“Stop!” Murphy demanded. “Can’t you see the man is trying to help you?”
“Why?” the cloaked spirit behind him asked.
“Believe me, I started asking myself that question when your girlfriend tried to stab my friend,” Jesse said.
He used the diverted attention to squirm out of the hold the ghost had on him. Jesse snatched the boots and crawled to the center of the room before turning around. Behind him floated a male spirit whose neck hung at an awkward angle. “You poor bastard, they cut your throat to get at your blood,” he sympathized. “Just in case you aren’t aware, decades have passed since your soul was imprisoned in that box.”
“It was a just end considering what I did to my contemporaries in the walnut grove.”
“Why the crystals?” Murphy asked.
“I was instructed to take this hammer, wait until each acolyte knelt before taking the crystal and pounding it into their skull. Their energy would be absorbed by the crystal.”
“How did you get them to hold still?”
“That was the queen of the demons doing. I was only a tool to be used.”
“Did you know that she most likely isn’t the queen of the demons but just a female heritage demon going AWOL from her honorable profession?”
A look of uncomfortable realization crossed the dead man’s face. “No.”
“We freed your victims from being a power station. They are being cared for by a mighty priest. Do you wish to join them or walk directly into the light?” Murphy asked.
“I’m a servant of evil. I will most likely be sent to Hell.”
“I’ve been to Hell, but not as a prisoner,” Murphy said. “I’ve also been to Purgatory.”
“Purgatory is real?”
“Only if you believe it’s real,” Murphy said.
“When do I have to make this decision?” the spirit asked.
“When Father Santos calls the light. Until then, you may have an opportunity to do good. Look for it, and be not afraid because forgiveness is stronger than any evil oath you may have sworn.”
Jesse looked at Stephen and saw that the farmer holding the spectral axe believed in forgiveness, but as his axe turned and the light glinted off the sharpened edge, the farmer also believed in justice.
Chapter Twenty-eight
Jon found Faye in the basement. Her tears fell upon the Italian ghosts who lay withered and powerless on the floor of the basement.
“I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner,” she said, repeating her apology to each inert spirit.
“All will be well, they will recharge,” Jon said. “Come away, I have words to tell you.”
Faye looked over at Jon, and she could tell he had regained his heart. Tears of compassion moved down his face.
“How?” she questioned as they passed upwards through the floor into the media room.
“Jesse and Mr. Wonderful,” Jon said. “I came to say goodbye. My mother is calling for me.”
Faye turned away so Jon wouldn’t see how much his leaving was going to hurt her.
“You can come too,” he said, his voice lifting as if he just realized it.
“I’m not ready to leave this plane of existence yet,” Faye said sniffling. “I’ll look you up when I do leave.”
“I’ll be looking for you. Faye, you’ve been an angel on earth.”
Faye put her hand on his face and said, “You gave me reason to believe again.”
Daniel found them by the window. He saw a ball of light move into the room and into Jon.
Faye backed away and watched as Jon’s heart glowed, and then he became part of the light, and it pulsed.
“I’m staying here. Good work still needs doing,” Daniel said.
The light pulsed brighter and then disappeared.
Faye groaned.
Daniel pulled her into his arms. “Go ahead and rest your head on my shoulder. My mam said it was a good place for crying.”
Faye sobbed. It wasn’t a pretty cry nor was it an angry one. When she had finished, she stepped back and looked up at Daniel. “You’re no longer blue.”
“It never looked good on me,” Daniel said. “I need to expose me bones so Jesse can return my lungs.”
“How can I help?”
“How are you at prying up wood?”
“Not so good, but I can ask Mr. Wonderful to split the wood with his axe.”
“Ah, the farmer. He’s a miracle…” Daniel stopped and pulled Faye back behind the carved screen. “Hush, one of the evil ones approaches.”
Faye watched through the tiny cuts in the wood as the female acolyte with the torn robe and long knife moved into the room. She turned as if she could hear something and faded into the bookcase on the opposite wall.
August, now in full control of Bridgeton’s body, strode into the room. He raised his arms and the furniture flew backwards. He turned back and called, “Come now, Arnold, you weren’t afraid to challenge me. Now I challenge you!”
Miss Gee looked at Arnold who could only summon enough energy to rise out of his chair.
“Look what you’ve done!” screeched Miss Gee. “Someone has opened the boxes. All his strength is gone!”
“Leave here,” Arnold instructed the men as he walked out into the hall. “I’ll try to hold out as long as I can. I feel deeply that August means to kill all the witnesses, and soon, he will control Gadus too.”
“I’ll be your second,” Cid said following him. “I’ll fight for you. I still retain the strength from the walnut grove.”
“No, it’s battle with a demon. I’ll fight,” Father Simon insisted.
“Why are you risking your lives?” Miss Gee questioned.
“Why did you risk yours?” Father Santos asked.
“For Arnold, for love, for…”
“All that is good and all that can be good,” Father Simon completed. “Cid, you take on Bridgeton. I’ll take on August.”
“How do we get them to separate?” Cid asked.
Miss Gee pulled up her voluminous sleeves. “I have
