Hearing Hayley's words, everyone seemed to sense that something was wrong.
Just then, Lucas suddenly changed his expression, clutching his neck and arching his back!
"Lucas!"
Already feeling uneasy, Hayley immediately noticed his strange behavior.
Her cry startled everyone else, and their expressions changed instantly.
Could what Lucien said be true?!
Had the curse come so quickly?!
But soon, Lucas raised his head and revealed a mischievous grin.
"Ugh... the evil power from the cards... I can't breathe... save me~~"
His exaggerated performance instantly made the previously worried girls roll their eyes.
"Oh, give me a break."
Grant complained as he stepped forward and slapped Lucas hard on the back.
Thud!
"That joke was terrible, Lucas."
Hayley, who had reacted the strongest, was also the most annoyed.
"Don't be mad, Hailey. I was just trying to lighten the mood."
Lucas quickly waved his hands with a grin.
"It was only a prank."
Ellis stepped forward.
"See? Those so-called evil powers are just tricks used by charlatans."
"Don't scare yourselves."
"I think we should trust science."
Madeline nodded in agreement.
"So should we return the box now?"
Peggy's question was immediately interrupted by Lucas.
"Come on. We've already been kicked out by the owner. What's the point of going back?"
"If he discovers we took something from the room, he'll be even angrier."
"Go back just to get yelled at?"
"Besides, it's probably not worth anything. The owner might not even remember it exists."
Hailey looked around.
Most of them clearly had no intention of returning.
"Compared to that, haven't we forgotten why we came out in the first place?"
The chubby Paxton looked at everyone.
"The party isn't over yet."
"Let's go buy some drinks!"
The suggestion was immediately approved.
Everyone except Hailey completely forgot about the "evil tarot cards" and headed toward the nearest shopping center.
Hailey looked down at the bag in her hand and sighed.
Maybe she really was overthinking things.
After all...
Even if the cards were evil, how evil could they actually be?
Giving up on the thought, she quickly caught up with her friends.
Night had just fallen.
It was the perfect time for relaxation and entertainment.
The group quickly bought several cases of beer and successfully rented another villa before it got too late.
This villa was much better than the previous one hidden deep in the mountains.
It was located inside a residential community.
The three men and four women carried the beer inside and soon lit a bonfire.
After several rounds of drinking, everyone became slightly tipsy.
Conversations became more lively.
Ordinary party games suddenly felt much more entertaining under the influence of alcohol.
Everyone was having fun.
Except for Hailey and Grant.
When the topic turned toward relationships, Grant quietly found an excuse to leave.
The former couple ended up chatting separately about old memories and trivial events from their younger days.
Eventually, everyone gathered again in the living room.
"Hailey, do you still have that box?"
Ellis suddenly asked with a flushed face.
"Yeah. Why?"
"Give me a tarot reading."
Ellis laughed.
"Don't worry about all that nonsense."
"It's my birthday today."
"Let's have some fun."
"Come on, Hailey. Show us what you've got."
"A tarot reading? I want one too."
"Don't be shy. At least you actually know how to do it."
"Unlike that antique dealer who just says weird things."
Encouraged by alcohol and her friends' excitement, Hailey finally nodded.
"Alright."
Everyone immediately began preparing.
The lights throughout the villa were switched off.
A tablecloth decorated with a pentagram pattern was placed on the round table in the center of the room.
Candles were lit.
Darkness filled the villa.
The flickering candlelight created an eerie atmosphere.
"Woooo~"
"Great spirit guide, I summon you~~"
Paxton exaggerated his movements dramatically.
Across from him, Peggy laughed while recording everything with her phone.
Once everything was ready, Hailey opened the wooden box and removed the tarot deck.
The ancient cards appeared beneath the candlelight.
Yellowed paper.
Dark symbols.
Strange illustrations.
The moment she saw them clearly, Hailey seemed to sober up considerably.
A cold gust of wind suddenly swept through the room.
The candle flames swayed violently.
The playful atmosphere instantly quieted down.
"...Maybe we shouldn't do this."
Hailey slowly pushed the cards away.
"There is an unwritten rule in tarot reading."
"You shouldn't use someone else's deck."
"Who cares?"
Ellis stood up slightly, swaying from the alcohol.
"Come on."
"I'll go first."
Seeing her insistence, Hailey finally put aside her concerns.
"Alright."
Everyone cheered.
The atmosphere immediately became lively again.
"So..."
"The twelve cards are arranged in a circle."
"And the thirteenth card is placed in the center."
"This card represents the overall theme of the reading and helps explain the others."
She carefully turned over the cards.
"You drew..."
"The High Priestess."
Hailey smiled.
"You're a Libra, aren't you?"
Ellis looked surprised and nodded.
"That's right."
"You naturally want to understand the meaning behind everything."
"Your curiosity is one of your greatest strengths."
"But it's also something that constantly leads you toward the unknown."
"You're currently moving toward success."
"However, the reversed High Priestess is a warning."
"In the future, you may need to slow down."
"Otherwise that curiosity may cause you to stumble and suffer serious consequences."
As Hailey spoke, Ellis picked up the central card.
The illustration showed a thin and grotesque priestess.
She held an inverted cross.
A blindfold covered her eyes.
A chilling smile stretched across her face.
The longer Ellis stared at it, the more disturbing it became.
"That's creepy..."
she muttered unconsciously.
"This old deck really is strange."
"Otherwise I wouldn't have stayed behind to ask Lucien about it."
"But honestly?"
"I'm not worried."
"Compared to the warning, I'd rather focus on the success part."
"Fair enough."
After Ellis finished, everyone else eagerly wanted a turn.
Next came Madeline.
The same process followed.
Shuffle.
Deal.
Draw.
As a Pisces, Madeline drew the Hanged Man.
The figure on the card hung upside down.
Its neck bent at an almost impossible angle.
"The Hanged Man represents surrender."
Hailey began her explanation.
"This period may feel difficult."
"Mercury retrograde may cause things to go wrong."
"You may even find technology failing for no reason."
"As a Pisces, you tend to avoid danger."
"Just like the two fish in your zodiac symbol swimming in opposite directions."
"However, over the next month, don't run away."
"Face your problems directly."
"Don't remain trapped."
Originally, Paxton was supposed to go next.
Unfortunately, he suddenly needed to use the bathroom.
So Peggy took his place.
Virgo Peggy drew the Magician.
The illustration showed a crazed magician pulling a rabbit from a bag.
But his wide-open mouth and bloodshot eyes made it seem as though he intended to eat the rabbit alive.
"As a Virgo, you always search for logic."
"The next month may be confusing."
"You'll feel as if you're being pulled in different directions."
"Be careful."
"The Magician's bag represents deception."
"It may prevent you from seeing the truth clearly."
At that moment, Paxton returned from the bathroom and eagerly joined the group again.
The card he drew was The Fool.
Empty eye sockets.
A toothless grin.
A twisted clown-like figure.
The artwork looked unsettling.
"You drew The Fool."
"The reversed Fool warns against acting recklessly."
"Trust the people you believe in."
"Judgment currently occupies your Fourth House, which relates to physical places and environments."
"So don't panic."
"If you ever find yourself trapped..."
"Remember that when one door closes, another window opens."
"And eventually..."
"You'll appear before your friends in a completely unexpected way."
Paxton's eyes immediately lit up.
He instantly imagined himself returning as a wealthy beauty living in a giant mansion.
The ridiculous fantasy earned immediate ridicule from everyone present.
Next came Lucas.
"Capricorn."
"Responsible."
"Practical."
"But also somewhat sensitive."
"The card you drew is The Hermit."
"Your financial situation will soon change."
"And you may also enter a romantic relationship."
Everyone immediately exchanged meaningful looks before turning toward Madeline.
Madeline smiled awkwardly.
However, Hailey quickly continued.
"But be careful."
"When The Hermit is reversed, it represents poor judgment."
"It also warns against doing anything blindly for love."
"Pay attention to where you're going."
"The Hermit's lantern may not always lead you in the right direction."
One reading after another continued.
Everyone became increasingly interested.
After all, anything related to fate was naturally fascinating.
However...
The next reading became awkward for Hailey.
Because besides herself—
only Grant remained.
Her former boyfriend slowly sat down across from her.
This time, Hailey's smile had completely disappeared.
She quietly waited for him to take his seat.