"Noooooo!" Sao looked in horror as the protruding spikes were about to stab Pastor Opium.
Pastor Opium tried to smash the spikes back. But the house would glow even redder, making the spikes grow back. Sao looked at Pastor Opium gritting his teeth as the spikes overwhelmed Pastor Opium.
Without any choice, Sao opened his mouth and spoke. "Sathar!"
Sao's voice was low, yet domineering. The 'crab house' vibrated and the protruding spikes halted. The wooden surface of the house started showing signs of cracks. And like a web, the cracks became connected.
The outer layer of the house crumbled into dust. Its pincers, legs, and spikes were gone. The 'crab house' returned to its normal house form.
The dust tried to reform and return to the house, but it would crumble back to dust once again. It tried and tried, yet it wouldn't work.
Sao kneeled on the ground, his hands rubbing his neck. He tasted the taste of iron, as he coughed blood out of his mouth. His throat felt dry and burning inside.
Pastor Opium came to his side and shoved a bottle of holy water down his mouth. Sao's pained face eased. His breathing became normal, but his face was still pale.
"Paaaastor, it will only buy us a- cough cough -a small amount of time. I couldn't help you anymore, be careful." Sao's voice was rugged as he tried to speak.
"Have a rest. Let me handle the rest," Pastor Opium assured.
Sao closed his eyes as he lay on the grass. His consciousness faded to black. Pastor Opium sat beside him resting and meditating at the same time.
.
.
.
Inside the house. It's constantly shaking like there was an earthquake. But it never shifts in direction, which makes it weird.
Rain and Lorian carefully checked each room. They were looking for the core of this house. Haunted objects that don't break have a core, it could be everything from as small as a needle or as big as a cabinet.
They never saw anything weird on the first floor. It's just that the floor was tainted with blood. Wherever room they went, one could feel its sticky surface every time they stepped on the floor.
"The blood of its victims was still fresh. While the flesh and bones aren't seen. Let's head up Lorian. I think I knew what the spirit is attempting," Rain said.
"Copy that. Stay behind me," Lorian instructed, while he walked in front.
The two of them went up to the second floor. There was no obstacle stopping them as they arrived.
The second floor was a large room. There wasn't an attic or other rooms. One could even say that it was a large attic.
A doll stood near the window. Looking outside, where Sao and Pastor Opium ran away from the house. The doll closed the window and faced Lorian and Rain.
Rain looked at the doll in disgust. She pulled a twisted branch of a banyan tree serving as her wand. Rain pointed her wand at the doll.
"I knew it. You're attempting to create a cursed body. You wasted those people's lives just so you could live again. Unforgivable!" Rain gnashed her teeth.
"Woah, chill. Why are you hostile to your host? Have a sit," the doll said while he snapped his fingers.
A chair appeared behind Rain and Lorian. While vines sprouted on the floor trying to crawl on their legs. Rain pulled a vial with green liquid inside, she inserted her wand before pointing it to the vines.
"Aci-dio!"
A cloud of dark green smoke was emitted out of the wand. It headed to the vines and the chair enveloping it. When the chair and vines came into contact with the smoke, they turned to pus and sizzled on the floor.
"Magnificent. We have a witch in the house. Should I throw you in my fireplace?" the doll said.
"You're the one who needs to be placed in a fireplace," Rain rebutted the doll.
"My, my, what a rude guest. Let me show you why I need to be respected," the doll said.
The doll suddenly vanished out of Lorian's sight. He only saw a fist heading to his face before he was sent flying. The doll's emotionless face looked at Rain and waved his hands.
The floor surrounding Rain became sharp spikes ready to stab her to death. Rain waved her wand above her in a circular motion before waving it down. The dark green smoke spun around her, melting the wood.
However, her vision was blocked by the smoke. The doll appeared behind Rain, with both its hands above her head. As the doll swung his hands, a swoosh could be heard at the side of the doll.
Thud!
Lorian smashed the doll, swinging his mallet like he was hitting the home run. The doll's body arched as it flew to the side. Its limbs were twisted weirdly.
Rain nodded at Lorian. "Thanks, Lorian,"
"No problem," Lorian replied while huffing air.
"Let me take care of the wood, you destroy that doll. I'm 100% sure that doll is this house's core," Rain instructed Lorian.
Lorian looked at the twitching doll on the floor. "I'll do my best," he replied as he dashed at the doll.
The doll's twisted limbs corrected back to normal. He waved his hands at Lorian. Making the ceiling filled with spikes, pointing at Lorian.
Meanwhile, Rain performed the same motion she did a while ago. "Aci-dio Tornado!"
A spinning dark green smoke ravaged the spikes. Before they could even leave the ceiling and hit Lorian, they would drop down the floor becoming pus.
The doll stepped sideways planning to incapacitate Rain. But Lorian wouldn't let it happen. He jumped in front of the doll, the mallet over his head.
Lorian smashed the mallet on the doll's head. However, the doll's left hand caught the mallet's head. Its hand became swollen. And the doll twisted and squeezed the mallet head like it was crushing bread.
Lorian looked at the doll in surprise. But before he could react another fist flew at Lorian's head. Lorian managed to block it, but he was still sent tumbling back.
"Try again after a decade," the doll smugly said.
Rain looked at Lorian, filled with worry. She was thinking of switching to another potion but decided not to. As she saw Lorian standing again, throwing the mallet's handle away. Lorian raised both arms and assumed his stance. Without any weapon left, he's prepared to fight the doll in a fistfight.