ELEVEN

Kerry tried to put out the fire burning up the book by stamping on it. It burned so quickly though, soon not more than a pile of ashes was left.

Beth laughed a demonical laugh. “You looked so silly doing that! Now with that out of the way, time to have your entrails ripped out.”

As if they were flowers, two forms sprouted out of the floor. They had a human form, but were covered in scales. Their ears were big and pointy, their eyes yellow. Forked tongues flicked out of their mouths. They extended their arms, ferocious looking claws first. Kerry stepped back. His eyes were wide. It was always so fascinating for the boy to see how people reacted with fear. He understood though, there was no time to study the effects these demons had on Kerry. He had to act, fast.

He yanked a crucifix from the wall and jumped in front of the demons. “Stay back, creeps.” He held up the crucifix like a shield.

The demons did a step back.

“You don’t like that, do you?” the boy said, threatening the demons now with the crucifix. Every step he took forward resulted in the demons taking one back. He kept doing that until he was very close to Beth.

Beth hissed at the boy. The boy said, “Sorry!” Then he smacked her in the face with the crucifix.

Beth fell down, taking the chair with her. As she did, the demons disappeared.

The boy sat down on the unconscious body of Beth. He “Father! Come over here and finish the exorcism.”

“I… The book was burned. I’m not sure if I know the words by heart. And I don’t know if they will work with Beth unconscious,” Kerry said.

“It seems like we will have to find out then,” the boy told him.

Inspired by the boy’s bravery Kerry nodded, clearly ready to go about the exorcism with new resolve. He sat down beside Beth while the boy kept the crucifix near her. He started to chant in Latin again.

Beth started to shake underneath the boy. She clenched a fist. A slow hiss could be heard from her.

Kerry started to chant faster, louder. Beth started to shake harder. The desk, the chairs, everything in the room started to shake as well. Lights flashed on and off. Beth tried to get up, but the boy kept her pinned down, telling her he was sorry again. Kerry kept chanting.

The room started to shake harder and harder, Beth struggling harder as well. Then, as some sort of climax the windows shattered and Beth’s body went slack.

The room stopped shaking. Kerry sank down on the floor, sitting down, wiping the sweat of his face.

“I think we did it,” Kerry said.

“I can… I can hear you,” Beth said, tears in her eyes. “What happened?”

The boy stepped off the young woman. “I think we exorcized your demon.”

“Yes you did,” Kerry said. Then, with a gravelly voice, “And had it find a new host.”

The boy then saw that Kerry’s eyes had turned yellow.

“Oh no!” Beth screamed.