Trishtan had led Mika to the town jail. The sheriff wasn't there, probably out on his previous investigation, but it didn't quite make sense why they were there.
Trishtan hadn't spoken one word since they left the hotel. He went near one of the cage-like cells and gestured to someone Mika couldn't see. She curiously went closer to have a look herself.
Sitting on the wooden bench opposite the cell's door, was Ava Cadavra, the person that had attacked Kaylen last night. She still had that vicious look on her face and she seemed to be amused by the presence of the two.
-Well well, what do we have here? Trishtan Legend and the hotel manager I assume?
Mika looked at Trishtan panicky. She couldn't believe he had brought her there!
-What's this all about?
-Mika, what you don't know about Ava is she's an amazing exorcist. You have a spirit inside you that needs to go before it commits another crime and to stop the aliens being after you.
She couldn't believe it. Exorcism? She stood there dumbfounded looking once at Trishtan and once at Ava.
-You're kidding me right? An exorcism?
-Hey hey now, kids, what makes you think I would do such a thing? Why should I help you?
-It's in your best interest, said Trishtan, this spirit seems to be unpredictable, you never know when she could turn against you. Haven't you heard of Cherry Loste?
Ava looked interested. She got up from the bench and walked near the rails.
-Cherry Loste? Is this what it's about?
-Yes. And if you're smart, never mind kind, you should help us.
The weird woman laughed.
-It's still none of my concern. I'm not that useless as to not be able to defend myself. It's against my morals to help people that brought me here.
-Would you do it for your freedom? Mika said almost under her breath.
-What? exclaimed Trishtan surprised. How can… she she… is a criminal!
-She's innocent.
Ava seemed unfazed by the course of events. Mika, obviously very nervous and concerned, continued.
-It wasn't her that tried to kill Kaylen, it was Cherry. She tricked her into offering a sacrifice by appearing as a deity. Am I right? You said he told you personally. That he wanted a sacrifice…
Ava's eyes were lowered. She seemed to be contemplating what Mika had said and her attitude had changed, now she looked more remorseful.
-I… still don't value my freedom that much… but I ain't letting a stinkin' little ghost trick me like that!
Trishtan smiled. He looked at Mika who had her head lowered. She still didn't feel confident about this…
-You ok?
She raised her head slightly and nodded.
-I gotta do what I gotta do, right? she said in a more confident tone. I can't leave things like this cause who knows what's gonna happen. It's just something that has to be done!
Everyone was determined. They were going to rid the world of Cherry Loste.
Trishtan went over to the desk the sheriff normally sat at and grabbed some keys. He came back and unlocked the cell door.
-No one must know we let you escape.
Ava came out of the cell, looking her usual smug self.
-No worries, I won't be here long enough to tell.
Mika unadmitedly, was panicking. What she had heard about exorcisms wasn't pretty…
-Shall we start? asked Trishtan.
Ava opened her black coat to reveal a collection of small crystals. They were hanging around her neck by a thin cord.
-These are used as charms usually, but this one here, she said while pulling off a small black one, can be used to extract ghost from a temporary host.
Mika inspected the crystal. It had four sides and at the top it was shaped like a pyramid, it reminded her of the Egyptian obelisks. It seemed a bit worn off, chipped at places, but it was still pretty.
-Extend your left arm, commanded Ava.
Mika did as she was told. Ava held her hand still and without a warning, pierced the crystal into her skin. Blood oozed out of the wound trickling all down her arm and dripping onto the floor like teardrops. Mika screamed and tried to pull her hand away but it was only making the pain worse. Trishtan was freaking out, not knowing what to do.
-Stay still if you don't want to have your hand ripped off.
Mika was shaking and trying to comprehend what was going on.
-Are… are y-you crazy! shouted Trishtan.
-You wanted an exorcism, Ava snapped back at him. Now, let's begin.
Ava started chanting in a weird language while holding the crystal in place. Mika was trying to stop the shaking, but it was impossible. It wasn't the shock anymore, it was the pain.
What seemed like hours had passed, meanwhile Mika had collapsed onto the floor, too weak from the blood loss, and Ava unfazed continued with the ritual kneeling next to her. Trishtan was as white as a sheet. Probably even he wasn't used to so much blood.
The pain had fazed slightly, her hand having gone numb. That might not have been a good sign, but she couldn't care. All she wanted was for this hell to end…
Soon enough she started feeling pin pricks in her body. At first she ignored them but they kept getting stronger. She made some noises for Ava to notice, coherent words wouldn't come out of her mouth. Trishtan noticed there was something wrong and tried to question Ava, but she only chanted louder.
The pin pricks turned into pain, shooting throughout her body. She couldn't ignore them, she shuffled and groaned, it kept getting worse. The wound that had gone numb after so long, as if activated began to hurt. The pain from that was the worse. She couldn't even think, her vision had gone blurry and all she could hear was muffled sounds of Ava's chanting and Trishtan panicking.
"This is the end…."
She was slipping into unconsciousness. A new voice could be heard, she recognized it very well.
"Cherry…"
She couldn't make out words, but they sounded threatening. Her voice was getting more and more distant, fading away from her. After a couple of seconds, she jerked awake. Ava removed the crystal and sat back. Mika looked around. Nothing was blurry, she could hear properly, even her wound was completely healed. Was this a dream?
-Wh-what happened?
-Did it work? asked Trishtan.
-I don't know, answered Ava, but I certainly can't sense her presence anymore.
Mika smiled. She was free!