💀19💀

Blue Hills, Rosing's county; the largest street, housing nine family estates, all neighbors to Livinggood family was about to get a shock of their life.

The morning chills rolling from the horizon, with birds chirruping happy songs did nothing to soothe the aching, beating heart of Livinggood members. The servants all clutched to each other in their chambers, daring not to venture out but still felt the tremors rumbling through the mansion. Though their chambers were far away from the main house; they could still hear the deep throat screaming of Lucy, echoing through the lonely corridors.

Nighttime is used to rest our mind, body, and soul; but once such unexplainable predicament occurs in ones, it's best to not even try getting some sleep since that will prove worthless to a point where sleeping gets to be a phobia.

Peter and Julia was a wreck. They have lost weight tremendously, sported dark circles that looked eerie, their cheeks were sucked in, hair uncombed and clothes not pressed and unruly. To look at them was as worse as watching over Lucy who was now tied to the four poster bed in Peter's room.

Last night, after the threat Lucy spat at them, she leaped up into the air as if it was a normal thing to do and plucked a hairy spider from a dark corner. With a nerve wrecking thunderous laughter she gobbled it down. When Lydia screamed in fright, Lucy cackled inhumanly that sounded like pigs grunting and goats bleating together. Julie stood frozen looking at Lucy, unable to express anything. Katy, not able to tolerate it for a minute long, ran off to her bed, crying hysterically and kneeled down to pray.

"It's too late for that you bloody bitch..." Lucy screamed at Katy and ran off in her direction. She snatched Katy's hair and pulled back, "Where were you when you stupid God asked you to remember him and now you pray and he listens? Stupid pricks, you sniggering cunt face, blasted pig," Lucy laughed maniacally like pigs grunting; then, slapped Katy who flew off few feet away and fell down at Peter's feet, whimpering.

The girls were all scared and frozen. They hugged each other looking at Lucy. They didn't have the wit or brave, to yell or cry at all. Tina who braved up, with shuddering heart and shivering fingers, took out her cross and started to recite a few verses. The cross which scorched Lucy's forehead started to glow like fire. Lucy screamed solidly rattling the chandelier and windows.

"Get away, get away you filthy human. You are a rotting corpse sucking.... ah" The things screamed in deep guttural cries which forced everyone to glue their hands to their ears. It felt many and it trebled thunderously, breaking quite a few windows with a loud crash. When that episode ceased, Tina still continued to pray little louder knowing that she was gaining power.

Suddenly, Lucy kneeled down, spread her hands wide and screamed loudly for a whole of three minutes that rattled the remaining windows and broke many vases, ornamental objects, antiques, and one of the main chandeliers from the high ceiling including many other things in their house. Once she finished the first round, Tina was still praying with tears leaking down her face.

With rage burning in her eyes, Lucy leaped to run towards Tina but Peter, Patrick, and Julian were quickly by her side, pinning her down.

Three large grownup men, who toiled in land and sculpted their body into tough muscles, couldn't hold a thin, fragile Lucy down. They called for their butler and main manservant, with their help, Lucy was taken to her parent's bedroom and then was tied to the bed.

After the prayer, Tina came towards a whimpering and shaking Lucy. She said the last prayer, drew a cross over Lucy's head and then pressed the cross once again to Lucy's forehead. Lucy didn't resist. Lucy just froze, looked up and then gasped as her chest was pulled upward. Then she fell down, unconscious.

"For now..." Tina said to no one, wiped her tears as she ran away, unable to see the many broken faces.

After that terrifying terrible episode, morning came crashing on them in full glory as they all sat wide-eyed in the sitting room. When the sunlight touched them, nobody realized it was morning.

Not even Mina had bothered to have a bite, since last day's lunch. Even now, after several hours, she was surprised that she wasn't hungry or her body didn't crave food at all. Sighing hard, she looked around and saw Tina still in silent prayers, looking at a streak of golden light where the dust fluttered and danced merrily.

They both were the only thing in the room that moved and knew how to breathe.

Mina went in search of the maids for breakfast. She didn't find it upsetting to see a few of the younger maids were still in bed, hugging their body. Thankfully, the older maids have arranged a light meal.

Tina after her prayers went to Lucy's room, just to check on her and was surprised to her awake. Lucy was looking at; either she tied hands or the unopened drapes.

When Tina walked in, Lucy looked at her crying.

"You know... I had this weird dream... last night. That I am already dead inside and in the meantime, I will have to say goodbye to you all." Lucy said crying. "I want to say goodbye if this is my last day to my dear Katie and Emily."

"Hush, don't say that. Have faith in your lord!" Tina chastised.

"I am not scared to... to, you know, to die... I, just... I couldn't bear to think what Kat and Em will do without me."

"Oh dear, hush now... you are not going anywhere. Your parents are worried."

"I know. But it won't come to what Katie and Emily must feel. They have been there for me in every single turn of my life." Lucy was silent for a long beat, and then said something that chilled Tina, "They said... they promised." Lucy looked away.

"What are you talking about?" Tina asked incredulously.

"Can you untie me or are you scared of me?" Lucy asked not replying to Tina, still looking away.

"No, I am not scared. But yesterday... you were attacking everyone; you needed to be restrained for your own..."

"I know, I remember and that is so much worse. You know, to remember everything..." Lucy cried.

"You do? That's strange!"

"Why?" Lucy asked after a deep sob.

"I have heard people going through what you did without remembering anything. I thought everyone must be like that."

"I don't know Tina, I remember everything. The look on my parents face, the way Katie and Em looked at me, scared. How Katy looked at me. It's... sad. It kills me inside Tina." Lucy's tear mingled talk made it hard for Tina to keep her emotions at bay.

"I am sorry you have to go through this," Tina sucked in a long breath to stop herself from crying in front of a very scared Lucy. "Have faith! But, I want to know Lucy, do you remember why or how you might have reached there, the mansion?"

"I don't know Tina; I remember asking Em to not go for any adventure because coming here, Em had so many ideas and dreams but... something didn't feel right somehow. I had this horrible feeling. I ignored it. But, how and why we stumbled across that house... is... I don't know Tina..."

"There must be something that took you there. It's not natural for horses to take you someplace without your command. And you remember how they reacted afterward."

"Yes, I remember. I told you right, they were very strange." Lucy said, thinking back. "I am not sure, why... but like you said, there must be a reason why the horses took us there and left. Something doesn't add up. I am fine now; please remove this rope. It hurts."

"I will call Peter or Patrick; I can't untie them myself because they are quite strong. Look, do you want something to eat?"

"Yes, I am hungry, plus, there is a nasty taste in my mouth and it's making me want to throw up. I remember eating something last night, but I don't remember what."

"You don't want to..."

"What?" Lucy asked to which Tina hesitated but once Lucy insisted, Tina said, "Spiders..."

Lucy threw up to the side; heavily on the very instant, she heard it. Tina quickly went into the bathroom and came in with a dry and wet towel. She gave her a glass of water too.

"Eew... I can't believe it." Lucy said, still wanting to heave out everything in her stomach which was close to nothing.

"Don't think about it much. This is why I hesitated, now look what you just did." Tina said with a concerned half smile.

"Oh, never mind that, please go fetch father, it's hurting me."

Tina nodded her head and walked out to see Peter standing there to knock on the door. He smiled a small half interested one and walked in. Tina left them, closing the door.

When Tina walked backed in, they were all seated at the dining table. Tina sat on the empty seat between Katie and Mina. The food looked scrumptious but everyone was merely toying with it. Mina included playing with her sausages; one of her favorite food.

"You can eat even if others are not eating. It's weird seeing you not eat anything." Tina said lovingly to Mina. Tina knew how fragile and sensitive Mina really is and how pressurized occasions shall affect her.

"No, it's not because others are not interested in eating. I am just... scared! What will happen to Lucy? I have these weird feelings that..." she lowered her voice to a complete whisper and said, "die..."

Tina froze. "Oh hush you... don't give in to those feelings. They are toying with our minds. Nothing will happen. She will be safe." Tina said promisingly.

"No. This is not those silly feelings, you know it, and we both know it. I had this dream and this reflection will not go away. Tina, it's too late..." Mina said terrified. She looked at Emily and Katie to see they were deep in thoughts, looking forlorn and sad.

Tina couldn't forget the tone of Mina's voice. Not ever since the first time, Mina said something about the future and that happened exactly as she predicted. Never once have Tina doubted her sister ever again and religiously, Mina proved her predictions true. Gulping hard, Tina tore a piece of her brown bread harshly. Em looked at her and smiled, quickly wiping away tears. Katie was staring at her plate without paying attention.

Tina slowly nudged Katie who jerked from her reverie asking, "Is she alright. Are they here yet?"

"Calm down, you will only terrorize your parents. Eat something, please..." Tina said.

Katie sighed and gobbled down her bread and eggs then pushed the plate away standing up. The grownups did the same. As everyone was about to leave, Lucy came in with her father, tired and clumsy. She saw everyone looking at her. Tears welled up in her eyes. Lucy welcomed Katie and Emily who rushed to her.

Julie retrieved her outstretched arms and fisted it to her mouth, looking away. She couldn't feel the bite of sadness there. Her daughter didn't come running towards her. She ran towards her sisters, or say, friends; best friends. Tina who was watching Julie felt sad since she knew the pain and love of a mother; whom she couldn't enjoy the warmth herself. She stood there looking out of the broken glass windows.

Lucy sat down, and Julie chose this moment to barge in between the duo and sat down with her daughter. Lucy only smiled but didn't say anything or give her a hug.

"How are you, my dear?" Julie asked quivering, tucking her hair into which her father had neatly combed earlier.

"Not well mom, I don't feel like myself. It's just..."

"Shh, its fine, everything will be alright."

"I believe so, mom. I want to..."

"Now, eat something. Here are your favorite strawberries. Do you want egg and sausages with your pancakes?"

"No, I would only like porridge and a cup of hot chamomile tea."

"As you wish my dear, Linda..."

Her mother didn't leave Lucy's side even when Lucy didn't say anything at all throughout the meal. As the milky sweet porridge was over, Lucy got up, only to fall back down to the chair feeling tight and angry all of a sudden. Just then, the butler walked in announcing the priest, another priest and a guest of the priest have arrived.

Lucy's face went pale and she started shivering. "Mom, I am scared. Ask them to go aaaway, something is very angry here. Something is not right, I am serious."

"Dear child, I want to cure you of this. Please, don't worry. I am here with you. I am always here with you."

"No, no, no... you don't understand. Something is very angry. I will die, mom, don't you understand. Ask them to go away."

"Shh, it's fine..." Julie tried to pat her daughter but Lucy swatted her hands away and ran towards Katie.

"Katie, tell them, tell them to go away. I am scared." Lucy said frantically looking here and there hearing whispers, angry screams, and voices all of a sudden. "They are so angry. Oh my, what will I do?"

Before Katie could even reply, the priest walked into the dining hall and Lucy tore off through the window to the gardens feeling utterly scared, screaming that she will die soon. Katie and Emily tore from behind her; as well as the grownups. Katie tackled Lucy first and with the help of their father's, she was brought back to the large study and was tied up to the chair.

The kind priest knew something was very wrong and this was no simple case of demonic manifestation; he could tell. When he heard about the issue firsthand, there were some weird vibrations in his room. The next day when he was about to respond to the letter received, he found his study was rummaged and his personal area in the office was completely filled with claw marks and blood droplets. He picked up another paper and immediately signed his consent. And now, he was here. He was glad he didn't come here just to learn and go away only to come back later when it was too late.

He smiled at Lucy and said sweetly, "don't worry my child. The devil does everything to scare us and now they are scared. So they are scaring you."

"No... they are angry. I can feel it. The room is so hot. Father, you have to help me."

"I will dear, I will. I can feel the heat too. There is a lot of tension in this room. That is the reason why you are feeling hot."

"No, they are here. Every one of them," Lucy panted.

"How many are there my dear?"

"I am not sure, but they are many."

"I see. Can you tell me what happened from the beginning?"

The priest's help was fresh out of church school. He was a priest but not experienced in the exorcism section. So, when he learned that he was to accompany Father Matthews for an exorcism in Blue Hills, Rosings, he was astonished. Preferably, only experienced was accompanied considering the level of expertise, but somehow this case was different and he was called on such short notice. However, with the knowledge of how it is done, he was incredulous for some reason when Father Matthews asked her to recall the events; on every cases and information he has read, this practice was not there.

But father Matthews was never a rule abider; he had his own norms and he follows them willingly.

When Lucy explained it all, the guest who came with Father Matthews remained silent and listened carefully to what Lucy was saying. But, Katie noticed her attention was elsewhere as she kept looking at everyone else and all around the house.

She locked her gaze with Katie and smiled politely. Katie offered the same but her eyes never left her. After Lucy finished explaining, Father Matthews smiled and got up from a shivering and trembling Lucy; noticing how Katie was looking at the woman.

"Ah, I am sorry; I didn't get the chance to introduce us as I realized something was amiss here, forgive me. I am Father Matthews, as you all might know. This is my help here; his name is Kruger, father JohnKruger and my niece, EmilySharon; she is a therapist and a clairvoyant who is doing a research paper on the paranormal."

Kruger remained silent but Emily, who smiled and got up, introduced herself. "I am sorry if I came in without notice but when I heard him speaking about the case, I somehow felt a deep connection with what I heard. I, oh well, I am a psychic, a medium or someone who could feel, hear and see things that are not normally visible; thus, I asked if I could assist him. In that case, I could prove my theory is right since I can feel Lucy here has a... interesting, umm, hypothesis here."

"What do you mean?" Patrick asked sharpening his voice, not liking what Sharon said at all; after few minutes of shock.

"Well, I can communicate, see and listen to paranormal, supernatural things that are not normally tangible to normal people and as you can assume it's not easy for people to believe until they don't experience and see or rather strong evidence. Thus, I wanted to come and authenticate the case of Lucy since I am also a certified therapist. I could help her, after the exorcism." Sharon smiled unsurely, but no one shared her positivity. 

Everything went complexly, unhealthily silent.

"Why are you really here?" Julie asked, in between sniffles.

"I may need her assistance. Without further ado, where shall we begin?" Matthews asked eyeing the spacious study room which was also a vast library.

"Wherever you are comfortable Father, we can shift her if needed."

"Very well, let's shift her someplace less crowded." Father Matthews said, looking at the books and papers. Once settled in one of the biggest guest bedrooms, he took out his objects from the bag Kruger was holding and got himself ready. After that Kruger got ready by wearing the necessary robe, stole, cross necklace dipped in holy water and finally, he got out a medium sized holy water.

The atmosphere in the room shifted suddenly. The darkness was back. The room was eerily silent and freezing cold. Some part was even blazing hot.

A dozing Lucy with her head lowered down was visibly shaking. A white colored thick foam was oozing out from her mouth. Julie almost ran towards her when Kruger stopped her.

Suddenly Lucy snapped her head up when Matthews started his prayer. Everyone lost their lifespan by one year sucking in a long terrifying breath; everyone including Matthews sucked in a breath of pure terror.

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First of all, did you like this chapter. Was it suspense-filled? Horror filled? nail-biting, on the edge of the seat fulfilling chapter?

A looooong chapter. We are in the end! :) What do you suggest will really happen now? 

Since Mina always predicts rightly but religion and faith should always win... what, what, what... do you realllly think now?

Do comment below and if my right frame of mind if right; two more chapters!

:(

Then I will be completing my mystery romance novel! :D Will you be there will me?

The title is Hearts Apart. 

P.S a strange thing happened. I was #17 in paranormal for Possessed. A little more reads and adding too many lists got increased and boom, it's in #37 now :O Did this happen to any of you? I am really surprised, not that I pay much attention to it since it's not genuine. For the books in top ten are always (Only a few are not) cliche to the core, romance with stupidity, and sensual stuff!