Chapter 5: CCTV Footage
The haunting events aboard *The Ocean’s Legacy* were escalating, and Josue and Larisa knew they needed answers quickly. The possessed passengers were becoming more violent, and their eerie laughter echoed throughout the ship. With the locket in their possession, they were close to understanding the full story, but they needed more information.
“Captain Richards, we need access to the ship’s CCTV footage from five years ago,” Josue said urgently as they gathered in the bridge.
Captain Richards looked skeptical.
“What do you expect to find in old footage?”
“Anything that can help us understand what happened to Callista and her mother,” Larisa replied.
“We need to see the events that led up to their deaths.”
The captain nodded reluctantly.
“Follow me.”
They followed Captain Richards to the security room, a small, cramped space filled with monitors and recording equipment. The security officer on duty, a stern-looking man named Frank, greeted them with a nod.
“Frank, we need to access the CCTV footage from five years ago,” Captain Richards instructed.
Frank raised an eyebrow.
“That’s quite a request. Those files are archived and take a while to retrieve.”
“We don’t have time,” Josue said.
“Lives are at stake.”
Frank nodded and began typing commands into the computer. After a few tense minutes, he located the archived footage and began loading the files.
“It’ll take a moment to load,” Frank said, glancing at Josue and Larisa.
“What exactly are you looking for?”
“Anything that can help us understand Callista’s final moments and the events that followed,” Larisa explained.
As the footage began to play, the grainy black-and-white images flickered on the screen. They watched in silence, the events of that fateful night unfolding before their eyes.
The first clip showed the casino, bustling with activity. Callista’s mother, a haggard-looking woman with dark circles under her eyes, was at one of the tables, gambling feverishly. Callista, a small, forlorn figure, stood nearby, clutching a stuffed bear.
“Poor girl,” Josue murmured, his heart aching for Callista.
The next clip showed Callista wandering away from the casino, her mother too engrossed in her game to notice. Callista’s movements were slow and hesitant as she made her way through the ship’s corridors.
“Where is she going?” Larisa wondered aloud.
They watched as Callista eventually reached the pool area. The footage showed her sitting at the edge of the pool, dangling her feet in the water. For a few moments, she seemed lost in thought, her expression distant.
Suddenly, the image flickered, and Callista’s mother appeared, stumbling into the pool area. She was visibly intoxicated, her movements erratic. She called out to Callista, her voice slurred.
“Callista, come here! I told you not to wander off!” she shouted, her tone harsh.
Callista looked up, fear in her eyes.
“I’m sorry, Mommy. I was just—”
“Just nothing!” her mother interrupted, grabbing Callista by the arm.
“You always disobey me! Do you want to end up like me?”
“Mommy, please, I’m sorry,” Callista pleaded, tears streaming down her face.
But her mother’s grip tightened, and in her drunken rage, she pushed Callista into the pool. The girl struggled, splashing and crying out for help, but her mother just stood there, watching with a cold, detached expression.
“No,” Josue whispered, horrified.
“She didn’t…”
The footage showed Callista’s mother pacing along the edge of the pool, muttering to herself. It was clear she was in the throes of a breakdown, her mind unraveling. After a few moments, she seemed to realize what she had done. Panic set in, and she dove into the pool to retrieve Callista, but it was too late. Callista’s lifeless body floated to the surface, her eyes wide and unseeing.
Josue and Larisa watched in shock as Callista’s mother cradled her daughter’s body, sobbing uncontrollably. The next clip showed her carrying Callista through the ship, her face a mask of despair.
“We need to follow her,” Larisa said, her voice trembling. “See where she goes next.”
Frank fast-forwarded the footage, following Callista’s mother’s path through the ship. The cameras captured her moving toward the outer decks, her steps unsteady. She reached the railing, looking out over the dark, churning waters.
“Please, God, forgive me,” she whispered, tears streaming down her face.
“I didn’t mean to… I didn’t mean…”
With Callista’s body still in her arms, she climbed over the railing and jumped. The footage showed her and Callista disappearing into the dark waters below. The camera angle shifted, and the horrific sight of their bodies being torn apart by the ship’s propeller filled the screen.
Josue and Larisa recoiled, unable to tear their eyes away from the gruesome scene.
“This is… this is terrible,” Larisa said, her voice barely a whisper. “No wonder their spirits are restless.”
Captain Richards, pale and shaken, turned to them.
“What now? How do we help them move on?”
Josue took a deep breath, his mind racing. “We need to perform a ritual, but I’m not sure it will work. Callista’s spirit seems to be growing more dangerous.”
“What do you mean?” Frank asked, his face pale.
“Her power is increasing,” Josue said.
“We’ve seen it in the passengers she possesses. She’s not just haunting them; she’s trying to kill them.”
Larisa nodded, her eyes filled with determination.
“We have to try something. We can’t let her continue this.”
The captain looked conflicted.
“I’ll support whatever you need, but we can’t risk more lives. If this ritual doesn’t work, we need to find another solution.”
“We’ll need a quiet, sacred space,” Josue said. “The observation deck should work.”
They led the procession to the observation deck, the crew and passengers watching anxiously. The possessed individuals were restrained but continued to laugh and thrash, their eyes filled with madness.
As they reached the observation deck, Josue and Larisa set up the ritual area. They placed the locket in the center and surrounded it with candles and incense. Josue sprinkled the salt in a circle around them, creating a protective barrier.
“Ready?” Larisa asked, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes.
Josue nodded.
“Let’s do this.”
They knelt beside the locket, lighting the candles and incense. Josue began to chant softly, calling upon the spirits of Callista and her mother.
“Spirits of the lost, we call upon you,” he intoned. “Hear our plea and find your peace. We bring you this token, a symbol of your love, to guide you to the other side.”
The wind picked up, swirling around them and causing the candles to flicker. The possessed passengers’ laughter grew louder, mingling with the sound of the ocean waves.
Larisa joined in the chant, her voice harmonizing with Josue’s. “Spirits of Callista and her mother, we release you from your pain. Find each other and move on, leaving this place in peace.”
As they chanted, a faint glow began to emanate from the locket. The wind intensified, and the air grew colder. Josue and Larisa continued, their voices unwavering.
“Find peace, find love, find each other,” they chanted, the glow from the locket growing brighter.
Suddenly, the candles were snuffed out, and an icy chill swept through the deck. The laughter of the possessed passengers turned into agonized screams. Callista’s spirit materialized, her eyes glowing with malevolent fury.
“You cannot banish me!” she shrieked.
“I will make you all suffer!”
The glow from the locket flickered and died, leaving them in darkness. Josue and Larisa felt a powerful force knock them to the ground. Callista’s spirit loomed over them, her face twisted with rage.
“Please, Callista, we’re trying to help you!” Larisa pleaded, tears streaming down her face.
“Help me?!” Callista’s voice was filled with venom.
“You cannot help me! I am beyond help!”
Josue struggled to his feet, reaching for the locket.
“There has to be a way, Callista. We can help you find peace!”
Callista’s laughter was chilling.
“Peace? There is no peace for me. Only vengeance.”
With a wave of her hand, Callista sent Josue flying across the deck. He hit the railing hard, gasping for breath.
“Josue!” Larisa screamed, rushing to his side.
“We need to get out of here,” Josue groaned, struggling to stand.
Larisa helped him to his feet, and they stumbled away from the enraged spirit. The crew and passengers were in a frenzy, trying to escape the deck.
“We have to find another way,” Josue said, his voice filled with desperation.
“We can’t let her continue this.”
As they fled the observation deck, Callista’s laughter followed them, a haunting reminder of the danger that still loomed over *The Ocean’s Legacy*. The ritual had failed, and Callista’s spirit was more vengeful than ever. The haunting was far from over, and Josue and Larisa knew they had to find another solution before more lives were lost.