Gail and Nick sat down at the table and joined hands with the two already there. Nick’s hand was like cold water, barely there, but he was holding it together as much as he could. They looked across at Jesse.
"Are you going to join us?" Gail asked.
Jesse didn't hear. All he could see was Alice, and all he could hear was what she was saying to him.
Alice had moved around the back of the other spirits. They didn’t seem aware of her, and she went across to the corner of the room out of the way.
Will you let me help her? she asked, again.
"I will." Jesse stepped closer to her. But please be quick.
Alice nodded. All I need is for you to give some information to your man who champions for Rosie.
For a moment Jesse didn't know what she meant, then he understood. She meant Paul Simmons, the solicitor who represented Rosie.
"I don't think information is going to help her."
Alice smiled, but before she could say any more, the wind rose in the room and Jesse staggered on his feet.
Time is short, Alice said, and she tried to reach out to him, but Jesse was confronted by the two cloaked spirits. As they came toward him, he could feel the cold seeping into his bones, freezing the breath in his throat. The darkness that emanated from them was like a weight on his shoulder, pushing him down into a pit of despair.
“No!” he screamed again, as he watched Alice was surrounded by the children.
“Be gone, Satan, inventor, and master of all deceit.”
The spirits advanced. The pressure on his lungs was so great that he backed away.
“Be gone, enemy of man's salvation. Unclean and evil beast, hear the Lord’s words and be gone."
The cloaked figures approached him and lifted their heads. He could see their faces… gaunt, white, skeletal. They opened their mouths, and darkness like a million flies blasted him, knocking him backward with the scent and taste of rot and corruption.
Jesse was pushed back until he hit the wall.
The children started their high-pitched keening as they closed in on Alice.
“No!” Jesse screamed as he got to his feet and faced down cloaked death. This time he pulled out his Holy Water and splashed them as he recited the prayer. "Christ, God's Word made flesh, commands you. Be gone, Satan, inventor, and master of all deceit, the enemy of man's salvation. Unclean and evil beasts, hear the Lord’s words and be gone."
It was working. They were backing from him, but that seemed too easy. So, he splashed more Holy Water. “Be gone from here, be gone. They slunk away, and he ran to Alice. It was too late. With her face twisted in pain, she was pulled back and upward until she faded into the ceiling. She was gone.
Jesse screamed out his frustration, and the children turned to face him.
“Jesse, hold on!” Gail shouted.
He turned around to see the séance in progress.
The cloaked ghost was standing over the table. A darkness seeped from him laying a black mist across the circle.
Jesse's heart missed a beat as he saw them enveloped in that darkness. He knew what was happening, but before he could move more than a couple of paces, the hooded spirit disseminated and became a living black smoke.
It swirled around the table like a murmur of starlings swarming across the dusk sky. This was not a coming together for the common good, but a deadly plague about to attack. The malevolent swarm turned and twisted over each person, choosing, deciding, and then, in less than a heartbeat it turned, and like a swarm of killer bees, it dove down and into the open mouth of Jack.
Jack broke the circle. His head flew back and his eyes turned black.
Shelly screamed out her anguish.
72
Jack was thrown across the room like he had been shot from a cannon and came to a stop almost as quickly. He hung there, in front of the wall, his eyes black, his mouth open. Like a six-foot puppet with all its strings cut, he was suspended 3 feet above the ground.
Shelly screamed and ran toward him.
Jesse tried to grab her arm, but she was too quick and slipped through his fingers. He knew what was happening. The ghost, the controlling spirit in the house, had possessed Jack. It would take him but a few moments to control the body, which was all the time they had... all the advantage. If they acted quickly, maybe, just maybe, they could expel him before he had use of his full powers.
Jesse grabbed for his Holy Water as he raced across the room.
Shelly got there first. She reached up, but just as she did, the spirit took control.
Jack's head turned down, his eyes red now, and the look he gave Shelly was enough to break her heart.
His lips were pulled back from his teeth and he spoke to her in tongues. The old language, the foul language. Jesse couldn't understand it, but he could understand the meaning. It was vile, degrading. Like the rumbling of a sewer, it spewed out of him, telling them how little they were worth.
Jesse grabbed hold of Shelly's arm and pulled her back. She was struggling, but he held on tightly as he threw the Holy Water at Jack's face. It hit square on, and the water burned Jack’s skin, causing blisters and bubbles to erupt on the surface.
Shelly bucked in Jesse's arms like an untamed bronco. He held her tightly, waiting for her to calm.
"Stop this!" she shouted. “You’re killing him, stop it!"
Jesse grabbed her with both arms and looked her in the eye. He could see the fear, and he could also see guilt. He shook her gently.
"You know what this is, you know what he is, and you know what we have to do."
Shelly nodded, a tear traced slowly down her swollen cheek.
"This is all my fault. I did this to him. this is all my fault."
"No, it's not, but that doesn't matter now. All that matters, is getting us out of here... alive."
Shelly nodded. She looked up at Jack. Jesse could see she was strong and he could feel that she had talent. Maybe with her, Gail, and Nick, they had a chance. Maybe, just maybe.
Gail and Nick were at his side now. They all surrounded Jack.
He hung in the air, staring down at them. Still looking like a puppet and hideously suspended, the possession had not gone well. Apart from the blisters, his face had swollen up and looked like a balloon ready to pop. His eyes bulged out, his lips sat like pink slugs beneath a nose that had shrunk into swollen, vein-striped cheeks. It could happen sometimes, usually, when the subject was fighting. The spirit had to surge into the body with such force that it swelled the recipient. The longer the possession was held, the more damage would be done. Jesse knew they had to exorcise Jack quickly or he may be permanently changed. The longer the spirit stayed in his body, the more power he would have. It was a race for Jack’s life, and possibly for their own.
Jesse grabbed Shelly's arm and nodded at Nick. "I need you to do something for me."
Though he knew time was short, he waited for them to acknowledge that they had understood. He had been in situations like this before and knew that you had to take things slowly and calmly with people who were under such stress.
Shelly was holding on, but she was terrified and full of guilt.
Nick looked close to going into shock. Jesse didn't know whether that was possible for a ghost, but he guessed it must be. If things got too bad, the priest would either freeze, or he would dematerialize and leave them there, alone with this hell going on around them. Jesse couldn't let that happen… he needed them on his side.
What had only been microseconds seemed to take forever, but Shelly was the first to nod her head, Nick followed suit. Gail stood next to them and added her own nod of agreement.
"I need you to remove the spirit’s power. Shelly, have you been using a releasing prayer?"
Shelly nodded.
"Good. I want you and Nick to continue. Do it as quickly as you can and free as many souls from this house as you can."
"But Jack J... J... Jack... I have to save Jack."
Jesse squeezed her shou
lder and gave her his most winning smile. Keeping calm, keeping her calm, was a big part of them getting out of this. Almost as big a part as getting rid of as many of these ghosts as they could.
"I know," Jesse said. "I have seen how skilled you are at this. The house, the children, they are in tune with you. You are the right one to do this, but I am the right one to exorcise Jack. Help me, help him."
Shelly nodded and went back to sit at the table.
For a moment, Nick stood in front of Jesse, he worried that the priest would leave. that it was too much for him. Shelly could probably do this alone, but with the power that Nick’s presence gave her, it would be a lot easier, a lot quicker.
"I know you’re frightened," Jesse said. "I also know you have a big heart and that you can do this. Help us, my friend, for we need you."
Nick nodded, and started to walk toward the table. Jesse could see that he was fading and he hoped that Nick had the energy to stay just a little longer.
Jack roared, and a wind rose in the kitchen. It pushed them all back, but seemed to surge toward Nick. He was knocked off his feet and sent hurtling through the air. He hit the kitchen wall opposite Jack, and was pinned there.
Shelly screamed and ran toward him.
“Stop!” Jesse shouted. “Release the children.”
For a moment she hesitated, looking at Jack and then to Nick and back again.
“Release the children!” Jesse shouted, but he didn’t have time to see if she obeyed. He had to get to Nick for the children, and the remaining adult spirts were surrounding him.
Jesse expected him to leave, to fade, and to lose all his power, but Nick held his head high. Despite the fact that he was pushed back against the wall, he began to chant the releasing prayer.
“In the Name of Jesus, I rebuke the spirit of Ada Johnson.”
Jesse could hear Nick and he saw a young girl peel away from the group, but the rest of them were approaching the priest with hate in their eyes. Their lips were pulled back, their teeth were bared, and they raised their hands, holding them out like clubs and claws.
Jesse looked behind him. Shelly was going to Jack. He understood why, but it was the wrong move. Now he had a choice: help Nick or Shelly. For a moment he wavered, but his instincts pulled him toward Nick. As he turned, he saw Gail head toward Jack. He prayed she would be in time and that she would be safe. For now, all he could do was fight the wind and try to help the priest. The ladies would have to fend for themselves.
73
Gail was knocked from her feet as the wind picked up. It sent her tumbling back until she hit the kitchen cabinets. The impact jarred her spine and crushed the air from her lungs. But she gathered her strength and clawed her way back to her feet. They had to take control of this. She could see Jesse crawling to his feet and turning to help Nick.
Out of the corner of her vision, she saw Shelly approach Jack, or what remained of him. The face was no longer that of a sweet young man, rather something swollen and hideous with red eyes filled with malevolence.
Gail could feel Shelly’s power. She was like her, and for a moment she didn’t know what to do, but then Jesse caught her eye and it came to her. She had to help Shelly, to keep her from Jack and then help her release the children. She would have to rush.
Shelly approached Jack, and there were tears in her eyes. The look on her face reminded Gail of a victim of trauma. She was refusing to believe what she saw. She had closed down, shut out the truth, and only saw what she wanted to.
Gail could hear Nick repeating the releasing prayer.
“I command you leave this place, without manifestation and without harm to me or anyone, so that He can dispose of you according to His Holy Will!” Nick shouted.
As Gail fought the wind and made her way toward Shelly and Jack, she was aware of a feeling of joy. Amongst all the darkness it was like sunshine after a storm — she understood. One of the children had been sent to peace. It was so tempting to look, to watch, but she had to get to Shelly before it was too late.
Shelly was so close now. She reached up to Jack, a tender hand offering comfort.
Jack screamed a litany of jumbled words, guttural, coarse, and unfathomable. His arms had dangled at his sides, but now they shot up, jerked by the spirit puppet master. The right hand lashed out at Shelly, turning and raking his nails across her face. Deep welts ripped across her skin, weeping blood as he pulled his left hand back for another try.
Shelly was knocked back by the force, but the wind changed and held her in place. Despair filled her eyes, followed by disbelief as she waited for the second blow.
Gail charged... hitting Shelly with her shoulder, she forced her out of the way and stood before the face of evil.
“Be gone foul scum!” she shouted as she tossed Holy Water at the grotesquely swollen face. “Leave this place and go back to the hell hole you came from.”
Jack mocked her with laughter that boomed toward her with the force of a jet engine blast. It almost took her from her feet, but she stood her ground. Gritting her teeth, she battled the wind and threw more Holy Water… then it came to her. The crucifix. Reaching around her neck, she took hold of the cross that Nick had given her. The wind dropped, and she walked toward Jack.
“Be gone foul beast!” she shouted. “You are not welcome here, not invited. I cast you out with the power of the crucifix and the Lord’s words.”
Jack’s eyes flew open and blood leaked from the corners, running down his swollen cheeks.
Gail never used the proper words. She said what came to her and put all her intention behind it. It worked… was working.
Jack began to convulse. His body dropped to the floor and lay there writhing and struggling.
Shelly ran to him. Gail pulled her away. “You will help him by releasing the children.”
Shelly’s eyes pleaded, and for a moment she screamed hysterically, struggling and fighting in Gail’s arms like a wounded bobcat.
Gail pulled her into an embrace. Pinning her arms to her side, she held her and talked calmly. “It’s all right. Relax, let go. We will save him. Be calm.”
Shelly tried to pull away, but her strength had gone. She crumpled against Gail’s shoulder and sobbed.
Gail held her close and waited for her to calm. “Trust me,” she whispered.
Shelly’s tears gradually subsided and Gail pulled back. “Help us, help him by releasing the children.”
Shelly rubbed the tears from her eyes and nodding, she ran to the table.
Jesse watched Gail go after Shelly, and he turned back to find the priest surrounded by feral children.
Pressed back against the wall, Nick was terrified. Desperate to keep out of the spirits’ grasp, he cowered back, flattening himself just out of their reach.
Jesse understood. The malevolence of the spirits just touching Nick would leach his strength. But if enough of the children grabbed him, they could pull him from here, could take him away, and Jesse feared for where Nick would be sent.
Tiny hands reached out for him. The older ones were clawing and pulling at his clothes.
“Get away from him!” Jesse shouted and threw Holy Water on the backs of the children.
They turned, more from shock than anything else, it gave Jesse an opportunity. Quickly he darted around them and placed himself between Nick and the crown of spirits.
As they turned back, they brought a blast of icy air. The cold dampened his morale and weakened his knees. The urge to rub at his arms and to huddle for warmth was overwhelming, but he shook it off and let out a big breath. The air misted before him and he froze in its thrall for a moment.
The smaller children fixed him with their black eyes. Their heads back, the wounds at their throats flapped and mouthed at him. Jesse wanted to scream at them, wanted to release them, but for long moments he couldn’t move. Then he gasped for a desperate breath, and it released him from the paralysis of terror.
“Be gone from here!” he shouted as he threw Holy Water
on them.
The children stepped back and hissed at him. The sibilant sound slithered between them and made his skin crawl. All he wanted to do was move them back, to give Nick time to release them. But would it work?
With teeth bared, they hissed, snarled, and growled, inching toward him, crowding him, pushing him back toward Nick.
Jesse held his ground. Feeling for some weakness, he was wishing he was sensitive, wishing he could read them like Gail could. It was no use, and as the children crowded closer, he noticed that two of them, teenagers, a girl and boy, were talking, whispering, colluding. What were they up to?
“Release them, Nick” Jesse shouted — nothing happened.
The priest cowered against the wall. His jaw slack, his hands shaking in front of him, and his eyes... his eyes were somewhere else. For centuries he had tried to avoid this. Had relived it over and over again, and now here he was right back in the center. Jesse knew that if they didn’t regain control, then all of them would be sacrificed. They would join the undead in this evil house and would be a reminder of Nick’s failure for all eternity.
That wasn’t going to happen. He wouldn’t let it. Gail wouldn’t let it.
“Snap out of this Nick, we need you.”
A Latin prayer came into Jesse’s mind, and he began to recite it. Many years ago, his grandparents had taught him to go with his instincts. Even if his logical mind told him one thing, he should always follow his intuition. Right now, his logical mind was telling him to release the children, but his gut was saying something else.
Keeping an eye on the teenage whisperers, he went with it. “Pater noster, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum.”
The pressure eased. Until it did, he hadn’t noticed how hard it had been to breathe, to stand upright, to be here. But as he recited the prayer, the air became lighter, clearer, and his mood lifted.
The Ghosts of RedRise House Page 42
