Chapter 58: Hunted And Haunted

“Kate, let’s get out of here… I’m really not feeling comfortable,” Ophelia said, her voice trembling.

Kate glanced at her, her expression softening with understanding. “I know,” she said gently. “I know what’s causing your distress.”

“But we can’t leave just yet,” Kate added, rising from the sofa. “I just came to grab a few things and change before heading out. Then Jason showed up, and now…”

“Now this house feels like a damn trap,” Ophelia interrupted, standing up as well. Her anxiety was written all over her face, and her words were edged with frustration.

Kate gave her a small nod, slinging her shoulder bag over her arm and tucking her phone inside.

“Have you met the priest of the Yarrabura tribe yet?” Ophelia asked abruptly, her tone laced with urgency.

Kate shook her head. “No, I haven’t had the chance. There’s been too much going on.”

“You need to make time for this, Kate. How long do you think you can stay here, acting like everything is normal? Samuel and the others are going to notice something’s up. What are you going to tell them then?” Ophelia pressed, her voice rising slightly.

Kate sighed heavily, starting for the door. “I know. I’ll figure it out.”

“Figure it out? Kate!” Ophelia followed her into the hallway, her voice rising in frustration. “Without meeting the priest, how do you expect to deal with that thing? It’s threatened to kill us both! You’re not taking this seriously enough!”

Kate stopped mid-step, turning to face her. “I am taking this seriously, Ophelia. But I also have a job to do. Jason and I are meeting the Yarrabura leader about the murder case we’re working on. That’s it.”

“Your job won’t matter if you’re dead!” Ophelia exclaimed, her voice breaking. “That thing, that monster—it’s real, and it’s coming for us. Today, we’re seeing the priest. No more delays.”

On one hand, Kate was worried about Ophelia’s safety, but on the other, she couldn’t shake the fear for her own life. The longer she stayed in Kate's house, the heavier the air seemed to get, as though some invisible force was closing in, making her limbs feel numb, her mind clouded.

Kate didn’t say anything in response to Ophelia’s words. Instead, she kept moving toward the door, eager to leave the strange, oppressive atmosphere behind. But then she heard it—a blood-curdling scream that made her freeze mid-step.

She spun around, panic gripping her chest, searching the room. Ophelia was gone.

Her eyes darted to the source of the scream, and her stomach dropped. Ophelia was suspended in midair, her body rigid and lifeless. Behind her, looming in the shadows, was a grotesque creature with a twisted, goat-like head, its eyes gleaming with malice. It leered at Ophelia, its grin wide and predatory.

Kate's breath caught in her throat as her worst nightmare came to life.

Ophelia's feet dangled nearly three feet above the floor, her neck gripped tightly by the wounded hand of the goat-headed beast.

For a few moments, Kate stood frozen, unable to react as fear gripped her body, rendering her numb. The horrifying scene before her left her paralyzed with terror. She had hoped to escape the house before encountering the monster again, but once more, she found herself facing it.

"Leave her!" Kate finally snapped out of her initial shock, her voice ringing out loud and clear as she sprinted towards Ophelia, her heart pounding with adrenaline.

Despite the chance to flee, with the main door just a few feet away, Kate couldn't bring herself to abandon Ophelia in the clutches of the dreadful creature.

"I said, leave her!" Kate repeated, her voice trembling with determination as she reached out to grab Ophelia's neck. Ophelia continued to scream, her face turning blue from the blocked windpipe.

As Kate leaped forward, attempting to grasp Ophelia's leg, the goat-headed monster suddenly flung Ophelia back into the lounge. The action was so swift and unexpected that Kate stood frozen, stunned by what she had just witnessed.

As Kate sprinted towards Ophelia, who lay on the floor, she was mere inches away when the goat-headed monster lunged at her from behind. Its vice-like grip seized her neck, while its long, pointy nails pierced her arm with a searing pain.

The monstrous grip of its nails was agonizing, eliciting a piercing scream from her lips. Desperately, she struggled to pry herself free, her hand now oozing blood from the relentless pressure. The monster threw her toward the wall and her head badly collided with the wall and then she fell on the ground lifelessly.

“You can never go away from me.” Kate saw the monster was circling round and round and was laughing and repeating this line again and again.

The heavy and creepy voice of the monster was banging on the head of Kate like a hammer.

She dragged her near Ophelia and said, “Ophelia, are you ok?” 

“No, I am not,” Ophelia said in a crying tone and then continued as,

"Kate, we have to leave now," Ophelia urged urgently. 

The monster, which had been swirling around like a deranged dancer, abruptly halted, fixing its menacing gaze upon Kate and Ophelia with bloodshot eyes. 

"You're not going anywhere," it growled, its ghastly visage morphing into an even more terrifying expression.

“You are bound to me and now you could never go away from me.” The ghost grunted again.

I will banish you, reduce you to ashes in the flames,” Kate declared, her voice trembling with determination. 

Recognizing that her fear and vulnerability were empowering the looming monster, she summoned her courage to confront it. Yet, beneath her brave facade, her heart quivered with apprehension.

"How can you rid yourself of me?" The ghost taunted Kate, drawing near and delivering a swift kick to her belly. Seated beside her, it seized her hair tightly, pulling her face close. 

"My seeds are within you and your home... you can never escape me now," it declared menacingly.

“You are mine to feast upon…. And I will feast over your soul and body.”

The ghost grunted once more, emitting a foul stench from its mouth that became unbearable for Kate. She attempted to push it backward, but her efforts were futile. In response, the offended ghost seized Kate by her leg, hoisted her into the air, and flung her over the wall.

As Kate collided with the wall, her back absorbed the impact before she tumbled onto the sofa, her body wracked with pain as if her backbone had been shattered.