Chapter 59: Ritual Complete
The moment Sophie saw the bloodstain, she immediately knew—it was left by Diana.
"D-Diana!"
Sophie ran out of the treatment room like a madwoman.
A few days later, the psychiatric hospital announced devastating news.
A girl named Diana had died in the treatment room due to "unsuccessful resuscitation."
Though the patients knew the truth was far from that, under pressure from the hospital administration—and given Diana's usual conflicts with others—the matter was quickly swept under the rug.
Only Sophie remained engulfed in grief over Diana's passing. Her depression deepened, leaving her mind fragile and vulnerable.
Until one day, Sophie saw Diana's shadow again in her room…
---
The memories end here. Gideon had found the connection point where Diana's spirit had attached.
"So it was excessive longing combined with a weakened mind that gave Diana the opportunity," he realized.
Having identified the root of the problem, he began the exorcism.
Gideon first took out a protective charm and placed it around Sophie's neck. Then he gently rested his hand atop her head.
"Your kindness redeemed Diana. You are a friend worthy of trust…"
Using psychological counseling, Gideon guided Sophie through countless fragments of Diana's memories after her death, comforting the lonely spirit trapped within.
Under his guidance, Sophie felt a growing power within those memory fragments.
It was a power that was peaceful, calming, and warmly reassuring.
Sophie felt Diana's death drifting further from her consciousness. The chair in the treatment room seemed kept at bay. Her spirit soared above the hospital, looking down at the quiet forest and squirrels foraging on the grass below.
Life… felt a little more interesting than before.
It was a sensation Sophie had never experienced. She saw her deceased husband, her waiting daughter, and her son running toward her.
"These are the people who truly matter to me," Sophie whispered.
Inside the house, Diana sensed something was wrong.
Her connection to Sophie was weakening, once inseparable, now nearly severed.
"No!" Diana roared, straining toward Sophie under the sunlight.
But evil has no place in the light.
Diana's body blackened, and most of her form vanished.
In the last moment before the connection broke, Diana made a choice: she abandoned her parasitic hold on Sophie and linked herself to the shadows of the house instead.
This trapped Diana within the building. Even after nightfall, she could not leave—but at least she remained in the mortal world, and with enough time, she could seek her next host.
With this decision made, the remaining half of Diana's body disintegrated into ash under the sunlight.
"She's been purified!"
Martin shouted, excitedly struggling against his restraints as Bret hesitated.
Seeing no immediate response, Bret decided to wait.
Nearby, Gideon had finished comforting Sophie.
"Thank you," Sophie said, tears welling in her eyes, feeling the heavy weight that had pressed on her finally lift.
At the same time, she felt a renewed desire for life—a sensation invaluable to someone who had struggled with depression.
"Mom!" Rebecca ran over and hugged her tightly. She had waited over ten years for this moment.
"Bret! Help me untie this! My family is reuniting!" Martin squirmed, anxious not to miss a single moment.
Bret glanced at Gideon and, receiving a nod, finally freed Martin.
After the brief reunion, Sophie's family approached Gideon.
"Father… I truly don't know how to thank you," Sophie said, wiping her eyes.
"Shh," Gideon responded, interrupting them.
"The exorcism ritual isn't over yet."
Confusion crossed their faces.
"But that monster just now…"
Gideon shook his head.
"One crucial rule when resisting evil spirits—never trust them. They are cunning, and may feign purification while hiding, waiting to possess the next innocent person."
He pointed toward the house.
"Perhaps even now, it lurks in some shadow within these walls."
This was no idle guess. Through the binding spell, Gideon sensed a trace of lingering evil.
He recalled that the original story ended on a suspenseful note, leaving a lingering fear and potential for a sequel—a hallmark of classic horror.
Thus, the evil spirit was not entirely gone.
Sophie's family marveled at Gideon's meticulous professionalism, which reassured them deeply.
On the other side, Gideon opened the Exorcism Bible to the chapter on Light.
"The Lord grants me strength, leaving evil in the world no refuge…"
As Gideon recited the words, the holy instruments around the house began to glow. Rebecca and the others watched in awe as the sunlight seemed to come alive at that moment.
They converged at the window like clear water, flowing along the sill and spilling into the room.
Despite the various obstructions, sunlight filled every corner, banishing every shadow.
"No!"
Everyone had been watching intently when suddenly a furious roar echoed from within the house.
Then, Diana's form appeared again—much smaller this time.
Rebecca covered her mouth in shock. She hadn't expected the evil spirit to still be lurking in the house. A chill ran down her spine.
Her family had moved in just like this, and Rebecca dared not imagine the consequences if things went wrong.
At that moment, she finally understood just how dangerous it had been when she faced the spirit alone before.
"Thank goodness the priest is here!"
A wave of relief washed over her.
But inside the house, Diana was thinking very differently.
By now, its hatred for Gideon had reached its peak.
It had already exposed itself to the sunlight! It had already been destroyed in front of everyone!
So why…
Why wouldn't that damned priest leave?!
Diana couldn't comprehend that humans could be so cunning. Compared to this man, all its previous tricks seemed like the antics of a child in swaddling clothes.
The spirit tried to move closer to the window, attempting to negotiate with the priest.
But the flowing sunlight pressed in relentlessly, quickly confining it to a small patch of shadow.
"Got you."
Without hesitation, Gideon produced a bottle of holy water and stepped inside the house.
The entire house was already under his control, leaving Diana unable to interfere with her surroundings.
"W-Wait—"
Seeing the priest enter, Diana's flicker of hope made it blurt out, trying to stop him.
But before it could finish, Gideon poured the holy water.
A plume of white smoke rose from the shadow.
For the next ten minutes, Gideon systematically purified the darkness using crosses, holy amulets, holy water, the Exorcism Bible, and the surrounding light—relentlessly cleansing until the floor itself seemed to glow white. Only then did he stop.
By evening:
"For safety, I suggest you wait a few days before moving back in," Gideon instructed, carefully packing his tools.
"And ideally, keep some pets," he added.
"I know!" Rebecca raised her hand eagerly.
"Pets have senses sharper than humans—they can detect danger sooner!"
Gideon nodded in approval. "Anything else?"
"Respect their instincts!" Martin chimed in immediately.
Seeing their awareness and safety consciousness rise, Gideon felt reassured. With that, the security of the West District would greatly improve.
Unbeknownst to him, his influence was subtly shaping the people of North America in some strange new direction.
After receiving his payment, Gideon said goodbye to Sophie and her family.
On the way back to the church, his phone suddenly rang.
"Gideon! It's Huang Ren. There's trouble!"
Huang Ren's voice was urgent, though he deliberately lowered it.
"Bishop Julius of our church—his only illegitimate daughter has gone missing!"
---