Hostel M2

M2-Part XIV

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By the time they arrived back at the school, it was already early evening. The temperature had begun to drop as it usually did every sunset and one could hear the whistling of trees around as the gentle wind swept across. Activities around the hostel had reduced, something that hardly ever happened, especially in the evenings when the place was always filled with both hostellers and non-hostellers alike.

The priest led the way into the hostel, like he had been there frequently; Chris kept on making eye contact with the imprinted crosses on the purple stole draped across Marcello's shoulder which he had learnt was some sort of shield, important to an exorcist.

"I can feel his presence," the priest said as soon as he walked into the common room, he turned to Mr. Parker, "We'd have to evacuate everyone, if it finds a host, it'll only make things harder."

Chris' hands twitched at that announcement, maybe now was the right time to resolve to stop watching Hollywood.

"A..a host, like he...he could possess a human?" Henry stuttered while a lump found its way through his throat.

"That's right," Marcello answered, "we don't have much time to waste."

Professor Parker exited the building, fiddling his phone as he hurried out. He returned almost immediately with 3 security guards. Chris held pity in his heart for them as the thought of the earlier guard came to mind, this would be a different case, he consoled himself.

The priest set down his black briefcase while Mr. Parker talked to the guards. The students in the common room had already moved their attention to the drama before them, curiosity building up to its climax in their hearts. Priest Marcello pulled out a bottle of clear liquid with the sign of the cross and a dove sting upon it printed on the container-holy water.

"Alright everyone, gather around..." one of the guards called out to the students present there. Chris on the other hand was having quite a time keeping his breathing in check and Henry could already feel drops of sweat trickle down the back of his head into his back.

"What now?" Professor Parker asked as the rumbling sound from the stairs got closer and louder.

"We sanctify them before they leave," Marcello answered and then made the emerging students stand in a queue while he spayed the liquid from the container on their head after he made the sign of the cross on their forehead. It took about 20 minutes for the rite to be carried out and soon, it was just four of them in the entire building.

Henry's insides felt like they were being scrapped out but he did a good job in subduing his fears. Mr. Parker took off his glasses and wiped off his forehead with the back of his palm.

Marcello carried on with the ritual after had lit a number of beeswax candle, Holy Bible and rosary in one hand while he held on to the container of water in the other and a small silk bag of salt which he sprinkled along as he recited something. He did the same thing for the first floor too before approaching to the second floor where Henry and Chris' room was.

"Wait!!" he halted just at the beginning of the hallway, "his presence is very strong here."

Chris looked momentarily at Henry, wondering if that meant he could be just behind him at that moment. Chris' heart pounded almost audibly as they all stood there. There was a sudden bloom of heat across Henry's face, one he couldn't explain its source.

Marcello bent down, setting and lighting a new set of beeswax candle across the hallway, his lips reciting some sort of prayer. He had hardly started sprinkling the holy water when the doors to the rooms flung open in a rage, slamming back at almost the same instance with so much force that made Chris' blood run cold. Henry stood with bathed breath and all the while Mr. Parker had hardly flinched at all what was happening around.