The Conjuring: Exorcising The Nun at the Beginning!

Chapter 9 - Drowsy Sister Irene!

Sister Irene had never encountered anything so terrifying.

As a girl, it was natural for her to feel afraid and unable to sleep after such an ordeal.

Especially since she had just seen Valak's horrifying form with her own eyes.

Whenever she closed her eyes, Valak's terrifying visage seemed to haunt her mind.

It was like the sensation of watching a horror movie.

She could almost imagine Valak lurking under her bed or in a dark corner of the room.

Just the thought sent a chill down Sister Irene's spine, making her hair stand on end.

But she knew that if she didn't rest well tonight, even someone as dedicated as her would feel exhausted tomorrow.

And if Valak attacked them at that point, it could be disastrous—not just for her but also for Roy and Father Burke. 

The idea of endangering them was something Sister Irene couldn't bear.

Unable to sleep despite tossing and turning in bed, Sister Irene finally worked up the courage to knock on the door of Roy and Father Burke's room.

Roy turned his head to glance at Father Burke, who was sound asleep, then shifted his gaze to Sister Irene.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

Sister Irene hesitated for a moment, nervous but determined. "I—I can't sleep."

Roy raised an eyebrow. "So… what do you want me to do? It's not like I can sleep in your room with you."

"Ah…!" Sister Irene exclaimed softly, clearly startled by his question.

She instinctively covered her mouth, stepping back a little in embarrassment.

"..." Roy stared at her, utterly confused by her reaction.

After a moment, Sister Irene spoke hesitantly, her voice tinged with shyness. "Well… since Father Burke is already asleep… Mr. Roy, could you… could you stay with me for a while?"

"Just until I feel sleepy? Please?"

Roy rubbed his chin for a while. 

Finally, he nodded. "Alright. I can't sleep right now anyway, so why not?"

Grateful, Sister Irene smiled softly. 

After a brief look at Father Burke, Roy followed her back to her room.

Her room was identical in layout to theirs, and as they entered, Sister Irene, dressed in a modest nightgown, sat on a chair opposite Roy.

The atmosphere was quiet and a little awkward. 

It was her first time being alone with a man in such close quarters, and she was visibly nervous.

Sensing her discomfort, Roy broke the silence by asking her about life as a nun.

The question piqued her interest. 

Having grown up in Vatican and aspired to become a nun, it was a subject she was passionate about.

Soon, the two of them were deep in conversation. 

Sister Irene, perhaps because it was her first relaxed chat with someone of the opposite sex, spoke more openly than she normally would. 

She shared many insights about nuns and catholic life, and Roy listened with genuine curiosity.

Time passed quickly, and as they talked, Sister Irene's earlier tension faded. 

The adrenaline that had kept her awake all day finally wore off, and fatigue crept in.

Within moments, she began yawning uncontrollably. "Mr. Roy… I'm feeling a little sleepy now."

Roy nodded. "Alright, then. I'll head back to my room."

"Thank you, Mr. Roy…" she said softly, but before she could finish her sentence, her head drooped, and she fell asleep at the table.

Roy sighed, a wry smile crossing his face. 

Looking at her peaceful, sleeping expression, he couldn't help but notice how beautiful she looked, even in slumber.

Gently, he picked her up, her light frame barely weighing anything. 

As he carried her to the bed, the faint milky scent of her lingered in the air.

After placing her down carefully and covering her with a quilt, Roy left the room and returned to his own.

By now, exhaustion had caught up with him as well. 

Lying on his bed, he drifted off to sleep under the flickering light of the wall-mounted candlestick.

***

The next morning, Roy was awakened by a soft voice. 

Opening his eyes, he was greeted by Sister Irene's cheerful face.

"You're awake, Mr. Roy!" she said with a bright smile.

Rubbing his eyes, Roy sat up groggily. "What's going on? Where's Father Burke?"

"Father Burke woke up early and went to get some food," she explained. "I came to wake you."

Roy nodded, starting to wake fully. "I see…"

Sister Irene hesitated before speaking again, a puzzled expression on her face. "It's strange, though… why didn't the morning bell ring?"

In monasteries, bells traditionally rang at fixed times to signal the schedule. 

Her observation was valid.

Roy, however, knocked her lightly on the head with his knuckles. "Have you forgotten? People have died here."

"..." His reminder sent a shiver down her spine, and the color drained from her face as she remembered the events of the previous night.

After breakfast, Roy, Father Burke, and Sister Irene prepared to investigate further. 

Together, they approached the gates of St. Carta Monastery.

Father Burke took a deep breath and reached out to pull the lever to open the gate.

But before he could touch it, a loud, jarring noise erupted.

The gate began to rise on its own, creaking ominously as it did.