Exorcist of the American Nightmares

After everything was set up, a group of people stayed in the safe zone. Officer Brad glanced at the priest sitting silently on the other side, guarding Roger's family, holding a Winchester M1897, known as the "trench sweeper", and nudged Drew who was beside him quietly.

"What did you say before?"

Drew glanced at the officer, "What did I say?"

Officer Brad gestured towards the priest and smirked.

"I remember you told me that spirits can't be killed with guns, but look at what Father York is holding?"

Drew looked over, scratched his head, and muttered. "This isn't the exorcism I imagined. Priests usually use holy water, the Bible, and crosses for exorcisms…"

Then, Drew turned to Ed and Lorraine, who were inseparable, and whispered.

"Mr. Ed, what's the story with Father York? Is he really a priest?"

Ed and Lorraine exchanged a look, smiled with a hint of reminiscence, and said.

"I don't know, but Father York is indeed a legitimate priest. As for how we met Father York, it was because we were once saved by him when he happened to pass by during a paranormal event."

Drew expressed surprise, "Was it dangerous?" In his mind, with the Warrens' extensive experience, situations they couldn't handle or dangerous places usually involved notifying the church. If they needed saving, it must have been a significant event…

Lorraine nodded, "It was indeed very dangerous. Fortunately, Father York was there, or Ed and I might not have survived…"

Listening to Lorraine's gentle voice, Brad and Drew looked back at Father York.

At this moment, Father York was gazing outside, pondering how long until night fell.

It was already afternoon when they arrived, and now, with all the setting up, the light outside had turned into a golden sunset.

The sun was emitting its last rays.

"About half an hour…"

Father York squinted, retracted his gaze, and scanned the surroundings. It was eerily quiet, but he could feel the black resentment increasing and even sensed the spirits' unwelcome towards his arrival.

Just then, Father York felt someone touch him from behind. Turning around, he saw a little girl looking at him curiously, the youngest child of Roger's family. She asked crisply.

"Will you hurt my friend?"

Father York immediately understood her meaning. The little girl in front of him was the protagonist who walked in the dark with her eyes closed in the photos.

"Hey, Beth…" Worried his daughter might disturb the priest, Roger called from behind, but Father York shook his head to stop him.

Looking at the innocent Beth, Father York gently lifted her onto his lap and asked softly.

"Beth, do you think it's your friend?"

Father York knew some spirits were just normal souls without any intention to harm. As for haunting and appearing before humans, it might be their instinct.

However, souls are not humans. To retain some consciousness is already remarkable, and to keep full consciousness and wisdom is something he had yet to see.

Hearing Father York's question, the little girl seemed to ponder, then nodded seriously.

"Yes!"

"Do you have only this friend?" Father York asked warmly.

Beth nodded again, then asked again. "But you haven't answered me. Will you hurt my friend?"

This question made Roger's family, standing behind them, watch closely.

Father York glanced at them, remembered the boy who followed Beth in the photo, possibly the ghost of the mysteriously disappeared Kate, and answered seriously.

"No, I will only perform a sacred baptism for your friend and send it back to where it truly belongs…"

Similar to Buddhist rites, the church also has a way to guide souls back to their rightful place, known as the blessing of the soul. This method allows souls that can only wander to return to their place.

Little Beth didn't understand, but she blinked, looking at the adult in front of her. As long as her friend wasn't hurt, that was good enough for her.

Sensing this, Father York patted Beth's golden hair and let her go.

"Your mother is calling you. Go to her."

Beth, having received her answer, obediently nodded and ran back to her family. Karen, her mother, embraced her with a mix of reprimand and affection.

This warm scene softened Father York's eyes as he watched the sky darken.

As the temperature dropped with the darkening sky, the resentment in the house grew stronger, the prime time for evil spirits' power. Under the irritation of large amounts of holy water and crosses, the spirits wouldn't last long. They naturally despised these things, especially spirits like Bathsheba.

Father York, getting up, drew everyone's attention. Ed asked first.

"Father, do you need my help?"

Father York, holding the Winchester M1897, shook his head and stepped out of the safe zone.

"No, take care of the children."

Ed instinctively looked at Roger's family, then nodded, understanding that professional matters should be left to the professionals. He knew his limitations; if Father York couldn't solve it, he certainly couldn't.

Father York then turned to Officer Brad, who also stood up.

"Officer, do you know how to use a Winchester M1897?"

Hearing this, Brad's eyes lit up, and he nodded seriously.

"Yes!"

Father York then tossed another Winchester M1897 to Officer Brad.

Though it lacked his enchantment and might not cause significant harm to the spirits under someone else's control, it could still inflict some pain and delay their actions, enough time for him to return.

Father York felt it was a pity that his enchantments only worked for him. If others could also use it effectively, that would be great. However, his enchantments turned into ordinary bullets in others' hands, leading him to conclude his unique abilities were exclusive to him.

Despite the pity, Father York had no strong feelings about it. He watched as Brad eagerly caught the Winchester M1897 and advised.

"If there's a situation, trust your instincts and fire at an empty spot."

Brad gripped the Winchester M1897 firmly, understanding.

"Got it!"

Father York gave him an approving look, then, under the watchful eyes of everyone in the living room, headed alone towards the staircase beside the small path.

According to Roger's family's account and the mother's death site, the basement was clearly a trigger for some medium.

Following the small path beside the staircase to the end, Father York stopped at the back door, pushed open the small door on the right.

The quiet space creaked open, and as the door swung open, a cold, rotten smell rushed in.

In the dim light, Father York rubbed his nose, looked down the stairs extending to the bottom, and calmly walked down after hanging a cross on the small door…