Inside a house in Amityville, Long Island, several pieces of paranormal investigation equipment were being packed away.
"Drew, could you put this in the other bag?"
Ed Warren removed an infrared camera from a hiking backpack and handed it to the young investigator. Drew's clothing and equipment had become far simpler since their previous case.
"Sure."
Drew took the camera and placed it inside another backpack. Ed picked up a video recorder from the floor and packed it with the rest of their equipment.
Once everything was secured, Ed patted Drew on the shoulder and walked into the adjoining living room.
The room appeared ordinary at first glance. It was filled with old wooden furniture and dated decorations. Even the tablecloth looked as though it belonged to another era. A complete sofa set surrounded the coffee table in the center.
Several people were seated there.
Lorraine Warren sat beside the homeowner and gently held her hand. She asked quiet questions while trying to calm the frightened woman.
Ed approached a nearby equipment stand and began organizing it as he listened.
The Warrens had learned about the case almost a week earlier. Since then, they had investigated the house and interviewed every member of the family.
Like many hauntings, the disturbances began after the new owners moved in.
The first incident happened at exactly ten o'clock one night. Mrs. Tracy heard heavy footsteps moving through the hallway outside her bedroom.
At first, she assumed one of her children was walking around and ignored it. The same sound returned at ten the following night.
The footsteps moved through the hallway at a slow and deliberate pace.
Mrs. Tracy opened the bedroom door but found no one outside. The corridor was empty. Even so, she felt that something unseen stood in the darkness and watched her.
That feeling stayed with her long after she closed the door.
The next evening, the footsteps returned at the same time. Mrs. Tracy gathered her courage and checked the hallway again.
No one was there.
However, the invisible presence seemed closer than it had been the night before.
The disturbance continued on the third night. It returned on the fourth and grew nearer each time.
Mrs. Tracy finally told her family. No one believed her because she was the only person who could hear it.
On the seventh night, her husband Theodore heard the footsteps as well.
He opened the bedroom door while the heavy steps continued. The hallway remained empty but both Theodore and his wife felt something standing only a short distance away.
Their son Abbott began hearing it on the eighth night.
Theodore could no longer dismiss his wife's claims. The family visited a local church before the unseen presence could reach them.
They were not registered parishioners and the diocese required evidence before approving a formal investigation. With no immediate help available, the family returned home.
On the tenth day, they moved into a hotel.
The footsteps followed them.
At exactly ten o'clock that night, the sound began outside their hotel room. Every member of the family heard it.
They now believed that the unseen entity was approaching them one step at a time.
"No matter where we go, it follows us."
Mrs. Tracy's voice trembled as she looked at Lorraine.
"It won't leave us alone."
Lorraine glanced toward Theodore and Abbott. Both watched her with exhausted and frightened expressions.
"It's all right, Mrs. Tracy. Sometimes a spirit becomes attached to a person instead of a location. It can cling to someone like something stuck to the bottom of a shoe."
She gave the woman's hand a reassuring squeeze.
"We have gathered enough evidence. Father Anderson is already on his way. Once he arrives, we can deal with this today."
Theodore looked uncertain.
"We aren't members of his church. We never received permission from the diocese."
Ed overheard the concern and interrupted before Theodore could continue.
"Father Anderson is different."
He shrugged while carrying a piece of equipment through the room.
"He doesn't care much about paperwork or official permission."
Theodore watched him walk away before turning back to Lorraine.
"Is that true?"
Lorraine remembered the towering priest and smiled.
"Yes. Father Anderson has never allowed authorization forms to stop him. He often says that wherever evil appears, he has a reason to be there."
The family exchanged hopeful glances.
Her description created the image of a compassionate priest who traveled from place to place and fought evil wherever he found it.
That image changed when Father Anderson arrived shortly before noon.
The black Ford F-150 Raptor stopped outside the house. A huge priest stepped out wearing black clerical clothing that stretched across his muscular frame.
Theodore and his family stared.
Father Anderson looked nothing like the quiet elderly priest they had imagined. His imposing build made his clerical clothes resemble tactical gear.
Strangely, his presence still gave them an immediate sense of security.
"Father Anderson!"
Ed smiled and walked toward him.
"This place wasn't too far from your church, was it?" He moved around the truck and began unloading Anderson's equipment from the rear.
"No. The drive wasn't bad."
Anderson's gaze moved toward Lorraine.
His expression tightened slightly.
The dark presence surrounding her had grown stronger since their last meeting.
"Father Anderson."
Lorraine stepped forward with a gentle smile.
"You must be tired after the drive."
"It was nothing."
Anderson chose not to mention the ominous aura around her.
"This is close enough to St. Michael's."
Lorraine nodded while keeping the same calm expression.
Drew waited until the Warrens finished greeting him before approaching with visible excitement.
"Father Anderson!"
He extended his hand.
"You remember me, right?"
"Of course."
Anderson shook his hand and smiled.
"When I need equipment later, I'll be relying on you, Drew."