The Crucifixion 2017

In the heart of Bucharest in 2004, a dramatic and violent exorcism unfolded as Father Dumitru and a group of nuns desperately attempted to liberate Sister Adelina Marinescu from the malevolent grip of the demon Agares. This grueling three-day ordeal tragically culminated in Adelina’s untimely death, observed aghast as Dumitru and his team faced severe consequences for their actions, landing them in jail under murder charges for their botched exorcism.

Determined to expose the truth behind this sensational case, journalist Nicole Rawlins embarked on a relentless investigation. Although her editor warned her to keep her personal struggles regarding faith and a lost mother separate from the objective reporting, Nicole pressed forward. She began this journey by securing an interview with Dumitru in his cell, where he insisted that Bishop Gornick’s interference had disrupted the exorcism and sealed Adelina’s fate.

As Nicole dug deeper, attending Adelina’s funeral, she met Sister Vaduva, a devoted friend of the deceased nun, who staunchly claimed that Adelina’s death was not a murder. Driven by an insatiable curiosity, Nicole soon found herself traversing the secretive corridors beneath the monastery, capturing haunting images of the cross where Adelina took her last breath. Her exploration was short-lived as she was confronted by Bishop Gornick, who demanded that she vacate the premises.

Interviewing Father Anton proved fruitful, as he acquainted Nicole with key figures from Adelina’s life, including Stefan Marinescu, her brother residing nearby with Vaduva. Anton encouraged her to approach Bishop Gornick at St. Joseph’s Cathedral for further clarity on the events leading to Adelina’s death.

Gornick revealed a shocking truth: rather than being demonically possessed, Adelina struggled with mental illness. This revelation only fueled Nicole’s skepticism. Doubts swirled around Father Dumitru, whom she suspected of conducting numerous unauthorized exorcisms. Her investigation took a peculiar turn when she encountered a mute gypsy boy named Tavian outside the cathedral, adding another layer of mystery to her quest for answers.

As Nicole unraveled the threads of this tragic tale, strange occurrences began to plague her life—vivid dreams and unsettling visions that seemed to lead her closer to the truth. Vaduva returned, asserting that the demon had indeed taken Adelina’s life and continued to linger in a malevolent form. Seeking guidance from Father Anton, Nicole opened up about the eerie events surrounding her, to which he cautioned her about becoming an easy target for the demon, especially in light of her painful past and lost faith.

Nicole’s unsettling interactions with Tavian left her uneasy and increasingly vulnerable. As she pressed on with her investigation, she found the line separating reality from the supernatural growing ever thinner. What started as a straightforward news story spiraled into something significantly darker and more complex.

In moments of solace with Vaduva, Nicole unearthed the tragic narrative of Adelina’s doomed love life, a tale steeped in desperation that inadvertently attracted a malignant force into her life. Vaduva’s chilling recounting of Adelina’s exorcism resonated with the darkness engulfing the nun and warned of the dangers ahead.

Father Anton sought to make amends, presenting Nicole with a fine bottle of wine, shared during an emotionally charged evening at her hotel. As they sipped, Nicole found herself caught in tantalizing visions tied to Anton’s desires, only to be left disappointed when he departed, leaving her alone with the intoxicating effects of the liquor.

Continuing her pursuit for answers, Nicole turned to Dr. Funar, who had once diagnosed Adelina with schizophrenia. He recounted a particularly disturbing episode during which Adelina encountered a demonic vision that still haunted him. As Nicole navigated winding roads, she reflected on her mother’s whispers, echoing divine intervention as she felt drawn to the cemetery, where Father Gabrielle was buried—a timing that eerily matched her mother’s demise.

The connections between these tragic events began to coalesce in Nicole’s mind, as she theorized that the same demon responsible for Adelina’s death had also claimed Father Gabrielle. The urgency to uncover the truth beckoned her back to the monastery, where a review of Gabrielle’s records unearthed a chilling reality: his final appointment was with Tavian, who once sought an exorcism for his own father, tormented by malevolent forces urging violence against his family.

As Nicole faced the sinister influence of Agares, chaos ensued. Father Anton rushed to her aid at the farmhouse, witnessing Nicole levitate under the demon’s curse. Tavian and his father desperately attempted to restrain her, but it was ultimately Anton who conducted an exorcism, urging Nicole to reclaim her lost faith amidst the overwhelming darkness.

With Agares expelled from her body, Nicole received a poignant vision of her mother, a bittersweet reminder of her previous life. Reinvigorated in her faith, Nicole returned to New York; her spirit irrevocably altered by the harrowing journey through mystery, loss, and the battle against demonic darkness.