TWISTED DEITIES

Chapter 1

Setting: Southside Chicago IL 1975

"Thank you for coming Mr. Rivera", said Ryan.

"Call me Jean. And it's no problem I'm here to help", he said closing the whining door behind him.

Jean looked around the living room instantly, noticing the stale smell of Newports, blending with the sweet scent of floral candles. The plastic wrapped around the pale linen loveseat pops against his hand as he rubs it-the stubborn protectant peeling and wrinkled from wear. The floral wallpaper was decorated with smiling faces in frames, with the stain of a few removed photos, planted on its' worn paper. He walked towards the colorful kid toys in the corner of the room and picked up a brownish baseball with the word "Jr." written on it.

"You can have a seat on the couch can I fetch you anything to drink?"

"Yeah, water is fine thanks."

When she comes back she places two mugs of cold tap water on the table.

"A cozy place you got here," he says earnestly.

"Oh yeah, I've been tryna change up some things round' here. Keep myself busy. Release some bad vibes."

Jean picks up a picture of Ryan and a boy in a pool. Both smiling brightly, their eyes gleaming like stars, "This your son?"

"Oh yeah, cute ain't he."

He chuckles "Adorable."

"Jeremiah Jr. My strong boy. I had to send him over to his grandparents in the suburbs. Thinking at least for a month till this all blows over."

She looks off toward the window hugging her body, " This um...situation, is startin' to become dangerous. I'll be damned if I let it affect my child's life."

"I can assure you, that this will all be over soon. Now can you tell me more about your problem?"

Ryan's hands trembled, chewing on her lip.

"Ryan I promise I can help you, and being in this business for years you can trust me with what you've been through. Just breathe and tell me what happened alright"?

After a deep breath, she nervously twiddles her fingers through her hair "A week ago, at night is when it happened. I woke up after hearing my son screaming. I was a lil' dazed but I quickly got out of bed. When I got in his room he was facing the window, with piss all on his pajamas just screamin' and cryin'. And when I got a hold of him he just fell out, eyes rolling to the back of his head. I couldn't get myself to do much so I just held him in my arms, and he was just shakin' like a rattle. It was all just unreal."

"Is that all?"

"No," she said gripping her hair.

He pats her shoulder in support, as she slowly releases her hair.

"When I looked up at the window there was a shadow sitting there looking back at me. And it was almost like it was too...still. I knew it didn't belong here. I knew it had to be some damn devil or something haunting me. I'm not religious, but right then I cried for the god and angels my mom has been praying to for years. And now I need your help because you are all I have at getting my son back. "

"Look here, Ryan. I have the utmost faith that there will be nothing to stop me from banishing these entities and helping you get your life back to normal."

She sighs in relief, "I trust you, just know that this means a lot to-"

*knock* *knock* *knock*

.A knock on the door interrupts them.

"Whose that?" asks Jean.

"Oh I forgot to tell you, I got extra help just in case. A homegirl from the church my mother went to is a medium and she said that she could help me too."

He confusingly looks on as she opens the door to reveal a woman in a tight knee-length black dress covering her arms, that washed out her brown skin, her face was bare with a gloss on her lips. Her crown was adorned with her kinky thick fro. When her brown eyes found his hazel ones she hesitantly introduced herself.

"Hello, I'm Jelani. How are you?"

"I'm Jean Rivera, and I'm a little confused, but I'm good, thank you."

"Oh right Jean, Ryan already told me that we'd be working together. And word around the pew is that you're one of the best."

"That's kinda funny considering this is my first time hearing about you and this whole plan."

Ryan clears her throat, "Well I just wanted to make sure that things were for sure taken care of and a little extra help on both parts wouldn't do any harm."

Jean raises his eyebrows "And I see what you're saying but seeing as I've been doing exorcisms alone for years I'm more than capable of doing this myself. And there's no way to monitor the abilities of whom is just playing a medium, and I am no actor. My past clients can vouch for that, I can't speak for Ms. Jelani."

Jelani glares, walking up to Jean "Let's get one thing straight. I've been seeing spirits all my life with a little gift called clairvoyance. A unique power you don't possess. When people are haunted by demons they go to exorcists, but when exorcists need help they come to me. So I'll tolerate your immature arrogance and only because I refuse to be taken out of character."

He squints his eyes "So much for your character, and what are you implying anyways."

"I don't like to repeat myself wiseguy."

"Well it wasn't like you were saying much anyhow, look I don't need this-"

"Will the both of you stop it? This is about my son here. And for him, I need you both to cleanse, pray, meditate, or whatever so I can get my damn house back and live in peace!" Ryan exclaimed.

Both of them continued to look at each other not daring to look away but regret danced in their eyes.

Ryan shook her head, taking her jacket off the coat rack.

"Wait where are you going?" Jelani asked.

"For air and to get us some to calm our nerves, ya'll need anything special?"

They both silently shook their heads no.

"Alright then I'll be right back play nice please, you're open to anything you want in the kitchen, bye ya'll."

Writer Here: I suck at grammar so plz have patience. Thanks lol.