Beyond the shadows

Chapter three

“What do you mean by 'haunted house,' dear? It shouldn't be tampered with," he corrected her. "The haunted house, I knew much about it; what's all could have. The haunted house, Mr. Grandis, firstly, I thought you were suitable for this job, but you weren't. The haunted house, Mr Grandis ,don't you ever think the demons could help us in our standard of living to save many people's lives, especially our youths? Are you happy with the death of our legend and youth's sudden death?" She stared at him and continued, "To cut it short, all I want to say is that you should make sure you arrange some people that are going, and they should be well prepared for it; a pastor and a pastor's wife are also needed." She asked for a comment. "Yes, dear, their names are included," Mr. Grandis replied in a respectful tone. "Who are those pastors? Are they Adam's spertules?" she asked to confirm.

"“Sir?” she said inquisitively. “Yes, dear, they are. They are noble pastors, so we searched for them online. We called them for an interview, and they said they are willing to help us arrest those demons and lock them up in the spirit cell so the government can give us the money they promised us,” he replied. “Why did you call them?” she inquired. “I called them just because they are the right pastors who could exorcise spirits. A few weeks ago, one of my old friends who accompanied me to the company told me how their popularity was known throughout the whole universe, how they had sent many demons away and overcome them. So I asked my friend if he could help me fetch their contact information. He said he would, so I felt relieved that our plan was going to work. Yesterday, I was outside when I saw my old friend again. I ran to him and hugged him and asked for the number he promised. Then he gave me their contact information and names, so I looked them up online and called them, also inviting them for an interview so they would accept the fate…” He stopped. “Fate of what?” she interrogated. “I mean their fate to help us capture the demons. Don’t be stupid for asking silly questions, dear. Be patient,” he said calmly. “Are they willing to risk their lives to capture the demons?” she inquired and left without listening to him. “She’s arrogant,” he commented sharply, staring at the rich, proud dude, Helen."

"“Sir!” Sirena called, her voice laced with a pleasant mix of terror and excitement at what she saw on the system. Mr. Grandis, preoccupied with the image of a gracious, proud figure named Helen, and still mulling over his next move, heard his name. Recognizing Sirena's voice, he responded immediately, "Sirena! Why are you calling me?" he asked, a hint of frustration in his tone. He hurried towards her. “Sir, the news is out. The boss, MD, the chairman, is informing us that we are leaving tomorrow for the haunted house,” she explained, scrolling carefully until she reached the relevant information, the message displayed on the screen. A dreadful scowl formed on Mr. Grandis's face. “Is that why you called me?” he said angrily. “Yes, sir, I apologize,” she pleaded. “I don’t have much to say. I’m sorry I didn’t inform you sooner, so you should prepare yourself. You’re traveling tomorrow; bring the technology so you can contain the spirit there,” he said, leaving abruptly. “Stupid, I hate myself,” she muttered, hitting her palm against the screen. “Ouch!” she cried. “That hurts.” Daniel scoffed. Sirena, still in a sullen mood, turned to see it was Daniel, her acquaintance. “Oh! It’s you,” she said, cuddling him. “Yeah! Hi, I’m doing great. Obviously, I was deep in thought; traveling to an unknown city is terrible,” he said, his voice laced with sadness. “I’m disappointed in their stupid idea, but I don’t believe demons are real. We’re just going there for fun; demons only exist in fairy tales,” she said, dejected. “Oh, sorry, babe, forget about that and get yourself ready,” he said cheerfully. “You want to make me happy?” she asked with a smile, and follows him

Maisie rushes out of the kitchen, carrying a tray of food. She sets the dining table in the kitchen before hurrying off to take her bath. Her phone beeps, and she reads the message, shocked. She screams, "Henry!" displeased. Henry, who heard his name, immediately answers from the bathroom, "What's the matter, girl?" he asks, sounding annoyed. She cries back, bawling, "Where are you? I want to show you something." "In the bath," he replies in a bizarre tone. She steps back, startled. "He's sick," she thinks, frightened of the thought of going to that terrible house, which she has no way of avoiding, yet is still convinced about it.

A few minutes later, Henry rushed out of the bathroom, panting and worried about Maisie, the ill-fated, lifeless lady who had called him. He didn't hesitate to check on her. Henry walked in, huffing. He saw Maisie sobbing, seated on one of the beautiful dining chairs. He moved closer to her. "Don't touch me," she cried. "The news is out," she said, turning her face away. "What news?" he asked. "We're going to the haunted house to fetch demons; the villain is Mr. Grandis," she cried. "I don't believe in demon stuff; they're not real. Mr. Grandis is only joking; he only wants us to travel and enjoy ourselves," he said, sounding amused. "Don't think like a kid; demons are real, and the haunted house is real," she turned to him. "Who is the villain? Mr. Grandis is the villain. Henry, I am scared. I don't want to go there; my old memories and my father's death still haunt me. I don't want any more bad memories. I don't think we can capture the spirit; demons are going to kill us; we're all going to die," she lamented. Henry laughed. "Funny. Have you ever seen demons before? No, you haven't, so they're not real. It's only your nightmare. Mr. Grandis only wants us to have fun. If demons truly existed, we would all have been dead by now, but they are not real," he laughed. "That's not true; they exist, and my memories still haunt me," she cried, running into his arms. "Don't be scared; they are only nightmares. I am with you; forget about that, dear. Everything will be okay and alright, dear," he calmed her. Having heard all that he said, she fell asleep.

Having recovered from her unsettling dream, Henry woke her. "Having a nap in the morning, dear?" he asked, smiling at her for a moment before hearing her reply. "Yes, dear," she said sleepily, her voice dreamy. "Having enjoyed the day with some of your friends?" she teased, laughing. "You're being silly, get up," he said. He paused, concerned, and checked her food. "You haven't tasted your meal. It's cold," Henry gasped. "I'm ill, I'm dying," she said, playfully hitting him. "Henry, I'm dying from the scars of the haunted house," she cried, her long, dark hair falling loose. Henry felt sorry for her. "Stop weeping, poor dear, all is well," he said, patting her back. She exited and went to the library, locking herself inside. Henry stood at the window, staring at her for a while. He knocked on the door strangely. "Stop that," she spat at him angrily, uttering a harsh word. "Please open the door; you know how much I love you. Don't lose your memory, please," he beseeched her. "I nearly see someone cry. Then, I was five years old when my father struck my dog, Pony. He struck its head angrily until it died. I cried on that saddest day; I couldn't hold back the tears, which fell from my eyes, dear. But I will never feel bad for your tears, because I know they are tears of joy. I stood at my window and cursed the day he was born. I hate that bald man who called himself my father; he killed Pony, my dog and only friend, because she mistakenly ate his meal. I was punished for that. He flogged me, beating my mom who begged him to stop. But the old, bad wretch of a man died from a terrible illness. He died blissfully, having completed his mission of flirting with all the ladies, even my mom's cousin. I stood up on a hill mocking him. I heard my mom send for a doctor. 'Maisie, your pa is dead on the bed, lifeless.' I pretended to feel sorry, but I cried bitterly."

"My mom was pale, sobbing over her dead, wicked love's death. I sat in my bedroom when six men with shovels dug the land, carrying a six-foot coffin where the old man lay lifeless. My mom and siblings put their flowers in the coffin, but I was so scared that I put mine there too. I didn't buy mine with my money, but with the money I stole from his trousers. I watched the old man laid to rest, who was welcomed by Lucifer and lashed with 29 strokes of a cane on his butt." She halts and turns to Henry in a sober way. "Why?" Henry inquired, feeling touched by the story. "No! I won't tell," she cries, sobs bitterly, and falls to the floor. "Your past haunts you; let go of the past and your childhood trauma," he said gently. "Open the door, Maisie; we have to move on in life, forget about your childhood trauma. I know you're so hurt, like me, not to have a family that cares for us. Our story is similar; I was also neglected at home. That's why I ran away from home and met a beautiful soul like you." He turns to her, urging her to open the door; her eyes meet his, and a feeling of love fills his heart. "I love you, Maisie. Meeting a beautiful soul like you, I had to give up childhood trauma and move on with you," he blurted out. She was touched by his words; she opens the door, ran into his arms, and cries, whispering, "I love you, Henry, but I'm scared of going to an unknown place to hunt spirits, which cannot be caught or seen with our naked eyes." She cries. "Don't worry, I'm with you; everything will be fine; we will make it alive love," he encourages her and kisses her head."