Chapter 176: Something Wicked

Marita frowned, her eyes narrowing as she stared at the spot where Leitana had been thrown back. It was only a few feet, but the way it happened was wrong. Nobody just flew backward like that without something hitting them. No hand or push. Nothing visible. It looked… unnatural.

Leitana’s eyes were wide, chest rising and falling fast as she stared at the doorway. For one terrifying millisecond she saw the dark figure again, tall, still, something wrong about its shape. Then she blinked, and it was gone. The hallway was empty. Just soft light and silence.

But she knew what she felt. The blow to her chest still burned. Her back ached where it had slammed against the floor.

“Something… something is there,” she whispered, voice shaking. “It push mi.”

Marita rushed forward and helped Leitana to her feet, then guided her gently to the nearest chair. “Sit down, Lei. Easy now.”

Leitana lowered herself slowly, one hand automatically moving to her stomach. She closed her eyes and breathed deep, focusing inward. There it was, the small, steady spark of life. Her baby was safe. The force had hit her chest and back, but not her belly. Relief washed over her like cool water.

She opened her eyes and looked at Marita. “Yu feel that, right? But yu no see am?”

Marita nodded, her face serious. She was not smiling anymore. Her usual playful energy had turned sharp and fierce. “Yes. Mi feel am. Like a cold wind with teeth. Something dey here, Lei. Something wicked. Mi no like this at all.”

Marita stood straighter, fists clenched at her sides. “We need to find what that thing is. No time for fear. If something wicked dey inside this big house, we must chase am out. Yu still get your spiritual eye. That mean we no blind. We go fight am together.”

Leitana rubbed her stomach again, feeling the baby move just a little, like a quiet hello. It gave her strength.

“Mi no understand,” she said softly. “This house… it big and beautiful, but something no right. Mi feel am since I came. Now this thing attack me. Marita, we must tell Ravial. He would know what to do.”

Marita’s eyes flashed with that familiar protective fire. “Then make we go find am now. No waiting. If evil dey here, we no go let am touch you or your baby. Yu hear me? We strong. We from the orphanage. We survive hunger, rain, and hard days. This one no different.”

Leitana nodded, standing up with Marita’s help. Her back still hurt, but the fear was turning into something else, determination. Papa God had brought her here for a reason.

As they moved toward the door together, Leitana whispered a quick prayer under her breath.

“Papa God, cover us. Show us what is hiding in this house.”

Marita squeezed her hand.

They stepped into the hallway, hearts beating fast, ready for whatever was waiting.

But the house felt heavier now.

And somewhere in the shadows, something watched them go.

Leitana’s brow arched, her lips lifting in a little smile as she watched Marita digging through her bag and pulling out all sorts of things onto the bed. “Woah, what’s all this?”

Marita grinned, but her eyes stayed sharp and serious. “This is my survival bag, Lei. Mi no come empty-handed. Look.” She held up a small clear bottle filled with water. “Blessed water from Father Thomas back home. He prayed over it for three whole days. Then this one, holy oil mixed with salt and some special leaves that Mother Superior blessed. And this small cross, real silver, not fake o. I brought them just in case”

Leitana nodded slowly.

Marita added, “I think it might be some evil spirit, maybe a demon that tried to enter you but your spirit repelled it. Yu have that strong light inside you, Leitana. Dat kind of light is not easy for darkness to touch.

My plan is simple. We bless every corner of this room first. Then we walk through the house with the water and oil, singing Psalm 91 loud. If it’s a demon, it will show its face. And when it does, we drive it out.”

Leitana smiled softly, touched by her friend’s fierce protection. “Okay. Let’s do it.”

They left Marita’s room together and headed down the wide staircase. Leitana’s steps were careful, one hand on the railing, the other still protecting her belly.

Halfway down, the front door opened.

Ravial stepped inside, tall and composed in his dark suit.

The moment his gaze found her, his voice came low and warm. “Little lamb… what’s wrong?”

But then he paused.

His head tilted slightly, blindfolded eyes fixed not on her face, but somewhere just behind her.

The air in the hallway grew colder.

Ravial’s voice dropped, flat and dangerous.

“Leitana. Come here.”

Leitana frowned, confused, but she moved toward him anyway. The moment she reached him, Ravial pulled her close, one strong arm wrapping around her waist and tucking her against his side. His covered gaze stayed fixed behind her, locked on the staircase like he could see something the rest of them could not.

“What’s wrong, mi Ravial?” she asked softly, her hand resting on his chest. She could feel how tense his body was.

He did not answer right away. His head turned slowly, blindfolded eyes shifting from the stairs to Marita, who was still standing a few steps behind Leitana.

His voice came out icy.

“What is that you’re holding?”

Marita froze. She looked down at the small bottle of blessed water and the silver cross still clutched in her hands. For the first time since she arrived, she looked unsure.

Leitana glanced between them, her heart beating faster. “Ravial… Marita bring some things from home. Blessed water and….”

Ravial’s arm tightened around her, cutting her off gently but firmly. His attention never left Marita.

“Show me,” he said, voice low and commanding.

Marita lifted the items slowly, her usual bright energy dimmed under his stare.