1 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:15,000 Speaker 1: You're listening to Unexplained Season seven, episode six, look Me 2 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:25,960 Speaker 1: in the Eye, Part two of three. Ever since meeting Peter, 3 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 1: it seemed for a moment that the great cloud which 4 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:32,880 Speaker 1: had been following young Anna Lisa Michel for so long 5 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:37,520 Speaker 1: had been lifted. Throughout the week, she attended her classes 6 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:41,280 Speaker 1: and worked diligently, and whenever they could, she and Peter 7 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:45,800 Speaker 1: met for walks or quiet conversation in the courtyard. In 8 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:49,879 Speaker 1: the meantime, she continued to attend Mass regularly, just as 9 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:54,000 Speaker 1: her mother requested, and also found time to visit Father Alt, 10 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:58,640 Speaker 1: who seemed pleased with her progress. One morning in Wurtzburg, 11 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 1: a few months into her first term, and Eliza enters 12 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:06,280 Speaker 1: her local church to make confession. Perhaps it was the 13 00:01:06,319 --> 00:01:09,680 Speaker 1: troubling thought she'd been having about Peter, or maybe it 14 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:13,400 Speaker 1: was simply routine that led her there. After making the 15 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 1: sign of the Cross at the back of the nave, 16 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 1: she moves silently toward the confession box and lets herself inside, 17 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:23,560 Speaker 1: But when she tries to talk, the words stick in 18 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:28,200 Speaker 1: her mouth. Speak my child, came a croaky voice from 19 00:01:28,240 --> 00:01:31,759 Speaker 1: the other side of the booth, and Eliza tried again, 20 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 1: but still the words would not come out. She felt 21 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: panic begin to rise up from within, and something seemed 22 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 1: to have her throat in its grip. In horror, she 23 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 1: leaps from the confession booth and bolts out the church. 24 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 1: A few days later, she suffers a seizure. Then the 25 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 1: headaches return, plaguing her day after day, and soon the 26 00:01:56,600 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 1: voices and faces have returned to the devil it seemed 27 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:06,520 Speaker 1: was back. For the next year, she struggles with her 28 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:10,920 Speaker 1: various ailments, making visits to Father Alt whenever they threatened 29 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:15,360 Speaker 1: to completely overwhelm her. Each time it's the same, An 30 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:19,639 Speaker 1: oddly distracted ann Eliza would be brought to Alt's office. 31 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 1: After some gentle insistence. She would kneel on the ground 32 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:26,240 Speaker 1: and bow her head. Then Alt would hold out his 33 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 1: arms and begin the prayers, May the Lord bless you 34 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 1: and keep you, May the Lord make his face shine 35 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:35,440 Speaker 1: on you. And each time, when Ault finished, he would 36 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:38,639 Speaker 1: make the sign of the cross and watch in astonishment, 37 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:42,160 Speaker 1: as like a flower turning to the sun, a newly 38 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:45,799 Speaker 1: bright and alert ann Eliza would be revealed before him 39 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 1: in place of the dour and vacant young woman of 40 00:02:49,240 --> 00:03:00,799 Speaker 1: only moments before. It was like a miracle for Analisa, 41 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:04,800 Speaker 1: it was clear that only the church could save her. Old, however, 42 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:07,880 Speaker 1: insists that she continued to check in regularly with the 43 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:12,920 Speaker 1: university physician, who prescribes her yet another course of pills. 44 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 1: Throughout it all, Peter, falling ever more in love, supports 45 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:21,960 Speaker 1: Annalisa however he can, but she is often saddened by 46 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 1: the way her condition leaves her so lethargic and numb, 47 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:31,240 Speaker 1: Unable to reciprocate his love, things soon become strained between them. 48 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 1: In the end, Annelisa realizes she has little choice but 49 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:40,320 Speaker 1: to trust him with her terrible secret that something monstrous 50 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 1: is trying to take over her mind. Peter is shocked 51 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 1: at first, not quite knowing how to respond, but seeing 52 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 1: the sincerity in her eyes, he tells her he believes 53 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 1: her and promises to be there whenever she needs him. 54 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 1: In her second year, worried that a loosening in her 55 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 1: lifestyle might be to blame for letting the devil back in, 56 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 1: and Elisa gradually withdraws from her social circle. Now with 57 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:12,440 Speaker 1: a room or to herself, she finds new, more religiously 58 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:16,720 Speaker 1: committed friends like Maria, Kay and Anna to share her 59 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:21,600 Speaker 1: prayer sessions with. By early nineteen seventy five. Her efforts 60 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 1: appear to be vindicated, as the voices and faces are 61 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:30,480 Speaker 1: banished and the seizures clear up too. But in late spring, 62 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 1: an Elisa's grandmother, a much loved and calming influence, passes 63 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 1: away at her home in Klingenburg, with her sister Barbara 64 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:44,480 Speaker 1: now living in Sulzbach and Gertrude working in Spain, and 65 00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:48,599 Speaker 1: Elisa feels something shifting away from her, as though she 66 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 1: were a boat suddenly unmoored. A few days later, she 67 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 1: sits with Anna and Maria ready to begin their prayers, 68 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:01,359 Speaker 1: and Alisa can't seem to concentrate as Anna and Maria 69 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:07,160 Speaker 1: chat between themselves, their voices growing steadily louder and louder. 70 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:11,720 Speaker 1: Unable to think, and Alisa yells for them to be quiet. 71 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 1: Anna and Maria turned to her in confusion. They'd been 72 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 1: completely silent the whole time. Another time, and Alisa is 73 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:27,120 Speaker 1: suddenly overcome with an uncontrollable anger. She tears down a 74 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 1: picture of Christ from her wall, then grabs her rosary 75 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:34,840 Speaker 1: and rips it apart. The beads scatter loudly across the floor. 76 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:39,920 Speaker 1: Unable to calm down, a terrified an Alisa runs to 77 00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:43,279 Speaker 1: the church to pray, but as she reaches the threshold, 78 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:48,239 Speaker 1: something seems to have her in its grip. No matter 79 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:51,279 Speaker 1: how hard she tries to enter, her legs will not 80 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 1: move across the threshold, and Alisa rushes back to her room, 81 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 1: slamming the door shut behind her, and there she stays 82 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 1: is all night as the voices come again, begging her 83 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 1: to join them. The next morning, a desperate Ana Lisa 84 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:24,480 Speaker 1: calls Father Alt. He is met by Ane Lisa's friend Anna, 85 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:28,040 Speaker 1: who leads him up to the room. When he arrives, 86 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:32,159 Speaker 1: An Elisa is crying quietly in her bed, clutching a 87 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 1: new rosary tightly in her hands. Anna watches from the 88 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:40,159 Speaker 1: doorway as Father Alt kneels by the bed and urges 89 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:43,800 Speaker 1: an Alisa to pray with him as tears stream down 90 00:06:43,839 --> 00:06:49,159 Speaker 1: her face. I believe in God. I believe tature of Heaven, 91 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:54,320 Speaker 1: traitor of Heaven. Moments later, Alt watches in horror as 92 00:06:54,360 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 1: an unearthly scream is ripped from Anna Lisa's throat. Father 93 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:08,359 Speaker 1: Alt turns to a stunned Anna. Has she taken her pills? 94 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 1: He asks, as an Elisa continues to scream in anguish yes, 95 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:18,239 Speaker 1: I saw her take them. She says, get Peter now 96 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 1: says Alt. Alt makes the sign of the Cross and 97 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:25,920 Speaker 1: quickly and quietly utters the solemn blessing may God, the 98 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 1: Father of lights, who is pleased to Analisa's breaths begin 99 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:34,360 Speaker 1: to slow, until finally she is stilled. Alt stares at 100 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 1: her in the ensuing silence. It is time, he thinks, 101 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 1: taking a moment to steal himself, he places his hand 102 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:50,960 Speaker 1: on her head and begins, I Father, Ernst Alt, minister 103 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 1: of Christ and the Church, in the name of Jesus Christ, 104 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 1: command you, unclean spirit, if you lie hidden in the 105 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 1: body of this woman created by God. At first there 106 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 1: is nothing. Then Alt feels movement under his hand slowly, 107 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:15,480 Speaker 1: and Lisa lifts her head, Her face twisted into an angry, 108 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 1: grotesque grimace, is almost unrecognizable. Then her body begins to 109 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:26,320 Speaker 1: contort and writhe under Ault's hand as he holds firm 110 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 1: and Elisa grabs at her rosary, ripping it to shreds 111 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 1: before throwing it across the room. A breathless Anna arrives 112 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 1: with Peter, but before they can speak an Elisa fixes 113 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:41,559 Speaker 1: Peter with a wild eyed stare and in a rough 114 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 1: guttural voice, she screams for him to get out. She's 115 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:50,680 Speaker 1: eventually calmed and gently ushered to sleep, but all who 116 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:53,800 Speaker 1: were present are left in no doubt as to what 117 00:08:53,840 --> 00:09:08,280 Speaker 1: they have witnessed. That summer, Annalisa's mind drifts between lucidity 118 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:13,280 Speaker 1: and confusion. She continues to suffer seizures, and sometimes she 119 00:09:13,440 --> 00:09:17,840 Speaker 1: just freezes and seems to vanish completely from behind her eyes. 120 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 1: She and Peter agree that whenever she enters one of 121 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 1: these strange trances, he should look her in the eyes 122 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:28,160 Speaker 1: to see if she is still present. If she is 123 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 1: able to move them when he asks, he will know 124 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:36,040 Speaker 1: that she is still there. By mid July nineteen seventy five, 125 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:40,360 Speaker 1: and Elisa is back home living with her family in Klingenberg. 126 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:45,959 Speaker 1: One afternoon, Father Oldt's colleague, father Carl Roth, is in 127 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 1: his office when the phone rings. He answers it to 128 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:54,320 Speaker 1: find the trembling voice of Analisa's father, Joseph Michael. On 129 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:57,880 Speaker 1: the other end of the line. Analisa can be heard 130 00:09:57,920 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 1: screaming in the background, having been unable to get hold 131 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:06,360 Speaker 1: of father Alt. Joseph asks if Roth can help them instead. 132 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:10,120 Speaker 1: Father Roth agrees to see what he can do and 133 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 1: arrives at the house a few hours later. When he 134 00:10:13,640 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 1: steps inside, he is immediately overwhelmed by a foul stench, 135 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:22,000 Speaker 1: as if something putrid has just been set on fire. 136 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:26,920 Speaker 1: The smell intensifies as Joseph leads him through to the kitchen, 137 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:30,359 Speaker 1: where he stops abruptly at the sight of Anna Lisa, 138 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 1: standing stiff in the middle of the room, as if 139 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:38,920 Speaker 1: in a deep trance. Then, without warning, she suddenly sprints 140 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 1: towards Roth. The terrified priest only has time to stumble 141 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:48,080 Speaker 1: backwards before she stops again, sudden and rigid, no more 142 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:51,839 Speaker 1: than a meter away from him. Roth can only stare 143 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:54,920 Speaker 1: at her in amazement as she regards his face for 144 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:58,640 Speaker 1: a moment before flinging herself back towards the other side 145 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 1: of the room. Wrath fumbles for his crucifix and hurriedly 146 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 1: holds it out in front of him. The sight of 147 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 1: it sends Anna Lisa into a fit of rage. Stop it, 148 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:16,199 Speaker 1: you're tormenting me, she shrieks. A deeply disturbed Wrath feels 149 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 1: very out of his depth. Unwilling to do any more, 150 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 1: he promises to inform Father Alt of everything he's seen, 151 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:34,840 Speaker 1: and then swiftly leaves the house. Together, Fathers Wrath and 152 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 1: Alt take their findings to local head Bishop Joseph Stangele 153 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:44,120 Speaker 1: and implore him to grant them permission to conduct an exorcism. 154 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 1: Stangle agrees to a small exorcism, a test to determine 155 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:53,600 Speaker 1: if a more comprehensive exorcism is required. A few days later, 156 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:58,160 Speaker 1: on Sunday, third of August, Wrath and Alt return to 157 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:02,200 Speaker 1: the Michael's home. The now twenty three year old and 158 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:06,080 Speaker 1: Elsa sits patiently on her bed before the two priests 159 00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 1: as Alt pulls a small black book from his case, 160 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:14,520 Speaker 1: then kneels down before her most glorious Prince of the 161 00:12:14,559 --> 00:12:20,239 Speaker 1: Heavenly Armies, Saint Michael, the archangel, says Alt, and Alisa's 162 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 1: eyes draw closed slowly. Her head begins to lull, while 163 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 1: her body starts to twist. What begins as a moan 164 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:34,280 Speaker 1: grows steadily to a full on growl. Defenders in our 165 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 1: battle against principalities and powers, continues Alt, Stop it's burning 166 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 1: my arms, she cries. The priest continues, unmoved, against the 167 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:49,200 Speaker 1: rulers of this world of darkness, against the spirits of 168 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 1: wickedness in the high places. Without warning, and Elisa flings forward, 169 00:12:54,679 --> 00:12:57,600 Speaker 1: trying to knock the prayer book from Alt's grasp, but 170 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:02,959 Speaker 1: is restrained by her parents. Yejoseph and Anna father's alt 171 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:07,520 Speaker 1: and wrath have seen enough. While the family wait for 172 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:10,760 Speaker 1: the church to decide what to do next, Joseph and 173 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:13,560 Speaker 1: Anna struggled to keep the worst of it at bay 174 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:17,680 Speaker 1: with prayers and the Rosary, but nothing seems to work. 175 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:23,040 Speaker 1: One morning, Anna finds Anna Lisa in her bedroom, gasping 176 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:27,199 Speaker 1: for air as an invisible force appears to be shoving 177 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:30,760 Speaker 1: her face down against the floor, but any attempt to 178 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:33,880 Speaker 1: get her up or straighten her out results in a 179 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 1: terrifying choking fit that Joseph can't bear to watch. As 180 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:42,960 Speaker 1: quickly as the fits begin, they can just as quickly stop, 181 00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:49,080 Speaker 1: leaving Anna Lisa in bizarre catatonic states. When the hot 182 00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:52,640 Speaker 1: summer days reach their peak, she tears at her clothes 183 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:56,600 Speaker 1: and runs naked through the house in a desperate attempt 184 00:13:56,679 --> 00:14:00,960 Speaker 1: to cool down. At night, having moved moved into the attic, 185 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 1: she can be heard running about the room accompanied by endless, 186 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:12,000 Speaker 1: blood curdling screams. One morning, Anna finds Anna Lisa staring 187 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 1: at a spider as it makes its way across the floor. 188 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 1: Before she has time to intervene, the young woman has 189 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:24,880 Speaker 1: put it in her mouth and swallowed it whole. Anna 190 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 1: Lisa senses clouds of flies amassing around her, while strange, 191 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:36,280 Speaker 1: distorted creatures scuttle about in the shadows. All religious iconography 192 00:14:36,760 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 1: is torn from the walls or smashed to pieces. On 193 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:52,080 Speaker 1: one especially difficult day with father Olt on holiday, Jesuit 194 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:57,080 Speaker 1: priest and exorcism specialist Father Rudovic is sent for He 195 00:14:57,200 --> 00:15:00,440 Speaker 1: arrives to find Anna Lisa lying on the kitchen floor 196 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:04,280 Speaker 1: in a trance with small open wounds on her hands 197 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:09,160 Speaker 1: and feet that Anna claims appeared one morning without reason. 198 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:14,680 Speaker 1: After shepherding Ana Lisa to the sofa, Rodovic confirms to 199 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:18,480 Speaker 1: Anna and Joseph that a force of immense evil has 200 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:24,320 Speaker 1: possessed their daughter. Rodovic takes hold of Analisa's hands and 201 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 1: in a clear, assertive voice, he asks, what is your name? 202 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 1: Analisa's eyes roll back and her head lulls from side 203 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:40,840 Speaker 1: to side. I am Judas, she replies in a low, 204 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:47,200 Speaker 1: unfamiliar tone. Moments later, Annalisa opens her eyes and looks 205 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:50,720 Speaker 1: at Father Roderick, as if only seeing him then for 206 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 1: the first time. When Father Rodovic makes his report, the 207 00:15:56,200 --> 00:16:01,600 Speaker 1: church agrees unanimously to proceed with a full exorcism, sadly 208 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:05,200 Speaker 1: for Analisa. By then, Father Alt had moved to Edelburn, 209 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:09,200 Speaker 1: one hundred kilometers away, and was unable to commit fully 210 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:13,400 Speaker 1: to the task. Instead, it falls to the much respected 211 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:18,560 Speaker 1: Father Arnold Rents of the nearby Salvation Monastery to lead 212 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 1: the ritual. Alt agrees to join him for the first day, 213 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:26,120 Speaker 1: and so it is that at four p m. On 214 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:31,200 Speaker 1: the twenty fourth of September nineteen seventy five, Fathers, Rents 215 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:34,800 Speaker 1: and Alt arrive at the Michael household to begin the 216 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:47,280 Speaker 1: blessed exorcism. Right of the rituale Romanum, Anna and Joseph 217 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 1: have prepared a room upstairs at the back, in the 218 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:53,680 Speaker 1: hope that the sound of Analisa's screams will not be 219 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:58,120 Speaker 1: heard by the neighbours. Father's, Rents and Alt enter the 220 00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:02,320 Speaker 1: room to find Annalisa waiting patiently for them on a 221 00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:07,720 Speaker 1: wooden chair. Seated around her are her parents Anna and Joseph, 222 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:12,400 Speaker 1: and her sisters Barbara and Rosweather, and the ever dependable Peter, 223 00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:16,400 Speaker 1: who has stuck with Anna Lisa through it all. Her 224 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:22,040 Speaker 1: neighbour Tea Heine and her husband complete the congregation. To 225 00:17:22,080 --> 00:17:25,119 Speaker 1: the left is a makeshift altar laid with a clean 226 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:28,760 Speaker 1: white cloth, on which is placed a crucifix bearing a 227 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:32,960 Speaker 1: statue of Christ, along with framed pictures of the Virgin Mary, 228 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:39,040 Speaker 1: the Archangel Michael, and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The 229 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:43,520 Speaker 1: group watching anxious silence as Father Rents in his white 230 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:47,280 Speaker 1: and black robes, lays his briefcase on a side table 231 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:52,159 Speaker 1: and removes the purple stole before solemnly placing it around 232 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:56,439 Speaker 1: his shoulders. Next, he takes out a vial of holy 233 00:17:56,520 --> 00:18:00,920 Speaker 1: water and relics of Pope Pious the Tenth and Saint Vincent. 234 00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:06,000 Speaker 1: With great trepidation. RNs shares a look with Father Aldt 235 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:11,280 Speaker 1: before turning to Annalisa. Holding his Bible in one hand, 236 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:14,080 Speaker 1: RNs makes the sign of the Cross with the other, 237 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:17,840 Speaker 1: then takes the vial of holy water and flicks it 238 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:22,920 Speaker 1: lightly over the nervous congregation. When he comes to Annalisa, 239 00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:26,159 Speaker 1: the touch of the water causes her to jerk and 240 00:18:26,280 --> 00:18:31,800 Speaker 1: growl in pain. Rosswether's eyes widen in horror as Barbara 241 00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:37,320 Speaker 1: squeezes her hand. After a brief pause, RNs drops down 242 00:18:37,359 --> 00:18:42,640 Speaker 1: to his knees. Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, they 243 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:47,160 Speaker 1: all murmur in reply. As Rence proceeds with the litany 244 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:51,800 Speaker 1: of the Saints, a strange moan escapes Annalissa's mouth as 245 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:57,160 Speaker 1: her body becomes more and more restless. Saint Luke, Saint 246 00:18:57,320 --> 00:19:04,000 Speaker 1: Mark RNs continues. An Alisa thrusts forward, her legs kicking 247 00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:08,879 Speaker 1: out violently. Her hind rushes towards her, and together with 248 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:12,960 Speaker 1: Peter and Joseph, they forced the young woman back down 249 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:17,240 Speaker 1: into her seat. She growls and flashes wildly in response 250 00:19:17,520 --> 00:19:20,800 Speaker 1: as the three men struggle to hold her down, her 251 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:25,159 Speaker 1: teeth gnashing as she tries to bite their skin. I 252 00:19:25,320 --> 00:19:31,320 Speaker 1: command you, continues RNT, unclean spirit, whoever you are, along 253 00:19:31,359 --> 00:19:35,320 Speaker 1: with all your minions, now attacking this servant of God. 254 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:40,280 Speaker 1: Then a monstrous scream erupts from deep in Anna Lisa's throat. 255 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:46,240 Speaker 1: Stop with that shit, she shouts her mother. Anna gasps, 256 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:49,800 Speaker 1: struggling to hold back tears as all in the room 257 00:19:50,400 --> 00:20:03,879 Speaker 1: stare in terrified amazement. Father Rents places his hand on 258 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 1: Analisa's head as she continues to growl and squirm underneath him. 259 00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:12,160 Speaker 1: They shall lay their hands upon the sick and all 260 00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:15,639 Speaker 1: will be well with them another flick of holy water 261 00:20:16,119 --> 00:20:21,000 Speaker 1: as Anna Lisa, howling again in pain. Put that shit away, 262 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:25,720 Speaker 1: she yells, Unable to keep her safely on the chair 263 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:30,119 Speaker 1: any longer. Peter and Joseph help Annalisa onto a small 264 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:34,480 Speaker 1: couch at the back of the room. Emboldened by Father 265 00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:43,240 Speaker 1: Rentz's words, the congregation break into a gentle song. Annalisa 266 00:20:43,760 --> 00:20:47,320 Speaker 1: cries out at the sound of every word, as if 267 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:50,280 Speaker 1: they are being carried to her on waves of fire. 268 00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:56,439 Speaker 1: After sixteen hours of relentless battling, Father Rents brings the 269 00:20:56,480 --> 00:21:00,479 Speaker 1: session to an end in a moment of lucidity, and 270 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:04,760 Speaker 1: Elisa implores him to continue, but Rents is wary of 271 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:08,120 Speaker 1: pushing too hard and insists they finish for the night, 272 00:21:08,600 --> 00:21:13,120 Speaker 1: telling them all that a long road lies ahead. Over 273 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:16,560 Speaker 1: the next month, Father Rents and the others will gather 274 00:21:16,680 --> 00:21:19,600 Speaker 1: eight times in that little room at the back of 275 00:21:19,640 --> 00:21:23,760 Speaker 1: the house, occasionally breaking for tea and cake. During the 276 00:21:23,840 --> 00:21:30,120 Speaker 1: more exhausting sessions. Sometimes Anne Elisa becomes so enraged they 277 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:33,520 Speaker 1: bind her hands and feet to protect her from herself. 278 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:37,720 Speaker 1: Those who attempt to restrain her complain of a great 279 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:42,640 Speaker 1: weight pushing down on them. Whenever they draw near. Often 280 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:46,439 Speaker 1: ann Elisa will return to her normal self, her mind 281 00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:50,480 Speaker 1: sharp and clear, only to be seemingly taken over again 282 00:21:50,600 --> 00:21:54,879 Speaker 1: by the dark spirits and their wretched voices. On the 283 00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:58,120 Speaker 1: times that he can be there, Father Alt tests an 284 00:21:58,119 --> 00:22:03,040 Speaker 1: Alisa by switching languages, questioning the voices in Dutch or Latin, 285 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:08,680 Speaker 1: but every time they seem to understand. During one session, 286 00:22:09,040 --> 00:22:11,840 Speaker 1: she again develops the four wounds on each of her 287 00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:15,919 Speaker 1: hands and feet, the marks of the stigmata, according to 288 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:22,959 Speaker 1: Father Rents. After weeks of interrogation, Analisa's tormentors seemingly reveal 289 00:22:23,080 --> 00:22:31,439 Speaker 1: themselves as Nero, Cain, Lucifer, Hitler, and Judas, each of 290 00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:37,160 Speaker 1: their names uttered from Annalissa's lips with the same guttural growl. 291 00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:47,919 Speaker 1: One afternoon, Father Olt is telling the family about a 292 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:52,120 Speaker 1: disgraced priest by the name of Valentine Fleischmann who ran 293 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:56,760 Speaker 1: Alt's parish back in the sixteenth century. When Analisa lets 294 00:22:56,800 --> 00:23:00,439 Speaker 1: out a terrible scream. They watch in horror as her 295 00:23:00,520 --> 00:23:05,040 Speaker 1: body twitches and her face shifts into strained shapes, as 296 00:23:05,119 --> 00:23:09,040 Speaker 1: if something were trying to come through her skin, and 297 00:23:09,119 --> 00:23:14,639 Speaker 1: a sixth demon announces itself. It is Fleischmann, says the 298 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:19,640 Speaker 1: voice coming from Anna Lisa's lips. Father Old is astonished 299 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:23,000 Speaker 1: when the voice then later recounts how it had once 300 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:26,919 Speaker 1: killed a man and battered a woman, in details that 301 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:30,159 Speaker 1: could only have been gleaned from the archives of his 302 00:23:30,280 --> 00:23:36,040 Speaker 1: Ethelburn Parish. In the days between sessions, and Elisa incredibly 303 00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:38,960 Speaker 1: is able to study for her end of term exams. 304 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:43,360 Speaker 1: Other times, her mother finds her staring off into space 305 00:23:43,920 --> 00:23:48,200 Speaker 1: while simultaneously kicking the underside of her bed until her 306 00:23:48,240 --> 00:23:53,480 Speaker 1: feet split open and bleed. In October, and Elisa is 307 00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:57,320 Speaker 1: sitting alone in her bedroom when another voice appears to her, 308 00:23:58,320 --> 00:24:02,360 Speaker 1: one she has not heard before. It is soft, gentle, 309 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:07,280 Speaker 1: and loving. The voice announces itself as the Mother of God. 310 00:24:08,280 --> 00:24:11,159 Speaker 1: It tells Anna Lisa to be brave, and that she 311 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:14,679 Speaker 1: must endure all this torment, to carry the burden of 312 00:24:14,760 --> 00:24:19,200 Speaker 1: so much sin that has befallen the world. She need 313 00:24:19,280 --> 00:24:24,640 Speaker 1: not fear, it says, she will be free soon. All 314 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:29,159 Speaker 1: the while, the sessions continue recorded by Father Rents on 315 00:24:29,240 --> 00:24:33,560 Speaker 1: a reel to reel tape recorder. Some nights he plays 316 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:38,000 Speaker 1: the recordings back to Bishop Stangle as together they sit 317 00:24:38,119 --> 00:24:41,200 Speaker 1: and wrapped in the dim light of his office, while 318 00:24:41,240 --> 00:25:04,000 Speaker 1: the supposed voices of Satan's minions echo around the room. 319 00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:11,119 Speaker 1: On the twenty ninth of October, the voices deliver an 320 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:17,280 Speaker 1: unexpected message they will leave on All Hallows Night, Saturday thirty. 321 00:25:17,359 --> 00:25:22,640 Speaker 1: First gathering on that day in the small back room, 322 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:26,640 Speaker 1: an air of cautious optimism descends as the family take 323 00:25:26,720 --> 00:25:31,600 Speaker 1: their places around the stricken Analsa. In the name of 324 00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:34,800 Speaker 1: the Holy Trinity, in the name of the Father, the Son, 325 00:25:34,920 --> 00:25:37,680 Speaker 1: and the Holy Ghost. I command you to go out, 326 00:25:38,080 --> 00:25:42,680 Speaker 1: never to return, repeats Father Rents. A splash of holy 327 00:25:42,760 --> 00:25:48,240 Speaker 1: water is followed by Analysa's agonizing screams, but the voices 328 00:25:48,320 --> 00:25:52,840 Speaker 1: refuse to appear, until finally one of them gurgles up. 329 00:25:53,960 --> 00:25:58,879 Speaker 1: Who are you, asks Father Rents? Are you? Fleischmann asks 330 00:25:58,920 --> 00:26:05,280 Speaker 1: Father Alt yes, I go now. It rasps into hell, 331 00:26:05,920 --> 00:26:12,000 Speaker 1: demands alt yes. Anne Elisa doubles over and wretches violently. 332 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:15,959 Speaker 1: Then a swift growl of Hail Mary, full of Grace 333 00:26:16,560 --> 00:26:28,280 Speaker 1: is heard and the room falls completely silent. Father Rents 334 00:26:28,359 --> 00:26:32,600 Speaker 1: is the first to break the silence. Fleischmann has gone. 335 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:36,560 Speaker 1: Now it is the turn of the others. Then, one 336 00:26:36,600 --> 00:26:41,920 Speaker 1: by one, the supposed hitler Caine, and then Nero all 337 00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:46,720 Speaker 1: seemingly take their leave from ann Alisa's body. The announcement 338 00:26:46,800 --> 00:26:50,960 Speaker 1: from each voice is accompanied by horrific screams as they 339 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:55,760 Speaker 1: beg Father rents not to send them back to hell. Finally, 340 00:26:56,160 --> 00:27:00,760 Speaker 1: it is only Lucifer left with a raspy hail Mary 341 00:27:00,840 --> 00:27:04,840 Speaker 1: full of grace, It too, seemingly takes its leave from 342 00:27:04,840 --> 00:27:10,760 Speaker 1: Analisa's body, sending an exhausted Annalsa collapsing back onto the sofa. 343 00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:15,680 Speaker 1: A waning moon hangs outside the window in the dark 344 00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:20,199 Speaker 1: autumn night. As a long forgotten silence returns to the 345 00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:25,960 Speaker 1: Michel household. There are gasps and apprehensive murmurs as Ana 346 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:30,840 Speaker 1: Lisa begins to stir, coming round as if from a dream. 347 00:27:31,320 --> 00:27:36,120 Speaker 1: Is it over? She asks meekly. It seems the Mother 348 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:41,359 Speaker 1: of God's apparent words have come true. The congregation weep 349 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:46,160 Speaker 1: with joy and break into song, the elated voices rising 350 00:27:46,440 --> 00:27:50,240 Speaker 1: as a majestic euphoria floods the room, so much so 351 00:27:50,560 --> 00:27:54,000 Speaker 1: that they don't hear it at first, the shallow gurgle 352 00:27:54,440 --> 00:28:00,000 Speaker 1: snaking through the gentle choral melodies, turning into another horrified 353 00:28:00,320 --> 00:28:04,600 Speaker 1: scream that brings the joyous hymn to an abrupt end. 354 00:28:05,840 --> 00:28:10,040 Speaker 1: They turn in terror towards Annalisa, now sitting up again 355 00:28:10,119 --> 00:28:14,520 Speaker 1: on the sofa with a strange smile playing on her lips. 356 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:21,879 Speaker 1: But I am not yet, out comes a coarse voice. 357 00:28:22,480 --> 00:28:25,800 Speaker 1: A rare window of good health the following week enables 358 00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:30,080 Speaker 1: Annalisa to return to Wurtzburg to take her theology exams. 359 00:28:30,760 --> 00:28:33,679 Speaker 1: The next few months are spent traveling back and forth 360 00:28:33,760 --> 00:28:38,560 Speaker 1: to Klingenburg as Father Rents continues unsuccessfully to coax a 361 00:28:38,640 --> 00:28:43,480 Speaker 1: name from the demon, who refuses to be exercised. When 362 00:28:43,480 --> 00:28:47,440 Speaker 1: Anealissa's friends ask where she's been, she offers only that 363 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:51,360 Speaker 1: an illness has kept her from her studies. As the 364 00:28:51,440 --> 00:28:54,120 Speaker 1: year draws to a close, there's no let up from 365 00:28:54,160 --> 00:28:58,160 Speaker 1: the unnamed voice that plagues her every waking hour and 366 00:28:58,200 --> 00:29:02,280 Speaker 1: who spits and rages at the Rents whenever he comes near. 367 00:29:03,480 --> 00:29:07,920 Speaker 1: In early nineteen seventy six, the voice finally reveals itself. 368 00:29:08,800 --> 00:29:13,680 Speaker 1: I am Lucifer, it says, insisting that it never actually left. 369 00:29:15,280 --> 00:29:19,480 Speaker 1: One evening in the dorm, Lucifer tells Anna Lisa to 370 00:29:19,560 --> 00:29:23,000 Speaker 1: press her face to the floor. Do it until you 371 00:29:23,040 --> 00:29:27,880 Speaker 1: can't breathe anymore, he says, Now strip naked and go 372 00:29:27,920 --> 00:29:31,880 Speaker 1: to Anna's room and climb under her sheets. Anna Lisa 373 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:36,440 Speaker 1: screams as her body seems to undress itself until she 374 00:29:36,560 --> 00:29:42,000 Speaker 1: is finally released. She puts her clothes back on and climbs, 375 00:29:42,160 --> 00:29:46,600 Speaker 1: terrified and shaking, into bed, and there she shivers all 376 00:29:46,680 --> 00:29:50,960 Speaker 1: through the night, begging for a piece that never comes. 377 00:29:55,080 --> 00:30:00,160 Speaker 1: You've been listening to Unexplained Season seven, episode six, look 378 00:30:00,240 --> 00:30:03,800 Speaker 1: Me in the Eye, Part two of three. The third 379 00:30:03,840 --> 00:30:08,040 Speaker 1: and final part will be released next Friday, October sixth. 380 00:30:09,640 --> 00:30:14,640 Speaker 1: This episode was written by Richard McLain Smith. Unexplained. The 381 00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:18,360 Speaker 1: book and audiobook, with stories never before featured on the show, 382 00:30:18,760 --> 00:30:22,880 Speaker 1: is now available to buy worldwide. You can purchase from Amazon, 383 00:30:23,160 --> 00:30:27,959 Speaker 1: Barnes and Noble, Waterstones, and other bookstores. Please subscribe to 384 00:30:28,080 --> 00:30:31,239 Speaker 1: and rate the show wherever you get your podcasts, and 385 00:30:31,320 --> 00:30:33,600 Speaker 1: feel free to get in touch with any thoughts or 386 00:30:33,640 --> 00:30:37,440 Speaker 1: ideas regarding the stories you've heard on the show. Perhaps 387 00:30:37,440 --> 00:30:39,920 Speaker 1: you have an explanation of your own you'd like to share. 388 00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:44,040 Speaker 1: You can find out more at Unexplained podcast dot com 389 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:47,800 Speaker 1: and reach us online through Twitter at Unexplained Pod and 390 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:52,680 Speaker 1: Facebook at Facebook dot com. Forward Slash Unexplained Podcast