Night.
New York City streets.
Because Director George's high-end apartment is located in a wealthy area, the public security here is much better than Sharlot imagined.
No one was shaking their heads, no one was shooting guns mindlessly, and no Police sirens blared urgently in the streets.
Everything seemed so harmonious and peaceful.
But in this harmonious and peaceful atmosphere, who would have thought that a haunting incident called the "Annabelle Incident" would occur in the Police Director's home?
Sharlot and Grand Master Wang leaned against the high-end apartment building bored.
Director George had just sent a text message saying that he had been tormented by annabelle for several nights, having nightmares all night long.
Both father and daughter were in very poor spirits.
Tonight, Director George took Gwen to a fancy restaurant for a good meal to relax.
It would still take some time for them to return.
So Sharlot spent this waiting time playing on his phone, checking the news.
What netizens had been discussing most intensely recently was undoubtedly Tony Stark, who had been missing for two months.
Some people said that since Tony chose to sell weapons to the U.S. Military stationed abroad, he should be prepared for such an outcome!
Some people said that it was a cause for great celebration that Tony, this playboy who spent all day at bars, picking up girls, playing cards and dice, and had slept with countless 'Penthouse' magazine cover girls, met such an end!
Hmm, it's definitely not because he's envious, jealous, and hateful!
He's not sour at all!
Others suspected that after Tony disappeared, or even died abroad, the biggest beneficiary of Stark Industries would be Obadiah, the current second-in-command of the group.
Therefore, a netizen boldly speculated that perhaps Obadiah was the culprit behind Tony's disappearance in the Middle East!
Snap!
Very quickly, as the second-in-command of Stark Industries, Obadiah immediately came out to clarify: "I am not! I did not! Don't talk nonsense! I'll sue you for defamation!"
He quickly threw out a triple denial to the public!
Then he feigned crocodile tears over the loss of his dear friend's son... Looking at the online discussions about Tony, Sharlot frowned and began to ponder.
Indeed, in his study of magic, he had the guidance of Sorcerer Ancient One.
In the past two days, he had also learned many useful Dark Magic spells.
But in terms of weapons, apart from a cloak of the undead, he had nothing else.
It was indeed a bit meager.
And if he remembered correctly, in the comics, Tony seemed to have built a magic armor?
In a certain parallel Universe, he even became the Iron Sorcerer Supreme?
Perhaps, after resolving the Annabelle Incident at Gwen's Family tonight, he could open a Portal and rescue Tony, who was still trapped in a Middle East cave by the Ten Rings Gang.
He could gain some goodwill in advance.
In the subsequent acquaintance process, he could constantly probe and push Tony to build the magic armor faster and better.
However, these were all matters for later.
For now, he should focus his energy on the Annabelle Incident at Gwen's Family.
Just then, a black Hummer stopped in front of the apartment building.
Grand Master Wang, who was beside him, poked Sharlot's arm and reminded him, "Hey, stop playing on your phone.
Gwen's Family is back."
Sharlot looked over.
After the black Hummer parked, Director George opened the car door and saw Sharlot and Wang, who had been waiting for a long time.
The anxious expression on his face eased slightly.
He stepped forward and greeted them, "You must be the exorcists the priest sent.
Sorry, my daughter and I just went out to eat something, which delayed us.
I'll take you up now."
Hearing her father George seemingly talking to someone, Gwen, with short blonde hair, a slender figure, a beautiful face, and wearing a Midtown High School uniform, pushed open the car door and stepped out, carrying a pink backpack.
"Dad, are they the people you said would help with annabelle?"
Gwen's voice was very pleasant, making Sharlot I couldn't help it look in her direction.
But it would have been better if he hadn't looked.
Upon seeing her, his pupils suddenly constricted.
He saw that Gwen, who should have looked very cool and been a crowd-pleaser, now had an exceptionally haggard expression.
Deep, charcoal-colored dark circles appeared beneath Gwen's beautiful eyes.
Her eyes revealed an unconcealable look of terror, as if she had just seen a ghost.
Sharlot frowned and asked Director George, who was beside him, in confusion, "Director George, I heard Wang tell me that you two were exhausted physically and mentally by the Annabelle Incident during this time, so you just went to a fancy restaurant to eat something good to relax.
How is it that Gwen looks like this...?"
Director George looked at the pink backpack behind Gwen with a complex expression and sighed softly, not answering immediately.
"This matter... let's talk about it slowly after we go upstairs."
Soon, Sharlot and Wang followed Gwen and her father upstairs to the apartment building.
Upon opening the door, they found a large flat with four rooms and two living rooms, nearly three hundred square meters.
The entire home decoration was simple and bright.
At first glance, it was the kind of decor that made people feel very safe and warm.
But it was Gwen and her father, living in such an environment, who were tormented by annabelle into this ghostly state.
Sharlot casually found a seat and said to Director George, "Director George, tell us what exactly is going on with all this."
Director George poured himself a glass of whiskey, then took a few deep breaths.
He gulped down the whiskey in the glass, swallowing it.
Only then, as if plucking up his courage, did he speak, "The haunting incident that has recently occurred in our home, all its origins are because of me!
Gwen's mother left when she was very young.
When she was still alive, she would buy many dolls to play with Gwen.
Perhaps to fill her emotional void, Gwen has collected many dolls to decorate her room since childhood.
She even sleeps holding a doll."
Gwen nodded silently, acknowledging the truth.
Sharlot looked at Gwen in surprise.
He never expected that this seemingly cool girl had such a girlish side to her.
"After my wife passed away, I poured all my love for the family into Gwen.
Every year on her birthday, I would carefully choose a doll to give Gwen as her birthday present.
And the problem... appeared right here!"
Director George took another gulp of whiskey and continued, "Because Gwen has too many dolls in her room, ordinary mass-produced ones can no longer satisfy her needs.
So, to buy some more unique dolls, I usually go to more secluded, seemingly retro small shops to look for dolls treasured by the owners.
Some time ago, on Gwen's birthday, I came to a relatively secluded small shop.
It was filled with all kinds of unique dolls of different shapes.
At first glance, I was immediately attracted to them.
I immediately pushed the door open and started picking dolls.
The female shop owner, seeing a man like me coming in to choose dolls, didn't show much surprise.
Instead, she enthusiastically introduced her dolls as if to an ordinary customer.
Finally, under her recommendation, I bought a uniquely shaped doll named annabelle as Gwen's birthday present.
But I never expected that the nightmare for our whole family began that day!"
"On the first night after buying it, Gwen was woken up by a nightmare!
She said that in her dream, all the dolls in her room came to life, each holding a knife and trying to kill her!
I comforted Gwen a bit and then went back to sleep, thinking it was nothing major.
But later that night, I also had a nightmare!
I dreamed that my wife, who died in a Fire, came back to life!
Only this time, she was completely charred!
annabelle was riding on her head, manipulating my wife like a puppet to speak to me, questioning why I couldn't save her back then!
She even came at me with a bucket of gasoline and a lighter, trying to take me down with her!"
"I woke up in a fright right then.
After waking up, I watched some funny variety shows to relieve the fear.
I thought it was just an ordinary nightmare.
Although there was some fear in my heart, after a few hours, I didn't really think much of it.
But when I took a nap in the office at noon, the nightmare came again!
This time the nightmare was even clearer! Even more terrifying!
My wife, engulfed in Fire, slowly peeled off her skin, recounting her pain from being burned by the Fire.
In the end, she even peeled off my skin!
That kind of pain, even after I woke up, I could clearly feel it!"
"And it was from that day on, every day thereafter, as long as my daughter and I slept, we would have one terrifying nightmare after another.
And the fear and pain that those things in our dreams brought us were reflected in reality, down to the last detail!
Although our skin still looked smooth as before, our flesh and blood were already in excruciating pain!
To avoid further physical and mental suffering, Gwen and I have been forcing ourselves not to sleep for the past two days.
Although the physiological fatigue brought by staying up late is indeed unpleasant, it is much, much better compared to the pain brought by the nightmares!"
Wang frowned and asked in confusion, "Since the source of all nightmares comes from that doll named annabelle, why not just throw it away?"
Upon hearing this, Director George's face showed even deeper fear!
His voice trembled slightly, and he said in a panicked tone, "This... this is the evil of annabelle!
When Gwen and I were still having nightmares on the third day, we also felt that the problem was with annabelle.
We thought about throwing it away.
But as soon as we threw it into the trash can at night, the next day, it was back in the house!
It was as if it had never been thrown away at all!"
"I didn't believe it, so I specifically drove to the Hudson River and threw annabelle in.
But what was the result? As soon as I got home, I saw a soaking wet annabelle already waiting for me at the door.
It seemed to be questioning me there, asking why I threw it away!"
"Since that day, I have tried burning annabelle, disassembling it, and using a shredder.
But without exception, none of them could completely destroy it!
Moreover, every time I laid hands on it, the nightmares that day would be even more terrifying! Even more painful!"
"And my actions seemed to have angered it!
After that, it not only appeared in our home.
It also lived with us!
Just like when we went to the restaurant to eat earlier.
I swear to God! I didn't take annabelle out of the house at all.
But halfway through the meal, Gwen found that annabelle had appeared in her backpack at some point!
It was as if it was saying to us father and daughter, 'Don't hide!
I will always be with you!'"