Chapter 1: The convent

4:30 AM – The Convent Awakens

The convent stirred to life as the nuns began their daily routine. Sister Elena was the first to rise, her senses sharpened by an inexplicable unease. She made her way to the shower room, the dim light casting long shadows on the stone walls.

As the water cascaded over her, she felt a sudden chill—a coldness that seeped into her bones, unrelated to the temperature of the water.

The air grew heavy, oppressive, as if the very atmosphere was alive with malice. "Oh, Lord," she whispered, her voice trembling.

"Something is wrong. How can this sacred place feel so… tainted?" Shaking off the dread, Sister Elena finished her bath and dressed quickly, her movements deliberate as she prepared for the morning prayer.

She joined the other sisters in the chapel, but as she walked down the hallway, something caught her eye. The statue of the Virgin Mary, usually a symbol of serenity, now bore an unsettling expression. The Virgin's lips curled into a faint, cynical grin, and her eyes seemed to follow Elena as she passed. Elena paused, her heart pounding. She stepped closer, her gaze locked on the statue. To her horror, the Virgin's eyes shifted—left to right, up and down—as if alive. A wave of fear washed over her, but she clenched her fists, refusing to give in to panic. "Stay strong," she murmured to herself. "Faith is your shield."

She joined the other sisters in the chapel, kneeling in prayer. But as she closed her eyes, a voice hissed in her ear, low and venomous. "You filthy girl, clinging to your chastity for His highness!" Elena's breath hitched, and a cold shiver raced down her spine. Her hands trembled as she gripped her rosary, but she forced herself to remain calm.

"I will not falter," she whispered, her voice steady despite the fear clawing at her heart. The morning prayer concluded, and the sisters filed out of the chapel, their voices hushed as they discussed the strange heaviness in the air.

One of the sisters tapped Elena's shoulder. "Did you feel it too? The cold, the weight… it was like something dark was watching us." Elena nodded.

"Yes. It felt… unnatural." Another sister added, her voice trembling, "It's as if a storm is brewing. Something terrible is coming." The sisters dispersed to their daily chores—teaching the orphans, preparing meals, and tending to the convent's needs.

The morning passed uneventfully, but the lingering sense of dread remained. By the time the sisters gathered for the afternoon prayer, Elena was on edge, her nerves frayed. Thankfully, the prayer proceeded without incident, and she breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Lord," she murmured. "Perhaps the darkness has passed."

But as the sisters prepared for dinner, a piercing scream shattered the calm. It came from the courtyard, near the fountain where the statue of the Virgin Mary stood.

The sisters rushed to the scene, their gasps echoing as they saw the statue's face twisted into a grotesque grin.

The air grew heavy once more, and a cold wind swept through the courtyard, carrying with it a sense of malevolence. "Holy Mother, what is this?" one of the sisters cried, making the sign of the cross.

Mother Superior arrived moments later, her expression grim but resolute. She surveyed the scene and issued swift instructions. "Gather salt, blessed water, and dirt from the sacred ground. Hurry!" The sisters scrambled to obey, but Elena hesitated, her mind racing.

"Why hasn't she called the exorcist?" she wondered. Once the items were collected, Mother Superior mixed them into a thick paste and began drawing a circle around the statue. She turned to the sisters, her voice commanding. "Hold your rosaries close.

If you cannot bear what you see, close your eyes. Do not let your faith waver!" A sudden gust of wind swept through the courtyard, and the atmosphere grew suffocating.

The statue twitched, its movements jerky and unnatural. Cracks spread across its surface as it began to dance—a macabre, twisted performance accompanied by an eerie, grating sound.

Mother Superior stepped forward, her sleeves rolled up and a rosary tied tightly around her arm. She began to pray, but the words were unfamiliar to Elena. It was not the Lord's Prayer or the Hail Mary, but a plea for divine intervention.

"Heavenly Father, though I am but Your humble servant, a speck of dust in Your sight, grant me the strength to bind this demon and cast it back into the depths of hell. Guide me in this battle, in Your holy name, through Your Son, our King. Amen!" As she spoke, glowing markings—divine seals—appeared on her arms, radiating with holy light. Her eyes burned with fervor as she approached the possessed statue.

With a swift, powerful motion, she grabbed the statue's head and slammed it to the ground. The divine seals transferred from her arms to the statue, and the malevolent energy dissipated. The statue returned to its original form, its expression serene once more.

The courtyard fell silent, the oppressive atmosphere lifting. Sister Elena stared at Mother Superior, awe and relief flooding her. "For a 65-year-old nun, you are truly remarkable," she said, her voice filled with admiration.

Mother Superior smiled faintly, though her expression remained serious. "Thank you, but this is only a temporary solution. The entity is sealed, but not vanquished. Call the bishop. We need an ordained exorcist—a true priest, not a layman.

" As the sisters dispersed, Mother Superior stood alone in the courtyard, her gaze distant. She sighed heavily, her thoughts turning to the challenges ahead. "Perhaps I need more than an exorcist," she murmured. "Perhaps I need the renegades."

For now, the convent was at peace, but the battle was far from over. They could only wait and prepare for the arrival of the exorcist—and whatever darkness lay beyond.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***