CHAPTER 5
DARK TIMES
LIE AHEAD

The wardrobe where Cindy was hiding had a back that led to a hidden corridor. My parents decided to investigate it, so I followed behind them.

"Eddie, no," Dad said, his voice laced with anger.

"What's the point of me being here if you won't let me do anything?" I shot back, my annoyance growing.

"We just want to protect you," Mom said, playing the good cop.

"I came here because you promised you'd help me understand my gift," I said, raising my eyebrows at both of them. "I can't understand it and learn to control it if you won't let me do anything."

"Alright," Dad said, finally giving in. "But you stay close to us."

I nodded, agreeing. "Understood."

Dad looked at me, expecting a reply. "Yes," I answered, and we began to move around.

"Hon, could I have April's music box, please?" Mom asked as she glanced at the shelf filled with children's toys. She carefully placed the music box on a shelf.

"Is that rope?" I asked, kneeling down to get a closer look. I placed my torch in my mouth and pulled on the rope. My heart raced as I realized it was a noose.

Mom gasped, startled, just as the floor beneath her gave way. She screamed as she fell.

"Lorraine!" Dad shouted, rushing toward her.

"Mom!!" I screamed, panic rising in my chest. Then I heard the sickening thud of her landing.

"No!" Dad shouted, his voice filled with desperation as he ran off. He climbed out and sprinted ahead, and I followed, my heart pounding.

"Lorraine!" Dad cried again, his voice rising in panic as he banged on the walls.

"Mom!" I screamed, desperate to find her.

"Ed!" Mom's voice rang out from the basement.

"I know what she did," she said, her voice frantic. "She possessed the mother to kill the child."

The words struck me with a cold dread. Carolyn's face twisted with fear.

"She possesses Carolyn every night," Mom continued, trembling.

"That's what the bruises are, aren't they?" I said, taking a step back. The realization hit me, and I felt a chill run down my spine. "She's feeding off her."

Before I could process what was happening, the cross hanging on the wall began to rock. With a violent crash, it fell, followed by others, one by one. The room seemed to come alive with movement as the girl's hair lifted, swirling in the air.

Suddenly, she was thrown across the room, the glass shattering around us.

"Are you okay?" Roger asked, reaching for the girl.

But before he could grasp her, she was yanked away, her body twisting as if under the control of something far stronger. He tried to hold on, but it was no use. The spirit was too powerful.

My dad tried to grab her too, but the spirit's grip was far too strong. Eventually, Mom managed to free the girl, but it took everything she had. The next morning, the house was silent, the air heavy with the fear of what had happened the night before. The family, shaken to the core, was ready to leave.

"I'll have the footage developed and sent over to Father Gordon," Dad said, his voice steady but filled with concern. "He's our liaison at the church. I imagine we'll get a response pretty quickly." He paused, glancing over at Mom. "Listen, Roger, I'll bring the exorcist, and we'll be back. But Lorraine..." His voice trailed off, as if he couldn't fully express his worry.

"I understand," Roger said, shaking Dad's hand.

"But until then, we'll keep an eye on you," Dad added, his gaze lingering on us as the family began packing into the car.

I stood there, distant, lost in thought, before I noticed Mom acting strangely. She was walking away, as if in a daze. "Mom?" I called out, hurrying to catch up. I ran over to her, desperate to get her attention.

"Mom?" I shouted again, but it was as if she couldn't hear me. Finally, she stopped—by the water's edge.

"Judy..." Mom muttered, her eyes fixed on the water.

"Mom," I said, my hand gently touching her shoulder. The moment I made contact, she jerked away, her eyes wide with panic. Without another word, she took off again.

"Mom, wait!" I screamed, my heart pounding as I chased after her.

I chased her to the house, where she ran inside and went straight to the phone.

"Mom, what's going on?" I asked, breathless, as my dad followed in after me.

"Mom, it's me. Is Judy okay?" she said into the phone, her voice trembling.

"Can you check, please?" she asked, clearly out of breath and frightened.

"What's going on?" Dad asked, his voice rising with panic.

"Damn it, Mom, check, please!" Mom said, frustration creeping into her voice as she spoke to my grandmother on the other end of the line.

"What's going on?" Dad repeated, now growing more angry.

"She saw Judy in the water," I said, my voice tight with unease.

"What? What do you mean?" Dad slammed his hands on the table, his frustration boiling over.

"Oh, thank God," Mom sighed in relief. "Mom, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I'll call you later, okay?" She hung up the phone, her face drained of color.

"What the hell happened?" Dad demanded, looking at Mom, his voice sharp.

"I had a vision of Judy in the water. I know it was some kind of warning. I know it!" Mom said, her voice breaking. She collapsed into Dad's arms, sobbing. "It's messing with us. Can't you see it's trying to scare us away?"

I felt my own anger rising, the frustration building as the spirit continued to haunt us. It wasn't just fear anymore; it was pure rage.

"Come on," Dad said, taking a deep breath. We needed to leave. We headed out of the house, the weight of the situation heavy on our shoulders.

My mom and dad drove to show Father Gordon the footage we had recorded. The meeting didn't go well, as the church didn't recognize us—none of us were baptized or members. But time was running out. We couldn't afford to waste any more of it.

As we drove home through the pouring rain, a sharp pain shot through my head.

"Eddie?" Mom said, her voice full of concern, as she turned to look at me. I pressed my hands against my temples, trying to ease the pain, but it only intensified. Suddenly, I had a vision—Judy was in danger.

"Judy!" I screamed, the agony in my head blinding me.

"Something's wrong," Mom said urgently, her eyes wide with fear. We both scrambled out of the car.

Dad was already running into the house, trying desperately to break open Judy's door. Just as he did, a chair flew across the room, smashing into the wall. Dad reached Judy just in time to pull her out of the way.

As they tried to comfort her, I stepped into the room, my eyes drawn to the corner. There, sitting silently, was the Annabelle doll.

Before I could even move, it vanished from sight.

"Annabelle," I said, my voice cold, as I stood still, staring into the empty corner.

"I was rocking in the chair with Annabelle," Judy whispered, her voice shaky. Mom wrapped her arms around her, trying to soothe her.

"It's okay," Mom murmured, holding Judy close.

Dad ran down to the basement where they kept all the dark objects they had collected, returning a few moments later, his face grim.

"She's still in the case," Dad said, sounding more confused than ever.

End Of Chapter 5