It's undeniable that these two questions did spark a bit of curiosity in him.
Just a sliver, nothing more.
Especially when piecing together various bits of information, he felt a sense of déjà vu as if facing something familiar.
The pattern reminded him of the supernatural movies he had seen in his previous life.
Without much thought, he knew there had to be a catch.
Moreover, today was Halloween, a day rife with strange occurrences.
Thus, he didn't need to guess; he knew tonight was bound to be the best day for demons, serial killers, or something sinister to cause trouble.
Nevertheless, York finally understood Hailey's purpose for coming to the church.
Like the other congregants, someone close to her had encountered something bizarre or turned into something else, seeking his assistance.
So, it all boiled down to Kelly participating in a game, and something strange happening after exceeding the time limit, whether it was seeing ghosts or encountering something odd.
With this in mind, York looked at Hailey, who appeared somewhat anxious, and asked:
"So, what strange things happened to this kid after he exceeded the time limit?"
Hearing this, Hailey breathed a sigh of relief, exchanging a glance with Anxi behind her:
"Ever since that night Kelly returned, he would do things that are out of character, as if he became a different person, making us feel alienated and scared. Occasionally, he would seem completely normal."
As expected...
It had been a while since York encountered such a supernatural event, and he felt a sense of nostalgia since he hadn't faced such a straightforward supernatural event in a long time.
"Tell me everything."
Hailey obediently began to speak.
"Kelly would deliberately seek out stray cats to torture and kill, and would often wake up in the middle of the night to play with knives. He used to be an animal lover, kind and compassionate…"
Each sentence revealed the recent state of the child named Kelly.
As Hailey continued, York shook his head.
It indeed fit the profile of a supernatural event. From these changes, it seemed Kelly was on the verge of being possessed or consumed by something.
From his experience, the situation was both dangerous and not.
The danger lied in the possibility of Kelly being completely consumed, resulting in someone else inhabiting his body.
"It's like giving this filth a new lease on life, a true rebirth."
"The sculpture hand that summons souls is indeed dangerous. Once a participant exceeds the time limit, it's akin to releasing a potential evil spirit. Coupled with the addictive pleasure and contagious nature, it already poses a threat to society."
York thought to himself, yet felt indifferent.
The non-threatening part was, now that he was aware of the situation, as a clergyman and soon-to-be bishop, it was his duty to nip this dangerous sculpture hand in the bud.
He didn't care about the backstory of this hand; the most appropriate action was to cut off its influence, letting those behind it come to him.
If they dared not, they better hide well in the shadows, away from his discovery.
Hailey continued to speak beside him, but York had already stood up.
Hailey instinctively stopped speaking and looked up, hearing something that excited her heart.
"I'll handle this, but you need to tell me who has the sculpture hand now?"
York looked at Hailey and her girlfriend, who were visibly excited and flushed with anticipation, and smiled:
"As for Kelly, I'll personally go with you to see him."
"Yes!"
Hailey excitedly exclaimed, "Father, I knew you would help!"
York's lips twitched, feeling indifferent, as it was common for congregants encountering supernatural events to seek his aid.
Furthermore, Hailey's mother had unknowingly donated a significant amount of money. For that reason alone, he couldn't ignore this matter, especially as an exorcist priest.
"Hailey, answer my question," York said with a hint of resignation.
Caught up in her excitement, Hailey took a moment to respond, while Anxi quickly provided information about the sculpture hand.
According to her, the sculpture hand had always been with the host.
Luckily, the host, David, was within their circle of friends, and Anxi knew his home.
After getting the host's address, York left the excited youngsters to find John Wick.
Now was the perfect time for John Wick to step in.
To retrieve the soul-summoning sculpture hand from the host's home.
Yes, to seize it by force, without needing a reason or worrying about the consequences.
With his current strength, action should be direct.
Besides, a group of kids couldn't possibly stand against John Wick's firepower.
Remember, even injured, this hitman single-handedly eliminated a large gang in just one night.
One could only imagine the bloodshed and turmoil he faced to become a top assassin in the underworld.
Despite his docile appearance in the church, once he acted, it was with precision and lethality, befitting a top assassin.
York found deploying such a capable figure for this task an overkill.
But he really didn't want to make the trip himself.
He wanted to return in time for the church's community event, a large-scale cosplay activity.
Fortunately, after briefing John Wick about the situation, he didn't refuse but asked again for confirmation.
"Father, you just need the sculpture hand to be retrieved?"
"Yes, John Wick," York replied, looking at the yard where Erin was smiling and playing with children, preparing the venue with the community and congregants.
"I'll handle Kelly's situation."
"I understand, Father," John Wick replied with his usual brevity.
"I'll make sure to retrieve the sculpture hand."
York glanced at the hitman.
Having worked together for a while, this hitman no longer matched the movie portrayal in York's mind.
Instead, John Wick had become the obedient and handy employee York desired, much to his liking.
Feeling observed, John Wick remained silent.
York smiled and sent the detailed address and a photo of the sculpture hand to John Wick's phone.
"John, give me your phone."
John Wick paused, sensing something and looked at the priest.
"This matter involves a supernatural entity, and ordinary abilities won't suffice," York explained with a steady smile.
"I can't just let you go unprepared."
With that, York's lips curved slightly as he took John Wick's phone and imbued it with 200 points of sacred energy, combining ten points of magic and twenty points of holy power.
Instantly, the phone shone brightly, becoming notably radiant even in daylight.
John Wick noticed the phone had changed, giving off a sense of solemnity and tranquility, reminiscent of a holy relic.
"If there's trouble…"
York handed the phone back to John Wick.
"Just give me a call."
The method was simple: make a call, and York could manipulate the phone's residual holy power to recite sacred scriptures, achieving a form of holy incantation.
The phone's 200 points of holy power could last through a round of usage, ensuring John Wick's safety in case of an emergency.
"Okay, Father," John Wick carefully pocketed the phone.
York smiled, noticing Hailey and Anxi had finally composed themselves and approached.
"Let's get going then, and finish everything before tonight."
"Yes…" John Wick answered earnestly.
Thus, York and John Wick set out, splitting their efforts.
York headed to Anxi's home
to resolve the supernatural issue, while John Wick went to retrieve the sculpture hand from the host's home.
Despite the Pluto Church being on the outskirts of New York, the distance wasn't too far.
The main inconvenience was the lack of transportation.
Now, in his modified Ford Raptor, such inconveniences were trivial.
Quickly, with Anxi's guidance, York arrived at her home, a mid-tier community.
Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, with villas boasting front and back yards and lawns, a typical American style.
After parking the car by the road, York noticed someone inside Anxi's home through his mental map, a child even smaller than Hailey.
"He's skinning something…"
In the mental map, York saw a freckle-faced boy in the living room, holding a knife over a small dog's corpse on the dining table, engaged in a skinning process.
Blood covered the floor, and the boy's hands were soaked, yet he seemed oblivious.
"My mom is at work, and Kelly is waiting for us at home…"
Hearing Anxi's words, York opened the car door and stepped out, walking towards the house.
Anxi and Hailey exchanged looks and hurriedly followed.
"The invasion is deep."
York, still outside, seemed to see the boy's blood-streaked neck, his darkened lips and pupils, without moving, his psychic power instantly reaching above the boy.
"Roar!"
Kelly, sensing something, abruptly looked up, hissing at the void.
"Found me?"
York smiled, continuing his slow approach, but his psychic power pressed down on the boy.
Despite Kelly's attempt to stab the void with a bloodied fruit knife, he was overwhelmed by the unstoppable psychic force, rising into the air.
Under York's will, his limbs spread, and the blood-stained fruit knife fell, splashing onto the blood-soaked floor.
This was a one-sided battle, showcasing York's overwhelming strength.
For York, with his increasing power, such supernatural events no longer required much effort.
"Ah ah ah ah ah!"
Painful screams echoed from Kelly, reaching outside.
"Kelly!"
Anxi, worried, wanted to rush over but was stopped by Hailey.
"Father is here."
Hearing Hailey, Anxi reluctantly looked at the priest now at the doorstep, bit her lip, and waited.
Click!
York entered, expressionless, and faced Kelly, suspended in the air, sprawled out.
Below Kelly was a gruesome scene.
Hailey and Anxi were shocked.
"Oh my God!"
Anxi covered her mouth, taking in the scene.
The living room was a mess, covered in dog fur.
On the dining table lay the dog's corpse and parts, neatly arranged.
Recognizing the dog's accessories, Anxi realized it was their beloved family pet, Susan, who had been with them for over a decade.
"You!"
Anxi glared at her brother in the air, feeling an unfamiliar sensation for the first time.
"Who exactly are you!"
As she spoke, Kelly, controlled by York and unable to move, sinisterly laughed, turning his head past York's emotionless face to stare at Anxi, his eyes filled with boundless evil.
"Hehehe! Hahaha!"
"Pity, the one on the dining table should have been you, my dear sister, hehehe…"
The laughter grew more sinister, chilling Anxi and Hailey to the bone, feeling a deep, soul-shaking coldness as if facing their natural enemy.
Both instinctively stepped back.
Only York moved closer.
At that moment, the evilly laughing Kelly suddenly fixed his gaze on York.
In his dark eyes, York's advancing figure made the blood on the floor retreat, leaving a clean path under his feet.
"Who are you!"
York stopped in front of Kelly, looking up with calmness that made Kelly's pupils shrink.
"Who am I? I'm the nemesis of you despicable beings."
With that, York stared at Kelly, seemingly seeing the filth inside, and with a narrowing of his eyes, he uttered one question.
"Will you scram or not?"
"Roar!"
Kelly, like a cat with raised fur, bared his teeth at York.
___________________
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