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​It’s 3am and I can’t sleep. The sickness has gripped me, and the nightmares have plagued me. I should have known when my head hit the pillow last night that I wouldn’t sleep. Each time I close my eyes, desperate to snatch an ounce of shut-eye, I can see my past playing out like a vivid super 8, complete with scratches and distorted colours. It’s strange how the mind can warp what once was, twisting it into a garbled reality that suits circumstance. I have tried to bury these memories once, and don’t know if I am strong enough to do it again. I even lit a cigarette, resuming my narcotic affair with my only night-time companion. I wonder whether the orange glow of the tip will ward off the demons while it burns slowly. Presently there is clarity as I am aware of my decent into madness, this can’t be clearer.

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Damn you.

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What happened? What am I dealing with? How does it know so much about me? The same sets of questions swim around like a whirlpool, drowning me in sadness and guilt. I know this has nothing to do with my dream a few nights back; this goes way beyond my feelings for Maria. The demon is feeding of stuff that runs so much deeper within, experiences so personal I can’t help feeling that I have been hunted, and just sprung the trap.

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One fable keeps cropping up as I muse endlessly that may cast some light as to who I am dealing with. I refer to ‘The Book of Tobit’ and draw my own comparisons against Tobias’ exorcism of the demon Asmodeous, who preyed up the woman Sarah in Median, murdering all of her betrothed before they could consummate the marriage on their wedding night. The predatory nature of the beast is the one key line that remains constant between both our stories.



I have loved on a number of occasions throughout my life. Without relinquishing all the details, each time my heart has been ripped apart as those dearest to me have been taken in a set of very unfortunate events. Am I paranoid? I’m certainly close to the edge, teetering on the abyss of something. Could I have been (am still am by all accounts) the subject of some evil game that has been playing out since…whenever!

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My career choice has certainly placed me in some compromising situations and maybe I have been reaping the shit for pissing off the underworld since day dot. I have confronted countless demons, all of which have left their mark. Maybe I have dabbled a little too deeply into their affairs and had to face the consequences for such actions. Why me though? Why so personal? Why not I guess!

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I will just have to see what the day brings, and if Maria is still alive after the night has passed, maybe I I’ll take a shot and confront it. Follow my hunches. After all, I don’t think it can get any worse for either me or her at this juncture.

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I am resuming this journal at 7.45pm.

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There is nothing left. When I arrived at the house this morning, she was still hanging on. I have seen fresher corpses. We went through the usual gambit, back and forth. I can’t even be bothered to recount it all. I am tired.

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One thing though is that I was right! Asmodeous, the ninth Prince of Hell has taken her for his toy. I should have known when I read the case file. I thought we were dealing with an Incubus demon, but never once thought it would be the Elvis of sexual torment and suffering that was with her. I underestimated my opponent, which is a cardinal sin in itself, and now will have to pay the price for such tardiness and stupidity.

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As for Maria, the once beautiful girl who caught me a little off guard, I am convinced now that we will lose her. Her body cannot take another day of Father V’s relentless chastising, or Asmodeous’s physical abuse. Between them both they are the odd-couple, tag-teaming this innocent girl into the grave and condemning her to Hell.

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The Bishop is calling me tonight with an update. I know what this call means. Our time is up.

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It is now 9:35pm, and I just got off the phone. That’s twice in one day that I have been right!

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We have been ordered to pack-up and leave tomorrow, and they will send a cleaning team in after Maria has passed in a week or so, making sure Asmodeous is well and truly gone with her. I told the Bishop that this won’t do. They will leave her to rot.

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Maybe I was a little too vociferous with him? One thing I promised to Maria and to her family is that we wouldn’t lose her. Her body maybe beyond all hope, but I know how to save her soul. Extreme circumstances called for unorthodox measures. The Bishop did not want to listen, nor did he really care about the promises I had kept, hiding behind his contractual immunity, sitting in his grandiose money clad office. Maybe I wasn’t vociferous enough?

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I told the Bishop that this would be my last job, and that I would tender my resignation in the morning, after I had dealt with the problem at hand. He didn’t like that at all and told me that my resignation wouldn’t be needed unless I followed his direct orders.

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I am back, where I was sitting 18 hours ago, on the edge of my bed in this flea-pit motel and still have the same clarity shining, guiding me in this moment of madness. He won’t take her like he has done before with the others. This time I am ready for him.