Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist

In 1944, as World War II reached a devastating climax, Father Lankester Merrin was coerced by Nazi SS Lieutenant Kessel into participating in brutal executions in occupied Holland. This harrowing experience shattered Merrin's faith and became a turning point in his life, leading him down a dark path.

Years later, in 1947, Merrin found himself as an archaeologist in the desolate Turkana region of British Kenya. He joined the excavation of a Byzantine church that predated the arrival of Christianity in Africa, hoping to escape the memories of his past.

Upon arriving in Turkana, Merrin reunited with Father Francis and Major Granville, the officer overseeing the dig. They traveled to Derati, where local doctor Rachel and a fervent convert named Emekwi welcomed their team and provided shelter.

During their exploration of the excavation site, Merrin and Francis were astonished to find the Byzantine church remarkably preserved. This sense of wonder was overshadowed by a growing realization that the church may have been constructed to conceal a dark history filled with horrific rituals.

While investigating the site, Merrin encountered Cheche, a young boy with physical challenges. Ignoring the reservations of his guide Chuma, Merrin took the boy to local doctor Rachel for medical assistance, unknowingly drawing deeper into the foreboding atmosphere surrounding them.

The team's efforts led to the discovery of a secret crypt beneath the church, revealing an ancient idol that indicated human sacrifices had once been performed there. This shocking revelation cemented Merrin's fear that the church was built to seal away a sinister underground temple.

As the excavations continued, tensions rose when local elders demanded an end to the digging. Father Francis reported the situation to Major Granville, who dispatched troops to maintain order, exacerbating the already fragile relationship between the Turks and the British.

The following day, chaos erupted when two British soldiers were brutally murdered, one decapitated and the other crucified. This horrific act led Granville to irrationally turn against the local Turkana people, acting out of anger instead of understanding.

In a desperate act against what he perceived as Christian oppression, local elder Jomo broke into the mission school, slaughtering innocent children, including Emekwi’s son. The British response was swift, leading to further violence and escalating tension between the two communities.

As the situation worsened, Father Francis struggled with his responsibilities towards Cheche and the ominous signs surrounding him. He began to recognize that Cheche's miraculous recovery could be a herald of darker forces at play rather than a blessing.

Burdened by guilt over the escalating violence, Major Granville took the tragic step of ending his own life. His death left the expedition in a precarious state as it faced mounting opposition and the weight of moral responsibility.

In the aftermath of the chaos, the Turkana elders demanded justice for the bloodshed, calling for Francis and Cheche to be surrendered. The church, however, stood firm in its resolve, fearful of the consequences of appeasing the angered locals.

In a moment of urgency, Father Francis attempted to baptize Cheche, hoping to offer him protection from the surrounding evil. However, their sacred ritual was abruptly disrupted by sinister forces, showcasing the inescapable darkness encroaching upon them.

In the underground temple, Merrin confronted a powerful demon that had possessed Rachel and Cheche. As he donned Francis's vestments, Merrin steeled himself for the confrontation ahead, determined to face the malevolent entity and its connections to his past.

In a climactic ritual, Merrin summoned all his strength to exorcise the demon from Cheche, ultimately succeeding in expelling the dark presence. Following the exorcism, life in Derati began to stabilize, though the scars of the tumultuous experience remained evident among the people.