**Chapter 31: Exorcist**

**Post-Kayako Incident: Park Scene**

After the intense escape from Kayako's cursed house, Kris and the others made their way through the quiet streets of the neighborhood, careful to avoid attracting attention. Despite the danger they had just survived, the world outside continued as if nothing had happened. Schoolchildren rushed to class, office workers hurried to catch the next train. It was only 9 a.m., and yet, for Kris, the day already felt far too long.

They found refuge in a small, local park, tucked away from the busy foot traffic. The air was still crisp, with a slight chill lingering, despite the early hints of summer that had begun creeping into the mornings. Kris shrugged deeper into his coat, feeling the cool bite of the breeze on his skin.

The group settled at a row of weathered picnic tables near a set of vending machines, the hum of the machines providing an oddly calming background noise. Kris scanned the area. It was relatively empty—just a few joggers and the occasional passerby.

As they sat, it was clear they stood out. Even in Japan, where fashion was bold and varied, their outfits drew a few lingering stares. The veterans all wore long brown or black trench coats, designed to conceal the weapons they carried. Some had opted to transport their gear in guitar cases, adding to the odd look. To a casual observer, they might have seemed like a band meeting up for practice—except this band was heavily armed and preparing for war against supernatural forces.

Biscuit glanced around, her eyes narrowing at a group of office workers heading to the nearby train station. "We can't stay here too long," she muttered. "People will start asking questions."

Kris nodded, though he took a deep breath and let his body relax slightly. They needed this moment of reprieve. "We'll move soon," he said. "But for now, we rest. We need a clear head before we tackle the next phase."

Jie, still holding his guitar case tightly, leaned back against the table and cracked a grin. "We do look like some kind of grunge band about to hit the stage, don't we?"

Zero, ever the stoic, didn't respond. He was busy fiddling with one of the vending machines, trying to decide between a can of coffee or tea. Zheng, sitting beside him, chuckled quietly at Jie's comment but said nothing.

Kris allowed himself a small smile before it quickly faded. The weight of what was to come pressed heavily on his mind. Surviving Kayako was only the beginning. They still had six more days to survive in this cursed world, and the threat was far from over.

He stood up from the bench, stretching his legs. "Stay alert. I don't think we're in the clear yet."

The group exchanged glances, silently agreeing. As comforting as the park was in comparison to the horrors of Kayako's house, they all knew they couldn't let their guard down. Even here, something could happen.

Biscuit tugged her trench coat tighter around herself. "We'll need to find somewhere more secure before nightfall. This place won't be safe after dark."

Kris nodded, his eyes scanning the horizon. "We'll find a place. For now, let's figure out what to do."

---

**Diverging Paths**

The group gathered around the picnic tables, the tension still lingering in the air but now pushed into the background as everyone settled into a brief lull of relief. Conversations drifted into quiet murmurs, the weight of earlier moments fading, though not entirely forgotten.

Xuan stood off to the side, arms crossed, his gaze distant. His usual calm demeanor now felt even more detached, as if a decision had already been made, one that weighed heavily on him.

Kris scanned the group, noticing the weariness etched into their faces. His eyes lingered on the newbies a moment longer.

Zheng began to address them, "Why don't we introduce ourselves again? You've seen what's out there, so you'll believe us now, right? Even though it sounds unbelievable, we're in another world... I'll go first. My name is Zheng Zha, temporary leader of this team."

Jie handed cigarettes to Zheng and Zero. "Zhang Jie," she said, lighting up. "I'm a gunner."

"Kampa Lovski, heavy gunner, Nice to meet you."

"Zero, sniper," the man next to him said simply.

The three young men looked at each other nervously before speaking. "Lu Renjia, I'm still a college student."

"Xiao Binyi, unemployed."

"Qun Zhongding," the last one said. "Senior college student."

"Zhao Yinkong," a cold voice cut through, drawing everyone's eyes. "Assassin."

A brief pause followed before Ming Yanwei yawned, lazily introducing herself. "HR manager. Always wanted to visit Japan... Guess I'll see it before I die."

"Qi Tengyi," another voice chimed in. "I'm an appraiser... for grave robbers. I'd like to join your team." He gestured toward Kris and Biscuit.

Kris raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think we're a separate team?"

Tengyi smiled knowingly. "Every group has cliques. You're all part of one big unit, but I can tell yours is a better fit for me."

Kris had a few goals in this movie, He had planned to take the newbies somewhere safe, while quietly gauging their usefulness. He still plans to recruit the best team to handle the coming challenges especially the team battles.

But it seems aside from Tenyi the Appraiser and Zhao YinKong the assissin, the others are just ordinary people.

He sighed, catching Biscuit's eye. With a subtle nod, he signaled it was almost time to break away from the group. They exchanged a silent understanding.

But before Kris could respond to Tengyi's request, Xuan stepped forward, finally breaking his silence.

"I'm leaving," he said, his tone flat and without preamble.

Heads turned toward him. The brief calm was instantly shattered as a ripple of disbelief spread through the group.

"What?" Jie frowned, incredulous. "You can't just walk away—not now."

Xuan remained calm. "I've thought about this for a while. There are too many variables, too much chaos. I work better alone. I can't afford to get dragged down by others' choices. This situation is spiraling, and I need to be elsewhere."

A heavy silence followed. No one knew quite how to respond. Kris and Biscuit weren't surprised—this was a turning point they had seen coming.

In the original novel, this movie was where Xuan dies while giving Zheng and the others the hint to kill Kayako.

Xuan had always been a lone wolf—calculating, precise. If he believed going solo was his best chance at survival, no one would be able to change his mind. But Kris also knew Xuan was pragmatic enough to sacrifice himself if it would give the others a better chance.

"Fine," Zheng muttered, his jaw tight. "But don't expect us to be here when things fall apart."

Xuan gave a curt nod, slung his bag over his shoulder, and turned away. His human creation *Arnold* and Bishop followed him, disappearing into the distance.

The group watched in silence, the weight of his departure settling over them.

Taking it as a sign, Kris stood, followed by Biscuit.

"We need to split up," Kris said, his voice cutting through the silence.

"We'll leave most of our Buddhist talismans with you, but after that encounter with the Ju-on, I'm not sure our preparations are enough. We'll take this chance to do more research," he added, offering the group a flimsy excuse.

He didn't even give the others time to get a word in, before walking into the distance.

As Biscuit turned to leave, she called out to Tengyi, "Feel free to follow us, if you want."

Without hesitation, Tengyi stepped forward, following the duo.

Leaving the rest still digesting the events that led to them going their separate ways.

---

When Tengyi caught up with Kris and Biscuit, he hurriedly asked, "What's the plan, Boss?"

Kris turned, giving the man a brief nod of acknowledgment. "Well, first we need to find a place that sells incense—preferably made from agarwood. Second, we'll need to buy a ton of sea salt. Then, we'll need rope, something that won't cause injury—cling wrap would do—plus a large wooden bathtub, about six feet long, three feet wide, and four feet tall. Oh, and a quiet place with plenty of sunlight."

Tengyi blinked, trying to keep up with the bizarre shopping list.

Kris grinned mischievously. "Ah, yes, and a big van with tinted windows."

Tengyi's confusion deepened. "What do you need all that for, Boss?"

Kris clapped the man on the back, his grin widening. "Because, my good man—we'll be kidnapping someone."

Tengyi's eyes widened in shock, but Kris just burst into laughter, the sound filling the air. Biscuit joined in, though her chuckles were more restrained, as if they were sharing some inside joke only the two of them understood.

---

**Kidnap Karen Davis**

As Tengyi fell in step behind them, Kris's mind was already working through the details. He'd been thinking about this since they first arrived in the movie. Everything was playing out as expected—Kayako's house, the deaths, the eerie timing of events. But one detail stood out to him earlier: the old lady in the house wasn't dead yet, which meant they had arrived before *Karen Davis* had even stepped foot inside. The Japanese caretaker must have just died or was about to, leaving the house empty... until Karen arrives.

He remembered how the plot unfolded in the film. Karen would survive her first encounter with Kayako's ghost, at least for a while, and end up in the hospital. That was their chance. If they could kidnap Karen before the curse fully claimed her, they might be able to cleanse her of it and keep her safe.

But first, they had to cleanse themselves.

When Tengyi caught up and asked about the plan, Kris laid it out—not in detail, but with enough information to keep him moving.

"We're kidnapping someone," he'd joked, knowing it would confuse Tengyi for now. But the truth was, this was the only way to expel the mark left by the curse on their bodies.

As they moved through the streets, Kris explained in more depth to Biscuit. "Karen Davis will be the key. We'll grab her after she's discharged from the hospital. But before that, we need to cleanse the curse from ourselves. The cleansing ritual we learned from the monastery in Zanskar will work perfectly for our purpose. By burning incense made from agarwood beneath a wooden bathtub, the curse will be expelled from our bodies. When it's out, the sea salt will purify it. But of course, we'll need the correct chant for this, which we already know."

Biscuit nodded in agreement, her usual playful demeanor serious now. They both knew this was risky, but it was the best shot they had. Cleansing Karen and themselves before Kayako comes for them was their priority.

Kris turned back to Tengyi. "The van, the salt, the incense—it's all part of keeping us alive, my friend. Once we take care of that, we move on to rescuing Karen."

---

**Putting the Plan in Motion**

The streets were quiet as the van pulled up outside the hospital. Kris sat in the passenger seat, his eyes scanning the entrance for any sign of Karen Davis. The sun was high in the east, casting long shadows across the pavement. They had timed it perfectly; Karen had just been discharged, and soon she would be vulnerable—walking out of the hospital, completely unaware of what waited for her.

Tengyi gripped the steering wheel nervously. "So... we just grab her? No one's going to see us, right?"

Kris glanced at him, his expression calm but focused. "We'll do this fast. Once she's out of the hospital doors, she won't have time to react. Just make sure the van is ready to move. Biscuit and I will handle the rest."

Biscuit, sitting in the back with their supplies, was tying together the ropes. "Relax, Tengyi. If we've learned anything from these curses, it's that people don't notice when strange things happen." She flashed a grin. "Besides, we're doing her a favor. Better us than Kayako."

The hospital doors slid open, and Kris tensed. "There she is."

Karen walked out slowly, her movements stiff, eyes slightly glazed from the trauma she had just endured. She looked around, disoriented, but started heading toward the street, likely to catch a cab or head home. Kris didn't give her the chance.

"Go," he muttered to Biscuit.

In one fluid motion, Kris and Biscuit slipped out of the van, moving silently across the parking lot. Karen barely had time to register their presence before Biscuit clamped a hand over her mouth, and Kris swiftly bound her hands with the prepared rope. They kept the process smooth—minimal struggle, just enough to get her into the van without a scene.

Karen's muffled cries of protest were swallowed by the van's dark interior as Biscuit carefully but firmly secured her in place.

"We got her," Kris said, sliding the door shut. "Tengyi, drive."

Tengyi hit the gas, and the van sped off into the night.

---

Back at their hideout—a secluded, sunlit clearing on the outskirts of the city—they worked quickly. Kris and Biscuit had already set up the wooden bathtub, exactly as planned, with the incense burner positioned underneath. The air smelled of sea salt and agarwood, a strangely calming combination given the tension in the air.

Karen was still groggy from the shock, but Kris wasn't taking chances. They had to act before the curse reared its ugly head.

"We have to move fast," Kris said, lighting the incense and positioning Karen inside the wooden tub after stripping her down.

As he was doing so, he couldn't help but catch sight of the smooth, supple, forbidden region of the semi-conscious beauty.

He couldn't help but comment, "Wow, shaved, huh?!"

Biscuit noticed Kris pause at this critical moment and smacked him on the back of the head. "Is that necessary?!"

Kris snapped out of his daze and hurriedly said, "This isn't just for her, it's for me—uh, I mean, us. It's for us."

Kris then grabbed the shovel and began to pile salt all over Karen's body until she was buried with only her face sticking out.

"Once we start the chant, the curse will try to fight back."

Biscuit and Tengyi lined the edges of the tub with sea salt as Kris began to chant, his voice steady and calm. The ritual, learned from the monks in Zanskar, echoed through the clearing as the incense smoke curled upward, surrounding Karen.

Karen's eyes flickered open, the glaze in her expression clearing slightly. She looked around, her fear turning into confusion, but Kris didn't stop. He could already feel the curse shifting in the air, as if it sensed what they were doing.

"Hold her ropes steady," Kris warned, his voice unwavering. "This is the hard part."

Suddenly, Karen let out a bloodcurdling scream. Her body jerked as if something invisible was clawing at her, trying to pull her back into the grip of the curse. The air around them grew heavy, and for a moment, Kris thought he saw the shadow of Kayako in the distance, watching from the edge of the clearing.

But he didn't stop.

Biscuit poured more sea salt into the tub, chanting along with Kris, while Tengyi struggled to keep Karen in place. The air felt thick, like the curse was pushing back against their efforts, but Kris pushed through, his chant growing louder, stronger.

With a final surge, the energy in the air shifted. The smoke from the incense swirled and then dispersed, taking with it the lingering darkness that had wrapped itself around Karen.

She went limp, her body finally relaxing. The curse was gone.

Kris wiped the sweat from his brow, his voice hoarse from chanting. "It's done."

Biscuit let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. "We did it."

Tengyi, pale and shaking, nodded. "That was... intense."

Karen was still unconscious, but she was safe—at least for now. Kris knew it was only a matter of time before Kayako or another piece of the curse came for them again, but for now, they had bought themselves some time. They had Karen, they had the ritual, and they had a plan.

For now, that was enough.