Prologue: VINCULA's Linguist

## Description

Silas Caldwell, a morbid and macabre linguist from Virginia, is interviewed for a position at a biotech firm known as VINCULA.

## Plot Summary

The episode begins with Silas Caldwell returning to a broken-in apartment with Evelyn Vaux and an unnamed assistant waiting for him, much to his surprise and concern. Vaux informs him that this is the interview for a position at VINCULA (and that the application form gave VINCULA the right to enter the premises of each applicant) and then introduces herself. Vaux continues to list off Silas's various qualifications, each more impressive than the last, until reaching the unanswered question about paranormal experiences. Silas expresses his thoughts on that part of the application being a joke before telling his Ghost Story at Vaux's insistence.

Silas lays out his childhood growing up hearing spooky stories of and exploring the Virginia Mountains, leading up to one particular spelunking journey that scared him out of the hobby entirely. One summer during his early teens, Silas and his friends explored Light's End Cave to escape the oppressive heat of the day. During this respite, Silas was invited to join in on his friends' favored caving past-time: telling and performing ghost stories. He also slips in a mention of his father passing away shortly before this day, as he hoped telling stories with his friends would help unburden his mind. During one performance, Silas angrily storms off over creative differences, leaving his flashlight and friends behind. After a much longer trip to the cave mouth than what was expected, Silas sees the light at the end of the tunnel as well as an unexpected visitor.

Silas reaches the mouth of Light's End Cave, only to see the shadow of a person with an irregular body shape waiting at the mouth of the cave. He spends several minutes staring at the strange shadow, compelled not to move or make a sound, pondering who could be waiting for him. As Silas was considering this, he saw two gleaming points of light appear on the shadow where eyes should be; The Shadow was looking at him. Silas tries to rationalize this event, explaining his overwhelmed mental state must have contributed to his perception of this encounter. He goes over his feelings of death in the moment, thinking of his father and hoping he could display the same resolve and dignity should this be his last moment on Earth.

After what felt like hours, Silas is broken from his spiraling by his friends catching up to him, causing him to look away from the shade only for it to vanish once he looked back where it was. He resolved to never again enter Light's End Cave and explained that the experience left him with a cautious belief in the paranormal. Vaux asks her boss, Mr. Richardson, if the answer is satisfactory. After unheard confirmation, she then offers Silas a position at VINCULA and explains the benefits and requirements of the role. Silas attempts to question her for more information, to which Vaux responds with vague non-answers and informs Silas that they'll be in touch.

The episode ends with a new voice, belonging to Cassius Thatcher, sighing and simply saying "Here we go again..."

## Cast

* Ty Von (Silas Caldwell)
* Kaila Crockett (Evelyn Vaux)
* Gage Odom (Fred Kitsman)
* Terra (Vox)
* Beth Phung (Cassius Thatcher)

## Trivia

* Fred Kitsman is the unnamed voice accompanying Vaux in this episode.