-Following the Events of Karim's Chapter-
Alex stumbled out of the library, her breathing rapid and heart still racing after reliving Karim's experience in the Forbidden City. She paused at the threshold of the mansion's foyer to remind herself that she was back in Rhode Island, centuries later from the events she had just witnessed. The mansion, as intimidating and eerie as it was, almost seemed a refuge from the terrifying images she had found in the Tome. I'm safe here, Alex thought to herself as she finally steadied her breathing. True, I've just relived memories of people cutting down walking corpses like a knife cutting cheese and seen creatures that pop out of human chests. But you know what? I'm fine.
RING!
The sudden noise nearly caused Alex to jump out of her skin. The foyer phone gave another shrill ring. At first uncertain as to what she should do, Alex stepped towards the table and picked up the telephone.
"Hello?" She answered, trying to sound casual.
"Remember me, Alex?" came the voice of her grandfather, Edward Roivas.
Alex dropped the phone as the line went dead. This isn't really happening! Alex thought to herself. My grandpa is dead. What I just heard from the telephone was not his voice. Her hands trembling as she backed away from the table, Alex tried regaining her calm. Just play it cool, Alex. She thought, attempting to ease her panic. Just play it cool. You've seen a lot of crap go down lately, but you're okay.
-Following the Events of Max's Chapter-
Alex crept through the library door again, her eyes sweeping uneasily over the mansion foyer. She felt a good deal less safe in the mansion now that she knew just what sort of unworldly things had roamed the halls of the house. Well, so much for thinking this place was any better than the Tome. Alex thought to herself bitterly. Just so long as I don't wind up talking to rats in an asylum like Max, I'll be okay.
RING!
Alex cursed as she just barely managed to avoid tripping and falling onto her unsheathed gladius as the phone rang. She steadied herself with the stairway banister, concluding that actual death by impalement wouldn't be magically reversed like most of the insanity-driven phenomena she had experienced. Taking the phone in hand, she answered the call. "Yes, who is it?"
"Show me the money."
Alex paused. Did her grandfather just quote…? No, Alex thought when the line went dead. I must really really be losing some sanity. I probably just misheard Grandpa. After all, he always had a bit of a slur, especially after he had taken a swig from his so-called Liquid Courage. Wait. Realizing that entertaining such a thought meant that she was starting to accept these calls as reality, Alex cast a recover sanity spell and resumed her search for the next chapter page.
-Following the Events of Edwin's Chapter-
The heart of Mantorok pulsated nastily as Alex hoisted the large glass container containing the Ancient's essence next to the clock by the stairway. She stared at it as it hovered in a sickly purple light. She had heard of black lungs caused by smoking, but never a black heart. "Mantorok, you must have been smoking some crazy stuff to get a heart like that." Alex said aloud. She swore she could almost hear a deep rumbling akin to a laugh coming in reply to her statement, but this thought was interrupted with another RING! From the phone.
Now Alex knew it wasn't just her mind playing tricks on her. "Is that you again, Grandpa?" She demanded.
"Have you checked the children?" Came Edward's reply followed by the drone of the line disconnecting.
If this was Edward's idea of a joke, it wasn't funny.
-Following the Events of Paul's Chapter-
Alex sighed as she was welcomed into the foyer by yet another ringing phone.
"Good luck." Edward ominously stated before cutting out.
For the love of… Alex was starting to become irritated. "Grandpa, it's the year 2000. The movie Taken hasn't even been produced yet."
Though the line was down, Alex heard a muttered "…# &%."
-Following the Events of Roberto's Chapter-
Alex didn't even bother questioning reality this time. Once she had finished reliving more insanity acid trip fun through Roberto in the Forbidden City, she bolted to the foyer and glared at the phone until it rang.
"Seven d—" Edward began.
"Edward Roivas!" Alex angrily interjected. "Stop it with the stupid movie references! Now unless you have some valuable information to offer me in my fight against the darkness, stop calling me!"
With that, Alex slammed the phone down and walked away fuming. She was so angry that she wouldn't even bat an eye if all three Ancients magically appeared and performed a synchronized dance right in front of her. If Edward called one more time…
-Following the Events of Peter's Chapter-
The phone rang,
Alex couldn't take it any longer. She ran to the opposite side of the room, grabbed the telephone, and yelled, "I've had it with you, you old fart! The next time I see you I'm going to 7-point magical attack your sorry behind and shove my Mantorok-enchanted gladius where even a recover health spell won't heal the damage!"
No longer bothering to obey such petty niceties like placing the phone on the receiver, Alex threw the entire telephone onto the hard floor and started hacking at it with the gladius. Intoxicated with rage and laughing maniacally (Xel'lotath would be proud), she cast a 7-point magical attack on the smoking remains, creating a small mound of molten plastic and wiring. Then, for good measure, she summoned a trapper and teleported what could no longer be called a phone into the deepest reaches of the Trapper Dimension.
Satisfied with her handywork, Alex strode away while humming outloud N'Sync's "Bye Bye Bye".
Somewhere Devious (?)
Detective LaGrasse stood with his mouth agape for a good ten seconds after the line went dead as he tried to register what had just happened. The inspector's features flickered and dissolved into nonexistence, revealing a dumbfounded Pious Augustus with the landline still next to his skeletal mouth. Pious slowly replaced his phone on the receiver while the two possessed officers flanking either side of their master gingerly backed away from the phone. The yelling and ensuing sounds of destruction had been more than loud enough for everyone in the room to hear.
After another few anxious moments passed, Pious turned to look at his accomplices and quietly remarked. "I know we discussed terrorizing the last descendant of the Roivas family with the lines from films watched by ignorant mortals, but that plan is now no longer in effect. I will immediately consult with our Master regarding this change in our enemy's disposition." Really I just want a chance to hide on my special panic island in the middle of space and have Ulyaoth comfort me. Pious thought to himself as he shuffled into a dark corner to cast his teleportation spell.
When the last visible trace of Pious had vanished, one of the officers turned towards the other and admitted, "Not to doubt our master or his servant, the Liche, but I'm almost more scared of this girl than anything else. As my host would say, 'This chick be wacked!'"