[Chapter 25: Half a Million Dollars]
Julia looked at Emma, sighed deeply, and said, "Emma, you tell him exactly what happened."
Emma removed her sunglasses, revealing deep shadows beneath her weary eyes. Her voice was fragile and trembling as she spoke, "Aunt Julia, I'm terrified right now. Could you... could you please speak for me?"
Julia opened her mouth to say something harsh but stopped herself, sighing again instead. "She and a few classmates were playing a spiritual medium game."
Daniel's expression darkened instantly. "You really aren't afraid of death, are you? Did you know that once someone plays a spiritual medium game, their mind and spirit open up, which is like inviting a restless spirit to take over their body? Usually, there are protective measures during these games, but those are useless against a powerful departed spirit."
Emma's face drained of color; the fear etched across it deepened, and her lips trembled.
Seeing this, Daniel felt a sinking dread. "Have people already died?"
Julia nodded solemnly.
From the side, Meni whispered, "Mr. Cross, you truly are amazing; you can tell right away."
Daniel's face grew grim. "How many died?"
Emma barely whispered, "Two."
Daniel pressed on, "What game did you play? How many played in total?"
Emma replied, "The Elevator Game. There were four of us."
"The Elevator Game," Daniel muttered to himself.
...
The rules of the Elevator Game rolled through Daniel's mind. As a horror movie enthusiast, he was well-versed in various spiritual medium games. Though he never played them, he knew their methods thoroughly.
The Elevator Game treats the elevator as a mysterious portal connecting reality and a parallel world. By following specific steps, a player can supposedly enter that alternate realm.
The steps were simple: On a quiet night, you ride the elevator alone and press the floor buttons in this order -- 4, 6, 2, 4, 1, 5.
When the elevator reaches the 5th floor, a mysterious woman silently enters.
At this point, you must stay silent and pretend she isn't there, then press the button for the 1st floor quickly.
The elevator then loses control and rushes up to the 10th floor.
When the doors open, you have left your original world, entering an unknown parallel dimension.
The woman will ask where you're headed, but you must never answer -- that traps you there forever.
To return, simply repeat the sequence of floor buttons.
It sounded ridiculously fake -- a childish seance trick. Before his transmigration, Daniel wouldn't have believed a word of it.
But living now in a world where ghosts were real, this silly game had the dangerous potential to summon malevolent spirits.
...
Daniel asked, "Did all four of you play together?"
Emma nodded.
"Did anything strange happen during the game?"
"No, nothing. There was no mysterious woman, no alternate world -- everything seemed normal," Emma said.
"At first, we thought it was a hoax. Until people started dying... and then I began having nightmares, and also..." Emma's voice broke off abruptly.
Daniel urged, "And what?"
Julia answered quietly for her, "A strange mark appeared on her body."
Daniel focused intently. "What kind of mark?"
After exchanging a glance with Emma, Julia said, "Mr. Cross, we really need a private room."
Realizing it was inappropriate to inspect the mark in public, Daniel nodded. "My mistake. Follow me."
He led Julia and Emma into an inner room, leaving Meni and the bodyguard outside.
With Los Angeles feeling like spring year-round, Emma wore only an undershirt and a thin jacket.
After a brief hesitation, Emma removed her upper-layer clothes, revealing the mark.
Daniel's heart skipped a beat. He quickly averted his eyes, focusing only on the significant area.
There, near her heart, was a dark bruise. At first glance, it looked like a simple injury from an impact, but upon closer inspection, it resembled a vague, blurred human face.
"That's enough. Put your clothes back on and come out." Daniel turned away, composing himself and leaving the room first.
...
After a few minutes, Julia and Emma reappeared and took their seats.
Daniel asked in a low voice, "Did the first two victims have similar marks?"
Julia nodded. "Police reports confirmed exactly that. That's why we're so desperate."
Daniel gave a solemn nod. "Like I said, playing a spiritual medium game opens your mind and spirit, inviting spirits to possess you. Normally, there's a barrier between the living and the dead -- our own defenses protect us.
But during these games, you shut that protection down yourself. So even if the game doesn't summon the specific spirit you think it does, it still attracts other restless entities. Imagine walking the streets of Los Angeles at night carrying a wad of twenty-dollar bills -- countless eyes would fixate on you instantly. And once a hostile spirit decides to target you, their intent will be cruel."
Daniel's analogy was clear, and Julia and the others understood.
Julia pleaded, "Please, Mr. Cross, intervene. Save Emma."
Emma and Meni looked at Daniel with desperate eyes.
Even the tall, muscular bodyguard stared at him hopefully. He could handle physical threats but was powerless against ghosts and monsters. He didn't want to fail, and he hoped Daniel would save his employer.
Daniel paused thoughtfully, eyes settling on Emma.
"Five hundred thousand dollars. That's what it will cost to save her."
At once, all around him visibly paled.
Even Julia was startled; the price was exorbitant.
In 2004, half a million dollars could fund a comfortable, prosperous lifetime.
The tall bodyguard, facing the notoriously dangerous streets of Los Angeles, earned a bit over ten thousand a month. He'd have to work four years without spending a dime to make that much.
More importantly, Daniel wasn't the only Exorcist around.
Meni spoke hesitantly, "Mr. Cross, isn't that price...?"
Daniel cut her off, "A spirit bold enough to kill two already won't be weak. It'll only grow stronger. I've said everything. The decision is yours."
Meni fell silent, turning her gaze toward Julia.
Everyone's eyes were locked on Julia now.
Emma couldn't possibly pay such a sum herself; Julia was the only one who could.
Julia's face grew resolute, and without hesitation, she made her choice.
*****
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