Page 288 of Sinister

She assumed the worst. His family suggested he might have found himself another girl and run away, but Agatha knew better. Her dear Elroy would never do that.

In March 1763, word finally reached them.

Elroy was dead. He’d died some months prior, shot in the head.

Agatha was inconsolable. Everyone went in mourning.

Months passed. Her family tried to cheer her up. She wouldn’t go out, would barely eat or drink.

Eventually, they surprised her with an announcement—their one last attempt at reaching her. They’d arranged another marriage for her with some lawyer from Boston.

Agatha was aghast that her parents would even try that.

She was still lost to grief, but as her new wedding approached, she realized she must do something to get herself out of the situation, which she saw as a betrayal to Elroy.

So she did the only thing she could.

She took the veil.

She joined St. Anselm Convent, and she became Sister Agatha.

But she never forgot about Elroy. She never forgot about her beloved, nor did she give up hope that one day they would be reunited.

Except the opportunity came to her much sooner than expected.

79

THE NUN

18th Century

“Sister Agatha!”

A knock interrupts my evening prayers. I get up and open the door. Sister Mary gives me a tight nod.

“We have another one,” she says in a low voice.

“Have you called for the priest?”

“He sent word he is on his way.”

“Good. Let us make preparations then.”

I exit my room and expect her to follow me, but she doesn’t. She has a worried expression on her face.

“What is wrong?” I frown.

“This case . . . It is different,” she says warily.

“Different how?”

She swallows hard. “Fifteen-year-old girl. She’s dirty and covered in cuts and bruises. Her parents insist she is possessed, but I . . . I fear it might be a case of abuse.”

I click my tongue against my teeth as I consider her words. It would not be the first time this has happened. Our convent is known all over the thirteen colonies for dealing with possession cases, so over the years we’ve seen all types of individuals who claim to be possessed—or whose families claim they might be possessed.

When I first started at the convent, I did not know how to differentiate between them, but once you’ve seen enough cases, you get a better grasp of it.

I’ve been dealing with this for fifteen years now, and most times, the cases end up being either hoaxes or mental illness confused for possession.