Janet looked troubled as she tried to explain what she had experienced.
"I can feel Him standing right in front of me, but I still can't see Him."
Father Anderson was not surprised. A person could only perceive a supernatural being if their spiritual senses were strong enough to reach its level. Ordinary people could not see the things Janet and Lorraine noticed. In the same way, some entities remained beyond the sight of even gifted psychics.
Janet's abilities were powerful but still undeveloped. She was like a young bird trying to find an eagle hidden high above the clouds.
"It isn't that you lack the ability to see Him," Anderson explained. "He is powerful enough to block your senses."
Janet still looked confused, so Anderson gently patted her head.
"When you become stronger, creatures like Him will no longer be able to hide from you."
Janet seemed to understand part of his meaning. She opened her mouth to ask another question, but the bedroom door suddenly opened.
"Mom?"
Peggy stood in the doorway. She had come to check on her daughter and looked embarrassed when she saw the peaceful scene.
"I'm sorry. Did I interrupt you?"
She had feared Janet might refuse to speak or become hostile toward the priest. Instead, her daughter now sat calmly beside him.
"It's all right, Mrs. Hodgson. I've learned enough for now."
Anderson stood and looked toward Janet with a gentle smile.
"Everyone is downstairs. Would you like to join them? Remaining alone for too long will only give Him more opportunities to frighten you."
Janet looked toward her mother.
Peggy pressed her lips together and gave her an encouraging nod. Janet then turned back toward the towering priest.
"Can I really leave this room?"
"Why wouldn't you?"
Anderson's voice remained relaxed.
"I'll handle everything else. You're free to go."
Janet looked between him and her mother once more. Anderson understood what she wanted and smiled.
"It's safe. Go ahead."
Janet jumped from the bed and rushed toward Peggy. She wrapped both arms around her mother and buried her face against her chest.
"Mom!"
"Oh, my poor girl."
Peggy's eyes turned red as she held Janet tightly. Anderson remained near the bed and watched their reunion with a quiet smile.
[5:24 P.M.]
The Hodgson home no longer felt buried beneath darkness. Repello had removed the spiritual haze that covered the building and allowed its natural warmth to return. There was no laughter yet but the house once again felt like the home of a family rather than a prison.
Janet sat on the living room sofa with Margaret, Billy, and Johnny. The four siblings talked over one another and frequently pulled Janet into their arms after being separated from her for so long.
Peggy sat at one end of the sofa. Her tired face now carried relief and quiet maternal happiness.
Ed sat at the other side while speaking softly with Maurice. Drew remained nearby and occasionally joked with the children as he checked the equipment.
Lorraine had awakened and joined them inside. She watched the family with a smile before looking toward Anderson, who sat alone in a chair near the corner of the room.
The improvement inside the Hodgson home was entirely due to him. Respect and admiration appeared in Lorraine's eyes.
Anderson did not notice her expression. His attention remained fixed on the leather recliner where Bill Wilkins had died.
A blurry figure trembled inside the chair.
"What kind of spirit behaves this cowardly?"
Anderson shook his head before noticing Lorraine watching him.
"Lorraine, can you sense anything near that chair?"
Lorraine focused her psychic senses on the recliner. After several seconds, she shook her head.
"I don't feel anything, Father."
Anderson released a disappointed sigh.
"Then we'll have to wait until tonight."
Lorraine had tried to sense the haunting since she woke but found nothing unusual. The house now felt completely normal to her.
"Do you believe the activity here is real?" she asked.
"Yes."
Anderson had already formed a general theory from Janet's account, though several important pieces were still missing.
Bill Wilkins was most likely not a malicious spirit. A stronger entity had trapped him and forced him to weaken Janet through repeated disturbances. Bill had resisted those commands as much as possible and limited himself to moving furniture, changing Janet's location, and frightening the family without causing serious injuries.
The unknown entity had also created or controlled another monster as a second threat. Since Bill had not yet succeeded in breaking Janet's will, the creature could only linger outside the room and wait.
The final question was whether the demonic nun controlled both of them.
Anderson believed it was likely but he still needed proof. The easiest way to obtain it was by questioning Bill directly.
Unfortunately, the old spirit had spent the entire day hiding inside the recliner and refusing to reveal himself.
Anderson removed a Bluetooth speaker from his backpack. It carried a small amount of consecrated energy. While no one was watching, he slipped the device beneath the recliner and rose with the bag in his hand.
His movement immediately drew everyone's attention. Janet became tense and watched him closely as though his departure would leave her exposed again.
"Where are you going, Father?" Ed asked.
"I'm going upstairs to inspect the rooms. Continue setting up."
Anderson smiled toward Janet to reassure her. He then carried the backpack out of the living room and climbed the stairs until he disappeared from sight.
Maurice watched him leave before turning toward Ed.
"Is Father Anderson always like this?"
"Yes."
Helpless amusement appeared in Ed's eyes.
"He does everything his own way. Unless he needs someone to carry equipment, he rarely asks us for help."
Maurice looked toward Lorraine for confirmation.
"Father Anderson is different from us," she said. "All we can do is wait for his instructions."