CHAPTER TWO
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THE RITUAL
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‘Something… enigmatic.’
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The night grew colder as the relentless wind swept around, tossing the fallen, lifeless elm branches on the ground. Allen's frustration was palpable, his body shivering in the meager attire he had on. In stark contrast, his companions were well-prepared, wrapped in high-neck sweaters, leather jackets, and, most notably, Matt sporting a long, regal blue fur coat that seemed to mock Allen's discomfort.
Allen's gaze wandered among his friends. Matt was engrossed in his phone, Drake and Anna were capturing the moment with selfies, and Adalyn and Jake examined an old page covered in strange, indecipherable text. Just as Allen began to lose himself in his thoughts about the dismal day, Adalyn's voice rang out, pulling him back to the present.
"Alright, everyone, listen up!" Adalyn's tone was commanding, her narrowed eyes demanding their full attention. Allen nodded with earnest compliance, focusing intently on her words. She unfurled a sepia-toned, rectangular piece of paper adorned with intricate, cryptic symbols.
"So, folks, as you all know," she began, her eyes gleaming with anticipation, "My family has a long history with shamanic practices. They were the ones responsible for purifying places, ensuring that no ghosts or malevolent forces could infiltrate. Though no one in my family practices it anymore, except for my aunt Erica on occasion, I stumbled upon something rather intriguing when I visited her house a few weeks ago. Something... enigmatic. I've been saving this for Halloween to make it more exciting than our usual routine of party-hopping. Consider this little ritual an innocent game with intriguing outcomes. Halloween has grown mundane for me, so I thought we should try something different, something captivating."
Drake, Jake, Adalyn, and Anna exchanged knowing glances, their curiosity evident as they eagerly embraced the idea of trying something new, something that transcended their typical holiday revelry. They seemed to view it as a carefree diversion, a fun way to spend the evening.
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Meanwhile, Matt and Allen exchanged a wary glance, their apprehension evident as they swallowed hard. They had no desire to participate in this seemingly innocent yet disconcerting game, which exuded an aura of obscurity and discomfort.
Adalyn then produced a gleaming silver knife and placed it on the paper, locking eyes with each of them. Her open hair fell behind her ear as she continued, "Now, what I'm about to tell you is that these words are written in French, and they're meant to open a gateway for a demon to join us. I know it sounds ridiculous, but trust me, this unrealistic stuff actually works. I'm confident because I found an old video in my grandma's storage that revolved around this spell. If it didn't work, it meant one of us didn't chant the words correctly or left something out. This will work because I've gathered enough evidence to prove its authenticity. So, do you want to try it, or should we call it a night? It's your call to make."
Silence hung over the group for a moment before Drake voiced his concerns, "Wouldn't that demon be... malevolent? I mean, it could be dangerous." Allen sighed in relief, realizing that not only did he possess brain cells, but so did Drake.
To address Drake's concerns, Jake explained, "No, it won't. Summoning a demon can only be done through a blood pact, meaning one of us has to sacrifice a few drops of blood. This won't pose any danger, as we won't order the demon to harm anyone within us, right?"
Their intrigued nods put everyone at ease, and Anna and Drake eagerly exclaimed, "Let's do this!" Laughter filled the air as they began moving glasses and leftover snacks to create a circle. However, Matt interrupted their excitement with a crucial question, "Who will provide the blood for the ritual?" Adalyn and Jake exchanged wicked smirks before Jake replied, "Obviously, Allen. After all, he agreed to do us a favor in return for not joining us at the high school Halloween party tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, dread washed over Allen while his heart dropped to his stomach. He looked at the group with a horrified expression.
When he didn't respond, they glared at him, prompting him to nod hastily to divert their attention from him, fearing that disagreeing would lead to a beating and forced compliance. His parents were often absent, living in China for business, leaving him vulnerable to such treatments considering these snakes had parents on their heads to fret over their even minor wounds unlike his.
Allen couldn't help but harbor a significant apprehension about this situation.
Every instinct within him screamed to flee from this madness.
After all, they all seemed quite unhinged. Moreover, he was acutely aware that if anything were to go awry, he would be the one left to sort out the aftermath, as was often the case. The daunting question lingered in his mind – could he actually handle the consequences this time? He found himself utterly clueless in that regard.
As the group prepared for the ritual, Allen's mind raced with questions. Would the ritual work? Would they regret this decision? He could only hope for the night to end without any harm befalling him.