American Horror Story: A Tale of Terror from Silent Hill

Chapter 165 Starlight
In the early morning, the morning mist began to dissipate.

The best time to create art.

Across the lake is a shimmering expanse of blue water. Every day, the people of Baling sing to cultivate their character. Their beautiful songs allow nature to feel their pure and genuine emotions.

Early risers are the first to enjoy the world.

The warm sunshine hit him in the face. Baling squinted at the lake surface as the wind blew, and ripples spread quietly, with a few small goldfish blowing bubbles.

On the lawn by the lake, Baling sat on an oak bench he had bought out of his own pocket, and casually grabbed a handful of breadcrumbs and stuffed them around him.

Several large white pigeons, unafraid of people, flew down and pecked at the scattered breadcrumbs.

Baling's calm eyes gradually lost focus, and her thoughts drifted to a very, very far distance.

Far away, in Western Europe.

Moonlight shone through the clouds, bathing a black-eyed raven in it, its jet-black wings gliding lightly, a touch of golden shimmering deep within its pupils.

The first crows spread the bloodline, and the lucky offspring will inherit the power, quickly pass through the growth period, and fulfill the mission engraved in their blood.

Their traces reached faraway places, but Baling was still able to initiate contact and use them as its eyes.

This time, it found a suitable house on this continent.

It was an unusual theater, secretly decorated with ritual and summoning arrays.

The target object is not yet clearly defined, but it is indeed what Baling needs.

Below, where crows circle, lies the Brukenthal Theatre, an abandoned old theatre.

On the surface, it appears desolate and old.

Thousands of miles away, Baling, through the vision of the crows, vaguely sensed that this place was not simple, and perhaps he would have to go there in person to be safe.

After all, being in a foreign land, his body was too far away, and the transmission of power would be severely compromised.

Two days later.

After settling in on the trivial matters, Baling boarded a plane, taking off from America. After transferring once en route, he finally arrived near his destination.

Budapest, Gellért Hotel.

Having just gotten out of the taxi, Baling stood still, gazing at the foreign scenery.

Come to think of it, he hasn't been abroad for a long time.

This city, compared to America, has a richer historical atmosphere and a stronger artistic ambiance.

Just by glancing casually down the street, Baling saw a beautiful woman walking straight toward him.

Judging from her graceful figure and gait, she has most likely practiced dance.

She walked slowly towards him, getting closer and closer.

Then, they walked past Baling and entered the inn.

Through the reflective lenses of her sunglasses, a pinkish-white box tied with a ribbon fell out of the woman's handbag.

Huh?
As a high-quality young man who never picks up lost items, Baling picked it up without hesitation. As he did so, Baling had a strange feeling that he had intercepted it.

Could it be that they've seized some kind of opportunity?

He raised his hand and called out to the woman in white, "Please wait, miss. You've dropped something."

The earnest old Stars and Stripes accent caused Claire Hamilton, who was walking forward, to abruptly stop.

After taking a few steps forward, Baling followed into the hotel. He had already booked a room while in the car.

“This is mine. Thank you.” Since Baling also speaks the American language, Claire reflexively responded in her native tongue.

Are you an older woman?

"Yes."

"Oh, we're from the same hometown! What a coincidence." After handing back the items, Baling took off his sunglasses and continued, "Where are you from?"

“New York!” Claire smiled gently, her innocent smile making Baling’s eyes unconsciously become innocent as well.

“New York, a big city. I know it. Although I haven’t been there yet, I’ll definitely go sometime.” Baling then offered his name: “My name is Baling. I’m a collector.”

"Claire, you must be very rich."

"They are quite capable, though."

"You're here to learn dance, right?"

"I hope so." Claire came all the way from New York to audition for the dance academy; she was a dreamer.

Claire appeared outgoing, but they didn't talk much during their first meeting. After a few casual words, she said goodbye and left.

After receiving the key at the front desk, Claire went to enter her room.

But then she noticed that Baling, whom she had met earlier, was following behind her.

Claire quickened her pace, but Baling followed her like a shadow.

Helpless, Claire turned around, about to say something, when she saw Baling open the door to the room next to her: "I'll stay here."

Claire exclaimed in surprise, "What a coincidence!"

Baling narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled meaningfully, "Hehe, perhaps there will be even more coincidences."

Before Claire could figure it out, Baling entered the room.

What does this mean?
Claire was stunned. Logically speaking, this was most likely just a joke.

But Baling's extraordinary appearance is no joke.

After hesitating for a moment, she still didn't knock on the door to ask further questions. She had an important interview in a couple of days, and now was not the time to think about these things.

Two days later.

Outside the interview venue.

Many ballet dancers who came for auditions warmed up outside, waiting for their turn to perform.

Inside the dance studio, a tall, slender woman in black was instructing her students, guiding them through rhythmic dance steps.

The two people sitting in the chairs were responsible for scoring and admitting students.

One was an old man with a full white beard, the theater manager; the other was the male lead of the ballet, a man with black hair and black eyes.

Claire secretly observed everything inside through the slightly ajar door.

From the ballerina with her arms swirling and turning, to the man who unexpectedly appeared here, Claire finally understood what those words meant that day.

What a coincidence indeed.

In fact, Baling's appearance here was partly premeditated and partly coincidental.

Originally, Baling wanted to use his financial power to buy the Grand Theater directly, but the theater owner refused and rejected Baling's offer.

However, this evil theater must be kept under control.

Since open methods don't work, we have to resort to covert ones.

Baling will temporarily settle for second best and wait until the story reaches its climax before taking the summoned demon and the theater into its possession.

While checking into the hotel, Baling recalled the story about the theater, and he remembered it so quickly thanks in part to Claire.

To prevent innocent people from dying during the ritual, Baling had no choice but to sacrifice himself, voluntarily becoming the vessel for the demon's resurrection.

His excuse to the outside world was that he really wanted to dance and wanted to perform in this dance drama.

Baling joined the group with his own investment, and he was exceptionally talented. Most importantly, his physique was more suitable than that of his previous male dance partners.

Therefore, Marios, the choreographer of the dance drama and also the owner of the theater, made the decision to replace him.

If he were to dedicate himself to such a vessel as a sacrifice to the god of animals, his dance drama would surely be highly praised!

Now, all that's missing is a female lead.

Once he finds a suitable female lead and completes the ancient ritual, his long-cherished wish will be within reach.

(End of this chapter)