NAIVE

"NAIVE" is the eighth episode of *The Mistholme Museum of Mystery, Morbidity, and Mortality*.

Characters:

* The Audio Tour Guide
* The Visitor
* Amina (part of exhibit)
* Aunty (part of exhibit)
* A Manticore
* Mimic Monkeys

Exhibits:

* A Replica Alternatural Event Shelter
* A Cauldron
* The Stables

## A Replica Alternatural Event Shelter

The Audio Tour Guide takes the visitor through an Alternatural Event Shelter Replica which is a replica of the Alternatural Event Shelters to normalise their existence to patrons. It describes the main room, kitchen, sleeping quarters, and bathroom. During the description of the bathroom, the Guide laments about the use of the mirror and admits it feels bad for those trapped. It is unsure if that is normal, but continues to wonder "at what point the human mind just snaps" when inside the event shelter. At what point they will try to escape, and how that is impossible due to all shelters being remotely controlled and monitored at the Patronage Department. It suggests it and the visitor head towards the Patronage Department.

## A Cauldron

The story starts with Amina who is living with her parents despite both her older siblings and younger sister had moved out as soon as possible. As her parents begin pushing her more and more to move out, she decides to ask to move out with her Aunty, an energetic old woman with wild hair. They hesitantly agree and so after sending a letter to Aunty, Amina drives to her home in the middle of nowhere. Immediately, Amina notices Aunty's hut is broken down with no modern technology in sight.

When entering the home, Amina notices her Aunty hidden beneath the blankets and is speaking with a raspy voice. As she approaches, she asks her Aunty questions, before realising this wasn't even her Aunt. As she approaches, the person unveils itself to reveal it is actually a creature rather than a person. Amina tries to pretend she sees nothing odd and begins looking for something to defend herself. The creature approaches and asks if Amina saw something scary. Then, it attacks. Just in time, Amina pulls out a Branch of Willow and stabs the creature, killing it.

After the creature finishes screaming and turning to ash, she hears a tapping. Approaching her Aunty's cast iron pot, it transforms into a cauldron and inside she finds her Aunty. Aunty then explains to her that she is a witch and that Amina may be one too, as she was able to see through the creature's disguise. Amina then becomes Aunty's apprentice and eventually becomes a well-respected witch. When Aunty dies, both Amina and her Aunty's Coven agree they should donate the cauldron to the Museum out of respect.

## The Stables

### Summary

As the Audio Tour Guide and the visitor approach The Stables, the Guide explains what The Stables are and what sort of exhibits go there. However, they are stobbed when the Guide notices a large amount of blood on the floor. It asks the visitor to go into The Stables to see what the state of it is. It tries to introduce them to a herd of monkeys who can mimic the appearance of those they can see, but their enclosure is empty and the door wide open. It then tries to introduce them to a Manticore, but its enclosure is empty with the door wide open. It tries to introduce them to a third exhibit, before addressing the fact that there seems to be a pattern with enclosures being empty with their doors wide open. A noise is heard from further inside The Stables and it suggests the visitor leaves.