Brayden's POV

I was too shocked with what happened just now. Elif died infront of me but why? To save me? Why? "Why will you do something so reckless for me?" I said though gritted teeth. "You said you don't  love me. Then why would you get yourself killed for me?" I screamed. Did I ever hate her in the first place? Or was that something I made up just to make me feel better? But even if that's the case, it's hurting worse now. Whatever she said I could've just forgotten it, then I won't be feeling this guilt in my chest. She died because of me. I couldn't keep my promise I made to her. Even if she said she didn't love me, but she sacrificed her life for me. And me who kept on telling her how much I loved her, is just crying here like a loser, holding her body in my arms. Why? Why can't I keep the people I love with me? Why do they leave me alone every time? No, this is not over yet. If hatred gives rise to hatred, then I hate this hatred, which had cost the life of my parents, grandpa and Elif. I will finish this hatred. I decided what I needed to do now and balled up my fist.

"I... I will finish the evil inside of you." I yelled at the non- human creature standing above the stairs. My tears were still rolling down my cheeks. I stood up, carrying Elif in my arms. I was the one meant to finish this evil spirit not her. I carried her to one corner of the hall and lied her down. I took my jacket and covered her with it. She used to catch a cold every now and then, so this would keep her a little warm. I kissed her on the forehead. I was breaking inside. I wanted to see her smile once more, wanted to feel her breath again, wanted to be with her a little longer... I felt vulnerable.

"Hushhhh..." I heard an eerie sound coming from by back. I got up and turned to face the evil who killed my heart. I saw the spirit creeping against the wall and making ominous sounds. Suddenly, he stopped and his face turned back completely. My breathe hitched. What is this thing? My body froze for a minute. Before I could move any forward, he came beside me and hit me to ground. I writhed in pain. So Elif was fighting with someone this much powerful and evil all this time. I shut my eyes and resisted the pain in my stomach. I tried to stand up again but he was faster. He came in a blink of an eye and kicked my right in my stomach. I rolled down to the wall on the other side. I placed my hand on my stomach and cried out. "I won't give up." I bit my lip and got up, pressing on my hands and knees.

He laughed and lifted the chair and threw it at my direction. I flinched to the other side and the chair clashed to the pillar and broke. "Is this all you got?" I challenged him. He ran up the stairs. I dragged myself up the stairs. My left leg was injured badly and the wound in my right arm was bleeding again.

I looked across the corridor but he was nowhere around. My eyes went to mom's room. The door was half opened. I limped. I peeked inside and saw a human figure standing near the window. "Bradie." My eyes widened on hearing that name. It was mom's voice. "Mom?" My chest tightened. "Bradie, goodbye." Goodbye? I saw her climbing on the window. I became aware. "Wait. Mom. No..." I shouted but she jumped from the window. "Mom..." I screamed. I ran to the window, pushing away all pain, and looked down the window. There was no one on the ground. I heard that ominous laughter again. I turned back  and saw the spirit run out of the room. So that was all his game, that was how Mom died?

I limped out of mom's room. He ran to grandpa's room. I followed him there. He was sitting on his armchair and moving back and forth. "This is over for you." I took grandpa's walking stick and before I could hit him, he turned his head to me and that face scared the hell out of me. I stumbled back. Those eyes and scars over his pale face was petrifying. The stick fell down from my hand and the door closed behind me. I pulled the door handle but it was locked. Suddenly, someone pushed me and my head hit the bedside table. Blood started coming out of head. I squirmed and gritted my teeth. I was losing. What should I do? I fainted.

I woke up after some time. I looked around me. "What happened?" My head was aching. I touched my forehead and saw the blood. Slowly, I remembered everything. I stretched my arms and stood up again, defeating the throbbing pain in my head. My vision was a little blurry too. I noticed him sitting on the armchair and swinging. He was biting into his own hand. Well, the body was Uncle's and the spirit was manipulating it. Blood was leaking from his mouth. The whole sight was gross. My stomach churned seeing it. I took a step back. It was impossible to figure out what he had up his sleeve.

He jumped up and sat upside down on the ceiling. All my reasonings were failing. I was unable to find a way to finish him or stop him atleast. He started giggling there. My hands wandered on the table but there was nothing to defend myself from his further attacks. I took out the plug from the socket and hold the table lamp infront of me. He looked at me in the eye and jumped at me. I pushed the lamp inside his chest. He was bleeding from his chest but there wasn't a tiny bit of pain or uncomfort on his face. He grabbed my throat and pressed it hard by his one hand. I let go the lamp and tried to free myself from his grasp. I was pushing him on his chest but he didn't even budge. His evil smirk was scaring the hell out of me. I got to do something or he will kill melike this. I searched inside my pocket. Before coming here Father told that it was time. "The evil had already invaded. He is running for his Vengeance. He can't be stopped without the help of God." That's what he said and gave me some things. I searched for the cross but it wasn't there in my pocket. Then I remembered leaving it in my jacket. Dammit. I was helpless there, with no other way to escape, grabbed his neck. He looked like he was getting suffocated. He was leeching off his body after all. And I had to take him out of this body in order to carry out my task. I btought my complete strength and pressed his throat hard. He had to die completely to make him leave this spare body. Eventually he left my throat and moved back. He started breathing hard. I took the chance and went for the door. The door was locked and won't open without a key. Till the time he was gathering his strength again, I took the nightstand and hit it on the lock. The lock broke and the door opened. I stepped out of the room and he rose again to come after me. I came out and closed the door from outside. Well all the doors and locks in this house has a two way lock system. I ran down the stairs. I coughed hoarsely and   my wound felt like it was pulling all the nerves inside my body. I was pushing myself.

I saw Elif, lying on the floor, covered with my jacket. I was limping. I fell down on my knees. I lifted the jacket and took the cross from the pocket. I placed the jacket over her again and heard him broke out of the room. I quickly went inside the kitchen and locked the door. I was short of breath so I hid inside the kitchen. I heard footsteps coming towards the kitchen. It was ominously silent for a while. My heart was pounding inside my chest. I gulped the tension rising inside me.

I heard his footsteps retreating and then. Suddenly the sound of glass breaking came from outside. I was about to get up but I saw him entering the kitchen. He broke the door. I had no chance of escaping now. The end was near. I let him find me. His footsteps became louder, nearer and then vanished. He took me by surprise and lifted me by my neck and threw me away. It was now becoming easier handling the pain. He walked to me and took the knife from the table. The knife was just an inch away from entering into my stomach but it didn't get any closer because I already pushed the cross against his chest. He flinched away and I saw the burnt part on his chest. He screamed and ran out. He ran and then stopped beside Elif's body. NO. I panicked.

I found a jar of kerosene under the shelf. I picked up the cross and walked towards him. There was something which was giving me this courage. He bent down to touch Elif. I ran and threw the cross on Elif and he left her at once. He roared with rage. I shivered but backing off wasn't an option. He rushed towards me at a blinding speed. I spilled the kerosene over him. He stopped in his tracks. I lighted the matchstick and threw it on the kerosene spilled all over the floor. The fire was burning fiercely. It spread all over the surface. He got scared and started looking for a way to escape. "Even if I die today, I'm taking you with me." I shouted. The fire was spreading rapidly. The main door was locked and looking for the keys will only get us killed. I carried Elif and ran upstairs. I looked for a way to escape. I went inside my room. If I jump from the window, at this height I will die. I thought.

I lied Elif on the bed and took out all the clothes from my wardrobe. I gathered all of them and started tying one cloth to another in a form of rope. I tied one end of the rope to one leg of the bed. I realized that it wasn't that long. I pulled out the bedsheet and tied that too to the other end. I threw the other end down the window. I came to lift Elif. "You will be fine." I said to her if only she could hear that. I was going to lift her but I felt something holding my legs. I tried to move but I couldn't. I looked down but there was nothing. Suddenly, something dragged me by my feet.

I was slammed against the door of that hidden room. I looked around but there was no one. "If you are a man, then stop hiding behind the curtains." I shouted. It was a deafening silence after that. I was palpitating. The fire should have burned him down. The silence was getting unnerving. I pressed my hands on the ground to stand up and suddenly something hit me in the face and I spat out a mouthful of blood. I screamed out of pain.

I sat there, unable to move my hands even. I was waiting for the pain to take over me. And then I saw Mom standing infront of me. "Bradie?" She called me out. I was completely busted, didn't have the strength to say a word. "Bradie... Look inside of you. Where is the faith that you had once? You don't have the hope in you. All you are looking at... is your Pain. You have to defeat this Pain. Weakness can't defeat Evil only Faith can. Revenge can't defeat Hatred, only Love can. Follow your heart. I believe in you." She said and then she vanished into thin air. I wanted to talk to her but I was too weak. I don't have a hope. Mom's words made me realise that. It reminded me what Father said to Elif, "Overcome evil with good." So it was me who had been running away from what I actually feel. Then I guess I had to turn down my pride and believe in the power of God. I closed my eyes.

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