by Carl Alves
“That’s your job. Puzzles have never been my strong suit.”
“I’d like to meet Holly and her daughter, but right now time doesn’t allow for it. My immediate concern is your safety.”
Andy frowned. “I’m not going into hiding.”
“I understand, but there are still ways I can protect you.”
Andy didn’t want to argue the point. He just wanted to see Holly and Kate. “Well I’m rollin’. Thanks for everything.”
“Andy, be careful both here and in the other world. Don’t take unnecessary chances.”
“I won’t.” Of course, he would take chances. If he played it safe, he wouldn’t be an exorcist.
On his way to New Jersey, he kept looking in the rearview mirror to make sure nobody was following him. Maybe he should buy a gun. He knew a guy who could hook him up with a piece. It wouldn’t be legal, but it’s not like the people he was dealing with played by the rules.
He had never regretted his abilities to exorcise demons, but now he wondered if it would be better to just be a normal person. At least then he wouldn’t have people shooting at him.
He drove the speed limit to Holly’s house. The crappy compact Chevy from the rental agency was painfully slow.
Andy’s pulse quickened when he reached Hammonton. He was so close to Holly now. Just being near her made the danger worthwhile.
He parked the car, rang the doorbell, and melted at the sight of Holly’s smiling face. Damn, she was so perfect. She had to be an angel sent from heaven.
“Sorry I’m late. I kinda had some, uh, car problems.”
Holly frowned and touched his cheek. “What happened to your face?”
“Uh, yeah, that’s related to my car problems.”
Holly tugged at his arm. “Come inside. Did you get into an accident?”
Andy followed her into the house. “Well I was going home after I left here yesterday, and these dudes tried to run my car off the road, then shot at me. My Mustang got totally destroyed.”
Holly’s jaw hung open. “Is this some kind of joke?”
Andy shook his head. “I wish it was.”
“Why did they shoot at you?”
Andy took a seat on her living room sofa. He didn’t want to talk about it, but he owed her an explanation. “Monsignor Curran thinks it’s all tied in with Kate. He thinks the demons inside of Kate are using her to lure me in. Since the demons that inhabit her soul couldn’t do the trick, the people working with them sent some goons to kill me.”
Holly had a dumbfounded look on her face. “Who are these people that attacked you?”
“Beats me. This is all coming from Monsignor Curran, and he’s a hell of a lot smarter than I am.”
Light footsteps came toward the kitchen. Andy did a double take when he saw Kate. She looked like a perfectly normal, happy, healthy little girl. “Hey, Mommy, I was going…” Her face turned pale as she stared at Andy. She looked as if she’d seen a ghost.
“Kate, this is Mr. Andy.”
Kate took a cautious step toward her mother and hugged her leg.
“Do you remember when you went to the doctor’s office, and he couldn’t figure out what was wrong with you with the nightmares you’ve been having. Well, Mr. Andy is here to help you.”
Kate peered behind her mom’s leg. “Are you a doctor, because you don’t look like a doctor?”
Andy chuckled. “I’m no doctor.”
“Then how are you going to help?”
If Kate wasn’t ready to bring up their encounter, then he wouldn’t either. Perhaps she was trying to block it out. “In your nightmares, have you been seeing some boogeymen, really bad, ugly creatures?”
Kate nodded.
Andy touched her soft cheek. “I’m gonna to make those monsters go away.”
“But when you tried…” Kate pursed her lips. She spoke in a small voice. “Can you really do that?”
Andy wasn’t about to make any promises he couldn’t keep this time. “I don’t know, Kate. I’m not going to lie to you or your mom. But I’m going to try my best. I promise.”
“Cross your heart and hope to die?”
Andy nodded. “Cross my heart and hope to die, but I’m not going to stick a needle in my eye.”
Kate laughed. “I like Mr. Andy.”
Andy kissed her forehead. “I like you too, Kate.” He gazed into Holly’s blue eyes and spoke softly. “I’m going to save her if it takes my last dying breath.”
Chapter XV
Andy felt at peace eating an Italian hoagie at a picnic table across from Holly, as if the botched exorcism and his near-death car chase two days ago had never happened. Talking to her felt good, natural. Despite the hell she had been through with her daughter, she possessed inner strength. That was comforting because things were going to get a whole lot worse, and he was going to need her strength. He was no hero. In the world of the soul, he had a gift and used it, but in the real world he was weak and shallow, nothing like Holly.
Kate had already finished her sandwich and was playing by the stream, waiting for Andy to finish eating.
Holly leaned across the table. She spoke in a low tone even though Kate was no longer in earshot. “I don’t understand how this works. When Father Christopher was here, he had a Bible and said prayers. The other day, what you did with Kate was nothing like that.”
Andy waited until he finished swallowing his food. Normally, he wouldn’t think twice about talking with his mouth full, but around Holly he was determined to be well-mannered. “Well, ya see, I do things differently. I physically enter the person’s soul. It’s a whole different world down there. The demon that possesses the person controls this world. The possessed is trapped, and the demon usually tortures them.”
Holly’s face turned pale. “Tortures?”
Andy grimaced. He probably shouldn’t have said that, but it was too late to take it back. “Um, yeah, but you see, I’m like a superhero in the world of the soul, and I can usually crush the demons.”
“Is this how exorcisms work?”
Andy shook his head. “I’m the only person who has ever been able to travel into a person’s soul. The Catholic Church has been documenting exorcisms for centuries, and there’s never been an exorcist who can do what I do. I’m unique.” He didn’t want to sound boastful, but it was the truth.
“Then what went wrong?”
Andy sighed. “Everything went wrong. You see, no matter how tough the demon is, I find a way to beat them. I always pull out a weapon or use a power I didn’t realize I possessed and vanquish the demon. Never failed. Not once.” Andy gazed at the pretty girl down by the stream. “Then came Kate. I’ve never seen anything like her possession. I actually encountered five demons in her soul. One was a trap to let my guard down. The other three were major demons who thrashed me. The last one…I don’t even want to think about that demon. He’s got power I can’t even imagine. Maybe I could have dealt with the three somehow, but I couldn't touch this last one.”
“Then it’s hopeless. I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around this. I’d like to believe you. I’m so desperate, I’ll try anything. It’s just hard to fathom.”
Andy shrugged. “I don’t blame you. If I didn’t do this, I probably wouldn’t believe it either.”
“I’ve heard of priests doing exorcisms before, mostly from that Exorcist movie, but how did you get involved in all this?”
“Growing up, it wasn’t like I was thinking about this as a career choice. It just kind of happened.”
***
Philadelphia, 2008
In the days leading up to his high school graduation, Andy Lorenzo didn’t share his classmates’ concerns. Most of them were thinking about going to Senior Week at Wildwood, New Jersey or some exotic locale like Cancun or the Bahamas. Others were consumed with planning killer graduation parties. Some had their minds on attending college in the fall or lining up a job. Andy was plagued by frightening nightmares he could not shake.
On the eve of his graduation, he had his most lucid nightmare. He stood outside a crumbling building and felt the woman's presence inside the ransacked edifice. Although it looked to be on the verge of collapsing, he did not hesitate to enter.
Once inside, Andy descended into a subterranean labyrinth that consisted of an endless maze of twisting corridors. After a few minutes, he was hopelessly lost. Instead of trying to figure out where he was at, he followed a pulse that beat in his head leading him to the woman. Despite the never-ending path, Andy did not despair since the pulse in his head grew stronger.
Her voice echoed inside his head. “Andy, please help me.”
Stunned, Andy stopped in his tracks. This was the first time she had ever called him by name. He started walking again, quickening his pace.
“I need your help, Andy.”
He ran, desperate to find her. The narrow corridor spilled into an open room. Once inside, he stared at her bloody, ravaged body. She had gaping wounds that seemed to have no beginning or end. The monster hovered over her, its black saliva dripping onto her exposed skin. It had the effect of a corrosive acid. Each time it dripped onto her, it ate away at her skin. The stench was unbearable. Bile rose in his throat.
The monster buried its massive fangs into her abdomen, causing her to screech.
Andy ran toward the monster but knew what would happen. Just like in the other nightmares, when he got within ten feet of the woman, something repelled him.
The woman reached for him. “Please, Andy. You have to help me.”
“Who are you?”
“My name is Marilyn Haines. Please, Andy. I need you.”
Andy sunk to his knees. “But how can I help you?”
“You have to find me. You’re the only one who can help.”
Andy woke up shivering. The rest of the rectory was quiet. Earlier that week, he had awoken screaming. Monsignor Curran had rushed to see if there was anything wrong with him. Bad dreams, he said. A ridiculous understatement. These were the Titanic of bad dreams.
Andy went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. His face appeared haggard and his hair disheveled. He splashed water on his scruffy face, not wanting to go back to sleep.
Marilyn Haines had to be a real person. How else could he be having bizarre dreams about her night after night? He had to help her. He had not told anyone about his nightmares, not even Monsignor Curran. Having never met his real father, Monsignor Curran was the closest thing he had to a dad. Andy would have to tell him about this today. It couldn’t wait any longer. The monsignor would know what to do. He always knew what to do.
Andy had no real family. His mother had died during childbirth. His father was probably some deadbeat loser who wanted nothing to do with him. Monsignor Curran had told him that his mother was a drifter, and he knew nothing about her family.
He seldom spoke about Andy’s birth. Whenever Andy asked him about it, it was like prying open a car with the Jaws of Life. Monsignor Curran had been there when he was born, had arranged for Andy’s adoption, and taken him home to the rectory when he was just a few days old, where he and the parish family raised Andy.
He could not fall back asleep, and intercepted Monsignor Curran at the breakfast table at six that morning. An early riser, Monsignor Curran always took an early morning jog before starting his day.
Monsignor Curran’s brows rose. “Andy, surprised to see you up so early.” Someone at the rectory usually had to drag him out of bed for school. “It’s a big day for you. You must be feeling nervous.”
“Not about that.”
The priest frowned. “You have something on your mind?”
Andy nodded.
“That’s not surprising. Graduation is a big deal. It can be daunting.”
Andy didn’t say anything.
“What’s bothering you?”
Andy hesitated. He lacked the same conviction he had after waking from that horrid nightmare. What was he going to say, a monster was haunting his dreams? Some woman he had never met was being tortured and needed his help. “I need to talk to you.”
“Of course. Would you like to join me for my morning run?”
That would be a bad idea. He was out of shape and would be gasping for air after a couple of blocks. “Not really.”
“How about my office?”
Andy nodded.
There was nobody else around, but Andy did not want to take any chances. He could talk to the Monsignor about this, but nobody else.
They entered the office.
Monsignor Curran said, “You seemed troubled.”
Andy spotted a folder on his desk that made him freeze. It was a plain, manila folder, nothing sinister about it except for the two words written on it in black marker — Marilyn Haines. The woman in his dream. What was a folder with her name doing on Monsignor Curran’s desk?
Andy pointed at it, his finger trembling. “Who is she?”
Monsignor Curran folded his hands. “Marilyn Haines. A very unfortunate situation. She’s a nice woman from what I gather. The mother of three children, Marilyn had been an active member of her church as well as various community activities, but she’s currently in a state of demonic possession. Several unsuccessful attempts have been made to exorcise her. I was called to consult on the matter, but I’m afraid she might be too far gone.”
Andy opened his eyes wide. “Exorcisms? Demonic possession? Is this for real?”
Monsignor Curran nodded. “Very much so, I’m afraid. I’ve been involved in my share of exorcisms.”
“You have?”
Monsignor Curran nodded again.
Andy’s brow furrowed. He thought he knew the man so well. This blew away his mind. He shook his head to clear his thoughts, then set his eyes on the manila folder. “I think I can help Marilyn Haines. In fact, I have to help her.”
Andy was certain Monsignor Curran would shoot down his idea, or at the least question why he would have such a crazy thought. Instead, he stared at him, intensity radiating from his blue eyes. “Then we should see her right away. Time’s running short. We can meet her after your graduation ceremony today.”
Andy waved his hand. “I can pick up my diploma later.” He had barely passed his classes and had little interest in anything other than Theology. From being around priests and nuns all the time, religious knowledge had rubbed off on him, so he did well in that class.
“Then we’ll pack a few things and leave.”
An hour later, they were on the road, trekking down I-95 to Virginia. Andy had expected Monsignor Curran to grill him about his sudden interest in Marilyn Haines, but he did not. Instead, Andy volunteered the information about his dreams after they entered Delaware. Monsignor Curran asked a few pointed questions but showed no skepticism.
They stopped at a Wendy’s in Maryland and ate lunch. Monsignor Curran told him more about the woman.
“She was a nurse at a hospital. Over a month ago, she had been taking a patient’s blood pressure when she blacked out. They performed a battery of tests but found nothing medically wrong with her. Her condition worsened. She had several more blackouts followed by fits of hysterical rage where she would shout and curse in an unknown language. Her husband took her to a psychologist, but the doctor could not determine what was wrong with her.
“Then things got worse. Marilyn turned catatonic. She was unresponsive but still prone to violent fits. Her husband turned to his local minister, a Lutheran who didn’t know how to deal with
the situation, so he consulted a local Catholic priest. Father James didn’t know any better how to deal with the situation, but he documented the case as best he could. He then relayed the information to his bishop, who contacted the Vatican. They sent an exorcist in from New Jersey.”
“An exorcist? From New Jersey?” Andy asked.
Monsignor Curran nodded. “Yes. Father Christopher.”
Andy’s eyes opened wide. “Hold up. Father Christopher is an exorcist? Are you joking?”
“Well, that’s not his primary responsibility, but he has performed them in the past as have I.”
Andy couldn’t believe what he was hearing. If not for the fact that Monsignor Curran never lied, he would think the priest was pulling his leg. “Get out. You two are exorcists? This is crazy.”
“It’s all true. At any rate, Father Christopher confirmed that this was a true case of demonic possession, but unfortunately he’s had no success in helping Marilyn. That’s why he consulted me. I saw her last week, but, unfortunately, I have no answers. She’s near death.”
They left the Wendy’s and got back in the car.
Monsignor Curran turned to him. “So, you think you can help Marilyn? What do you plan on doing?”
Andy strapped on his seat belt and stared out the window. “No idea, but I have to try something.”
“Indeed you should. She’s out of options.”
They hardly spoke the rest of the ride. Andy dwelled on Monsignor Curran’s question. What did he plan on doing? Andy didn’t have the first clue as to how to help this woman.
His heart felt like it was in a NASCAR race by the time they reached her home in Virginia.
As they got out of the car, Monsignor Curran studied his face closely. “Are you ready for this?”
Andy tried to speak, but his vocal cords constricted. His knees felt weak. He wasn’t sure he could walk the fifty feet to this woman’s house. After a minute, he said, “We’ve come this far.”
Monsignor Curran nodded. “So we have.”
They rang the bell. A girl in her early teens greeted them. She led them inside the house. Monsignor Curran spoke to Marilyn’s husband in hushed tones. Andy did not utter a word, hardly paying attention to what they were saying. The haunted images from his nightmares flashed in his mind. What was he thinking? He was a nobody of a high school student, who was going to go to a trade school and become a nobody of an electrician. Whatever was going on here was beyond him. Yet after seeing the woman’s anguished face and listening to her pleas for help, he had to try something.