The demon's visceral screams, loud and guttural, pierced the darkness reverberating through every wall of the house in chorus to its horrific rhythm, and the stench of decaying flesh mingled with the acrid scent of sulfur filling their lungs. A battle of wills that had been going on for hours finally entered its crescendo, as the priests prayed aloud with manic determination brandishing a crucifix as they asperged holy water to every surface of each room, window, and door.

Working their way down to the basement where a powerful eclectic witch priestess awaited, her eyes ablaze with an otherworldly fervor was preparing to ensnare the foul beast. The circle had been cast, the box ready for its new inhabitant. With a whispered incantation the witch called forth the powers of the four quarters. Her voice rose in a haunting chant, summoning her guides, invoking ancient deities and unseen spirits to aid in her request.

The house violently shuttered shaking loose dust and old cobwebs as the demon prince was driven closer and closer to her position. Using Solomonic rituals she started to command the demon into the triangle that held the box. The team of exorcists standing directly above her now in the living room chanting a haunting prayer in Latin, the sound is so repulsive to the monster, with each word they pushed back against the malevolent force, focusing their collective will upon him pushing the spirit down to her.

Father Timothy standing in front of her with the box between them, weakened from his illness found himself momentarily vulnerable, stalled for just a moment in his prayers and the demon lashed out with its energy and struck, knocking him back several feet his body crumpling up against the wall. At that moment, the witch’s fury ignited, a wildfire of righteous anger in a swift motion pushed the demon into the box.

Before she closed and sealed it up for eternity she smiled and dropped a consecrated Saint Michael medallion into the box as extra punishment for the foul soul. Quickly closing the box and then locking it. She continued the ritual, melting a red candle around the seam and scratching the binding sigils on every surface.

Calling the others down she then pulls Father Timothy into the circle to work on his injuries both physical and astral. “Father Timothy, are you okay?” She said.

“Yes my child I am okay, however, I do have much pain.”

“Percy! What happened? Did you capture it” a call came from Father Joncy one of the priests running down the stairs.

“Yes it is locked down, but Father Timothy is injured!” she yelled trying not to lose her composure and fighting the raw feelings of panic.

“Injured! What happened?” As the other priests converged in the basement they helped Father Timothy up and brought him and the box upstairs.

“Father, where are you hurt?” Percy asks with a shaky voice.

“I am fine my child, just some bruising is all,” he said with a faceful of scratches and a lump the size of a golf ball on the left side of his head.

“Let's get him into the car and to the hospital,” She said.

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Sitting alone in the stark, sterile, uninviting hospital waiting room, worried sick and praying the news of Father Timothy is good. Hearing voices from down the corridor she stood when Father Joncy came into view, and Percy saw the somber look in his eyes.

“What is it? What's wrong?” she demanded.

“He will heal from his wounds, but his cancer has returned, he only has a few weeks left in this world, at least in the doctor's opinion, we will see what the lord and Father Timothy's stubbornness decide upon. He is sedated for tonight so please go home and rest. Come back in the morning first thing The Father would like to speak with you, we will remain with him tonight and continue our prayer vigil and protect him while he sleeps.” He said.

The next morning sitting quietly at the foot of his bed the priest slowly woke. “I expected to see you much earlier Percy,” he said with a weak smile,

“I'm sorry Father I would have been here sooner, but a strange car has been following me around this morning,” she said as she moved her chair to the left side of the bed.

“What do you mean you are being followed? What kind of car is it?” He said.

“I am sure it was nothing Father, it was a small black van, everywhere I went it was right behind me.” She said.

“I was fearful something like this would begin.” He said.

“What would begin Father?” She said.

“Percy, I am afraid that in my weakened condition the evil will now start to initiate its plans” Looking away from Percy and out the hospital window he recalls her as a young woman, how she had come to him in a dream about how satanic zealots in the Catholic Church were plotting to focus and release pure evil into the world.

So many years later they are working side by side to undo the plans wrought against society. “My child of nature and witchcraft, please listen and heed my warnings, they will come for you when I am gone you need to leave town and do not look back. Do not let them find you.” He said.

“Who Father? Who will be looking for me?” She asked almost in a panicked state.

“Listen to me, please, as you know there is a great evil coming upon us, but what you do not realize is the evil is being orchestrated by higher powers in the Vatican itself. I cannot give evidence, but I am afraid that even the Pope has a hand in all of this. They will be relentless in their goals to acquire all the boxes that we have stored in the church basement. Tonight I will arrange a get-together there, the priest that will be there I trust with my life.” Pausing to catch his breath and to let Percy absorb what he is saying. He continues “Use that time to take the 6 boxes that they give you and disappear with them.”

“But Father what about you, I need to be here to help in your healing.” She said.

“No, my child. You need to follow the directions I have given to ensure that the world is safe, even if only for a few extra years.” He said.

“I will not leave you, you have been my only family for many years.”

“Percy, please, you know I am not a man of rash decisions. Please be at the church tonight at 8:30. I will let the others know that you are being followed, and they will intervene when they can to get you in and out unnoticed with those boxes.”

“Father, why only 6 there are so many?” She said.

“They are the 6 most vile ones we have dealt with, they are the key, not the others.” He said.

“But Father I...”

“Percy, please listen to me, go now, and get prepared for what you will need to do. Do not tell anyone what your plans are, or what your location will be. Your life and the well-being of millions depend on your secrecy, now go with God my sweet child.” He said.

Feeling the tears welling up in her eyes, pausing to say all the things in her heart, she kisses the priest on his forehead, turns around, and briskly walks away. Knowing that she would never see her mentor and the only father figure she had since her dad was killed, her heart was breaking with every step she took, she knew the Father was right, but the pain intensified turning her mind into a torrent of memories so vivid and clear they made her run to the car.