Adan was still. "You were taught voodoo and black magic? Oh man, that's not good. That's what I keep telling Crystal, not to mess with the paranormal crap. So you took the risk?"
Samuel nodded. "I did, and even now, I regret doing so. However, my curiosity got the best of me, and I learned the religion and spells." He moved his hand and showed Adan how Samuel and Delilah practiced voodoo and other black magic forms. Adan would occasionally look away when there were some sexual activities involved.
"Okay, so what happened next?"
Samuel was silent for a moment. "As I mentioned, Delilah and I developed feelings for one another. She wanted me to give her and her family freedom. Even though I loved her dearly, it would have been a risk since I needed them to work the lands. Also, I would lose the townspeople's respect, and I could lose business. However, one day, a landowner was interested in becoming partners. I was also interested, for it could help my conditions, but there was something I had to do."
"Which is?"
"The landowner suggested an arranged marriage between his daughter and me."
Adan was intrigued. "What did you do?"
"I accepted; it was an opportunity that I couldn't miss. I accepted, but Delilah didn't take it well. I knew I hurt her, and she threatened to tell everyone about the voodoo activities. So I-I threatened to sell all her family apart or accuse them of witchcraft if she dared say something."
"Dude, not cool."
Samuel looked down, ashamed. "I know. It was terrible to threaten such a thing, but I was desperate for a better life than my forefathers. Anyway, then this happened."
Both men were inside the house; it was dark outside and snowing. Delilah's family was in their shack, resting. Samuel was in his room writing some paperwork when a knock on the door. Delilah entered without permission. She wore a long, pale white dress; her short, curly black hair was in disarray. Her eyes looked tear-stricken, and her face had small scars from the pox. "Samuel."
"Delilah, you should be asleep."
The young slave woman entered. "I can't sleep. Please, don't marry that woman. She won't make you happy."
"Not this again, please, Delilah." Samuel stood, and he walked to Delilah, hugging her. "You know our union can never be. Our lives will not be the same. This is my one chance to make a better life."
"You expect me to be your mistress? If you marry that woman, she gonna find out, anyway!"
The young man was silent as he turned away from Delilah. "No, she won't. I decided to sell you all to another landowner that needs more slaves."
Delilah stilled. "Wh-What did you just say?"
"You heard me. I realized that keeping you all here is too risky. Don't worry; this landowner is known to treat his slaves well."
"No, you lie! You lie!"
Samuel eyed her, emotionless. "As serious as can be."
Tears formed in Delilah's eyes. "All that happened between us meant nothin' to you!"
He didn't respond as he turned his back to her. "You all will leave first thing tomorrow morning. Now sleep. You will need all your energy. I'm sorry. Truly I am."
Delilah felt her heartache in agony; she couldn't think straight. Anger, betrayal, and hurt overcame her. She began to speak another language while taking a knife out under her dress. Samuel turned, but then Delilah ran to him, stabbing him in the chest. Samuel felt pain and shock over the sudden action. "D-DELILAH!?"
She continued to stab him while speaking another language; his blood spilled on the floor. Samuel tried to get her from him, but he was too weak. Samuel could no longer fight back or make any movement. He was dead.
Delilah stopped stabbing him and speaking; she was breathing heavily. She heard footsteps entering the house and looked behind her; it was her family. Her family was in shock. "Delilah, what did you do!?" screamed Rachel.
"H-He was going to leave me, sell us. I-I lost control."
"You damn child! You killed him, a white man! They can hang us for this!" cried Rachel.
Judah and Issachar eyed one another. "We gotta bury his body! No one will know what happened to him!" said Judah.
The twins got a white sheet, covered Samuel's lifeless body, and carried him outside. It was snowing, but the ground wasn't fully covered. The twins dug a grave and put Samuel in it, burying him. Delilah and her family looked through the house, found a gold coins bag, and left the house.
Samuel moved his hand, and they were in a dark environment. "Delilah killed me in my own home. Before I died, Delilah cursed me that my body and soul would never rest and that I would spend eternity on Earth. However, that's not all; all our spells and rituals seemed to release an evil in my home."
Adan was shocked by what he had seen; he didn't know what to feel or think. "Wait, Delilah killed you in your house. D-Does that mean?"
"That house that you are in was mine. My body was never found, but my disappearance didn't go unnoticed. Everyone immediately suspected Delilah and her family. I didn't know what happened afterward. After my death, my soul was entrapped in the house. I am unable to be at rest. I am to spend on the Earth for eternity. Yet, that's not all."
"Wh-What?"
Samuel sighed. "The evil in the house that Delilah and I unknowingly unleashed is also trapped within the house and is trying to escape. Many occupants who lived in my home had felt its wrath, but many escaped. However, one family was not so fortunate."
Adan gulped. "Y-You mean the DeFeo Family?"
"Indeed. That young man, Ronald DeFeo, was a troubled soul, for his father hurt him, and his mother did nothing to stop the violence. Ronald took an interest in the occult, and I was able to communicate with him; we both had some similarities. Unfortunately, he was able to communicate with the evil, which I have discovered is a demon."
"Oh hell."
"I did my best to protect and teach Ronald what I knew to defend himself, but the demon was too strong and possessed him. The possessed Ronald killed his family, but I was able to free him with my little power, but it was too late. His family was killed, and he was blamed for a crime he didn't commit of his own will."
Adan was silent for a bit. "Wait, if you and this demon are in the same house, can it hurt you?"
"I wondered that myself, but I came to find out that since Delilah and I were the ones that let it out from the pits of hell, it couldn't hurt us. Our essence alone keeps it on Earth and away from hell, but it seems it wants to possess a body to get out of the house."
"That makes a bit more sense. I thought demons and spirits could follow its victims."
"It would depend on the spirit or demon and if a spell or ritual was used. The demon is close to me, and my soul is entrapped in the house. However, I found a possible answer, by I could not leave. My body."
Adan cringed. "Your body? Oh yeah, it was buried."
Samuel nodded. Though bone, my body still carries some of my essences and the curse, which could be why I am still trapped in the house."
"Oh, what do you need to do with your body? It's bones now."
"I need to reverse the curse to be in peace finally. Once the curse and essence are gone, the demon can return to hell; the house can finally be free from the evil."
The two men looked at one another, but Adan noticed a look on Samuel's face. "Wait, please don't tell me."
"Adan, I need your help to get my body out of the Earth where I can lift this curse once and for all. I will not lie; it will not be easy and can have risks."
"Look, man, I'm sorry what happened to you, but I don't want to mess with this stuff. I-"
"The evil already put its essence on you and your friend, it can make you mad, and your only solution is for you both to go into the house. You both are already in a mess. As I said, I would like to help you, so I need to do something that might sound frightening and insane."
Adan gulped. "Which is?"
"I might need you to lend me your body."
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