Sakshi turned back to see her brother. He looked worried, confused and fearful. She tried to wave and smile to give him courage as she walked towards her new found hope. She felt bad leaving him alone. She had no choice. Sheila and kids were alone. Mother was possessed. Vicky could be some help to them. But she could read from Vicky's face, he needed her. She pitied Vicky's cowardly attitude. He wasn't like this before. The guilt and evil's presence had changed him from brave boy to a coward one.
Vicky watched her leave. He had many questions in his mind. What was Sakshi doing? Where was she going? Why did she leave them? Why did she not take him with him? How can she trust him? How can he help Sheila and kids and face the evil when he himself feared the demon's presence? He wished he had listened to his friend's advice. He remembered reading newspaper headlines and receiving calls from his friend's relatives about how one by one, his friends died mysteriously. Immediately, he felt guilt pang hit his heart.
He went inside as soon as she was outside the vicinity of his sight. The house was dark. The windows were covered with thick curtains that blocked the sunlight to penetrate inside the house. It was different world inside. He walked slowly, looking for Sheila and kids. They were nowhere. Suddenly something caught his hand from behind. He turned to see what it was. It was mother. The grip grew tighter. Mother's eyes were red. Her face was dry and had scratch mark all over . Her hair was unkempt. Her lips were dry and purple. He tried to loosen the grip.
Sheila came from her hiding. She tried to loosen the grip on his hand. They couldn't release his hand from mother's clutches. Finally mother left him and caught hold of Sheila's neck and slapped hard. She must have slapped several times. Sheila was loosing her consciousness. Vicky tried to intervene many times . But mother was too strong to stop. With all might, Vicky pushed mother. Mother fell down, hitting her forehead on small table. She lost consciousness. Vicky walked slowly towards mother and checked that she was still alive. He left a sigh of relief. But he felt bad hurting his mother.
Sakshi reached the location as mentioned by the priest. It was located at the outskirts of the city. It took about four hours to reach. As she checked the time from her wristwatch, the fear of leaving her family alone grew deeper. She took the name of God and breathed deeply. The place in front of her looked like a horror movie set. The house situated on center of plot was in ruins. The walls of the house once white was covered with black molds stains due to years of condensation. The surrounding of the house was filled with wild bushes and trees. It was only house inside the woods. There was no one around.
Sakshi was tensed. She slowly walked towards the main door. The atmosphere was filled with smell of old wood and ruins. She tapped thrice on the door. No one responded. She tapped again. Suddenly a dwarf man opened the door. He was half her size. He looked up and asked what she wanted. She said that she wanted to meet Pallavi. "You can't see her. Go back.", he said. "Please let me see her. I have left my family in danger to meet her. Only she can help us out of this danger.", she pleaded. "Let her in.", a strong feminine voice called. Sakshi gave a weak smile and entered inside.
(To be continued)
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