Episode 20 - Doors

## Doors

A white drawing of a set of double doors in a thick frame, one opening inward, revealing a host of red eyes beyond. There is a border of broken, scratched wood.

### Author

William A. Wellman

Clara has breakfast at Downing Hill, Solomon educates Olivier on his craft, and Ethel pays a visit to the boss. The theme of tonight’s episode is Doors."

***Content Warnings:** Static, death + injury, gun mention, body horror, blood, kidnapping + abduction, abuse, violence, homophobia, transphobia, religion, sexism, strangulation, violence*

## Intro - The Man Behind the Door

Nikignik tells a story in second person about Zelda Duckworth, who often lies awake thinking about how her husband now spends all his time in the basement. They used to fight the world, and then each other. Now they barely interact, as if he is a ghost in her life. He spends all his time working on projects from the library. She hears terrible noises coming from the basement one night, and goes to the stairs with her shotgun. She does not hesitate as she realizes the sounds are coming from her husband's door.

Nikignik is inside a wallpaper pattern of florals, dancing figures, and darkness. The girl in the bed is realizing that everything in the library is a doorway.

## Story One - Breakfast in the Library

Clara watches the wallpaper patterns move slightly in the darkness. She is sure the Instrumentalist killed Riot, though she isn't sure how, or even what the Instrumentalist is.

She finally manages to fall asleep, and is greeted in the morning by a faceless woman, who insists that she come down to breakfast. After dressing in the clothes she's been given, she steps out and gets a good look at the library for the first time. It is full of secrets and warped space, and she has to focus to keep from getting lost. She passes by a painting of a person far off in a field of sunflowers, but decides not to investigate it yet.

As soon as she enters the dining room, Clara is seated in front of a plate of waffles. Dogsmell presses against her as she looks around at the other residents of the library. Many of them do not look fully human. A man with colorless eyes sitting next to her asks about her ability to see ghosts, and explains that over the next few weeks they will determine whether she has potential to stay as a student. If she disappoints him, she will not survive.

Clara asks what she will be learning, and the man says only she knows that. She is not satisfied, but is unafraid. She is good at tests, and has lost everything important already.

### Interlude One - Portal Safety

Nikignik warns the dreamers not to engage in any mode of transportation that will lead to travel in other realms. Interdimensional travel accidents happen frequently, due to poor portal safety practices. These include trails that lead to the Faceless King's court in the Northmost woods, Lolgmololg's pits on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean, chalk drawings made by a witch who has studied complex algebra, freestanding doors in the fog of the Southern Moormire, the Ward of the Wisps, the interior of Downing Hill Public Library, and any cabinet that can be opened with a key of resurrection. Nikignik warns listeners that these keys unlock realms that will change you.

## Story Two - Love Your Neighbor

Solomon describes a book to Olivier. It was written in the seventeenth century, though it was translated from far earlier manuscripts. If the writings had not been suppressed, Christianity might have been far more powerful. He describes how he studied the true scriptures while the church became more liberal. He tells 'Oliver' that god has revealed his plan to redeem the sinners of the Hallowoods in a dream, and asks if Olivier is humble or rebellious. Olivier corrects his pronunciation of their name, and says they are a servant of the lord. Solomon says they don't have to lie in his house, but suggests that god will find them if they are seeking him. Olivier says that they grew up reading, and have read many books, just not many like Solomon's. Their parents died when they were very young, and left them at Downing Hill.

Olivier asks how Solomon's daughter died, and he explains that she was possessed by a demon long ago, making her want to cut her hair and change her name. He describes his wife as spiteful, and feels anger from the fife in his front pocket. He loved her, and trusted her to take care of their child, but he got caught up in his work and left them alone for too long. When he came back, his daughter had been locked up and starved to death while his wife had killed herself in the kitchen. Using the knowledge he'd gained while he was away, he took his daughter's bones and made them into the keys of a grand piano. The piano was stolen while he was traveling, and he was not able to find it again. He believes Diggory has kidnapped his child, and expects that they will be a challenge to handle.

Suddenly there is a shriek from the basement. Solomon had forgotten he was holding a woman down there. Olivier asks about her, shaking, and Solomon calmly offers to show them the basement. When Olivier opens the door the screams get louder, and he remembers her name is Zelda.

### Marketing - Ivy League Conglomerate

Lady Ethel spreads a sponsored message from the Ivy League Conglomerate. She tells the listeners that a good education will bring you to new doors, but only money and ruthlessness will allow you to open them. A high-quality education will change you into a person who is willing to do anything in order to get what you want. She and the Conglomerate urge you to change your mindset today in order to succeed.

### Story Two, Continued - Love Your Neighbor

Nikignik describes how fascinating the universe is, and how much they love learning. Everyone should be able to access a good education, and have the ability to learn about their passions.

Solomon walks down his neighborhood street, saying hello to all of his neighbors, including Mr. Dan and Mr. Kita. It is an idyllic scene, but he feels it isn't quite right. He hears a cry, and looks to see that it is coming from his own home. The house is dilapidated and rotten, clearly out of place on the perfect street. Inside he finds a skeletal old woman tied to the wall with piano wire. Olivier is feeding her from a bowl. The old woman asks why he did this to her, and the sky begins to darken and shake. He runs away, but all the neighbors have become dead things that reach for him maliciously. Their bones are the instruments that line his walls. He is left crying in the dark as the spirits close in on him, and the cabinet watches him.

He comes back to the present, where Olivier is feeding Zelda. Solomon shows Olivier his collection of instruments, and is annoyed when Olivier seems more interested in giving Zelda food and water. Solomon explains that he learned to make instruments from his father, who was a carpenter. He learned how to bind ghosts from years of studying the church's books. He made sacrifices to obtain the knowledge, and the cabinet across the room is vital to the process. Only the key Riot stole can open it.

Solomon demands that Olivier help him get his daughter back and kill the revenant that kidnapped her. They will reclaim the key and make Zelda into an instrument. And then they will unleash the lord's judgment upon the Hallowoods.

### Interlude Two - The World Beneath the Window

Nikignik recalls the expression, "When god closes a door, he opens a window." In reality, god opens a black hole. What humans call gods are unfathomable, and most do not acknowledge or care about humans at all. Nikignik exists outside the scope of humanity's understanding, and there are others above them, on and on, each finding the next level incomprehensible. Your bad (or good) days are not the fault of any higher power. They will balance out in the end, and hopefully you will make the world a little better for the beings below you.

## Story Three - Gossamer, Glamour, and Glory

Lady Ethel Mallory is pleased with how well her plans are all coming together. The Prime Dream is flowing smoothly. She knows where Riot is, and very few other people do. Oswald specifically does not, and her staff know better than to tell anyone. Oswald believes she is still searching, and is beginning to worry. She is winding out the tension and suspense, and plans to use her network and power against him to kill him one day. For now, she is making sure he's completely reliant on her.

Putting on her glasses, Lady Ethel enters the Prime Dream and heads to Oswald's castle. It reflects his idea of himself in his prime. She makes her way through his castle to a meeting room she recognizes from the day she was hired in Los Angeles.

Oswald offers her a seat, but she remains standing to make a statement. She asks about the protesters, and he assures her that he is handling the issue. She in turn assures him that she is working on finding Riot, and he urges her to work harder, telling her that if she can't find the real thing he'll have another one made. Ethel tries not to show her surprise. Oswald says they just need a daughter and a happy reunion to celebrate. In a few months they can let Riot and Valerie fade into obscurity, and then they can experiment on their brains. They can use CGI, make a dream Riot, or even clone her. Lady Ethel is sure Valerie would know the difference, but Oswald is confident. He tells Ethel that if she doesn't deliver results soon, they will have to try an alternative method.

Lady Ethel promises to get Riot to Oswald soon, then exits the Prime Dream, assuring herself that she will still get what she wants.

## Outro - Doors

Nikignik describes our lives as full of doors and opportunities. There are countless doors in life, and each one opens to a new opportunity. If you are open to opportunities, doors will open for you.