An hour had gone by as Jill drove farther and farther into the middle of nowhere. She bit on her bottom lip, nibbling small, tiny thin layers of skin away. Bad habit, she reminded herself as she looked in the mirror to make sure she was still presentable without lip balm. Usually she would be calm and collected on a night like this, but events preceding had left her on edge. She past field after field. Tree after tree. The monotony of driving through farmland did nothing to ease her frustration.
She found her turn. Off the main road a large house stood in the distance only noticeable because of the brightly lit windows on the first floor. She slowly traversed the bumpy driveway and put the car in park. She stepped out, took a deep meditative breathe. She could hear the owners coming from inside the house. The screen door screeched open and smacked shut.
“Can we help you miss?”
Jill looked up and saw the couple standing together somewhat paranoid.
“You Mr. Rick and Mrs. Judy? Father Cecil sent me about your daughter, im the exorcist.”. The couple both were taken aback.
“You’re the exorcist? but y-”
“Not a clergyman, no, but I need you to have faith in me and in Cecil. Im a professional, and I take matters like these very seriously.”.
“Oh, um, please, c’mon in.” they both graciously, and nervously welcomed her in.
“Could you take me to her?” Jill followed them to the top of the steps and came to a barred bedroom door.
“You locked her in here?”
“Yes yes, she has the devil in her bad, we even put salt just in case, to keep her from leaving if the door ever gave out.” Jill looked down, the bottom of the door was lined with a thick line of salt just as they said.
“Clever.” Jill said nodding in approval. “How long has this been going on?”
“She’s been possessed since she was eight. Cecil told us we had to keep her under supervision ever since. We’ve done our best to keep her safe and also do as he says.”
“How old is she now?”
“thirteen.”
“...Okay... I understand. Im gonna need you two to leave for the night, come back in the morning. I know its hard, but, I need to work alone, its important.”
They gave each other a worried look, but accepted.
“Okay, its whats best.”. They started back down the steps, but before they left Judy called to Jill with tears in her eyes.
“You’ll save my baby girl?”
“Yes.”
Jill watched them drive away in an old worn down truck. Soon as they were out of sight Jill stepped out of the house and popped the trunk of her car and took out grocery bags. She placed them on the kitchen counter, walked up the steps and removed the bar from the door. She turned the knob, slowly let it open. The girl cowered in the corner of the dark room. The room itself was empty, only a balled blanket and mattress lay flat on the floor. Windows barred, the walls were scratched with phrases; Why God? Why does the Devil want me? Why don’t you help me? Jill examined the girl, she wore a filthy night gown, appeared gaunt, feeble and afraid. Based on the odor, she assumed the girl was bathed once a week, give or take. She gave her a wave to try and show a peaceful gesture.
“Hi, i’m Jill.” The girl said nothing back. “You look like your hungry, so im gonna be downstairs making you some soup. Your parents aint home either, so your more than welcome to join me okay.”.
Jill walked back downstairs leaving the door wide open for her to follow. She emptied her grocery bags taking out bottles of ginger ale and cans of soup. In just a few minutes, a chicken noodle dinner for two was ready. The girl still hadn’t come down. Jill walked up the steps and saw her standing in the doorway, careful not to cross the line of salt.
“You’re scarred of the salt?” .
She nodded.
“Okay, baby steps. I’ll be back.”.
Jill brought up a lamp and set up dinner in her room. With the room lit, she could see even more of the scratches. A bold one read; Don’t ask God why. It’s bad to ask why.
“I like your room. I think my sister would love it actually.” Jill joked to herself. She looked over at the girl, who was more confused than afraid. She slid off her shoes and sat down on her bed with her bowl of chicken noodle and ginger ale, she placed the girls meal beside her.
“Come, sit, eat! I wont bite.” Jill patted the bed, motioning for her to sit.
She was hesitant, but slowly took the bowl and drink, sat beside Jill, and began to devouring the soup.
“Woah! Careful, its still pretty hot.”
The girl slowed down only a tad bit, but she still drank it down in record time.
“Here have mine.” Jill handed over her bowl, and it was gone just as fast.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Whats your name kid?”
“Samantha.”
“Well Sam, there’s more where that came from. C’mon, lets head downstairs.”.
Jill took ahold of her hand, and slowly guided her towards the door. She tried to pull away, but Jill was deceptively strong and Samantha was too weak to break her stride.
“No no no, please don’t! The salt will burn me! I can’t pass the salt!”.
Jill payed her no mind, she continued to slowly take her towards the door, then she pulled her across the salt. Her feet smeared it around the hall in a panic but then she calmed down in realization. Jill pulled her into a hug, and held her tight to give as much comfort as she could. Samantha began to cry.
“They said it would burn! I don’t understand, why didn’t it burn?”. Jill held her tight, and let her cry into her shoulder for as long as she needed...
Jill reached into the back seat of the car and pulled out a pair of sweat pants and a white-t. She took it to Sam who was just now getting out of the bath.
“They might be a bit too big, but, its better than nothin.” .
“Thank you.” Samantha put them on immediately, and stayed at Jill’s side.
They made their way back to the kitchen, Jill grabbed ahold of the second grocery bag,
“Okay its time to go, you’re ridin shotgun.”.
“We’re leaving? What about mom and dad?”.
Jill stayed silent for the moment, she wanted to choose her words carefully. She reached into the bag and grabbed a decretive box of cookies and handed them to Samantha.
“Here, we’ll talk more in the car.” Jill got in the driver seat, and Sam anxiously got in.
She rested the box on her lap, the lid read ‘Natasha’s Homemade’, inside were cookies of all sorts.
“Try em, they’re good.”.
“Am I going to see my parents again?”.
“One day. One day you’ll see them again. But, they’ve made a mistake. This man Cecil, claimed to be the voice of God, and they listened, listened without question, and have abused and neglected you because of it.”.
“But they did the right thing? You’re not supposed to question God? Right? They said never question God.”.
Jill took a moment to think of what to say, but was unsure of how to respond.
“... When, when Jesus was nailed to the cross, one of the things he yelled was ‘Why? Why father? Why have you forsaken me?’... If Christ asked why, y’know, questioned the big man himself, then, I think its okay if we do it too. But, I think my comparison is a bit off, look, the point I want you to know is that they put too much blind faith into this man, and... they have to pay for that mistake. You’re not the only one. You seem to still have your sensibilities which is great, but other kids like you, weren’t so lucky, some can’t even speak anymore... Your parents and the rest of Cecil’s followers will be apprehended by the police soon as they’ve finished rounding up the rest of the kids, they’re short staffed so I came out to get you myself.”.
Samantha sat in silence for the rest of the ride. After an hour of driving they pulled into a small police station bursting with activity. Cops and social workers going in and out, reporters itching for a story were being kept at bay.
“Stay close to me.”.
They got out of the car, reporters recording and taking pictures from a distance. Sam stayed right beside Jill holding her tight with one hand and holding the box of cookies with the other. Jill sat Samantha at an empty desk belonging to one of the detectives.
“Aye, listen, I think the plan is to take the lot of you to some sort of mental hospital. Don't worry, its a nice place, right by the beach. Its to get you far, far away from all this, and help clear your head.”
In the midst of all the commotion, a Jill made eye contact with a detective from across the room and waved her over.
“This is Detective Robinson coming over now, she’s one of the good guys, she’s gonna take good care of you, okay.” Jill hugged her one last time.
“You’re leaving?”
“Yeah, still a lot of work to do. When this all over, I promise my sis and I will come visit you, alright?”
“Thank you.” Samantha nodded. Jill leaned in and gave her a peck on the forehead and marched on. Sam learned to question belief, yet watching her hero wave goodbye one last time, restored her faith in angels like never before.