The floor kept creaking, the walls were shaking, the shouting and wailing was getting really deafening. It felt like the whole lot of reality was evading, slipping through the fingers out into the wild of currents of chaos.
The smell of incense was there to make some sense of what was in reality, along with the chants of the Luka, Milica and Bozhana.
It kept on for a while, but it did not feel like it. The three were sweating, as they kept going, Luka eventually held the cross, while Milica picked the bone relic in her hands, Bozhana lit on fire things in her cauldron, which she placed on the small altar.
The whole premise was swept with a wind heavily, the shouting and cries of the place became louder, before a light started to appear from above. The cries that were, began to resemble a sense of relief in them. Slowly the whole place, which was filled with the heaviness of the heavy metals and wet wool, started to lighten. Bit by bit.
The chanting and prayers of Luka, Milica and Bozhana persisted.
Moment after moment, there were less and less voices which made the chaotic cacophony exist.
"Thank you.." - Gently was spoken by some ghosts.
"Kill it, before it kills more…" - The voice of an old man whispered around the circle of salt.
A figure of a woman showed before them, a see-through, ghostly figure.
"Make Levin pay for the atrocities he did, make sure he and Fillip get what they deserve." - She said, before she dissipated.
"I'll finally see mother!" - a child's voice came to.
"It'll take more than this, sister… Make sure that the ritual is bigger. The entity is still dwelling in here." - An old woman showed by the edge of the salt ring, looking at Bozhana, who kept chanting the spell. Bozhana looked at the old woman and gave her a nod, as she continued.
"We'll need them all to help." - A young priest showed nearby the salt ring, looking at Luka and MIlica, the two acknowledged the request with a nod as well.
"Dima…" - Aya's voice came from nearby, where Dima and Pietro sat.
"Aya?" - Dima looked up, but Pietro shut his mouth with his hand, holding Dima down with his other.
A woman stood there, maybe in her 20s, but it was not Aya.
"She told me about you." - The woman began, looking at Dima. - "She's gone, but I'm glad you came for her. Make sure they know of us. Remember us." - Then she looked at Luka, Milica and Bozhana. - "Thank you." - She disappeared once she said her piece.
The ritual kept on going until all the ghosts had their say, until it alas felt like they all left. Only the feeling of something heavy was here now. Something that was dark and dwelling in the walls of this Cathedral.
Bozhana sat next to Dima and Pietro, same with Luka and Milica.
"We should take her with us." - Luka said to Dima, as he looked at Aya's body wrapped in a coat.
"And call the backup in here, to get them all profiled." - Pietro added.
"Call the whole lot of the churches, ask for help." - Bozhana looked at Luka.
"I already sent out requests, but shall need to get the exact details over to them. Summon the Church investigators also." - Luka was sweating bullets.
For a moment they sat there, then got up, got all the things put into the boxes and bags, then took all that to the car.
Aya was held by Dima, as they got into the back seat. Milica and Luka stood outside.
"I'll go to the local church, make some calls from there and ask for the transport back. So you head on." - Luka spoke to Pietro, who was at the wheel, Bozhana in the passenger's seat.
"You stay safe." - Bozhana said to the two outside.
"You too." - They replied back.
The car left. Milica and Luka looked at each other, worn out and tired. Luka gently took the hand of Milica.
"There's still much to do, sister." - Luka said, as they walked towards the local church.
Once inside, they checked the candles, the morning which shone brightly through stained glass windows and found the local father of the church.
"The head has been hurting so much for the past few days." - Father Mikhail said. - "Even those who came in all said the same - that the head was hurting so much."
"I understand, Father, but might I use the office room to make a call? It's rather private, rather confidential." - Luka asked Father Mikhail, as the latter kept touching his forehead, grimacing from pain.
"Sure. Come on sister, there might be some things in the kitchen to check on." - Mikhail guided his own assistant out of the room, leaving Milica and Luka in the office.
Luka called the Archbishop Jevgenij, requesting the help that they had discussed prior. He went into detail of the events, letting Jevgenij know all that was, adding that the document will be also accompanied with all details of the event, as well as requesting the investigation into the Cathedral to be made, with specialists to oversee the cleansing of the Cathedral.
"Do you mean the visitors or the inquisition?" - Jevgenij asked.
"I suppose visitors. But please, those who are strong within faith and shall be able to clean out the evil that possesses the place. Exorcists would be preferable." - Luka said into the phone.
"I see." - Jevgenij breathed out. - "I'll get it done, so rest assured all is well. I'll call you tomorrow."
"Thank you Archbishop." - Luka replied.
"So, we should head to our own church, Father." - Milica let out, as she got up from the chair. She sat the whole time, as the weakness got to her. Tired was the body, active was the brain. They walked out and into the kitchens.
"Oh, Milica, Father Luka, how good to see you." - Sister Liuda came up to them. - "Please, sit. I'll bring something to eat."
Luka and Milica sat down at the table, after a bit - Liuda came over with two large bowls of food, placing them in front of Milica and Luka.
"Eat, eat." - Liuda said gently.
The two ate well, then Liuda brought tea for them.
"I felt there was a lot happening here." - Liuda began. - "Three days ago there was a storm, so harsh in fact that some places were torn, houses destroyed, the mess was all over. Then in days after, sure, they've cleaned the streets, but it was not it… People started to have heads hurting them. Many in the hospitals, many incapable of even getting up. So many came here, seeking solace, seeking healing."
"Oh dear, I'm sorry." - Milica said, with a cup in hands.
"But that's not all. From yesterday there began a full on hysteria." - Liuda continued, as she raised her cross to her face. - "The people were on the streets, crying and pleading for their loved ones to return. So many calling out names of people forgotten. So weird. Others just… I saw a woman on a street crying, as she stood there, saying her daughter is finally free. It's something so odd."
"Liuda, what's the date today?" - Luka asked.
Liuda answered. The answer made both Milica and Luka look at each other, first in surprise, then in shared understanding.
The ritual they commenced, which felt like hours out of their life, were actually three full days. Three days it took for the whole thing to be, three days since they walked inside.
No wonder Pietro found it odd that a car was plastered with so many leaves from a tree, like they missed out a storm. There was indeed a storm.
Once they managed to get a car and a driver to take them to their church - Milica and Luka said their thanks and headed back.
The road was clear, swift and they got to their home rather well. The driver said his prayer and went back to Rene.
Milica and Luka went into the Church.
When Pietro and Dima, with Bozhana and Aya reached the town, they let off Bozhana at her home, taking out all the bags that they packed with Luka and Milica, leaving it all with Bozhana.
Then Pietro and Dima went to the local mortician, to leave Aya's body in a freezer, as well as have the local police check the body for all that was, to know what was done to her, as well as the reason for the death.
Then the two went into the police station, getting a welcome from backup which Pietro mentioned before they left for Rene.
"The hell?! You were gone off the face of the earth for three days straight! I thought you got the same shit with you two missing!" - Nikolai shouted at the two.
"What do you mean three days?" - Pietro looked at Nikolai.
Nikolai then yelled at the two that they have not contacted the boss for three days, so that even more people from the department came to check the details of what was last done. They even broke into the rooms the two stayed in, getting the documents Pietro had, starting to analyze the whole lot of it. The special task force was established within this short time and there's now 11 people in this precinct who are on this thing here.
"There's more to it, Nikolai." - Dima cut in.
Then spent a while explaining where they've gone, what they've seen and how they found Aya. The whole set of people present were stunned, listening to the horrors spoken.
"Get in the cars, we're heading there now. Get the science unit to check and collect the evidence." - Nikolai barked at the boys. - "Call backup, we need more people for this!"
A set of over 30 cars drove off into Rene, to the Cathedral, ripping the piece of the fence off, so there's easier access to territory. The before blocked doors, with pieces of wood nailed in - were torn off, so the police could get in. After they got in - they began with photographing everything.
Mummified corpses, bones, the rags left from clothes, the accessories found, the blood that became one with the walls and floor… Everything became documented. Every bit of evidence collected, every bit of anything that could help - all taken with police.
"Where's the items from the ritual?" - Dima looked at the floor where they had a ring of salt.
"I think that Luka and Milica cleaned it up after we left." - Pietro replied.
"They were pretty tired though." - Dima retorted.
"That they were." - Pietro added.
"I don't think it was them." - Dima looked around. The department people were buzzing around all the corners, all corridors, all rooms, collecting, documenting, preserving what they could.
"There's an old man here, asking for Dima." - One of the officers called into the premises with his booming loud voice.
Pietro and Dima went out to see what's the commotion about, who is the one inquiring. The old man saw Pietro and Dima approach, then stepped back a bit.
"You come with, someone is waiting for you two." - He said, as he turned and walked down the road towards the cafe, turning around every few seconds, checking if Dima and Pietro followed him, as intended.
Pietro and Dima exchanged a glance and followed the man. What evil could he do with this many people backing them up? Impossible.
The man came over to the cafe, then pointed at a table outside the premises, where a young man sat.
"Ilya?" - Dima looked at the youth.
"I got you something. But you have to go there now." - Ilya gave them a piece of paper with directions, address and a roughly sketched map to show for sure what to look for.
"What is it?" - Pietro asked.
"That's where they are now. Trying to escape." - Ilya answered.
Dima put two and two together quickly.
"Come on, we gotta go." - Dima let out hurriedly, as he stormed towards the parked cars up the road, where police were dealing with Cathedral.
"Wait!" - Pietro called out to Dima, as he turned to follow him. Though Ilya grabbed hold of Pietro's hand.
"Please, there's more to share, so please call me once you're done." - Ilya shoved a piece of paper into Pietro's jacket pocket. Pietro nodded in response.
"Good luck!" - Ilya yelled, as the two stormed off into the distance.