Part Seven

*A thick fog, a forgotten island, an unseen evil...*

### Content Warnings

Graveyards, suicide, corpses, widowhood, cliff-falling, chase sequences, body horror (skin flaying, melting skin), unreality, mind control.

## Summary

After stealing the boat from Harper’s Hill, Arthur and John make it to the mysterious island marked on Amanda’s map. The island is surrounded by an eerie fog, with only a lighthouse to keep it at bay. The lighthouse keeper reveals that Amanda had come to the island and visited an old house across from the graveyard. Exploring the old house leads them to a strange note from Amanda, addressed to someone named ‘A’, that contains a coded message with more directions for them to follow.

## Synopsis

The sun sets as Arthur is rowing across Lake Crawford; John notices a light striking through the fog. Arthur realizes it's a lighthouse. They discover a small island and head towards the lighthouse to see if anyone is there. As they walk, a strange skittering noise is repeatedly heard and the rocks feel warm to the touch.

John is startled by a large, ancient looking graveyard in the center of the island. It looks abandoned for centuries, but he spots another building beyond a copse of trees. They head to the lighthouse and notice that the strange fog that surrounded them on the lake doesn’t seem to touch the island.

They find a sign on the lighthouse door that reads “Ring not, lest ye wake the dead”. Arthur knocks. A man yanks the door open and shouts at them in French. Apologizing, the man invites them inside and both says he thought they were someone else and hasn’t had visitors in a long time. When Arthur questions this, the strange lighthouse keeper claims that sometimes at night he thinks the dead knock at his door.

The graveyard is called the Devil’s Graveyard, a place to bury unwanted dead like murderers, killers, or monsters. The lighthouse keeper explains that the dead are buried on an island so they cannot leave - and that they were not necessarily dead when they were buried.

Arthur reveals the truth of why they're here: Amanda’s death and the strange things he has seen, though he doesn't mention John. The lighthouse keeper admits to having seen Amanda, but never spoke to her. He tells Arthur a story of a young widow who, many years ago, came to the island following the death of her husband. After he was buried here, the widow refused to leave. She carried black lake stones and built herself a home. It took her many years, but she was not alone. The lighthouse keeper firmly emphasizes she had her husband.

After the story, he tells Arthur that the widow's home is where Amanda used to go, and asks Arthur for a favor: for Arthur to watch the lighthouse, as he has to do something. He tells Arthur that the wick cannot falter and that, should it go out, Arthur must quickly light it again.

The lighthouse keeper leaves. Arthur and John take the time to explore the living quarters. John expresses concern that the lighthouse keeper may take their boat and leave the island, but Arthur dismisses it. They hear the strange skittering noise from beneath the floorboards. Underneath, they find a small cavern and pile of human bones. John tells Arthur they need to leave immediately: the bones were too fresh to have come from the graveyard.

Arthur is unable to make a decision as to whether they should leave or wait for the lighthouse keeper. As he and John argue, the light in the lighthouse goes out and John hears something inhuman moving around outside. They quickly lock the door. Arthur decides to go relight the wick. John is opposed to this, wanting to leave.

Arthur tries to light it. John notices that the fog is beginning to creep onto the island. The windows shatter and the wind prevents Arthur from lighting the wick. They hear someone banging on the door, but the knocking stops before they reach it. John finally convinces Arthur to leave. As they open the door, the lighthouse keeper’s body falls into the doorway. Large chunks of flesh have been removed from the bone.

Arthur touches the corpse. John’s vision shows the lighthouse keeper coming back up to the house carrying a lantern. He sees the light go out and begins running. Something emerges from the fog, reaching for the lighthouse keeper.

Arthur lets go quickly, hoping that breaking the connection early will prevent another creature from travelling through. They grab the lighthouse keeper’s lamp and run for the boat, but after a chase, Arthur falls off a cliff and into the lake below. He recovers and John directs him to the boathouse. They discover that their boat is missing.

John calms Arthur down and convinces him to relax. Arthur expresses his distress over their situation. John apologizes to him, expressing sympathy and apologizes for taking his eyes. They decide to head to the widow’s house. The fog still proves to be an obstacle, but John reveals that, in his vision, the lighthouse keeper only began to panic when his own lantern went out. They manage to light it, and John notices it has a faint green glow.

They emerge from the boathouse, and the fog shrinks back from the circle of light. Arthur begins walking, commenting that he's unable to feel his foot. John realizes he can feel it and control it. Arthur begins panicking again over the loss of control, but John reminds him that he was unable to assume any control during Arthur’s coma. They speculate that there must be a catalyst.

They approach the widow's house. John notices the ground moves lightly, but cannot be sure. Something in the fog moves and growls, scaring John. He tells Arthur to run, and the creature gives chase. They make it into the widow’s house, locking the door behind them.

The widow's house is old, but someone has been there fairly recently, presumably Amanda. They explore the house and find a note from Amanda in the kitchen to someone named ‘A’. The note reveals the creature released in the basement of the abandoned house seeks to drive the world mad, and that it can control people through the madness it causes. Amanda explains that the creature has found her and warns A to stay hidden. It also contains a code that leads Arthur to a hidden hatch in the floor.

The note is signed ‘Sarah’, and has a symbol drawn at the bottom of the page. This symbol is different from John's book. When John looks at it, he grows distant and distracted, forgetting the name he gave himself before Arthur snaps him out of it.

Arthur finds the hatch covered by a dresser beneath the back of the stairs. They open the hatch to reveal a ladder leading down into a dark cave and decide to head down to investigate.

## Sarah's Note

To whom it may concern, My name is Amanda Cummings. However, since I was young, I’ve always gone by my middle name: Sarah. If you are reading this, I desperately hope that this is who I expect it to be, my old friend, A. If not, then I pray that you are a friend, or at the very least, a soul who aims to stand against the evil that leaks into our world. If not, please, I beg you, put this letter down and leave.

A, we were wrong about what this is, what exited that gateway all those years ago. I dare not share the name here, but I know this: it is madness he seeks. He intends to drive the world mad, but what is more, it is through this madness in which he controls people.

From what I have read, he strains one's sanity, making them question their reality, questioning those around them until their minds are ready to break. Then, in this state, he can influence you through whispers and tales. What is more, I have seen it now. I leave this letter for you, and the location hidden because I have seen his eyes in the head of others. While in town, a man approached me smiling, saying my name, calling me ‘Amanda’ for some reason. It felt foreign on his tongue, as if he said it for the first time. I don’t know how he’s found me, but nowhere is safe. Find a safe CORNER. Keep your head DOWN.

He can already easily grasp the minds of those that are weak, but once he finds me, he will weaken the entire town and turn them upon me. His influence is great, and – A, I don’t know if you’re the one reading this but if you are, stay safe, stay out of sight, and stay away from people. Watch for his sign.

Sarah

[drawn symbol]

## Votes

* Chapter 31: Lie or at least obfuscate the truth [3] / **Be honest [8]**
* Chapter 32: **Wait for Him To Return [4] / Leave [4]**
* Chapter 33: **Widow's House [9]** / Lighthouse [4]
* Chapter 34: Second Floor First [3] / **Main Floor First [10]**
* Chapter 35: **Shut the hatch behind you [10]** / Leave it open [3]

## Additional Notes

* The lighthouse keeper refuses to reveal his name, saying he’s “sure he’s forgotten by now” when Arthur asks.

* After John apologizes for taking Arthur’s eyesight, Arthur states that perhaps their time in the hospital has injected some humanity into John, but John suggests that perhaps some has returned to him.

* Amanda reveals in her note that she goes by her middle name: Sarah. She also reveals that she knows the name of the creature but that she ‘dares not share it here’.

* After reading the note, Arthur and John realize that the people they have encountered so far- Kellin, the woman in the woods, and the woman in Amanda’s apartment building- have all been off in a way that suggests they were influenced by this creature, leading Arthur and John to speculate that they’re being hunted.