I Interviewed A Demon

“THIS SHOW IS A JOKE!” As the latest person walked off the stage in a rage, throwing the papers up in the air as he stormed for the exit. I had just disproved his claim that he was telepathic, calling him out for trying to force a page open with his mind-. Just to see him try and flap his hands at the page, hoping it would blow over.

This was my life, interviewing people that claimed they had “Extraordinary powers” then I would try to prove they were false. When I first started I was full of enthusiasm, this was my big break.. This was just a stepping stone to a bigger gig but five years later- I was  still stuck there, stuck on the same show people only watch at three in the morning when nothing else is on.

My name is Nathan, I’m twenty-eight and I worked for channel five. More specifically the 3am to 6am slot – You could call it the graveyard shift, sitting there rubbing my eyes as the morning news anchors come in with a smug smile and judgemental gaze, my boss Janet is really the only coworker I properly interact with. Usually that night I get a case file with people I’m interviewing, then I find the inconsistencies with what they say and exploit them, finding every little flaw in what they claim.

But, one interview and my last is the reason I gave up interviewing and night shifts all together, it still haunts my dreams to this day.. Or should I say nightmares. It was the same as any other night, I usually got in around midnight with coffee in my hands and deep dark bags under my eyes. Sitting down at my small desk, I answered a few work emails and rested my head In my hands, giving myself a few deep breaths -Wondering why am I still at this mind numbing job.

A stack of papers landing hard against my desk woke me from my “Ritual”.

“We got a big one, Nathan. Some guy claiming to be a psychic, got some followers too with a potential to become a cult, were expecting big numbers to tune in as all his “Followers” will be watching.”

Janet was wearing a toothy grin as her messy hair was tied into a bun and her business trousers looked more worn as ever. I let out another sigh as I flicked through the papers, not the first time I’ve had a “Big case” come through.. They tend to come and go within a few weeks with more people seeing past the fake tricks.. But something caught my eye as I scanned his photo.

He looked-. Different from all the other people I’ve interviewed, usually I’m waiting to see some crazy hairstyles or someone dressed like a seventies cartoon villain but this guy was a middle aged man, he had slicked back black hair, an athletic build and always wearing a pinstripe suit. His dark brown eyes unnerved me, something deep down inside screamed danger as I looked down at the photo.

Janet’s high pitched voice pulled me from the trance I was in.

“The big boss will be watching too tonight, this could be our break and we can finally have a normal sleep schedule.”

I blinked a few times as I replied to her, the surprise was easy to read from my face.

“This must be a big deal, usually the big boss turns his nose up to us.. He still calls me Steve.”

Janet let out a snort as she peered to the clock.

“Well don’t mess this one up, this guy will be here in an hour, so that means you got now until three to learn all you can.. if you blow this I swear I will kill you myself, there is too many eyes on this one”

I scoffed as I let out a whispered “Bitch” watching Janet strut off. Flicking back through the pages trying to learn all I could about this guy, his name was simply “The prophet” able to tell people things that no one could possibly know about themselves.

“Probably misdirection” I muttered to myself, it was a common trick used by mediums and the likes. They say vague things and use your reactions to fill in the dots. Think about it, if you ever used one of them, have they ever said they see an “Older man” and you jump to answer about your dear old Father or Grandfather? That’s what I thought.

I came up with a game plan, first I would let him do his bit and explain to everyone who he was and what he could do-. Then give him the chance to try his tricks on me but I wouldn’t give him anything, nothing he could use to get answers from me. Though I kept finding myself flicking back to his picture, something about those eyes, it was like they were looking into my soul. It was almost like the picture itself was whispering to me.

Soon my alarm had sounded off and Janet had come to get me, I was in my best suit-. Slowly adjusting my tie and a wave of unease came over me, it felt like I was walking into the lion’s den this time as Janet’s voice let out an annoying “It’s time”.

As we walked towards the set she turned to me with a bit of unease on her face.

“Just watch this guy, Nathan. I can’t put my finger on it but there is something off about this guy, he gives me the creeps.”

I nodded slowly with a bit of a blank expression on my face. “Great, another nut job.” Though Janet gave me a stern look.

“I’m serious here, its like he can see right through you”

I gave her a brief nod as we reached the set, it was set up in a big open room with two chairs sat in front of a backdrop, the camera crew and producers faced the chairs with the rest of production. Two large lights cast a bright glow over the stage with a soft hum. I took my seat on the first chair -.. the light was already heating up the set as I adjusted myself, the nervous feeling still kept me alert.

The large bell signaling us that recording was about to start made me jump, as I peered around the cameras and people I spotted Janet with her large headset on, she held up five fingers as she began to count, as she got to one she pointed at me and I began my intro, a fake smile on my lips.

“Mediums, telepaths.. Clairvoyants. Some of the biggest mysteries to modern day society. Before they were hunted as witches or devil worshippers. Today they tell us our fortune, commune with our dead…Even align our fates with star signs.. But what if their “Gifts” were simple cheap tricks playing with our minds to give them the answers while pretending to have seen it in a vision?”

“I paused with that question giving it time to make the audience think.

“Well today we look deep into some of these people and uncover the truth.. I’m your host Nathan and we have a very special guest for you folks today.. Simply known as “The prophet”, he claims to see through people’s lives.. Their deepest secrets, but is he really as gifted as he says he is? Let us find out.. Let us welcome our guest to the stage.”

With that a pre-recorded clapping sounded from our speakers.. But it was drowned out as all I could hear was the echoing clicks of leather shoes, all the light seemed to fade out and just focus on him, his presence and aura snaring me as he approached. “The prophet made his way to the empty seat, those deep brown eyes just like the picture, piercing my every fiber. He wore a grin that almost seemed too big for his face, fixing his suit as he sat down. The sounds of the room came rushing back to me as this man sat across from me as he spoke. His cold presence sent a ringing against the back of my head.

“Hey Nathan, it is great to be welcomed on your show, I am sure we will discover some wonders together.”

His voice was deep and clear, every word that left his mouth seemed calculated. I cleared my throat as I tried to regain myself.

“You’re very much welcome here today. Now you claim to be able to tell everything from a person-. Almost see into their minds and tell everything about them-. Even the deepest darkest secrets.”

I tried to show a fake sign of confidence, but it was hard against his presence, the warning bells from within me ringing off like crazy. The prophet raised two hands nonchalantly, seeming like it was nothing to him.

“You’re correct there, Nathan. I simply see what people don’t want to see, the human mind stops you from exposing it, the hubris of man wants everyone to give off this “Perfect” persona.”

I raised an eyebrow as I took in his words, coming up with a quick response.

“So what you could say is you see people’s.. Sins?”

A light bulb seemed to go off in the prophets head  almost as if I had made his day, an excited expression on his face, it terrified me for some reason, some feeling I was in danger.

“That is exactly it, every man.. woman and child carries sin and regret.. Even you Nathan, like that time you hit a poor dog and drove on.. isn’t that right?”

I blinked as he said that, his smile turning sadistic.. His gaze seemed to turn sinister as he looked at me, I sputtered as I tried to regain my calm composure. In truth he was right, on a foggy night three years ago I hit a dog that had run out in the road-. The guilt and regret that I felt was too much, so.. I drove on, not checking to see if that dog was still alive, but he couldn’t have known that, right? It must have been a way to try and catch me out.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about” I lied.

“Seems you have gotten some `Sins` wrong..”

I peered at him to see if anything changed, any signs that I had caught him out and my game plan had begun to unravel, but his smile never left his lips as he kept staring at me, the brown eyes never leaving mine.

“Oh, Nathan.. I thought we were here to learn the truth? Lying to try and catch me out? Now, now.. How about this, take my hand and let me see deeper, let me into your mind and I will tell you something about yourself?”

The prophet held his hand outright, his gaze never left mine as he was waiting for me to take it, I could hear my heartbeat in my ears, all sound seemed to drown out again as I peered at his hand. On one hand I was supposed to take his grip after all this is my job.. But on the other the fear I felt by just looking at his hand was intense.

Something pulled me from the tunnel vision, I don’t know what but something in my mind told me to stall him for as much as I could.

“Not just yet, let us find out more about the following you have collected, what do they believe in? What are your teachings to them?”

The prophet remained still, his hand outstretched-. But for a moment something changed. His gaze met mine and from behind those deep brown eyes I could feel it.. Anger, the overbearing feeling almost caused me to cower in fear. It was like my refusal had insulted him greatly though that wide smile never shifted, his fingers let out a soft audible crack as if he was teasing them too much.. But he didn’t take long to return to his regular self, in one deep breath he returned to his relaxed posture. Pulling his hand back slowly and methodically, crossing a leg over the other as answered my question.

“Yes, my followers are referred to as the children of truth, as that’s what they are…what I have shown them. They have seen the truth of their own sins, they wish to see a world where everyone sees their own truth and together we help them through the grief that it brings.”

I rubbed my hand over my chin as I listened, this was a technique I learned from my few years in the job. It made it seem like I was taking all the answers in while looking intrigued, but his next response caught me off guard.

“But you don’t really care about that.. Do you Nathan? You sit there as if in deep thought. But your doubt, boredom and scepticism paint you in this radiant glow.”

I sat up from my relaxed position in the chair as I let out a soft chuckle, coming up with a quick reply.

“Well, my scepticism is what this show is about. I weed out the fakes and the people who pretend to have these gifts to take advantage of people around them.”

With that the prophet cocked his head slightly as he eyed me, slowly he offered his hand, reaching out once more.

“Then take my hand, allow me into your mind. Let me tell you the truth, but you have to agree to the offer.. Or are you afraid that I am right?”

The time had come, I had no other questions to hold him off. I had to let him try his gimmick on me. I had done this several times and nothing had happened.. That’s what I told myself as I reached out a sweaty hand hesitantly as I muttered.

“I accept”

With that the prophet seemed to latch onto my hand with an iron grip, it was like a jolt of lightning hit my body as I froze-. Unable to move my body, a ringing came from my ears as my vision blurred. A deep scratchy voice started, low at first but it got louder and more…disgusting, it was in a language I had never heard before but the words burnt into my memories to this day.

“Ani to’an she’ata shli”

I let out several heavy breaths as the words ”Ata shli” repeated over and over again, from my blurred vision the prophet began to warp. His slick black hair seemed to fall out, his limbs growing and his skin becoming a pale white.. his eyes seemed to glow an intense red, small black dot floated around him with the sounds of flies buzzing rang out and the smell of sulfur and rot was sickening.

As the prophet’s twisted form held grip of my hand, his limbs kept cracking and snapping, almost drowned out by the sounds of flies buzzing around, a deep feeling came over me as I could feel something invading my mind.. my body, it was almost choking me as I couldn’t breathe, trying everything to break his grip.

It seemed like an eternity as I watched this twisted thing hold me but he finally let go, I jumped back as all my senses rushed back to me, letting out a scream as I fell back over my chair.

A cold sweat covered me as I pushed back breathing heavily, everything was back to normal.. the prophet was watching me, his form was back to normal, his deep smile still on his lips as he sat there. Everyone was rushing over to me but the feeling was too much as.. I blacked out.

”Ata shli…Ata shli…Ata shli”

I woke up in my room as I shot up, still panicked as I peered around the dark room. Was it all a dream?.. Did that all happen? The questions lingered in my head as I rubbed my face, letting out a groan. But the silence was broken as I heard a small buzzing coming from my room, I tracked the sound to a fly bouncing off my window as it searched for an escape.

Slowly I got out of bed to let it out, the fatigue slowing me. I watched as the fly rushed out and up into the night sky. Shaking my head as I closed the window, that’s when a deep pressure came over my body as I turned…The prophet’s twisted form lunged at me, grabbing me by the throat and lifting me up, his smile cracked and twisted, those deep red eyes looking right into me. A swarm of flies buzzed all over him, crawling over every part of his body as he lowered me down slowly to his face and the terrible smells invaded my nose again. He was screaming loudly, I could feel his spit land on my face.

“ATA SHLI”

I shot up with several short breaths of terror as I peered around the room in a dazed, the soft beeps of the machine next to me helped me to piece together that I was in the hospital but hand on my shoulder made me jump as Janet tried to calm me..”Nathan, it’s okay. it’s only me.. It’s me Janet” it took me a moment to calm down as Janet watched me worriedly.

“W-. What happened?”

I peered at Janet and the confusion was easy to read off me.

“Well, when you grabbed the prophet’s hand, it was like you went dead still, not even blinking. You two just looked at each other for like thirty seconds, the light flickered and you just started screaming, then you passed out.. For a whole day might I add.”

I fell back on my bed as I let out a groan.

“There going to fire me”

I peered towards Janet as the first thing came to my head was my job, before the terror.

“I have managed to pull some strings, told the big boss it was a stunt to pull in more viewers, he bought it for now.. But what happened Nathan?”

I stammered for a moment, I couldn’t tell her about what had really happened.. She would think I had a mental break or something. Lucky for me the doctor interrupted us as he entered my room, a middle aged man with partly grey black hair.

“Hello, Nathan, I am Dr. Mccann. How are you feeling?”

I peered at him for a moment with a huff.

“Well, other than a killer headache and just being sore everywhere, I’m fine.”

He nodded for a moment, peering down at my chart.

“Going off the chart there is nothing physically wrong with you that we can see, I think we are heading for the blackout to be stress related. For the moment you need to rest and we will keep you here for a day or two to see if anything comes up.”

I gave a soft nod as he turned to leave “Thank you, Doctor.” As I peered over to Janet.

“You should head home and get some rest, I’ll be fine for now. Just need some sleep, I guess.”

Janet rubbed her eyes, as she gave me a concerning look, her voice sounding less annoying as she asked “Are you sure you will be okay?”

I gave her a slight nod as she made for the door. I lay down in the empty room as I let out a shudder, the stress of it all finally catching up to me. I was exhausted, from the passing out to the bad dreams it was really running me down as I felt my eyes get heavy, slowly-. I drifted to sleep.

I was startled awake by a nurse checking my vitals, her soft smile as she saw me looking at her. I took a second to rub my eyes as I asked her the time.

“Oh around Three in the morning, we just have to check your vitals on the hour. How are you feeling?”

I let out a soft grunt as I readjusted myself in the bed.

“Tired and sore, but I should be okay..”

She gave me a soft nod as she checked my fluid drip, but something in the room changed. As she was checking I could hear a low buzzing in the room, before long a fly landed on the end of my bed. I panicked at the memory of the last nightmare replaying.

From beside me I could hear clicking noises and a low groan came from the nurse, I started to hyperventilate as I was too scared to look at her, the wet clicking sound got louder and the smell began to turn rotten, slowly I began to look up at the nurse unable to control my breathing, her face was fully rotted, looking more like a corpses than a living person, her eyes had hollowed out and her smile was more twisted with some of her teeth missing.

She clamped down on my arm hard as several silent screams of terror came from me, her free hand slid up my arm slowly, the feeling of waxy fingertips against my skin but soon the feeling turned into pain as the nurse began to claw my arm like she was trying to carve through my skin, a wet gurgling voice sounded off.

“You will not know of heaven, I have claimed your Soul…ATA SHLI.”

She released my arm and lunged for my neck.. wrapping both hands around my throat as she began to choke me. My hands grasping hers as I struggled against the vice-like grip, the nurses skin felt wet and sloppy, almost coming off the bone. Several flies swarmed around her.

“Give in.. Give me your body..”

I began to pass out, I couldn’t breathe with the panic setting in. My vision began to get blurry as a figure appeared behind the nurse. Deep red eyes-. A bony hand rested on her shoulder, the skin was pale white, the fingers in the shape of claws.. before I blacked out I heard a deep twisted laughter followed by “Ata shli”.

I woke up screaming, drenched in a cold sweat as I scanned the room for any threats, any signs of the prophet or flies but it was empty.. save the soft beeps of the hospital machines, I started taking in deep breathes-. Trying to convince myself that it was just a nightmare. A stinging sensation starting from my arm and neck changed that, I peered down to my arm and saw a large scrape running down my forearm in the shape of three finger marks.

“B.. but, it was just a nightmare.. nightmares can’t hurt you”

I was talking to an empty room.. rubbing my neck, I could still feel the stinging. I jumped up out of my bed rolling the drip across the room to the mirror as I looked at my reflection. Around my neck was a large red and angry looking mark-. Honestly? It looked like a massive rope burn.

Bringing a hand up to my mouth as I began to weigh my options, I couldn’t tell the nurses or doctors.. they would think I was losing it or I tried to hurt myself, the confusion and exhaustion left my head spinning. I peered out my door in my confusion, seeing a cross hanging on the wall.

I became hyper focused on this wooden cross, the sight of it unsettled me for some reason it was almost like I hated it and wanted to get away from the simple wooden Cross. I ended up laying down in bed too tired to keep my eyes open.. but too scared to sleep, watching as the sun began to rise and the light began to fill my room, it was peaceful for the moment.

This day felt different, I was exhausted but found myself snapping at the nurses and doctors. I knew they were just trying to help me but everytime I just looked down at them with disgust, it felt like something had come over me.. It was just like the hate and contempt I felt wasn’t mine but something forced onto me.

The nights seemed to be getting darker and the hateful pressure I had been feeling all day started to become heavier. It made me restless like I couldn’t get comfortable and my skin felt like it was crawling.

I was sitting on my bed as my eyes felt heavy, an intense tiredness came over me. I fought it so hard, my head bobbing up and down. I peered up with a drowsy breath, my eyes stinging from the tiredness, I peered around the room which had become even darker than before, the hallway light was flickering slowly, the sound of a struggling bulb filled the room.

I got up from my bed slowly as I walked towards the door, every step more cautious than the last. I was breathing heavily as I peered out the small window, the lights were flickering over an empty hall.. too quiet.. There were no doctors or medical staff.

I started to try and wake myself up, slapping myself, trying to flick water into my face.. Begging myself to wake up before the nightmare came.. But nothing worked.

The sound of a fly buzzing from the hallway made me stop completely, gripping the sink as my hands began to shake. Slowly I peered up to the hallway, the lights still flickering as the buzzing grew louder. It seemed empty, not a fly at sight, the small cross at the end of the hall was fading in and out of the flickering lights.

Suddenly the hallway lights shut off, the buzzing still present but it was almost drowned out by my heavy breathing and my heart thumping against my chest. Slowly I took one step back as I was too afraid to look away with a loud clunk. A red light filled the hallway as I jumped.

I peered down the hall which had seemed to grow longer, the cross at the end of the hall was rattling violently as it finally gave way and it flipped upside down and a swarm of flies seemed to be coming out a small hole in the wall flowing around the red light.

A soft audible click came from the hallway, followed by another and another. It was footsteps and I took another step back as a silhouette came into view, it seemed like a man as he crept slowly towards my room, the flys flowed towards the figure as if they were called, buzzing around him gently.

I ran for my bed, really and truly I had nowhere else to go, I was praying by the time the footsteps were right outside my room, begging god to save me from whatever was coming for me this time. The mention of God made the hallway go silent, the sound of flies and the footsteps stopped.

For a moment I thought I had stopped it, but I let out a soft whimper as my room door began to open slowly, the wood creaking was too loud for a door that size as a warm feeling of fear came over me.

I sat trembling for what seemed like an eternity under the covers-. Just like you would do as a small child, hiding from the dark.. That’s when four decayed hands shot from each corner of the bed pinning my arms and legs as the smell of rot invaded the room.

I struggled against the grip, as the waxy hands held me down, I peered up to see twisted smiles and decayed faces but they were shifting between people in my life…Janet.. the nurses.. the doctors, even my mothers face shifted into these things.

They were all laughing as it invaded my head, all muttering “Ata shli” over again, but what came clearly to my mind as sweat covered my body and my head pounded was clicking footsteps. Slowly the footsteps came from the hallway as a figure came into view.. It was the prophet, his wide smile and pinstripe suit with flies buzzing all around him.

He stopped just shy of my bed, not saying a word but his figure began to shift, bone snapping and cracking as he twitched and jerked.

“Please.. Don’t hurt me”

My pitiful begging landed on deaf ears as the smiles got wider. They were enjoying my pain and terror as tears streamed down my face. Finally the prophet shifted into the form I saw from the studio set, long white limbs too skinny for anything, his eyes sunken in and hollow, his teeth Crooked yet razor sharp.

Slowly he began creeping towards my bed, his limbs twitching as he got closer-. His steps were replaced by wet squelching noises as he creeped along. I was trying my hardest to escape the vice grips of the decayed people around me as I hyperventilated.

That’s when I felt the end of my bed start to sink in, I peered downwards with tearful eyes, beads of sweat dripping down my face-. The prophet was climbing onto my bed, his sunken eyes focused on me as he got closer. I began whimpering, begging and praying to God for help..

“PLEASE GOD, NO-.. PLEASE GOD HELP ME”

I was struggling so hard that my skin began to bleed under the grip of the rotted people, the prophet was right above me by now peering down at me, his breath was like death itself making me gag, his deep gurgling voice filling the room.

“God has abandoned you, he will not heed your calls now, you are mine and I have come to take you.”

He opened his mouth wide, the skin around it stretching tight as it strained against what he was doing, buzzing came from deep within him and the swarm of flies started to cover my body, burrowing into my skin, slipping down my mouth as my limbs shook violently and my head perking left and right, trying to get away from the flies but they were relentless.

I woke up as I began yelling and screaming, rubbing my hands all over my head and body. The nurses and doctors came sprinting in as I screamed at them “THE FLIES” they were more concerned with calming me down, but I couldn’t. Where the flies had burrowed in there were red sores forming, they were burning adding to my manic state.

It took three nurses to finally force me back as I felt a needle jabbing into my arm and soon I began feeling drowsy with my limbs feeling weak, as I peered up from my blurring vision I let out several breaths of terror. Behind the nurses stood a dark figure, piercing red eyes watching me as I faded in and out of consciousness.

Everything went black, but I didn’t get much rest as the sound of flies buzzing invaded my head even as I was unconscious. I awoke in a new room, closer to the nurses station, pain filled me as the sores that had covered my body were getting worse, they were spreading over my arms and body.

A nurse entered my room with some food as she peered at me, concern across her face.

“You need to eat and drink, we are waiting for tests to come back with these sores.”

I sat up with a pained groan, peering down at the food, it was potatoes and chicken with a glass of water, taking a knife and fork as I played with the potatoes for a moment.

“Can you get a priest to come visit me?”

I peered up to her with strained eyes with the nurse blinking at me with surprise.

“S.. sure”

I nod once in thanks, lifting a fork full of potatoes to my mouth, the nurse made her way out of my room giving me peace to eat. Though I wasn’t hungry.. I at least tried to eat something, slowly I chewed but the taste started to become sour-. Like the potatoes were off, I peered down at my plate as I reeled back in disgust, the food was completely rotted and flies covered the plate.

I threw the plate off my stand as I began coughing, the nurse from before came running into my room. “Nathan? What’s wrong?” A deep feeling of anger and hatred came over me as I lunged for the nurse, wrapping my hands around her throat, a voice that wasn’t mine escaped my lips “What are you doing? Trying to kill me?” The nurse grunted and wriggled as I squeezed harder and harder.

A knee hit my groaning as I let go of the nurse, pain causing me to fall to my knee clutching myself as the nurse hit the panic button. The security rushed into the room, lifting and pinning me to the bed and several of the medical staff placed medical cuffs on my wrists and ankles, restraining me to the bed. I felt another injection into my side as they sedated me once more, peering up before I blacked out. I could see several flies floating lazily around my room as my eyes shut.

I awoke groggily once more, my mouth was dry as I chapped my lips together, there was a figure sat beside me on a chair, I jumped as I thought I was one of my nightmares but I didn’t get too far, the restraints held me down. The man peered up to me as he closed his book.

“Nathan? Are you okay? The nurses told me you had asked for me? .. They also told me you may be.. troubled.”

My vision came back to me, it was a man in all black with a small white collar. I could tell he was an older man maybe.. late fifties, his eyes were soft and the way he looked at me told me he had some compassion.

I nodded slowly as I calmed down, peering around the room looking for any signs, I could feel myself losing my grip on reality.

“Y.. yes, I.. need help.”

The priest nodded once as let out a deep sigh.

“I am Father Damon, one of the Catholic priests here working in the hospital. Tell me, what has you so troubled?”

I began the story, telling Father Damon everything in excruciating detail, about the prophet.. The studio incident, all the nightmares including the most recent one. As I did, the priest’s expression grew more and more concerned.

“I don’t feel myself anymore, Father.. It’s like all these hateful feelings are not mine and I can barely tell if I am in a nightmare or not.”

I said this through tear filled eyes, the sores all over my body oozing puss as Father Damon asked his question.

“You said this prophet kept talking in this weird language? Can you recall what it said?”

The words were burnt into my memory as I nodded slowly.

“Ata shli, that’s the word it repeats the most.. over and over again I can hear it in my head.”

The priest rubbed his hand over his face as he peered at me, he also had a hint of fear behind his expression.

“It’s Hebrew,” he finally said softly before blinking a few times, clearly nervous about his next words.

“It means.. Well, uhm.. It means You’re mine.”

I stammered as I looked at him, a nervous feeling coming over me. “What does that mean? W.. what does that mean?!” I questioned him frantically.

“I believe you have come into contact with something demonic.. Nathan, it has oppressed you in your dreams, creating fear and paranoia.. Keeping you exhausted to the point with this last nightmare.. I think you are possessed.”

The priest peered at me.. his expression more serious than ever.

“Possessed?! Why me? What did I do for this?”

I peered at him questioning everything, my head spinning.

“You are a skeptic, trained to find lies in everything.. I take it you are an atheist? Seems this demonic force saw an opportunity to latch on to your soul.. Now I don’t know how he took a physical form.. Perhaps it possessed another man for this, but I cannot know for certain.”

I was left speechless, he was right I didn’t believe in God or Demons.. anything like that, but what was happening to me was unexplainable, nightmares attacking me and the wounds coming through when I woke up.

“I can help you, Nathan.. we need to perform an exorcism quickly too. I don’t know how long it will be before this entity takes over completely, here take this cross for now, while I get everything ready and we will say the Lord’s prayer.”

He stood up as he slipped a simple silver cross necklace over my head, his hand coming up to rest on my forehead. “Our father” he started, but his words started ringing almost like he was getting further away and this dark feeling came over me, the cross began burning around my neck as my body contorted, my limbs twisted and became tight.

Father Damon took a step back watching me,  as he frantically started praying in what I assume was Hebrew, that guttural voice came from me as my eyes were forced to meet his.

“This one is mine, Priest.. Your filthy words will do nothing, I have claimed his soul.. He will join me in hell until the end of time.”

Father Damon hand lifted a cross upwards, his face more determined as he continued to pray, not faltering behind his words. That’s when my body started to relax, the deep feeling started to fade out, my limbs returning to their original state.

The priest relaxed a little as I peered at him from tired eyes “Help me” I muttered weakly. Father Damon nodded as he placed a hand on my leg from the end of the bed.

“I will return shortly, keep god in your thoughts.. Ask him for guidance Nathan, he has not abandoned you.. He wouldn’t but you need to believe that he will save you.”

I nodded weakly, my muscles ached from the experience as Father Damon left my room, a bit of pace behind his steps. Though as he left, the dark figure was waiting for me, the flies floating all around it, it started laughing as the guttural voice came out once more.

“He won’t be able to save you, God won’t save you either. You will die and I will drag your soul to the abyss with me and torture you for eternity.”

The figure started to move towards me but the steps started to falter slightly as the cross burned on my neck, that’s when I started to pray to God. This time I had a bit more conviction behind it, as I really started to believe, I could feel the pressure fighting against me and for the first I felt like I could fight back.

The figure began to fade for now, but I knew I wasn’t out of the woods yet. I waited for half an hour as a soft knock against my door drew my attention, Father Damon opened the door slowly as he nodded to me. He was in his full priest robes, including the scarf thing that they use.

“Usually there is a whole process to this Nathan, going through the channels and the rite of exorcism being done in a chapel or holy place.. But your situation is too dire and with recent events the nurses won’t allow you to be moved, so we have to make do.”

He pulled a large golden cross and sat it on a table in front of me along with a bible and a large vial of what I assumed to be holy water. The cross made me turn away. The sight of it hurt my eyes, making me feel unsettled as the hateful pressure started to bubble up. Father Damon started, opening his bible with a thud as he blessed the room, flicking holy water over the walls.

“In the name of the father, son and holy spirit..”

As he did, holy water flicked towards me. it made my skin burn and sizzle as I let out a guttural groan. “Foul hosts are rejected in the eyes of the lord, cast down from the highest seat in heaven.. cast down to the abyss to repent the action” as he said this I began to heave with my limbs starting to contort, all around the sounds of buzzing flies filled the room as the lights began to flicker.

“You filthy priest, god allows me to take his precious souls, he doesn’t love you.. You twisted things.. We will drag all to the abyss.”

The twisted voice came from me, I could feel my throat straining as it fought to talk through me, Father Damon didn’t falter even once.

“Release this faithful servant, Foul creature. You are only allowed to test the faithful, you have overstepped your mark, Release this innocent soul and return to the twisted abyss to repent the betrayal.”

More holy water flicked onto me as I let out a guttural scream, I could feel the pain of the Demon. It was fighting hard as Father Damon came closer holding a cross upwards towards me “Release him, god has given me the faith to repent you.. Deceiver.”

I tried to lash out at the priest, fighting against the restraints trying to grab him, roaring at him “Filthy words, priest.. stop your filth!”

I could feel the pressure starting to slip as the priest began the Lord’s prayer “Our father, who art in heaven.. hallowed be thy name” the room be gang to shake and the flies frantically buzzed around, I let out a wail in pain as I could feel everything “RELEASE HIM!” Father Damon forced the cross against my head, as my limbs began shaking violently, a breathless scream came from my throat as it was pushed to the maximum strain and my face turning red, as I fell back breathing heavily, Father Damon stepped back his own heavy breaths following mine.

I began coughing and gagging, like I was about to throw up, I could feel this mass being forced up through my throat, Father Damon was quick to undo my restraints as I sat up quickly, a massive came sliding out of my mouth, it’s was a collection of flies all clumped together in an ungodly mass as I flopped onto my bed passing out.

I woke up the next morning, the bright sunlight filling my room.. The calming feeling washing over me,  like the world was brighter and I felt a bit more rested, the sores on my body starting to calm down. The nurses came in to check on me throughout the day noting how my condition was improving, they started me on a round of antibiotics to.. Just to help me faster.

Around midday a familiar soft knock sounded off my door and the soft smile of Father Damon peered at me.

“How are you feeling?”

Father Damon questioned me, a bit more reassurance across his face.

“Peaceful, like I can finally breathe again, You know?”

I smiled at him, knowing he was the man to have saved me from that demon.

“Oh your cross, Father”

I went for my neck as I started to pull the small cross off. Father Damon held up a hand.

“Keep it, let it be a reminder of the renewed faith.”

I nodded to him..”Thank you for everything, you really did save me”

He let out a small chuckle.

“Well you can thank me by going to mass. Remember Nathan, this demonic presence will be trying to get back in some day, but if you arm yourself with faith.. Go to mass once a week, say your prayers every night.. It will force the Demon to back off as your belief in god will be too strong”

The smile faded as I peered at the cross “Okay” I said softly “I finally believe” Father Damon nodded once as we finished off with a prayer.

For three days I stayed in hospital, receiving a course of antibiotics before I was finally released and the doctors put my manic state down to this “Infection” I had.. I mean they weren’t entirely wrong.. The feeling of cool air as I left the hospital was amazing, the new sense of freedom coming over me.

That day I quit my job.. I couldn’t do it anymore after everything, the depressing feeling was probably another factor that played into everything, I needed to reset myself.. So.. That’s what I did, packed everything up and moved two towns over.

The small village I moved to was a big change, no more hustle of a busy city, I took up a job in the small supermarket there.. It was another change with my whole life being trying to climb the promotion ladder, looking for more money a more thrills.. But now I just cash people out and bag groceries with a simple smile.

Sure it’s nothing to what I had but it’s peaceful and everyone around me is kind, Always willing to have a chat about everyday life.. I also joined the chapel there, in the front row every sunday.. My faith is unshakeable now.

Every night I say my prayers knelt down by my single bed in the small apartment I own, peering out to the moonlit skies, the sound of buzzing flies outside my window always seems to catches me off guard with my experience and I clutch to the small cross around my neck.. It grounds me for the most part and let’s me know that all I need to fight the unseen evils is well.. Just a bit of..

Faith…