As time passed.
Each family member had their own things to do.
Single mother Lisa was packing her luggage, trying to avoid a rush when moving out.
Bell, meanwhile, took Cathy to the bathroom to bathe the youngest child, who was four years old.
And Bridget stood by her room window, clutching the Cross that brought her comfort, looking up at the sky that suddenly roared and flashed with lightning.
Feeling the cool breeze blowing in from the window, colder than ever, Bridget clutched the Cross. She felt it was going to rain tonight.
However, at this moment, what she didn't know was that Danny had pulled out the antique book she thought had been thrown away from beside the bed.
"How could such a good thing be thrown away!" Danny sat down on the bed, placing the heavy antique book on his lap, his eyes gleaming with the light of someone who had found a treasure.
The antique book felt incredibly smooth, like real silk, and the cover pattern gave it an ancient feel.
Touching the sealed pattern on it, Danny looked at the crossed tusks that seemed to be made of finely ground, sharp ivory, and reached out to grasp the edge.
At first, the book was difficult to open. No matter what he tried, he couldn't unseal the crossed, sealed tusks until today when he accidentally pricked himself with a tusk, and then it suddenly opened.
Recalling the extremely bizarre pictures he had just seen in the book, Danny couldn't help but open the book. He was very curious about what these seemingly absurd images meant.
As the cover was opened, what appeared were illustrations of torture. The text was incomprehensible, but the pictures were clear.
A devil-like figure with a ferocious face held a sharp blade in its right hand, poised to cut the throat of the person it held in its left hand.
Several people surrounded someone lying on the ground, feasting heartily.
A disheveled woman with hollow eyes held a bleeding head and brought it to her mouth.
Each illustration was vivid and chilling. Danny found it unbearable, closed the book, took a deep breath to suppress the fear in his heart, moved the heavy book aside, and pursed his lips as he looked at the three records underneath.
The records came with the book; only he knew this secret.
He still couldn't resist his curiosity to investigate further. In his opinion, perhaps these three records would explain this extremely bizarre book, what it was, and its history.
Thinking of it, Danny grabbed the records and walked towards his turntable.
Uncovering the cloth bag, everything about the records came into view. Looking at the date recorded on them [November 13, 1923], an 'as expected' expression flashed in Danny's eyes.
"This book must be a treasure."
With a murmur, Danny placed the first labeled record down... but what came from the speaker was just a self-introduction. However, the words that followed also made Danny understand what the bizarre book was.
"..."
"Good afternoon, my fellow clergy. I am Father Marcus Littleton, librarian of St. Patrick's Cathedral. Welcome everyone to the City of Angels today."
"I have invited you all here to witness a unique artifact discovered by our overseas missionaries. This is its first public display."
"The book of the dead."
The first record abruptly stopped. Danny looked at the second record next to it, still feeling a little eager and not satisfied.
"Continue!"
Danny took out the first record and put down the second record.
Just then, a huge thunderclap sounded outside.
Boom!!!
Danny jumped in fright, looking at the window in front of him. In the dark night, heavy rain poured down, pattering against his window.
"It's raining."
Not knowing what Danny was doing, Bridget stared at the pattering, rain-streaked window, touched her bruised and swollen wound, and sighed.
Boom!
At the same time, single mother Lisa, who was packing her luggage, paused for a moment, then continued stuffing things into the suitcase.
"Hey, don't be scared, baby."
In the bathroom, Bell, pregnant but abandoned by her boyfriend, was holding Cathy, who was trembling from the thunder, and said softly.
"I'm here..."
Boom!
The thunder roared incessantly, and lightning outside the window snaked through the darkness, adding an invisible layer of terror. Danny cursed under his breath.
"Chet!"
But even so, Danny pressed the play button on the machine during the thunderous roar, and the speaker continued to emit sound.
"Based on the tests I've conducted so far, the book of the dead's binding is made of pickled human flesh, and the text and illustrations within are written and drawn with human blood.
This must be a heretical object!"
"But the scroll contains sacred mysteries, and I sought permission from the Church to translate it."
"Unfortunately, my request was denied and rejected by the bishops of the Church, so I began to secretly translate a large amount of text and symbols from the book of the dead."
"..."
"The book contains various ancient rituals and incantations. From the translated text, it is said that reciting these incantations can allow humans to connect with supernatural powers beyond this world.
Now, I will translate the first incantation of spiritual resurrection through this recording..."
Suddenly, the speaker crackled, and an incomprehensible but chilling sound emanated from it.
[Incantation...]
The sound was very bizarre, unlike anything a human could make. Danny felt goosebumps rise all over his body.
He keenly sensed something was wrong and quickly pressed the stop button, but the speaker continued to play.
Patter, patter, patter! The sound of a book rapidly flipping pages suddenly rang out.
Danny felt something, stiffly turned his head, and looked towards the bedside. The book, known as the book of the dead, was rapidly flipping pages, finally stopping on an illustration of an evil woman with a crooked smile, holding a sharp blade, so vivid she seemed to be coming to life.
Danny's eyes widened slightly... Boom! Thunder roared!
Under the pouring rain, a private jet, braving the dark night and heavy downpour, quietly landed at Kennedy International Airport.
"Father Yorkes, a car has been arranged for you outside."
A staff member in a black suit respectfully said to the priest, who was stretching and getting up, half a head taller than him.
"The driver will take you wherever you wish to go."
"Mm."
York, who had been traveling for almost eleven hours since morning, nodded in response and looked to his side.
The slender Irene was struggling to take down the backpack placed above.
All four backpacks were filled with rotary grenade launchers or ammunition boxes, which was indeed a bit much for Irene's physique.
"Let me."
Hearing the voice, Irene subconsciously stopped, watching as the priest effortlessly took down all the backpacks with just one hand.
Being able to lift four backpacks with just one hand, such casual ease, made her stare at York in a daze.
York smiled calmly, holding two backpacks in each hand, carrying all four backpacks, and walked towards the staff member who had already stepped aside.
"Let's go, Irene."
Irene instantly snapped back to reality and quickly followed the broad-backed priest.