Chapter 488


    As soon as she stepped out, Elio sidled up, his voice a conspiratorial whisper. "Astrid, you should head


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    back. I''ll tag along with them; it''s cool."


    "Not a chance," Astrid shot back with a wink. "Some things might stump these guys, but not me. Just


    don''t go screaming like a little kid when things get spooky, okay?"


    Elio grinned. "With my wife’s protection, scared is thest thing I''d be."


    "Get outta here! Since when am I your wife?" Astrid rolled her eyes in mock disgust, then something


    caught her eye in the distance—a shape fluttering in the branches of a tree.


    It was like the silhouette of a person, floating among the leaves, but it had no legs.


    Even Elio, as macho as he tried to be, felt a chill creep up his spine. Fearing Astrid might freak, he


    reached out and covered her eyes.


    But Astrid wasn''t having any of it. She was too intrigued to appreciate the blindfold treatment. She


    swatted his hand away. "What are you doing? Oh my god, who''s still using the old dy in white with


    long hair'' gig? It''s so cliche! That''s a lousy prop, right there. It looks so fake! The eyes are bulging, but


    it''s more funny than scary. And is that ketchup for blood? Seriously, this is amateur hour. And look, you


    can see right through that hole in the belly—clear to the tree behind!"


    Maddox was speechless. To avoid frightening the viewers at home, the crew swiftly cut the feed from


    the camera pointed at the eerie figure.


    Hearing Astrid''smentary, everyone started to visualize the scene, and the more timid among them


    were on the verge of tears. [This is the first time I wish Astar would just zip it.]


    [Same here. I usually love her banter, but right now, I''d pay her to shut up. Her descriptions are way too


    vivid; I''m crying here.]


    [Dang, those visuals are too strong. I muted it because I got scared!]


    [LOL! So I''m not the only chicken here. But it does suggest that someone staged this ''ghost'' to scare


    us. Whoever did this is seriously twisted.]


    [Yeah, what if someone on the crew had a heart condition or something? What if they got a heart attack


    from the fright?]


    The chat was buzzing with excitement when suddenly, Astrid whipped out a miniature crossbow and


    fired a bolt into the distance. A high-pitched scream echoed through the woods.


    The chat exploded - [OMG, so the ''ghost'' isn''t a prop but a real person? Astar made her cry, LOL!]


    Those who had muted the stream quickly turned the volume back up, only to hear someone sobbing.


    But this time, the cries weren''t scary; they were the unmistakable sounds of someone in pain. "It hurts


    so much, my stomach... I think I''m dying. Please, someone help me!"


    Astrid looked at the woman tied to the tree, iling about, and couldn''t help butugh. "Oops, I thought I


    could shoot right through that hole in your belly!"


    The woman was at a loss for words for a while ,then she begged, "Astar, I''m sorry! I was just paid to


    y a ghost, please let me go. Mr. Maddox, Mr. Maddox, I''ve been an extra in your shows before. Can''t


    you cut me some ck? I was just trying to earn a few extra bucks, nothing personal! I can barely feel


    my stomach anymore. If I don''t get to a hospital soon, I''m a goner."


    The crowd didn''t know whether to be horrified or amused.


    Astrid surveyed the terrified woman, her lips twitching into a half-smile. She had known all along it was


    a person, which is why she had used the barest force necessary on her crossbow, just enough to


    deliver a dose of the sedative on its tip.