Torrential rain, punctuated by the occasional thunderclap, lashed down upon the mountain with unrelenting fury. The abandoned mountain golf course appeared desolate and forlorn, shrouded under a vast black canopy of sky, where gusts of wind whipped through intermittently.
Several figures began to emerge near the golf course. Leading them was a man with curly hair, his face cold and impassive, betraying no emotion. His pallor, reminiscent of someone who had seldom seen the sun, gave him an almost vampiric appearance. He held an umbrella and wore a trench coat.
Unlocking the rusted gate, he entered the dilapidated golf course. The grass here had begun to yellow, and further into the distance, darkness obscured everything.
"Manager," asked a tall, slender man behind the pale, curly-haired man, "there are rumors that someone died here twenty years ago, and their spirit still haunts this place. Is there any truth to it?"
The pale manager raised his hand slightly, taking in a deep breath of the fresh air mingled with raindrops before answering, "Otherwise, Yisong, what do you think has been happening lately?"
"Yes... yes..."
Beside the slender man were two women. One wore crescent-shaped earrings and sported short hair, her eyes heavily shadowed and lips painted a vivid purple, giving her a sultry appearance. The other woman, dressed in plain white, looked no older than sixteen or seventeen, with flawless skin and an average but pleasant face. These three clearly deferred to the pale, curly-haired man.
Suddenly, the slender man shuddered violently, turning back abruptly. The iron gate they had just opened was now swinging wildly, creaking ominously.
He possessed spiritual medium abilities and could sense the impending danger.
"Manager," Yisong immediately addressed the pale man, "something seems off!"
The manager turned to look, and the sultry woman also nodded vigorously.
The manager's right hand touched a white bracelet on his left wrist. Then, the four of them quickened their pace, venturing deeper into the abandoned golf course. At that moment, the sixteen-year-old girl suddenly stopped in her tracks!
She looked down in horror to see blood gushing out from one of the golf holes.
"Ahhh... No, no! Help, help me!"
The pale-faced man, seeing the blood pouring from the golf hole, finally reached out his hand...
Meanwhile, in another dimension, whose mechanics were beyond comprehension:
This was Hell's Thirteenth Degree Cinema.
Tomorrow marked Julian's participation in The Azure Sea . Despite many attempts to dissuade him, Julian remained steadfast. While the voodoo doll could save only one life, Nyterel's Notebook could potentially save many. Julian was willing to sacrifice his own lifeline to improve the survival rate of Hell's Thirteenth Degree Cinema.
"Forget it, I've given up trying to persuade him!" George popped a grape into her mouth, exasperated. "If he insists on doing it, let him be!"
"Miss Shi, Julian seems to have quite a strategic mind," Pat, the new actor, poured coffee into a cup and added sugar.
George adjusted her glasses and continued, "But with Donna involved, it shouldn't be too problematic. She is quite capable."
"Do you all dislike her?" Pat asked.
"To some extent, yes. But she does have talent. So, we have no choice but to accept her," George replied, popping another grape into her mouth.
Though a newcomer, Pat was observant and tactful, quickly integrating himself with the other actors.
"Miss Bai, I heard she comes from a wealthy family?" Pat probed.
"Yes, her father is Bai Shenghe, the CEO of Sun Real Estate. Do you know him?"
"Not really, though many billionaires in China are in real estate."
"Indeed, Chinese real estate is world-renowned. Many people prefer buying homes abroad. Her family isn't just wealthy; her father's personal assets are reportedly in the billions."
Pat was astounded. Billions? In a society with growing wealth disparity, where migrant workers struggle for mere thousands, and ordinary citizens spend decades repaying mortgages, some are born with billions. People truly cannot be compared.
"But she's also pitiable, being here despite all her wealth," George sighed, popping another grape into her mouth.
On another table, Carol and Nathan were playing chess. They were the only ones in the cinema skilled at chess. Carol won yet again.
"You've lost to me three times today," Carol said as she packed up the pieces. "You seem distracted. Are you worried about Julian's trade?"
Nathan remained silent. Like Job, she was reticent, though Job's silence stemmed from pride while Nathan's was inherent. Nathan never sought attention and kept her opinions to herself, focusing on her duties. By the end of the month, she and Carol would co-star in The Phantom Hotel . Usually, actors would bond beforehand to ease their roles.
"Focus on yourself," Carol advised. "Who knows what The Phantom Hotel will entail? As for Julian, he won't die. Don't forget, besides the voodoo doll, he has another cursed object."
Nathan glanced at her and then left the communal lounge.
Meanwhile, Allen and Martin were in Edith's room.
"Now, let's discuss how to prevent NGs," Edith said, looking at the two intensely taking notes, reminded of Donna's past.
Allen, reviewing his densely written notebook, felt immensely enriched by Edith's teachings. Her firsthand experience was invaluable.
Especially concerning the rule of three NGs. A fourth NG would result in the death of all actors. Allen asked what would happen if an actor, facing certain death, chose a fourth NG, dragging everyone down with them.
"That's impossible," Edith explained. "After the third NG, deliberate NGs are forbidden. If someone intentionally causes an NG, they die instantly upon forming that thought. Even a fleeting idea can be fatal. This ensures seasoned actors aren't killed by novices."
This clarified a long-standing question for Allen.
"Allen, you have a new film at the end of the month, right?" Edith asked.
"Yes, but I suspect the upcoming horror film will be costly."
"I can assure you, your earnings will increase significantly. Consequently, using cursed objects will require more redemption tickets. Although renting out cursed objects brings in substantial income, remember that redemption ticket expenses grow exponentially. No matter how many tickets you have, you'll never find them excessive."
"I understand."
"Cursed objects are hard to obtain and always involve risking one's life. Only Julian and Hank possess two such objects. Julian even died once to acquire the voodoo doll, surviving only because of an NG. You've heard about this, haven't you?"
"Many have mentioned it."
"So, don't rent out cursed objects lightly for high fees. During The Phantom Hotel , stick close to Carol. She obtained a powerful cursed object in New Neighbors . Nathan is also trustworthy, though somewhat rigid, she treats people sincerely. Also, this is your first time working with actors from other cinemas. Remember, trust cautiously; always stay vigilant."
Edith's expression grew serious.
Back at the abandoned golf course...
Glass shattered abruptly, and Yisong burst through the broken window.
"She was killed here. Manager, your father murdered her here!"
Yisong, the sultry woman, and the sixteen-year-old girl stared at the manager, who coldly replied, "That was the previous generation's affair, not mine."
"Your father dragged her in here... Now, she's come back for revenge!"
"Silence!"
The manager's face paled further as he slowly raised his hand, peering into the dark corridor ahead.
"The body was dumped here, in this abandoned elevator shaft!"
Opening the elevator doors revealed nothing but darkness below. The dead woman had lain there for years.
Shining a flashlight down, they saw bloodstains on the elevator cables.
"She climbed out..." the manager said, turning to the others. "Prepare yourselves."
At that moment, three figures approached from the other end. The manager addressed them, "Hurry up! Why did it take so long?"
These newcomers were strikingly peculiar. The leader had strange smoky makeup, ear piercings, and a green tattoo on his neck, likely not a cursed object. Behind him, on the left, was a bandaged figure, probably a woman concealing a cursed object. On the right stood a towering, menacing man, making everyone else seem diminutive by comparison.