Episode 23 - Sunsets

## Sunsets

A red drawing of an open hand with the wrist showing dismemberment. There are three bundles of crossbow bolts behind it: Two bundles have six arrows, and the one on the right has four. The border is a moon, stars, and sun rising and setting. At the bottom, but inside the border, is the text "23 · Sunsets."

### Author

William A. Wellman

Zelda plays a game with Al, Mort gets mad, and Violet prepares for a long night. The theme of tonight's episode is Sunsets.

***Content Warnings:** Static, abuse, violence, kidnapping and abduction, death + injury, blood, birds, gun mention, strangulation/suffocation, emotional manipulation, drowning, body horror, smoking*

## Intro - Frostwriter

Nikignik describes a spring frost at sunset, and a house where your parents are fighting. You notice that someone has written, "Are you okay?" in the frost on the window, though your room is on the second floor. You respond that you are, and they write, "Won't be forever." You greet the writer, and they respond with a clawed hand.

Nikignik sits in a dark room they have been in before. Many dead inhabitants are here, as well as one living. Time has lost its meaning here due to the absence of light or other ways to measure time.

## Story One - Time For Rest

Zelda tells a child to come inside and get to bed. The child, Olivier Song, tells her to be quiet and flips off the lights. Zelda cries, which summons Al, who she mistakes for Jonah at first. She suggests they play a game. Zelda is the prime minister, and Al is a spy. She tells him that his mission is to go upstairs and listen to Olivier and Solomon, and report back to her. She promises him a new baseball bat in return for information. Al is uncertain, because he is not allowed to go upstairs, but agrees when Zelda tells him he is a secret agent.

Zelda reflects on being made into an instrument when Al leaves. She wishes she could be trapped at a younger age, if she has to be the same forever. She believes Hector and Jonah will rescue her, though, and she resolves to stay alive until they arrive.

Al reappears, telling Zelda that they're looking for a key and Solomon's child. They are going to the Scoutpost, and it will snow. Zelda rewards this info with an invisible baseball bat, which Al enjoys.

Olivier bandaged Zelda's wrists and re-tied her much looser than before, and she believes she can get herself free when they go to the Scoutpost with Solomon. Zelda tries to go to sleep, planning to escape in the morning.

### Interlude One - Crepuscular Animals

Nikignik informs the reader about different times when animals in the Hallowoods are active and feeding. Diurnal animals are active during the day, nocturnal animals feed on human flesh at night, and crepuscular animals are active between sunset and complete darkness. The most dangerous creatures come out at sunset, including Fishers, Blinking Cats, three-eyed deer, and Wandering Night-Gaunts. Eyeless Owls are the most dangerous creature awake at this time, as they hunt silently and can keep you alive in their gizzards for a long time.

## Story Two - Always Say Complicated

Mort asks what crepuscular means, and Polly complains that Mort is asking too many questions. Yaretzi defends him and answers his question, but says it is an unnecessary word. They agree on camping because they do not want to enter the Hallowoods at this time. Mort responds that he does not want to go into the woods at all, because they look creepy. Polly tells him to get ready, because when they go in he will need to be ready to fight. Mort is surprised, and Yaretzi watches the interaction closely. Polly can feel a stockpile of souls concentrated into one person, and he explains that they will need to tear the person apart and claim the souls so he can get a promotion. He says that Mort is a weapon, but Mort hopes they can be friends instead.

Polly says it should be over quickly, and offers Mort the chance to do whatever he wants when the job is complete. Mort responds that he wants to stay with Polly, but Polly says he has a deal to uphold with Yaretzi, who tells him not to make her the villain. Mort insists that he wants Polly to stay, and asks why he can't. Polly responds that it's complicated, to which Mort replies that Polly always says that it's complicated. He doesn't care, he just wants Polly to stay.

Gunfire rips through the trees and a truck races out of the woods towards them. A metal canister hits Mort, and he is engulfed in flames.

### Marketing - Nothing To Hide

Lady Ethel Mallory warns those in the Dreaming Box residents of upcoming security checks to discover any Stonemaid influence in the Prime Dream. All dreamers will undergo a full diagnostic check, questioning, and rehabilitation if necessary. She assures the dreamers that they have nothing to fear if they have nothing to hide.

### Story Two, Continued - Always Say Complicated

Nikignik fears for those in Dreaming Boxes.

Mort is on fire and very upset about it. He sees Polly and Yaretzi getting ready to fight the armed men running towards them, and Yaretzi tells him to help Polly.

A circle of men closes in on Mort, shooting him repeatedly. The bullets do no damage, but they do rattle his glass dome unpleasantly. He tells them to stop. Suddenly a man jumps on his back and tries to pull a hood over his dome. He reaches up to grab the man, not realizing that he is using his claw, and he cuts the man in half.

Mort screams, running into the woods to find Polly. He doesn't know what to do, and he's scared. He follows the flashes of fire through the trees and catches a glimpse of Polly fleeing deeper into the forest.

Mort steps into a clearing just in time to see Rick Rounds threatening Polly with a knife. He has already stabbed Polly with a dagger. Polly drops his umbrella, and Rick immediately snatches it and runs. Mort checks on Polly, then pursues Rick, keen on getting the umbrella back. Rick tries to threaten Mort, and opens the umbrella, but the eyes are all fixed on Rick and the handle burns his hand.

Mort cuts through Rick's hand and gets the umbrella back, and he realizes he feels good about what he did. Rick promises he'll be back and Mort walks away, having lost all interest in being Rick's friend.

### Interlude Two - Sunset Symbolism

Nikignik muses on sunsets. They are a common occurrence, and it seems silly to romanticize the movement of a planet around a star. Still, every time of day holds meaning for those who experience them. Mornings are hopeful, days are joyful, and night brings an end to the day. Nikignik recalls watching sunsets with loved ones, and wishing the moment would last a little longer.

## Story Three - Sixteen Bolts

Bern has laid out her weapons neatly on the bed. She asks her wife how many crossbow bolts she should pack, and Violet suggests sixteen, just in case. Violet embraces Bern and confides that she can't take much more excitement, and they kiss. Bern recounts their past, avoiding Botco, fighting raiders and preppers, and building a home together. Violet says it's exactly the home she dreamed of, and Bern promises they'll keep it safe one more night.

They discuss Walt's plan to dispose of the Instrumentalist. Bern also suspects that Botco has been monitoring Riot since she returned to the bunker. Violet asks if Bern regrets taking her in, but Bern replies that it's why they started their home. They can save good people, teach them how to survive, and preserve a little sweetness in the dangerous world.

Before Bern leaves, she asks Violet how she looks. Violet fondly says she looks just like she did when they first met at Scout Camp: Overprepared and surly. Bern assures her wife that they will be ready for whatever comes, and goes to wait for the attack they are expecting.

## Outro - Sunsets

Nikignik closes by saying that you will take sunsets for granted until there are no more, and the world ends. Your life will end long before then, however, and will be filled with sunsets. They recommend appreciating the time you are given, because one day you will see your last sunset before entering a night that does not end.