Possession

Chapter 12: Murder

Chapter 12
Murder

I saw the two surface and watch horrified as one figure pushes the other underwater. I really shouldn't stick around because most likely Honaw was going to win this fight. I had to get help before he realized I didn't drown. I get up to run away. Hiding behind a tree I peek back to see one figure coming to shore dragging the other one behind him. I have to get out of here.

"Dyllan? Are you out there?" Robert asks. I peek warily at the figure on the beach and inch closer to see the dead looking one is definitely Honaw. I skid down the slope to meet him.

"Is he dead?" I ask my voice trembling.

Robert shakes his head, "Unconscious." I look warily at the body again.

"What do we do now? If we just walk away he'll keep coming after us. No one will believe a demon possessed him." I say shaking.

"That's another thing. How do we know it's a demon? Andre could just be playing an elaborate trick on us. He's done it before so how do we know?" Robert snaps at me.

"In any of these tricks, did he try to kill you?" I ask defensively.

"He might be mad and is trying to teach us a lesson. The point is WE DON'T KNOW!!!" Robert yells. We stand in silence in front of the water, gazing at it. "Even if it is a demon possessing him we might be able to find an exorcist and drive it out. Then Andre could come back." Robert reasoned further.

"I think that only works if the spirit is still inside the body." I reply. Robert reluctantly agrees.

"I just wish we had a sign. Some proof that it isn't Andre in there." He says frustrated. We look at the water reflecting the trees clearly behind us. It's like a murky mirror. I gaze at our reflections and get a shock to see three forms instead of two.

"What the hell!" Robert yells startled. I glance beside him, where the extra person should be, but no one's there. When I look back at the water, it's gone.

"What was that?" I ask Robert.

"I don't know," he replied, "but it looked like Andre, sort of." I had to agree. We look back at the body. It's chest is still rising and falling. "If Andre is out here, who's in there?" Robert asks walking over.

"I told you it's a bear spirit. It's name is Honaw. It was a small time god worshipped by the Native Americans. When the Spanish settlers came he was demonized. He was sealed away in the grave yard for a long time but when Andre died he possessed him." I explained.

"So basically we're dealing with a demon bear spirit. Joy." He says sarcastically.

"What should we do though? As long as Honaw is here Andre's spirit is trapped as well." I ask Robert harshly.

He closes his eyes tiredly, "In reality Andre died two months ago. In that case I don't think he can return to his body." He looks pained, "I guess all we can do is let his spirit free and send that thing back to wherever it came from."

"The only way to do that is an exorcism." I reply irritated. Then I see Robert's expression again. Then I understand, "Unless you kill him again." I mutter to myself.

"Go get my grandmother." He tells me dragging the body into the water. "Go Dyllan!" Robert snaps at me.

I stand rooted to the spot for a moment longer, before running up the slope. I can't watch. I can't watch Andre die again. I run up the road to Robert's grandmother's house. I slam the door open to find the old woman already up making coffee. She jumps at the loud noise and turns to glare at me.

"Darn near gave me a heart attack!" She snapped. Her face softens when she sees my horrified expression. "What happened?" She demands.

I try catching my breath but as the events of the night start to sink in my vision blurs. I can't talk and have to sit down. I feel ashamed to cry in front of this woman. After a few minutes I start to find my voice. "Down- by- the river. Robert- Andre." I can't find the air to breathe.

"Calm down." The old woman says gently, "What's happening?"

"The demon. Hurry." I tell her and curl up into a ball.

"Just stay here. I'll send Robert shortly." She says assuringly, "Now try to stop blubbering like a little girl." She says before taking a medicine bag and leaving the house in her bathrobe.

I sit in the doorway and take deep slow breaths. I have to calm down. As the adrenaline of last night wears off my body starts to ache all over and I feel incredibly tired. The morning wind and sunlight dries my clothes and seeps into my cold clammy skin. Before I know it I've drifted off to sleep.