Exorcist of the American Nightmares

At the same time, in a simple yet elegantly appointed living room, the Warren couple, along with the elderly Iris and their assistant Drew, sat on the sofa watching a live broadcast on a dark screen, still immersed in the atmosphere conveyed by the stream long after it had ended.

It was only after a considerable silence that Iris's gentle voice broke the quiet.

"That must be the legendary Bishop York," Iris said, her voice tinged with awe despite her extensive experience, including many critical moments. The performance of this legendary bishop in the live broadcast had impressed her deeply.

His immense power and the spectacle had made her feel insignificant for the first time.

"Seeing is truly believing," Iris remarked, turning to the Warren couple. She knew they had had interactions with the bishop back when he was still a priest. This kind of connection could make many in their field envious, including herself.

The Warren couple exchanged a knowing look, an unspoken agreement between them that it was best not to get too involved or discuss Bishop York.

"Bishop York's strength is beyond our reach," Lorraine stated with composure, the elegance of a mature woman evident in her demeanor, likely reflective of her responsibility for the arrangement and furnishings of the house.

"We should focus on our own paths, Ms. Iris. We are curious about the incident you encountered. What exactly happened?"

Lorraine's straightforward question did not offend Iris, who was accustomed to the directness typical of their field.

"I may have encountered a poltergeist case," Iris cleverly shifted the topic away from the legendary bishop, sensing from the couple's demeanor that she wouldn't get much information about him. Even though the aftereffects of the live broadcast lingered, she knew what she needed to focus on now—whether to follow up on the broadcast herself or investigate the situation further.

"Yes, I received a call about a haunting troubling a family. Before confirming the presence of a malevolent spirit, I sent two of my assistants, Kris and Tucker, to survey the site."

Iris paused, her gaze drifting past the Warrens to Drew.

Assistants were indispensable for mediums like them, often needed to gather evidence of paranormal activity or to assess the veracity of cases. After all, with so many cases, it was impractical for mediums to investigate each personally—such an approach would be a significant waste of time. Hence, the need for assistants, as not all reported paranormal activities turn out to be genuine.

For instance, Iris had recently handled a comically absurd case where an elderly man's clothes would inexplicably catch fire, causing many to fear a malevolent spirit was to blame. However, a thorough investigation revealed that it was his granddaughter using a lighter to secretly set her grandfather's clothes on fire to make him appear more pitiable, hoping to evoke sympathy from his children so they would visit more often.

Aside from distinguishing real from fake, gathering evidence of paranormal phenomena was also crucial, as it could enhance their credentials and assist with investigations.

The Warrens nodded in understanding.

"Ms. Iris, it seems your assistants found conclusive evidence," Ed commented, his voice calm yet curious.

"Yes," Iris replied, pulling a videotape from her handbag and handing it to Drew.

"This is critical; everything was captured by my assistants."

Drew took the tape and, without waiting for instructions from the Warrens, began setting up the player under the television.

Everyone waited for the television to turn on again.

Drew looked back at the group, took a deep breath to calm the emotions from the previous broadcast, and pressed the play button, then returned to his seat.

The screen lit up again.

This time, it wasn't a live broadcast that shocked but left them helpless. Instead, the screen showed a documentary-style footage featuring two men and a couple.

"These are my assistants, Kris and Tucker," Iris introduced.

However, the Warrens recognized the men without needing an introduction as they introduced themselves to the couple on the screen.

"My name is Kris," said Kris, adjusting his glasses.

"Hey, I'm Tucker," said the burlier, bearded man, evidently more adept at handling social interactions as he shook hands with the couple.

The couple introduced themselves as well. The husband was Josh and the wife, Riley.

Riley appeared exhausted, her heavy dark circles and pale complexion resembling those of many haunted by spirits. She folded her arms and looked at Kris and Tucker with suspicion.

Josh, however, seemed more composed and asked, "Iris? Where is Iris? Wasn't she supposed to come? She's the only one who can clean this mess, right?"

From his words, it was clear Josh was also deeply affected, his inquiry going straight to the point.

The Warrens glanced at Iris, who remained composed as the television continued.

Kris adjusted his glasses. "She's on her way. We came ahead to conduct some preliminary tests."

Josh and Riley exchanged a glance.

Tucker, unconcerned,

 said bluntly, "Yeah, tests to rule out any misperceptions or illusions the homeowners might have."

Josh laughed ruefully, stepping aside to let them in. "Okay, do whatever tests you need to do."

With that, the footage on the television shifted, apparently shot by someone accompanying them.

The scene switched to Tucker setting up equipment, a familiar sight to Drew, who had performed similar tasks countless times with Mr. Ed.

Sure enough, Josh's voice could be heard asking, "What is this?"

Tucker, focused on assembling his device, explained without looking up, "This is an EMF detector, used to detect DC electromagnetic fields and natural electromagnetic environments. Yes, aging electrical circuits can emit charges into the air, causing illusions and energy fluctuations. Besides that, it helps us locate certain things because, in this field, such things are manifestations of energy."

"This device uses ultraviolet light to detect changes in light and the environment around us, allowing us to see or capture some phenomena invisible to the naked eye, as some entities cannot escape exposure to various types of light unless they don't exist."

"And this trigger—if there's something invisible moving past, it will cause changes in the magnetic field. If there's a change, this device will automatically take pictures and flash a light to alert us to something sinister passing by."

The technical explanation, though perhaps difficult for laypeople to understand, did not surprise the audience as these tools are commonly used in their field.

It was the same tools they used for detection that made them appreciate how mysterious the church was, much like an enigma that the public could not fathom.

Indeed, their use of science in the broadcast had left them unable to explain the incredible powers of Bishop York. If there was a saying to encapsulate their realization, it might be that the endpoint of science is theology, only when technology has reached its zenith might they find the words to describe divine power.

Regardless, the footage on the television continued to play.

With more technical explanations, the scene shifted back to Tucker, who was scanning the house with the EMF detector.

As he moved around, the detector remained quiet.

But in the hallway between rooms, the device suddenly emitted static noise.

Drew instinctively looked at Ed, seated on the sofa, who subtly nodded, his gaze focused on the screen. Such noises indicated changes in the energy field and environment, suggesting the presence of something altering the energy nearby.

Clearly, Tucker was aware too. He frowned and moved cautiously, understanding that whatever was altering the energy could be electrical discharge—or something else.

If it were indeed something sinister, it meant that this invisible entity was standing right beside you, hence the need for extreme caution.

Tucker soon pinpointed the location. At the end of the hallway, the readings spiked, and the static grew louder.

His breathing grew heavy, his tension palpable to the viewers.

It was clear from the footage that the cause at the hallway's end was unlikely to be electrical or anything ordinary.

It was highly probable that something was standing there.

The Warrens and others watched as Tucker prepared his light-capturing equipment.

The camera perspective shifted, now from the viewpoint of his recording device.

Tucker adjusted the lights, cycling through various colors.

After switching through shades of dim yellow and purple, a ghastly pale light filled the screen.

In this chilling light, the source of the energy disturbance finally appeared at the end of the hallway.

Two women in white dresses, with black hair, eyes, and lips, stood there, staring intently at Tucker.

In a fleeting moment, they parted their dark lips in a sinister smile.

The broadcast ended there.

Only Tucker's frantic voice continued, "Quick! Call Iris over, it's time for her to come."

"Right away! I've got the evidence."

The screen plunged into darkness again.

Silence lingered for a moment.

Ed inhaled sharply, turning to Iris. "Ms. Iris, when do you plan to go?"

"Tomorrow," Iris replied calmly.

Ed looked to Lorraine, who typically took the lead in such matters. Being registered with the church and recognized as qualified involved not only an understanding of the risks and nature of paranormal phenomena but also the presence of a medium in the team. Without a medium, the church would not recognize mere knowledge, however extensive.

Lorraine nodded slightly. "Okay, we will join you tomorrow. If possible, we will document the process for the church and provide you with a certification of your capabilities."

Relieved, Iris knew that as a medium operating both within and outside the system, she still faced significant pressures.

"That would be most helpful. However, there's something you should know about the homeowner, Josh."

Ed raised an eyebrow, surprised. "What is it?"

"The reason for the paranormal occurrences in this household is linked to Josh's child, Dalton. Dalton possesses the abilities of a medium," Iris explained.

This revelation surprised the Warrens and others. While mediums seemed numerous globally, they were actually rare, with perhaps

 one in a million people possessing such capabilities.

And before their abilities were triggered, mediums typically led unremarkable lives. But once activated by certain conditions, a series of events would inevitably unfold.

Lorraine had experienced this herself, fortunately having a priest in her family who helped her through the transition.

That priest was none other than the retired Old Mike, through whom they had first met York when he had just become a priest.

"I see," Lorraine murmured, squeezing her hands.

"So," she looked at Iris, who nodded in confirmation.

"Dalton has awakened, but he hasn't yet learned to control his abilities. His soul has wandered far."

Ed and Drew looked to Lorraine, who could comprehend what that meant.

"Each medium awakens differently. Some might start seeing things inexplicably, dream of places they can't wake up from, feel as if they have dual perspectives, or suddenly hear voices," Lorraine explained.

Iris continued, "From what I know, Dalton's awakening is likely through dreaming, but in reality, his soul can now wander. Over time, the distance it roams grows, and Dalton has been comatose for days because his soul has traveled too far and can't find its way back, unable to return to his body."

"The Otherworld, or the World of the Departed, where all wandering souls or malevolent spirits gather, a dark realm or space inaccessible to the living, surrounds us yet is beyond our perception, timeless,"

Lorraine's voice resonated.

"A place mediums often visit. If a soul is lost, it's usually trapped there."

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