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Post by Marco on Aug 22, 2005 10:10:47 GMT -6
It keeps silent. Suddenly Marco sees a black shadow vanishing in the tunnel.
"Did you see that?"
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Post by Erik de Maricourt on Aug 22, 2005 21:43:32 GMT -6
"Freeze!" Erik bellows, charging after the shadow, assault rifle leveled.
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Post by Marco on Aug 23, 2005 3:09:51 GMT -6
But as Erik shouts the shadow has already gone.
" Dammit. Come on, we gotta follow him. Should we take Smiths things with us?"
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Post by Marco on Aug 24, 2005 7:36:21 GMT -6
"What's the matter, guys. Come on"
Marco is the first who begins walking towards the tunnel
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Post by Tweek on Aug 24, 2005 10:26:34 GMT -6
Johnston stuffs the wallet inside his vest. Then, on a whim, reaches his hand into the mound of dirt at his feet. The soft earth parts to reveal a small brown leather pouch tied with black string, just below the surface. He fumbles with the little bag, then gets it to open. A metal object falls out.
A rusty skeleton key caked with dried blood.
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Post by Marco on Aug 24, 2005 15:25:26 GMT -6
Marco turns as he feels that nobody is following him
"Hey guys. What's the matter? Oh holy sh*t. What's that blood covered thing, Johnston? Is it....Is it a key? What is this key for? And why was it in the pouch, why was it even burried?"
After a while of silence Marco begins to speak again
" Ok. I think this key is useless now. Maybe it was used in the past, when the house still existed. Or maybe here is another house out in the woods. But this key can't have been lying here since the house was burnt. Because, as you remember, the house, or what is left of it, was complitely serached in 1994 and in 1995. And I don't think they didn't see the key. No, that is impossible."
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Post by Erik de Maricourt on Aug 24, 2005 16:31:55 GMT -6
Erik looks down at the key.
"Why do I have the sick feeling that someone wanted us to find that?"
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Post by Tweek on Aug 24, 2005 16:48:31 GMT -6
"Yes. We were meant to find this. One of Patterson's sick games..." Johnston hears a sound from the tunnel and spins around with his weapon, dropping the key onto the dirt floor. The sound is faint as a whisper, but all three men hear it clearly. Two words. "Help Me..."
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Post by Marco on Aug 24, 2005 17:16:49 GMT -6
Marco goes two steps, his weapon drawn, but then stops and turns.
" Do you think it's a trick? What if Patterson is just waiting for us to come?"
the voice: " help me..."
"there it is again...but it doesn't sound like Patterson...."
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Post by Tweek on Aug 24, 2005 17:39:53 GMT -6
BANG! BANG! BANG! Johnston fires three rounds into the darkened tunnel, then lowers his gun and looks over at his team. He has a look of frustrated panic in his eyes, but his gun hand does not waiver. He looks dangerous. "Had just about enough of this haunted house bulls**t..." he growls. "Let's get this guy and get the hell outta this creepy-ass dungeon. We can take this maniac back dead or alive. I vote for dead..."
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Post by Marco on Aug 24, 2005 17:44:22 GMT -6
Marco feels that the whle mission is beginning to collapse. Now he isn't the one who is scared now there are two who are scared and panic.
"Johnston. Calm down. You've gone through more scarier things than this here. Just calm down. I think we should quickly go through this tunnel. I think I know where it ends..."
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Post by Marco on Aug 24, 2005 18:53:54 GMT -6
Marco goes straight to the tunnel and disappears in the near darkness. All of a sudden a yell and a shot can be heard...
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Post by Erik de Maricourt on Aug 24, 2005 19:18:38 GMT -6
"MARCO!!"
Erik takes off into a full sprint, darting into the tunnel his assault rifle raised high.
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Post by Marco on Aug 25, 2005 3:51:20 GMT -6
As Erik appears on Marco's side, he sees Marco lying with his stomache-side on the floor...
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Post by Tweek on Aug 25, 2005 7:10:31 GMT -6
Johnston nearly trips over Marco as he rushes into the tunnel, weapon at the ready. He steps around the fallen agent and continues down the passage. After moving ten paces ahead he slowly steps backwards to where Marco has fallen. His eyes and his pistol never leave the black tunnel ahead of them.
"What happened? We heard a shot. Have you been hit?"
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Post by Marco on Aug 25, 2005 7:13:52 GMT -6
Marco does not response. One of the agents touches Marco's neck and breathes in, his fears dissappeared.
"He's still alive"
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Post by Tweek on Aug 26, 2005 12:26:35 GMT -6
Marco does not appear to be physically injured. A spent bullet casing lies on the ground next to the agent; his weapon is still in his hand. It seems Marco missed whatever he was shooting at. Johnston turns him over onto his back and tries to get a response.
"Hey man. You still with us? Can you hear me...?"
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Post by Marco on Aug 26, 2005 12:50:41 GMT -6
Marco opens his eyes and everthing what Marco sees appears to be blurred.
"Ahh. Something hit my head. I think I'll get a big fat bump."
Marco, still dazed, gets up.
" Did you see who hit my head?" I don't excpect you to, even I didn't see him. I just ran into the tunnel and the next thing I know is you"...
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Post by Tweek on Aug 26, 2005 13:56:32 GMT -6
"Nobody got past us. What were you shooting at? Did you get a look at him?"
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Post by Marco on Aug 26, 2005 14:06:35 GMT -6
" Sorry buddy. I gotta tell you that I have no memorie except that I was running into the tunnel. There's nothing left."
Marco again begins to think, trying to remember what has just happened 5 min. ago.
"Ok. There really is nothing left. I think we should continue the search"
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Post by Tweek on Aug 27, 2005 8:11:15 GMT -6
The tunnel continues on for another 100 yards. The team is well away from the house ruins now. Their progress is halted by a huge metal reinforced wooden door. This barrier fills the entire height and width of the passage. There is no knob, only a small keyhole. This door cannot be forced open or broken down. There are markings on the door in what looks like red paint. Odd symbols and runes.
"I dropped the key back in the basement. I'll have to go back and get it. Wait here..."
Johnston holsters his pistol and half-runs back the way they just came. The sound of his footsteps fades away in the distance.
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Post by Erik de Maricourt on Aug 27, 2005 22:16:53 GMT -6
Erik watches Johnston fade into the darkness, then turns his attention to the door. His eyes scan the runes. They remind him of symbols he had seen in some of the occult-related criminology summer courses he had taken at Miskatonic University.
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Post by Marco on Aug 28, 2005 5:27:33 GMT -6
Are you able to read this stuff?
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Post by Tweek on Aug 28, 2005 9:13:31 GMT -6
Johnston reaches the entrance room. He shines his flashlight on the hole they entered through and notes that it is now dark outside. There is a strong draft in the basement, a moaning breeze that is quite unsettling.
He moves the light beam to the floor and scans for the key. As he reaches down to retrieve it, the agent is struck from behind by something heavy. He tumbles to the dirt floor, his flashlight bouncing away to the far corner of the room. In a second his sidearm is drawn. With no light now, he can't see where his attacker is, but he'll hear him as soon as he moves.
"Come on, Patterson" he thinks. "Take a step or say something. And I'll empty this clip into your face..."
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Post by Marco on Aug 28, 2005 14:33:51 GMT -6
Marco thinks he has heard something in the far distance.
"Did you hear that?"
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