"Michael, what was all that we just saw?" Mercy asked him immediately.
"I can't say anything with certainty, Mercy. Maybe the spirit we came here to send to hell wanted us to know all of this. That's why it showed us that entire visual," Michael replied to her.
Mercy and Michael stood there, confused, looking around in all directions, because the spirit that had just shown them so much had completely vanished—there wasn't the slightest trace of it anywhere.
Meanwhile, at Claire's apartment, Detective Sophia had already arrived. She was still in shock from Harper's death. As soon as she stepped inside, Lily handed her a glass of water, and after drinking it, Sophia sank onto the couch.
"Sophia, are you okay?" Claire asked, watching her carefully.
"Yes… I'm alright. I'm just thinking about everything that happened to Harper today. I could have stopped it, but I didn't. Even now, I keep thinking… if I had believed my son earlier, if I had tried to free him from this curse, maybe he would still be alive. But look—Harper told me everything from the very beginning, and I was ready to help her. Even you all wanted to save her. And still, even with all of us trying, that curse took her life." Sophia said it all in a single breath, because she felt Harper's death was her fault. If she hadn't let her leave the police headquarters, maybe she wouldn't have died.
But Stephnie understood Sophia's condition and spoke gently, "Look, Sophia… no one is at fault in Harper's death—not you, and not us. Maybe this was how Harper's fate was written. That's why, despite all our efforts, none of us could save her."
But even after hearing Stephnie's words, Sophia still couldn't free herself from her guilt. She sat there, silently breaking down into soft sobs. Then suddenly, something Lily said pulled everyone's attention toward her.
"You said Harper left the police headquarters with her teacher… then when the accident happened, where was the teacher?" Lily asked, brushing her finger thoughtfully across her lips.
"Lily has a completely valid point. And second… you told us Harper was around seventeen or eighteen. That means she probably didn't have a driving license yet. So where did the car even come from?" Claire added, following Lily's line of thought.
"Oh—yeah! I never paid attention to that. At the time of the accident, the teacher who gave his name as 'Patrick' wasn't present anywhere. Not inside the car, and not outside either," Sophia said with surprise, recalling every detail of her memory.
"Patrick? So the teacher who arranged Harper's bail was named Patrick. Do you have his home address?" Stephnie asked Sophia.
"Yes. When Claire and Lily came to meet me at headquarters, they asked me for the address. So while coming here, I noted it down from Harper's file," Sophia said, taking her diary out of her pocket.
"If Patrick disappeared right before Harper's death, then it's clear he definitely knows something about Harper and the curse connected to her. We need to find Patrick," Claire said, her expression turning thoughtful.
"Guys, hold on to your horses. First, we need to find out the rules, the method, and the consequences of playing this game. And there's only one way to do that—something I've already told both of you," Stephnie said, looking at Claire and Lily.
"Look, Stephnie, Lily and I already told you—no matter what happens, you are not going to use that method to learn about the postcard game. We won't let you risk your life," Claire said firmly as she rose from her seat.
"What method? Listen… I want to end this curse as soon as possible so no other mother has to look at her child's dead face. So whatever this method is, tell me, and I'll do it. Even if it costs me my life," Sophia said immediately, turning toward Stephnie.
"It's nothing, Sophia. It seems like everything that's been happening lately has affected Stephnie's ability to think straight, so she's just talking nonsense," Claire responded, glancing at Sophia.
"Why, Claire? What is it? Tell me what method Stephnie is talking about. Maybe I can help you all execute this plan," Sophia insisted.
When Sophia pressed hard to know, Claire finally told her everything about Stephnie's plan to go to the Ghost Bridge.
"Oh! That really is a dangerous plan. But if there's even a ten percent chance of success… then I want to go to the Ghost Bridge myself. That way, I can apologize to Harper and also bring back all the information about this game," Sophia said after hearing everything, offering her suggestion to the Ghost Mentors team.
"But Sophia, this is extremely dangerous," Claire said, trying to make her understand.
"And besides, you can't go there. Not just you—Claire and Lily also can't go. That's why I'm the one who has to go," Stephnie cut in, interrupting everyone.
Meanwhile, in the underground section of the LAPD headquarters, Michael and Mercy were moving around, looking for the spirit that still hadn't appeared before them. Suddenly, they heard the sound of a girl sobbing and crying from one corner.
"Michael… can you also hear someone crying?" Mercy asked, glancing around restlessly.
Before answering, Michael looked around carefully and then replied, "Yes. I think it's coming from the corner behind the prison cells."
Michael and Mercy headed in the direction from where they could hear the girl's sobbing.
When they reached there, both of them saw a girl sitting on the floor, crying.
"Who are you, and why are you sitting here?" Mercy asked the girl.
But even after hearing Mercy's question, the girl didn't reply. That made Mercy angry, and she drew out her blades, saying, "Look, don't test my patience. Everyone already says I don't have much of it. If I attack you with my blades, don't complain later that I tore your spirit apart before giving you a chance to speak."
Hearing Mercy's words, the girl stopped crying. Then suddenly, she stood up and started walking toward the monitor room. Michael and Mercy followed behind her spirit. But she stopped right at the door of the monitor room.
"Why have you come here, and what do you want from me?" the girl's spirit asked, without turning back to look at them.
"We're here to send you back to hell—where you escaped from," Michael told the girl's spirit.
But after hearing Michael's words, the spirit burst into loud laughter, then continued walking forward. She opened the monitor room door, went inside, and the door shut again. In the very next moment, when Michael opened the door, there was nothing in front of him.
"She came right in here… so where did she suddenly disappear?" Michael asked, looking at Mercy.
"Michael, that spirit is playing games with us. It's better if you seal this area with a spell so she can't escape or hide anywhere," Mercy replied.
Hearing Mercy's words, Michael closed his eyes and began recalling all the spells in his spellbook so he could decide which one would be best for this situation. Then, with his eyes still closed, he began to smile and said, "Then I'll have to use 'The Truth-Binder and Vision-Shackle' spell."
"What? What does that do?" Mercy asked in surprise.
"This spell is used to bind any invisible, elusive, or hidden spirit or entity within a defined area and compel it to become physically manifest—or clearly visible to all observers. And considering our current situation, this is the most appropriate choice."
Mercy looked at Michael with a mischievous grin and said, "Then do it quickly. What are you waiting for?"
As soon as Mercy said that, Michael brought both his hands close to his chest. Then he closed his eyes and pressed the crystal on his magical ring, and began chanting:
"
"Tremble! This ground is no sanctuary for your escape now,
This circle is forged in pure Truth, no deception can cross this brow!
Invisible force, you shall quiver! Hear the command I impart,
This binding you cannot break, this torment tears you apart.
Oh Spirit! You who are hiding, why do you shake with fear?
In this mirror's harsh cold light, your trembling form must appear!
Let Iron chain you tight, let the Salt forbid your track,
Let Opal force the truth out now, my words hold you back.
While breath remains in my chest, you shall not fade or fly,
You cannot flee this space, beneath this chilling eye.
Manifest! Now! In this harrowing night's wake!
Binding-Circle! Sight-Curse! For my dark will's sake!"
The moment Michael finished speaking, a violent whirlwind suddenly swept through the underground area, and the sound of someone screaming echoed all around them. Doors, windows, and metal panels slammed against the walls, creating terrifying noises. And in the midst of all that chaos, Michael and Mercy's eyes fell on Leslie's spirit sitting under a table—the same Leslie who had been raped by the prisoners on the police chief's orders. Her spirit was still sitting quietly, sobbing softly.
"Michael… are you sure the monstrous spirit we're here to capture and send back to hell is actually Leslie's spirit? That poor girl suffered so much. Why would she be sent to hell?" Mercy said, sympathy filling her voice.
"Look, I was only told that I needed to send the spirit of a police officer back to hell—someone who escaped before completing their punishment in hell and came back to earth, where they took several lives. If Leslie is that spirit, then we have to capture her and send her back, Mercy. Whether she committed sins or earned virtues in her life… God has already made that decision," Michael said as he walked toward Leslie's spirit.
Meanwhile, Claire, Stephnie, and Lily were still arguing about Stephnie's plan to go to the Ghost Bridge and seek answers from Harper.
"Why aren't you two understanding? I've told you—I can take care of myself. And besides, I've been there many times before because of my mom. If I could send you, Lily, or even Sophia in my place, I would… but only someone from a shaman family can enter that place. And here, I'm the only one with shaman lineage. Secondly, this is my responsibility—and I joined the Ghost Mentors team to carry forward my family's legacy," Stephnie insisted firmly.
This time, Claire and Lily couldn't give any reply to Stephnie's words. They simply stood there in silence, looking at each other.
"But how will you even go there? What's the method to enter that place?" Claire asked Stephnie, because by now she understood that no matter how many times Claire and Lily tried to stop her, Stephnie was determined to discover the truth behind the postcard game—and she would go to the Ghost Bridge.
"I have to perform a ritual known as The Paranormal Pathway. In this ritual, I'll light a lamp filled with mercury and dried opium leaves. Its flame must be blue-green. Then I'll chant a mantra, and the mantra is:
"May five life forces merge for a moment, let my consciousness be one.
May the body's dullness depart, O Lord, let my Soul behold Your Vision.
Let the path of Wisdom open, Giver, may devotion carry me across this life!
At Your feet alone, O Divine Master, may this humble plea be accepted!"
The moment I chant it, the flame of the lamp will grow larger and turn a bloody red. As soon as that happens, you need to set a five-minute timer on your watch and turn it on. As long as the flame burns, it means I'm safe inside the Ghost Bridge. But if the flame goes out, you must immediately cover my face with something and draw a circle of salt around my body—because if the flame extinguishes, it means a powerful spirit inside the Ghost Bridge has taken me hostage to try and possess my body here.
But if the flame continues to burn red, then everything is fine. And when the five minutes are almost over, pour holy water into my mouth and extinguish the lamp. It's pretty simple," Stephnie said, smiling softly.
But after hearing the method Stephnie had to use to go to the Ghost Bridge, Claire and Lily became even more frightened. Sophia, however, remained completely calm and said to Stephnie, "Tell me whatever materials you need for this ritual. I'll go to the market and bring them."
But Stephnie refused, telling Sophia that she already had everything required for the ritual. After that, all of them began preparing for Stephnie's journey to "The Ghost Bridge."
Meanwhile, Michael had reached very close to Leslie's spirit. He sat down beside her and said, "Look, I know a lot of terrible things happened to you while you were alive… but you also made many mistakes. And one of those mistakes was escaping from hell. To face the punishment for that, you must return to hell."
The moment Michael said this, Leslie's spirit turned her face toward him, and Michael suddenly shouted, "You? What—what are you doing here?!"
No one knew what Michael saw in that spirit's face that shocked him so completely.And on the other side, Stephnie was entering the Ghost Bridge after lying to her friends that she had been there many times before.
Now, no one knew what was about to happen next.