"This is the room."
After receiving Father Anderson's promise that Janet would remain safe, Peggy Hodgson led everyone upstairs. She stopped before a closed bedroom door and took a deep breath as she struggled to control her emotions.
"Only the priest may enter. I don't want too many people disturbing my daughter."
Anderson looked toward Ed, Drew, and Maurice behind him.
"Start setting up the equipment downstairs."
Ed understood at once.
"Yes, Father."
He led Maurice and Drew back toward the staircase. Their voices soon drifted up from the lower floor as they began bringing the investigation equipment inside.
"Drew, move everything carefully," Ed instructed. "Don't wake Lorraine. She hasn't slept this peacefully in a long time."
"I understand."
Anderson turned back toward Peggy. She pressed her lips together before slowly opening the bedroom door.
The sight inside immediately made him uncomfortable.
The small room was dim and almost empty. Crucifixes of every shape and size covered the bare walls but none carried enough sacred power to provide real protection. Instead of making the room feel safe, they formed a cage around the frightened child inside.
A bed stood near a boarded window. Janet sat on its edge with her back to the door. Sunlight entered through a narrow gap between the wooden boards but she did not react when Peggy entered.
The girl remained motionless.
"Janet," Peggy said softly. "A priest from the Church has come to see you."
Her daughter gave no response. Janet's shoulders barely moved as she breathed. The energetic girl from the family photographs had vanished and left behind a hollow figure with no interest in the world around her.
Peggy looked toward Anderson and hurried to explain.
"She may be tired, Father."
"That's all right."
Anderson entered the bedroom and rested one hand against the doorframe.
"Mrs. Hodgson, may I speak with Janet alone?"
Peggy stared at her daughter with clear hesitation.
"I don't know…"
"I'll only speak with her for a few minutes," Anderson said. "I may be able to help Janet become herself again."
Peggy looked around the room one last time before withdrawing her hand from the door.
"All right."
"Thank you."
Anderson offered her a reassuring smile and gently closed the door.
A soft click filled the room. The darkness became heavier once they were alone and the supernatural pressure seemed to gather around them.
Anderson examined the useless crucifixes before walking toward the bed.
"Janet, may I sit beside you?"
He stopped near the girl and studied her face. An eleven-year-old child should have been curious and full of energy. Janet instead resembled patients suffering from severe depression whom Anderson had treated in his previous life.
She continued staring toward the boarded window. Her eyes showed no emotion and she did not answer.
"I'll take your silence as permission."
Anderson sat beside her and faced the narrow beam of sunlight entering through the wood. The light appeared weak inside the dark room but its brightness became clear when he focused on it.
"Janet, I know you're different from most people. You were born able to see things that others cannot."
The girl remained silent.
Anderson did not pressure her.
"I can see them too. I understand how frightening it feels when no one believes you. You know something is there but everyone around you tells you that it isn't real."
He watched the sunlight while memories from this life surfaced in his mind.
"When I was lost, someone who carried light helped me. Now I'm asking whether you'll allow me to do the same for you."
His voice remained gentle.
"You don't need to trust me immediately. Just believe that I truly came here to help."
Anderson fell silent and waited beside her. He did not look directly at Janet or demand an answer.
The room remained still for a long time.
A quiet voice finally broke the silence.
"Father… can you really see them?"
Anderson looked down and found Janet watching him. Hope and caution struggled inside her eyes.
"Of course."
He smiled.
"That is why I'm here."
A faint change appeared across Janet's young face. She seemed ready to step out of the darkness surrounding her but fear quickly pulled her back. Her eyes lowered toward the floor again.
Anderson felt pity for her. He looked around the bedroom and saw a dark haze covering the walls and furniture. It explained the oppressive atmosphere and confirmed that something hostile visited this room often.
"Since you aren't ready to tell me everything, may I ask you a few questions?"
Janet did not answer but she also did not refuse.
Anderson glanced toward the crosses.
"Do these make you feel safe?"
"No."
Her voice trembled.
"It still comes every night."
"It?"
Anderson noticed the word immediately. Janet might not be speaking about Bill Wilkins.
"What comes here?"
The girl fell silent again.
Anderson remained patient. Janet's psychic ability had exposed her to things no child should have seen. He needed to prove that he possessed enough power to protect her before she would reveal the truth.
"Janet, do you believe in light?"
She kept staring at the floor.
"You don't need to answer. Just raise your head and look at my hand."
Anderson spoke as though he were coaxing a frightened child from a hiding place.
"I promise you'll see something extraordinary."
Janet slowly gathered her courage and looked up.
Her eyes widened.
A pure white flower made from Magic rested above Anderson's open palm. Every petal radiated a gentle brilliance that pushed back the darkness around them.
Anderson had silently shaped the energy through Exorcio. The controlled spell carried none of its usual destructive force but Janet could still see it clearly.
[A Small Amount of Magic Consumed]
A smile appeared on Anderson's face.
His guess had been correct. Janet's psychic talent was powerful enough to perceive magical energy without any training.
"I wasn't lying, was I?"
Janet stared at the glowing flower with wonder reflected in her eyes.
Anderson held it closer.
"Would you like to see something even more incredible?"