"Be gone!" I screamed.
But it didn't go. Instead, it steadily walked towards me, dragging its feet like a zombie.
"What's wrong with your faith bro?" Azrael enquired, looking all non-chalant and laid-back. His hands were tucked in his black hoodie pocket, as he rested his back on the wall.
He was relaxed, while I, on the other hand, was fighting for my life.
This was my first exorcism and I was sweating bullets. After all, who would have expected the demon to actually go out of its way to manifest itself?
I had assumed it would be the usual. I would walk into the room, chant some bible verses, raise my cross if necessary and anoint the victim's head. After which I would simply walk out, believing that he or she was now completely hale and healthy.
After all, that's all Father Azrael did during my training.
So…what on earth was this thing? And why was it coming straight at me?
What was I even supposed to do?
The demon—a figure made entirely of shadows which would pulse, bubble up, and melt like wax, approached me. It had a humanoid physique and was a spitting image of the 52 year old man that laid on the bed. Except its face was distorted.
It had one large row of triangular, razor sharp teeth, curved upside down in replacement of what should have been two eyes, a nose that extended downward till it reached its jaw, and two eyeballs—with one half formed that hung loosely from its two ears—supported by shadowy tendrons.
And dragging its feet, with two arms as long as Slenderman's, it advanced, walking towards me.
"Urmm..Father Azrael." I cried. "This case seems a little different."
I was on the verge of running away. If not for the distance yet to be covered by the demon, I would have definitely exited the window.
Father Azrael sighed. "You know what Jesus would say?"
His voice was gentle, calm, yet authoritative. The power in his voice sharply contrasted his laid back demeanor.
"Err..you of little faith?" I answered, tagging my words with a questioning tone in case I was wrong.
"Exactly."
Father Azrael, taking his hands from his pocket, walked over and stood by my side. Staying close to him made me realise just how young he actually was.
Was he my age?
Father Azrael stared indifferently at the demonic creature that slowly came to us. To me it was a terrifying sight. To him, it was unbearably slow.
"This one is easy to deal with." He remarked. I was about to ask what part of the demon looked easy, when I saw the look in his eyes.
He really meant his words.
"Joshua." He called, glancing over at me. "This is YOUR mission."
Ah.
Very quickly, I was ready to retort. There was no doubt that I had an entire library of excuses. This was my first time seeing a paranormal creature unfold right before my eyes. My very eyes.
But weirdly enough, he looked at it as if it wasn't his first time. He appeared so young, yet his gaze held the weight of a thousand years of experience.
He turned, glancing with two pairs of softened eyes.
Father Azrael smacked my shoulder with his arm, then patted my back. "If I help you," he said. "Your scores will drop."
"But.." I tried arguing, but he was no longer looking at me. Just like that, the easygoing look in his eyes had vanished, replaced by a stern, sharp gaze. In a matter of seconds, his friendly vibes had disappeared, escaping through the fabrics of space itself.
He now had the look of a predator watching its prey, as he stared at the demon.
"Go end its career."
Seriously?
I sighed, feeling helpless under his control. And just like that, my fears started to fade. I now looked back at the thing striding towards me.
Remember what you were taught, Joshua.
Yes, I know what type of manifestation this is.
"It's in the early stage of second rank development." I uttered, keenly observing the 'thing'. "It's about leveling up, but it's done a terrible job so far."
"100 points!" Father Azrael had a bright smile on his face. At the same time, there was a faint but alluring radiance beaming in his eyes. He had the countenance of a teacher that was proud of his student.
And he was. That's what I believed.
I couldn't stop a smile from creeping up my face. I felt celebrated, congratulated, praised, and acknowledged all at the same time. My fears—which were almost tangible, could nearly be seen escaping through the window.
I took a step forward. Not much of a distance, but much more of a leap.
A leap in faith.
He says I can do it. So I can do it.
Jesus says I can do it. So I can do it.
And I will do it.
The curtains fluttered violently as the windows suddenly clashed against the walls, pushed into the room by an abnormal tide of wind.
But I was unfazed. This much was normal. Very normal.
The chandelier that hung overhead began to sway from left to right, with such a force that you could fear it would break. Yet, I was unmoved.
My eyes were now fixed on the man who lay unconscious on the bed. I was completely ignoring the demon. After all, it was so slow..and so weak.
The man's body was completely pale. And his skin had taken on a discoloration, turning from the light, soft, radiant pink of life, to the dull, melancholic, blue of death. Like that of a frozen corpse.
He was dead anyways. Half dead.
Alright then, let's do this.
I heard footsteps recede upon making that thought. As if he could listen in on my mind, Father Azrael retreated, going back to the 'spot of comfort'.
For a second, I felt anxious, as if a layer of protection had been stripped off me. But I immediately realised that it was the lies of the devil, relentlessly trying to cloud my mind.
The ends of my flowing cassock danced as a powerful breeze pervaded the room. At that moment, a wave which was stronger than the first washed over me.
But this time, it wasn't because of the demon.
I smiled briefly, feeling like a litre of confidence juice had been chugged down my throat. I felt something spark and dance inside me. It was something warm, beautiful, and soothing…yet, exciting.
My heart began to beat faster, pounding loudly in my chest. But it wasn't out of fear or anxiety. It was a zeal like never before.
A desire to dominate.
I AM more than conqueror!