by Tony Martin
“Meredith!” called Jimmy. “Meredith, answer us! Are you all right?”
“Should we split up to look for her?” asked Joshua.
“I think we should stay together,” said Precious, moving toward the great hall.
The great hall glowed in dim yellowish light from the remaining bulbs in the overhead chandelier. The men looked around uneasily, calling Meredith’s name. No answer.
They quickly checked the library and parlor and found nothing. “Upstairs,” said Jimmy.
Led by Joshua, the group jogged up the stairs, going first to Meredith’s room. They opened the door and stopped before entering. A sickening, damp, moldy smell assaulted them. Al spoke first.
“What in the world has happened here?” he whispered.
Meredith’s bed was soaked. Water dripped from the mattress; streamers of dark green weeds dragged the floor. The whole room was splattered with foul-smelling water. Joshua covered his mouth and nose.
“No Meredith,” said Jimmy, “but something’s been in here.” He looked up at the ceiling. “No leaks.”
“We need to find her,” said Precious. “Let’s check the other rooms.”
They searched quickly, to no avail. “Wait here,” said Joshua, “and I’ll check the attic.” He was gone a few seconds; the group heard his footsteps over the sound of the wind. “Nothing there,” Joshua said when he returned.
“Outside?” asked Precious.
The men exchanged sober glances, and then went back downstairs. Jimmy went to the back door and opened it. A gust of wind pushed him back. “No umbrellas. What were we thinking?” he asked.
“Don’t think they’d help,” said Joshua. “Here goes.”
Lowering his shoulder, Joshua led the group onto the back porch. He raised his arm to try to shield himself from the rain. Lightning crackled overhead as they moved onto the lawn. Ahead was the family cemetery, barely visible. The Spanish moss in the cedars waved like pennants.
“There she is,” gasped Al. He pointed.
Following his extended finger, the other three men could see Meredith Dubose, inside the fence to the cemetery. They rushed to the iron gate, blinded by the rain. Meredith was splayed across one of the graves, face down, her arms and legs in the shape of an X. She was crying as though her very soul was in agony. The men dropped down on their knees beside her. Just like Bernadine, thought Joshua.
“Meredith,” gasped Joshua, feeling the sting of the rain, “you’ve got to get inside.”
Meredith looked up at Joshua. She didn't recognize him. “I had to come out here,” said Meredith. “He made me.”
“Who made you?” asked Precious.
“Papa,” she said. She rolled over into a sitting position, blinking against the rain.
“Papa,” repeated Jimmy. “Come on, Meredith, we’ve got to get you out of this storm.”
“I had to come,” said Meredith. “We needed to talk.”
They men helped Meredith to her feet. She touched the back of her head and grimaced. “I think I bumped my head,” she said to Precious.
Meredith, supported by the other four, walked into the great hall. She sat down slowly in a chair beside the staircase. She looked at the men blankly, her mouth working soundlessly as though she were trying to form words.
Al, who’d disappeared momentarily, returned with several towels. “Here, hon,” he said. “Dry yourself off.”
Meredith took the towels and began drying her face and hair. Her clothes were soaked, as were the men’s. She stared at Joshua, and shook her head. “Josh?” she said, then looked at the others. “Jimmy? Al? Precious?”
“Meredith, what were you doing out there?” asked Jimmy.
Meredith took a couple of towels and wrapped herself as best as she could. “I’m freezing,” she said.
“I would say she needs to get in some dry clothes, but I don’t want her out of our sight,” said Joshua to Jimmy.
“Mr. Jimmy, just follow me upstairs,” said Meredith. “I’ve got to change. Wait right outside my door. I’ll be fine.”
Jimmy nodded, glanced at the other men, then, arm in arm, walked Meredith up the stairs. Joshua watched them anxiously.
“What has happened here?” he asked.
“Not sure,” said Precious. “I don’t want to force anything, but I want to hear from her.”
The men looked at their own soaked clothes. Al went for more towels, and they dried off as best they could while Meredith was upstairs changing.
In a few moments, Meredith and Jimmy returned. Meredith was pale, but didn’t seem particularly upset. She pulled her chair around and sat while the four men sat on the stairs.
“Meredith, do you feel like talking about what happened?” asked Precious.
“Sure. Fine,” Meredith said. “I’d been reading Chrissy’s Bible, and I saw where Jesus got rid of evil spirits or demons by just asking them to leave. I read where his disciples couldn’t get rid of one because they hadn’t prayed right. So I thought I could pray just as well as anyone else, and came out here to do just that.”
“Don’t you know how dangerous that could be?” asked Jimmy.
“I wasn’t afraid,” said Meredith quickly. “Why should I be?”
“Well…” began Joshua, then couldn’t think of an adequate response.
“So, I just came out here,” said Meredith. “There wasn’t anything wrong in the house, it seemed. I went up to my bedroom, and was about to leave …” She smiled sheepishly. “Actually, this was scary.
“I heard a noise in the hall,” she continued. “I was just starting to pray, and the door to my bedroom blew open. When it did I fell backwards, and … I guess I banged my head hard. But … I do remember seeing a man’s face. He was smiling at me… it was awful.”
Meredith looked at them in wonder. “And, you know, that’s all I remember. I don’t remember going outside. Hmmm. I don’t really remember anything until y’all got me up. What was I doing sitting on a grave in the rain?”
The others glanced at each other. “You said something about being led out there, that you needed to talk to someone,” said Precious.
Meredith scowled. “I don’t remember any of that.”
“Just as well,” said Joshua. “Maybe some things you just don’t need to remember.”
Meredith thought about this a moment. “So … now what do we do?”
Joshua shifted uneasily. “Well,” he said, “I guess we just go about asking God to put an end to this evil.”
Chapter Twenty-Three – Paroxysm
No one spoke. Joshua felt as though all eyes were on him. It seems so unreal, Joshua thought. I’m supposed to be the spiritual leader of our happy little band, and I’m paralyzed. He wished for some sort of formula, plan, incantation, anything to help him get started.
“Let me go get my Bible,” he said, rising and heading for the kitchen.
Meredith watched him go. “Have y’all talked about what you’re going to do?” she asked.
“Just in the most general of terms,” said Precious, who seemed as uneasy as the rest. “But, like I said, I’ve butted up against the limits of my experience with this one.”
“Joshua did want me to sing,” said Al. “It sounds reasonable.”
Joshua came back with his Bible. “For the first time in my life, I wish I were Catholic,” he said. “Then at least we’d have an example to go by, or I could sprinkle some Holy Water. Anything. This Baptist boy is feeling his way along in the dark.”
“And that’s OK,” said Jimmy. “God knows our hearts.”
Joshua nodded. He pressed the Bible to his forehead for a moment. Then he stood. “Let’s get started.”
The rest of the group stood. Joshua could hear a roaring in his ears that seemed to eclipse the noise of the storm outside. He stood in the center of the great hall, and gestured for the rest of the group to join him.
“Folks, you need to understand that there is no manual for this,” said Joshua. “I’m going to
proceed as seems right to me.”
Everyone nodded. Glancing around, Joshua saw that everyone still seemed as frightened as he was. He wished he could put on a braver face, but he was terrified, and knew his expression betrayed that fact.
“Let’s stand in a circle and join hands,” Joshua said.
The group shifted into a circle, Meredith between Joshua and Jimmy. Joshua felt Meredith’s hand trembling.
He looked up toward the chandelier, about half of its bulbs shattered. He felt the house shiver as thunder pealed all about. It was as though the air itself fairly hummed with tension.
“Let’s pray,” he said. Everyone bowed their heads, but he looked upward. He felt a little eddy of air pass in front of his face.
“Lord Jesus, we invite You here,” Joshua said. He waited.
Nothing happened. Joshua didn’t know what he’d expected – some sign, some sight, anything.
“Lord, we are gathered in this place in Your name because You’ve promised us that when two or more are gathered in your name, You will be there with them,” Joshua continued. “So we know You are with us.”
Al lifted his head and looked around furtively. He caught Joshua’s eye. Joshua shook his head.
“Lord, You know our hearts. We've experienced pure evil, wickedness we believe is from hell itself, and Satan has had full sway over this house and even over our church and community. Now, we ask that you deliver us from this evil. Protect Meredith, your new daughter. Protect me as I try to minister in Your strength and power. And banish these evil beings from this place – cast them into the outer darkness.” Joshua paused. “In Jesus’ name, amen.”
The group released their hands and looked around. The room vibrated from the periodic thunderclaps, and the wind moaned around the house, but otherwise – nothing.
“Is that all we need to do?” asked Jimmy.
“I don’t know,” said Joshua. “I guess … I don’t know what I was expecting.”
“Maybe we need to go to another part of the house and pray there,” said Precious.
They did. The group went into the library, then the parlor, then upstairs into Meredith’s room, which reeked of foulness. Each time, Joshua prayed the same general prayer, asking God to rid the house of any evil influences, and each time the results were the same. Silence.
The group took seats in the great hall. Joshua rocked back in his chair, rubbing his face. The others exchanged glances.
“Are they gone?” asked Meredith, bewildered.
“I don’t know,” said Joshua furiously, slamming the front legs of his chair down on the floor. He glared at the rest of the group. “How should I know? I don’t know what I’m doing!”
Al leaned in close to Joshua. “Josh, as best as I can tell, you’ve been faithful to do just exactly what you were supposed to do.”
“Al, thanks,” said Joshua, checking himself, “but I can’t tell anything’s happened.”
“But Josh, you’ve prayed for folks to get better, and they weren’t necessarily healed on the spot,” said Al. “They’d improve over time.”
“We can’t let Meredith and Bernadine come back here until we’re sure everything’s normal,” said Jimmy. “But I don’t know how to tell.”
Joshua leapt up, startling them all. His chair toppled backwards. His eyes were mad.
“What do you want from me?” Joshua roared, stalking to the center of the room. He spread out his arms in a cruciform, spun about. “What am I supposed to do? God, God – do something.”
Al rose, but Jimmy caught his arm. “Sit,” Jimmy hissed.
Joshua seemed as if he were possessed himself. He circled, marching to some unheard cadence, raised his hands. “God, God, God,” he chanted. He shook his fist at the ceiling. “Is this all I get? Is this what I deserve?”
For the next several minutes, Joshua continued pacing, gesticulating, groaning wordlessly. He seemed in agony, and the rest of the group watched helplessly. He strode to the front door, threw it open. “What do you want?” he shouted to the darkness. He paced to the staircase, went up several steps, and wailed. “Do something! God, don’t leave us like this on my account!”
Meredith cringed. “Mr. Jimmy, don’t let him hurt himself,” she whispered.
Joshua rushed down the stairs, his footsteps ringing above the storm. Again, he stopped in the center of the room. “God,” he cried, “I’m sick of this. I’m sick of You. Don’t punish others because of my unbelief.” He sat down heavily on the floor and doubled over, as if in pain.
Al and Jimmy went to his side. “Get away from me,” Joshua said through gritted teeth.
“Sorry,” said Jimmy. “You’re stuck with us. C’mere.” He dragged Joshua to his feet. Joshua glared at them, panting like an animal. He shook free from their grip, and took a step backwards.
“I’ve got nothing else to give,” Joshua said. “I’m done.”
“Sit down before you hurt yourself,” said Jimmy, pointing to a chair.
To Joshua’s own amazement, he crossed over to the chair and slumped down. He wouldn’t look at anyone else. Meredith looked terrified.
Al pulled close, sat. “Hey, Josh,” he said, “let me pray for you.”
“Shut up,” said Joshua. He looked up at Al. Al looked as if he’d been punched. “I don’t want you praying for me.”
“Fine,” said Al quietly. “I’ll let you have your space.”
The storm continued unabated. In the parlor, the grandfather clock chimed the hour. Joshua licked his lips. “Man, I’m thirsty,” he said. “I’m going to get some water.” He rose slowly, unsteadily, and with a smoldering glance at everyone else, trudged toward the kitchen. “I’ll give y’all a chance to talk about me,” he said over his shoulder.
Precious watched as he left the room. “We need to get him out of here. He’s right – he’s all used up, and that scares me.”
“But we’re not finished,” said Meredith, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. “My house still isn’t safe.”
“Maybe it is,” said Precious. “Just because we didn’t see anything doesn’t mean that God hasn’t taken care of things.”
“Uh-uh,” said Meredith. “It’s not over. I know it’s not.”
“Whew,” said Precious. “I guess we should trust your intuition.”
Meredith rose. Walking to the center of the room, she too looked heavenward. “God, are those things gone? I want my house – my life – back.” She paused as if listening.
At that time, Joshua walked in. He watched Meredith with detachment as he sipped bottled water.
“God, are You there?” Meredith asked. “Because I’m depending on You to take care of me.”
As with Joshua, there was silence. Meredith held her breath, then sighed. She turned to Joshua.
“Josh, I don’t think it’s because we aren’t praying right,” she said. “He’s just waiting.”
“Whatever,” said Joshua. “I vote we all go home. Y’all can come back tomorrow and give it another shot. I’m done with all this.”
Precious rose to protest. “We aren’t finished tonight,” he said. “We should --”
The lightning flash came from all the windows of the house simultaneously, as though blue fire had shrouded the house. The air fairly crackled. The thunderclap following seemed to come from the walls themselves. For a terrifying moment, the sound reverberated like a cannonade before the lights went out throughout the house. Meredith covered her ears with a cry.
“Not good,” said Precious. “Flashlights, all.”
Four beams came on in unison, casting wayward shadows throughout the great hall. “This is getting to be an unpleasant place to visit,” said Al. “Remind me to never vacation with any of you.”
Precious started to speak, and then stopped, mouth agape.
“Here we go,” muttered Joshua.
From somewhere upstairs came a series of bangs. The otherworldly sighing began again, seeming to envelope the second floor. Joshua start
ed to speak as he cast his flashlight beam around, but suddenly a blast of frigid air, as potent as a hurricane, swept down the stairs and sent the whole group staggering. Precious fell and rolled on the floor like a child’s toy.
For a moment, everyone was too stunned to move. Meredith stepped back from the group and stared up the stairs. The dull, breathy roar continued.
“God, make them go away,” cried Meredith. “This is all so wrong!”
Lightning flashed again, and after the attendant peal of thunder, the sighing stopped. The group instinctively huddled together in the darkness, their flashlight beams jittering around the room.
Joshua, with a cry, dove for his Bible, lying by his chair. He opened it with trembling hands and, in a voice that rang with unexpected strength, he read aloud: “The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”
“What’s that?” said Al, pointing.
On the second floor landing, a luminous pale blue vapor appeared, bright enough to cast shadows of the banister on the walls of the great hall. It glided silently to the head of the staircase and, roiling gently, began a slow descent down the stairs.
The group backed away from the staircase, transfixed. The room was silent; even the rain seemed to have stopped. As the mist descended, Joshua could hear the murmur of voices – two voices – a male and female.
As they watched, the vaporous apparition paused. Chiffons of bluish light spread ribbonlike from the center, and the mist divided itself into two distinct forms.
The tendrils of light, like quasi-formed arms and legs, extruded from each of the apparitions. A sphere seemed to emerge from the top of each shape and form itself into a rudimentary head.
“God Almighty,” whispered Jimmy, drawing further back.
As they watched, feeling as though waves of primordial wickedness were emanating from these entities, the illuminated forms coiled and twisted upon themselves. They grew more substantial, less vaporous, giving off a sickly luminescence. Before their astonished eyes, the group watched as two people seemed to coalesce from the mists. In moments, the forms solidified, still flickering with bluish light. Before them stood an old man with a cane, wearing a cutaway black coat. The other, a young woman, was the exact representation of Meredith Dubose. Meredith cried out in terror. The woman was wet, dripping, a tendril of some waterweed plastered to her pale cheek. Her eyes were vacant, black as ebony.
