The next morning, as soon as Edith opened her eyes, her mind was flooded with the script for the second act. She lay in bed, slowly digesting the contents, and then began to consider her next move, building on her previous ideas. As she had emphasized to Allen, creating a genuinely terrifying film required a collaborative effort, and she couldn't accomplish it alone. It was essential to unite with Carol, Job, and others. According to the current script, it wasn't difficult to discern which actors were newcomers. Initially, it seemed that there were only two new actors: Jiang Zhe, whom she had met the previous day, and Qian Xiaoxue, a bespectacled girl with a smattering of acne on her face. These individuals would also need to be brought on board. The next step would be to initiate the process of gathering intelligence.
After completing her morning routine, Edith stepped out, casting a glance at the adjacent house. The weather was equally gloomy, with the forecast indicating that a typhoon was imminent, but this was merely a phenomenon conjured up to set the tone for the horror film. Nevertheless, beneath the somber sky, the house exuded an even more sinister and eerie aura.
"Lindsay?" a voice called out from behind, prompting Edith to flash a smile as she turned around to respond, "Zhao Uncle?"
Before her stood a man in his mid-fifties, clad in athletic attire, who appeared to have been out for a morning jog. As he slowed to a stop in front of her, he continued to jog in place, inquiring, "Just woke up? You were gazing at that house; I suppose the new occupant has moved in?"
"It seems so, although I haven't met the new neighbor yet," Edith replied.
The man nodded, "I've been running past this place frequently since my early retirement. Occasionally, I've caught glimpses of someone through the window."
Edith's curiosity was piqued, and she pressed on, "You've seen them, Zhao Uncle? What does the person look like?"
"They wear a long, black coat, possibly made of fur, and a hood that conceals their face. They deliberately keep their head down," he described. "I caught a brief glance while jogging by... "
Edith asked, "When did you see this person?"
"It was yesterday, around this time. I haven't seen them since. There's something odd about it; the way they're dressed, it's as if they're intentionally hiding their face. I wonder if it might be some kind of strange individual."
Edith inquired further, "Was it a man or a woman? Could you tell?"
The man shook his head, "It was impossible to discern. Lindsay, since you live next door, be sure to keep an eye out."
With that, he took off, jogging into the distance. Edith watched his retreating figure before heading to school herself.
As Edith disappeared from view, Carol, who was observing from the window of the house, noticed that the coat rack now held the very same cloak that had been described.
The festive atmosphere of Christmas was already palpable, with stores on the streets advertising holiday sales and students at school decorating the Christmas tree. Many hoped that the gloomy weather would give way to a snowy day, allowing them to enjoy a white Christmas.
However, Edith's thoughts were consumed by a different desire – that the holiday season wouldn't be marred by bloodshed, transforming it into a gruesome, blood-soaked Christmas.
Upon entering the classroom, Edith became the focus of attention, as students, including Carol, who was playing the role of Tang Yincheng, gathered around her, eager to engage in conversation.
"Lindsay, how do you plan to spend Christmas?"
"Lindsay, yesterday's math homework was incredibly challenging; were you able to complete it? I'm referring to that complex geometry proof. Additionally, the English reading comprehension exercise was equally daunting, and I made numerous mistakes when I checked my answers against the key."
"Why don't you ask Yincheng? He excels in both math and English."
Just then, Fang Ciyu, also known as Job, who had been relatively quiet until now, spoke up: "Lindsay, have you had a chance to catch up on the news this morning?"
"No, I left for school immediately after breakfast. Is there something significant that I missed?"
"There's been another disappearance in your neighborhood. You're aware that a similar incident occurred two days ago, aren't you?"
"Yes, I'm familiar with it; Yincheng mentioned it to me."
At this point, Tang Yincheng's expression also changed: "Really? I haven't had a chance to watch the news yet. The previous victim was an eighteen-year-old female student; what about this time?"
"This time, the missing person is a male university student. The two incidents occurred in close proximity, and the timing is also similar, with both happening around midnight."
Midnight!
The original script described Lindsay's mental state as follows:
(Midnight? The time when the neighbor returned home last night was around the same time, wasn't it? Later, I heard that cry, and I've always been aware of my ability to sense the presence of the dead. Moreover, the time of the previous disappearance coincided with the neighbor's late-night move. Both incidents occurred near my home, and considering Zhao Uncle's words this morning...)
Taking all the clues into account, in the original script, Lindsay had already developed a strong sense of unease regarding the mysterious neighbor. However, she couldn't share her experiences with others due to her supernatural abilities. If the new neighbor was a dangerous individual, her own safety would also be at risk.
"Where did it happen?" Edith asked, deviating from the script: "Where exactly did the two disappearances occur?"
This single line of dialogue instantly used up five "get out of death" vouchers. Nevertheless, Edith was unfazed, considering it a worthwhile sacrifice, and she was prepared to use even more vouchers in the future.
"Um, I think it was near Ping Shan Town," Job replied, quickly pulling out his phone to open Google Maps and show Edith: "It should be around this area, less than two kilometers from your home."
"Both disappearances occurred in the same location?"
"Yes, because this area is covered by surveillance cameras. However, according to today's news, it seems that the two individuals vanished into thin air within the monitored area. One camera captured them entering, but another camera didn't show them exiting, and there are no other routes that could have allowed them to avoid the cameras and leave. Initially, the police thought the first case was not a disappearance, but rather the female student was hiding somewhere along this road. But now, with the second disappearance, the situation has changed."
The fact that the surveillance footage couldn't capture anything didn't come as a surprise to Edith.
She had already formed a theory in her mind.
During lunch, after finishing her meal, she hastily left the cafeteria. Then, she pulled out her phone and sent a text message to Carol (Tang Yincheng). Afterwards, she left the school grounds. The lunch break at this high school was quite lengthy, lasting two hours, which was more than enough time.
Currently, they were in a period without a script, so the use of "get out of death" vouchers would be relatively limited. Edith intended to make the most of it.
The missing individuals had no connection to her, and it was impossible to prove whether the new neighbor was the culprit. Therefore, going to the police would be completely useless. So, what could she do?
Naturally, she would utilize her supernatural abilities to gather information.
Edith didn't lack "get out of death" vouchers. For her, information was paramount, and she was willing to take some risks to collect it.
"Lindsay!"
At that moment, Carol hurried over and asked, "Where are you planning to go? And why did you text me to meet at the station? You could have just told me directly."
"This matter... I don't want others to know about it," Edith replied. "Song Jun has been sticking close to you, so I had no choice but to text you."
"What's so important that it requires such secrecy?"
"I'm going to the place where those girls disappeared."
"Wha—what did you say?"
"Listen, Yincheng," Edith cleared her throat, recalling the script's revised description of Lindsay's mediumistic abilities, and said, "You might not believe this, but I possess the ability to communicate with the dead. To put it formally, I have the constitution of a medium."
Carol, with impeccable timing, feigned utter astonishment. "What? Lindsay, are you joking?"
"I'm telling the truth. Listen, here's what happened. Yesterday..."
To save time, Edith recounted the entire sequence of events as concisely as possible, including the sounds she had heard the previous night. Carol's expressions grew increasingly exaggerated, and finally, he even reached out to feel her forehead, saying, "Are you okay? You're not running a fever, are you?"
Of course, Carol knew she was telling the truth, but according to the script, he had to act this way. Believing her immediately might risk an NG. This balance had to be maintained perfectly.
"Never mind. I knew you wouldn't believe me," Edith said as she noticed the bus approaching the station. "I suspect there's something wrong with that new neighbor, so I have to investigate. While there's still time..."
As the bus pulled to a stop, Edith quickly boarded, and Carol followed suit. Inside, they found two empty seats and promptly sat down.
"Lindsay, this is all so bizarre. It's hard for me to believe right away..." Carol said after sitting down. "But why are you telling me this? Do you need my help?"
He skillfully conveyed a sense of concern for Lindsay while maintaining a respectful skepticism toward her claims. It had to be said that Carol truly embodied the role of Tang Yincheng with remarkable finesse.
"Since those two people disappeared, I need to go and see what really happened there."
"What do you mean?"
"The dead often linger in the places where they died. If they truly perished there, then as a medium, I can summon them to possess me. You've heard of séances, right? Mediums allow spirits to inhabit their bodies, creating a channel for communication between the dead and the living."
"What... what are you talking about, Lindsay? Are you serious? Aren't séances just scams?"
Though he said this, Carol wasn't the least bit surprised. He had anticipated that Edith would choose this course of action. When he received her text, he already knew what she intended to do. During this blank period in the script, she would visit the scene of the incident to conduct a séance, and his role as a living person was to listen to the words of the dead. Through the deceased, they would obtain crucial information!
Of course, the downside of this approach was the risk of exceeding the time limit, resulting in a significant deduction of redemption coupons. Moreover, the greatest danger of a mediumistic constitution was the inability to expel the spirits once they possessed the body. While cursed objects had the flaw of their curses reawakening over time, a mediumistic constitution was far more perilous. Prolonged possession could lead to malevolent spirits attaching themselves permanently, condemning the medium to eternal damnation! Hence, the mediumistic constitution was also referred to as the "cursed spirit constitution."
Nevertheless, since Edith had made up her mind, Carol was prepared to risk everything to accompany her on this perilous journey!