49 The First Step to Becoming Better

"Do you know who we are dealing with?" On the way, Anton asked this question to Thomas, who was silent.

Thomas looked at Anton and said, "As a child, it is said that he was possessed by a dark entity, and our duty will be to expel that darkness before the damage to the child's body becomes irreparable."

"Well, we have arrived..." Anton parked his car on the outskirts of the city, just in the direction he had been given. He knew little about the job they were about to do, so he fully trusted that Thomas would not go wrong.

Anton, sitting in the passenger seat, looked at the priest-in-training in the driver's seat without interest and found that Thomas seemed eager to try it.

The two were in completely opposite situations. Anton was trained to be the best at everything he does, practically a soldier who would be sent anywhere and come out victorious—that's what was expected of him, after all. In his first exorcism, he recalls being only eighteen years old, and in the end, he had to kill the one he was assisting because that was the test; he had to end someone who had abandoned their humanity.

"Did Father Gabriele personally train you?" Anton asked this question while feeling a deep darkness around him, making him a bit surprised.

"Not at all; I contacted the Vatican when I found out that this family needed help, and they entrusted me with the exorcism even though I don't feel fully prepared yet," Thomas replied with a nervous look.

Anton nodded as he understood, but also said, "Still, do you feel confident enough to face evil? This will be a perfect opportunity to prove yourself; once you touch the darkness, your whole life will become very bleak."

Any human close to darkness will undergo changes; that was the warning Anton's father, Sebastián, had given him about the supernatural world, and it's something he now understands perfectly. No matter how holy one is, everyone will eventually become as insensitive as rocks.

Thinking about this, Anton, knowing they weren't dealing with something weak, asked, "Did you receive proper training?"

Thomas felt serious. "That's true; I spent two years at the Vatican, and Gabriele himself gave me some classes."

Upon hearing this, Anton nodded and calmly said, "When we enter that house, let yourself be guided by what you believe is right; I will observe, and only when you are in trouble will I intervene. Remember, this experience is very important, so do your best."

Thomas nodded while sweating cold; he had seen many documentaries with very explicit videos about exorcisms, so he knew perfectly what he was facing. Therefore, he reinforced his emotions and mentally prepared himself.

"Thank you for your help, Father Anton; I will feel much calmer with you by my side."

The conversation ended when Anton got out of the car and looked at this estate. At the door, there was a group of people waiting, and when they saw Anton getting out of the car, they all approached to greet him.

It was the first time Thomas took charge, and unconsciously, he looked at Priest Anton, who was checking his equipment.

Anton ignored the family, and for the first time, he felt the darkness suffocating him. After seeing that the people who had come were staring at him, he muttered, "An evil demon has incarnated in the skin of that child; if it cannot be exorcised, then I must prepare to kill him."

After muttering this, Anton took more than ten thin silver crosses out of the backpack and began to throw them forcefully, piercing the ground as if he controlled them in his mind.

Seeing Anton's performance, Thomas sweated coldly and couldn't concentrate completely. But knowing that this was his job, he had nothing else to do but walk towards the family.

"Father Thomas, you are finally here." Thomas was a local priest in this area, and although he was not fully qualified, the family was waiting for his arrival.

The first person to step forward was a single woman named Adella Vázquez, who was the mother of Henry and Amy, her children. Looking behind this family, Anton looked at how the darkness was slowly contained and used even more faith energy to prevent this darkness from spreading beyond this house, which was like a chapel.

Anton, who had placed more than ten crosses in front of the house, began to walk around it, and only after throwing more than ten crosses that covered the surroundings did he say, "Thomas..."

"What is it, Father Anton?" Thomas, who had just gotten out of the car, quickly approached and introduced Adella, who was confused about what Anton was doing, so to ease the atmosphere, he said, "This is an experienced exorcist who will be supporting us; his name is Anton ShadowBane."

Anton noticed Adella's hesitant look, so he approached her and said, "I understand perfectly what concerns you, Mrs. Vázquez, but if you don't let us do our job without a second thought, then unfortunately, your son will die."

"Father Anton..." Thomas opened his eyes wide with surprise; these were not words that a priest should say.

Anton looked at Adella, then focused on her daughter, Amy, and whispered, "The more dangerous the situation your young son is in, the more serious it will be as time goes on. We will do everything we can to save your son Henry, but you must believe."

Adella suddenly woke up from her doubts, and without hesitation, she shook her head and murmured, "I'm so sorry for my disrespect; so many strange things have happened that I haven't known how to manage it all."

Mother and daughter entered the house, and at that moment, Anton took out his cell phone and muttered, "High-level exorcism, send officers to control the area, and no one except those involved should enter the parameters."

"Zz... The agents will be on their way; you can proceed safely, Father Anton."

After making the call, Anton walked toward the door of the house where Thomas was, and he told him, "If the family doubts, you don't have to make them believe that the supernatural is real; just explain your missions, and if they don't want to believe, warn them. In the end, they are the ones desperate."

Thomas thought seriously for a moment and then nodded. "I understand, Father Anton. Thank you for your guidance."

Anton nodded, entered the house, and when he closed the door, he murmured a few words in Latin to put a spiritual barrier around. "[500 faith points have been used.]"

Although the expenses were extreme, Anton was fully determined to spend that and more due to the threat he felt in this place.

"Exorcism requires the use of the brain. Some demons are wicked and cunning by nature, so we must learn to be smarter than them; otherwise, Anton stopped at these words because he didn't find them convenient.

Thomas asked curiously, his eyes gleaming, "Father Anton, otherwise what?"

Anton looked at this young priest and said, "Demons never die; we are the ones who die."

Thomas's pupils suddenly shrank, and he became nervous unconsciously.

Adella walked to the living room of this house, but Anton didn't allow Amy to accompany them, so after giving her an exaltation cross and creating a barrier with salt, she stayed outside to prevent her from being possessed.

At that moment, Anton and Thomas, as they approached Henry's room, began to hear roars and growls that were as fierce as hungry beasts.

Roaaaarrrrr!!!!

"Come on, you damn whore daughter of a bitch!!!"

"Let me out for a damn demon!!!"

Hearing the sound like the roar of a beast, Anton looked at Thomas, made a sign to him, and then withdrew behind him.

Knowing that this was not a normal exorcism, Anton wouldn't let the situation get out of hand, so he stood in front of the door and, before entering, placed more than one silver cross.

"Protect this domain that has connected with my breath, my will, and my faith; for all those who have fallen behind my name, give me the power to keep this place isolated."

After finishing muttering these words, Thomas, who was on the side, turned to Adella and asked, "Mrs. Adella, when did you start to believe that your son was possessed by a dark entity?"

When Thomas suddenly asked this question, Anton, who was hiding behind, silently nodded, knowing it was an intelligent question.

This is the traditional style of exorcism, unaffected by external factors such as the current roar. The fact of demonic possession must be confirmed; otherwise, it could be classified as a mental illness, which happens in most cases, but Anton knew that wasn't the case here.

To be honest, this is why the Warrens only requested an exorcism license after gathering enough evidence to declare it to the church.

Although it doesn't need to reach that point, it is also beneficial for the priest not to fall into traps where his judgment is not affected.

"Father, Henry, he spoke in French." Adella was shattered; she could barely process that instead of doctors helping her, there were priests here.

"I saw it with my own eyes. If I hadn't known that my son didn't speak French, he might have fooled me. Also, he was getting more and more irritable, breaking things every day, and hurting himself a lot."

Thomas looked at the room with the closed door and continued asking, "Did you converse with him fluently?"

"Very fluently..."

Confirming that there were obvious signs of possession, Thomas unconsciously looked back.

Anton then looked at the closed door and said calmly, "Let's go in and take a look."