[Chapter 35: Burglary Gone Wrong? Or Right?]
Shrouded in dark energy, the ordinary people couldn't see the scissors either. Daniel quietly observed Katherine and the man beside her.
This was a perfect chance to see if either of them could sense spirits. Normally, without an awakened inner eye, no one could see such things -- unless they were born with it. Daniel figured that even if these two had some perception, they'd likely need a special eye-opening ritual or external aids.
Sure enough, when Flesh-Mangled Face swiftly snipped a lock of Katherine's hair, she only reached back to touch the nape of her neck, showing a slight sensation but no awareness of the presence. Morian, who stood opposite her, also failed to notice anything.
After cutting Katherine's hair, Flesh-Mangled Face moved behind Morian. Just as it was about to snip, Daniel saw Morian frown deeply. His brow darkened, and he glanced behind him with suspicion. His eyes narrowed with doubt for several long moments.
"What's wrong?" Katherine asked.
Morian turned to her. "Nothing. I just felt a sudden chill, an uneasy feeling in my heart."
"Are you worried about that Exorcist?" Katherine pressed.
"Maybe. Better to deal with him sooner than later, before he ruins our plans," Morian said grimly.
"Don't worry, he's dead," Katherine replied confidently.
...
With two locks of hair in hand, Flesh-Mangled Face returned to Daniel: long, silky golden hair from Katherine, and short, coarse brown hair from Morian -- distinct enough not to mix up. Gathering the hair, Daniel placed Flesh-Mangled Face back into the paperweight.
He smiled faintly at the two, then stood and left without giving any orders. Surprisingly, no one approached him during the entire process, which was rather unusual.
...
Night had fallen.
The main door of Cross Hall was firmly shut. Inside, a ritual table was set up, and Daniel prepared a spell. Using the two locks of hair, he could cast a lethal curse from afar to kill them.
"Flesh-Mangled Face said the man kept threatening to kill me today," Daniel muttered to himself. "Seems Katherine and he are definitely working together. Could his body be possessed too? His aura seems calm, his soul stable. Maybe the possession happened earlier, or he's stronger than the spirit inside Katherine. But whatever the case -- their deaths are inevitable."
Daniel cautioned himself, "Still, these aren't ordinary people. They have enough strength to resist -- got to be careful."
Just as he finished the preliminary steps, a loud engine roared outside the door. Then, with a sudden crash, the glass front door shattered.
Daniel froze, stunned for a moment.
He stepped out and spotted a car parked outside his shop. Several men in black masks, brandishing guns, were entering.
"So since the curse didn't kill me, they've switched to firepower," Daniel cursed under his breath.
Without hesitation, he retreated swiftly. Pulling out the paperweight, he released Flesh-Mangled Face and slipped out through the rear window.
"Kill them," he ordered before disappearing.
...
Inside, four masked men entered. Two carried pistols, two wielded shotguns. They stormed into the inner room -- but found it empty.
Initially, they thought their target was hiding. After a thorough search, they confirmed no one was there.
"Where is he?" one asked, confused.
They were paid to kill someone, but the victim had vanished. How could they complete the job?
"I'll call our employer..." another said, pulling out his phone.
The call connected, but all they heard was static.
"Hello? Hello?" he repeated, but the line remained garbled.
Suddenly, through the phone, he felt a cold breath blow into his ear.
Startled, he yanked the phone away -- but the chilling sensation stayed.
He twisted around, but saw nothing. Yet the eerie feeling lingered.
Fear gripped him. As he tried to turn again, he found his entire body frozen, except his head, which suddenly snapped backward.
An invisible force twisted his head with unnatural strength.
Crack!
His skull twisted at an impossible angle -- he could see his own back for the first time in his life.
Then, his consciousness blurred rapidly.
Though his mind faded, his body acted on its own.
Still facing backward, he raised the shotgun in his hands.
"No, Mike... What are you.." his friends shouted in horror, backing away.
One of the men collapsed to the floor, fear paralyzing his legs.
Without hesitation, Mike pulled the trigger.
Flames erupted from the shotgun as a man was blasted backward, landing in a bloody heap, blood pouring from his mouth.
After gasping a few times, he went still.
"Fuck! Oh shit!" another cursed, fleeing toward the exit.
Bang!
A gunshot rang out again, a bullet striking him from behind. He crumpled, life slipping away rapidly.
Gunshots echoed one after another.
The last man sat on the floor, frantically firing his pistol until empty.
His movements were mechanical, devoid of feeling.
Mike lowered his gun and aimed it at the man's head.
"Mike, no.. don't.." he begged.
Bang.
Half of the man's head exploded in a spray of blood.
Mike turned around, surveying the carnage with a twisted smile curling his lips.
His body collapsed softly, lying face down -- but bizarrely, his face was directed toward the ceiling.
...
The next morning, Daniel ate breakfast and asked Amanda, "How are those two scripts coming along?"
The night before, after leaving Cross Hall, Daniel had headed to Amanda's place to collect his payment. Amanda had been tirelessly working all night.
"I've already received callbacks for two lead female roles, but auditions haven't started yet," Amanda replied. "V for Vendetta auditions are early next month, and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants will be slightly later."
"Let me know when the exact dates are set," Daniel said.
"I will," she nodded.
*****
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