Chapter 25: But We'll Never Be Rid Of Each Other

Image Description: An eye, shrouded in darkness, gazes wildly through a hole in a wall. The caption reads, ’“Serendipity. A favourable tide.” - Faulkner.’

## Credits

### Featured Voices

* Daphne Nitsuga as Mercer
* JV Hampton Van-Sant as Gage
* Méabh de Brún as Carpenter
* B. Narr as Faulkner
* Cait Gallagher as Thurrocks
* Harlan Guthrie as Reverend Toes

## Meta Data

### Content Warnings

It contains scenes featuring loud gunshots and other loud noises, moderate violence, and offscreen torture (heavily implied and referenced).

## Episode Guide

As Mercer and Gage hunt down fresh quarry, Carpenter finds herself in a tight spot.

## Description

### Gage's Doubts

Gage plays their flute. Flowing water. Mercer calls for them and walks onto the dock. Gage left for a moment alone. Mercer sits beside them, and talks about a dream she had of the birth of The Beast That Stalks In The Long Grass. Mercer thinks this hunt is the one that will bring them to life. She wants to find the ringleaders of the Parish Of Tide And Flesh. She plans to offer Adjudicator Shrue to their god next. Gage doesn’t want to talk about the Beast, and asks if she remembers what they used to do in the foundling centre. They had a talent they were praised for, but can’t remember it. They want to have something they can do with their life if the Beast doesn’t come. Mercer says they’ll keep hunting if it doesn't come. She’s found new quarry for them. Gage initially objects, Shrue told them to be inoffensive, and Mercer states this is inoffensive. Gage continues to play their flute.

### The Carving Chapter

Acoustic guitar, cheers, applause and laughter. Reverend Toes welcomes the guests, the Carving Chapter. He seems warm and friendly. They are at Leaning Larch Holiday Village, Reverend Toes tells everyone to be respectful of the risk the owners take accommodating them. Reverend Toes asks for the first looking glass to be brought into the room. He gives some words to the children, telling them that tonight matters. He says their relationship to suffering is the most meaningful lesson they can learn. He tells them to look at the shadows, at the corners of the room, anywhere with uncertainty. Some of the Five-In-Snuff are named: the Filthy Child That Cries, The Bold Adventurer, The Sobbing Sister. The doors burst open behind him and Brother Tapper is led into the room. He’s pleading. Reverend Toes says this is a practice run, with three more sacrifices to follow. The Reverend Toes begins the ritual. He picks up a pair of shears.

### Carpenter And Faulkner Reunite

A guard patrols outside the Leaning Larch Holiday Village. Carpenter hammers on the door and cries for help. She reads a pamphlet on the Holiday Village. The Homesick Corpse begs her to take him home. Carpenter screams at it, it seems she’s projecting. Silence and then, a steady tapping. Carpenter taps back. We hear Faulkner’s voice say ‘Marco’. Carpenter, astonished, replies ‘Polo’. Carpenter moves into the bathroom and can hear Faulkner more clearly. She tells him to grab the shower head, it’s a stud wall. They break through the wall. They both thought the other was dead. Faulkner tells her that he was on a mission, with a clutch before ending up here. He also reveals to Carpenter that they are the Carving Chapter, worshippers of the Snuff Gods. They’re in trouble, there seems to be no way out. Faulkner proposes they continue chipping away at the wall. Faulkner reveals he has Tapper and Thurrocks with him. He wants to make sure they return unharmed. Carpenter agrees. They suppose the Chapter will only unlock the door when they come to drag them away. She makes a tentative plan to overpower them when they come to take one of them away.

### Outside Of The Leaning Larch Holiday Village

Mercer and Gage watch the village from the trees. Mercer dislikes the Carving Chapter. She plans to push them towards the Roiling Rapids Water Parks. Mercer says even Shrue wouldn’t mind them getting rid of this place. At Mercer’s direction, Gage plays their pipes.

### The Ritual Is Disrupted

Inside, the ritual has ended. The gurney, and what remains of Tapper, is wheeled away. Reverend Toes announces a short break while they bring in the second sacrifice. As he speaks, there is a gunshot. The Reverend Toes announces that the lawful authorities must be outside, and directs them to get the children and elderly out of the Holiday Village. He directs the others to help him bar the doors.

### Carpenter, Faulkner and Thurrock's Escape

Carpenter and Faulkner can hear the gunfire. They are heading towards Carpenter, who instructs Faulkner to stay quiet. She walks back out into the hotel room, we can hear the guard groaning outside. Mercer tries the door, retrieves the keys, and tries again. The door slams open and Carpenter yells that she’s a hostage. Mercer recognises her from somewhere, from the pictures of the ring-leaders of the Trawler-man’s faith, but doesn’t realise it yet. Mercer stares at her, telling her to wait until they’re gone before they leave. They close the door again, but it's no longer locked. Carpenter waits a moment before returning to the bathroom to speak to Faulkner. They need to leave quickly.

Carpenter leaves the room and walks towards Faulkner’s. She picks up the keys as she passes. The Longfingered Larch continues its automated announcements. Carpenter unlocks Faulkner’s door, and is dragged into an embrace by him. She is surprised but touched. They check the other rooms for Tapper and Thurrocks. Thurrocks responds, and they run into her room. She’s injured. Carpenter and Faulkner help Thurrocks, who exclaims Carpenter’s presence to be a miracle. Thurrocks reveals that Tapper was taken two hours ago. A silence, Faulkner still wants to try and save him. Carpenter tells him there’s nothing to save. Then Carpenter asks why she called Faulkner a Katabasian.

### The End of The Carving Chapter

The Carving Chapter is losing the battle. Mercer feels no pleasure in dealing with these gods. They come across Reverend Toes, who tells them he’s unarmed. He tries to negotiate, but Mercer shoots him. Gage tells him he deserves to die like this, but they don’t sound convinced. As he dies, Reverend Toes utters one final prayer. He dies. Gage, exhausted, admits that he doesn’t know how to tell his sister something. Mercer runs back; she’s realised that the woman in the locked room was one of the Trawler-man’s people in Shrue’s dossiers. Gage murmurs that she’s going to have to be sure.

### Mercer and Gage Find The Homesick Corpse

Carpenter, Faulkner and Thurrocks stumble towards the coach, which Carpenter marvels at. The tires of the coach have been slashed. Mercer shoots at and mocks them. Carpenter and Faulkner get Thurrocks inside, and she yells to him to drive. The coach plays music from the radio and stalls. Then the coach pulls out and drives away. Mercer is elated. She notices Gage is missing. Mercer tells Gage that they escaped, and confronts them. Gage has found the Homesick Corpse. Mercer tells them to get away from it. Gage asks where the Homesick Corpse’s home is.

## Trivia

* When asked by Carpenter if he's been sent any miracles by the Trawler-man lately, Faulkner replies that he hadn't until Carpenter showed up.
* Mercer refers to Shrue as "this spineless shit".

## References

1. ↑ Episode Release Announcement on Tumblr
2. ↑ Official episode synopsis at https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/5fec690f8211cf453a1b89e2
3. ↑ Chapter 1: Let Me Speak First Of Revelations