The Divine Fury // Divine Fury Sequel Fanfiction

7

Father Choi

Two days had passed after their agreement. Although the two men were not happy about it, it was necessary to get the information they wanted. The girl, Soo-Jin, had been very determined in her decision and they had not been able to change her mind.

The priest and Yong-Hoo stepped onto the church's parking lot, where Soo-Jin was waiting. She had not yet noticed the men, lighting up a cigarette. Father Choi watched her cough up smoke but repeatedly pull on the cigarette. She grimaced and threw the cigarette into the nearest trashcan, followed by the whole, full box.

"Seriously, what's wrong with her?", mumbled Yong-Hoo.

Father Choi didn't answer but he also had the feeling that something about her was off. On the other hand he also had to admit that her bravery and fierce intensity impressed him.

"Hello." He greeted her with a friendly smile, which she returned. "Are you ready?"

"Hell yes I am."

Father Choi suppressed a chuckle at her choice of words, getting into the passenger seat of Yong-Hoo's car.

He used the duration of the drive to explain the situation to her. An elderly woman had called her priest for help, who had then called them. The woman, Mrs. Park, had reported that her uncle, who she was taking care of, was behaving in an unnatural way, which scared her. The woman had caught the dement senior, who was usually barely able to do anything on his own, roaming around the house at night and talking in an unknown language. About the upcoming procedure, Father Choi explained the basics to her and warned her to be cautious. For her own safety it was better to stay in the background and not get involved under any circumstances. The demon would trie anything to deceive them, manipulate them and would fight back.

Soo-Jin listened carefully and, to his relief, seemed to take his warnings serious. He couldn't tell if it was because she was scared, but when they climbed out of the car, she seemed more reserved and guarded.

Mrs. Park was already waiting for them on the street in front of her house. She looked terrified and pale and was shaking, so Father Choi took her hands to comfort her.

"Thank God you are here", she sobbed. "Please help me. What I saw..." her eyes widened in terror, "that was not human, Father. He was... on the ceiling..."

He could barely understand her through her sobbing. He talked to her calmingly, assuring her that she was safe now and that they would take care of everything. They would save her uncle.

The three of them entered the house. Park Yong-Hoo led the way towards the room, where Mrs. Park had managed to lock her uncle in. Father Choi walked next to him, carrying the heavy case with all their needed utensils. He checked on Soo-Jin and smiled reassuringly to relieve the tension that lay in the air.

In front of the room they came to a halt. The priest pulled some charcoal out of his case and marked the door with a cross, which kept the demon trapped inside the room. He glanced at Yong-Hoo, who put on his gloves and nodded at him with a determined face. His friend unlocked the door and turned the knob.

"Don't forget what I told you", Father Choi whispered to Soo-Jin before all three of them stepped through the frame and shut the door behind them.

The old man was lying on his back, hands crossed on the neat blanket. He looked fragile and peaceful, but Father Choi had learned to not let himself be fooled by that. Expertly he opened his case and got out a wooden cross and a flacon of holy water. There had been times, with Father Ahn, where he had felt insecure and unstable in his work and in his belief. Maybe it was the practice, or maybe it was his loyal companion, but now these feelings had turned into a deep sense of trust and inner peace. He knew that what he did was right and that he was good in it too.

With a firm voice he started the ritual, using the cross and holy water, while Yong-Hoo stood by his side, tense, ready to intervene in case the demon attacked. Even without the stigmata his friend was still a walking weapon.

As the exorcism began to intensify, the old man's body started to shake uncontrollably and a supernatural force caused the lights to flicker. Suddenly, everything stopped and the man sat up straight in his bed. His stare seemed blank.

"Please", he begged in a weak voice, "please, stop. Help me."

Father Choi could feel Soo-Jin shift behind him. Hopefully she wasn't going to fall for it.

"Help me!" His eyes rolled back and he fell back into his bed.

After a couple seconds of lifeless silence Soo-Jin stepped up. "I don't think he is breathing."

Before she was able to finish her sentence the posessed man sprung up in unnatural speed and threw himself at the off-guard priest. Soo-Jin jumped back and suppressed a scream, while Yong-Hoo tried to get a hold of the man, whose hands were locked around Father Choi's throat. When Yong-Hoo finally managed to pull the attacker away from him, his head had already turned red and he was unable to speak, gasping for air. While trying to pin the old man to the floor, Yong-Hoo continued the exorcism in the latin words that he by now knew by heart. The demon screamed in pitches that caused his opponents physical pain and was fighting back with an unnatural strength, but Yong-Hoo was somehow able to restrain him. Father Choi, who had regained his ability to speak, joined in the chant, which in turn caused the demon to squirm in pain. Their powerful words seemed to fill the whole room and exorcised the demon, which rose up out of his vessel and dissolved in blindingly white fire.

Left were two heavily panting men, kneeling over the old man's body. Yong-Hoo lightly slapped the man's face, so he would regain consciousness. Abruptly he turned to the priest.

"He's not breathing." Clumsily his hands were searching for a pulse. "What should we do.."

Soo-Jin quickly moved Yong-Hoo aside and professionally checked the man's vital functions. Father Choi watched her as she ripped off the man's overcoat without hesitation and started to reanimate him. He did not dare breathe as she pressed air inside the lifeless body's lungs. But then suddenly, miraculously, the old man took a deep breath and opened his eyes.