GRIEVOUS VENGEANCE

CHAPTER 27

They reached Sandy's house in no time. It was quiet and serene, but the silence is still eerie. The gate is open but it seems no one is visiting Sandy's funeral.

"What the hell is wrong?" Jackie asked. "Don't they have relatives to see Sandy one last time?"

"I heard from some students in our campus that they blame Sandy for bringing curse. Some said the other three were murdered because of her." Mark shook his head.

"That's ridiculous!" Jackie exclaimed. "She died because of those bullies, now they are blaming her? They

will be shocked tomorrow once they heard the news about Darryl!"They entered the courtyard and stopped at the front door. "Is anybody here? Where Sandy's colleagues."

They heard footsteps from the stairs. It was a heavy, slow walk that would make someone alerted. It was Nadia, her hair was a mess and she seemed didn't have a bath yet. "Why are you here?" She asked a question but she stared blankly to them.

"N-Nadia," Jackie called her attention. "A-are you okay?" They walked in and stopped at the center of the living room.

"Do I look okay to you?" She raised her arms to emphasize how she looked like.

"You should take care of yourself," Janine said. "Sandy will not like it if she sees you like this."

"She can no longer see me. She's dead." She pointed at the room where Sandy's casket is lying.

"Where's Aunt Criselda? Where's Sandy's Granny?" Janine's eyes searched the house but it seems no one's around.

"They are sleeping." She pointed up. "You should keep quiet. Don't disturb their rest." Her mouth twitched.

Janine got nervous. It wasn't Nadia in front of them. "Who are you?"

"I am Nadia."

Steve pulled Janine and hid her behind him. "You, Soul-eater demon, leave this house and that body or you will regret it!"

"Oh, here you are again, meddling in my business," Nadia said. Her facial expression changed. Her face became fierce. Her eyes were all black and her skin was pale. "Do you think I can't defeat you?"

"Try me," Steve said. He put out the pouch where his personally made herbs were placed. He took a handful of it and threw to the devil. It made scary howling, feeling the pain all over its body.

"Jackie, Marvin, go upstairs and check Sandy's family." Steve looked at Janine. "Call Sandy!" He threw another handful of herbs to the devil. The two ran towards the stairs and went up to check Sandy's family.

"W-what? How?" Janine looked confused because of what Steve said.

"Close your eyes, feel her. She said she will guide you, right?" He threw another and the devil cried in pain.

"Mark, watch over her." He faced the demon again. " I exorcise you, unclean spirit…in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ  ."

He nodded. "I will."

Janine was nervous while looking at Nadia, but she wants to help her and Sandy. She closed her eyes, hoping to get in touch with Sandy again. "Sandy, are you here? Help me to save your best friend, Nadia. Can you hear me? Sandy?"

She saw the same dark room the first time she met Sandy. It took a while before she felt a presence from another being. She looked around, and there she saw Sandy, standing at the corner of the room, crying. 

"Please, save Nadia." She looked worried, lonely and longing.

"I need your help. I don't know how but Steve told me to call you."

"Let me enter your body," Sandy said. "I will talk to Nadia."

"Is that possible?" Janine had a second thought of letting her body be taken over, but she wants to help.

"You don't have to worry, I will just speak to my best friend and save her from that demon. Please, allow me to use your body to communicate with her," she pleaded.

"Okay, you can use my body for the mean time." She closed her eyes. She fellt she's falling into a deep sleep and she lost consciousness.

"Janine?" Mark asked while tapping his girlfriend's arm.

She opened her eyes. "Nadia, please stop this." A different voice came out of Janine's mouth.

Nadia looked at her, wondering who's talking to her. "S-Sandy?"

"Yes, it's me, Nadia." She smiled.

"Sandy, I miss you so much!" Nadia cried, wanting to run to her to hug her but something is holding her back. "You can't get away from me!" A deep voice came out from Nadia.

"Nadia, fight that demon! It's only you who can help yourself!" Steve said.

"Nadia, I don't want you to be become a murderer. I don't want that demon to get your soul. Stop this!" Sandy pleaded to her.

"Why would I stop? They killed you. I want to take revenge for you!" Nadia's voice was as deep. "I am doing this for you."

"But this is not what I want. I want to rest peacefully, and forgive those who hurt me," Sandy said.

"Please, let go of the pain and anger. I want the old Nadia back---nice, friendly, patient and jolly. This is not you."

"But what about me? What about what I feel? I can't still accept your death!" she shouted. "I was the one who's responsible of your death!"

"Nadia, I told you it wasn't your fault. I don't blame you," she came closer to her.

"Janine." Mark tried to stop her but she resisted.

"Please, fight that thing inside you. I want my best friend back." She touched Nadia's cheek. "Darryl will pay for his crime."

"Sandy..." She was about to give in to her request she felt a sudden pain all over her body. She howled and cried.

"Nadia!" Mark was quick to protect Janine's body. He ran to her and pulled her. They avoided the sudden attack of Nadia, but they fell to the floor.

"This body is min now!" the demon shouted.

"Not so fast, Soul-eater," Steve said. "God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I appeal to your holy name, begging for your kindness that you graciously grant us your help against this demon tormenting Nadia. I cast you out, Soul-eater, along with your Satanic power and every phantasm from hell; in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Begone and stay far from Nadia." He threw another handful of mixed herbal grains, then took out another small pouch from his pocket. He immediately took out what's inside and threw it to Nadia.

"No!" A black smoke started going out of Nadia's body while she was crying and howling. She fell on the floor, still squirming in pain.

"Nadia." Sandy, who's currently in Janine's body, saw how her best friend is suffering from pain. She ran towards her and helped her. She helped her to sit up and hugged her. "Fight it, Nadia, come back for me. I am your best friend no matter where I am. I will watch over you."

"S-Sandy," Nadia murmured her name. A few drops of tears fell from her eyes.

"You'll be fine." She fixed Nadia's hair using her hand. "Nadia, stay strong for me. I want you to live happily. I don't want you to ruin your life. We will see each other when the time comes."

"Sandy, don't leave me." She sobbed.

"I have to, Nadia, or I will be a restless spirit roaming in this world. This is not the place where I belong anymore."

Nadia nodded. She felt tired and sleepy. She lost consciousness even before seeing Sandy leaving.

"Please, take care of her for me," Sandy pleaded. Steve nodded. "Tell Janine, I am thankful for letting me borrow her body." She smiled before leaving the body. Janine fell on the floor, unconscious.

"Janine!" Mark ran towards her. He took her and carried her. "I'll bring her to the car."

Marvin and Jackie went down, followed by Sandy's Mom and Granny.

"What happened here?" Aunt Criselda asked. "What happened to Nadia?" She ran towards the girl and lifted her head.

"She lost consciousness, Ma'am, after not having enough sleep," Steve said as an excuse.

"I told her to rest but she wouldn't listen. Can you help me to bring her up stairs?"

Steve moved and carried Nadia's body. "You should go to the car, I'll follow later," he said to Jackie and Marvin. The two nodded. Steve went to the stairs to bring Nadia to the room.

"We will leave now, Ma'am." Marvin and Jackie said.

"You should all go home and rest. Thank you for dropping by." Sandy's Mom smiled.

Steve came back from the second floor. "We'll go ahead."

They all walked out and returned to their car.

"How was it?" Marvin asked.

"She's okay now. That demon isn't dead yet, though. It will find a new host body, but this household is safe now."

"That's good to hear," Mark said. "Let's go, Marvin."

Marvin started the engine and drove away from Sandy's home.