Exorcist of the American Nightmares

Beneath a sky as dark as a curtain, a figure as tiny as an ant zipped across, accompanied by a whistling sound. Below him stretched the dark expanse of the city, lit up by neon lights. In front of him, his phone, wrapped in telekinetic energy, continued to display the live broadcast. However, it was Bishop Randall's voice that echoed from the device.

"York, can you make it in time?"

At that moment, Bishop Randall was leading a group of clergy towards a helicopter, awaiting immediate departure. His expression was a mix of gravity and relief. The gravity stemmed from the suspicion that a legion from hell had been summoned, causing havoc everywhere. The relief came from knowing that York was en route to Los Angeles, and fast, although the method of his travel was unknown to Randall. York had assured him, "I'm almost there."

"I'll make it," York responded calmly while watching the live broadcast.

"Bishop Randall, leave the demon to me. You focus on managing the situation at hand."

With York's reassurance, Bishop Randall, relatively young among his peers at just over forty, exhaled and settled back into his seat with the help of the clergy nearby, saying softly, "Alright, I'll start by clearing out these lesser demons and then come to assist you."

"Mhm," York responded, then hung up as the ringtone of his phone chimed. Simultaneously, the voice from the live broadcast could be heard.

"Come on, start your impromptu performance! Tonight, dear Mr. Drew, you might try to save your own soul," Lainey said in a wicked tone from her chair. "Oh, and your darling's soul, Lainey. It's a buy one, get one free deal. Isn't that economical, dear?"

She tilted her head towards Drew, who was visibly distraught, and said casually, "If you don't act, I'll kill dear Lainey, and then you, just like I did with Luciano."

Drew felt parched as he glanced at the charred remains on the ground. The sight of Luciano being burned alive haunted his mind, helping him cling to a semblance of clarity. He swallowed dryly and managed to ask, "If I take over Max's role, will you let me and Lainey go?"

His voice trembled, but he felt slightly less fearful after speaking. He mentioned only himself and Lainey, intentionally ignoring Max, who still knelt as if a mere puppet behind the scenes.

The demon possessing Lainey chuckled. "Of course, that's our deal, dear. As long as you keep the live broadcast running, just like the shows you used to direct. You're in charge of everything! Come on, exorcise me in your own way!"

Hearing this, Drew stared at the demon, took a deep breath, and agreed, "Alright!"

Suddenly, Lainey seemed to regain her senses for a moment, struggling and pleading, "Drew! Dear, let me go! Quick!"

This seemed as if Lainey's true consciousness was temporarily expelling the demon. However, Drew knew better. Once possessed, the host couldn't simply will the demon away without external help. The true nature of a demon was beyond human comprehension.

Drew looked at the pleading Lainey, his expression pained, but he shook his head firmly. Perhaps due to overcoming his fear and spurred by the demon's demands, he began to perceive his surroundings more clearly.

He turned to the equipment area, where several monitors displayed different types of information, including one that allowed Max to read scripts, another showing the number of live viewers, and one displaying audience comments to enhance interaction.

At that moment, the viewer count was soaring, and the comments flew by rapidly. Then, Drew noticed a repeating comment under the name York.

"The demon needs the broadcast to continue; it won't kill you. Follow your instincts, don't be led by the demon, don't be afraid, or it will consume you."

Stunned by this message, Drew connected the dots about taking over Max's role, including the signal jamming, and had a delayed realization.

Biting his lip, Drew turned to face Lainey, placed his hands on the lever, and looked down at her as if she were lucid for the first time, summoning his courage.

"Let her go, demon from hell! She doesn't deserve this, let me take her place."

However, the seemingly lucid Lainey instantly reverted to her demonic persona, her bloodied hands grabbing Drew's arms from the lever.

"Are you sincere? My dear."

Her expression twisted grotesquely as she scoffed at his altruism.

"Do you really want to see what she sees? Feel what she feels now?"

Drew felt as if Lainey was about to break his arms, the pain searing through his consciousness, yet he nodded firmly despite the agony. He had instigated this ordeal; he couldn't let his innocent girlfriend suffer for his actions.

Lainey laughed scornfully, her gaze piercing Drew like a predator eyeing its prey. "This is a turning point in your life, repent for your actions," she mocked.

Suddenly releasing Drew's arms, Lainey allowed him a moment of respite. Drew staggered back from the pain, gasping for air.

"My actions?" Drew's breath was heavy, finally understanding the demon's intent.

"Why did you choose this place?"

"Choice?" Lainey smirked at him. "Isn't this the outcome you wanted? You wanted an exorcism, so here I am."

As she spoke earnestly, Drew, regret flashing in his eyes, tried to process her words. "Always playing with fire will indeed get you burned," he murmured to himself, his resolve beginning to falter even though he knew that the demon, because of the broadcast, was unlikely to kill him. But seeing his girlfriend speaking in her former tone, complaining, was already too much for him to bear.

This wasn't just about fear or any other emotion; it was about the inexplicable turmoil, including the psychological impact.

"Haven't I warned you to back out? Playing with these things too long turns them real. Now, look, the demon has come, and it's affecting me too. How do you plan to solve this?"

"I—" Drew began to look desperately for a solution. Spotting a Bible on the ground, he rushed over and picked it up.

"Surrender, demon!"

Drew inadvertently assumed Max's role.

"In the name of the Lord!!!"

Holding the Bible, he approached Lainey, flipping through the pages frantically, searching for words of power.

"The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake."

However, Lainey merely looked at him with derision, taunting him. "You've studied this, dear. You should know that mere scripture is ineffective against demons. If it were that simple, the Church would have no purpose."

Realizing the truth in her mockery, Drew remembered the knowledge he had noted in various libraries and from visits to paranormal experts. Each demon has a specific ritual, and the true name of the demon is crucial to conducting an effective exorcism.

"In the name of Jesus Christ!"

Placing the Bible on Lainey's forehead, Drew bellowed, "I command you to speak your name!"

He knew this act was futile, but he needed to try everything to coax the demon's true name from any slip of its tongue.

As Lainey looked on, unbothered and mocking, Drew gritted his teeth.

"You truly are a demon from hell, scum, choosing someone like a visiting girl instead of anyone else."

Lainey chuckled darkly, "My dear, no one is innocent, including me."

"No!" Drew protested. "You're just a bully who preys on the weak, a coward who picks on the vulnerable. I know what you want, but my viewers didn't subscribe to see this. They want to see good triumph over evil."

Lainey stared intensely at the impassioned Drew. "Then defeat me, why don't you?"

"Lord, please forgive my sins. I know I have erred. God, the demon before me doesn't know what it's doing, it's just—"

Lainey cut him off, "Everything is God's plan, and all that I do is also what He wishes to see."

Drew exclaimed, "What do you know of God's plans, or what He wants to see? You only choose the weak."

Lainey leaned forward, "I was there when He wrote the plan."

This statement, hinting at her true identity and origins, made Drew pause and simultaneously caused York, still watching the broadcast high above, to squint his eyes. Combining her disdain for lies, her words revealed much.

Once an angel, she was among the first created by God.

Under Lainey's gaze, Drew stepped out of the camera's view to the equipment area and began furiously typing, searching for any clue related to her statement.

"Unfortunately, many demons fit this description," York observed, watching Lainey sit nonchalantly in her chair, unconcerned with revealing critical information.

Though insightful, York surmised the nature and plans of this demon. Drew, despite his slight cleverness and familiarity with Church-released knowledge, was still too naïve for dealing with a demon capable of commanding legions of hell. Such demons were not simple or foolish; longevity was a symbol of growing wisdom.

In the broadcast, it seemed Drew was clever, using his knowledge to try and

 extract the demon's true name. However, he was merely being led by the nose.

Ultimately, identifying the demon from a single statement was challenging.

As Drew stared at the screen filled with possible demon names, he felt increasingly hopeless. Lainey, sensing his despair, laughed and spat out a glob of repulsive slime.

"How about another deal?" she suggested, indicating the slime-covered fake relics he had sold.

Seeing the item, Drew understood the meaning behind her action. He ran his hands through his hair, his already fragile will crumbling further as he realized the demon was exposing his deceit.

"Dear? Why don't you come out and explain to your beloved fans what this is? Come on, or you'll never know my name. Come out! Or I'll kill Lainey—and you!"

Hearing this, Drew, pained, stepped back into view of the camera, preparing to destroy his own creation, his live streaming venture, which was also his pride and joy. Now, facing extreme embarrassment and shame from having his lies exposed, he confessed.

"I have something to tell everyone about the prayer cloths." Drew appeared tormented, the broadcast being his passion and child, which he was about to demolish. "These prayer cloths actually have no healing effects. They're not even from the Vatican, just cheap goods from the streets. The holy water sold is just tap water from a bathroom faucet, to which I've added a tranquilizer."

Such candid disclosure indeed caused the audience, who had been worried about Drew, to feel deceived. Those who had purchased these items began to furiously denounce him in the comments, while others just shook their heads, no longer concerned about Drew, feeling he got what he deserved.

The demon was, in essence, punishing a sinner.

This idea suddenly appeared in the minds of the deceived viewers. Even some newcomers to the broadcast threw stones down the well.

The screen filled with comments like "Sinner, got what he deserved," plunging Drew into an even deeper pit of despair.

York, who had been watching the entire time, sighed deeply and accelerated his speed.

He was driven by one thought: he could not allow the demon to continue, lest it change many people's perceptions. For example, that demonic possession is actually a form of punishment for sinners, or that not all demons are evil—some are good.

"Who stands behind this demon?" York wondered as he saw the viewer count in the livestream reach into the millions, pondering this thought as if struck by a sudden inspiration.

He felt that Drew's broadcast, and everything about it, was definitely part of a long-planned scheme by one of the big bosses in hell.

___________________

(Support with power stones, comments or reviews)

If you guys enjoy this story, In support me on Patreon and get access to +200 advance Chapters

Read Ahead

Patreon.com/INNIT