"Yes! It's that antique book that damn Danny found from who knows where!"
"It all started with that antique book, things started getting weird, damn it!"
Thinking of Danny, who was only a year older than her, Bridget couldn't help but want to beat him to a pulp. She subconsciously gripped the Cross in her pocket, as if it could grant her some kind of strength.
Bridget inexplicably felt a sense of calm. She continued to stare at the church before her and took a deep breath.
"Thankfully Hailey gave me the Cross; I've been sleeping much better."
Recalling the changes that had occurred since she received the Cross, Bridget let out a long breath. From these changes alone, she knew that the imposing priest who made people feel safe was indeed a very powerful one, just as her boyfriend Hailey had said.
He wasn't like that obviously fake priest on the streaming app who had nothing to show for himself and repeatedly claimed to have performed a few exorcisms on stream, only for his exorcism stream to be shut down for violating some regulations.
As for why she thought Father Yorkes was powerful...
It was because from the day she received the Cross, she never had those terrifying nightmares again, and she could no longer hear those horrifying whispers.
But even so, Bridget still felt the house was becoming increasingly terrifying and oppressive, so much so that it felt like a powder keg on the verge of exploding, and she didn't know when it would happen.
Yet the rest of the family seemed to feel nothing. Her mom was busy with the move, Danny was being mysterious about whatever he was doing, and even the youngest, Cassie, was laughing and playing all day.
"Oh, shit! This is f**king... it feels terrible." Recalling all this, Bridget prepared herself and stepped through the main doors.
"This time, I must get that priest to come check the house!"
But before she could take a second step, a burly man approaching from the side made her stop. Bridget knew this man was an employee of the church.
"Are you here for Father Yorkes again today?"
Hearing this, Bridget felt a bad premonition.
"Yeah, um, is the Father still not in today?"
Sure enough... Robert looked at the girl who was still being cautious but clearly needed help, and shook his head with some regret.
"Yeah, I'm sorry, Father Yorkes hasn't returned yet today."
Bridget subconsciously frowned, and her right hand tightened its grip on the Cross inside her hoodie pocket.
"Fine."
With that, Bridget ignored the burly man's helpful expression, turned, and left.
She didn't think just anyone could help, because this matter was far too strange and bizarre. If it weren't for that priest, she felt people would treat her like she was crazy if she spoke about it.
This decisive attitude left Robert stunned. Swallowing the offer to help if she needed anything, he stared blankly as the girl quickly ran off into the distance.
"Phew!"
After running for a distance and slowing to a walk, Bridget took her phone out of her pocket. Recalling the phone number Hailey had given her, she looked a bit hesitant.
When she first heard Hailey say the priest specifically told her to do this and that she could call him if anything happened, she felt as if the priest understood everything.
"Should I call?"
Bridget's expression was strained, but in the end, she put her phone away and headed home.
"Sigh, forget it! After all, nothing has happened yet. Besides, that priest doesn't seem to be here. I'll just secretly throw that antique book away."
With a heavy heart, Bridget quickened her pace toward home.
If Danny doesn't give it up, I'll have to have a real fight with him to let off some steam!
After passing through several neighborhoods until she reached her street, Bridget felt her mood darken even further.
She hated this damn place; at night, it was full of drunks talking nonsense and spewing filth. Only during the day was it truly safe.
Luckily, they were moving soon.
Bridget suppressed her feelings. With her hands in her pockets, looking as cool as a boy, she kept a wary eye on her surroundings as she sprinted across the road and into her apartment building.
Slap, slap, slap!
Bridget looked at the incredibly slow old elevator, and her frustration rose again, making her face look increasingly impatient.
Finally, she saw the elevator descend.
Clunk!
The double doors opened to an empty interior. Bridget stepped in and pressed the button for the tenth floor.
"Hey, wait! Bridget!"
Hearing that familiar, increasingly effeminate voice, Bridget moved her index finger down and pressed the 'open door' button to stop the elevator.
A dark-skinned man ran in, leaning against the wall and panting for breath.
Bridget couldn't help but roll her eyes. She let go of the button and stood with her hands in her pockets, looking coolly at the closing elevator doors.
"I say, Morse, you've become like a different person. Did that thing affect you that much?"
Hearing this, Morse, who had already changed his mindset, instinctively spoke after catching his breath.
"Is that so?"
"Yeah," Bridget nodded.
It was fine at first, but the next second, Bridget saw her neighbor give a sudden, shy smile.
"It's alright, I don't really feel any effect."
Looking at the seemingly oblivious Morse, Bridget felt a shiver of disgust. she secretly moved a few steps away, pretending to lean against the elevator wall.
"Fine, as long as you're okay."
Morse gave another shy smile. Ever since he had gained Father Yorkes' approval that day, he had long since changed his way of thinking. He looked at Bridget, whom he had a decent impression of, and thought of the noises he had heard the past few nights.
"By the way, Bridget..." Morse began.
"What?"
Bridget, watching the elevator slowly rise to the 6th floor, replied absentmindedly.
"What are you guys doing at home around eleven or twelve at night instead of sleeping? You're making so much noise."
Morse didn't see Bridget's fleeting expression of seriousness and fear.
"It's seriously affecting my sleep schedule."
As he spoke, Morse remembered the intermittent sound of knocking on the wall and continued.
"And tell Danny to stop knocking on the wall all the time, or I'm going to file a complaint!"
Clunk!
Just then, the elevator doors opened; they had reached the tenth floor. Morse looked at her, wanting to say more, but Bridget had already run out without a word, giving him no explanation at all.
"Hmph!"
Morse snorted and stepped out of the elevator. Watching Bridget as she opened her door and walked inside, he muttered, "Hmph."
"Seems like the whole family is annoying. Don't force me to complain about you!"
---
Bang!
As soon as she entered the house, Bridget slammed the door shut and glared at everything like a hawk.
The living room, the kitchen.
Mom wasn't home; her youngest sister, Cassie, was sitting on the sofa staring blankly at her, seemingly startled.
Bridget glanced at the dismantled Barbie Doll in Cassie's hands and strode over with a grim expression.
"Where's Danny?"
Cassie felt something was wrong with her second sister. Being the one who feared Bridget the most, she obediently pointed to the room at the end of the hallway.
Seeing this, Bridget walked over expressionlessly. This time, she had to throw that antique book away, at any cost!