121-125

Chapter 121: Copyright

“Long time no see, Allen.”

In Los Angeles, at Universal Pictures’ office.

Ron Meyer greeted Allen warmly as he approached, giving him a brief hug.

“It’s been a while,” he said in a tone that conveyed how much time had passed.

Since the Writers Guild strike began, all members had been prohibited from discussing new script ideas with production companies. As a result, while Ron Meyer and Allen had spoken frequently over the phone, they hadn’t met in person or discussed anything related to scripts.

“You look much more muscular than before,” Ron said, sizing Allen up and letting his gaze linger on his tightly toned arms. Then he raised his eyebrows with a hint of surprise.

“Well, you know, with so much free time during the strike aside from attending events, I had plenty of opportunities to work out,” Allen said with a shrug, deliberately steering the conversation back toward the strike.

The *enhancement serum* had greatly improved Allen’s physical fitness in every aspect. This enhancement hadn’t yet reached its limit and continued to improve as he exercised and pushed his body closer to its peak potential.

“If I had the time, I’d love to get in shape like you,” Ron said, glancing at Allen’s muscular physique. He looked down at his own midsection, where his belly—despite being hidden under a tailored suit—was still noticeable. He shook his head with a wry smile.

“However, you might have to rearrange your schedule soon. It seems you won’t have as much free time as you’ve had lately.”

After some lighthearted small talk to build rapport, Ron Meyer shifted the conversation back to work.

“From what I’ve heard, a tentative agreement has been reached between the Writers Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Many shows on ABC are already announcing their return to production. ‘Modern Family’ is also on the list, so I imagine it won’t be long before you’re back to your busy schedule as a writer.”

“Actually, I already have a complete outline for the first season of ‘Modern Family,’ and I can’t wait to get back to work,” Allen replied.

Not only did Allen have the first season planned out, but he could also lay out storylines for six or seven future seasons if Ron Meyer needed it. However, Allen had no intention of doing so; that would be a short-sighted approach.

To Allen, *‘Modern Family’* was a stepping stone to build his reputation.

As the show’s ratings and accolades grew, so would his influence in Hollywood. At the same time, this recognition would help conceal his other identity.

Fame, Allen knew, could hide many things—especially in Hollywood, where eccentricities and reckless behavior were commonplace. After all, what’s a celebrity without some quirks?

“Of course, aside from thinking about ‘Modern Family,’ I also came up with a new script during the strike,” Allen said.

Hearing this, Ron leaned forward slightly, his interest piqued, and prepared to listen attentively.

“The new script follows the filming style of *‘The Blair Witch Project,’* using a mockumentary format as its core…”

“In that case, why not simply shoot a sequel to *‘The Blair Witch Project’*?” Ron interrupted, offering his opinion.

For production companies, sequels are typically the safest investments. Considering the massive box office success of the first film, even if the sequel’s earnings were only half as much, it would still be a guaranteed win for Universal.

“For me, the story of *‘The Blair Witch Project’* ended with the first movie. That said, if Universal is interested in making a sequel, I’d be happy to sell the rights.”

*‘The Blair Witch Project,’* as a film that relied heavily on “deceptive” marketing, had earned impressive box office numbers but was destined to leave a poor reputation and lack of audience goodwill.

Audiences might fall for such marketing once, but not a second time—especially under the guise of a sequel to *‘The Blair Witch Project.’*

Allen knew full well how disastrously the sequel would fail in both box office and reviews. However, Ron Meyer seemed unaware of this.

The overwhelming success of *‘The Blair Witch Project’* had clearly influenced Ron’s judgment regarding a sequel.

“How much are you expecting if Universal wants to acquire the rights to *‘The Blair Witch Project?’*” Ron probed.

Allen gave a “friendly” reminder.

“You’re aware, Ron, that *‘The Blair Witch Project’* grossed over $250 million worldwide.”

Though Allen was well aware that a sequel would flop under the weight of its poor reputation, he wasn’t about to refuse free money if Universal was eager to spend it.

“But we both know the film’s reputation suffered due to its marketing tactics,” Ron countered.

“Yet it grossed over $250 million worldwide.”

“That’s just the box office for the original. There’s no guarantee the sequel will replicate its success. Buying the rights is a big risk for Universal.”

“$250 million worldwide.”

“Acquiring the rights is only the first step. Developing a script and production will require significant resources.”

“$250 million.”

Ron kept trying to bring up reasons to lower the price, from the original’s poor reputation to the uncertainties of the sequel’s performance and production costs. Yet Allen remained unmoved, sticking firmly to the fact that the first movie earned over $250 million.

“All right, Universal will give you an answer regarding the rights to *‘The Blair Witch Project’* soon. For now, let’s get back to discussing your new script,” Ron said, shaking his head in resignation. Realizing Allen wouldn’t budge, Ron abandoned the idea of negotiating a lower price and shifted the conversation back to the new project.

From Ron’s tone, Allen could tell that Universal was essentially set on acquiring the rights. The follow-up negotiations could be left to the lawyers. The Writers Guild had professionals for this, so Allen didn’t need to worry.

“As for the new script, while it also uses the mockumentary format, its framework leans more toward the style of *‘Modern Family,’* interweaving suspenseful storylines with everyday life…”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 122: Collaboration

"Paranormal Activity" is, at its core, essentially a reimagining of "The Blair Witch Project".

Using the "found footage" gimmick, it employs the same formula to blend terrifying scenarios into everyday home video recordings, achieving the goal of frightening the audience.

If there’s one major difference between the two, it might be this: while "The Blair Witch Project" achieved success as a standalone film, "Paranormal Activity" managed to sustain its box-office magic, spawning a successful franchise with sequels that all performed fairly well.

"Honestly, I find it incredible, Alan, that after creating both 'The Blair Witch Project' and 'Modern Family', you’re still able to innovate within the 'found footage' genre and come up with such a story…"

After the success of "The Blair Witch Project", Hollywood did see several production companies attempt to ride the wave by producing similar films.

However, aside from a small company called Asylum Films, which managed to recoup its costs with a lowbrow parody titled "The Warlock Bryan", every other attempt at making movies in the "found footage" format resulted in failure. This includes efforts from mid-sized studios like Lionsgate.

Even the so-called profitable "The Warlock Bryan" was essentially just a cheap knockoff capitalizing on the trend. Beyond its title bearing some resemblance to "The Blair Witch Project", its content was entirely unrelated and wildly different.

Against this backdrop, Ron Meyer still expressed confidence in Allen’s new script—at least outwardly.

This optimism stemmed not only from the low production costs of the "found footage" genre, which posed no financial risk to Universal but also from a strategic calculation. If "Paranormal Activity" failed to meet box-office expectations, Universal would be in a stronger position for future negotiations over *"The Blair Witch Project"*’s licensing rights.

Universal could use "Paranormal Activity" to drive down the licensing fees for "The Blair Witch Project", but if the movie succeeded, it would be yet another profitable investment for Universal.

In essence, whether "Paranormal Activity" succeeded or failed at the box office, Universal stood to gain.

Though there were different calculations on both sides, Ron Meyer maintained a friendly demeanor as he extended his hand.

"Universal will complete the evaluation of the new script as soon as possible," he said with a smile. "Looking forward to working together, Alan."

"Likewise," Allen replied, shaking hands with Meyer. Then, as if a thought suddenly struck him, he added, "The new contract terms will be calculated according to the latest Writers Guild agreement, right?"

Meyer’s expression froze momentarily, but he quickly recovered and nodded without hesitation.

"Of course!"

"Could you tell me what’s going on?"

Having finalized the intent to film the new script, Allen returned from Universal Plaza in Los Angeles to his home in San Marino. Seeing a police car parked in front of his house, he felt a jolt of anxiety but outwardly maintained a puzzled expression as he stepped forward to inquire.

"Sir, you are?"

A white police officer, part of the neighborhood patrol, raised a hand to stop Allen and asked politely.

"I’m the owner of this house," Allen replied, pointing to the building behind the officer.

"My apologies, sir," the officer said, lowering his arm and adjusting his hat. "We received a call reporting that someone was stuck in a window for over an hour and couldn’t free themselves. When we arrived, we discovered that the callers were actually two burglars. One was wedged in the window, and the other had his leg pinned under a fallen cabinet, unable to move."

The officer’s expression turned slightly bemused as he mentioned the burglars calling for help.

It wasn’t hard to imagine their reaction upon realizing the perpetrators were the ones who’d called the police. Despite their extensive training, the officers had likely never encountered anything quite as absurd as thieves dialing 911 for assistance.

For a moment, the officer wasn’t sure whether to feel pity for the burglars’ bad luck or admire Allen’s good fortune.

"After confirming their identities, we found stolen items on them, and they admitted to breaking and entering. With solid evidence, we immediately decided to arrest them. But first, we had to free them from their predicament."

The burglar stuck in the window was jammed tighter than expected. Even after much effort, the officers couldn’t pull him out without causing him to scream in pain.

It took nearly half an hour and several rounds of lubricant—ranging from soap to olive oil—before they managed to extricate him.

"Sorry for the trouble, sir," the officer said afterward. "These burglars will face legal consequences, and I expect they’ll be spending some time behind bars."

With such irrefutable evidence, there was no room for the burglars to argue their innocence.

Allen, impressed by the courteous attitude of the patrol officers in the affluent neighborhood of San Marino, watched as the two hapless thieves, dejected and handcuffed, were loaded into the police car.

As the car drove away, Allen turned and entered his house. His gaze swept over the overturned cabinet and the mess within the room, finally landing on the motionless voodoo doll sitting on the dining table.

"So, was this your doing?"

Allen didn’t believe in coincidences. The idea that two burglars could end up so comically trapped—a window pinning one and a cabinet immobilizing the other—was too much to be mere chance.

Naturally, the only explanation was the voodoo doll left in the house.

Hearing Allen’s voice, the voodoo doll, which had been lying still in feigned innocence, immediately sprang to life. Clutching a toothpick-sized trident, it puffed out its chest and nodded, its yarn arms patting its chest in a triumphant gesture as if seeking praise.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 123: Preparations*

"Did anyone notice you?"

Reaching out, Allen gently stroked the fuzzy, round head of the *Voodoo Doll*.

Its fluffy texture felt just like a soft, plush cotton ball.

The doll tilted its round, yarn-covered head and rubbed against Allen's palm, responding to his question.

The *Voodoo Doll* immediately looked up and shook its head like a rattling drum. Waving its tiny trident, it gestured animatedly to explain everything that had happened.

"So you're saying that as soon as someone came in, you disguised yourself?"

Allen watched as the *Voodoo Doll* demonstrated on the dining table. First, it mimicked a patrolling stance, then quickly pretended to notice something suspicious, dramatically flopping onto the table and lying perfectly still.

Nodding in understanding, Allen said, "I see."

Hearing his response, the *Voodoo Doll* quickly jumped up and swung its trident, signaling that the answer was correct.

"Good job," Allen praised, patting its little fuzzy head.

However, as his eyes wandered over the slightly chaotic state of the living room, his brows furrowed involuntarily.

This time, thanks to the *Voodoo Doll*, the two thieves failed to succeed in their burglary attempt. But Allen knew he couldn’t always rely on such luck.

Moreover, the system's description of the doll’s "harmless mischief" ability implied its limitations.

While the *Voodoo Doll* could cause its targets minor bad luck, it was hardly devastating—at best, making someone trip or suffer superficial injuries.

"Perhaps I should consider setting up some security measures around the house?"

This burglary attempt served as a wake-up call for Allen.

He had assumed that living in an affluent neighborhood meant better security, but clearly, that wasn’t always the case.

For some reason, as Allen pondered setting up security, his mind drifted to the *Corpse Shepherding Technique* he had recently unlocked.

Wouldn’t stationing a yin corpse around the house provide effective security? After all, yin corpses neither eat nor drink and can work tirelessly 24/7.

...

"Mr. Allen, I guarantee you won’t regret this decision."

"ADT, as the largest provider of home security systems in the U.S., offers a comprehensive suite of devices to ensure your home’s safety."

In the end, Allen decided against using the *Corpse Shepherding Technique* for home defense.

Instead, he opted for a more modern, technological solution—installing a home alarm system around his property.

ADT technicians spent about three days setting up a complete security system around the house, ensuring all-around protection.

According to statistics, the average police response time in the U.S. is 11 minutes. However, in affluent areas like San Marino, response times can be as short as three minutes.

This meant that any emergency would prompt nearby patrol officers to arrive within three minutes.

Still, Allen was well aware that installing a home security system didn’t mean he could rest easy.

For most people, additional safety measures might include owning a gun or keeping a guard dog.

But Allen wasn’t just an ordinary person.

With the system at his disposal, he could implement unique measures to secure his home beyond what was visible—though he’d firmly ruled out using a yin corpse.

...

*Script 8: "Conjuring—The Clockwork Puppet"*

*Plot Summary:* Nursery rhymes should be full of joy and laughter, but some have an eerie quality that chills the listener.

One such sinister rhyme began circulating online:

"Beware the gaze of Mary Shaw; she had no children, only dolls. If you see her puppet, do not scream, or she'll come to claim your head with her toy."  

A group of young people, seeking to create a viral YouTube video, traced the rhyme back to an abandoned house vacant for 20 years. Hoping for clicks, they performed a séance ritual inside the house. But their reckless actions awakened a malevolent force.

Evil has returned from beyond the grave... and this time, it brought a toy.

...

After the dark undertones of the London zombie script, Allen felt the need to balance the overall horror tone.

Returning to familiar territory, Allen began crafting a new script.

With the previous script, *Sleepless Town*, gaining traction, it was time to give BSI something new to tackle.

Considering the increasingly frequent supernatural cases BSI might face and their limited ability to protect themselves, Allen decided to provide them with additional support. After all, the fledgling American federal department needed help to grow without prematurely collapsing.

This support wasn’t a new idea—it had already been foreshadowed in an earlier script.

Now, it was time for its debut.

As Allen’s thoughts flowed, the system’s script-writing process rapidly took shape.

Before he knew it, various *materials* had already been gathered in front of him.

Struggling with all its might, the *Voodoo Doll* dragged an oversized puppet to Allen.

The doll’s tiny hands let go, causing it to roll backward several times. After finally stopping, it shook its dizzy little head, then got up to continue its "work."

"That’s enough," Allen said, stopping the doll’s enthusiasm. Patting its round, yarn-covered head, he praised, "You’ve done a great job. Thanks for your help."

Hearing this, the doll puffed up its chest proudly, nodding as if to say, "That’s what I’m here for." Then, it rubbed against Allen’s palm, clearly enjoying the attention.

With a light tap on the doll’s fluffy head, Allen turned his focus to the pile of *materials* in front of him.

Setting aside items clearly dragged over out of personal preference—like tissue boxes, magazines, and milk cartons—Allen selected materials relevant to the script and fed them into the system.

*Material 1:* Puppet – 30,000 [Plot Points]

*Material 2:* Toy House – 20,000 [Plot Points]

*Material 3:* Business Card – 25,000 [Plot Points]

*Material 4:* Ring – 5,000 [Plot Points]

*Material 5:* Handheld Camcorder – 1,000 [Plot Points]

*Material 6:* Feather – 15,000 [Plot Points]

He thought that after so many material selections, nothing would go wrong.

But suddenly, a twisted notification appeared on the system’s *Script Evolution* page:

"Ding! Parts of the script involve developments outside the plot, requiring additional [Plot Points] for evolution and correction. Continue?"  

---

*Chapter 124: The Horror Lullaby*

"Involved beyond the plotline?"

Allen raised an eyebrow as he read the prompt displayed on the fragmented system interface.

Noticing the shift in his expression, the [Voodoo Doll] lifted its button-like red eyes, tilted its head slightly, and carefully poked Allen's finger with its tiny trident.

“It's nothing.”

Feeling the concern emanating from the [Voodoo Doll], Allen lowered his gaze and offered it a reassuring smile.

Then, turning back to the system screen, he confirmed the displayed instructions.

Allen had a fair understanding of why this prompt had appeared—it was clearly a continuation effect resulting from certain elements of his script.

This was, in fact, precisely the purpose behind his script's design.

With Allen’s mental command, the distorted prompt on the system panel vanished, making way for the next step.

*“Ding! Materials match. Generating the plot will require 146,000 [Plot Points]. Please select a location for plot evolution!”*

“Select Location 1—New York!”

*“Ding! Location confirmed. This plot evolution will require a total of 200,000 [Plot Points]. Proceed with evolution?”*

Although Allen had mentally prepared himself for the steep cost of this plot evolution, seeing the 200,000 [Plot Points] required still made him draw a sharp breath. This was undoubtedly the most significant [Plot Point] expenditure for any script he had evolved so far.

The root cause, of course, lay in the external plot development that had triggered the system's warning.

Summoning all his willpower to resist revising the script, Allen confirmed the evolution with the system.

*[Evolution Beginning]*

However, as he watched the system interface and saw his [Plot Points] drop dramatically, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pain in his chest.

After all, 200,000 [Plot Points] was no small amount.

If converted into [Voodoo Dolls], it would be enough to fill this entire room.

At the thought, Allen instinctively glanced down at the [Voodoo Doll], which had somehow become his mental currency standard.

The doll sat on the table, clutching its beloved trident, blissfully unaware of the comparison.

---

Two hundred thousand [Plot Points] was no trivial investment.

With the expenditure, an abandoned house appeared out of nowhere in the outskirts of New York.

Within a nearby sanatorium, a patient file was uploaded into the computer system.

On the internet, a sinister nursery rhyme about Mary Shaw and her dolls began to circulate in select communities.

A group of audacious young adults hit the road, heading toward the outskirts of New York.

Meanwhile, in Washington, at BSI Headquarters, Amanda stared at the business card in her hand and made a silent decision.

---

“Hey, Shaun, give the camera a wave…”

On a highway leading out of New York, Jamie pointed his DV camcorder at the driver, a man with curly red hair, and spoke with excitement.

Noticing the camera pointed at him, Shaun grew visibly uneasy, flashing a stiff smile at the lens.

“Hey, everyone, I’m Shaun.”

“Relax, Shaun. This is for YouTube. If you act this nervous, people online will mock you.”

From behind the camera, Jamie teased Shaun, trying to lighten the mood, while panning to capture the three passengers in the backseat.

“Joining us on this ghost-hunting adventure, apart from Shaun, are Laura, Susan, and Mark...”

As Jamie introduced them, the three passengers in the backseat waved at the camera.

“And of course, I’ll be documenting the entire ghost-hunting process and uploading the uncut footage for everyone to see.”

Jamie grinned broadly into the camera before turning it back to its normal angle.

“Alright, what are your thoughts on this ghost-hunting trip?” Jamie asked, aiming the camera at the three in the back.

Adjusting the angle, he focused on the blonde girl first.

“Laura, let’s start with you.”

“Well, I don’t know… I’m nervous, scared, and a bit uneasy. I’ve never done ghost hunting before…”

Laura's expression clearly revealed her mixture of fear and anxiety as she answered in a trembling voice.

“Can I back out of this trip now?”

“Of course…”

“No way!”

Drawing out his response dramatically, Jamie flatly rejected Laura’s request while laughing mischievously, shaking the camera as he turned to the next person.

“Your turn, Mark.”

Mark, a Black man with a voluminous afro, shrugged dismissively.

“It’s just another internet hoax. All this horror nursery rhyme stuff is nonsense. I’ll bet this trip will turn out like that so-called ‘real’ documentary, The Blair Witch Project. It’s all just clever marketing by filmmakers trying to make us believe it’s real.”

“So, Mark, you think everything about the horror lullaby is fake?”

“Of course.”

“Maybe soon enough, we’ll see a horror movie about it in theaters.”

Jamie caught Mark’s expression with the camera before swinging it to focus on the final passenger, a slightly chubby woman with long black hair.

“And what about you, Susan? Do you think Mary Shaw’s horror nursery rhyme is real or just someone’s made-up lie?”

“I’m not sure, Jamie,” Susan replied flatly, shaking her head as she gazed at the darkening sky outside the car.

“Finally, it’s your turn, Shaun. What’s your take?”

Startled by the sudden attention, Shaun flinched slightly. He maintained his focus on the road as he answered thoughtfully.

“I hope it’s real.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because otherwise, this trip will have been a complete waste of time.”

---

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 125: The Abandoned Cabin

"Alright, I admit it, you were right."

Behind the DV camera, Jamie's laughter caused the entire frame to shake slightly.

"Oh, I almost forgot."

After laughing, Jamie seemed to suddenly remember something.

Pointing the camera at himself and the three people in the back seat, he began explaining the reason for their ghost-hunting trip:

"The reason we decided to go on this ghost-hunting adventure was because of a creepy nursery rhyme I heard online a few days ago. It talks about a woman named Mary Shaw and her dolls..."

Holding the DV camera in one hand, Jamie pulled a phone out of his pocket with the other and tapped the play button on the screen.

“...Buzz...Beware of Mary Shaw's gaze; she had no children, only dolls; if you see her puppet, do not scream; or she’ll come with her doll and take your head...”

A few seconds later, a haunting voice accompanied by static began to play inside the car.

From the driver's seat, Sean’s face showed a hint of unease upon hearing the eerie nursery rhyme.

"Alright, Jamie, we’ve already heard this creepy song!"

Blonde-haired Laura, visibly uncomfortable, shouted at Jamie, who was playing the rhyme.

"I’m not done listening yet."

Instead of turning it off, Jamie aimed the camera at Laura’s face, capturing her frightened expression.

"Don’t you think this nursery rhyme sounds cool?"

"It’s not cool at all, Jamie! Turn it off now!"

On camera, Laura frowned deeply, covering her ears as she yelled.

"Jamie, turn off the music!"

In the car, Susan, who had remained calm, finally spoke up. "If you don’t stop, no one’s going to continue this ghost hunt with you."

Reluctantly, Jamie turned off the rhyme on his phone. He shrugged at the camera in mock disappointment.

"Alright, alright."

He panned the camera across everyone in the car, capturing their expressions.

Fixing the camera on the dashboard, Jamie resumed narrating their destination.

"There are already tons of ghost-hunting videos online, but I guarantee that what we’re doing is completely unique. This will be an unedited, raw ghost-hunting experience. And our focus tonight? The place mentioned in that nursery rhyme—the home of Mary Shaw."

"According to what I found online, Mary Shaw was a real person who lived twenty years ago. She lived in a house in the New York countryside with her dolls. No one knew about her past, but there were rumors of painful screams coming from her home—people said they were made by her dolls."

In front of the camera, Jamie dramatically recounted the tale, building a chilling atmosphere for their upcoming ghost hunt.

---

“We’re here!”

Despite promising an unedited video, Jamie had selectively filmed only parts of their journey. He quickly resumed recording when Sean’s voice came from the driver’s seat.

Through the camera, an abandoned cabin came into view, standing desolately in the night.

"Alright, everyone, we’ve arrived. This is Mary Shaw’s house, as described in the nursery rhyme..."

Under the dim evening light and Jamie’s shaky camera, a rusty iron fence enclosing the decayed cabin became visible.

"It looks like no one’s lived here for a long time."

Turning on the camera’s light, Jamie pointed it at the rusty gate. His voice carried a mix of excitement and nervousness.

"Let’s head in and find out if the legend of Mary Shaw is true or just another hoax."

Filming their parked car and the group stepping out, Jamie urged them to hurry as he captured the surroundings.

The camera revealed the decrepit state of the cabin and a leafless tree standing in the yard. Its twisted branches cast eerie shadows, adding to the unsettling atmosphere.

After a few seconds of filming the cabin, Jamie pointed the camera back at the group. Raising the camera high, he tried to fit everyone into the frame.

"Let’s hope this ghost hunt is worth it. We’ve spent over two hours just getting here."

"Sean, tell me how you feel right now."

"A little nervous."

The camera’s faint light cast shadows on Sean’s face as he stared at the cabin behind Jamie, taking a deep breath.

"And you, Laura?"

"I feel scared. This place looks creepy."

Laura’s nervous gaze darted around the eerie surroundings.

"Mark?"

"I admit, this place has a certain vibe... but just a little."

Mark’s dark complexion stood out in the camera’s light as he glanced indifferently at the cabin behind the fence.

"Finally, Susan?"

"If I’d known the destination would take this long to reach, I wouldn’t have agreed to this ghost hunt."

Susan’s tone remained cold and detached on camera.

"Alright, everyone’s ready. Let’s get to the main event..."

Jamie shrugged at Susan’s reaction and turned the camera back to the abandoned cabin. As he walked, the footage became shaky until they reached the rusted gate.

Clang—  

Jamie pushed the tightly shut gate, and with a loud creak, it swung open.

"Looks like this place has been abandoned for a long time—the gate doesn’t even work anymore."

---

(End of Chapter)