Chapter Thirty-Three

“The cats,” said Eloim as we got to the car.

“They’re with Mammy and Pappy, they’re fine,” Xander replied.

I didn’t bother with the back seat and sat in front with Eloim still clasped hard in my arms. I knew this was not legal, but the parish was really close by, and everything should be fine.

I had felt a number of scratches on my arms and back as I took Eloim away from Enola. I had ignored the burns completely, but now they were throbbing in sync with my heartbeat.

Obviously, Miki had refused to be left behind and had jumped in the car with us. Xander started the engine and we left. We had given only a few word of explanation to his parents, but they had nodded in understanding, and waved us goodbye on the porch as we made our way to the church.

The road was pretty quiet at this time, but we crossed one car, as it passed us by, police’s red and blues light up, the car turned around behind us and we came to a stop on the side of the road.

It took a little while to process why, until I felt Eloim move against me and I looked down. Xander came to the same conclusion as he opened his window, with a groan.

“Xan?” came Marcus’s voice from behind the flashlight.

Xander ran his hand over his face a couple of times in frustration.

“What is going on? This is not legal in the UK Mila, and I’m pretty sure it isn’t in Canada either.

“Please Marc, it’s just for a couple more kilometers.

Marcus bent to better look at us, his lamp landed on me. “What has happened to you?” he asked me.

“That’s the reason why we need to go now,” said Xander, which was more or less true.

“Go where?” asked Marcus.

“Church,” said Xander.

“The church is closed right now.

“We can call the priest,” Xander suggested.

Marcus sighed. “Lead the way.

“Thanks.

We slowly made our why to the church with Marcus’s cruiser in tow.

“What going on?” asked Marcus again as we piled out.

I manage to keep Miki inside the car, which he was not a fan of, but complied.

“Let me get them inside and I’ll tell you,” said Xander.

He marched us all the way to the front of the church and I sat on the stairs next to the Virgin Mary statue, Marcus looking at us curiously but waited patiently regardless. The man started to talk as they left, and we stayed here for a little while. I rocked Eloim gently, most lights were out and after half an hour, he fell asleep again, going limp.

I felt a strange sensation creep over me but I tried to associate this with all the weirdness that kept trashing us around.

I heard voices from afar. My butt hurt from sitting on something so hard for so long, and my arms had started to burn from the strain of holding Eloim for so long. I tried to find a better position that would require less from my muscles. The cuts continued to throb and were starting to really annoy the hell out of me.

I knew why Xander got us here, or why he left us here while he went to sort everything else. Both Eloim and I were Enola’s only real targets, and so, if the theory held, then spirit couldn’t hurt you in a church, right?

I do remember seeing a few pictures of apparitions in churches on the internet, and I wasn’t sure if our logic was good or flawed, but it’s not like there was an overwhelming amount of option out there for us either.

The creepy sensation wouldn’t leave me, and I was really thinking I was becoming freaking paranoid. This is not mentally healthy, at all.

If things continue this way, I’m going to need some serious therapy after this.

Three men eventually walked our way talking. I recognised both Xander and Marcus’s voices, the third was a new one, probably the priest.

I watched them, relieved as I could now ask Xander to take over with Eloim for a little while. My muscles were starting to cramp and I feared I might walk like an old lady for a few minutes at least once I’d been freed.

I saw the priest stop in his tracks first with his eyes wide, it took a little longer for the others to notice and turn their attention to where the priest was staring. And it wasn’t at me, but above me.

I turned my head upward slowly, feeling dread build in morbid anticipation.

The Virgin Mary statue was bent above me, her closed eyes were now wide open and looking straight at me. She was curved in an unnatural way and my heartbeat peeked again in terror.

I wanted to move, I wanted to run, but a part of me felt that a movement for me would just trigger something. It was like finding yourself in the savanna face to face with a lion ready to pounce at you, and you indulge in this staring contest, the predator waiting for any sign from the prey that it was meal time.

I heard steps rush our way, but I didn’t dare taking my eyes away from the statue orbs.

Xander took his arms around both Eloim and me, clearly not daring to take the child away from me and help me and get away from the thing, as quickly as we could.

Marcus and the priest were still staring in shock at it.

My level of weird had gone so high that no matter how disturbing this had been, it was not enough to shock me this much. I knew that this statue will haunt my nightmares for a while, but I would not stand there slacked-jawed either.

We had our back to it as we walked down the aisles.

Xander snapped his fingers a couple of times and the priest finally lead us to a side room, which is probably called something, but I had no idea what.

We all dared a last look before we moved in, and I regretted it instantly. The statue was back in its original position, but its eyes were still open and staring at us with its mouth opened wide and a horrifying silent scream.

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