[Chapter 18: Evil-Breaking Seal]
Daniel fixed his gaze on Cathy. "Cathy, you have two choices now. First, I'll refund the $20,000 down payment you made, and I'll step away from your family's affairs entirely. Or second, I'll save your whole family, but you have to abandon this house forever and never come back. After that, you'll owe me only $30,000."
"Abandon the house?" Cathy's reluctance was clear. "Can't we keep it?"
Aside from the haunting, Cathy really loved the mansion. After all, no woman dislikes owning a grand home.
Daniel shook his head firmly. "You have to pick one: either I leave, or I take all of you with me. But this house -- you can't keep it."
Cathy hesitated. "Is there really no other option?"
"No."
His words were sharp, leaving no room for negotiation.
She glanced down at her little daughter, Chelsea, then grit her teeth. "I choose to leave the house."
"That's the right choice," Daniel nodded.
If Cathy had said no, he would have turned and walked away immediately.
In the movie, Cathy's family might have had some kind of guardian spirit protecting them, letting them escape at the last second. But this was real life -- their most likely fate was death.
Then their souls would be trapped here, and Jeremiah would use them to hurt others.
Daniel headed toward the basement stairs, preparing to go down and fetch Cathy's husband, George.
Just as he was about to descend, he paused and asked Cathy, "How many days have you been living here?"
"Two more days, and it'll be a full month," Cathy replied, counting.
Daniel's expression darkened. "So, today is the 28th day."
Cathy nodded. "Yeah, today's the 28th day."
Daniel's face twisted with concern.
The 28th day meant that George had long been under Jeremiah's control. He would rise at exactly 3:15 a.m. to kill.
"Damn it," Daniel growled under his breath and pushed open the basement door.
...
An icy chill immediately seeped out.
A faint, ghostly white light emanated from below, illuminating only a small area which made everything feel even creepier.
Daniel's face was grim as he descended.
"Creak... creak..." His heavy steps echoed on the old wooden stairs, the noise sharp enough to grate on anyone's nerves.
When he reached the bottom, the cold aura became almost unbearable.
There, on a worn basement sofa, sat a tall man -- his beard thick and unkempt, his face haggard and exhausted.
In his hands was a double-barreled shotgun.
He sat silently, staring into empty space.
Daniel's arrival caught him off guard.
The man slowly turned his bloodshot eyes toward Daniel.
It was George.
His expression twisted instantly into madness, eyes burning with desperate killing intent.
He raised the shotgun, aiming it directly at Daniel.
"Who the hell are you? Who let you down here?" George's voice was wild, his knuckles white as he gripped the weapon tight.
Daniel's heart skipped a beat. He stepped quickly to the side, narrowly avoiding the muzzle. Before George could point the gun to him, Daniel lunged forward, closing the distance.
"Thud!"
A sharp punch to George's face made blood pour from his nose.
"Fuck!" George roared, rage clouding his already fogged mind.
"Bang!"
George pulled the trigger, but the shotgun blast zipped just past Daniel's side.
Seeing this, Daniel's temper flared. He drove his knee upward, smashing into George's groin.
"Ohhh..." George crumpled, dropping the gun.
He fell to the floor, curling into a fetal position.
"Fuck... fu--" He cursed nonstop as saliva dribbled out.
Without hesitation, Daniel pressed a Clarity of Mind Seal against George's forehead.
George's body shuddered, his wild eyes dimmed, and finally went still.
Daniel dragged the motionless man back upstairs.
Though a single Clarity of Mind Seal sold for $100,000 on the outside, Daniel charged only $50,000 this time -- a significant discount.
But after all, people like Scarlett who spent $100,000 outright per seal were a rare breed.
At this stage, the cost wasn't a big deal, and a small loss was acceptable.
...
As Daniel began hauling George, an unexpected gust of cold wind swept through the basement.
He caught a glimpse of a flickering figure in the mirror on the table.
But by the time he looked closer, nothing was there.
Whoosh... The icy wind roared again, tossing discarded paper towels into chaotic spirals.
The ceiling lamp swung wildly, its light flickering uncontrollably.
"Let... him... go..." A faint, ghostly voice whispered from nowhere, dripping with terrifying coldness.
Daniel ignored it and continued his climb.
"Bang!"
Suddenly, the basement door slammed shut at the top of the stairs with crushing force.
A new weight pressed down on George's body, making Daniel feel as if the man's mass had multiplied.
"Hmph!" Daniel snorted coldly and produced a paperweight from his pocket.
He flicked his wrist and called out, "Come out."
In an instant, a grotesque figure flew from the paperweight.
It was Flesh-Mangled Face.
Without a word, Flesh-Mangled Face glanced sharply toward a certain spot.
Then he vanished, passing through the wall and disappearing into the basement's depths.
Daniel wasn't surprised.
Behind that wall was a prison cell, and Jeremiah's wraith still lingered inside.
Suddenly, a fierce gust stormed through the basement.
Light objects were swept up, crashing and spinning in chaos.
But the force gripping George vanished, and his weight returned to normal.
Daniel seized the moment and dragged George onward.
Soon, they reached the door.
He reached out to push it, but it was locked tight and wouldn't budge.
He knocked and shouted, "Cathy, open up!"
From the other side, frantic knocking answered back, followed by Cathy's anxious voice.
"Mr. Cross, this door won't open!"
Daniel's expression went cold.
He flicked his wrist, and a seal materialized in his palm.
Light rises at my command, judgment stands at this threshold.By sealed authority, let corruption yield.By consecrated steel, let misfortune be cut away.What is barred by evil is opened by decree.Let this door release what should not remain.
As Daniel intoned the chant, he pressed the Evil-Breaking Seal onto the door.
"Break for me!"
"Boom!"
The sealed door cracked open with the force of a muffled thunderclap.
Daniel kicked it fully open.
Outside, Cathy and little Chelsea looked up, eyes wide with worry.
"Mr. Cross! George!" Cathy rushed toward them.
"What happened to George?" she asked, panic in her voice.
Together, Daniel and Cathy helped George to his feet.
"Don't ask questions now. Start the car," Daniel said, urgency sharpening his tone.
He dragged George toward the exit.
Suddenly, Flesh-Mangled Face appeared, floating swiftly behind him.
*****
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