\n
The cramped, dimly lit bedroom was airless. The smell of rotten eggs was unbearable, but at least the lavender-scented candles dotted about the room had muted the acrid stench of vomit and bile.<\/p>\n
There was an old woman on the bed with deep hollows in her cheeks and bruised-looking skin under her eyes. Her name was Wendy. Wendy\u2019s typically fluffy, permed hair was slick to her head with sweat, and she had ripped her favourite pearl earrings from her ears, causing her bloodied, torn lobes to dangle down the sides of her neck as if they themselves were jewellery.<\/p>\n
Wendy wasn\u2019t moving, but she was breathing. Just.<\/p>\n
The priest was at the foot of the bed, a bible in his hand. To his left were Wendy\u2019s grandchildren, Lance and Bella. To his right was his assistant, Neil, and then there was Hettie, the woman who helped out occasionally at the church fete. The priest had no idea why Hettie was there, but she had been surprisingly helpful throughout the whole ordeal.<\/p>\n
Wendy\u2019s eyes flickered open, revealing pitch black sclera, and the priest began again.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the snares of the devil,\u201d the priest said, his voice weak and weary.<\/p>\n
\u201cDeliver us, O Lord<\/em>,\u201d the others replied, equally as fatigued.<\/p>\n\u201cThat Thy Church may serve Thee in peace and liberty.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe beseech Thee to hear us<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\u201cThat Thou may crush down all enemies of Thy Church.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe beseech Thee to hear us<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\nThat was it. That was the last of it. But why wasn\u2019t anything happening?<\/p>\n
\u201cOh,\u201d the priest said, remembering to flick holy water onto Wendy\u2019s nightgown.<\/p>\n
The old woman screeched and her spine arched into a backwards \u2018C\u2019. She screeched again and her whole body lifted from the mattress and floated in midair. There was a growl, a grunt and a sigh, and finally Wendy slumped back down onto the bed.<\/p>\n
Within seconds Wendy regained consciousness, and her eyes were back to their normal colour. She looked at each person in turn, a bewildered look on her face.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you all right?\u201d Bella asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, dear,\u201d Wendy said.<\/p>\n
Everyone sighed in relief. There were smiles, hugs and even some tears, and then Hettie, Niel and the priest started to move towards the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere are you going?\u201d Wendy asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to give you some peace,\u201d the priest replied.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, Father, stay! I\u2019m sure there\u2019s a Vienetta in the freezer somewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat would be lovely, Wendy,\u201d Hettie interjected, \u201cbut I\u2019ve been here for three days. It\u2019s time I went home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lance yawned. \u201cI think I\u2019m going to head as well, it\u2019s a long drive back to the hotel. Want a lift, Bella?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh yes, I\u2019d\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wendy threw the duvet off herself.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou all better stay, I can feel that thing coming back, that Ornamental fellow.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOrmenu?\u201d the priest offered.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the one. He\u2019s still inside me. You better all stay here just in case. Lance, go get my good plates from the cabinet.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bella walked around the bed and placed a loving hand on her grandmother\u2019s knee.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrandmother, you didn\u2019t invite a demon inside of you so we\u2019d visit, did you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Wendy lowered her gaze and her chin began to wobble.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so lonely.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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