I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

Toni and Connor. Toni and Connor. Together. I guess to you, the reader, it seems okay. I mean you could see it coming. Us, on the other hand, didn't.

You must understand that Connor is an amazing guy. He's tall, handsome, sweet, funny. He overlooks the drama and is always just cheerful. I've never seen him once angry or moody which for a teenage guy is very rare.

And besides that, him and Toni were never close enough to be a thing. They never hung out, never had a class together, nada. Yet here they were getting out of a car together.

I mean think of it like this: they only had the time at the meetings and that one videocall to my knowledge.

Maybe it was what Shay's mother had said...

"Well I didn't see this coming." Caleb muttered next to me.

"Yeah," I immediately agreed. ", me neither."

The two of them made their way to us. Toni looked okay for someone who had a rougher night than even us. She even seemed to be smiling behind her mask. When she came closer and removed her mask, I could see she indeed was.

Snap!

My head snapped to the stick Connor had stepped on, the sound it made seemingly louder than it was supposed to be. The change was immediate. The atmosphere changed, becoming heavy, the temperature dropping.

I jumped, startling Caleb. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

I shook my head, trying to rid myself of my goosebumps. "I could swear someone was breathing against my ear..."

"Hey guys." Connor interrupted, also smiling. He turned towards the church. "So this is the church? Kind of looks normal."

"We've already been through this!" Unathi rubbed her shoulders. "Let's just get in already before anything happens."

Our group finally moved inside the property, the path stones cracking and shifting under our feet as we neared the church. Even that seemed impossibly loud but it occurred to me that the world had also gone completely silent. No birds chirping, dogs barking, wind nor traffic.

It felt oppressive, forceful. It was as if any moment something was gonna happen... Someone was gonna get hurt or jumped or-

"Hello there!" I screamed and whipped around, shocking Revd Siphiwo and startling everyone else.

I grabbed onto Caleb to steady myself, my heart pounding its way out of my chest.

"Sorry about that, Revd." Unathi shot me a look. "As you can see we're a bit on edge."

"Ah yes," Revd took a step back, composing himself. He seemed to be navigating the situation.

Now that the Revd had arrived I, for some reason, couldn't focus on anything else. Not that he was absolutely drop dead gorgeous or anything but I seemed incapable of turning my head.
Maybe I was afraid I might see something I didn't want to if I did.

"Kete told me the minimum, I suppose." He continued, interrupting my thoughts. He then pointedly looked at us. "So I'm afraid you'll have to tell me the exact reason we're here at such an hour."

The group turned to each other, wordlessly telling the other one to answer the Revd. I guess it was weird saying it aloud to a person who had no experiences like we had nor who had known Zake. Like we had, at least.

But, and I can only put this down to whatever was happening between Toni and him, Connor was the one who decided to tell him. He started with the things that happened to the others after the trip to his house and then to him during the day, then continued with the trip to Zoe's house and what had happened to Toni.

"We didn't know what else to do. I think the next step would've been a exorcist but," Connor took a quick skeptical look at Kete. ", but Kete for some reason got a message about this place. So we're hoping you could... I don't know, do something to make this end."

The revd was quiet for a long time, processing I assume. His hand continuously adjusted his glasses and black robes as he thought.

"Well, I must say this isn't exactly my ball park but, if you're desperate enough," He took a minute to inspect each of us. ", which it seems you are, then I will do anything and everything in my power to, at least, better your situation."