Chapter 28: The Magical Friends
In a small, well-kept front yard, a group of people, drenched in sweat from the scorching sun, anxiously watched the road in the distance.
It was midday, the hottest time of day, yet none of them dared to enter the house, as if there was something inside they desperately wanted to avoid.
"Roar—!"
A roar like an animal's howl echoed incessantly from upstairs, rattling the windows.
"Gloria."
A middle-aged white woman clutched her apron, her eyes filled with worry. She anxiously asked the person beside her, "Lisa's condition is getting worse. Can your boyfriend really perform exorcisms?"
"Well…"
Gloria recalled Rango's confident demeanor at noon, hesitated for a moment, but then gave an affirmative answer: "He probably can. He never makes empty promises."
"Probably?"
At this moment, a man, soaking wet, holding a Bible, and dressed as a priest, stepped out from the crowd. His tone was clearly displeased.
"Do you think exorcisms are child's play? This is a job that requires facing the devil directly. One wrong move and you'll be possessed and dragged into hell."
"Hey? What are you doing here?"
Lisa's mother's face changed drastically upon seeing this man. She angrily tried to push him out the gate.
Just half an hour ago, this uninvited priest had come to their door claiming he could perform an exorcism for her daughter, but the fee was pretty steep.
The mother, desperate for her daughter, didn't care about the cost and immediately took out all the family's savings.
But to their surprise, the moment this guy entered the bedroom and saw Lisa, his legs went weak with fear. He recited from the Bible dozens of times, but it had no effect whatsoever; instead, he vomited all over himself.
Finally, he scrambled out of the bedroom, crying and wailing.
Seeing his unreliable behavior, Lisa's parents immediately became suspicious and demanded to see his credentials. However, the guy had nothing—he was clearly a fraudulent priest trying to scam money.
"Hey, keep your hands off! I've already refunded your money, what more do you want?"
After the fake priest was rudely chased away, the Indian woman who shared the house with Gloria whispered to her, "I remember you two came downstairs together at noon, why did you arrive first, and your boyfriend hasn't shown up yet?"
"Uh,"
Gloria looked embarrassed. "He said this is his first exorcism in America, and he wants to prepare a very ceremonial entrance."
"...Weirdo."
A moment later, while everyone was still anxiously waiting...
A yellow taxi sped from the intersection, then screeched to a halt at the front gate, drawing everyone's attention.
The window rolled down slightly, a hand casually extending a cigarette butt, which then fell to the ground with a flick of the wrist.
The door swung open, and a man in a sharp black suit and a crisp white shirt stepped out with unhurried ease.
Rango glanced at the crowd, then slowly took out a cigarette case, lit it, exhaled a puff of pale blue smoke, and said softly, "Lead the way."
The people in the yard exchanged bewildered glances, unsure what this pretentious guy was up to.
Even Gloria awkwardly shrank back; no wonder he was so late—he'd gone to buy a suit.
"Gloria?" Rango asked, puzzled.
"Uh, upstairs," Gloria pointed, then explained his identity to Lisa's parents and neighbors.
Facing the questioning gazes and whispers of the crowd, Rango simply smiled and walked straight into the house.
But just then, the fraudulent priest who had been driven out earlier slipped back in from somewhere.
He blocked the doorway, looked Rango up and down, and then asked with scrutiny and suspicion in his eyes, "Have you read the Bible?"
Rango shook his head.
"Do you believe in God?" he pressed.
Rango hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"What about Jesus?"
"Oh, I don't believe in that."
"What?" The priest was astonished. "You believe in God but not Jesus?"
Rango shrugged and chuckled. "Buddy, I don't believe God's son could be killed with three nails. I know a guy who took nine bullets and is still alive and kicking."
"You dare blaspheme!"
The fraudulent priest, now certain the other was a fellow con artist, stood in the doorway and said sternly, "That thing up there isn't just any demon. A blasphemer like you going up there is no different than suicide. Get out of here; we need real exorcists!"
Rango smiled slightly, leaned close to the fake priest's ear, and whispered, "I appreciate your concern, but faith is for self-discipline. If you're going to use it to discipline others, then I'll have to be ruthless. So... if you don't want a beating, move your ass and get out of the way."
With that, Rango shoved him aside without any politeness, then, a cigarette dangling from his lips, strode upstairs to the bedroom.
Watching the man's confident back, the priest frowned and immediately followed.
In the hallway outside the bedroom, Rango stopped and turned to look at the group following him. "With so many of you watching, I can't perform an exorcism. Just choose one representative to come in with me."
The con artist priest immediately raised his hand, eager to witness his colleague's humiliation.
But before he could take a step, Lisa's father quickly stepped forward, grabbed his arm, pushed him aside, and said firmly, "I'll go in with you! I'm her father; I need to stay by her side."
"OK,"
Rango nodded, his gaze falling on the burly, bearded father.
After silently considering his not-so-gentle exorcism methods, he solemnly warned, "I must remind you, once we're in the bedroom, whatever I do, you absolutely cannot stop me. Remember, this is crucial to the success of the exorcism! Understand?"
Seeing his serious expression, Lisa's father quickly nodded. "Understood, understood. Whatever you do, I won't stop you."
"Don't ask me why!"
"Don't worry," Lisa's father immediately patted his chest, promising, "I've seen the world. I won't be surprised by anything that happens inside. Go ahead! I'm ready!"
"Alright then, hey, you sonofabitch!"
With that, Rango quickly put on his Holy Cross brass knuckles and kicked open the door!
Lisa's father followed closely behind, immediately slamming the bedroom door shut behind him.
"Damn it, get out here!"
Rango glanced at the thin, dark-eyed girl on the bed, then, without a word, raised his fist, ready to attack!
But the next second, a hoarse, piercing cry came from the girl's mouth, "Rango?!"
"Son of a bitch!" Hearing that familiar voice, Rango immediately withdrew his fist, looked at the girl possessed by a demon, and exclaimed incredulously, "Kira?"
"Hahaha, what's up bro!"
"You motherfucker! I've missed you so much!"
The next second, under Lisa's father's shocked gaze,
the new exorcist and his demon-possessed daughter actually laughed and fist-bumped each other in a celebratory hug.
(End of Chapter)
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