Author Note: And thus the more dramatic part starts. Please review!
~CWA

Chapter 24- Astral Projection:

Third Person:

Not even ten minutes into the investigation, and they knew that she had to do it. She had to astral project. While Armin and Alexy weren't sure about it, Kim was all for it since she was convinced that Olivia could take care of herself. There was no way around doing it, however, since the next option would be to do an exorcism- which Armin insisted to just use as a last resort, especially if they had a chance in resolving it peacefully. A cleansing was not an option- it was way too evil to be driven out by just a simple cleansing.

They all headed to base camp in the classroom so Olivia could rest/astral project. Armin sat down and Olivia used his lap as a pillow.

"Remember," Olivia said, "My body will be vulnerable to possession and/or attacks. For that reason, when I wake up, be cautious because I don't know if it will be me or not. Make sense?"

"Yeah," Armin said, "Be careful, and promise me to come back, okay?"

Olivia gave him a quick kiss,

"I will."

She closed her eyes and went into a meditative-like state. Last time she astral projected, it was when she was sleeping and didn't mean to. So, she read up on the subject and learned how she could force herself to astral project. She first blocked out all outside noises and focused only on her breathing... In and out...in and out...Inhale, exhale... She imagined a violet ball inside her body and she imagine just letting it out, letting out her soul. When she opened her eyes, she was standing in the classroom. She turned and saw her body was still sleeping. She looked around, but the others were just barely there- not blurry like a ghost, but they were almost transparent and she could only hear them if she focused hard enough, but she had other things to worry about.

She walked out of the classroom and almost instantly she could sense the dark presence.

"Hello," she called out, her voice almost echoing down the dead silent halls, "Is anyone here?"

She continued down the halls, sensing that someone was watching her. She just couldn't see who- he was hiding. Finally, she reached the staircase, where the presence was the strongest.

"David Cooper," Olivia called, "I'd like to speak with you."

"Well we all want things, doesn't mean we'll get them," a voice answered from behind her.

She whipped around to see the ghost of David Cooper. He was scowling slightly, but his eyes twinkled in amusement.

"And oh, look at you, a psychic- you're one of them, aren't you? As far as I know, they are the only ones capable of astral projection... Hmmm it's been a while since I've seen astral projection."

"Them," Olivia asked, trying to mask her fear, "And what are you talking about? You've been only been here for ten years."

"Them," David spat, "the Hart family, they've been exorcising my kind for years now... And dearie, I've been here much longer than ten years, you should know that- you did your research."

Olivia's mind went on a rampage, trying to figure out what he meant. She thought about everything they knew. David Cooper was a Satanist killing people and he killed Carmen Sky at the staircase before killing himself. Before that, the school grounds were a Satanic ritual area where people would perform sacrifices to... Her eyes widened.

"You're not David Cooper," she whispered, "You're a demon taking the appearance of him."

David clapped with a Chesire grin before he vanished in a small puff of black mist. The black mist settled into the shadows, she couldn't see him, but she could sense he was still there. His voice traveled all around her,

"Oh you're a smart one, aren't you? But that's why your grandmother was so fond of you, isn't that right? She loved you, you know, too bad she's dead. I would have loved to kill her or possess her. That would be fun, wouldn't it? You trying to exorcise your own grandmother."

Olivia tensed as a large sense of fear settled within her. She wanted nothing more to run, but that would defeat the purpose of the astral projection. She wasn't going to let the demon fool her or taunt her. She continued asking questions.

"Why are you here?"

"Ohhh I take it back," the voice mocked, "Turns out she's not so smart after all."

"Answer the question," she said firmly.

The voice reappeared again. This time it was just above a whisper and it was right into her ear, its breath tickled the back of her neck and she tensed in fear as it spoke.

"I want to see everyone suffer."

The breathing down her neck stopped and Olivia let out a small breath she didn't know she was holding. She hissed, however, as it wasn't satisfied. It clawed her sides slightly.

"The best thing dearie, is that the wounds show up on your body," the demon hissed.

Olivia stood her ground and her finger touched the small ring on her finger, hoping to draw strength from her deceased grandmother.

"Why are taking the form of David Cooper," Olivia finally asked, "Why not just let everyone know you're a demon?"

"Oh that gets rid of the fun."

Sinister laughter filled her ears before the dark force continued,

"You just don't get it, do you dearie? David Cooper was my follower, indeed. They summoned me here so here I'll always be. Taking the form of my favorite little pawn, of course I could be anyone."

Olivia jumped back as the dark mist appeared in front of her. Her own face staring back at her.

"You can't get rid of me... You're so weak, psychic, your body will be mine and you will burn in the depths of Hell."

Olivia watched as her 'body' in front of her burst into flames, the flesh melting off of her doppleganger's face. The demon had a Chesire grin. Olivia backed away from the burning disguised demon slightly.

"I'm much too powerful for poor little abused Olivia Jared Lewis," the demon hissed, "Oh sorry, I forgot- you don't like being called by the same last name of that monster- that's your words, isn't it? Monster? Well dearie, sorry to disappoint you, but the only monster here..."

The demon disappeared into he black mist again, the voice spoke to her again from behind,

"...Is me," it finished.

"Uhh guys," Armin said, "Something's wrong."

Alexy and Kim looked away from the screens- it wasn't like anything was happening. They were all on edge since the school seemed deathly quiet and there were no signs that Olivia was going to get up anytime soon. They looked at her slumbering body. Her chest was slowly rising and going back down with each small breath she took. However, now her breaths were shaky and loud. Her eyes were still tightly closed, but she was turning slightly as a small hiss escaped her lips.

Armin tensed in fear, just wondering if maybe- just for a moment- that the dark entity had possessed her. Kim was the only one not freaking out as she rushed over and noticed the small dark spot that was appearing on the side of her body.

"Relax, lil' girl, you can do this," Kim said softly as she gently turned Olivia back onto her back as Armin stroked her hair.

Olivia's body relaxed, but her body was obviously uncomfortable in a bit of pain. Her head was back to resting on Armin's lap.

"Alexy, get the first aid kit," Kim snapped.

Armin gulped as he grabbed one of Olivia's hands into his own and gently rubbed over her thumb. Alexy ran over with the kit, the camera still in one hand, as Kim gently lifted up her shirt. On Olivia's side were three large claw marks that were drawing blood.

"But that's not possible," Alexy said, "W-We didn't feel anything- no cold spots or anything..."

"Maybe lil' girl got hit in her soul form or whatever that shit is called," Kim mused.

"We have to get out of here then, help me carry her," Armin said as he got ready to stand up, but Kim put a hand on his shoulder, pushing him back down,

"Weren't you listening to her? If it's attacking her soul, moving the body won't help and we don't have any way of waking her up or whatever."

"So what do we do," Alexy asked.

"We sit and wait," Kim shrugged, "All we can do, lil' girl may be small, but she's strong. She can take care of herself, have faith."

The demon had disappeared into a black mist and shortly afterwards, the scream reached Olivia's ears. She was still tense from the fear she felt inside her at being confronted with the demon, but now she was only shocked the scream didn't come from her. It came from up the stairs in the hall. She ran as fast her feet would carry her up the stairs and into the hall. She had no time to even think about the demon taking over her body, not if Carmen or another spirit that may be trapped, was in danger.

Sure enough, at the end of the hall, the ghost of Carmen Sky was on the ground crying.

"Carmen, what's wrong," Olivia asked as she rushed over.

"David Cooper... a demon," she sobbed, "He said... he's going to take over your body..."

"I know, that's why I need to get back, but are you okay," Olivia asked.

"I'm fine but... look out!"

At that moment, Olivia turned only to see nothing. Then she felt a large pressure on her back as something clawed her and pushed her down to the ground.

"Funny thing," Carmen said as she on top of Olivia, her weight adding to the pain and pressure of the large bruise already forming, "I knew that I needed to distract you, hurt you, so you wouldn't come after me when I go for your body. See, I knew that if I were to just go ahead and attack you, you'd expect it, you'd dodge it... Besides this is much more fun, isn't it?"

Carmen stomped on her back before jumping off of Olivia and stood in front of her. Olivia laid on the ground on her stomach, using her elbows to prop herself up despite the pain. Her face was a bit bruised from the face-plant into the ground.

"What... what did you do with the Carmen," Olivia spat.

"There was no real Carmen- she's not a ghost here. You'd think she would be, right? But nope, see, apparently she was a strong Catholic and despite her bloody murder, she moved on- pity, it would have been fun torturing her here. I just used her appearance to get you to trust me, just a little bit."

She knelt down with her hands on her knees and made a face,

"You're so naive to be a good psychic. Shame, I thought you might be a threat. Ah-well, ta-ta."

She kicked Olivia in the face before transforming into a dark mist and going down the steps. The demon's voice echoed through the halls,

"And thanks for the meat suit, sweetie. I'll have lots of fun fucking your boyfriend up."