Ch 7 - Don't Say the j Word

“Hurry Mum! The flight is boarding!” Nada broke out into a jog heading for the assigned gate.
“I’m coming, I’m coming.” Farrah grumbled as she hurried behind her.“Welcome aboard, your seats are to the left.” The air stewardess smiled revealing pearly white teeth. “These are it. I hope no one sits next to us,” Nada hoisted her carry on above her head and slid it into the compartment.“Yeah, I need the space to sleep. Budge up, will you? I can’t keep my eyes open a second longer.” Farrah crumpled into the aisle seat and hit the recline button.Nada smiled at her mom. Who would have thought? Her mom the mastermind, the spontaneous planner. I guess fear does bring out the fighting survival spirit; Nada leaned back and closed her bloodshot eyes. She was exhausted, the last twenty hours had taken every bit of energy from them both.Last night had shocked them both into action. They couldn’t sit around waiting to be attacked again and neither one was willing to take the risk of something even more sinister happening. Nada’s whole perception of horror movies shifted, she now knew where ideas for movies came from, surely they had to be others out there who were experiencing the same thing as she was? Why hadn’t someone blown the world of J’s wide open? Why are there still people who don’t believe? Nada twisted in her seat finding a more comfortable position. Earlier that morning, they had left the house and headed for the local café for breakfast. Over a cup of coffee, Farah had called Pakistan and listened intently to the family priest who gave short specific instructions. They had to catch a flight to Lahore as soon as possible, before another night could pass and the J could finish what he started. Within an hour their seats had been booked and they had returned home to pack the few essentials they would need. “Don’t linger too long, pack and remove yourself from the house. Stay somewhere public. A mall. An airport. Anywhere where there is a crowd. Do not sleep until you are in the aircraft. Is that understood?” The priest had ordered down the phone. His words were like ice, freezing Farrah’s heart from fear as she ensured his instructions were strictly followed and until they were safely on the aircraft. The flight attendant began her safety demonstration but neither ladies saw it – they had already fallen asleep leaning heavily against each other.***“Ah! Daughter! My daughter is finally here. Come!” Naani called from her seat.Farrah rushed over to her mum, Nada’s naani; meaning maternal grandmother, who she hadn’t seen for years. Nada watched the pair embrace and shed tears of joy as they clung on to each other tightly.“I was so worried when you called earlier. This Jinn is evil, you must listen to the priest. He knows best. There isn’t any time to lose.” Naani beckoned Nada over to her and held her hand, forcing her to look into her own wise eyes.“Naani, how can we trust this priest?” Nada crouched down at her grandmother’s feet.“He has never failed this family before. He is old and he knows about the world of the Jinns.” “Has he exorcised them before?” Farrah asked in rapid Urdu.“Yes. But as he cannot travel to your house, he will do it mentally. For that, he needs both of you present. Come, help me up. We must go to him now.”“Now? We just arrived, can we rest for a while?” Farrah straightened up and looked enquiringly at her mother.“Rest? Do you think the Jinn will rest? He will find you. And before he does that, you must see the priest. Move along now.” Naani grabbed her walking stick and briskly tottered towards the front door calling to her driver as she went.Nada shrugged and followed the older lady. Forty agonizing minutes later the driver pulled up outside a small decaying white gate that desperately needed a fresh coat of paint. Peering through one unhinged gate, Nada saw an old ramshackled bungalow that was covered in vines. The house was clearly unloved, there were weeds and litter in the front yard and the windows appeared dark, grimy as if no one had cleaned them in years.“Come.” Naani led the way up to the chipped wooden door.“Naani, this looks scary. Have you been here before?”“Yes. Do not worry child. The priest is old, he does not take money to help others, this is why he is poor. He has a gift and he only uses it when necessary. For others. Like yourself.” Naani spoke over her shoulder and rapped on the door.When no one answered, she used her walking stick to push open the door and disappeared into the murky darkness.“Can I wait out here?” Nada whispered.“I don’t think so.” Farrah pushed Nada ahead of her and down the barren hallway into an even darker room lit by candles.“Farrah, Nada. You are a few minutes early. I thought you would arrive later. I am not prepared.” A raspy voice spoke from the gloom.“Yes, forgive me, I hurried them over as this matter is of great urgency.”  Naani perched herself on the edge of an armchair using her walking stick to support the rest of her weight.“It seems the presence has an attachment to you, Nada. Come here child.” “Where? I can’t see you.” Nada whimpered behind her mother.From the corner of the room a hunched over elderly man appeared, he walked with short steps emerging from behind a broken wooden screen. Shuffling towards the nearest chair, he sat down and extended his hand.“Go.” Farrah pushed Nada forward.Hesitantly Nada reached out and placed her clammy palm in the open frail one. Suddenly, with surprising force the priest pulled her close so that Nada was almost brushing against his shoulder. She gasped quietly as his form came into focus, he was a little man, barely over five foot. He wore a long gray dress with a beige waistcoat on top. His thinning white hair was covered with a crochet cap and his face had a whisper of a beard so thin that it almost wasn’t there. His cheeks were hollow giving him a skeleton look that was hard to take in. Nada turned her eyes away feeling sick with dread as his quivering voice spoke.“Mmm. Let us begin.” He stayed quiet for a long time, Nada’s legs began to ache and she longed to crouch down by his side but was afraid of what would happen.“Hff.” The sound escaped his mouth, urgent and harsh. His eyes opened and he let go of Nada’s hand. “Sit my child, here, next to me. Farrah, you sit here. Hurry. He is coming.”Naani jumped up and hurried over to sit next to Farrah. The group waited as a few tense seconds ticked by. “Who is coming?” Naani finally whispered.“Havana.” The priest said, rolling the name around his mouth as if it was an insect.“What does he want?” Nada felt her body tense up and she automatically found herself inching closer to the priest.“He wants you my child. Be strong he is almost here.” The room went deathly quiet as the wait began.