I decided to start off with prayers, not willing to lose the drive that moved within me. It started off as a spark, then a sensation, and finally an impetus.
I wanted to crush this thing that fearlessly drew towards me. To subdue, and overcome.
To do more than conquer.
My black shoes stomped heavily on the ground, as I took yet another step. I was now no longer waiting for it, but approaching it. This would be my first exorcism and I was fired up.
However the demon proved fearless as it moved—although slowly, but with a strange sense of haste. Just like me, 'he' had a drive. However it was one that I despised to the bone.
A faint red glow emanated from its figure. Rather, I saw it when I drew closer. It represented the bitterness and the resentment that it held. Demons are simple creatures after all.
Of course, he was hungry. And I had forcefully taken away its meal. He was excited, and I had snatched its joy. I would do so over and over again—as many times as it took. That's what exorcists do after all.
As if affirming my thoughts, I walked even faster, briefly blaming the lengthiness of the situation on the vast span of the luxurious room.
While I was only a meter away, everything turned black.
The room was completely out of my sight, replaced by snarling darkness that crawled up about me. A dark fog settled before my eyes, drifting as if pushed by stagnated air. And I could see through it.
The demon was no longer before me. It was now out of my sight.
….but not out of my reach.
I raised my hand, my rosary dangling as it hung firmly in my grip and shut my eyes. My other hand held tightly to a larger cross, whilst I swung my fist from left to right.
The prayers which once surfaced my mind, escaped my lips at once. I muttered bible verses—and shortly after, strange words filled my tongue.
I smiled.
"The Truth is here!" I screamed, allowing my voice to echo far and wide. I did not know if I was still in the room or not, for I knew not where I was. Yet, I had no falter in my mind, and no inconsistency in my emotions.
I was confident.
Pointing out my cross, I began to recite the 'Psalms of Protection'.
"I dwell in a secret place. And I dwell with and in the Most High."
My cross drifted from left to right, when suddenly by memory, I decided to move myself along with it. I took a stance, which made no sense but felt right to do, and then—with my cross still stretched outwards, rotated about my axis.
Something even more paranormal than everything I saw happened.
A blue line was drawn in space, radiating in a strange, alluring light. It was a streak that followed the movement of my cross, beaming from its edges.
I saw it, and only one word came to mind. "Divine."
So all that stuff about divine awakening was real?
I had only half-believed it, supposing it was simply an ultra-vivid depiction of spiritual warfare….which should normally remain spiritual. I also knew of demons—everyone did. But I never imagined seeing one with my naked eye.
Talkless of this…
By instinct, or perhaps by logic, I knew I had to draw a circle around me. I assumed it was some sort of protection from the enemy.
This was my first time, and I was simply going by the book.
"So what next?" I wondered, feeling a lot calmer just by seeing the light. But the dark fog was still present, and the demon was lurking out there…somewhere.
Something lashed at me.
Immediately I ducked, prompted by abnormally efficient reflexes. My body felt lighter than usual, as I shifted to the right, thanking God for my youthful strength.
But this agility felt unnatural. I could not call it 'my power'.
I was somehow several meters away from where I once stood. Looking around, I discovered the circle had moved with me as well, still glowing as bright as ever.
"Whoa…what's this feeling?" I raised my fist, still holding the cross. It felt heavier, yet lighter. It was the same feeling anyone would get if a sledgehammer suddenly felt light to him/her. It was a sledgehammer so surely it was heavy, but it was a little too easy to move.
I was now completely unbothered by the darkness. My logic screamed at me, telling me to do something despite having not a single plan. It was only prompting me to of course go by what I learnt in the academy.
…Which I had absolutely neglected, strongly believing that there was no way I'd meet a demon face to face. At most, I would just pray and anoint the victim if necessary. And if a demon proved stubborn, it could at most appear in my dream, cause sleep paralysis or make me ill.
I was confident that there was no more to it. And I was wrong.
Experience—the hated, yet most efficient teacher, taught me once again…..and there was even more to learn.
Curious about the circle that enveloped me, I stretched out my finger, and touched it. It felt like nothing.
How was light supposed to feel in the first place? My fingers just went through it, poking through the oddly still air…but something else moved.
It sped quickly, slashing through the darkness above me like a whip. I involuntarily glanced upwards, meeting a sight that I didn't understand for a while. However when I did understand, I felt terrified.
Hair strands which appeared black under the light of the circle fell slowly on my face. I just watched for a while, seeing more of them touch my skin before I realised where they came from.
I just got a free haircut.
"Oh…no!"
I leaped backwards, covering meters unknowingly. The circle which surrounded my shoulder moved with me, leaving a blue streak as it scaled through the air. It appeared to be fixed to my position.
I realised that I had been taking the situation quite lightly. Sure our academy taught us that we were overcomers, but it also taught us to be vigilant.
My head shifted from side to side, as I cautiously watched for even the slightest movement…which I saw shortly after.
Three large cable-like tentacles swung towards my face at full speed. I didn't even have time to process their actual appearance when I ducked, dodging the first one before leaping behind once again.
"It's attacking already…what do I do?"
A memory surfaced in my mind. It was something Father Azrael once taught me.
"If you're in a battle, and you have no idea what to do…..just thank God for everything and beg him to accept your soul in heaven."
"No, not that!" I shook my head, striving to remember the correct one. I could imagine him snickering at my situation and it made me feel embarrassed.
"When a demon brings you into his closet, and you are feeling overwhelmed or you don't remember anything to do, just spam the Name."
Father Azrael definitely didn't say 'closet', but I couldn't remember what exact word it was. On the good side, I now knew what to do.
I just had to say the name.
"Jesus!" I screamed, pushing out my fists as if it made the 'attack' any stronger. I did not stop at one. Just to feel safe, I kept screaming the name, punching the air at every turn.
My fist hit nothing. But it seemed like something was actively getting jumped so I continued…till I stopped.
I was now staring blankly into space, the dark fog crowding my sight, but pushed away by the light. While I spoke, I heard rumbling from all around me, and would occasionally sense something twist and churn, as if inflicted with pain.
And seeing that no further attacks came for me, I relaxed my shoulders and a smirk crept up my face. "Heh! That's what I thought."
BAM!
A huge mass of tangible darkness slammed towards me, sending me flying backwards. A trail of blood escaped my nostrils as I went, crashing a few meters backwards.
A pang of pain washed over me but before I could process it, I had somehow jolted back to my feet. I felt dizzy for a couple of seconds whilst tinnitus played like a theme song at the back of my head. My hands quickly searched my body as I stood, looking for the slightest bruise…which I found none of. Fortunately.
"So that's how it is huh?" I grimaced, holding my abdomen as if I was stabbed. A strange feeling welled up in me, but I ignored it, wondering why the name didn't seem to work.
Did I have to keep saying it?
My eyes lit up immediately. I had figured out why.
"It's faith! Father Azrael said so earlier. I need more faith."
Then I straightened my posture with full assurance of my hypothesis. A smile grew on both sides of my face.
But before I could say a word, a barrage of whips hurled towards me like a chaotic rollercoaster. Immediately, I bent my knees, avoiding one which went over my head before running to the left at full speed.
Nevertheless, there was no dodging them all. What I got in return were several cuts on my clothes, drawing blood from my arm.
"Tch!"
I heard a cackle in the void around me. And then a deafening shriek.
It sounded from all around me, and I knew that if not for the comfort of the light, my blood would have definitely run cold.
'I need a weapon.' I thought.
And one appeared.
Blue light shone all over the frame of the cross, coating it in a strange energy. It was light, but it was palpable.
I felt it move, as it danced around the cross, rising up from the horizontal sides to take on a shape. A silhouette. Of a sword.
"Oh my!"
A glowing sword, with the long tail of the wooden cross as its hilt lay calmly in my palm. At the same time, the light of the circle grew significantly brighter.
I didn't know why, but I felt stronger than before. Yet, I was too shaken to properly grip the sword, feeling unsure of whether it was right for me to hold it.
Nevertheless I did.
Suddenly, several slashing sounds tore out of the darkness beyond me, getting increasingly louder as another attack charged at me.
But I didn't feel the need to dodge. Not while I was holding this.
I muttered the Psalms of protection, feeling compelled within to do so and raised my weapon.
I could see letters which read every word I said, coming out from my mouth, dancing captivatingly and ascending. They integrated with my sword, and it became longer. And shone even brighter.
Then, immediately, I slashed down with every spirit in me.