Chapter 264: Doubts

"It can even invite spirits to possess someone, letting them feel what it's like to be possessed by a spirit."

Saying this, Hailey couldn't help but glance at the priest, only to see a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Invite spirits to possess someone?"

Looking at Hailey, York's gaze was somewhat obscure, "Hailey, you haven't tried it, have you?"

Honestly, these young people are truly fearless, daring to play with this on Halloween.

Perhaps sensing something, Hailey quickly denied it.

"No! I wouldn't be so foolish as to try such a thing."

She said, looking at the priest before her weakly, "The incident with Bridget is the consequence, I'm well aware..."

Her voice grew weaker, obviously Bridget hadn't hidden the incident at the Reed Apartment Building from Hailey.

York shook his head and gestured for her to come over and sit down.

"Tell me, how exactly do they invite spirits to possess them."

Hailey might act tough like a rebellious cool boy, but she obediently sat down.

This scene even surprised her girlfriend a few meters away.

"It's simple, you can see the spirit after shaking hands, and then all you have to do is tell the spirit you see, 'I allow you to possess me.'"

Hailey, stirring the candy in her mouth, mumbled unclearly.

"Then, that spirit can possess you..."

Hearing this, York was somewhat speechless, unsure how to feel about such practices.

The definition of possession is indeed as Hailey described.

Humans have a doorway within them, without permission for possession, spirits, or even malevolent entities need to harass the potential host in a second step, gradually wearing down the host's sanity to the point of opening the door.

Just as Hailey said, allowing a spirit to possess by saying so is akin to opening your door to a potentially dangerous stranger in the middle of the night, what's the difference?

"Why would you play this game?"

York asked this naive question instinctively, too late to take it back.

Hailey moved the candy to the other cheek, puffing out a small bulge on her left face, obediently answering.

"For the thrill. They say being possessed by a spirit lets you experience a novel sensation, like astral projection, a floating, euphoric feeling.

And you might see things you want to see, like deceased relatives, though it's only a high chance and not guaranteed."

Saying that, Hailey waved over her girlfriend.

"Come here for a sec, Ann."

The blonde girl seemed surprised for a moment, pointing at herself.

"Me?"

With Hailey's nod of confirmation, Ann cautiously approached, feeling instinctively restrained in the presence of the priest, not daring to be presumptuous.

"What's up?"

Sitting next to Hailey, she still maintained a bit of a tomboy style.

"Show that video to the Father."

"Oh." Ann glanced at Hailey and then at the impassive Father before obediently taking out her phone and handing it over.

Hailey took it, skillfully found the video, and then passed it to York.

"Bishop York, take a look, this is them playing, captured in a video, seems quite thrilling."

York wasn't sure why Hailey came to him, but since he encountered this matter, he was somewhat curious.

Not about the game itself, but curious about what exactly that sculpture hand used for summoning was.

Soon, York learned everything from the video on the phone.

It depicted a highly supernatural gathering.

The participants were all young people, from college and even high school.

There was even a host.

This host would first bring out a sculpture hand engraved with patterns and some characters.

His introduction was no different from what Hailey had described earlier, lighting candles, inviting spirits to possess, etc.

But this game had a time limit, the possession process could not exceed ninety seconds because once it went over, the spirit would not want to leave.

"So, letting go within ninety seconds and blowing out the candle allows for a safe experience of a thrilling sensation beyond life and death."

Listening to the introduction, York turned to look at the two people to his right.

Under his gaze, they instinctively sat up straight.

"Is this game the most popular among young people now?"

"No, no, no! It's only popular in our school, it hasn't spread elsewhere yet."

Hailey immediately shook her head, swinging like a big leek.

"After all, you need that sculpture hand to summon spirits."

York squinted, moving his gaze back to the still-playing video, where the experience person, a girl, appeared on the screen.

York could be sure that the girl was already possessed by a spirit because her eyes turned completely black.

The girl lay on the sofa, her pitch-black pupils struggling to expand, her body trembling, looking utterly soulless.

Seeing this, York turned off the video and returned the phone to Hailey, calmly asking.

"Tell me, Hailey, the purpose of you telling me this."

"I..."

Hailey's voice halted, she took a deep breath to muster courage.

"Father, I know you're a capable man, Bridget has told me everything."

York frowned instinctively.

Hailey, fully attentive to the Father's expressions, quickly added upon seeing his demeanor.

"This is confidential, I haven't told anyone."

York was nonchalant, calmly saying, "Get to the point."

Hailey glanced at her girlfriend who was huddled in her arms, whispering.

"Father, Ann's brother Kelly exceeded the time."

Exceeding the time meant going over the ninety seconds mentioned earlier, but regardless of the exact time, attempting to dabble in forces and things not fully understood is always dangerous.

Hearing this, York couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head.

"So Hailey, you're asking me to clean up your mess?"

"No!"

With that exclamation, Hailey became anxious, and even Ann behind her was at a loss for words.

"I just..."

Hailey's words were cut off by York.

"Why did it exceed ninety seconds? I saw in the video you guys were very precise with the timing."

Hailey paused for a moment, "Because Kelly seemed to have seen his father, he wouldn't let go,

The host and several participants struggled to take the sculpture hand from him, so it exceeded the time..."

Hearing this, York instantly pictured the scenario in his mind, a child wanting to see his deceased father and happening to do so.

Setting aside exceeding the set time, just the father's spirit alone, he was skeptical. Was this spirit truly the boy's father?

In the depths, York sensed a familiar scent.

Because this incident was highly misleading.

A high chance to see what you want?

Besides the intoxicating feeling akin to poison that transcends life and death, livening up the gathering atmosphere, this aspect probably also played a role in the allure.

"Very familiar tactics." York thought of that sculpture hand, its patterns and characters were not clear in the video, and he couldn't discern any information.

Now, he only had one thought: where did this spirit-summoning hand come from?

And how did it end up in the hands of these students?

"Thanks to 'Casual Encounter' for the reward, thank you for your support!"

___________________

(Support with power stones, comments or reviews)

If you guys enjoy this story, In support me on Patreon and get access to +200 advance Chapters

Read Ahead

Patreon.com/INNIT