When everything was set up, a group of people stood guard in the safe zone. Officer Brad looked at Father York, who sat silently on the other side, guarding The Roger Family. He looked at the Winchester M1897 in his hand, known as the 'trench sweeper,' and nudged Drew beside him, whispering.
"What did you say before?"
Drew glanced at the officer. "What did I say?"
Officer Brad gestured in the direction of the Father and grinned.
"I remember you telling me that evil spirits can't be killed with guns, but look at what Father York has in his hand?"
Drew looked over, scratched his head, and murmured, "This isn't the exorcism I imagined. Fathers usually use Holy water, Bibles, and crosses for exorcisms…"
As he spoke, Drew looked at Ed and Lorraine, who were still inseparable, and whispered.
"Mr. Ed, what exactly is Father York's background? Is he really a Father?"
Ed and Lorraine exchanged glances, a hint of recollection in their eyes, and smiled as they said.
"I don't know either, but Father York is indeed an orthodox Father. As for how we came to know Father York, it's because we were once fortunately saved by Father York, who happened to pass by during a supernatural incident."
Drew exclaimed in surprise, "Life-threatening?" In his impression, The Warrens were so experienced that if they couldn't handle something personally or if a place was dangerous, they would usually notify the church to deal with it. The fact that they needed saving suggested that the supernatural incident must have been a rather significant one… Lorraine also nodded, "It was indeed very dangerous that time. Fortunately, Father York was there, otherwise Ed and I might not have survived…"
Listening to Lorraine's gentle voice, Brad and Drew looked towards York again.
At this moment, York was looking outside, contemplating how long it would be until nightfall.
It was already afternoon when they arrived, and now after all the arrangements, the light outside had turned into the golden hue of sunset.
The sun was casting its last rays.
"About half an hour left…"
York squinted, withdrew his gaze, and scanned the surroundings. It was quiet, without a sound, but he could feel the black resentment clearly increasing, and he could even sense that the evil spirits here did not welcome his arrival.
Just then, York felt someone touch him from behind. He turned around to see a little girl looking at him with curiosity. This was the youngest child of The Roger Family, and she spoke in a clear voice.
"Will you hurt my friend?"
York immediately understood her meaning. The little girl in front of him was the protagonist from the photo, the one walking with closed eyes in the dark.
"Hey! Beth…" Fearing that his little daughter would disturb the Father, Roger called out from behind, but York shook his head to stop him.
Looking at the innocent Beth, York picked her up and let her sit on his lap, speaking softly.
"Little Beth, do you think it's your friend?"
York knew that some evil spirits were just normal departed souls, with no intention of harming people. As for harassment, their appearance before humans might be due to their instincts.
However, departed souls are not human after all. Being able to retain some consciousness is already impressive. As for departed souls that retain full consciousness and intelligence, he had not yet seen any.
Hearing York's words, the little girl seemed to be thinking, then nodded seriously.
"Mm!"
"Only this one friend?" York smiled gently.
Beth nodded again, then said for the second time, "You still haven't answered me, will you hurt my friend?"
As soon as these words were spoken, The Roger Family behind them watched intently.
York glanced at them, remembering the boy who followed Beth in the photo, suspected to be the departed soul of the mysteriously missing Kate. He thought for a moment and replied seriously.
"No, I will only perform a sacred baptism for your friend and send it back to where it truly belongs…"
Similar to Buddhist rites of passage, the church also has a way of sending off departed souls, called Requiem Blessing. This method allows departed souls that can only wander in place to return to where they should go.
Little Beth didn't understand. She just blinked and looked at the adult in front of her. For her, as long as he didn't hurt her friend, it was good.
Sensing this, York stroked little Beth's golden hair and put her down.
"Your mom is calling you, go on, go to your mom."
Little Beth had received her answer. She nodded obediently and scurried back to her family. Mrs. Carolyn embraced her, her eyes holding both reproach and affection.
This heartwarming scene made a hint of tenderness flash in York's eyes. He looked at the darkening sky and stood up.
As the sky darkened and the temperature dropped, the resentment in the house grew thicker. This was precisely when the evil spirits' power was strongest. Under the stimulation of large amounts of Holy water and crosses, these evil spirits wouldn't be able to endure much longer. They naturally hated these things the most, especially evil spirits like Bathsheba.
York's standing up instantly Drew everyone's attention. Ed was the first to speak.
"Father, do you need my help?"
York, holding the Winchester M1897, shook his head and stepped out of the safe zone.
"No, you guard the children."
Ed subconsciously looked at The Roger Family, then nodded. Professional matters are handled by professionals. He also knew his own capabilities; what the Father couldn't solve, he certainly couldn't.
York continued to look at Officer Brad, who had also stood up, and said.
"Officer, you know how to use a Winchester M1897, right?"
Upon hearing this, Brad's eyes lit up, and he nodded seriously.
"Yes!"
York simply tossed the other Winchester M1897, which was slung over his shoulder, to Officer Brad.
Although it lacked his enchantment, when controlled by others, the specially made salt rounds might not cause significant damage to evil spirits, but they could inflict a certain degree of pain and delay their movements. This brief time would be enough for him to return promptly.
This also made York feel a bit of regret. If his enchantment could also be effective in someone else's hands, that would be great. Unfortunately, it was strangely the case that his enchantment only worked for him; in someone else's hands, it would become ordinary specialized bullets. He thought about it repeatedly and could only come up with one explanation:
That is, his own cheat only works for him… Of course, it was regrettable, but York didn't feel too strongly about it. He just looked at Officer Brad, who quickly caught the Winchester M1897, and said.
"If something happens, fire a shot into an empty space based on your feeling."
Brad gripped the Winchester M1897 tightly, and said seriously:
"Understood!"
York gave a look of approval, then, under the gaze of everyone in the living room, walked alone with the Winchester M1897 towards the small path beside the stairs.
According to The Roger Family's accounts and the location of the mother's death.
The basement was clearly a place that could trigger some kind of medium.
Following the small path beside the stairs to the end, York stopped at the back door and pushed open the small door on the right.
A quiet space. A creak sounded, and as the small door opened, a chilling, rotten smell wafted out.
In the dim light, York first rubbed his nose, looked at the stairs extending downwards, and after calmly hanging a crucifix on the small door, he walked down… Thanks to book friend 20190402184143810 for the 100 coin reward.