In the dimly lit room, Peggy stood on the verge of rousing Jon from his slumber when the unexpected sound of the back door creaking open halted her. A young girl, her silhouette framed by the doorway, stepped into the room with an air of quiet confidence.
Nancy, catching sight of the newcomer, initially registered shock on her features, which swiftly transformed into an apologetic smile. "Oh, I'm sorry for the intrusion," she said, her voice tinged with a hint of embarrassment. "I was just sorting out a few things in the back. Have you come seeking Jon's expertise for an exorcism?"
Peggy's gaze shifted from Nancy to Jon, her skepticism mounting as she noted the girl's youthful appearance, mirroring Jon's own. Despite her doubts, desperation clawed at her resolve, compelling her to entertain the possibility of their help. The thought of abandoning her home was a testament to her dire circumstances.
"Yes, indeed! Our home is... it's quite unsettling, and the children are absolutely petrified," Peggy confided, her voice laced with the weight of her family's distress.
Nancy approached and tenderly nudged Jon awake. "Jon, there's someone here in need of an exorcism," she murmured, her words a gentle breeze meant to stir him from his dreams.
Jon's eyes fluttered open, his gaze settling on Peggy as the fog of sleep began to lift. "An exorcism, you say..." he mumbled, his mind slowly aligning with the urgency of the waking world. Nancy leaned in once more, her whisper barely audible, "She's plagued by a haunting in her home."
Jon, now more alert, offered a nonchalant response, "Could it not simply be an intruder you're dealing with?"
Peggy's expression darkened with a flash of indignation. "I would never trivialize the safety of my children. And... it was Mr. Matthews who directed me to your doorstep," she retorted with a mix of frustration and hope.
"Luke Matthews?" Jon's interest piqued, a pause punctuating his words.
Nancy's voice was a hushed reminder, "The attorney we met previously, the one who bequeathed us the house."
Jon's lips curled into a wry smile, tinged with exasperation. "Yes, I haven't forgotten, you know," he replied, a playful note in his voice.
Peggy, momentarily at a loss for words, watched as Jon shifted his attention back to her. "Very well, let's delve into the occurrences at your residence," he prompted, his demeanor now reflecting the gravity of the situation.
The fact that Luke Matthews, himself no stranger to the supernatural, had referred Peggy was a significant detail. Luke was not one to raise alarms without cause.
With a heavy sigh, Peggy introduced herself, "My name is Peggy Hodgson. Of late, objects in our home have taken on a life of their own, and our children's game board... it conjured the visage of a gnarled, old man!" Her voice trembled with the chilling recollection, setting the stage for the eerie tale that was about to unfold.
Jon's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of recognition crossing his features at the mention of the old man. "An old man?" he echoed, his curiosity piqued.
"Yes, does that mean something to you?" Peggy inquired, noting the change in his demeanor.
Jon lapsed into a contemplative silence, his gaze turning inward as if he were sifting through a myriad of thoughts or grappling with the decision to speak.
After a moment, he broke the silence, his voice measured, "Might I ask, does your family consist of two daughters and two sons?"
Peggy's eyes widened in astonishment. "Yes, that's exactly right! But how could you know that? I haven't mentioned the number of my children," she said, her voice tinged with a mix of surprise and a dawning sense of respect.
Jon's next question was even more pointed. "And has your younger daughter been at the center of these peculiar events?" he probed further.
Peggy's response was a hushed affirmation, "...Yes, precisely!"
"She sleepwalks, doesn't she? And during these episodes, does she ever utter sounds that seem... out of place for a child, resembling an elderly man's voice?" Jon's inquiries were unsettlingly accurate.
Peggy stood there, her shock palpable. Jon's detailed knowledge of her family's plight was unnerving, yet it instilled a burgeoning belief in his extraordinary abilities.
Unbeknownst to Peggy, Jon's insights were not derived from any supernatural gift but from his familiarity with the plot of "The Conjuring 2," a film he was a fan of, directed by James Wan. His anticipation for the spin-off, "The Crooked Man," coupled with Peggy's description, had allowed him to draw these parallels.
The situation was shaping up to be a significant undertaking.
[Ding! A new task has been assigned, Mission Four: Vanquish the demon, Valak and the Crooked Man. Successful completion will yield 600 penalty points; failure will result in a cessation of mission assignments in the current world.]
As Jon had surmised, the system's prompt confirmed that Peggy's home was indeed the setting of "The Conjuring 2."
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Jon addressed Peggy with a newfound resolve. "Mrs. Hodgson, with your permission, I would like to conduct an investigation at your residence."
Regaining her composure, Peggy responded with a nod of approval. "Oh, certainly, that would be most welcome."
***
Nancy remained at the shop, tending to the day-to-day affairs, while Jon accompanied Peggy to her residence, opting to drive his own vehicle rather than summoning another car.
Peggy couldn't help but marvel at Jon's sports car as it gleamed in the sunlight—a machine that even those of considerable wealth might envy. She recalled the words of lawyer Matthews, who had spoken of Jon's expansive home, and she pondered why a man of such means would immerse himself in the perilous trade of exorcism.
Matthews had offered her an explanation that some vocations are chosen not for material gain but for a higher calling. In Matthews' view, Jon was almost a saintly figure, an idealized image perhaps embellished by his own perceptions.
Upon their arrival at Peggy's abode, she ushered Jon inside.
A middle-aged man greeted Jon warmly, extending a hand in welcome. "Hello, I'm Ryan, you must be Mr. Vinson!" he said with a respectful firmness.
Jon returned the handshake, his attention briefly drawn to four children—two boys and two girls—who peeked out from behind a doorway, their eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and caution.
Ryan beckoned them forward. "Come on out, kids, don't be shy," he encouraged with a gentle tone.
The children emerged, each taking a turn to introduce themselves.
"Hello, I'm Johnny," the ten-year-old boy announced confidently.
"You... hello, I... my name is... Peter!" the younger boy managed to say, his words hindered by a speech impediment.
"My name is Margaret!" the taller of the two girls declared.
Jon's gaze then settled on the last child, a girl with a bob cut, her delicate features marred by a look of fatigue. Before she could speak, Jon addressed her, "And you... must be Janet."
The girl, Janet, gave a small nod and confirmed, "Yes, sir!"
Jon then directed his request to Peggy and Ryan. "May I have a word with her?"
With Peggy's consent, Jon settled onto the couch. Peggy offered him a glass of water, and Janet and Margaret took their seats across from him.
Jon initiated the conversation with a simple inquiry. "How does it feel living in this house?" he asked, his tone inviting and open.
Margaret was the first to respond, her voice carrying a hint of unease. "Strange things happen here, you definitely wouldn't like it."
Jon's smile was slight but reassuring. "Well, we'll see about that," he replied, exuding a quiet confidence.
It was then that Janet found her voice. "He said you have to leave! Or things might get even worse," she stammered, the fear in her voice reflecting the gravity of their situation.
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