"The second presence should be somewhere around here."
Father Anderson followed his memory of the other scream he had heard when Repello cleared the house. His search brought him to a small play tent in one corner of the second-floor hallway.
Peggy had explained that she set it up as a private play area for the children. Anderson crouched before the entrance and opened the zipper. He removed another consecrated Bluetooth speaker from his backpack before looking inside.
The tent contained toys and small pieces of children's furniture. Anderson's gaze moved across them until it settled on an old zoetrope near the back.
A twisted figure appeared on the rotating strip.
The Crooked Man.
"So you're the one hiding here."
Anderson sensed clear malice inside the toy. A hostile spirit had attached itself to the Crooked Man zoetrope and was using it as a supernatural vessel.
The discovery reminded him of Annabelle and the other cursed objects stored beneath his home. Like those artifacts, this toy allowed an evil presence to remain anchored within the human world.
"Don't disappoint me."
Interest flashed through Anderson's eyes as he placed the consecrated speaker directly in front of the zoetrope. He closed the tent and continued searching the second floor.
Anderson entered every bedroom and side room. Each time he left, another Bluetooth speaker remained hidden in a corner. He placed the final device on Janet's bed before stepping back with satisfaction.
Thirteen consecrated speakers were now spread throughout the Hodgson home. Once Anderson activated them, every room would be filled with recorded Scripture and sacred prayers.
He glanced at the powerless crosses covering Janet's walls before leaving the bedroom.
Tonight, the entire house would hear the voice of God.
Time passed slowly until darkness covered Jersey City.
Anderson divided everyone into two groups. He and Janet would remain near the rooms where the disturbances happened most often. Ed, Lorraine, Maurice, Drew, Peggy, and the other children would stay together inside the living room.
They also needed a reliable way to call for help.
Ed stared at the Winchester Model 1897 shotgun Anderson placed in his hands. Confusion covered his face as he examined the old pump-action weapon.
"A gunshot is more reliable than shouting or making a phone call," Anderson explained. "Certain entities can isolate a room and block voices or electronic signals. The consecrated shells inside this weapon can break through that interference."
Ed still appeared uncertain but Anderson continued before he could object.
"If anything happens inside the living room, fire immediately. I'll hear the shot and know your group is in danger."
Anderson looked toward the closed hallway.
"Nothing may happen at all. That would be the best result."
Ed drew a deep breath and accepted the shotgun.
"I understand, Father."
Anderson turned toward Lorraine. Psychics faced greater danger than ordinary people during paranormal incidents because supernatural entities often targeted their minds first.
"Lorraine, close your senses as much as possible. Don't search for the entity unless I tell you to."
He glanced at the powerful crucifix around her neck.
"I don't want the nun dragging you into another psychic vision. The cross should protect you for some time but don't take unnecessary risks."
"I understand."
Anderson removed a bottle of holy water from his bag and handed it to her.
"Pour this into the humidifier as we did in Amityville. The mist will protect the living room. It will also react if anything hostile enters."
Lorraine accepted the clear bottle. She knew most parishes possessed only limited supplies of holy water. Anderson seemed to use it as though St. Michael's could produce an endless amount.
"Yes, Father."
Anderson reviewed the plan one final time. When he found no obvious weakness, he gestured toward the living room.
"Go inside."
Ed and Lorraine exchanged a glance before joining Maurice, Drew, and the Hodgson family. They closed the door behind them and prepared to remain there until Anderson gave different instructions.
Once the others were secure, Anderson looked toward Janet. The girl stood beside him with her body tense but her chin raised.
"Are you afraid?"
Janet shook her head quickly.
"No."
"Good girl."
Anderson looked toward the play tent at the end of the hallway and pressed the light switch.
The lights went out with a sharp click.
Darkness swallowed the second floor. The hallway had seemed ordinary beneath the electric lights but its atmosphere changed at once. The shadows became deeper while a quiet sense of terror spread through the house.
Janet remembered the footsteps and nursery rhymes she heard each night. Her body trembled and she moved closer to Anderson without realizing it.
"It's all right. I'm here."
Anderson removed another crucifix from beneath his clerical coat. It was almost identical to the one he had given Lorraine and contained sixty-four points of sacred energy.
He placed it around Janet's neck.
"Nothing will be able to approach you while you wear this."
Warm divine power flowed from the cross. Janet's fear weakened at once and the pressure surrounding her mind disappeared.
She gripped the crucifix and nodded firmly.
"Let's go inside."
Anderson led her into the bedroom and closed the door. The soft click separated them from the dark hallway.
He helped Janet sit on the bed before turning toward the equipment bags arranged across the floor. One backpack contained the consecrated C-4 device. The others held his custom .500 Linebaugh revolver and the ShAK-12 rifle.
The Russian bullpup fired heavy 12.7×55 mm ammunition. Anderson had already witnessed its destructive power during the attack on St. Michael's. Now every cartridge carried sacred energy.
Its twenty-round magazines offered greater sustained fire than a shotgun. Anderson could continue shooting without pausing to reload after every few rounds.
He removed his outer clerical coat and began equipping himself.
A heavy tactical belt went around his waist. It carried twenty-five consecrated revolver cartridges and his holstered custom .500 Linebaugh. Six holy grenades were secured beside it.
Anderson added eight magazines filled with consecrated 12.7×55 mm rounds. He checked every pouch and strap before lifting the ShAK-12 from its case.
Janet watched from the bed with widening eyes.
She was young but had grown up in America. She recognized enough of the equipment to understand that the priest was carrying far more than a cross and a Bible.
"A rifle?"
Her gaze dropped toward the objects on his belt.
"And grenades?"
The sight completely changed Janet's understanding of what a priest could be.
Anderson did not notice her stunned expression. He inspected the ShAK-12 and tested its movement against his equipment. Nothing blocked his arms or interfered with the weapon.
Excited anticipation entered his eyes.
"That should be enough."
He reached for his phone and prepared to activate the thirteen Bluetooth speakers.
"Now it's time for music."