CHAPTER SIX
MONSTERS DO REALLY
HIDE IN THE DARK

As my mom was calming Judy down, we heard the phone ring from the kitchen.

"Hello?" my dad said as he picked up the receiver.

"It's Roger. There's something wrong with Carolyn. She said Carolyn took off with Christine and April. The girls said she smelled like rotten meat," Roger's voice crackled through the phone.

"She's possessed and killed a child. She's taking them back to the house," my mom said, her eyes locked on my dad.

"Roger, get back to the house. I'll meet you there," Dad replied, his voice firm before hanging up.

"I'm coming with you," I said, as my mom grabbed her coat.

"No," Dad snapped, glaring at me. "This is real now. It's way too dangerous. You could die, Eddie."

I felt my anger rise. "I'd rather die saving that family than in a pathetic way. You saw what that vision did to me before. I'm probably more likely to die from that."

I yanked the crucifix from around my neck and carefully placed it around Judy's. "If you don't take me with you, I'll find my own way. You can't stop me."

"You're staying too," my dad said, his voice hard, which only frustrated my mom more.

"You think I'm going to let you walk into this alone?" she asked, her voice rising as she stepped closer to us.

"I can't lose you," Dad said, his words heavy with worry for our safety.

"You won't," Mom reassured him, squeezing my hand. "Let's finish this together."

We rushed to the house, leaping out of the cars and sprinting toward the door. "Out of the way!" Brad barked, forcefully throwing the door open. We stormed inside, our hearts pounding with urgency. From the basement, we could hear Carolyn's screams.

"Carolyn!" Dad shouted, his voice cracking with panic as we reached the basement door. The others were already holding her, preparing to carry her upstairs.

"Where's April?" Roger asked, his voice tight with concern as they tried to move Carolyn toward the car. They needed to get her to the priest for the exorcism.

But just as they reached the doorway, Carolyn's skin began to burn, the heat radiating like an inferno.

"She won't let us take her," I said, my voice shaking. "If we take Carolyn outside, the witch will kill her."

A horrible, inhuman scream ripped through the house. Carolyn's body was flung backward as the witch's power seized her. Her shrieks echoed as she was pulled back into the basement.

"Roger!" Carolyn screamed, her voice distorted by the force of the possession. Her body was thrown violently against the walls.

"That's not Carolyn anymore," I whispered, my heart sinking as I watched the grotesque struggle unfold before me. Carolyn's teeth sank into Brad's arm, and he howled in pain.

"We have to do the exorcism," Dad said, his voice resolute as he stood beneath the dim light, a figure of determination.

"What? I thought you said we needed a priest," Roger protested, his face pale with fear. "You're not a priest."

"Got a better idea?" Dad shot back, his voice tense. The room was filled with the weight of the moment. Time was running out.

"We don't have a choice," I said, looking desperately at Roger. "He can do it."

Mom stepped forward, her voice a quiet reassurance. "He can do it. We believe in him."

But doubt lingered in the pit of my stomach.

"Both of you, get out of here," Dad ordered, turning to face Mom and me. His eyes burned with the intensity of his decision. "I'm not leaving you," Mom snapped back, her voice thick with defiance.

"Dammit, Lorraine! I can't do this with both of you in here!" Dad's patience snapped. He was losing control, but the urgency was unmistakable.

"God brought us together for a reason," Mom said, her voice steady despite the terror in her eyes. "If He didn't think Eddie could do this, He wouldn't have given him the same gift."

Mom turned to me then, her gaze softening. She reached out, and I took her hand without hesitation. She held on tight, her grip strong as if anchoring me to this chaotic reality.

"I'm going to get the book," Mom said, her voice steady despite the fear that clung to her. She sprinted upstairs, returning moments later with the Bible in her hands. Meanwhile, Dad retrieved the cross from his pocket, its silver gleaming in the low light.

Mom gently wiped a dusting of ash across my forehead, forming the shape of a cross. "This will protect you," she said, offering me a reassuring smile. But the fear in her eyes betrayed her words.

"In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit," Dad intoned, his voice thick with authority. He began chanting in Latin, his words powerful yet incomprehensible to me. As he spoke, he splashed holy water on Carolyn, causing her to scream in agony. The room trembled with the force of her pain.

"Hold her still!" Dad commanded, and we all rushed forward, pinning Carolyn down in the chair as she writhed in the throes of the witch's power.

"Roger, help me!" The witch's voice, still laced with Carolyn's, called out in a mockingly pleading tone, attempting to deceive him.

"We're fighting for her soul," Mom said, her voice trembling but firm as Carolyn's face twisted into something unrecognizable, tearing through the cloth that had been thrown over her.

The room fell silent. The movement ceased, and for a moment, everything stood still. Then, suddenly, the chair lifted into the air. Dad's eyes widened in panic. The spirit twisted, flipping upside down before crashing violently through the ceiling.

"Put her down! Put her down!" Dad screamed, his voice hoarse with fear. In an instant, Carolyn's body dropped to the floor with a sickening thud.

"Carolyn!" Mom cried, rushing to her side. Roger followed closely behind, both of them kneeling by her.

"Dad, look out!" I screamed, pointing to a chest of drawers that was teetering dangerously above him. He barely moved in time as it came crashing down behind him with a deafening crash.

The witch's mocking laugh filled the room, sending chills down my spine.

"Damn you! Leave my family alone!" Roger yelled, his voice trembling with rage. "I don't know what you are, but leave my wife alone! Let her go, do you hear me? Let her go!"

Suddenly, the gun fired on its own. Brad leapt in front of my dad, knocking him to the floor as the bullet ricocheted off the walls.

"I found her! She's under the house—under the kitchen!" Drew called out, his voice urgent.

Before we could process what had happened, Carolyn turned and sprinted out of the basement, disappearing into the dark tunnel. I quickly followed, rushing upstairs and out of the basement, hot on my mom's heels. We reached the kitchen, and I watched as Mom reached her hand through the floorboards, her palm resting gently on Carolyn's head.

"This is your daughter. You can't give in!" Mom's voice was steady, but I could hear the desperation beneath it.

"Roger, we need her to fight from the inside," Dad said, his eyes locking onto Roger's. He was exhausted, barely holding on.

"Don't let this thing take over her, Roger. I know you're strong," Dad urged, his voice thick with emotion. "You have to fight it. Stay with us. Come on, Carolyn!"

Mom turned to look at me, her eyes pleading. "Remember what you told me. Remember that day you said you'd never forget."

Carolyn's body trembled, tears streaming down her face as the spirit began to weaken. "You said they mean the world to you," Mom continued, her voice breaking, "This is what you'll be leaving behind."

I took a step closer, my heart pounding. "Be strong for your children, Carolyn. You're a mother. It's your instinct to protect them, not hurt them."

For a moment, Carolyn's eyes met mine, and I saw a flicker of recognition in them. She coughed violently, and with that, the spirit began to leave her body.

As we stepped outside, the warmth of the sun bathed us in light. The air felt fresh, and for the first time in what seemed like forever, we could breathe again.

Mom hugged Dad, then turned to pull me into a tight embrace.

"You did good," Dad said, his voice filled with pride as he gazed at Mom.

"No," she said, smiling at him. "You did."

Dad kissed her gently on the lips before pulling her close, holding her tightly. Then he turned to me, his face glowing with pride.

"I'm so proud of you, kid," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

"We did it," I murmured, looking at my family—together, happy, and whole once more.

Just then, April walked over to us. She reached into her pocket and placed my mom's necklace into her hands, her face solemn but kind.

End Of Chapter 6