[Chapter 202: You've Been Targeted by a Cult]
Liv Tyler was completely stunned.
Her beautiful, large blue eyes stared blankly at Daniel. She glanced again at the pile of powder on the ground, her mind unable to process it for a moment.
One second, this so-called exorcist was saying, "There's nothing I can do," and turning to run. It had led her to believe that the so-called "Great Exorcist" was just an empty title -- a fraud whose legs went weak at the sight of a real ghost.
But the next second, everything changed.
With the force of multiple thunderbolts, the black energy was annihilated.
That terrifying demon who had tortured her until she wished for death -- and had even threatened to sacrifice her -- was just... gone?
Not even a speck remained.
This wasn't just an exorcism; it was practically a miracle.
At that moment, Daniel's back, which had previously seemed "afraid of death," suddenly appeared incredibly tall and imposing to Liv. It even exuded a mysterious and unfathomable majesty.
"Is this the power of the Exorcists?" Liv murmured to herself, her gaze fixed on Daniel, filled with more than just gratitude for being alive. There was an indescribable admiration, even mixed with a strange spark of passion.
In this crisis-filled world, what could provide a woman with more security than such absolute power?
"Miss Tyler?"
Daniel's voice broke through her wandering thoughts.
Seeing her still dazed, Daniel had to remind her again, "Please settle the final payment."
"Ah? Oh! Right, right!"
Liv snapped out of it, a faint blush of embarrassment coloring her cheeks. She hurriedly searched for her bag and frantically fumbled for her checkbook. Because she was so nervous and excited, her hand trembled slightly as she signed.
"Here, Exorcist Cross. This is one hundred thousand dollars." Liv handed over the check with both hands, looking at Daniel expectantly. "Um... could you leave your contact information? In case... I mean, in case anything else happens in the future..."
Daniel took the check, glanced at the amount, and with a flick of his wrist, stored it in the System space.
"You already have my number." Daniel's tone was flat. "But I hope you won't need it. After all, I don't want to deal with this kind of trouble a second time."
Having said that, Daniel turned and left without the slightest hesitation. He really didn't want to stay any longer.
Although he had instantly killed Annabelle, he knew all too well that the "Ram Cult" behind it was definitely a major problem. That "Master" who wanted to descend was most likely a big shot from Hell.
He had ruined their plans; even if he had cleaned up perfectly, there was no guarantee he wouldn't be targeted next.
'I hope I can get away with it.'
Daniel sighed and drove away from Beverly Hills.
...
That night, after Daniel finished washing up, he had just lied down in bed when his phone suddenly rang urgently.
The caller ID showed it was Liv Tyler.
Daniel frowned, an ominous feeling rising in his chest. Could it be that Annabelle wasn't completely dead?
That shouldn't be possible. The System had already notified him of her death and granted him the rewards. How could she still be alive?
He answered the phone, and Liv's tearful scream immediately came through the receiver: "Mr. Cross! Help! Come quickly! Please, come quickly!"
"What's wrong? Calm down and tell me!" Daniel said firmly.
"It... it's still here! No, it's something new!"
Liv's words were incoherent, clearly terrified to the extreme.
"Something new?" Daniel's heart skipped a beat.
Could it be that other remnants of the Ram Cult had found their way here so quickly?
"I'll be right there."
Daniel hung up, changed clothes, and quickly headed out.
If not for the day's earlier events, he certainly wouldn't have bothered. But now, if this really was the Ram Cult's backup plan -- since they could find Liv Tyler -- they could find him as well.
He sped all the way to her mansion.
...
When Daniel arrived at Liv's place again, the door was slightly ajar.
He rushed inside and found Liv curled up on the living room sofa. She was wrapped in a thick blanket, clutching a pair of scissors, her whole body shaking like a leaf.
Seeing Daniel enter, she burst into tears.
Without bothering to put on shoes, she threw herself, barefoot, into Daniel's arms.
Daniel looked around but didn't sense any evil presence. He spread out his Spiritual Sense, but likewise found nothing.
He couldn't help but feel a bit puzzled.
"Don't be afraid. I'm here."
Daniel patted her shoulder, feeling the trembling of her delicate body in his arms.
"What exactly happened? What is this 'new thing' you were talking about?" Daniel asked.
Liv sniffled and let go of Daniel, her eyes full of terror.
"I went to take a shower... when I looked in the mirror afterward, I noticed some pain on my back... and then I saw it..."
She bit her lip, seemingly bracing herself.
Then she turned around, her back to Daniel.
"Mr. Cross... you see for yourself."
As she spoke, her hands trembled as she slowly pulled down the blanket wrapped around her. Then she slipped off the shoulder straps of the silk nightgown beneath.
The nightgown slid down, revealing a large expanse of snowy white, flawless skin.
As a recognized top beauty in Hollywood, Liv's figure was naturally superb. The lines of her back were graceful and smooth, glowing with an ivory-like luster under the soft lighting. However, on this perfect canvas, a bizarre pattern had abruptly appeared -- right in the center of her back.
It was an abstract symbol formed by a dark red mark, looking almost like bruising beneath the skin.
Daniel studied it closely, his pupils instantly constricting.
The pattern was very strange.
At first glance, the lines were twisted, like a strange totem.
But looking closer, the shape was extremely abstract, appearing as -- of all things -- a urinating child!
However, this "child" had a sharp head and twisted limbs, exuding an indescribable sense of evil and profanity.
"Damn it..."
Daniel cursed under his breath.
He recognized the mark.
In the original Annabelle movie, this was the core Curse Mark of the Ram Cult!
That abstract drawing resembling a "urinating child" was actually the coordinates for a demon's descent.
It was also the mark used by Ram Cultists to designate a sacrifice.
"This... what is this?" Liv asked tearfully, sensing the gravity in Daniel's tone.
"I tried washing it, even scrubbing with a brush, but it won't come off... it's like it's grown into my flesh!"
Daniel reached out, his fingertip gingerly touching the mark.
It was burning hot to the touch, and a slight sting traveled through his fingertip. It felt as if something was trying to burrow into his finger.
"Don't move."
Daniel immediately withdrew his hand, his expression growing extremely grim.
"Although Annabelle is dead, before she died -- or while she was lurking earlier -- she left a mark on you."
Daniel said solemnly, "This means you have been completely targeted by that organization -- the Ram Cult."
"Ram Cult?"
Liv's face went pale. She turned around, oblivious to her nightgown or anything else, and asked nervously, "Is that... an evil cult?"
"It's worse than a regular evil cult," Daniel didn't hide the truth. "They worship actual demons. Annabelle was just a medium. Now that she's gone, the mark means you are their chosen sacrifice.
Even if the doll is gone, those fanatical followers -- and even other evil spirits -- will come looking for you, following this mark."
*****
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