Chapter 204: Brutal

    (3rd Person POV)

    The audience watched casually as Firfel''s character made her purchase, assuming Karen simply had an interest in toys. But when she arrived home, everything changed.

    "Happy birthday, Andy!" Firfel beamed, presenting the wrapped box to Rowan Bramble, fresh from his role as Ron in Harry Potter. The boy''s eyes lit up as he tore through the wrapping.

    "A Good Guys doll!" Andy bounced with pure childhood excitement, quickly freeing Chucky from his packaging. The doll''s cheerful voice filled the room: "Hi, I''m Chucky. Wanna play?"

    The scene should have been heartwarming - a mother''s love, a child''s joy. Instead, unease spread through the theater.

    Not because the doll looked frightening - it didn''t. The horror lay in watching this innocent moment, knowing what lurked behind those plastic eyes.

    "This isn''t what I expected," an elf whispered to his friends. "The trailer never showed this part."

    His friend nodded grimly. "If it was just a possessed doll wreaking havoc in an empty house, fine. But a criminal''s soul, pretending to be a child''s toy?"

    "Exactly," another added. "Imagine not knowing some murderer''s spirit was that close to your kid. Playing with them. Watching them sleep."

    The revelation shifted everyone''s perspective. The trailer had shown Chucky in motion, suggesting straightforward supernatural chaos. Instead, they watched the doll maintain its innocent facade, leaving the audience to imagine what sinister thoughts might be passing behind that painted smile.

    Parents in the crowd grew particularly uncomfortable. A demon mother pulled her daughter closer, while others exchanged worried glances with their partners.

    Even the most hardened demons, who''d dismissed the possessed doll concept earlier, found themselves reconsidering.

    A ghost throwing furniture was one thing - a criminal spirit manipulating their way into a child''s trust was something else entirely.

    The audience watched uneasily as the story unfolded. Firfel left Andy in his room to play, and when lunchtime came, the doll sat beside him like any ordinary toy.

    The camera lingered on Chucky''s lifeless-seeming eyes and fixed smile. A dwarf in the third row couldn''t contain his frustration. "What''s your game, you bastard? Why keep up this innocent act?" His outburst drew several nods of agreement.

    The tension only grew as night fell and Andy took Chucky to bed. The haunting score crept back in as the camera slowly pushed in on the doll''s face. Nervous whispers rippled through the theater.

    "This is it - he''s finally showing his true colors," someone murmured.

    The music built to a crescendo as Chucky''s face filled the screen. Even the demons who''d scoffed earlier found themselves leaning forward. Some of the younger demon children, who''d bragged about their bravery, quietly scooted closer to their parents.

    Hearts pounded as the moment stretched out - and then nothing. Chucky simply blinked, his smile deepening as he watched Andy sleep. The scene faded to morning.

    "Gods, I was holding my breath for nothing," a dwarf exhaled heavily.

    His friend nodded. "Same here. Never thought I''d be this worried about some kid in a film. Chucky could''ve done anything right there."

    Near the back, a group of demon students discussed the film''s direction.

    "Not exactly terrifying, but I can''t look away," one admitted.

    The final confrontation had everyone on edge. Karen and Mike faced off against Chucky, armed with guns designed for cursed beings. When their shots blasted away the doll''s exterior, revealing actual flesh underneath, shocked whispers filled the theater.

    "How does a doll have real flesh?" someone asked, but the question was lost in the tension as Chucky, despite multiple hits, kept advancing.

    When magic immobilized Mike, he shouted desperately, "The heart! Shoot his heart - it''s the only way!"

    Karen''s first shot missed, drawing Chucky''s twisted laugh. But her second shot found its mark, finally stopping the murderous doll.

    The entire theater seemed to exhale at once, the tension of the past minutes finally breaking.

    The audience believed it was the end of Chucky, but as the eerie theme played and the camera lingered on Chucky''s lifeless eyes, a nagging feeling crept into their minds—it wasn''t over.

    "Could it be that... it''s still alive!?" someone in the crowd exclaimed, their voice breaking the uneasy silence. A ripple of alarm spread through the theater as others whispered nervously.

    Finally, the ending credits rolled, and a collective sigh of relief escaped the audience. Whether they were elves, humans, or demons, they couldn''t deny the intense emotional rollercoaster the film had taken them on.

    ---

    The screening test of Child''s Play at the Hellfire Theatre was an overwhelming success. Audience members raved about the film, eagerly recommending it to their friends.

    As the premiere date for the Horn Kingdom and neighboring realms approached, excitement reached a fever pitch. The following day, the film premiered nationwide and internationally, achieving record-breaking success.

    Contrary to initial reports from demon realm critics who doubted the horror genre could impress their kind, Child''s Play shattered expectations, earning an astounding $24 million on its first day in the demon realm alone.

    ---

    Headlines soon followed:

    "Child''s Play: A New Masterpiece by Arthur Pendragon Takes the Demon Realm by Storm!"

    "Arthur Pendragon Makes History Again with His Bold Vision."

    But amidst the praise came controversy:

    "How Did Child''s Play Become a Success? Critics Claim Arthur Used Forbidden Voodoo Spells to Possess the Doll."

    "Was the Doll''s Realism Too Good? Allegations of Soul Transfer Could Lead to Hellfire Studio Facing Charges."

    These alarming reports called for an immediate response from Arthur and his studio. Failing to address them risked a ban on the film''s screenings.

    Hellfire Studio quickly released an official statement:

    "The doll was indeed possessed, but not by a voodoo master. Instead, it was animated by ghosts who are employees of Hellfire Studio, working hard behind the scenes to bring Chucky to life."

    While the statement dispelled allegations of illegal voodoo practices, the revelation that ghosts were involved shocked the industry. It seemed even in clearing his name, Arthur Pendragon knew how to keep the world talking.