desk was abandoned. One of the computers flew off the desk and toward my head. I ducked as it exploded against the wall.
I took a deep breath and stepped out from behind the desk, and noticed a nurse standing about ten feet away in the hall. I was afraid to try and engage her. So I ignored her and went the other direction. From the other end of the hall, I heard a scream. It was a shrill, blood curdling scream. I couldn’t determine if it was a man or a woman. Amanda could be anywhere in this hospital, and I didn’t know if the rest of these people were dead, but it was getting too creepy. I just wanted to find her and get out of here.
Chapter 17
Father Pierce, 3:00 a.m.
After Dr. Karras explained Amanda’s condition and test results, I went back to my office. From there, I called Bishop Laurel back and explained what I’d learned.
“What about psychiatric options?” he asked.
“The doctors are discussing it, but I’m telling you, your Excellency, this girl has done some insane things. I’ve never seen a mental patient move like her, or be as strong as her. Plus she was talking in Greek earlier.”
After a long silence, I heard the Bishop sigh.
“Okay,” he said. “I’ll send someone over there tonight. Do you know Father Harlan?”
“His name sounds familiar, but we’ve never met.”
“He spent many years in overseas missions, plus, he was trained in exorcism at the Vatican. You will assist, but follow his lead. He will know for sure what we’re dealing with and what to do.”
“All right, sounds good. Will it take him long to get here?”
“Maybe an hour or so. I’ll call him now. You just stay with the girl. Pray with her, whatever she needs. Don’t try to do perform the exorcism yourself.”
“Yes, your Excellency. I will do that and wait for Father Harlan. Thank you,” I said as I hung up.
I went to the Med-Surg floor where Amanda had been taken. When I stepped into her room, she was still sleeping. I walked over and sat in the chair by her bed. I decided to pray silently this time, since she punched me last time I spoke a prayer over her. She looked so peaceful and calm lying there. It was hard to believe the chaos and suffering that was going on inside her. I just hoped and prayed we could do something to help her. I wasn’t sure if the hospital would even allow us to do an exorcism. Perhaps if nothing else worked, hopefully Father Harlan would know what to do.
“Father?” she whispered after several minutes.
“Yes my dear, I’m here.”
“What’s happening to me?” She sounded like a little girl. I could tell she was afraid. I would be too, if I’d been through her nightmare of a night.
“I don’t know for sure. We’re going to help you. There’s a friend on the way who can help.”
“Why can’t I move?”
“I think it’s the medication. You were injured. Do you remember that?” I didn’t want to tell her too much and send her into shock.
“No, I don’t. What happened?”
I placed my hand on her forehead and brushed her hair out of her face.
“Get some rest. We’ll talk about it later,” I said. She nodded and closed her eyes again. I stepped into the hallway, as my cell phone started to buzz.
“Father Pierce.”
“Yes, this is Father Dietrich Harlan. Bishop Laurel gave me your number.”
“Oh yes! Where are you?”
“I’m in the lobby. I was staying at a hotel in town when the bishop called. I’m supposed to officiate at a wedding for a high school friend. Bishop Laurel told me what’s going on. Where is she?”
“I’m here with her on the fourth floor.”
“Great, I’ll be right up.”
I sat in the hall, waiting for him to arrive. I knew the Vatican
I took a deep breath and stepped out from behind the desk, and noticed a nurse standing about ten feet away in the hall. I was afraid to try and engage her. So I ignored her and went the other direction. From the other end of the hall, I heard a scream. It was a shrill, blood curdling scream. I couldn’t determine if it was a man or a woman. Amanda could be anywhere in this hospital, and I didn’t know if the rest of these people were dead, but it was getting too creepy. I just wanted to find her and get out of here.
Chapter 17
Father Pierce, 3:00 a.m.
After Dr. Karras explained Amanda’s condition and test results, I went back to my office. From there, I called Bishop Laurel back and explained what I’d learned.
“What about psychiatric options?” he asked.
“The doctors are discussing it, but I’m telling you, your Excellency, this girl has done some insane things. I’ve never seen a mental patient move like her, or be as strong as her. Plus she was talking in Greek earlier.”
After a long silence, I heard the Bishop sigh.
“Okay,” he said. “I’ll send someone over there tonight. Do you know Father Harlan?”
“His name sounds familiar, but we’ve never met.”
“He spent many years in overseas missions, plus, he was trained in exorcism at the Vatican. You will assist, but follow his lead. He will know for sure what we’re dealing with and what to do.”
“All right, sounds good. Will it take him long to get here?”
“Maybe an hour or so. I’ll call him now. You just stay with the girl. Pray with her, whatever she needs. Don’t try to do perform the exorcism yourself.”
“Yes, your Excellency. I will do that and wait for Father Harlan. Thank you,” I said as I hung up.
I went to the Med-Surg floor where Amanda had been taken. When I stepped into her room, she was still sleeping. I walked over and sat in the chair by her bed. I decided to pray silently this time, since she punched me last time I spoke a prayer over her. She looked so peaceful and calm lying there. It was hard to believe the chaos and suffering that was going on inside her. I just hoped and prayed we could do something to help her. I wasn’t sure if the hospital would even allow us to do an exorcism. Perhaps if nothing else worked, hopefully Father Harlan would know what to do.
“Father?” she whispered after several minutes.
“Yes my dear, I’m here.”
“What’s happening to me?” She sounded like a little girl. I could tell she was afraid. I would be too, if I’d been through her nightmare of a night.
“I don’t know for sure. We’re going to help you. There’s a friend on the way who can help.”
“Why can’t I move?”
“I think it’s the medication. You were injured. Do you remember that?” I didn’t want to tell her too much and send her into shock.
“No, I don’t. What happened?”
I placed my hand on her forehead and brushed her hair out of her face.
“Get some rest. We’ll talk about it later,” I said. She nodded and closed her eyes again. I stepped into the hallway, as my cell phone started to buzz.
“Father Pierce.”
“Yes, this is Father Dietrich Harlan. Bishop Laurel gave me your number.”
“Oh yes! Where are you?”
“I’m in the lobby. I was staying at a hotel in town when the bishop called. I’m supposed to officiate at a wedding for a high school friend. Bishop Laurel told me what’s going on. Where is she?”
“I’m here with her on the fourth floor.”
“Great, I’ll be right up.”
I sat in the hall, waiting for him to arrive. I knew the Vatican
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