To the other Side

15. THE VILLAIN II

In the days that followed my conversation with Annalise, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease. The dark entity that had clung to her like a shadow had been identified, and the weight of its malevolence bore heavy on my heart. I knew the gravity of what we had uncovered, but I also knew that we couldn't let Annalise carry this burden alone. She had shown such resilience and trust in seeking answers.

Two days later, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting an amber glow over the horizon, Annalise returned to our live session, as she had promised. Her presence was a mix of apprehension and hope, and I could sense the tension in the way she held herself.

"Welcome back, Annalise," I said warmly, attempting to provide comfort in her time of need. "You're very brave for taking this step."

She nodded, her eyes betraying a hint of the fear she must have felt. "Thank you for guiding me, for shedding light on this darkness that's been looming."

The audience watched with bated breath as Annalise began to recount her visit to the local energy healer, an experienced practitioner well-versed in the art of clearing negative energies. She described the encounter with vivid detail, every word hanging in the air, carrying the weight of her experience.

"I was led into a small, dimly lit room," Annalise began, her voice steady yet tinged with anxiety. "The energy healer, a kind and gentle soul, instructed me to sit comfortably. She lit a bundle of fragrant sage and waved it around me, murmuring words of protection and guidance."

As she spoke, I couldn't help but feel the resonance of the words. I knew the significance of this moment in her life, and I, along with our audience, hung onto every syllable.

"The room filled with a calming aura," Annalise continued, "and I closed my eyes as she began her work. It was as if I could feel the weight of the entity's presence lifting from me, inch by agonizing inch. I was told to envision my inner light, my own energy, pushing away the darkness."

The vulnerability in her storytelling was palpable, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration for her courage. Annalise's voice carried a sense of catharsis, as if she was purging herself of a long-held burden.

"Then," she said with a shiver, "I felt a deep chill in the room, colder than anything I've ever experienced. I knew that this was the entity resisting, clinging desperately. But the healer's energy was stronger, and she helped me repel it."

As she spoke these words, the audience watched in rapt attention, a collective gasp escaping as Annalise recounted the decisive moment when the entity was expelled.

"It was gone," Annalise said, her voice trembling. "I could feel it leaving, and the coldness vanished. I was overwhelmed with a mixture of emotions – relief, gratitude, and a newfound sense of lightness. The healer told me that it was crucial to remain vigilant, to nurture the light within me and keep the darkness at bay."

The live session seemed to pulsate with the energy of Annalise's revelation. We had borne witness to a profound transformation, a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of collective support.

But what Annalise didn't know, what I had chosen to keep from her, was that the entity she had carried was not merely a lost soul – it was a demon with a hunger for her innocence and purity. The entity had seen in her something it desired, and I couldn't bear to burden her with the knowledge.

I had made the decision to keep this dark truth concealed, believing that Annalise had endured enough. She deserved peace, and I was determined to let her find it. I hoped that with the entity's expulsion, it would seek a new host, or perhaps even be banished from this realm altogether.