Soul Summoning Universe: Annabelle: Birth and Origin

As soon as the doll was brought out, Lorraine sensed the evil lingering on it. It wasn't particularly powerful, and its master likely hadn't awakened yet, but the signs were there.

She touched the doll and clearly knew the nursery rhyme associated with it.

"Can you seal this doll?"

Li Dan shook his head.

"The doll already has an owner."

Lorraine understood.

"Then let's take this doll back with us for now. We'll investigate, but not right now. If possible, I hope you can help us after you pass the church's assessment."

Li Dan asked, "May I ask what this is about?"

Lorraine glanced at her husband, and Ed took over the conversation.

"We're currently investigating a doll incident. Do you know Annabelle?"

Li Dan certainly knew Annabelle; this doll was one of the series he was most familiar with.

"I heard that a couple, missing their tragically deceased daughter, tried to summon her soul through some sort of witchcraft. But the so-called daughter was actually a demon in disguise."

Ed looked surprised. "You actually know about it."

"I've heard of the dolls; the 'One Hundred Dolls' series was very popular back then."

Ed nodded and then, like telling a story, began to narrate.

"We investigated for a long time and found that the incident originated with a man named Anthony in the western region. He was a renowned puppeteer, capable of making each puppet lifelike."

"The 'One Hundred Dolls' series was very popular at the time, but Anthony's daughter, Annabelle, died in a car accident on the highway while picking up a discarded doll."

"Gradually, Anthony and his wife missed their daughter so much that they even resorted to dark powers to have her soul inhabit a doll."

"Summoning spirits is very unpredictable. The soul in the doll wasn't Anthony's daughter, but a demon skilled in disguise and cruelty."

"The demon had no name, but later everyone called it Annabelle."

"It was actually the name of Anthony's daughter."

"This is."

"The birth of Annabelle."

Emma had entered the living room at some point, her large eyes intently listening to Ed's story.

Lorraine glanced at the little girl, finding her quite cute, only slightly older than her own daughter.

Hearing this, Li Dan finally understood. While he knew of Annabelle's existence, he certainly didn't know the details as well as the Warrens.

"Later, the doll went missing, but we traced it to someone who bought it and gave it as a gift to their wife," Ed said, pausing.

Clearly, their investigation had reached a dead end.

Lorraine and Ed felt a bit ashamed. After all, Li Dan was just a newcomer who hadn't yet passed the church's assessment. They were seeking his help, which might put him in danger.

"No problem, I'm very happy to help Mr. Ed and Ms. Lorraine. Feel free to call me anytime if you need anything."

Li Dan appeared very enthusiastic. Although Annabelle was dangerous, he had his own ideas. However, before the Warrens officially began their investigation, he needed to make some preparations. After all, he had no means to deal with demons.

Ed stood up and extended his hand. Li Dan responded with a handshake.

"Thank you, Li Dan."

Lorraine also extended a hand.

"Thank you for your hospitality. We've been so overwhelmed with things lately, it's been a bit chaotic. I'll definitely invite you for tea when I have some free time."

The Warrens left after their assessment and investigation. They had many things to attend to.

Emma watched their retreating figures, lost in thought. She turned back to Li Dan.

"Annabelle? Is she more powerful than Mary Shaw?"

"I'm not entirely sure about that," Li Dan replied, unable to answer. Perhaps one day he would be able to answer that question.

Emma's curiosity was strong, and she asked another question.

"Could that monster at your house the other day defeat them?"

"Probably."

Li Dan's tone was perfunctory, which Emma noticed. However, she didn't press further. She wasn't like those unruly children who didn't know their limits. If Li Dan so much as frowned, she would stop whatever she was doing and try to appease him, whether through crying, acting cute, or being charming. This was why Li Dan didn't mind the little one playing in his yard.

Emma was terrifyingly sensible.

Things had come to a temporary end.

On the fourth day, Jennifer returned.

Jennifer had just dealt with those bothersome matters and, upon returning, intended to find her boyfriend for some intimacy to satisfy her cravings.

However, the moment she entered the door, she saw the little loli in the yard and was instantly stunned.

Could this be Li Dan's illegitimate daughter? Why have I never heard him mention her?

Emma glared at the big-breasted, brainless woman before her and questioned, "Who are you?"

Jennifer wasn't sure who this little girl was, so she tried to sound as kind as possible.

"I'm Li Dan's girlfriend, the mistress of this house. What's your name?"

Emma scrutinized Jennifer suspiciously, seemingly unable to believe Li Dan would like a woman like this.

"You're not. You're not good enough for him."

Jennifer's composure broke.

"What do you know, you little girl? Where's Li?"

"Jennifer, you're back?"

Jennifer looked up upon hearing the voice. Li Dan was sitting on the second floor, sunbathing.

"Who is this little girl?"

Li Dan: "Neighbor David's daughter."

"???" A neighbor's daughter was acting so arrogantly in her own house. Jennifer wondered if she had misheard.

But when she learned that Emma was indeed neighbor David's daughter, she was speechless. Where did this annoying brat come from?

She immediately began to chase her away.

"Go back home and play. I'm the mistress of this villa now!"

"Impossible."

Three words revealed Emma's determination. If Jennifer dared to lay a hand on her, she dared to cry.

Jennifer was no pushover. She grabbed Emma by the collar and was about to drag her outside.

But Emma was also clever. She darted into the house and dodged around, even taunting her up close.

Jennifer was so angry that she went to find Li Dan to complain.

Li Dan didn't have time to deal with the squabble and conflict between the one adult and one child.

With the full recommendation of the Warrens, Li Dan registered as an Exorcist for the Church the next day.

As the saying goes, "He who eats from another's hand is restrained by his mouth."

If the Warrens asked for his help later, he couldn't just refuse, could he?

To deal with Annabelle, he couldn't wait for supernatural events to come to him; he had to actively seek them out.

He could encounter them normally, but when a website gathered most of North America's horror enthusiasts, it became a hotbed for supernatural occurrences.

There were many plea posts on the site, and Li Dan planned to select a few that he deemed suitable.

He mainly focused on the supernatural side involving Evil Spirits, Demons, and ghosts.

Even if a case seemed suitable, there was no guarantee it wouldn't go wrong.

A seemingly ordinary small matter could hide an evil capable of consuming Li Dan.

Therefore, he screened unfamiliar plea posts with extreme caution.

He wanted to avoid capsizing in a ditch.