Chapter 15: The Ghost Hunter
The atmosphere on The Ocean’s Legacy was electric with fear and tension. As Josue and Larisa continued their quest to end the hauntings, a new arrival brought an unexpected twist. A self-proclaimed ghost hunter named Victor Monroe had boarded the ship, claiming he could end the hauntings once and for all.
Josue and Larisa were in the ship’s cafeteria, trying to strategize their next move, when the captain’s voice echoed over the intercom.
“Attention, passengers and crew. We have a special guest onboard who claims to have expertise in dealing with the supernatural. Please welcome Victor Monroe.”
Larisa looked at Josue, her eyebrows raised. “A ghost hunter? Do you think he can help?”
Josue shrugged.
“It’s worth a shot. Let’s go meet him.”
They made their way to the main deck, where a small crowd had gathered around a tall, confident man with a rugged appearance and piercing eyes. Victor Monroe was in the midst of addressing the anxious passengers and crew.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Victor began, his voice strong and authoritative.
“I understand your fear. I’ve dealt with countless hauntings and paranormal events. Trust me when I say that I can handle this situation.”
Josue and Larisa pushed through the crowd to get closer. Larisa tapped Victor on the shoulder.
“Mr. Monroe, we’re Josue and Larisa. We’ve been trying to uncover the truth behind these hauntings.”
Victor nodded, giving them a once-over. “Good to meet you. I could use some local guides. What can you tell me about this ghost?”
Josue took a deep breath.
“It’s a young girl named Callista and her mother. They died tragically on this ship, and their spirits are causing all sorts of chaos.”
Victor’s eyes narrowed. “Tragic deaths often lead to restless spirits. I have a plan, but I’ll need your help.”
Larisa frowned. “What’s the plan?”
Victor reached into his bag and pulled out an array of strange, archaic-looking devices. “These are ghost traps and detection devices. We’ll use them to locate and capture the spirits. Once we have them, we can perform a ritual to send them to the other side.”
Josue exchanged a skeptical glance with Larisa. “Are you sure this will work?”
Victor smiled confidently. “Trust me. I’ve done this many times before.”
Despite their reservations, Josue and Larisa agreed to help. They followed Victor as he set up his equipment around the ship. The first stop was the pool area, where Callista’s spirit had first appeared to Josue and Larisa.
Victor placed a ghost trap near the pool and turned on a handheld device that emitted a low hum. “This detector will alert us to any spiritual activity. Stay close and be ready.”
Minutes passed in tense silence. Just as Josue began to doubt Victor’s methods, the detector started beeping rapidly. Victor’s eyes lit up. “We’ve got something.”
The temperature in the room dropped suddenly, and the ghostly figure of Callista emerged from the pool, her eyes fixed on Josue. “Why are you here?” she asked, her voice echoing eerily.
Victor stepped forward, holding a small box. “I’m here to help you, Callista. I can send you to a place where you’ll find peace.”
Callista’s eyes narrowed. “Peace? I just want my mother.”
Josue took a step closer, his voice gentle. “Callista, we want to help you and your mother. Please, trust us.”
The ghostly girl hesitated, but before she could respond, Victor activated the ghost trap. A bright light flashed, and Callista screamed as she was sucked into the device.
Larisa gasped. “What did you do?”
Victor smiled triumphantly. “Captured her spirit. Now we can focus on her mother.”
Josue frowned, feeling uneasy. “Are you sure this is the right way?”
Victor waved off his concerns. “Trust me. It’s the only way to deal with vengeful spirits.”
They moved to the next location, the casino, where the spirit of Callista’s mother had been most active. Victor set up another trap and turned on his detector. The air grew cold, and the ghostly figure of Callista’s mother appeared, her eyes blazing with anger.
“You cannot stop me,” she hissed. “I will have my revenge.”
Victor stepped forward again. “Not today.”
He activated the trap, but this time, the spirit resisted. The room shook violently, and the lights flickered. Josue and Larisa struggled to keep their footing as the ghost fought against the trap’s pull.
“This isn’t working!” Josue shouted. “We need another plan!”
Victor gritted his teeth, adjusting the settings on his device. “Stay back! I can handle this!”
But it was clear that his methods were failing. The spirit broke free from the trap’s grip and lunged at Victor, sending him crashing into a nearby table.
“Josue, Larisa, run!” Victor yelled, trying to get back on his feet.
Josue grabbed Larisa’s hand, and they bolted from the casino. The ship’s structure groaned under the ghost’s wrath, and they could hear passengers screaming in the distance.
“We need to get back to my mom!” Larisa shouted, her voice filled with panic.
They sprinted to the cabin where they had left Eleanor, bursting through the door. Eleanor was still there, looking terrified but unharmed.
“What’s happening?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“Victor’s plan didn’t work,” Josue said, catching his breath. “We need a new approach.”
Larisa nodded. “We need to find out more about the curse. Maybe there’s something we missed.”
Suddenly, Victor staggered into the room, clutching his side. “I underestimated her power. We need to perform an exorcism. It’s the only way.”
Josue looked at him skeptically. “An exorcism? Do you even know how to perform one?”
Victor winced in pain but nodded. “I’ve studied the rituals. We need to find a safe place and gather the necessary items.”
Reluctantly, Josue and Larisa agreed to follow Victor’s lead. They helped him gather the items for the exorcism: holy water, candles, and a Latin prayer book. They chose a small, secluded room away from the main areas of the ship.
Victor began setting up the ritual, lighting candles and drawing symbols on the floor. “This should contain the spirit and allow us to banish her.”
As they prepared, the ship’s lights flickered, and the air grew colder. The ghost of Callista’s mother appeared in the doorway, her face twisted with rage.
“You cannot stop me,” she snarled. “I will destroy you all.”
Victor stood his ground, holding up the prayer book. “Spirit, I command you to leave this place!”
He began chanting in Latin, but the ghost only laughed, her voice echoing with malevolence. The room shook, and the candles flickered wildly.
Josue grabbed Larisa’s hand, his heart pounding. “We need to be ready. This could get dangerous.”
Victor continued chanting, but the ghost seemed unaffected. She moved closer, her eyes burning with hatred. Suddenly, she lunged at Victor, sending him crashing to the floor.
Josue and Larisa rushed to help, but the ghost’s power was overwhelming. Victor struggled to his feet, his face pale. “I can’t do this alone. We need to work together.”
They joined hands, forming a circle around the symbols on the floor. Victor resumed his chanting, and this time, Larisa and Josue added their voices, reciting the words Victor had taught them.
The ghost shrieked, her form flickering as the combined power of their voices began to take effect. The air crackled with energy, and the room seemed to glow with an otherworldly light.
“Keep going!” Victor urged, his voice strained. “We’re almost there!”
They continued chanting, their voices growing stronger as the ghost’s power weakened. Finally, with one last, ear-piercing scream, the spirit of Callista’s mother was drawn into the symbols on the floor and vanished in a burst of light.
The room fell silent, the air clearing as the ghostly presence dissipated. They collapsed to the floor, exhausted but relieved.
Victor looked at them, a weary smile on his face. “We did it. She’s gone.”
Josue helped Larisa to her feet, his heart still pounding. “Thank you, Victor. We couldn’t have done it without you.”
Larisa hugged her mother tightly, tears streaming down her face. “Mom, it’s over. We’re safe now.”
Eleanor held her daughter close, her voice trembling with relief. “Thank you, Josue. Thank you for saving us.”
Victor nodded, his expression serious. “The hauntings should stop now, but we need to stay vigilant. Spirits like these can be unpredictable.”
Josue and Larisa agreed, their bond stronger than ever after the harrowing experience. As they left the room, they felt a renewed sense of hope. The Ocean’s Legacy still held many secrets, but they were determined to face whatever challenges lay ahead, together.