“Have you heard?
Ring is finally opening in America on Halloween weekend!” News of the confirmed release date spread across social media almost instantly, and horror fans who had been waiting for months flooded Vance Studios’ accounts.
One excited viewer wrote that he had already watched a terrible pirated copy five times but still planned to buy a ticket because he wanted to experience Sadako inside a proper 5D theater, while another joked, “Sadako can traumatize me a thousand times and I’ll still treat her like my first love.”
Ever since Atlas Vance confirmed the Halloween release, discussion surrounding Ring had become almost impossible to avoid.
This was exactly the result Atlas had expected when he chose to premiere overseas: strong international box office created curiosity, frustrated American audiences began demanding access, and Vance Studios publicly explained that the domestic delay had resulted from the ratings dispute.
By the time approval finally arrived, Atlas barely needed to spend money promoting the film because American moviegoers had already turned Ring into one of the country’s most anticipated horror releases.
At the same time, principal photography on Martin Hayes’s The Haunted Bridge had finally ended.
The production was holding its wrap party inside an expensive hotel, with food and champagne covering the tables while cast and crew congratulated each other after more than half a year of work.
Everyone laughed on the surface, but an uncomfortable tension still hung over the banquet because nearly every phone in the room contained news about Ring.
“Director Hayes, here’s to a massive box-office success!” one crew member said while raising his glass.
Another quickly added, “More than six months of work is finally finished, so everyone should celebrate.
Come on, why does everyone look so serious?” Several people tried to make the atmosphere livelier, but their efforts achieved little.
Samantha Quinn sat at one table while staring at the announcement of Ring’s Halloween opening.
Her emotions had become increasingly complicated because a single impulsive decision months earlier had caused her to abandon an opportunity that could have transformed her career overnight.
The movie currently drawing attention across America, Japan, and numerous other countries had once offered her the chance to audition for Reiko Asakawa.
That opportunity could have belonged to her.
Instead, Emily Brooks had become Ring’s female lead and was now receiving recognition from international audiences.
Samantha had only managed to secure the female-ghost role in The Haunted Bridge, and although it was still the most important part she had played in her career, her screen time was nowhere near Emily’s.
Worse, Samantha knew exactly what inappropriate compromises she had accepted from Martin Hayes in exchange for the opportunity.
Her old university group chat suddenly became active again.
One classmate excitedly wrote, “I still can’t believe Emily became the female lead of Ring.
Someone from our class is actually becoming famous!” Another joked that he had once bought Emily lunch and hoped she would remember him once Hollywood started calling.
Their former class advisor soon joined the conversation and congratulated Emily before reminding her not to forget her old classmates if she gained more industry connections.
Emily answered politely that she wouldn’t forget everyone.
Samantha silently read the messages while her fingernails gradually pressed into her palm.
All this attention should have been hers.
When Samantha had first announced that Martin Hayes cast her as the ghost in his new horror movie, the same group chat had been filled with congratulations.
For several days she had felt as though her career was finally beginning, even imagining herself becoming the most successful graduate from their class.
Now Ring’s explosive overseas performance had poured ice water over that dream.
Another classmate eventually asked when Samantha’s movie would release and commented that Martin Hayes was still an established horror director, so The Haunted Bridge should be worth watching.
Someone else joked that seeing Samantha dressed as a terrifying ghost would be interesting, and the class advisor congratulated her as well.
Samantha quickly replied that she wouldn’t forget everyone after becoming successful.
For a brief moment, her mood improved because at least they still remembered her.
Then she compared their comments about Emily with the ones directed at her, and the difference immediately became painful again.
Emily was the attractive central heroine of an international hit, while Samantha was being remembered mainly because people wanted to see how ugly and frightening her ghost makeup looked.
Samantha stared at the message she had just sent and suddenly felt embarrassed.
It seemed as though she were desperately imitating Emily’s growing success rather than creating something of her own.
She tried to delete the reply, only to discover that too much time had already passed.
Just like the decision she had made when Atlas offered her Ring.
She wanted to take it back now.
But it was already too late.
Across the banquet room, Martin Hayes chatted casually with several producers while checking Ring’s American release date on his phone.
Instead of becoming angry, a faint smile gradually appeared because Atlas choosing Halloween weekend actually fit perfectly with Martin’s own plans.
Most movies received their strongest theatrical business during the first several weeks, and even successful releases gradually surrendered screens as new films arrived.
If Ring opened around Halloween and remained popular through November and December, most of its theatrical momentum would have weakened by the beginning of the new year.
The Haunted Bridge had already finished filming, but Martin still needed enough time for editing, visual effects, sound design, and other post-production work.
That made the Presidents’ Day holiday window an attractive target.
There would be enough distance between the two releases to avoid a direct confrontation.
Even better, Martin realized Ring might actually help him.
After American audiences experienced Sadako Yamamura, the country would almost certainly see a new wave of interest in supernatural horror.
Studios, theaters, streaming services, and ordinary viewers would begin searching for the next frightening movie, and The Haunted Bridge could arrive just as that demand peaked.
What if its reviews weren’t as strong as Ring?
Martin almost laughed at the thought.
Was artistic reputation more important than money?
At this point, Martin genuinely hoped Ring became a massive domestic success.
Atlas could create the horror craze, expand the audience, and make supernatural movies fashionable again, while The Haunted Bridge arrived afterward and collected part of the profit.
From Martin’s perspective, letting someone else build the market before entering it himself was simply good business.
He wasn’t overly concerned about Atlas permanently stealing his position either.
America was enormous, the international market was even bigger, and this parallel world had produced so few genuinely successful modern horror films that there was plenty of room for multiple directors.
If Atlas took several slices from the cake, Martin could still make money from what remained.
Of course, if Atlas eventually became too ambitious, Martin hadn’t completely abandoned darker methods.
He still had powerful connections and knew people willing to solve problems that ordinary industry pressure couldn’t handle.
After his experience with Sadako, however, Martin considered that option an absolute last resort and wouldn’t touch it unless Atlas genuinely pushed him into a corner.
Martin believed his plan was nearly perfect.
Unfortunately, he didn’t know Atlas was already preparing Ring 2.
Even worse, Atlas wanted to complete the sequel quickly enough to target the same Presidents’ Day release window.
At that exact moment, Atlas was sitting inside his office at Vance Studios with the system shop open before him.
The international success of Ring had generated an enormous amount of Reputation, and after several recent rewards, his remaining balance still exceeded thirty thousand points.
He had already spent 10,000 Reputation Points to obtain his next screenplay.
[Script Acquired: Ring 2]
[Cost: 10,000 Reputation Points]
Atlas had reviewed the screenplay carefully after obtaining it.
The sequel continued the consequences of Sadako’s curse while shifting much of the central perspective toward Mai Takano, Ryuji Takayama’s assistant, who investigates his death and becomes entangled with Reiko Asakawa and Yoichi.
Reiko remained important to the story, but Emily Brooks would no longer carry the movie as its primary female protagonist, and Reiko’s storyline would eventually come to an end as Mai became the central heroine.
Atlas accepted the change without hesitation because he had never intended to distort a good screenplay merely to give one actor more screen time.
He began browsing the system shop again, wondering how to spend his remaining Reputation.
Numerous horror scripts passed before his eyes until one particular title immediately stopped him.
[Script: The Shining]
[Cost: 30,000 Reputation Points]
Atlas stared at the price for several seconds.
“Thirty thousand?”
Ring 2 had cost only ten thousand Reputation Points, yet The Shining demanded three times as much.
The difference surprised him, but after remembering the story’s psychological complexity, the Overlook Hotel, and the demanding performances required from its central family, he quickly understood why the system valued it so highly.
Expensive things usually had a reason for being expensive.
Atlas selected Exchange.
[Exchange Successful]
A thick screenplay appeared on his desk.
Atlas immediately picked it up and began reading.
The story centered on Jack Torrance, an aspiring writer and recovering alcoholic who accepts a winter caretaker position at Colorado’s isolated Overlook Hotel and brings his wife Wendy and psychic son Danny with him.
As the hotel’s supernatural influence and isolation work on Jack’s existing weaknesses, he gradually deteriorates until he turns violently against his own family.
The farther Atlas read, the more satisfied he became.
He already knew exactly whom he wanted.
Not long afterward, Atlas called Emily and Daniel Mercer into his office.
Emily arrived first and sat opposite his desk, while Daniel entered shortly afterward and immediately noticed the two thick screenplays waiting in front of Atlas.
After working with him on Ring, Daniel had already learned that being summoned into this office while scripts were sitting on the desk usually meant another important role was coming.
Atlas looked at Emily first.
“We’re beginning preparations for Ring 2, but there’s something you need to know before we start.”
Emily immediately became attentive.
“Reiko Asakawa is still part of the sequel, but she isn’t the main female protagonist this time,” Atlas explained.
“Mai Takano takes over much of the central investigation, and Reiko’s storyline ends during the movie.”
Emily became quiet for a moment.
Atlas watched her expression, expecting at least some disappointment.
After becoming the heroine of an internationally successful film, most actors would naturally want to remain at the center of its sequel.
Instead, Emily smiled softly.
“I understand, Atlas.
If that’s what the story needs, then that’s what we should film.” She hesitated for a moment before adding more quietly, “I don’t really care whether I’m always the female lead.
As long as I can keep working with you and Vance Studios, I’m already happy.”
Atlas smiled and lightly patted her head.
“Don’t worry.
I wasn’t planning to leave you without a leading role.”
Emily looked up in surprise.
Atlas picked up the second screenplay and placed it in front of her.
“You may not be the central heroine of Ring 2, but I’ve prepared another horror movie for you.” He tapped the cover with one finger.
“The Shining.
You’ll play Wendy Torrance.”
Emily’s eyes immediately brightened.
She quickly accepted the screenplay and thanked him several times.
Although she had genuinely meant what she said about not needing to be the lead, part of her still desperately wanted opportunities to prove that her performance as Reiko hadn’t been a lucky accident.
Another major role gave her exactly that chance.
Atlas then turned toward Daniel and pushed the screenplay across the desk.
“You’ll play Jack Torrance.”
Daniel opened the script.
At first, his expression was merely curious, but the farther he read into Jack’s character arc, the more intensely he focused.
Jack wasn’t a straightforward hero or villain; he began as a troubled but functioning husband, father, recovering alcoholic, and aspiring writer before isolation and the Overlook Hotel’s supernatural influence gradually pushed his instability toward complete psychological collapse.
Daniel slowly turned another page.
Frustration became resentment.
Resentment became paranoia.
Paranoia became madness.
By the climax, the audience needed to believe that the man trying to murder Wendy and Danny was still recognizably the same Jack Torrance they had met at the beginning, yet had been completely consumed by everything buried inside him.
Daniel’s breathing became slightly faster.
This role required layers.
It required restraint.
It required him to portray a gradual psychological deterioration rather than simply becoming insane in a single scene.
For an actor obsessed with challenging himself, it was almost impossible to resist.
Daniel slowly lowered the screenplay and looked toward Atlas with shining eyes.
“This role…”
Atlas smiled.
“Interested?”
Daniel immediately stood.
“Atlas, I, Daniel Mercer, will follow you for the rest of my life.”
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