Lorian and the gang traveled from house to house, exorcising the unlucky people who were possessed by evil spirits. Iku on the other hand enjoyed watching Julio exorcise. He was enjoying it even though the exorcism was repetitive.
Lorian didn't bother Iku. However, he also thought that Iku was strange.
'Who am I to judge, though,' he thought.
Whenever they finished the deed, they wouldn't stay or rest. Relatives of those possessed people always get angry, even though they managed to drive away the evil spirit. They would run away as fast as they could, while Julio left their church card on the owners' tables.
With their consistent exorcism, they managed to exorcise 13 people in 7 hours without rest. Lorian was still looking fine, never mind Iku who had infinite energy reserves inside his body, but Julio started sweating hard, and his intake of water was increasing.
"Are you okay?" Lorian asked Julio.
"I- I can still do- do it. Just protect me like you are tasked to." Julio rudely answered.
Lorian looked at Iku and shrugged. He then looked back at Julio and said, "Okay. Just don't push yourself too much."
After their conversation, they entered another residence. This time two people were possessed. They were tied on a separate bed, squirming and wiggling.
They were husband and wife. When they were being possessed, they convulsed on the floor and their limbs twisted in the wrong direction. Their children asked for help from their neighbors, to which the neighbors rushed and tied them.
"Please, sob, sob, please save ma and pa," a boy sobbed while he hugged his sister who was crying as well.
Julio looked at the boy and girl, he tightened his hold on the thick book with his left hand, while his right hand patted the children's head.
"Don't worry, big brother will save them. Just stay right there and behave okay?" he said.
"Okay," the boy and the girl stopped sobbing as they replied.
This time Julio became more determined. The children backed to the neighbors as they embraced the children. Julio, Lorian, and Iku entered the room, pushing those neighbors who wanted to observe the exorcism out of the room. They don't want any violent reactions to occur after they saw how Julio performed the exorcism.
"Let's begin," Julio said as he started reciting the verses. "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty…"
Both struggled on their beds when they heard Julio. Iku stood beside the door, looking worried at Julio's complexion.
"Hey, mister L. Do you think he's fine?" Iku whispered to Lorian.
With a rosary in his hand, Lorian replied to Iku, "That's why I'm here to be sure that he is."
Lorian went and stood beside Julio, holding the rosary above the woman's head. The woman became calmer after Julio finished his verses, and ended the exorcism with the same book slamming on the face technique.
Julio exhaled heavily, wiping the beads of sweat on his forehead. His robe was now looking soggy. When he stepped near the husband, his knees started shaking.
The husband's eyes lit up when he saw this. "!ereh em esare dna yrt ot hguone nworg ton s'cibup ruoY !loof kaeW"
The husband's eyes bled as he looked at Julio. Lorian saw the husband's irregularity. He dashed at Julio catching him, as they were blasted at the wall.
"Are you okay?" Lorian asked.
"Thanks, Lorian. I need- need to finish this. I- I need to-" Julio whispered as he tried to carry the thick book.
However, Julio was tired. He sat down gasping for air in his mouth. His arms were now shaking as well.
The husband laughed hysterically, as the things inside the room started floating. And with his will, the objects flew in Lorian and Joey's direction.
Lorian stood in front of Julio, spreading his arms wide as he blocked the objects head-on.
Thud!!!
Lorian was pushed by the force of the objects. He stepped back his right foot and held onto the ground. His body was covered in wounds.
Lorian's face was bloodied. Looking like a demon, he stepped in front of the husband and slapped his face. A crisp sound of the slap resounded around the room.
"?huH" the husband was shocked.
Lorian returned to Julio wiping his bloody face clean and grinning at him. "Recite the verse. I'll do the slamming," he said while his brows were twitching.
Julio looked at Lorian in astonishment. He nodded his head speechless. Never in his life seen anyone approach a possessed person directly slapping them with their bare hands. Because when Lorian slapped the possessed, it was a direct challenge to the evil spirit and this might cause the spirit to possess them instead.
The husband snarled at Lorian. His eyes were glaring as blood flooded down. Lorian who picked up the thick book staggered, however, the husband started screaming in alarm.
"!awaY !awaY !awaJ"
Lorian steadied his balance. The thick book had this unusual weight in it, making him staggered. He turned to look at the husband who was getting delirious all of a sudden. Lorian was clueless as to what happened, that made this evil spirit to act like this.
"Start reciting Julio," Lorian instructed.
Julio nodded his head and started reciting the verse. "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty…"
Lorian went to the husband's side who tried to back away from him.
'Were possessed people this rude? I know I forgot to bathe, but he was the only one who seemed to notice. He must be quite strong of an evil spirit.' Lorian thought as he lifted the book with his right hand.
Without waiting for Julio to finish reciting. Lorian started slapping the husband's face with the book.
"Be gone demon! Be gone!" he chanted whenever he would hit the husband's face.
"!em pleH !em pleH !nomed a a'eH" the husband groaned in gibberish.
Even Iku who was looking at the corner flinched hearing the sound of the book hitting the husband's face. When Julio finished reciting the verse, Lorian's final slap made the husband spit black blood on the floor. Black smoke evaporated out of black blood before it dispersed a strong gust of wind.
"Phew! That was a pretty strong spirit, Julio. It took me a lot of slaps before exorcising it. Also, this book is quite heavy. Now I know why you look so tired." Lorian complained as he massaged his shoulder.
"You were supposed to slam the book after I finished reciting, sir L," Julio commented as he stood up and sighed. "Still, thanks to you, sir L I was able to complete my task. My teacher will be finishing the rest of the exorcism in this area. We can now return to your department."
"Nice! Let's go and get our well-deserved rest," Lorian said.
Julio nodded as he cradled the thick book back into his arms. They opened the door and nodded at the children and their neighbors. The children rushed inside, their faces becoming lively.
"Good sirs, please have a rest first. We'll give you snacks and soda. You must be tired," the neighbors said.
"No, don't worry about it. We are going now. Another person is waiting for us." Lorian lied and denied their good intentions.
"But sirs, pleas-" before the neighbors could finish their words the children screamed inside the room.
"Aaaaah! Mama! Papa!"
The neighbors all rushed inside the room. Meanwhile, Lorian and the gang looked at each other. With a nod, they hurriedly rushed toward Iku's motorcycle.
The children continued to cry inside the room. When the neighbors got inside, they saw the husband and wife unconscious. The wife with her nose bleeding, while the husband had it worse. His face became swollen, and a trail of blood leaked out of his eyes.
The neighbors rushed outside. Their mouths were foaming with curses. However, Lorian and the gang were nowhere to be seen as they rapidly fled the place.
"Good job, Iku." Lorian commended.
"It's my job sir L," Iku replied.
Lorian was laughing out loud. He never knew that exorcism was that fun. Julio on the back had his eyes closed, his nose exhaling a lot of air.
"Are you okay Julio? I'll hold the book for you if you want." Lorian offered.
"I'm fine sir, don't mind me. It's part of my meditation," Julio replied.
"I see. Tell me if you feel something wrong," Lorian smiled at him.
'Should I tell him that his sweat smells?' Julio considered before shaking his head, enduring Lorian's scent.