned to Cooper and whispered, “Jennie needs help. This thing is attacking her and if we can’t help, we have to call someone who can.”

“It’ll be okay. Like I said before, I know what I’m doing. I won’t let it get out of hand.” Cooper motioned for Mindy, Matt and the cameraman. “Please, everyone gather around Jennie. She needs our help, so focus on good energy.”

When Cooper placed his hand on Jennie’s shoulder, his face turned red. It looked as if he was struggling to catch his breath. He grabbed his neck and motioned for help.

“Cooper,” I yelled. “We have to help him. He can’t breathe.”

When Matt approached, Cooper pushed him and Matt landed with a thud against the wall. Matt stumbled up with a dazed and stunned look across his face.

“Keep going,” Cooper grunted.

When I touched Matt’s arm, he said, “I’m fine.”

Cooper regained his composure and placed his right hand on Jennie’s head, and with his left hand, he held his Bible. “We’ll free her from the devil’s clutches.”

Matt held the cross in front of Jennie. It wobbled as his hand shook. When Jennie glanced at the crucifix, she had to look away.

“Remember, demons play tricks. Just be prepared.” He looked to all of us.

A presence filled the room—the demon had entered. Ben paced the floor. He was in full-on panic mode. Jennie screamed and writhed, followed by hysterical laughter. You could feel the battle in the room.

“I’m not leaving,” Jennie said. Her voice had changed.

Ben, Mindy and Matt looked on with wide eyes. The air in the room was hanging over us like a heavy blanket.

“I command you to leave,” Cooper yelled.

“Leave me alone. It’s me, Jennie.” Her voice had returned to normal.

“She’s back. It worked,” Ben said, rushing to her side.

“No, the demon will pretend that she’s not possessed. It’ll give us false answers to questions and even pretend to leave,” Cooper yelled.

“Well, then how the hell will we know when it’s really gone?” Matt asked.

“You’ll feel it,” I answered for Cooper.

“Are you sure we’re not dealing with schizophrenia? Or some other psychological disorder?” Matt asked.

Cooper didn’t answer, but continued with his mission. “I command you to tell me if you were brought here by a sorcerer’s magic.”

I hadn’t expected Cooper to ask that question, but I wanted to know the answer. Would we get the right answer?

“Where are you from?” Ben asked Jennie.

I placed my hand on Ben’s arm. “Don’t believe all the demon says. Only ask questions regarding this situation.”

“Why?” he asked.

“I learned the hard way. The demon doesn’t need any more information. It’s like giving him your address and inviting him to move in with you.”

Jennie’s skin was wet, but not only from the sweat, but from being dosed with holy water. Cooper forced the crucifix into her hand. Her arms fell to her sides as if she had no strength to even hold them up. There wasn’t much fight left in her.

Jennie spoke Latin, but I had no idea what she said. This was why we needed a priest. I feared we were in way over our heads.

“Does anyone know what she said?” Matt asked.

“She doesn’t speak any other languages,” Ben said.

“I told you the demon can do crazy things that you’d never dream possible,” Cooper said as he continued holding the Bible next to Jennie.

“Who is this demon?” Ben asked.

“We may never know who the demon is. People come back to work for the devil. If they enjoyed making deals with the devil when they were alive, then it wouldn’t surprise me if a person came back now as a demon. It looks like this demon wants to continue to haunt and torment your family as much as he can,” Cooper said.

“Yeah, and he adds other people in just for kicks,” Mindy whispered. “It’s an added bonus for him.” She stood by the entryway, ready to run at any moment.

“He probably had a sick and twisted mind when he was alive, so I can imagine what it must be like now in his hellish afterlife,” I said. “But I intend on stopping him one way or another. He won’t win this battle, not if I have any say-so.”

I held Jennie’s arm as she continued to shake. Maybe Cooper was right. This demon could have been bad in life and was now taking it out on anyone he could. I wasn’t sure we’d ever find out. Maybe Cooper knew what he was talking about after all. I figured Cooper was right about half the time. And as long as that half the time was the time that counted right now, well, that was all that mattered for me.

Jennie seemed to become more aware of us. “It was her.” She pointed toward me. “It was her who brought this demon to my house.”

I looked around as if to say: what did I do? “It’s only the demon still talking.” I tried to brush off Jennie’s statement.

Everyone stared, then focused their attention on Jennie. Thank goodness. She began interacting with everyone as she normally did. The demon was losing strength and the air lightened. The cloud had lifted from the room. I let out a huge breathe. Was this thing finally gone? Did that mean the dark shadow following me would be gone too?