Exorcismo

IV

IV

After driving for two hours, taking highway 35 from Carrizo Springs to San Antonio, Sofia arrived to the private catholic school where Father Thomas worked as the headmaster.

"Good Morning. My name is Sofia Rodriguez. Can I see Father Thomas O'Leary?" Sofia spoke with the secretary in the front desk.

The girl knocked on the door. An old priest opened the door. A pair of bright blue eyes stood out from his face in the same way a series of scars did.

"Good morning Miss Rodriguez. How can I help you?" He greeted the girl politely.

Already inside his office she saw the newspapers on his desk. Two of them were marked headlines that spoke about Carrizo Springs High School lately events. In his desktop, one of the opened screens showed a paused YouTube video taken by some of her classmates showing when a chair crashed by itself against a classroom's wall.

"I think you already know, Father Thomas." Sofia replied.

After Sofia recounted Father Thomas the events that were taking place in Carrizo, and showed the rest of the videos on YouTube, she also told him about her dream and the spirit that spoke to her a few hours ago in her bedroom.

The priest listened to her carefully and then it was his turn to retell the events of that night of the exorcism back in 1968. "... I was hidden behind the altar when the heavy sculpture of Jesus Christ crucified dropped and fell, braking the back wall of the chapel that was made out of wood logs. I crawled out of the church and ran as far as I could. In the distance I heard the demons growling and the cries of those who perished inside."

"Oh... wow..." Sofia was amazed by the father's version of the story. "And I guess the Vatican denied the events and you were prohibited to talk about them later."

"So you're a witch young lady. Witchcraft is a sin, did you know?" Father Thomas glanced at Sofia surprised by her comment.

"I'm not a witch Father Thomas. I'm Christian. And as far as I know, God gives gifts and never take them back. I'm only capable of seeing things... the things I'm telling you and that had remained buried in that place for too long... Please father, you must come with me to Carrizo."

"I'm afraid I can't... that's not my duty in church anymore. I can't cast out demons or perform exorcisms."

"Really? I thought we all could cast demons in the name of Christ. Mathew 12:28, remember father? It's only a matter of faith and knowing the Bible as I believe you do well."

After the meeting with Father Thomas, she drove back home, feeling very disappointed. She wasn't able to convince him to come to Carrizo with her, yet she needed to do something or the demons would stay forever in the school.

Already at home, Sofia ran to her bedroom and packed a few things: the bible, a rosary, a flashlight and her smart phone. She was determined to go and take out that demon named Alocer or whoever the spirit was inside the school, with or without help. When she finished packing she left her house and drove to school.

It was close to midnight when Sofia arrived. She parked her car right behind a black van in front of the school and even though she thought it was strange to find it there, she continued walking towards the main door.

"What?" she said after finding out that the chains and the locks were broken. She examined the iron lock when she felt a pad on her back. "Ah!" she screamed. It was Father Thomas standing behind her. "Oh father you scared me."

"I'm sorry Sofia."

"No problem. I'm glad you've come... but where are the rest of the clerics supposed to help you."