Part 6: Living in Fear

Demi-Divine Chen: The night before I left the country, I kept thinking, once I get there, I'll be able to break free from my calamity once and for all.
Demi-Divine Chen: This time, I'll start fresh, open an exorcism agency in Los Angeles, and live a decent life—a life better than I've ever lived before.
Demi-Divine Chen: No more lying around on old newspapers, no more eating half-cooked food, no more looking in the mirror to find this stubbled face staring back at me every day. No more stinking, worn-out shirts.
Demi-Divine Chen: I made contact with the local Paranormal Affairs Bureau over there. They'd been looking for a Chinese exorcist.
Demi-Divine Chen: But I forgot something. I forgot that when you reach a certain age, you realize that there are bigger things to fear than "ghosts."
Bureau Member Tony: Hahaha, no, seriously! When this Chinese guy first got here, he had a backpack full of toys and stuff, and he said he'd clear out the whole haunted house all by his damn self! Haha!
Bureau Member Tony: One time, I had a spirit detector in my hand, and he asked if I was talking on the phone! I'm telling you, it's like he's crawled straight out of a cave.
He sets down his beer and waves his arms around as he mimics a caveman, causing his drinking mates to burst into laughter.
Bureau Member Tony: Hey, Chen, come over here! Get your little wooden sword and bell, show 'em your moves!
In the corner, Chen sits with his head down, his fists clenched.
Bureau Member Ruth: Ignore him, Chen. Tony's been pickling his brain since he was old enough to drink. We all know you've got your own methods. You just need some time to prove them.
Bureau Member Tony: Methods? You mean those "Seven-Star Steps," or whatever it's called ... Hah! Guy looks like he's trying to walk the catwalk or something! Quit yanking my chain, buddy.
Bureau Member Tony: We've given him more than enough time, years even! And the only thing he's gotten better at is making us laugh! I mean, seriously, is there anything he CAN do?
Demi-Divine Chen: I'm leaving. See you tomorrow.
As he stands, the others fall silent, their eyes following him as he leaves.
Then, another round of laughter erupts.
Bureau Member Tony: Ah, Ruth. I'll never get tired of seeing you try to play the good Samaritan! Cracks me up every time, hahaha!
Bureau Member Ruth: I'm serious, Tony. We finally got someone around who can bring a little entertainment around here, and you wanna chase him off? Besides, he makes dealing with stuff in Chinatown a hell of a lot easier.
Bureau Member Ruth: You've probably heard there's a new exorcism agency in Chinatown. The St. Pavlov Foundation's already made contact with the girl who opened it—gave her the green light.
Bureau Member Ruth: Her stuff's the real deal, too. Makes Chen's stunts look even crazier. Not even the people down in Chinatown buy what he's selling anymore.
Bureau Member Tony: What's her name?
Bureau Member Ruth: Uh, it's kinda weird. She's called—
An-an Lee
...
Demi-Divine Chen: I heard the whole thing from the doorway, but I knew I had no choice. So I made my way back to my place down the street.
Demi-Divine Chen: The irony of this whole thing is that this might be the very reason I became an exorcist. I fear poverty way more than ghosts—I fear sickness, I fear their stares, I fear being judged, I fear disappointment—I fear people.
Demi-Divine Chen: I fear that if I leave the bureau, I'll be right back at square one.
Demi-Divine Chen: I'm standing at a crossroads, knowing that if I just turn the corner, I'll be right there in Chinatown, where arcanists and humans live side by side. But still, I choose not to go.
Demi-Divine Chen: Just keep moving forward—always forward—no looking back, no left or right turns.
I can feel so many eyes on me—destiny looming over my head—so I don't look back. I just keep running and running.
I know she's on my tail again. I know my calamity isn't through with me yet. I've gotta keep running.
Escape is the only way forward.
Don't get comfortable. Don't ever think you're safe.
Don't indulge in pleasure. It'll make you complacent and destroy you in the end.
Your punishment will come soon enough. Your calamity isn't over yet.
It's just up ahead, always ahead, waiting for you to bump right into it.
Don't breathe.
You can't breathe yet.
Demi-Divine Chen: Aahhhh!
I woke up that night, drenched in sweat, the nightmare still fresh in my mind.
Then, I made my decision.
I had to kill An-an Lee with my own two hands.
*ring-ring-ring*
Demi-Divine Chen: Hey, Ruth, Tony, it's Chen. You guys got time?
Demi-Divine Chen: I have a way to help you clean up Chinatown. Meet me at the lighthouse tomorrow at 3 p.m.