Part Twenty Seven

*A second chance, a dark descent, a poor decision...*

### Content Warnings

Falling, religious trauma, body horror (skin like melted wax, unnatural smiles), threats of knife violence, mind control, self-mutilation, claustrophobia, monster attack, bleeding out, noises of gore and violence

## Summary

Back in the mines, Arthur and John encounter one of Larson's victims. Though they can't talk, they are able to explain the origins of the invisible creature, and the fact that obsidian can be used to sever the connection between the creature and its victims - the people sitting around the fire in the mines. Arthur and John follow them to the creature's lair, where it guards the mine's obsidian. The creature kills Larson's victim, and seriously injures Arthur before Arthur is able to drive it away with Larson's flute. Arthur loses enough blood to lose consciousness.

## Synopsis

Arthur and John re-enter the mines; Arthur recalls the echoes they previously heard. He suggests someone is trying to communicate to them: someone other than the cult around the campfire. At John's curiosity about Arthur's distaste for cults, Arthur references the group in the hotel and how disheartening it was to imagine other people controlling his life. When family members told him "God had a plan" after Faroe's death, he found the sentiment empty. Arthur further clarifies that his family isn't waiting for him after death, despite John hoping otherwise.

John points out that while blood has been spilled by and for the cult, many things have. Arthur applies this logic to himself; despite John's protests, Arthur seems to relax his anger. He refers to John as his eyes and his conscience, to John's dismay.

Arthur and John discuss the best way to find the person moving in the mines. Arthur puts the black slicker on. John suggests using the flute to test its effects, but Arthur doesn’t want to draw the creature to them. They light the lantern they left by the cave wall, and move deeper into the mines.

John asks what their plan is to defeat the creature. Arthur says their priority is getting the cultists free, which may or may not include killing the creature. John describes the mines as oppressively dark, with the lantern giving the impression of starlight off the walls. He thinks it's gotten colder, though Arthur suggests that might be from the lantern. John relates to that concept, and explains how it felt to be in the Dark World – a flame of understanding surrounded by emptiness.

At a fork, they move left. Arthur asks what made John think of the Dark World after so long. Uncertain, John says he doesn’t know. Arthur asks how John could remember what the Dark World was when they first met, and John reminds him that he came from the Dark World, not the Dreamlands. Arthur says that John won’t be returning to the Dark World. John disagrees.

They come across a building built into the mine wall. It’s a small office with a writing desk, a chair, some storage crates, and a mirror on the desk. John notes a warm pile of fabric in the corner, indicating something is living here. They turn to leave, and the mirror shows the reflection of something in the rafters above them: a creature holding a piece of broken glass and smiling. They run. After a few moments, Arthur realizes it isn’t following them. Slowly, they move back to the office.

The creature is still in the rafters, crouched, with a gaunt face and sickly gray skin. Arthur talks to them, explaining that he doesn’t mean to hurt them. He explains where he came from and why he ended up in Larson’s mines. Arthur asks them if Addison is their home, and they move down from the rafters. They try to speak, but it seems painful. Arthur offers paper on the desk and a pencil for the creature to write. They write a response confirming that Addison is their home, and that Larson threw them all down here alive.

The creature from the rafters ("Rafters") refers to the monster in the mines as Larson’s child. Rafters was attached to the creature via tendrils, like the people around the campfire, but was able to cut themselves free. It came from Larson’s desire for power, made from many failed attempts. It uses its tendrils to control its victims, who have shared senses with each other while connected. Rafters used a sharp piece of obsidian to cut itself free – the "shard of glass" they held – but explains that Larson’s creature guards the obsidian.

Arthur and John realize Larson’s creature is intelligent. Rafters offers to lead them to the creature’s lair, or to distract the creature while Arthur and John go alone. Arthur refuses to let them sacrifice themselves. John tries to convince him otherwise, but Arthur doesn’t want to risk them being hurt. John thinks that one potential sacrifice is worth it if they can help save everyone in the mines. Rafters leads them through a thin tunnel, and then down into a small hole. Arthur takes off his shirt and shoes to fit.

They enter its lair. Rafters motions for them to be quiet. Arthur tries to follow, but it’s too dark for John to see. John tells Arthur to use the lighter. He does, and they see Rafters standing in front of them, and hear something moving through the air. The creature rips Rafter’s head off.

Panicked, Arthur runs, and John tells him to grab the obsidian dagger. The creature roars around them, but John can’t see it. It stabs Arthur through the stomach from behind. While bleeding, Arthur grabs the flute from their bag. John urges him to use it, but Arthur is incapacitated by the creature’s tendril. His senses are muted, with interspersed whispers urging him to “kill it.” John cuts the tendril free from the back of Arthur’s head, which allows him to play the flute. The creature retreats. Arthur is bleeding profusely, and he realizes he’s bleeding out. John, horrified, urges them to try to stop the bleeding, but Arthur quickly loses consciousness.

## Votes

* Chapter 131: Test the Flute [51] / **Search for the Person [75]**
* Chapter 132: Pull Out the Dagger [31] / **Run [87]**
* Chapter 133: Ask about the Person [30] / **Ask about the Creature [81]**
* Chapter 134: Let Them Distract the Creature [25] / **Let Them Guide You to the Lair [86]**
* Chapter 135: No vote.