GRIEVOUS VENGEANCE

CHAPTER 26

"No, you're not Sandy," Janine corrected herself. "You're not even human nor a spirit."

"Does it matter if I am Sandy or not?" the creature said in deep voice. It seemed coming from the deepest part of hell. Its face is rotten with worms coming out from the flesh, and some part of its skull showing on its forehead. A strong wind blowing its messy hair and bloody white dress. "I will devour his soul!" It pointed to Darryl, then made an evil laugh.

"I already killed you!" Darryl shouted. "Stay away from me!"

"Holy crap! What is that?" Nurse Jen covered her mouth using her hands. "What kind of creature is that?"

"Oh my..." Mrs. Dizon's eyes went wide, then she fainted. Mr. Dizon was so quick he caught his wife before falling flat on the ground. Cathy shouted and Luke hugged her tight, trying to protect his girlfriend.

"You stay here," Steve said to the couple. He faced SPO3 Alistair. "Sir, you should also stay here and watch them." Janine's father nodded to respond to him. He walked fast towards Mark's car and took out his bag. He pulled out some things he needed.

"Janine." Jackie walked and stood up beside Janine. "Y-you, whoever you are, go back to where you came from!" She pointed at the creature.

"And who are you to tell me what to do? You are just a lowly human," the scary evil creature said. Its broken gums and teeth are showing while it was talking. "The human who called me offered their soul in exchange for revenge. I will take what I want and no one can stop me!" A strong, hot wind blew. Its rotten smell was mixed in the air.

Marvin and Mark walked and pulled the two girls away. They both hugged them to protect from the strong wind. The creature raised its both hands, about to come closer to Darryl and the police officer when Steve blocked it. He threw something to the creature that made it cry in pain. Smokes came from its entire body.

"I call upon you, Soul-eating demon. Obey my commands and leave here. You go back to hell! I command you to return to the infernal realm, you are no longer welcome in human world!" He took out another handful of grains from a small pouch he's carrying with his hand and threw it to the creature. Another cry of deep howling surrounded them.

"This isn't over yet!" the creature said. It turned into smoke and went back to the phone screen. The strong wind and the rotten smell were gone.

"Is everyone okay?" Steve asked them. Everyone nodded, but still shocked on what they saw.

"What the hell is that creature?" Mr. Dizon asked. He carried his unconscious wife and stood up.

"It's a long story, Mr. Dizon," SPO3 Alistair said. "We will explain it to you later. For now, your son is safe."

"My son is really a pain in the ass." He looked at his son before turning his back and walked towards the house. Luke hugged her girlfriend.

SPO3 Alistair walked to her daughter. "Are you okay?"

Janine nodded. "Yes, Papa," she said. "What are we going to do with him?" She gestured Darryl who's still sitting on the ground, murmuring and cursing.

"Everyone heard what he said. He killed Sandy. The police will take him for custody, for his own good, too.

He can't use mobile phone there." He walked towards Darryl. "You are under arrest, anything you say can be used against you in a court of law; You have the right to an attorney and have him present during the interrogation." He held Darryl's arm to help him stand up. The guy is still murmuring words no one can understand. SPO3 Alistair shook his head. He took out his handcuff and placed it on Darryl's hands.

"Are you okay?" Mark asked Janine.

"Yes, I am." She looked at Jackie. She smiled at the scene. Marvin is still hugging her best friend, comforting her.

"It's not over yet," Steve said. "We still haven't figured out who made a pact subconsciously with that soul-eater demon. We also need to save her or his soul before that creature devours the one who made the pact."

"What?" Janine became nervous. "Nadia might be in danger."

"Nadia?" Steve asked. "Who is she? Where is she now?"

"I have a suspicion it's Nadia. She's Sandy's best friend. She also felt guilty over her death." Janine looked at Mark, "Can we go there now? She's still probably at Sandy's wake. They are still waiting for Sandy's father who's working abroad."

"Let's go there now," Steve said. "Before it's too late."

"Be careful, kids. I trust you," SPO3 Alistair told them. "Take care of my daughter."

"We will, Sir," Mark promised.

Steve walked towards Nurse Jen. "Can we leave you here and watch out for Mrs. Dizon? It's dangerous for you to come with us."

Nurse Jen nodded. "I understand. They need me here more. Be careful." Mark and the other rode the car to proceed to Sandy's house.

SPO3 Alistair handed Darryl to his two police officers to send him to the police station. They took him to the car and drove fast, away from the Dizon's residences. He faced Luke and Cathy who are still frozen because of fear. "You should both make a statement to lower your punishment. Maybe Sandy's family will let you off the hook if you will testify in the court."

The couple nodded repeatedly. "We will, Sir," Luke agreed.

"Let's get inside and let's talk to your Dad." He looked at Cathy. "Where are your parents?"

"T-they're not in the country as of now. I-I'll call them later."

"Let's go then." They all went in to the house to talk to Mr. Dizon and Cathy's parents on the phone.

Meanwhile, Janine was trying to call Nadia but no one was answering her call. "I really hope she's still at Sandy's house. I don't know where she lives."

"I know she's there," Jackie said. "She won't leave Sandy alone."

"I hope it's not too late." Janine tapped her lap several times using her palm.

"We can make it in time, the soul'eating demon is badly hurt," Steve assured them.

"What was that thing you used?" Jackie asked.

"It's mixture of Anise, ash and dried Cedar leaves with sea salt. I mixed all of them to create a stronger tool for purification." He grinned. "Then add a strong command, use your will as a soul ascender. A lowly demon like that could be vanished."

"That's just a lowly demon?" Janine can't believe of what she heard. "But it already killed three people!"

"Because I think no one around here is aware that they exist." Steve sighed heavily. "I didn't have a good sleep yet after a long haul flight, yet I already faced a soul-eating demon."

"Sorry, dude," Marvin said. "We do not know anyone who could exorcise evil spirits and demons."

"That's okay. It's my normal routine, anyway, since I started doing this." He leaned his head on the car window.

"How long have you been doing exorcism?" Janine asked.

"I started accepting my gift when I was fifteen, but I mastered it when I reached eighteen. I'm twenty five now." He looked at the road. "Are we there yet?"

"It's good the road is almost empty. It's half past midnight now." Mark stepped on the accelerator to speed up. "We can make it in time."