Chapter 14: Possession and Sacrifice
The atmosphere on The Ocean’s Legacy had shifted from one of luxury to pure terror. With each passing hour, the hauntings grew more intense, and the ghost of Callista’s mother showed no signs of relenting. Josue and Larisa, exhausted but resolute, were determined to uncover any remaining secrets that could help them break the curse.
As they hurried through the ship’s dimly lit corridors, they heard a familiar voice calling out.
“Larisa! Josue!”
It was Larisa’s mother, Eleanor, her face pale and eyes wide with fear. She ran towards them, her rich businessman husband, Richard, trailing behind with a look of sheer panic.
“Mom, what’s wrong?” Larisa asked, rushing to her mother’s side.
Eleanor’s voice trembled.
“I… I don’t know. Something’s happening. I feel like I’m losing control. I hear voices in my head.”
Josue exchanged a worried glance with Larisa.
“It must be Callista’s mother. She’s trying to possess you.”
Richard, looking utterly terrified, clutched Eleanor’s arm.
“We need to get off this ship! This is madness!”
“There’s no escape,” Josue said firmly.
“The hauntings won’t stop until we find a way to end the curse.”
Suddenly, Eleanor’s eyes rolled back, and she began to convulse. Larisa screamed and tried to hold her, but an otherworldly strength forced her away. Eleanor’s body straightened, and when her eyes opened, they were filled with a malevolent glare.
“Eleanor is gone,” the voice of Callista’s mother hissed from Eleanor’s lips.
“I will have my revenge!”
Richard, his cowardice overtaking him, let go of Eleanor and stumbled backward.
“I can’t do this! I’m getting out of here!”
“No, don’t!” Josue shouted, but it was too late. Richard turned and ran towards the nearest exit, ignoring the cries of his wife and stepdaughter.
Richard’s frantic flight led him to the ship’s railing. Without thinking, he climbed over and jumped into the dark, churning waters below. Larisa’s horrified scream echoed through the night.
“Richard!” she cried, but there was no response. The ocean had swallowed him whole.
Josue grabbed Larisa’s arm.
“We need to focus. Your mother is in danger.”
Eleanor, still possessed, laughed cruelly.
“He was weak. Just like the rest of you.”
Larisa’s eyes filled with tears, but she stood tall. “You can’t have her. We won’t let you.”
Eleanor’s body moved with unnatural speed, heading towards the ship’s propeller. Josue and Larisa raced after her, their hearts pounding.
“Mom, fight it!” Larisa shouted, trying to reach her. “You have to fight her!”
Eleanor’s body hesitated, a flicker of her true self shining through. “Larisa… help me…”
But the possession tightened its grip. “She is mine!” Callista’s mother shrieked, driving Eleanor forward.
They reached the edge of the ship where the propeller churned menacingly. Eleanor’s body climbed the railing, preparing to jump.
“No!” Josue yelled, lunging forward. He grabbed Eleanor’s arm, pulling her back with all his strength. The possessed woman thrashed and screamed, her strength nearly overpowering him.
“Larisa, help me!” Josue grunted, struggling to hold on.
Larisa joined him, tears streaming down her face as she fought to save her mother. “Mom, please! We love you! Come back to us!”
Eleanor’s body convulsed again, the internal battle raging. For a moment, her eyes softened, and she spoke in her own voice. “Larisa… Josue… thank you…”
But the reprieve was short-lived. Callista’s mother fought back with renewed fury, pulling Eleanor towards the propeller’s deadly blades.
Josue’s muscles burned as he held on, but he refused to let go. “We can’t lose her, Larisa. We have to keep fighting.”
Larisa nodded, determination shining through her tears. “We will, Josue. We’ll save her.”
With a final, desperate effort, they pulled Eleanor away from the edge and collapsed onto the deck, exhausted. Eleanor’s body went limp, and for a terrifying moment, they feared the worst.
Then, she stirred, her eyes opening to reveal their familiar warmth. “Larisa… Josue… you saved me.”
Relief flooded through them, but they knew the battle was far from over. Josue helped Eleanor to her feet, supporting her as they moved away from the propeller.
“We need to get her somewhere safe,” he said, his voice strained but resolute. “And we have to find a way to end this once and for all.”
Larisa nodded, her face a mix of relief and determination. “We will, Josue. We’ll end this nightmare.”
As they made their way through the ship, the air around them seemed to crackle with tension. The ghost of Callista’s mother was not defeated, and her wrath continued to haunt The Ocean’s Legacy. But Josue and Larisa, now more determined than ever, knew they had to find a way to break the curse and save everyone on board.
They reached the safety of a secluded cabin and gently laid Eleanor on the bed. Josue checked her pulse, relieved to find it steady.
“She’s going to be okay,” he said, turning to Larisa. “But we need to figure out our next move.”
Larisa took a deep breath, steeling herself for what lay ahead. “We need to find more information about the curse. Maybe there’s something we missed.”
Josue nodded. “Agreed. Let’s go back to the office we found earlier. There might be more clues there.”
They hurried back to the small office near the casino, sifting through the remaining documents and artifacts. Josue found an old newspaper clipping detailing the tragic deaths of Callista and her mother.
“Look at this,” he said, showing it to Larisa. “It mentions a priest who tried to bless the ship after their deaths but was driven away by strange occurrences.”
Larisa’s eyes widened. “Maybe the priest knew something. We need to find out more about him.”
They continued their search, eventually finding a name and address for the priest in the ship’s old logs. Josue quickly made a note of it.
“This could be our lead,” he said. “If we can find this priest or someone who knows about his attempts, we might learn how to break the curse.”
Just as they were about to leave, the room grew cold again, and a ghostly voice filled the air. “You cannot escape me…”
Larisa’s eyes darted around, searching for the source of the voice. “She’s here. We need to move, now.”
They bolted from the office, making their way back to Eleanor’s cabin. As they entered, they found her sitting up, her face pale but determined.
“Mom, how are you feeling?” Larisa asked, rushing to her side.
Eleanor gave a weak smile. “Better, thanks to you two. But I can still feel her presence. She’s not gone.”
Josue nodded. “We’ve found a lead. There was a priest who tried to bless the ship after the deaths. We think he might know how to break the curse.”
Eleanor’s eyes widened. “Then you need to find him. Quickly. Before she takes over again.”
“We will,” Larisa said, her voice firm. “We’ll end this. I promise.”
With renewed determination, Josue and Larisa set out to follow their lead, leaving Eleanor in the care of a trusted crew member. They made their way to the ship’s communication room, hoping to find a way to contact the priest or someone who knew him.
As they approached, the door to the room slammed shut, and a cold wind swept through the corridor. The ghostly figure of Callista’s mother appeared before them, her eyes blazing with anger.
“You will not escape me,” she hissed. “I will have my revenge!”
Josue stepped forward, his voice steady. “We’re not afraid of you. We will end this curse, and we will free your daughter’s spirit.”
The ghost let out a chilling laugh. “You think you can defeat me? You are nothing compared to my pain.”
“We will find a way,” Larisa said, her voice filled with resolve. “We will end this nightmare.”
The ghost’s form flickered, her rage growing. “You will suffer as I have suffered!”
With a final, ear-piercing scream, she vanished, leaving Josue and Larisa shaken but undeterred. They quickly entered the communication room and found the old radio equipment.
“Let’s hope this still works,” Josue said, adjusting the dials. “We need to reach someone who can help us.”