Part Thirty Six

*A life of regret, a moment to remember, an unexpected savior...*

### Content Warnings

Religious abuse, child abuse, bullying, starvation, being trapped, murder, sounds of gore, references to child death, memory loss, alcoholism

## Summary

After Oscar shares his stormy past, they head to Daniel’s house to retrieve the Freemason ring and uncover more secrets about Marie’s house and Scratch. They decide to follow that lead, bringing Oscar along. Keen to trust more people, particularly amidst John’s growing issues with memory, Arthur convinces Oscar not to drown his sorrows at a bar. They head off towards the house owned by the dead man in Hattie’s room.

## Synopsis

Arthur and John leave their meeting with Noel. John expresses doubt about trusting Noel, but Arthur believes it’s the right call. He notes how Noel’s voice seemed familiar to him. Oscar arrives with groceries for Daniel, and they leave for Daniel’s house.

On the way, they discuss Arthur’s lies and murder confession. Oscar doesn’t share Daniel’s levels of understanding, but similar to Arthur, has past regrets. He still believes Arthur is a good person, citing Arthur’s behavior with the Butcher.

Oscar reveals the information he initially called Daniel’s house with: J Scherzer, the grocer underneath Marie’s house, leases the building from the estate of a man named Edward William Allan, who is no longer around. They send their rent to a lawyer named David Rose.

The conversation shifts to Oscar’s regrets. Oscar stops to tell a story: after being given away, Oscar grew up in a Catholic orphanage. He had a friend whom he considered a brother: Alexander. Alexander was joyful, but was despised by a cruel man named Father McKenna. Father McKenna tormented him. One day, Alexander disappeared. Father McKenna pushed the narrative that he ran away, but after Oscar converses with some girls, he discovers a story about a whimpering bell tower ghost. Oscar found Alexander behind a wall, naked and nearly starved to death. The police assumed Alexander had snuck away and got stuck, but Oscar believed it was Father McKenna’s doing. He snuck into Father McKenna’s quarters and used a claw hammer to try to kill Father McKenna. Oscar was taken away and didn’t see Alexander or Father McKenna again. He was uncertain whether Alexander returned to the orphanage. Ultimately, Oscar regrets that McKenna survived.

At Daniel’s house, Oscar fetches Daniel’s clothes. John and Arthur discuss Oscar’s story: Arthur acknowledging that Oscar’s experiences with religion made him want to stay, while they pushed Arthur away. John compares Oscar’s story to Arthur’s murder of Uncle. They also decide to inform Oscar about the Order of the Fallen Star.

Inside, Arthur calls Mr. Rose with a ruse about some of Mr. Allan’s belongings. Mr. Rose instructs Arthur to send them to Mr. Allan’s other property, the one he owned as a co-owner of a lucrative brewing business before going missing: 61 Boulder Road. It has never been rented nor touched by Mr. Rose. They hang up.

Upstairs, they find a photo of Faroe and the ring. Putting it away, he realizes he still has Scratch’s stone and panickily recalls the deal. Arthur resolves to use the bestiary to determine a way to stop Scratch once and for all. At John’s prompting, he agrees to damning Oscar if it is their only choice.

Downstairs, they interrupt Oscar fiddling with the liquor cabinet and Arthur explains about the Order of the Fallen Star and his ire towards Larson. He also informs Oscar about the bestiary and the secret passage in Hattie’s room, including the body. Oscar says that the skeleton could not have been as old as Arthur imagines, because the building was constructed 30 years ago. Arthur hypothesizes that Scratch experiences time dilation. Oscar agrees to look through the bestiary for answers and to go with him to Boulder Road.

Oscar goes to drop off Daniel’s things while Arthur and John look for Daniel’s car keys. They briefly discuss John’s issues with memory: Arthur does not know how to talk with John about it, but insists that it is a problem. John disagrees, and insists that bringing more people into their operation – namely, Oscar – is an unacceptable risk to them.

Finally, Arthur discovers the car keys in a place John claimed had no car keys. They go to the car. Arthur decides to tell Oscar about the stone, to John’s dismay.

At the hospital, they can’t find Oscar. Further searching reveals a bar on the other side of the road: the Tin God. They enter to find Oscar staring at an untouched drink. Oscar shares his regrets about never finding out what happened to Alexander. Arthur tries to console him, to no avail, until he abruptly shifts tactics and quips that Oscar looks like he’s hit bedrock.

Arthur sympathizes with him and tells him about Faroe. He doesn’t have all the answers, but list many things that could help: friendship, making amends, simply getting out of bed, and helping others. Today’s reason, Arthur says, is that Arthur needs his help. Arthur reminisces on how helping the stranded car at the side of the road was something he needed to do at the time, and he believes he and Oscar are similar in that regard. Oscar agrees, thanks him, and leaves for the car without drinking.

John worries that Oscar may be beyond their ability to help. Arthur says he’s glad Parker didn’t feel the same way.

## Trivia

* The song that plays in the bar is "Night Latch Key Blues" by Virginia Liston.