I CAN SEE YOU

CHAPTER 10: THE STRUGGLE OF FAITH

The Bell house was eerily quiet, save for the soft shuffle of feet as Father Gabriel, Father Joseph, and Father Michael prepared for the exorcism that would determine the fate of Betsy. The atmosphere inside her bedroom felt thick with the weight of dread. The air was still, as though the house itself was holding its breath, waiting for the inevitable clash between good and evil.

Father Gabriel stood at the foot of Betsy's bed, silently drawing a sacred circle around her with salt, carefully marking the boundaries that would contain the evil spirit. The salt was not just for protection; it was an ancient barrier, meant to trap the spirit within its confines and prevent it from escaping. He knew that if they could bind the spirit long enough, the possession transference could be completed. But there were no guarantees. This spirit was powerful. Far stronger than any they had encountered before.

The Bell family gathered at a distance, their faces drawn with worry. John Bell, the father, stood closer to the priests, wringing his hands as his eyes flicked nervously between the exorcists and his daughter, who lay bound in her bed. Lucy Bell, her eyes red and swollen from sleepless nights, clutched her sons tightly, unable to pull her gaze away from her only daughter.

Betsy lay motionless, her breathing labored, as the priests gathered in front of her. Father Gabriel gave a quick nod to Father Joseph and Father Michael. The moment had come.

And then, without warning, Betsy's body began to stir. The once-innocent girl was no longer the same. Her body twitched violently before jerking upright with unnatural force. Her eyes, once full of life, were now wide and empty, a hollow reflection of the demon that now possessed her. The room chilled instantly, the temperature dropping so rapidly that Father Michael's breath visibly misted in the air.

A twisted, unnatural laugh filled the room-low, mocking, and filled with pure malice.

"Well, well, well... What have we here?" The voice that came from Betsy's mouth was no longer her own. It was harsh, filled with a deep, malevolent force. "The priests... how quaint. You think you can banish me? I am far too powerful for you."

Betsy's form twisted, writhing violently in the bed, the ropes tying her to the mattress straining against her body's unnatural contortions. "I am bound here, priests. I cannot be sent away. I will not leave. I am here to stay... and to torment. I will see to it that you suffer as I have suffered. This house-this town-will know my wrath. You cannot save her. You cannot save yourselves. You are nothing. Nothing!"

Father Gabriel stepped forward, his voice firm but steady. "In the name of Christ, we command you to leave this body, spirit of darkness. You have no power here."

But the demon only laughed louder, its voice echoing in the room, bouncing off the walls with cruel mirth. "Oh, but I have power, priest. Power beyond your comprehension. You are nothing but fragile, pitiful men... men who think they have been absolved of their sins. Let me remind you of your true selves."

The atmosphere grew heavier as the entity in Betsy's body began to taunt them, one by one. Each word it spoke was like a dagger, digging into their hidden guilt, their buried secrets.

"Father Joseph," the demon hissed, its voice dripping with venom. "You think the people don't know what you've done? How many times you've taken from the poor... how many prayers you've stolen for your own gain, promising salvation but never delivering? You're nothing but a thief in a collar, a false shepherd. How many souls have you sold for your own comfort?"

Father Joseph's face paled, and for a fleeting moment, a shadow of doubt crossed his expression. He clenched his fists, struggling to hold back the wave of guilt that threatened to overwhelm him. His eyes flickered briefly toward Father Gabriel, but the strength in Gabriel's gaze was enough to pull him back from the brink.

The demon's mocking laughter rang in his ears, and it turned its gaze to Father Michael. "And you, Father Michael... You think your past is hidden? You've forsaken your vows, haven't you? Remember the night you betrayed your own vows. That woman-you thought she loved you, didn't you? But in the end, it was nothing but lust. You left her heartbroken, and you left your calling behind for the taste of sin. You abandoned the righteous path for something fleeting. You've done nothing but run from your own guilt."

Father Michael staggered back, his face growing pale. His breath came out in shallow gasps as the weight of the demon's words crushed him. His hands trembled as he tried to grasp onto his faith, but for a brief moment, he was lost in the shadows of his past.

Father Gabriel's voice rang out, cutting through the darkness. "Do not listen to it, Joseph. Do not listen to it, Michael. This demon's power lies in feeding off our guilt. Our sins have been forgiven through Christ. We are not bound by our pasts. We are bound by the grace of the Redeemer."

Father Joseph and Father Michael nodded, though their gazes were still haunted. The demon's laughter grew louder, mocking them both, but they refused to let it break them. Father Gabriel stepped forward, raising his hand to silence the evil spirit, his eyes sharp with authority.

"I am not afraid of your lies," Father Gabriel said, his voice strong and unwavering. "We have faced demons before. We have faced darkness and sin. We are men of faith, and the power of Christ is with us. Your words are nothing but empty threats."

The demon snarled, its voice turning guttural and filled with hatred. "You cannot defeat me. You cannot defeat Kate Batts, the spirit of vengeance. I will never leave this child. I will torment her and her family for as long as I desire. I will watch as they suffer, as you suffer, and there is nothing you can do to stop me."

Father Gabriel took a deep breath, his heart beating steadily in his chest as he focused his will. "You are nothing. You have no dominion here. I command you, in the name of Christ, to leave this body and be bound to the doll. Your reign of terror ends now."

With those words, Father Gabriel raised his hand, and Father Joseph and Father Michael joined him in prayer. They recited the "Exorcism Prayer of Faith," a prayer passed down through generations, powerful in its simplicity.

"Holy Father, we beseech You, through the intercession of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who cast out demons and healed the sick, to protect us now. We call upon Your might, Lord, to deliver this child from evil. Bind this spirit, and cast it into the abyss. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we pray-Amen."

The cold in the room grew intense, the temperature dropping so low that it felt like the very air was alive, whispering with ancient power. The breeze grew harsher, colder, as if the demon itself were trying to freeze their words. Yet, the priests continued their prayers, undeterred.

The room filled with a violent energy, a battle of wills between the forces of light and darkness. The cold wind howled around them, rattling the windows and shaking the floor. But despite the terror, the priests held firm. The demon's power was strong, but their faith was stronger.

Father Gabriel's voice rose above the chaos. "By the power of Christ, I command you, demon, to leave! You are not welcome here! You are bound, and you will be contained!"

The spirit inside Betsy screamed, a sound that echoed in their very souls. The bed shook violently, as if the force of the struggle could tear it apart. But slowly, the force of the demon began to wane. The mocking laughter subsided, replaced by a deep, guttural growl. Betsy's body trembled violently as if caught between two worlds.

The three priests stood together, their voices in unison as they continued their prayers, the room alive with a final, violent clash of energies.