0:04

The lights of the Seattle skyline suddenly

0:07

ignite as the city comes alive with

0:09

the sounds and sights of night. In

0:11

a run-down bar, a lone man sits

0:14

beneath the hum of a fluorescent overhead light

0:16

as he holds his whiskey in shaky hands.

0:19

The man is an enigma. He

0:21

appears at the Spade habitually at

0:23

10pm and leaves just before dawn,

0:26

ordering the same refreshment each time,

0:29

a tall glass of Irish whiskey,

0:31

never speaking words far from the

0:34

usual

0:35

or the occasional grunt or whisper.

0:37

He is a shadow to everyone.

0:39

To the passerby, this man is

0:41

just a nobody.

0:43

He is merely a bum who went down on

0:45

his luck and turned to the bottle like many

0:47

before him. To those who know,

0:50

however, the man's name is Robert

0:52

Elm,

0:53

and he has a story to tell.

0:55

The night was fraught with frigid rain and

0:58

sleet.

0:58

The typically lively Spade was deserted,

1:01

except for Robert. He sat

1:03

in his usual spot, back left table

1:06

facing the wall, hunched over with his

1:08

beverage in total silence save

1:10

for the hum of the lights and the drumming

1:12

of the bartender's fingers on the metal cash

1:14

register. Over the years that Elm

1:17

had drifted in as the sun dipped below

1:19

the horizon, the bartender had grown

1:21

curious of his motives. So

1:23

he told his customers the same old excuse.

1:26

I lost this job. Once on

1:28

wind. In his heart, he

1:30

knew there was something off-kilter about the

1:32

whiskey-loving shadow.

1:34

Tonight would be different. The

1:37

bartender bit his lip, took a deep

1:39

breath, and approached his loyal customer.

1:42

The barkeeper placed his hand on the table and

1:44

inquired in the friendliest of tones.

1:46

How you doing?

1:48

Robert jolted upright as if he had heard

1:50

a gunshot. He slowly lifted

1:52

his head and peered down into the bartender's

1:54

face with his wide, grey eyes.

1:57

He possessed an unsettling and powerful

1:59

stare.

1:59

that pierced the air in a way that the bartender

2:02

had never seen before.

2:04

His mouth slowly slid open as

2:06

he grumbled, "'Fine, and

2:08

you?"

2:09

The bartender was stunned.

2:11

He had expected the old geezer's usual

2:13

response of a few mumbles, but

2:16

he was greeted by a question that was startlingly

2:18

normal. "'I'm...

2:20

I'm just fine. So,

2:24

mister, I've been meaning to ask

2:26

you."

2:27

Some slowly graying eyebrows perked

2:30

with anticipation. "'Why

2:31

do you come here all the time?'

2:33

The drunkard chuckled and asked in

2:35

turn.

2:36

"'Why do you care what an old man like

2:39

me does with his time?' "'Because,'

2:41

the bartender said with a look

2:43

of confusion, "'you

2:44

have to come into my bar the same time

2:46

every night for the past twelve years.

2:50

And I'm just now hearing you speak. I

2:53

think that's reason enough for me to ask.'

2:55

The old man burst into laughter that lasted

2:58

nearly a full minute. Finally, his

3:00

outburst died off and he asked,

3:03

"'You wanted to know why I

3:05

wasn't talking?' "'Yes. It's

3:07

been a riddle I've been trying to figure out for years.'

3:11

Robert sat his drink on the table and

3:13

said,

3:14

"'Well, well, new friend. Honestly,

3:17

I was waiting for you to ask me that

3:19

question. And now that we have

3:21

that elephant out of the room, have

3:23

a seat across from me.' The bartender

3:26

obliged, took a seat across from his

3:28

new acquaintance, and with a look of sheer

3:30

amazement on his face, he asked,

3:33

"'So let me get this straight.

3:36

You never said a word to anyone in this bar

3:38

for twelve years because you were waiting

3:40

for someone to come to you?' "'Yep,'

3:44

the shade replied as the bartender gave

3:46

a short laugh and continued. "'Well,

3:49

sir, what have you been waiting

3:51

so long to tell someone?'

3:53

Robert L. looked the bartender square

3:55

in the eye and said,

3:57

"'My story, of course.'

3:59

gave a quizzical expression as the drinker

4:02

went on, never breaking his gaze.

4:04

The story of why I ended up here.

4:07

The story of how I narrowly escaped

4:09

death itself, and since,

4:12

well, since I don't see anyone else

4:14

here, you, sir, are

4:16

going to be the first in a long time

4:19

to hear my tale. You're

4:21

in for a treat.

4:22

The old man cracked a crooked smile.

4:25

Well, let's hear it then.

4:27

The bartender said, and Robert chuckled

4:29

again.

4:30

That's the spirit, kid. Grab

4:32

a drink and get comfortable. You're

4:34

in for quite a tale. And

4:36

so, Robert Elm began his story.

4:42

It all began back in November 1962. I

4:46

was living in a small town in rural Iowa.

4:49

Back then, everyone knew everyone else

4:51

like family. It was a safe

4:53

place. That's why my family settled

4:55

down there back when the area was barren

4:58

patch of farmland. Though

5:00

the entirety of my teenage years, I

5:02

was chasing a girl named Elizabeth.

5:05

I can practically see her now.

5:07

As time went by, our relationship

5:09

grew. After high school, we

5:12

bought her uncle's house on 4th Street, and

5:14

slowly learned to live together as a soon-to-be-married

5:17

pair.

5:18

This was a struggle, to say the least.

5:21

Back when I was a younger man, I had

5:23

a fiery temper that seemed to grow as

5:25

we became closer to one another.

5:28

I remember one specific instance

5:30

when I heard she wrecked my dad's Ford. I

5:34

hit her across the face with a trashcan

5:36

lid.

5:37

I had never regretted anything more in my

5:40

life.

5:41

Every morning for the next month, I would

5:43

come downstairs to see the pale red

5:45

bruise on her face and immediately

5:47

get too choked up to speak.

5:50

It was a wonder she kept me around. One

5:53

night, everything fell apart. I

5:56

can't even remember why, but she

5:58

left me on the side of the road and told me. me. Find

6:01

your own way home, you sack of crap. I

6:03

remember my heart sinking as she pulled away,

6:06

and I began to wander the side of the empty

6:09

country road. I'm unsure

6:11

how I got so sidetracked, but after

6:13

about an hour of hysterical rambling, I

6:16

had ended up halfway into one of the cornfields

6:19

bordering the only road in and out of town.

6:22

There I was, sobbing profusely,

6:24

lashing out at the corn stalks with my fist.

6:27

I was wailing Elizabeth and I'm

6:29

sorry at the top of my lungs, with

6:32

only the birds and the occasional scarecrow

6:34

bearing witness.

6:36

I hobbled aimlessly for what felt like

6:38

hours, screaming and crying over

6:40

what I put my beloved fiancé through

6:42

until I decided to sit down in a barren

6:45

patch about fifteen feet across

6:47

to catch my breath and form an apology

6:49

for my eventual homecoming.

6:51

After inspecting the area for any signs

6:54

of danger, I laid my head down in

6:56

the soft dirt to rest my eyes.

6:58

Several hours of blissful, tear-free

7:01

sleep passed before I was pulled awake

7:03

by rustling in the stalks.

7:05

My heart skipped a beat and a chill ran

7:07

down my spine. I bolted upright.

7:10

Before me, a massive shape

7:12

garbed in a shimmering black cloak

7:15

slid out from the rows of crops. It

7:18

moved towards me slowly, as if

7:20

it were floating across the ground, though

7:23

its feet were clearly visible and it

7:25

appeared to be human.

7:26

It had pale, wrinkled hands

7:29

that hung at its side as it drifted

7:31

closer.

7:32

It drooped its hooded head and spoke

7:34

squarely into my face in a dry monotone.

7:37

Good evening, traveler. Stunned,

7:40

I got up from the dirt and asked, who

7:43

are you?

7:44

Just a man on his way to a meeting.

7:47

I looked at him, bewildered. Why

7:49

are you here? I enjoy taking

7:52

the scenic routes. So

7:54

much more peaceful than the hustle

7:56

and bustle of the roadsides. Now.

8:00

What I am wondering is who are

8:02

you, and why are you here?" As

8:05

I look back, I am surprised at how

8:07

eager I was to reveal so much of myself

8:09

to a total stranger.

8:11

My name is Robert Elm,

8:13

I said sheepishly.

8:14

My girlfriend dumped me out here because we got in

8:17

a fight and I hit her and… and…

8:21

The tears were welling up in my eyes again.

8:24

Say no more, friend. The

8:26

man interrupted as he waved his hand. I

8:29

offer you a proposition. You

8:32

may come with me. Attend

8:34

my meeting. My friends and I

8:36

shall cheer you up, and we will

8:38

take you back to your home in the morning. How

8:42

does that sound?

8:44

A smile slowly formed on my face

8:46

as I thanked the hooded figure.

8:48

I reached out to shake his hand for his patronage,

8:50

but he quickly recoiled, claiming

8:52

there was no need to thank him. Together,

8:55

we made our way through the remainder of the field

8:58

and into the forest that formed an insulated

9:00

border between the patches of farmland.

9:03

As we walked, I had more time

9:05

to examine my new friend's figure.

9:07

He was a titan of a man, to say

9:09

the least, with hands that could easily

9:12

cover my own twice over. Blending

9:14

into the trees themselves, he towered

9:17

over me at what I assumed to be well

9:19

over seven feet. He moved

9:21

with surprising agility for someone of his

9:24

size, darting through the branches

9:26

and over roots at a speed a tad

9:28

slower than a jog.

9:30

I had to walk nearly twice as fast to keep

9:32

up.

9:33

His robes still shimmered, as did

9:35

the cornfield, though the moon was

9:38

no longer visible.

9:39

Oddly, no matter how fast the man

9:41

moved, his hood never failed to conceal

9:44

his face.

9:45

Growing bored of silence, I struck

9:47

up conversation. So, what's

9:49

your name?

9:50

The man glanced down at me.

9:52

You may call me Lombard. It

9:54

is one of my many monikers. Okay

9:57

Lombard,

9:58

who are these friends of yours?

9:59

And what is the meeting, and where

10:02

are we going?" Just a meeting,

10:05

friend, held here in the woods with

10:07

some close acquaintances of mine. You

10:10

needn't worry about it, Robert. Think

10:13

of it as more of a party. It

10:15

will take your mind off of your troubles."

10:18

It was at this moment I realized that

10:20

I was doing the exact opposite of what

10:22

society had taught me.

10:24

I was found lying in a field and

10:26

decided to walk off with some strange

10:28

hooded man to go and meet his friends in

10:30

the woods.

10:31

A heartbreak can drive people to do some

10:33

crazy things.

10:35

It wasn't long before we saw a light in

10:37

the distance. As we grew nearer,

10:40

the lights turned out to be a ring of torches

10:42

lining a circular clearing containing

10:44

rows of chairs and tables.

10:46

An altar draped with a red cloth sat

10:49

in the middle of it all.

10:50

At each of the tables sat groups of people

10:53

dressed similarly to Lombard.

10:54

Some of them had their faces exposed

10:57

and hoods down. "'We have arrived,'

11:00

said Lombard with glee.

11:01

Sit amongst the others and help yourself

11:04

to some food and drink. The

11:06

festivities will begin soon."

11:09

I made my way to one of the less talkative

11:11

tables and grabbed a free seat.

11:13

As I recall, it was the only seat

11:16

that wasn't taken. Next

11:18

to me sat an old couple and a younger man

11:20

with his hood up.

11:22

When I asked each of them why they were here,

11:24

I got a less than

11:26

ideal response.

11:27

The couple started cackling as if

11:30

they had just heard the greatest joke of their lives

11:32

and the hooded man just grunted something

11:34

I couldn't make out.

11:36

Seeing no entertainment in the people around

11:38

me, I decided to try the food.

11:41

There were the occasional bits of bread

11:43

surrounded by meats of all shapes and

11:45

sizes. Having eaten

11:47

a filling meal in town a few hours before

11:50

this all began, I was not exactly

11:52

starving. Also, I decided to give

11:54

the wine a try,

11:55

which was in goblets sitting in front of

11:57

each chair.

11:59

I took a small bite. Small sip and my mind

12:01

took a kick in the pants.

12:03

My vision became blurred with color and

12:05

I began to choke on my young tongue.

12:07

The old woman told me that it stops hurting

12:09

after the third glass and burst into

12:12

sickening laughter. After about five

12:14

minutes, the effects of the drink finally

12:16

subsided and I silently poured

12:18

the rest onto the ground.

12:20

I didn't think any of them would notice. A

12:23

bell rang out and the diners stood

12:25

up from their chairs in unison and approached

12:27

the center of the clearing.

12:29

Lombard made his way over as he walked

12:31

me towards the center.

12:33

How did you enjoy the refreshments? He

12:35

asked.

12:37

I held my tongue about my unpleasant

12:39

experience at the table and said,

12:41

everything was great. I've calmed

12:43

down quite a bit now. What's next?

12:46

Excellent, my friend. I'm

12:49

sure you will patch things up with that girl

12:51

after tonight and I'm glad

12:54

to have been of assistance to you. But

12:56

now we have business to attend

12:59

to. We found ourselves standing

13:01

in the center of a circle of the hooded guests,

13:04

all of them with hoods up and hands folded

13:06

in front of them. Lombard instructed

13:09

me to sit in the center of the ring. When

13:11

I objected, he told me that this was

13:13

just a formality in order for the group

13:15

to accept my presence amongst them for the

13:17

night.

13:18

I knelt as I was told

13:20

and Lombard took his place at the Crimson

13:23

Altar.

13:24

As I glanced around me, all of the

13:26

robed people seemed to be emanating a strange

13:28

droning sound that rose and fell

13:31

as the minutes passed.

13:33

I looked up at my mountainous guide who

13:35

had turned to face the center of the circle and

13:37

to my amazement had drawn back his

13:40

hood to reveal a sight I would never forget.

13:43

On Lombard's long broad shoulders

13:45

sat the head of a goat, jet

13:48

black save for a stripe of white

13:50

between its pale green eyes and

13:52

spiraling ivory colored horns

13:54

that curled backwards behind his ears.

13:57

The thing that stood in front of me lifted

14:00

his hands into the air and the droning

14:02

immediately ceased. Ladies and

14:04

gentlemen of the Black Circle,

14:07

I

14:07

present to you the Pale.

14:11

The crowd roared with cheers and jubilation.

14:14

On this night we shall end the

14:16

torment and bring about a

14:18

new era of peace for

14:21

our order.

14:22

The younger man I sat next to earlier

14:24

approached the orator.

14:26

My lordship. He whispered

14:28

as he bowed on one knee. I

14:31

witnessed him earlier. He has not accepted

14:33

the purification. We cannot continue

14:35

until he has.

14:37

He then retreated back to his place and

14:39

resumed the stance.

14:41

Is that so? Mumbard

14:43

said quizzically. Well then,

14:45

I

14:46

am sorry to delay, my

14:48

children,

14:50

but the sacrament must

14:52

wait. The circle answered

14:54

the statement with boos and howls of disapproval.

14:58

A large member drew a curved blade from

15:00

his robe and approached me. I attempted

15:02

to stand but was pulled down to my knees

15:04

by an unseen force. For

15:06

the love of Sekra, I have waited my whole life

15:09

for this moment, the man said as

15:11

he flipped the knife in his hand. Stop

15:13

you fool. You will undo everything.

15:16

Mumbard roared as he latched onto the man's

15:19

arm. The last memory I have

15:21

of that night was the gargantuan, tree-like

15:23

form of Mumbard grappling the hooded

15:26

man until they both crashed to the ground

15:28

in front of me. In the tangle of

15:30

limbs, the handle of the man's knife struck

15:32

me squarely between the eyes and I lost

15:35

consciousness.

15:36

I awoke in a small, sparsely

15:38

furnished room with white walls and

15:41

dark brown hardwood floor.

15:43

Based on what I

15:44

saw around me, I was able to estimate

15:46

that the building was built in the late 19th

15:48

century. I attempted to pull

15:50

my head from the pillow but was met with

15:52

a crippling pain in my forehead where

15:54

the knife handle had struck me at the ceremony

15:57

in the woods.

15:58

My legs were sore and felt as if I had been hit.

15:59

as though they were filled with cement.

16:02

It made me shiver that I could not figure out

16:04

what prevented me from standing at the ceremony.

16:07

Muffled speech resonated from outside

16:09

my room as the door opened. A

16:12

goat-headed lumbard strolled into the room

16:14

and closed the door behind him.

16:17

Good morning, my guest. I

16:20

assume you enjoyed your nap? Yeah,

16:23

I did. Right after that friend of yours

16:25

almost broke my nose. You needn't

16:28

worry about him, my friend.

16:31

His foolish actions have cost him his

16:33

place in the order. He said with

16:35

a reassuring tone. Lumbard

16:37

sat down on the bed next to me, and I

16:39

instinctively wrenched my legs backwards. Calm

16:42

thyself, friend.

16:44

I am indeed human.

16:46

And this is just a mask.

16:49

Nothing more. What about everything

16:51

else? The mumbo-jumbo you guys were talking

16:54

about? The goat's head? The black

16:56

circle? I want answers now. Ah,

16:59

you have a right to be frightened.

17:01

All will be explained to you. Let

17:04

me start from the beginning.

17:06

He readjusted himself on the bed to face

17:09

me. In the late

17:11

1800s, there were two cousins who founded a

17:13

town not far from here. It

17:16

was a small farming community, very

17:19

prosperous. A thriving

17:21

community until the fever hit.

17:24

Many died, including the mayor's

17:26

daughter. In a last-ditch

17:29

effort, the community banded

17:31

together

17:33

and stood united against the disease.

17:36

They burned the village to the ground and

17:39

moved into the mayor's farmhouse. The

17:41

house you are sitting in right

17:44

now.

17:45

The plan was a success. With

17:48

all the medical personnel gathered

17:50

in one area, it was much easier

17:53

to treat the sick and soon

17:55

the fever was eradicated. Out

17:58

of habit, the community... He stayed in

18:00

this house as a single family

18:03

to this day of which I

18:06

am the patriarch

18:08

This goat headdress symbolizes

18:10

the single species of beasts that provided

18:12

us with food and drink during the dark times

18:16

And for your information, it's

18:18

permanently adhered to my head

18:21

We dubbed ourselves the black

18:24

circle in name of the black table

18:26

in the dining hall

18:28

We would gather around it to tell stories

18:30

of hope to inspire one another The

18:33

event you were the center of was known

18:35

as a neophytes sacrament

18:38

would give the newcomer a small dose

18:40

of a hallucinogenic and

18:42

Provoke you to reveal your true feelings

18:44

to us in order to tell if

18:47

we can trust you I

18:48

Was strongly opposed

18:51

to the sacrament, but I was

18:53

pressured by the others and had no

18:55

choice The words we used

18:57

were simply to disguise our discussion

19:00

due to the circle's lack of trust as

19:03

for the actions of alabaster

19:05

I sincerely

19:08

apologize

19:10

Lombard pulled up his massive form and

19:12

spoke directly to me

19:14

here. I am

19:16

Valentin Ambrose

19:19

Lombard the second

19:21

with nothing to hide

19:23

at your service

19:25

Needless to say I was awestruck

19:28

at the volume of information that was imparted

19:30

on me

19:32

Before I could respond Lombard asked

19:35

any questions I shook

19:37

my head just as a woman wearing simple

19:39

brown robes came into the room Dropped

19:42

to one knee and said flatly

19:44

you are needed in the infirmary my lord

19:47

Lombard turned to her and stated I will

19:49

be there as soon as I can Alice

19:52

Did Stefan have a run-in with the Thresher

19:54

again?

19:55

She laughed with a smile eyes

19:58

still trained on the floor

19:59

The peer was picking on Sylvia again. She

20:02

snapped and let it have it with her little fists. I

20:05

have them both down there waiting for you." The

20:08

leader gave a hearty laugh.

20:10

That peer.

20:12

Almost as mischievous as I was

20:14

when I was a little boy. I

20:16

will be back to speak with you later,

20:19

friend.

20:20

But now I must deal with this matter

20:22

first.

20:23

Get some rest. Both

20:26

the leader and the woman walked out of the room

20:28

and shut the door on their way out,

20:30

leaving only silence in their wake.

20:33

My head felt heavy and I decided

20:35

to take my new friend's advice and rest my

20:37

eyes.

20:38

I awoke in what looked like early morning

20:40

to see lumbards sitting at the desk at the

20:43

edge of my room.

20:44

Morning, friend. He said joyfully,

20:47

Come, sit,

20:48

have something to eat. He stood up from

20:50

the chair to reveal a platter of sausage

20:53

and bread with a glass of juice next to it.

20:55

I was able to pull myself up from the bed.

20:58

My legs were sore and my knees locked

21:01

up, but I hobbled my way to the desk

21:03

and sat down.

21:04

I began to sample the meal. Gather

21:06

your strength. You will need it for

21:08

later.

21:09

I have gotten it approved with the circle.

21:12

I shall give you a tour of the house and the

21:14

grounds around three today.

21:17

So

21:18

try and get those legs working by

21:20

then. Bread gave a quick

21:22

wave of his hand as he left the room, like

21:25

wind blowing through the woods.

21:27

I had finished my odd-tasting dish

21:29

after a few minutes. I sat for

21:32

the remainder of the time, stretching out

21:34

my tired legs while looking out the window.

21:36

The full day of bedrest and the struggle

21:39

against whatever held me to the ground had

21:41

left me aching and weakened.

21:43

An expanse of farmland spread out

21:45

in front of me,

21:46

ending at a dense forest.

21:48

I had been in a single dirt road lined with

21:51

torches leading up to the house.

21:52

I assumed that somewhere in the woods there

21:55

was the picnic table and the altar, and

21:57

beyond that the cornfield where I had met

21:59

my guests.

21:59

guide, and somewhere beyond that was

22:02

Elizabeth. Home.

22:04

I sighed. Ready.

22:07

I jumped with surprise as Lombard broke

22:09

the silence in the room.

22:11

Time had passed faster than I expected.

22:13

Come,

22:14

follow me, friend.

22:16

I made uneasy strides out into

22:18

the foyer,

22:19

with a painting of another goat-headed man,

22:22

a massive chandelier lighting the room below,

22:25

and the rows of rooms lining the walls.

22:27

Here is the second floor,

22:30

used for boarding our members.

22:33

The room you are staying in is the guest room.

22:36

It is not used very often.

22:38

It overlooks the entrance room,

22:40

which we will visit later.

22:42

Is that you and the painting? No,

22:45

that is the founder of the circle. My

22:48

great-grandfather, Ambrose

22:50

Garrett Lombard. What

22:53

a great man. I wish I could

22:55

have known him in person. So

22:58

he started the whole goat-head thing?

23:00

I laughed rhetorically. We

23:02

made our way downstairs, wandering

23:04

through the entrance room and the living room and

23:06

the sitting room,

23:08

listening to Lombard's tales of him

23:10

reading stories to the children by the fireside

23:12

in the winter, and of the old man

23:15

who was a master of the old grand piano

23:17

sitting in the living room.

23:18

I asked him about the double doors at

23:20

the end of the entrance room, only to receive

23:23

a response that I should not go in there,

23:25

as I do not have high enough clearance to enter

23:27

yet.

23:29

We walked outside and we explored the grounds.

23:32

From the outside, the house was massive. It

23:34

was clearly some kind of old farmhouse.

23:38

We made a left turn around the house to find

23:40

three buildings off in the distance.

23:42

I asked Lombard what they were.

23:45

He said one of them was the chapel, now

23:47

dilapidated and unused. A

23:49

small building used for a school and

23:51

a smaller concrete building used for storage.

23:55

I shrugged plainly and we moved on.

23:57

I took that moment to ask.

23:59

Well, sir, what exactly is your job

24:02

here?" Lombard stopped midway

24:04

to contemplate my question.

24:06

I am the headmaster

24:10

of the order, friend. I

24:13

am many things. Judge,

24:17

principal, a father,

24:19

doctor, lots of things,

24:22

friend.

24:23

We walked back up to my room and Lombard

24:25

instructed me that now that I know where I

24:27

am, I can move about the property at will,

24:30

but only during the day. At

24:32

night I was confined to my room, seeing

24:34

as the sun was descending below the horizon,

24:37

I went to bed. I spent the next

24:39

few days wandering the grounds while getting

24:41

my bearings with the area and getting

24:43

a sense of location. After

24:46

speaking with some of the other followers of

24:48

Lombard, I noticed a constant theme.

24:51

They never broke eye contact and they spoke

24:53

in a very calm manner, regardless

24:55

of age. They would find a

24:57

clever way to avoid any of my questions,

25:00

specifically ones involving Lombard,

25:02

the concrete building, or what happens

25:04

in the grand hall. Seeing that

25:07

I would never find anything out from the members,

25:09

I decided to go answer hunting myself.

25:12

Making my way out of the structure, which

25:14

was about a football field's length from the house,

25:16

I decided to carefully inspect it.

25:19

The building had no windows and a single

25:21

iron door secured with the padlock. I

25:24

was going to investigate it further, but before

25:26

I could find a way to open the lock, the sun

25:28

began to set and I reluctantly

25:30

returned to the house. A

25:33

couple of weeks of fruitless investigation

25:35

passed until I finally returned to

25:37

my full, healthy state.

25:39

Feeling my strength return, I began my

25:41

morning with a quick workout. Lombard

25:44

entered mid-pushup.

25:45

LUMBARD So, I see you

25:47

are back on your feet again. LUMBARD

25:50

Yep, feeling pretty good. I returned.

25:53

Lombard paced back and forth.

25:56

LUMBARD I imagine you will want to

25:58

go home soon. I stood

26:00

up and looked at the tree-like figure. Yeah,

26:03

I suppose. I miss Elizabeth quite

26:05

a bit, and I want to make amends. Good,

26:08

good. Lombard paused.

26:11

Robert, if you

26:13

could say just one more week.

26:16

We feel like you have become a member of

26:18

the family around here, and

26:20

we wish to perform a departure

26:23

ritual this Sunday.

26:25

Just to say

26:27

goodbye, you have been one of the kindest

26:30

outsiders we have encountered

26:32

in a long time.

26:34

I walked up to the goat-headed giant, looked

26:37

him in the eye like he had done to me so many

26:39

times before, and smiled.

26:41

I would be honored, friend.

26:43

That night, just before sundown,

26:45

Lombard drifted once more into my room.

26:48

He spoke in a much more serious tone

26:50

than before, and his posture created

26:53

an imposing aura about him.

26:55

Robert, we are having a ritual

26:57

in preparation for your departure. I

27:00

require that you do

27:01

not disrupt it.

27:04

Please

27:06

stay in this room until my return.

27:09

It is just a kind of rehearsal.

27:12

I don't want to ruin any surprises.

27:16

I quickly nodded in agreement, trying to

27:18

ignore the sudden change in the headmaster's

27:20

attitude as he sped out of the room.

27:23

I had not been truly honest with my host

27:25

during my stay in the house.

27:27

For every act of hospitality he offered

27:29

there was an event or element that

27:31

would cause a pang of distrust in my mind.

27:34

One moment Lombard would provide

27:36

me with food, and I would see him teaching

27:38

the children like a loving relative, but

27:41

the next, I would notice the concrete

27:43

shack of remember what happened in the woods

27:45

weeks ago.

27:47

The loving kindness of the members juxtaposed

27:49

with their unnervingly smooth speech

27:51

and piercing stares.

27:53

Every impulse in my mind told me to run,

27:56

but I knew I would never make it far before

27:59

I was captured.

27:59

were worse.

28:01

This mysterious decree had brought

28:03

my curiosity to its breaking point, and

28:06

that night I made my decision.

28:08

As soon as the house fell silent, I

28:10

removed my heavy work boots, slid

28:12

the door open, and stepped into the

28:15

dark abyss.

28:16

I had been climbing trees in my neighborhood

28:18

park since childhood, and the challenge

28:20

of scaling the banquet hall's walls came

28:23

easily to me. After making

28:25

my way down the stairs, through the foyer

28:27

and out the door, without so much as a sound,

28:30

I was impressed with my sneaking abilities.

28:32

I ran around to the side of the hall and began

28:35

my ascension.

28:36

The climb was easy enough, several chunks

28:38

were missing from the old bricks, creating

28:41

excellent handholds.

28:42

It wasn't long before I found myself on the roof.

28:46

From the inside, I could hear the same

28:48

droning sound that I heard my nights in the

28:50

woods.

28:51

I desperately searched for a way inside

28:53

when I came upon a small hatch that led

28:55

to a ladder that dropped off in a kind of storage

28:58

attic.

28:59

Hunkering in, next to some old boxes, I

29:02

was able to hear and see the events

29:04

unfolding below me with startling clarity.

29:07

A crooked grin grew across my face

29:09

as I anticipated the truth.

29:12

The droning of the hooded worshippers hushed,

29:14

and the mammoth lumbard took the stage

29:16

next to an eerily familiar altar.

29:19

He raised his hands like the night we first

29:21

met as he spoke with gusto. Ladies

29:24

and gentlemen of the Black Circle,

29:27

I gather you once again to bring

29:29

praise to Sacra

29:32

and

29:33

to celebrate the presence

29:35

of the Pale, whose

29:37

life shall meet its beautiful

29:40

end on the eve of this coming

29:43

Sunday. The crowd roared

29:45

with approval. My friends, I

29:47

sincerely apologize for

29:49

the interruption.

29:53

A few weeks ago, the audience

29:56

interrupted in a shower of booze and shouting.

29:59

Now, my friend.

29:59

Now, my children, I have

30:02

planned a rehearsal of sorts

30:05

to show you all how we shall deal

30:08

with the wretched pale

30:10

and drive this scourge from our

30:12

beautiful order.

30:14

I present to you

30:16

the man who is to blame for

30:18

the delay, Brother

30:21

Alabaster. Each

30:23

member howled with joy as they pulled

30:26

a blindfolded man naked, save

30:28

for a loincloth with numerous strange

30:30

tattoos adorning his chiseled torso

30:33

into the room and onto the altar.

30:35

I felt my dinner rise in my throat.

30:38

Three men and red cloaks fastened

30:40

the man's arms and legs to the altar as

30:42

Lombard reached into a chest behind him.

30:45

Alabaster was sobbing with fear, as

30:48

his pleas for help became incoherent

30:50

screams as his limbs were restrained

30:52

until one of the men in red wrapped a piece

30:55

of cloth over his mouth to silence him. Lombard

30:58

spun around at lightning speed and raised

31:00

a shimmering dagger above his head.

31:02

Here

31:04

and now we give

31:06

an offering to you, almighty

31:10

sacred,

31:11

an offering of flesh and

31:13

blood. Alabaster was writhing

31:16

now, the altar glistening with sweat

31:18

and the blood welling at the corners of his mouth

31:21

as he struggled to cry out.

31:23

The crowd lurched forward with anticipation,

31:25

licking their lips with bloodlust in their

31:28

eyes. Now, for

31:30

the glory of the mother, he

31:32

gives his life. Lombard pulled

31:34

away the cloth and Alabaster let out

31:37

a scream so loud that I could have heard it from

31:39

my room. The gag was pulled

31:41

back and he was struck across the face.

31:43

They pulled the cloth back again and he cried,

31:46

for the glory of the mother, I give my

31:48

life. Without hesitation, Lombard

31:51

drove the blade into the man's abdomen as

31:53

he resumed screaming with pain and fear.

31:56

The headmaster made a long cut up his stomach.

31:58

I could hear bones cracking.

31:59

Wrecking and flesh ripping as the man

32:02

groaned in agony, liquid scarlet

32:04

splattered the headmaster's hands as it spouted

32:07

from the gaping wound. Lombard

32:09

tossed the bloodied knife aside. He then

32:11

plunged his hands into Alabaster's twitching

32:14

body and wrenched his arms upwards several

32:16

times until what appeared to be a liver

32:19

was ripped away.

32:20

I nearly vomited. Lombard

32:22

held the dripping organ above his head and shouted,

32:25

For the glory of

32:27

Sacra. He plunged the hunk of

32:29

flesh into his mouth like a wild beast. The

32:33

crowd cheered with jubilation at the unholy

32:35

sight. The corpse was unbound

32:37

and dragged off into a side room.

32:40

I was frozen, unblinking as

32:42

my past feelings for my seemingly kind

32:44

friend shattered. Before I

32:46

could process what was going on, I heard

32:49

Lombard address the members. No one

32:51

is to speak of this to our guest.

32:54

And

32:56

regarding the pale, I'm

32:59

going to see how our friend is doing.

33:02

He said with a chuckle as the cloaked men

33:04

and women overflowed with laughter.

33:06

I was back on the roof before Lombard could

33:08

leave the stage. With my heart thundering,

33:11

I bolted back to the roof as fast as lightning

33:14

and hurled myself from it. Using my

33:16

prior climbing skills, I tucked my legs and

33:18

rolled across the grass. I only

33:20

sustained a few minor bruises.

33:22

I ran around the side of the house, up the stairs,

33:25

and back into my room just as I heard the

33:27

great hall open.

33:29

I heard Lombard's thundering footsteps as

33:31

he climbed the stairs and approached the door. The

33:34

door opened and the giant's eyes met mine.

33:36

Good to see you were evening. Was a relaxing

33:39

one, friend. I shrugged and said,

33:42

I've had better. I had a strange

33:44

nightmare. Really messed with my head.

33:46

How'd your ritual go? Staying

33:49

dumb with him as best I could.

33:51

Lombard nodded. All is well.

33:54

The congregation is eagerly awaiting

33:56

this Sunday's celebration.

33:59

Dear rest, friend." I

34:02

could see little bits of hastily wiped

34:04

away viscera clinging to his mask. Lombard

34:07

shut the door as I heard the rest of the worshippers

34:10

coming into the entrance hall.

34:12

I sat and pondered my situation.

34:14

I was trapped in this godforsaken place

34:17

for one more week until they had decided

34:19

to kill me.

34:20

I had one week to discover what was really

34:23

going on in seven short days to

34:25

plan my escape.

34:26

The next morning I woke up early

34:29

and ran off to the library,

34:30

thinking that would be a good place to learn some

34:32

information.

34:34

The place had a wealth of books, everything

34:36

from War and Peace to Pat the Bunny.

34:39

I wandered the endless shelves until

34:41

I reached the back corner of the room.

34:43

All that sat on the last dusty shelf

34:45

was an old book with a leather cover. Nothing

34:48

about it caught my eye, save for the title. The

34:51

Book of Sacra. Hearing

34:54

the mysterious name from the horror of last

34:56

night, I snatched up the scripture and

34:58

scurried out of the library unnoticed.

35:01

I sat at the desk in my room and

35:03

flung open the ancient volume. Before

35:06

me sprawled mounds of text in old English.

35:09

Though it was in English, it was still difficult

35:11

to understand as I trudged through chapters

35:14

of sacrifice and lore.

35:16

I found not much beyond useless

35:18

gibberish about ceremonies, a

35:20

few of which I recognized, the method

35:22

in which one is to fasten a goat's head

35:24

to their own, and a full-page print

35:27

of a slender woman sitting on a throne with

35:29

what looked like blood splattered around her

35:31

mouth.

35:32

Below it read Sacra, her holiness.

35:35

I returned the book to the library and

35:37

decided to scour the grounds.

35:39

Seeing as there was no way I could budge

35:41

the padlock on the concrete shack, I

35:44

instead made my way to the chapel.

35:46

The door slid open easy enough, and

35:48

inside was what appeared to be a graveyard

35:51

of old boxes and furniture.

35:53

After searching for a few hours, I found

35:55

nothing of interest among the stacks of rotting

35:57

wood.

35:58

The schoolhouse next door

35:59

The floor yielded similar results.

36:01

A few desks sat in simple rows with

36:04

a teacher's desk with a plaque bearing the

36:06

name, Master Lombard, and

36:08

a chalkboard at the front of the room.

36:10

Nothing else.

36:12

Feeling defeated, I emerged from

36:14

the building when something caught my eye.

36:16

In the grass at the door of the concrete building

36:19

sat a shining padlock.

36:21

My heart leaped into my throat and I sprinted

36:23

toward the shack. I reached for the

36:25

iron handle of the door when it suddenly sprang

36:28

open. A short stubby man emerged

36:30

quickly, shutting the door.

36:32

He noticed me and pushed me back against the door

36:34

and spoke, Oh no no no, boy,

36:36

don't go in there. This place is not for the outsiders.

36:39

Turn back around and go back to your room, lest I call

36:42

for the headmaster. I sighed and

36:44

grudgingly returned to my room.

36:46

Though I was distraught over this defeat, I

36:49

returned to my bed and met sleep with open

36:51

arms.

36:52

During the following days, I felt my

36:54

sanity slipping away as I slowly

36:56

came to grips with my fate. I

36:59

stayed in bed most of the days, refusing

37:01

to eat and trying to relive as many

37:03

happy memories as I could before Sunday's

37:06

inevitable bloodletting.

37:08

Several times during my stay had I seen

37:10

people running for the woods, but they were almost

37:12

immediately apprehended by groups of men

37:14

clad in red cloaks.

37:16

I feared the same would happen to me and

37:18

decided against making a run for it. Eventually

37:21

pulling myself up on Sunday night, I

37:24

thought about my situation once more.

37:26

Putting my hands together, I contemplated

37:29

how I could possibly survive. By

37:31

the time I shut my eyes, I had summoned

37:33

my last shred of bravery and constructed

37:35

a plan with a mental image of the house,

37:38

so I knew my best row out of this place.

37:41

Shutting my plans away in my head and taking

37:43

a deep breath,

37:44

I surrendered to my subconscious. I

37:47

rose late on Sunday afternoon. Unfitting

37:50

for one's final day on Earth, but the

37:52

inevitability of death weighed on me and

37:54

kept me in bed. Lumbard

37:57

entered the room around 6 o'clock.

37:59

leave us, friend.

38:01

We are making preparations for the ceremony

38:04

now.

38:05

When you are ready, please approach the

38:07

painting at the other side of the second

38:09

floor. Slide the painting

38:12

to the right, and it should reveal

38:14

a staircase. The staircase

38:16

leads to my chambers. I

38:18

need to perform the finishing touches for

38:21

the farewell."

38:22

I quietly nodded as the door closed. For

38:24

a few moments, I sat and considered

38:27

my plans.

38:28

Sitting, sweating, and breathing heavily,

38:30

I made my decision.

38:32

I snatched one of the pencils from the desk drawer

38:35

and slid it into my right boot. Following

38:38

the giant's orders, I climbed the hidden staircase

38:40

and entered a large circular room. The

38:43

walls were lined with bookcases, with a

38:45

massive desk resting in the center. On

38:48

the desk sat piles of papers and a

38:50

typewriter.

38:51

Moonlight flooded in from the window above

38:53

it all.

38:54

Lumbard greeted me with a hearty laugh. He

38:56

told me to remove all my clothing except for my

38:59

pants. I obliged and slowly

39:01

inched towards him as I began on lacing my

39:03

work boots. My left sock

39:05

and boot sat on the floor next to me, and

39:08

I began to work on my right.

39:09

Glancing behind me, I saw Lumbard

39:12

looming in anticipation.

39:14

I smirked and slowly slid the pencil

39:16

from my boot.

39:17

Without hesitation, I drove the pencil

39:20

with all my might into the titan's stomach. Lumbard

39:23

buckled from the strike and dropped to his knees. I

39:25

heard blood gurgling in his throat.

39:27

I snatched the typewriter from the desk, slid

39:30

it across as hard as I could, and smashed

39:32

it across Lumbard's face.

39:34

The headmaster collapsed to the ground in

39:36

a puddle of his own blood.

39:38

Turning, I was able to make my way out

39:40

of the room when I heard quiet laughter emanating

39:42

from behind me. I spun around

39:44

to see a bloodied Lumbard rising from the carpet.

39:47

His mask was now distorted and blood-soaked.

39:49

He croaked.

40:00

I gritted my teeth. I'm leaving this

40:02

place. I know what happened a week ago. Now

40:05

tell me what really goes on here." Lamar

40:07

chuckled.

40:08

As you wish, what

40:11

I told you about our history

40:13

that morning was, in fact, true.

40:16

Though there are a few things I

40:18

left out to keep you under

40:21

my thumb. Those two

40:23

cousins who founded the town are closer

40:26

to us than you think. One

40:28

of them was my great-grandfather,

40:32

and the other was

40:34

yours. Medicine

40:37

was no longer working to drive away

40:39

the blight, and my ancestor,

40:42

great visionary that

40:44

he was, decided to

40:47

turn to

40:48

other means of treatment.

40:53

He found an old book amongst what he

40:55

had found sightseeing in the old country.

40:58

You seem to be familiar with it.

41:01

It outlined how to give praise

41:03

to an ancient goddess,

41:06

Sacra. In

41:10

exchange for a human life, Sacra

41:13

would save another. We soon

41:16

began using her divine will

41:18

to save the community. However,

41:21

your great-grandfather,

41:24

blinded to reality by

41:27

his morals,

41:28

left the village. Just

41:31

before the birth of his child, he made

41:33

a vow to Dalis, the

41:35

brother and polar opposite of the glorious

41:38

Sacra, god of morality

41:41

and justice, that his bloodline

41:44

would be forever devoted to the eradication

41:46

of our order. This

41:50

whole ordeal has been our

41:52

effort to destroy the one

41:55

human that can destroy us,

41:57

and end the bloodline one day.

41:59

Once and for all, I

42:02

shook my head at his story and asked, So

42:05

all this was planned? How much of this

42:07

is a plan? How long have you people been trying

42:09

to do me in? I shall get to that

42:11

in a moment, but here is

42:14

a secret that you will truly

42:16

enjoy.

42:17

Normally, one of your blood could

42:20

cause a member of our order with

42:22

an aura as dark as mine

42:24

to drop dead at a single

42:27

touch.

42:29

I took this into account when dealing

42:31

with you. I have been nullifying

42:34

your power with the one thing

42:36

that will weaken it. Human

42:39

flesh and blood.

42:40

I went white at Lombard's statement. He

42:43

began to laugh even harder.

42:45

That's right, friend. I

42:49

have personally slipped a little

42:51

bit of human into each

42:53

of your meals since you got here.

42:56

You never even knew.

42:58

Oh, your ancestors

43:00

would be proud of you. Little

43:03

did he know, I hadn't eaten in days.

43:06

I flung my hand out and grasped Lombard's

43:08

wrist. Wrenching down, I felt a texture

43:10

similar to squeezing raw meat. The

43:13

giant roared as droplets of liquefied

43:15

flesh dropped onto the floor. I apparently

43:17

still had some power.

43:19

He roared with pain and anger. I

43:21

continued to twist and yank with my vice-like

43:23

grip.

43:24

I felt the crunching and oozing of now

43:26

gelatinous bone pulling away from muscle.

43:30

Suddenly I jerked with all my might and gripped

43:32

onto Lombard's severed hand as the rest

43:34

of him fell to the ground in a writhing heap. Lombard

43:37

clutched his bloody stump.

43:39

I see you wizened up to my

43:41

trickery, clever man that

43:43

you are. No matter.

43:46

You will not leave this place alive.

43:49

I will see to that. You

43:51

will never kill me, you monster. As

43:54

soon as I escape, I'm taking Elizabeth and getting

43:56

as far from town as we can.

43:58

You will never be able to find us.

43:59

Lombard began his horse laughter again. He

44:02

said, You will never be

44:05

safe, friend.

44:07

Even when you think you are the

44:09

most protected, we will

44:12

be there watching you. We

44:16

will never forget.

44:19

Not even with that girl of yours, are

44:21

you safe? Wait till you hear

44:24

that tale. Surely you

44:26

noticed how your emotions distorted

44:28

when you were close to her.

44:30

You should know we took the liberty of turning

44:32

her into a tool of sorts. We

44:35

altered her mind to force

44:38

you into awakening that ancient

44:40

blood in your veins to drive

44:42

you apart

44:43

and into the arms of the

44:46

Circle. She was one

44:48

of the most instrumental tools

44:51

in our plot. She was

44:53

such a naive girl. What

44:55

a fool. Pretty too.

44:59

I lost it. I flung myself

45:01

at my captor once again and pressing my

45:03

boot into his chest, I wrapped my hands

45:05

around his horns and began to pull.

45:07

Lombard screamed with pain as I pulled

45:09

at the mask. I felt each stitch

45:12

pop as I wrenched upward.

45:14

The titan began to flail his hand and stab

45:16

at my body, but every contact with my

45:18

skin resulted in a feeling akin to the

45:20

man punching a slab of molten metal.

45:23

With one last ferocious pull, I felt

45:25

the final stitched tear and I flung the

45:27

headdress against a wall in a spatter of

45:29

blood and teeth. Lombard's

45:32

body flailed and I ran to the door. His

45:34

disfigured face writhed as he cried out

45:36

into the air. I swear it,

45:39

Robert Elm. You

45:41

will never escape the

45:43

hand of the Black Circle.

45:47

You will die by my hand.

45:52

I smirked

45:53

at my handiwork.

45:54

We will see, friend.

45:57

I promptly sprinted down the staircase and out

45:59

of the silent house.

46:00

My legs ached from the fight with the giant,

46:03

but I shrugged off all the pain and ran

46:05

across the grass as fast as I could.

46:07

As I passed the great hall, I could hear

46:09

shrieks of terror and sorrow. I

46:12

chuckled at the reaction I'd caused.

46:15

I'll never see that… thing again.

46:18

I muttered.

46:19

I hurried myself to the concrete shack at the edge

46:21

of the property.

46:23

I figured now was as good a good enough time as any

46:25

to see if I can get into that mysterious building.

46:28

Halfway through the field, I turned to see hooded

46:30

men with torches beginning their search for me.

46:33

I quickened my pace. I was able

46:35

to reach the unlocked door while the search party

46:37

went off to investigate the barn in tool shed.

46:40

Taking advantage of my moment of safety,

46:42

I slowly slid the door open and saw a

46:45

rather anticlimactic sight.

46:47

The room was dimly lit by a single lightbulb

46:50

hanging from the ceiling.

46:51

Several barrels stood around the corners and

46:53

walls.

46:54

A workbench was fastened to the wall

46:56

next to another large metal door at the end

46:59

of the room.

47:00

Just as I got to investigating the room,

47:02

I heard footsteps from behind the second door.

47:05

My heart skipped a beat and I had no choice

47:07

but to conceal myself in one of the barrels.

47:10

I slid back the lid and was met with

47:12

the horrendous stench that caused me to gag

47:14

uncontrollably.

47:16

Reluctantly, I climbed into what felt

47:18

like runny swamp sledge and held my breath.

47:21

As soon as I did, the man I saw earlier

47:23

pushed the door open and hobbled inside the room,

47:26

holding what looked like a corpse slung over his

47:28

shoulder.

47:29

He approached the workbench and flung the body

47:31

onto the table. To my horror,

47:34

he began meticulously working at the body

47:36

with an assortment of knives, cutting

47:38

and slicing with surgical precision. The

47:41

entrance to the room opened again and a group

47:43

of hooded searchers entered and asked the man

47:45

if they had seen anyone matching my description

47:48

anywhere. He insisted that he had

47:50

not and, after scanning the room for

47:52

a few seconds, the men left as quickly

47:54

as they had come. I waited

47:56

stiffly in the barrel, holding my breath

47:58

as best I could, taking the lead. taking in brief

48:00

sips of air and staying as quiet as possible

48:03

as not to reveal my location.

48:05

Suddenly I heard the man mutter to himself.

48:08

''Oh yes, you will cook up nicely, won't

48:10

you?''

48:11

he let out a quiet chuckle.

48:13

I gagged again, half with sickness

48:15

and half with shock.

48:17

I had caught the man's attention.

48:19

Deciding it was time for me to make a move, I

48:21

slightly lifted the lid of the barrel and slid

48:23

my soaked form onto the dark floor. Air

48:26

gripping tight, lid in hand, I

48:29

raced towards the stunned butcher and struck him on

48:31

the head with the hunk of wood.

48:33

He dropped to the floor with a dull thud. I

48:36

snatched the blade from his hand and made a dash

48:38

for the door, but not before looking at

48:40

myself under the dim light.

48:42

My stomach turned as I saw an entire

48:44

body soaked in a heavy coating of blood

48:46

and chunks of meat. It drizzled

48:49

and pooled on the floor. It sickened

48:51

me.

48:52

Holding back the urge to vomit, I

48:54

nudged the door open, revealing a dark

48:56

tunnel,

48:57

far more organic than anything

48:59

I had seen in a while.

49:01

All was silent except for the drips

49:03

of blood from my skin and clothes. I

49:05

quickened my pace as I heard shouting from

49:07

far behind me.

49:09

I held my breath, ignored the

49:11

looming claustrophobia and soldiered on

49:13

through the darkness.

49:15

The near endless tunnel finally opened

49:17

into a small candle-lit room.

49:19

It was only about twenty feet across, with

49:21

an arching ceiling.

49:23

I had little time to examine my surroundings,

49:25

for when I entered the room, I saw a hooded

49:27

worshipper with his back facing me,

49:30

holding what appeared to be an old hunting rifle.

49:33

Though at first my heart raced as

49:35

I anticipated my own death, I

49:37

was stunned to realize that he was unaware

49:39

of my presence. Seizing the moment,

49:42

I lashed out at the crown of his head with my stolen

49:44

weapon. The men let out a quick

49:46

yelp, fell to the ground, and lay motionless

49:49

as blood pooled around his hood. I

49:52

let the knife rest in his skull and snatched

49:54

up the firearm.

49:55

I hear something I can use. I

49:58

mumbled to myself as I slung it over my shoulder. shoulder.

50:01

On the floor I noticed a small

50:03

metal hatch.

50:04

Seeing somewhere else to go and remembering

50:06

the search party on my tail, I opened

50:08

it, descending the ladder it revealed.

50:11

The ladder met the ground in an alcove

50:14

on the shore of a small pond.

50:16

Near the ladder I found plastic tubs

50:18

filled with things like shoes, backpacks,

50:21

dog collars, among other things.

50:23

Remembering the room with the old man and

50:25

the cult's cannibalistic tendencies, the

50:28

sight of these tattered belongings was bittersweet.

50:31

Grabbing one of the largest packs, I

50:33

saw a pile of metallic objects out of the

50:35

corner of my eye.

50:37

Bikes.

50:38

Taking a deep sigh, I picked up the

50:40

newest looking one and rode off through the woods

50:43

as fast as the wheels would spin into the night.

50:46

After trudging onward through the woods for most of the

50:48

night and subsisting off some trail mix

50:50

I found in the bag I took, I finally

50:52

arrived in town. Needless to

50:54

say, my friends and neighbors were amazed by

50:57

my return. However, I knew

50:59

I could not stay and chat. Walking

51:01

up to my house, Elizabeth rushed out to

51:03

meet me. I didn't even look at

51:05

her. I continued inside, gathered

51:08

my belongings, and climbed into my car

51:10

with Elizabeth chasing me the whole way, asking

51:13

me what was wrong and where I had been. I

51:15

ignored her. She looked at me with

51:17

a face of sorrow that I knew was just

51:19

a mask and, when our eyes met, I

51:22

could tell she knew the answers to her questions.

51:24

I backed out of the driveway and made my way

51:26

to the highway. I never saw that

51:29

town or Elizabeth again. Many

51:31

years passed. I traveled town to

51:33

town, but every time they found me. They

51:36

always found me. For years I have

51:39

been running from them, but I doubt I will

51:41

escape their grasp. I have

51:43

found a safe haven in this place for twelve

51:45

years, but I fear that they are now drawing

51:48

near once again. I'm too old

51:50

to run anymore, my friend. Just

51:52

too old now. The

51:54

bartender stared in astonishment.

51:56

So that's why you've been

51:59

so solitary? Yes, I

52:01

fooled myself into thinking that the more I

52:03

kept to myself, the safer I would be. The

52:06

bartender shuddered. And you're

52:09

drinking the

52:11

sacrifice, the

52:13

liver thing. Is that

52:15

why? The storyteller let out

52:18

a hearty laugh. Yep, when

52:20

they do find me and bite into my flesh,

52:22

I want them to