The Haunted Cinema

Stepping out of the vast projection hall and gazing at the scenery outside...

The corridor outside was narrow, the lights casting a dim, amber glow, while around it hung numerous promotional posters for various films. The posters were all designed to be eerily unsettling: one depicted a hand reaching out from a torn body, while others featured ghostly figures, their eyes entirely black, their skin pallid as death.

Passing through the corridor and into the main lobby, Gavin found himself confronted with a sprawling space. Before him, a banner that stretched over ten meters in length displayed a chilling image: a dark, forsaken hall, a rotting corpse lying on the ground, and at the center of it all, a bloodied eyeball.

"That's the poster for the new film premiering in two weeks," Nathan pointed to the horror film's banner and said. "Some horror films, if the protagonist survives, can have sequels. And for those films, the pay for the redemption tickets is usually quite generous. This movie, Ghost Festival, has had two prior installments, both of which starred Julian, our most experienced and accomplished actor here at the Thirteenth Cinema."

Allen, who had overheard Julian's name earlier, immediately inquired, "Miss Mo, was Julian also the lead in The Dark Tomb, the film currently being shown?"

"Of course!" This time, the response came not from Nathan, but from the bespectacled woman. "Julian is by far our most talented actor. In fact, including The Dark Tomb, he has starred in ten horror films! Isn't that impressive? His sixth film was Ghost Festival 1, where he played the lead for the first time!"

Allen was immediately filled with admiration for this man, Julian, whom he had yet to meet. He thought to himself that he would certainly make a point of befriending him later.

"This film, The Horror Bus, is actually quite easy," the tall man suddenly spoke up.

"It's just Charles and Delia in the lead roles. The rest of the cast are newcomers. In fact, it's one of the least challenging films we've had in a while. But who would've thought, they both ended up dying here? Delia, who had once starred alongside Julian in Ghost Festival 2, was supposed to be in Ghost Festival 3 in two weeks, but now she can no longer take part."

"Easy?" Allen was taken aback. The two main leads were dead, and he had barely escaped with his life—this was considered 'easy'?

"Indeed, Hank, you're right," Cheryl added with a heavy heart. "Delia and I once starred together in a horror film, where we played a couple... Honestly, after that, I began to take quite a liking to her. I thought she'd be safe with Charles, especially since he had the ghost mirror on him. That should have been enough protection."

At that moment, a disheveled young man, no older than sixteen or seventeen, suddenly spoke up: "By the way! Did any of you newcomers bring any cursed objects that can suppress ghosts? Or have you retrieved the ghost mirror from Charles or the comb that Delia brought with her from Ghost Festival 2, the one that had been cursed?"

Objects that could suppress ghosts?

Allen immediately thought of the Soul-Tethering Talisman!

"No, I don't have anything like that," Allen shook his head and said, "I wasn't aware of any objects that can suppress ghosts. Are such things really out there?"

The young man, however, appeared somewhat skeptical and pressed further, "None at all? Charles and Delia are dead, but you're still alive—doesn't that seem a little... unusual? When the protagonist dies, the items they possess become orphaned, and if you happen to take them and use them..."

"Ivan!" The tall man, Hank, interjected firmly, "Enough. Even if that were the case, it's simply fate. After all, it's not unheard of for someone to die in a film with lower difficulty."

The boy, Ivan, fell silent, clearly respecting Hank's authority.

The lights in the lobby gradually brightened, revealing a series of new film posters adorning the walls, and beside them, a large dining area appeared.

"That's where you'll be eating," Nathan pointed out. "It's similar to a buffet—you can help yourselves. Breakfast is at six in the morning, lunch at twelve, and dinner at seven. The food here is quite decent. At meal times, enough food will automatically be provided for you to take. I'll also show you to your accommodations shortly."

Just then, a staircase leading downwards appeared at the far end of the lobby.

As they descended, Allen noticed that most of the posters along the way were promoting Ghost Festival 3. The décor was eerily indistinguishable from that of a real cinema.

After a brief walk down the stairs, they turned left, finally arriving at the door of Cinema Hall 4.

Outside the hall, Hank glanced at his watch and said, "It'll be over in about five minutes. I wonder how many will make it out alive."

Ivan clasped his hands in a prayer-like gesture and muttered, "I pray that Brother Julian survives! And Frankie, and Sister Edith, they mustn't die!"

Nathan stood quietly at the door, her gaze calm. She moved beside Hank and asked, "Who do you think will make it?"

"Julian's chances of dying are very low," Hank replied calmly. "He has a voodoo doll that allows him to cheat death three times, and he's only used it once, during Ghost Festival 2. Edith, being a medium, also has a high survival rate. As for Frankie, Ye Bin, and Donna... it's hard to say. Let's just hope we get a few talented newcomers this time."

Eamonn grumbled from the side, "What's that supposed to mean... as if none of us newcomers have any potential."

"Ah, they're coming, they're coming!"

A shout echoed through the air, and the group turned to see three figures quickly approaching.

The three individuals were: a boy with extremely short hair, looking about the same age as Ivan; a young woman, perhaps eighteen or nineteen, with long flowing hair and delicate features; and a rather plump, good-natured man.

"Did we miss anything?" The young woman, with her delicate features, approached Hank and Nathan with a faint smile and asked, "Hm? Where are Charles and Delia? Did they... did they die?"

Though she spoke the words, there was no overwhelming sadness in her expression. It was clear she hadn't been deeply concerned about their fate—if she had been, she would have gone to check on them at Cinema Hall 7, where The Horror Bus was being shown.

Noticing Allen, Martin, and Eamonn, the three newcomers began to ask questions, probing for details.

"Why don't we all introduce ourselves?" Allen suggested suddenly. "There are a few of you I still don't know the names of."

"No need to rush," Hank replied, his voice steady. "Once Julian and the others are out, all the actors from the Thirteenth Cinema of Hell will be gathered here. When that happens, Julian will have a look at you all. If he takes a liking to any of you, he might even decide to mentor you. After all, surviving your first horror film as a newcomer is no small feat. Each time, we observe and assess the new talent."

"Mentor?" Allen's ears perked up at the word, and he immediately inquired, "So, we might be able to improve our chances of surviving in these horror films?"

"Indeed," Hank said, a slight smile curling at the corners of his lips as he looked at Allen. "Surviving a horror film is no easy task. Physical means have no effect on ghosts or vengeful spirits. Only certain special items can harm or suppress them. Generally, these are cursed items left behind by the deceased, and using them costs redemption tickets. For some of the more basic items, using them for even a second will deduct an equivalent amount from your film salary in redemption tickets. However, if you acquire special abilities in certain films, or if you possess 'mediumistic abilities,' you will have a much higher survival rate. But obtaining 'mediumistic abilities' is exceedingly rare. The only one among us who has succeeded is Edith White. Even Julian doesn't possess such abilities."

Having heard the term "mediumistic abilities" earlier, Allen quickly deduced that this Edith White must be second only to Julian himself.

"Our Thirteenth Cinema's overall strength is still rather weak," Nathan remarked unexpectedly, "But the Seventh Cinema of Hell is far stronger, with three mediumistic individuals among its ranks. It's one of the more formidable cinemas in terms of the comprehensive abilities of its actors, especially one of them... Hiram. He'll be reunited with us in Ghost Festival 3, and he's likely to reprise his role as Bai Wuxia."

"To obtain the mediumistic ability is incredibly difficult!" The newcomer, the delicate young woman, exclaimed with a sigh. "As you all know, the only way to acquire the mediumistic ability is through the Fourth Forbidden Zone series of horror films. It's a series with no fixed protagonist, and it has already completed seven installments. Julian mentioned that he hopes to have the chance to star in Fourth Forbidden Zone 8 in the future, to somehow acquire the mediumistic ability. Sigh... But at least Edith managed to appear in Fourth Forbidden Zone once, and not only did she survive, but she also gained the mediumistic ability!"

Just then, Hank suddenly declared, "Time's up!"

Everyone began to stir. Even the usually silent, cold beauty, who had remained aloof until now, followed the others as they moved forward.

Hank led the way, pushing open the door with a forceful motion. Nathan followed closely behind.

Upon entering the cinema, they immediately scanned the entire theater.

"One, two, three... Only three people survived? All the new actors are dead? Or was no one new cast in this one?"

At that moment, a man sitting in the seventh row stood up and turned around.

"Julian!"

"Julian!"

A chorus of voices rose up as a group rushed toward him.

Allen, filled with curiosity about this man named Julian, edged closer, his eyes finally locking onto his face.

Julian was a man with sharp eyes and a cold, austere expression. He watched as the crowd approached, giving them a slight nod before speaking. "I'm sorry, everyone... Frankie and Horace... are dead."

"They're dead?" A wave of sorrow swept over the crowd. They had shared their trials together, and the news was deeply saddening. However, the fact that Julian, their pillar of strength, had survived was a small comfort.

"The Dark Tomb was a highly difficult horror film. For the three of you to have survived is already remarkable," Nathan remarked, her eyes now scanning the other two survivors. One was the only person to have acquired the mediumistic ability from The Fourth Forbidden Zone, Edith White, and the other was a woman with dark skin, dressed in a long black gown—another actress, Donna.

Edith White, too, approached the group. She was strikingly beautiful, and her aura, even more compelling. As she stepped forward, a sense of ethereal energy seemed to radiate from her, leaving a profound impression on everyone.

"Sorry to worry you all. Julian and I did everything we could, but... we couldn't save Frankie and Horace. The use of mediumistic abilities drains redemption tickets too quickly. I've already used up more than half of my current tickets," Edith said softly.

Meanwhile, Donna, the dark-skinned woman, paid no attention to the others. She simply walked out, and the group seemed unsurprised—apparently, they were already familiar with her character.

Allen, however, could not take his eyes off Julian. Despite his thin frame, there was an intangible aura about him—one that made it seem as if he could shoulder any burden, even the collapse of the world itself, and bear it for everyone.