"What are you talking about, Father?" Mrs. Alfred asked, releasing the anger she had been trying to hold back ever since she saw the priest bless Miranda and wish her goodnight instead of doing what they called him to do. "You don't know my daughter better than I do. What do you mean by she is clean and we owe her an apology? For what exactly?"
"I already discussed this with you, Father Jonah. You are not the first person we have invited concerning Miranda's case. Others have been here before you. And not just priests. Other spiritualists not related to the church have given the same report. Why are you the only one saying something different?" Mr. Alfred threw his own question even before the priest could respond to his wife's annoyed query.
"Mr. Alfred, you told me you only came to me because a lot of people recommended me to you. Am I right?" Father Jonah asked, speaking as calmly as ever.
"That's correct." Mr. Alfred nodded his head, responding in the affirmative.
"That should tell you that I am not a novice in this field and I do my work perfectly. I can beat my chest to tell you that everything you have been told in the past concerning your daughter is all lies. They were perfectly woven from the pit of hell to put your family into bondage, consequently pushing you into getting rid of the child." He paused for a short while, moving his gaze between the couple, before continuing his speech.
"I cannot tell you everything I know because I'm still trying to process a lot of them. But this I can tell you for free. You have greatly offended your daughter. Your house is covered in gross darkness, and the only place I found light was in her room. The light was so bright, yet it wasn't extending beyond her door, nor reflecting in any other part of the house.
In plain terms, that girl is a blessing given freely to you. But you've allowed the opinions of the agents of hell to hinder you from enjoying that blessing. I understand the fact that you are confused. But if you heed my advice now, you will avert all evil and your lives will turn around for the better. Make peace with your daughter. Get her to forgive you wholeheartedly and all will be well with you. There isn't much time left. May the good Lord be with you."
After saying this, Father Jonah walked away without looking back, his brows tightly furrowed as he pondered on the things he had just seen.
"I can't believe this. Where did you get him from, Alfred? He's totally fake and knows nothing about demons." Mrs. Alfred spoke when she was sure the priest had gone beyond hearing range of her words.
"I already told you he came highly recommended by everyone I asked. And what if he is right? What if everyone else has been lying to us just as he said?"
"I can't believe you will say this after everything that has happened. Have you forgotten so soon? Mmm… Alfred? Have you forgotten all we've been through? How can you even believe anything that man just said? We are calling another spiritualist to do the job! A more efficient one! Tonight!" She decided, turning around from her husband and walking back into the house.
---
All her life, Miranda had never been as confused as she was that evening. She couldn't even think straight because what the hell just happened?
The blessings and exit of the priest complicated matters even more. What did he mean by she would find what she sought? She wasn't looking for anything. Could it be that the messy nature of her room gave him such an idea?
Looking around her room, she decided it was time to tidy the place up. Much as her curiosity about the book under her bed had reached high heavens, she knew she could not risk bringing it out of its hiding place at that time. She would wait until her parents were fast asleep when she could shut her door without attracting any problems.
---
Several hours later, Miranda kicked off the blanket from her body and rolled off the bed. She has effortlessly stayed awake past bedtime, and now, she couldn't hold back her curiosity any longer, also the rumbling of her tummy was intensifying with every tick of the clock.
Unlike what she expected, no one had bothered her since the priest left. She wasn't even called to have dinner, and she didn't bother just so she could avoid another confrontation.
But now, she needed to eat. So she walked with as light as possible footsteps to the kitchen, and thankfully, her food was sitting on the counter, undisturbed.
Without wasting any time, she filled her stomach, grabbed a bottle of water, and returned to her room, shutting and locking the door after her.
Already itching with curiosity, she grabbed the wrapped book from beneath the bed, dropped it on the table, and unwrapped it.
She opened the first page and it was exactly how she remembered it to be. Then she moved straight to the last page where she saw the extra writings, somehow hoping something would have changed.
However, it was still the same. Everything was intact.
Going over the writings and the symbols three times, she memorized them according to their numbers, before jumping to the next set of instructions.
'If you are very sure you've memorized the symbols, then say these words out loud, slowly, drawing out all the letter R's for proper pronunciation. If you do it perfectly, you would be one step closer to freeing the king.' The instruction read, and after that were some strange words Miranda didn't know the meaning of.
Her brows knitted as she hesitated for a moment, not sure whether to continue or not.
Leaning away from the table, she relaxed against the backrest of her wooden chair, contemplating. The book surely wasn't an ordinary book. What happened hours ago confirmed it. But was she supposed to do this? What if it could save someone for real? What if???
Maybe she shouldn't. This could be witchcraft for all she knew.
No! She was going to do this. What could be the worst thing that would happen?