The Ritual

The Ritual

I look at my window in my living room, staring up at the twinkly night sky, observing how bright the moon was. It was a full moon tonight, and strange things seem to happen to me at every full moon. Tonight was going to be no different. You see, tonight is the night that I am performing a magical ritual. I am normally not someone to partake in such things, but after my ex-girlfriend convinced a shaman to put a hex on me that left me in debt, I realized I needed extra help.

My auntie is famous in our community for being a medicine woman and after chastising me for not listening to her about my ex-girlfriend being a “vampire ho,” she agreed that it was time to pass down her little black notebook to me. It was a book of spells that had been handed down the family line generation after generation. She had prepared me earlier with a ceremonial bath and sage. My auntie assured me that she would “take care of that ho” and as I was leaving her home, I noticed the voodoo doll on the table. I honestly can't say I feel too bad about it. The shaman my ex told to put a hex on me was the same shaman she had gone on a “retreat” to go see. She said she needed to get “healed.” Turns out, she had an affair with the said shaman. I guess she consulted the Marvin Gaye playbook of healing in regards to that. It's ironic because my ex's last name is Soul, but I don't think she actually has one.

As I sit waiting for the moon to be at its most full, I flip through the notebook. It's filled with symbols I don't yet understand. I will say that the book emanates a strange yet very palpable power. I feel a surge of energy whenever I pick it up and my hands tremble slightly. I have to admit, I am a little nervous about all of this. But, after the last 3 months of hell that hex had me under, I will do anything in my power to not let that happen again.

I realize it's close to the time so I start to light the herb bundle and the candles that were made for me. The smell of sage, chamomile, and other floral scents I cannot place fill my living room. I have a cloth magic circle on my floor that was given to me. I was told I have to activate the circle with my blood. She didn't say how much blood, so I prick my finger with a pin and spread it on the circle—hoping that maybe a drop or two will suffice.

“It's time,” I think to myself as I watch the clock. It says 11:11. I look at my living room, with the candles lit, the herbs burning, and a little black notebook of spells and I laugh to myself. I never used to believe in any of this stuff.

“I must be desperate,” I say to myself. Famous last words. It's time to begin. I turn off any remaining lights that were on, and the room is dimly illuminated by the candles.

I kneel in the middle of the circle and pick up the book, turning to the page I was instructed to use for this initiation. Apparently, I would be evoking a spirit to appear and commanding it to perform any task I wanted. Yes, I am also questioning my sanity at this point. I skim through it and finally my finger lands on the incantation I'm supposed to be using.

“Alash Tad A'lash Tal Ashtu!” I vibrate within my throat. I immediately feel the energy in the room shift. It startles me slightly as I am immediately aware of the feeling that I'm being watched.

“Alash Tad A'lash Tal Ashtu!” I vibrate again. The candles begin to flicker wildly and I feel a coldness wash over me. I can officially say that I am very freaked out. My hands tremble as I turn the page for the next step.

“Oh, mighty Ancestral Spirit, I call thee forth! Show yourself to me and make my commands true! I command thee to bring to end my debts at once! Now go forth and answer my commands, go!” I chant in the most commanding voice I can muster.

“It is done.” I hear spoken in my ear. The voice was low, disembodied, and incredibly guttural. I immediately jump backward. My breathing increases rapidly and my heart starts pounding. I immediately go run and turn the lights on.

“I need a beer.” I stammer out as I open my fridge and pull a Corona out. I can barely open the bottle my hands are shaking so badly. I take a huge gulp to try to calm my nerves and slowly I feel myself returning back to normal.

“It will feel electric during the ritual and then start to feel as if you dreamed it after the ritual is over,” I remember her instructing me. She told me to keep myself busy afterward, so I decided to order a pizza. Immediately after I ordered it, I felt myself starting to dose off.

I didn't even remember falling asleep until I heard a knock at the door. I woke up startled as I kept hearing the knocks getting louder.

“Hold on! I said I'm coming!” I yell again as I start to make my way towards the door and the knocks turn into pounds.

“Hey! Stop pou--” I quickly open up my door and see nothing in front of me. Then my gaze falls toward the ground. There's a little girl. She couldn't be more than 10. We both exchange glances for a moment. Her eyes are completely glazed over. It is creeping me the hell out.

“Can I help you?” I ask while kneeling down to her level.

“You summoned me.” She replied.

“Excuse me?” I ask incredulously.

“You. Summoned. Me. Did you already forget your ritual?” She asks while pointing at me. My body goes into shock and I can feel myself starting to get faint.

“Move out of my way.” She commands and to my surprise—I move. She marches into my apartment and looks around. She turns to me and nods in satisfaction.

“Wh-wha-what are you?” My voice quivering.

“I am your ancestral spirit. I understand you must be confused. Your fear ended the ritual early and so here I am in the flesh. You summoned me for a task, and now it is complete. Goodbye.” The girl's eyes roll back into her head and she immediately collapses on the floor. I'm standing there stunned and unable to move. Finally, I snap myself out of it and kneel down towards the girl. I shake her a little.

“Little girl, are you okay?” I say to her while shaking her gently. I notice her starting to move and she begins to open her eyes. I breathe a sigh of relief. Thank God.

“Wh-where am I?” she asks tiredly. Her eyes immediately grow wide when she sees me and she frantically looks around.

“Uh...you're...um...uh...” I manage to muster out.

“WHERE'S MY MOMMY?” she starts to cry out. She is in full-blown panic.

“Shh! Shh! Everything is okay! You're okay! We can go find your mommy!” I try to reassure. Her cries get louder. Just at that moment, I hear a knock at my already opened door.

“Hello, I got a pizza de--” The delivery driver pauses while surveying the scene. There are candles lit, everywhere. I have a little girl that is screaming and crying in the middle of a cloth circle with weird symbols. I am a grown-ass man. Oh, this is not good. This is not good at all.

“It's not what it looks like!” I immediately shout.

“I'm calling the police, you sick freak! Don't you go anywhere!” The delivery driver screams.

“No no no! Please don't call the police it is NOT what it looks like!” I plead.

“I NEED MY MOMMY!” The little girl screams. The delivery driver runs into the room and grabs the little girl, eyeing me the entire time like he was going to kill me.

“Yeah, 9-1-1, I am in this dude's apartment and there's a little girl screaming! Yeah, I am not letting him go anywhere, please hurry!” the delivery driver shouts into the phone. At this point, I realize I am boned so I slink over to my fridge and grab another beer. This night has taken a horrible turn for the worst.

I've been at the police station for what feels like hours. They left me in this awful interrogation room, alone. Everything feels like a horrible nightmare. My mind starts to go over every worst-case scenario of what is going to happen to me when they lock me up. I know what they do when you “drop the soap.” I snapped out of my thoughts when I hear the door open.

“You can go.” The officer blurts out.

"I can go?” I ask excitedly.

“Yeah, the little girl said you didn't touch her and her mother said she has a history of sleepwalking. This has happened before. You can go.”

I exhale a sigh of relief. As I start to make my way toward the door, the officer blocks my way with his arm.

“I got my eye on you. If I ever hear you with a little kid again...” He trails off as he points his index finger and middle finger at his eyes, then points them at me. I nod hesitantly. He moves his arm out the way.

“Got it,” I mutter as I hurriedly exit out of there. This night has been absolutely horrifying and I just want it to be over already. I start to make my way out of the police building as quickly as possible when I hear someone calling to me from behind me.

“Excuse me, hey! Are you the one whose apartment my daughter ended up at?” The woman quietly asks. I turn around and I am taken aback by how beautiful this woman is.

“I, uh, yeah? How did you know?” I quickly ask.

“My daughter described you to me. I've been waiting out here for you. I wanted to thank you and apologize for all the mess this has caused you tonight.”

“Oh, it's not a big deal, I'm just glad it all worked out and she's okay.”

“I also, um, wanted to give you something. It's a token of my appreciation. Here.” She says sheepishly while handing me an envelope. She motions for me to open it. I open it and realize there is a check in there. My jaw practically drops to the floor when I see how much it is for--$20,000. I run my hands through my hair.

“Oh, I ...I can't what?! I can't accept this!” I excitedly exclaim.

“Oh, but you must. You summoned me and now I've completed the task. Have a good night.” She says in the same guttural voice I heard earlier. I faint immediately.

I wake up with a jolt. My body is covered in sweat and I'm breathing incredibly heavy. I look around and realize I am in my room--safe and sound. I laugh to myself a little.

“What a crazy dream,” I think to myself. I lean over to grab my water off the nightstand and realize there is a paper underneath the glass. I pick the paper up and realize it's the same check for $20,000. My heart nearly jumps out of my chest, yet again.