Randal glanced across the table at Julian. Cups of coffee were placed on the table between them. The cafe was buzzing with activities that early morning as people entered and exited in a rush, trying to start the day as quick as possible. Randal spent the past ten minutes trying to decipher if it was his best friend that was sitting right in front of him.
Julian's hair was in a mess. It was scattered in different directions. His normal bright green eyes were dull and there were bags around them. His normally fair skin was pale. Randal watched as he reached to his cup, with shaky hands, and took a small sip.
"Julian. What's happening? " Randal's eyes reflected worry. "Why did you call me here? Come on, talk to me."
Julian didn't answer immediately. He looked around to see if anyone was eavesdropping. No one was. He then sighed and stared at his coffee, remembering all that had happened within the past twelve hours.
After getting mugged, he had called a taxi to take him straight home. He was too mentally shattered to even think about calling the police. His shock was further compounded when he woke up the next day to see his car in the news the next morning. His car was shown rammed into a tree and burnt. Julian could recognize it as the camera zoomed to reveal his plate number. However, what rattled him was the burnt corpse that was removed from within the car by paramedics while the newscaster stood by to relay the news. Julian recognized the tattered remains of the jeans on the corpse. No soothsayer needed to tell him who that was. He tried calling Loretta on the phone, but it kept redirecting him to voicemail. He was torn between anger and confusion at that point. Was it all a deception? The dinner date? The advice? Julian could not understand anything at that moment. He called in sick at the office that morning and invited Randal to the café.
"You saw the news this morning, right?" Julian said. "The one about the accident."
"Yes," Randal nodded, raising the cup of coffee to his lips. "You know I don't miss the early morning news."
"True," Julian said. "I almost forgot about that. The car involved in the accident. That car was mine."
Randal nearly spit out his coffee. His eyes widened at that revelation.
"What?" He lowered his voice to a whisper. "How?"
"I was robbed at gunpoint yesterday," Julian replied. "The person who stole my car was the same person removed from it this morning."
"This is unbelievable." Randal shook his head, his demeanor returning to normal. "I guess fate intervened on your side or something."
"There's more to that." Julian said.
"More?" Randal tilted his head sideways.
Letting out a huge sigh, Julian ran his hand through his hair.
"I saw the tattoo again," He said. "The same one I saw on Sam that very night. The one nobody else could see. I also saw it on my neighbor the previous day before he died. I saw it again on the guy who robbed me last night. And now—"
"He's dead." Randal finished. His eyes narrowed as he stared intently at the table.
"I thought you found a solution to that." Randal faced his friend.
Julian frowned as his mind drifted to the parapsychologist.
"I did," He said. "At least I thought I did. It wasn't what it seemed apparently."
Randal rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his gaze shifted upwards as he tried to process everything. He knew there was more to the whole matter than met the eye. It seemed his best friend was in imminent danger. There was only one thing he had in mind.
"I have a solution to all these voodoo stuff, " Randal said. "Something I know that will put all these to bed once and for all. But you'll have to wait till evening when I get back from work."
"Are you sure?" Julian asked. He didn't know what to expect anymore.
"Yes," Randal nodded his head. "Trust me."
--------------------------------
The doorbell rang that evening. Julian opened the door and Randal stepped in, accompanied by a priest. The priest carried a bottle of water and incense.
"May the peace of the Lord be unto this house." The priest said, swinging the incense as he strode around the living room.
Julian coughed a bit as the strange scent invaded his nostrils. Waving the smoke away, he observed the priest. The priest was a bit shorter than him. His hair was shaved, and he had brown eyes. Julian guessed he was probably in his late thirties. As the priest passed him by with the offending scent penetrating his nostrils again, Julian gave Randal a questioning look.
"Trust me, " Randal said in a whisper. "He knows what he's doing."
The priest stopped suddenly and shut his eyes. His mouth trembled as he began to hum a tone. Then he mumbled some words that Julian guessed were in Italian or Latin. After a while, the priest paused and turned to him.
"Young man, " He spoke. "There is a dark cloud that looms over you. An evil force abides in this house. You must put your faith in the Lord, and I will begin the cleansing."
Julian narrowed his eyes as he scrutinized the priest. There was something strange about him. Whether it was the way the priest avoided eye contact or his body language, Julian could not put his finger to it. But he might as well go along with it and see the end product. He nodded his head.
"Bless you, young man," The priest nodded. "Your faith will soon be rewarded and the evil that follows you, you shall see no more."
The priest began to chant again, louder this time, as he walked in quick strides to and from the living room. Julian folded his arms and waited patiently. His eyes would dart to Randal at intervals and the latter would give him a reassuring smile in return. After about twenty minutes of chanting and humming, the priest stopped and opened his eyes. He faced the two friends.
"It is done," He said. "The evil force has been dispelled from this house. The dark cloud is no more."
"You're sure about this?" Julian questioned skeptically.
"Yes," The priest nodded. "The power of the Lord is divine. It is supreme to even the most powerful of all evils."
"Thank you, Father." Randal smiled in gratitude.
"No, young man," The priest replied. "Thank the Lord."
He faced Julian.
"That would be $50." He said.
"I'm sorry, what?!" Julian's eyes went wide. He was very sure his ears were playing tricks on him. Randal was equally stunned.
"$50" The priest repeated. "Consider this an offering in thanks for the marvelous work of the Lord. This offering shall be donated to the church to help care for the needy."
Julian could not believe what he was hearing. $50 for an exorcism? His suspicion grew at that moment. Grumbling lowly, he left the living room and came back minutes later with his wallet. He took out a $50 note and handed it to the priest, glaring at Randal as he did so. Randal however still had the confused expression on his face. He knew he had questions to answer later.
"Thank you, young man," The priest smiled as he accepted the money. "The good Lord accepts your gracious offering and will reward you multiple-fold in heaven."
As the priest turned around to leave, Julian's eyes went wide as he saw it. On the back of the priest neck, in bold, was the evil tattoo he had come to forcefully recognize. In the middle of the bulb shaped symbol was the number 4.
Randal closed the door after the priest and turned around to see his friend petrified at the spot.
"Julian?" He swiftly rushed to him.
"Julian!" He waved his hands frantically in front of Julian's face.
"Randal," Julian whispered, blinking to reality. "That priest."
"Yes, the priest," Randal sighed. He knew this was coming. “Honestly, Julian, I had no idea he was going to charge you. He has never—"
"That's not it," Julian shook his head roughly. "That priest…"
He paused and stared at the door. His lips trembled as his fingers began to shake.
"Is going to die." He finished.