Play@YSDC

Posted: **Sun Jun 16, 2019 11:38 pm**

Sunday, March 2nd, 1930 12.00noon.
South Central Station, Dewey Square, Boston, Mass.

It already felt like a long day by the time the four men reached South Central Station. They had arisen, packed, and met at the offices of E.E. Saltonstall promptly at 10.30am. Without ceremony, the contract drafted by William was inspected, signed, and an envelope handed over. Inside it was the original $200, plus another $75 for incidental expenses, with a notebook so such expenses could be recorded.

Half an hour later, they were back on the street again, and a cab was hailed to take them to the station. When they arrived, the midday train was already stood ready at the platform, smoke rising from the smokestack as the crew stoked the engine and prepared to leave. A porter took their cases from the cab and stacked them onto a trolley, before following the four men onto the platform.

First port of call was the guard’s van where their gun cases were handed over and locked away. The porter then showed them to their carriage - second class - and helped them stow their cases on the overhead luggage rack.

As the whistle sounded and the carriage shuffled on its buffers as the train edged forward, the train conductor checked their tickets and explained the arrangements for the buffet car.

The men were sat in a small, wooden backed cubicle that afforded them some privacy if they wished to talk.

Posted: **Mon Jun 17, 2019 1:24 am**

Posted: **Mon Jun 17, 2019 6:39 am**

Posted: **Fri Jun 21, 2019 2:38 pm**

"Where shall we start?" asks Howard.

Posted: **Sat Jun 22, 2019 4:39 am**

"Public records," says William. "We know the last name they're using, and we know they've opened a hotel somewhere in Louisiana sometime between the end of October and the end of February. There has to be a record of their purchase of the property and probably of them registering as a business."

Posted: **Sat Jun 22, 2019 5:48 am**

"But will the records office in Baton Rouge cover the whole state?" asks Howard. He has a thought.

"Maybe there's some kind of hotel licensing register."

Posted: **Sat Jun 22, 2019 9:05 am**

"Failing all else, we could just ask around the city." says Lawrence, "Though it's best we keep that as a last resort. We haven't got all of eternity to find James. Now that I think of it, if I recall correctly, you found a flyer for the new hotel over at Squatter's Lake. There might be some information on it, but I could just be wrong."

Posted: **Mon Jun 24, 2019 5:52 am**

Howard looks out of the window.

"It just had the name of the new place, Brown's. I think we can assume it's next to a lake somewhere, but to my knowledge, Louisiana isn't exactly short of lakes."

Posted: **Sat Jun 29, 2019 4:09 am**

"The way I see it, checking the records is the best plan we have at the moment. We're looking for a needle in a haystack, at best, and we'll need whatever effective plan we can think of." states Lawrence, "We'll also need a plan of what we'll do when we actually find the hotel, but I think we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

Posted: **Sat Jun 29, 2019 2:29 pm**

Howard shrugs his shoulders.

"Yeah, you're right. Let's just make sure we get paid" he says, without removing his gaze from the window.

OOC: Shall we move on to our destination?

Posted: **Sat Jun 29, 2019 3:51 pm**

"Baton Rouge is Louisiana's capital," says William, "so they should have records for the whole state."

Posted: **Sun Jun 30, 2019 4:11 am**

Posted: **Thu Jul 04, 2019 11:37 pm**

Wednesday March 5th, 1930 10.45am
Baton Rouge Train Station, 100 South River Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Three uneventful days have passed since the four men left Boston, punctuated only by the need to change trains and, for the last 12 hours at least, the lack of any real comfort.

Although early in the year, they noticed as they climbed from the train that Louisiana was considerably warmer than Boston and they are soon perspiring in their winter clothes. As they loosened ties and removed jackets, a porter helped them to retrieve their luggage and guided them to the front of the station, where he whistled up a cab to take them into town.

An old but clean automobile rolled to a stop in front of them, almost as soon as the porter’s whistle had died away. A young black man hopped out of the car and started bustling about, putting cases in the boot. “Ma name is Oscar,” he said by of introduction. “Where you gennelmen at? Have y’all got somewhere to stay?”

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2019 3:29 pm**

Howard is used to the dry desert heat of his native Arizona, not this humidity. He wipes his forehead with a handkerchief.

Regarding their would-be helper with some trepidation, he answers “I take it you have somewhere in mind, Mr. Oscar?”

Posted: **Fri Jul 05, 2019 4:13 pm**

Oscar laughed. “Ah’m sure you gennelmen would think that ah was failing in ma duties if ah didn’t!”

“Now, depending what you wants to do while you’re here, ah’ve got a whole range o’ places that might suit you. Ah can take you to some fine God-fearing, Christian-worshipping establishments with prayers said afore meals and bedtime, or ah can take you to some more ‘down to earth’ places, where everyone’s a bit more relaxed and friendly-like? ”

He finished putting their cases in the trunk and stood waiting for an answer.

Posted: **Sat Jul 06, 2019 3:47 pm**

"How much are you asking for your services, Mr. Oscar?" asks Howard.

Posted: **Sun Jul 07, 2019 8:09 am**

”Well, your cab fare is a city-mandated 30c per mile,” replied Oscar, ”But what you pays for accommodation is entirely up to you. Ah guess you ain’t looking for a flophouse and by the looks of you, you ain’t just here for an overnight stay. Ah knows of a boarding house run by a missus Sykes, she’s got rooms available and she don’t charge anymore than two dollars a night.”

“How does that suit you?”

Posted: **Sun Jul 07, 2019 3:19 pm**

"Sounds okay, I guess" Howard replies. "Would you be offering your services as a driver too?"

Posted: **Mon Jul 08, 2019 11:26 pm**

”How does five dollars per day, plus mileage, sound to you gennelmen?” said Oskar, after a moment’s thought. ”Ah can run you around just about anywheres you want to go for that.”

He looked at the four men. ”Do we have a deal?” he asked.

Posted: **Tue Jul 09, 2019 4:25 am**

"That does sound like a lot," says William, "but I think I can afford it, and your services are worth paying for."

Posted: **Tue Jul 09, 2019 7:39 am**

Oscar flashed a grin and bowed theatrically. ”If you gennelmen want to get on board, then we’ll be on our way.”

As the four men squeezed themselves into Oscar’s car as he made one last check that he’d picked up all their bags. That done, he climbed into the driver’s seat and set off towards town. The journey took around 20 minutes, which Oscar filled with chatter about Baton Rouge, his family and anything else that caught his attention.

Missus Sykes’ lodging house turned out to be a large Victorian-style house, sat on a corner plot. ”Missus Sykes and her husband inherited this from some dead relative. She runs this as a lodging house while her husband’s a travelling salesman, so you might not see him much,” said Oscar, conversationally.

Missus Sykes turned out to be a neatly dressed, dark haired woman in her early thirties, who quickly sorted out rooms - two shared - and with Oscar’s help, soon had luggage stored away. She raised an eyebrow at the gun cases, but said nothing other than to ask that the cases remain locked while in the house and kept out of sight in the wardrobes.

By the time they were done, it was approaching 1.00pm. Oscar leant on the boot of his car, smoking a cigarette, as they emerged again. ”Where to first, gennelmen?” he asked.

Posted: **Tue Jul 09, 2019 3:37 pm**

"The Town Hall?" enquires Howard. "We need to look up some public records."

Posted: **Wed Jul 10, 2019 1:46 am**

"Yes, please," says William. "We need to look up real estate transactions, business licensing, that sort of thing."

Posted: **Wed Jul 10, 2019 11:39 am**

”You want the Castle,” replied Oscar. Noticing the blank looks he got in return, he explained. ”That’s what the local folk calls the State House, on account of its appearance. Ah’ll show you - hop in...”

A short drive later, the car pulled up in front of an imposing, whitewashed building, set in extensive grounds. ”Ah understand that the builder wanted something a little diff’rent,” said Oscar wryly, as he got out the car and opened the doors for the others to get out.

Inside the building was bright, cool and quiet. Half a dozen desks were arrayed at the far end of the entrance lobby, but only one was occupied. As they approached, the occupant looked up. He was a middle-aged man, smartly dressed with his greying hair slicked back. He looked over his glasses, glanced at the clock, and said, ”Good morning, gentlemen. How may I be of assistance?”

Posted: **Wed Jul 10, 2019 3:50 pm**

"Hello Sir" says Howard amiably. "Can I ask, do hotels and guesthouses require registration with your office?"

Posted: **Wed Jul 10, 2019 5:03 pm**

”They do,” replied the clerk. ”What is the address of the establishment?”

Posted: **Wed Jul 10, 2019 9:04 pm**

"Unfortunately," Thomas begins, "we only know of this place by name. A "Brown's Hotel", and apparently it was only established quite recently. We were hoping that you might be able to help us find the address."

Posted: **Thu Jul 11, 2019 12:11 am**

”Brown’s Hotel, eh? Not an uncommon name...” said the clerk, who drummed his fingers on the desk as if in thought. ”Please take a seat and I’ll go see what I can find...”

Fifteen minutes later, he returned with three ribbon-tied files in his hand. ”I’ve got three establishments of that name,” he said. ”Feel free to use the reading desks over there to look at the files and return them to me when you’re done.”

Posted: **Thu Jul 11, 2019 3:34 am**

"Thank you," says William, taking a seat at a reading desk and looking through the files.

Posted: **Thu Jul 11, 2019 10:00 am**

Lawrence sat in a nearby desk, just pondering the situation. He would have never thought that he would be caught up in events like this, but here he is, in New Orleans, tracking down a hotel. "Say, William, can I read over one of those files? I imagine we'd get this done faster with more people on it, but then again, you're more qualified for this." said Lawrence.

Posted: **Fri Jul 12, 2019 2:56 am**

"Of course," says William, spreading out the files. "I'm glad to have the help."

Posted: **Fri Jul 12, 2019 11:40 am**

While the others are going through the documents, Thomas takes some time to look around the State House.

Posted: **Fri Jul 12, 2019 7:19 pm**

While Thomas admired the cool marble interior of the State House and portraits of long-dead civic worthies, Lawrence and William untied the bundles of conveyance documents.

With William’s practiced eye, they made quick work of it. Two of the bundles were for properties that had been purchased more than five years previously, but the date of conveyance in the third one was late November of the previous year, not much less than a month after the events at Squatter’s Lake.

The property was located in the far south of Louisiana, in Pointe-aux-Chênes. Tucked in the amongst the papers were details of the property, which described a Victorian-era guest house, in need of some renovation. It was noted that the property had its own land, outhouses and backed onto the bayous...

Posted: **Sat Jul 13, 2019 2:34 am**

"This must be the one," says William. "Let's get some floor plans of the place. I expect they'll have dug tunnels underneath it by now."

Posted: **Sat Jul 13, 2019 12:43 pm**

William searched through the thick file and tucked under a flap at the back were the floor plans.

Posted: **Sat Jul 13, 2019 5:37 pm**

Posted: **Sun Jul 14, 2019 12:02 am**

Posted: **Sun Jul 14, 2019 5:41 am**

Posted: **Sun Jul 14, 2019 8:57 am**

Posted: **Sun Jul 14, 2019 10:03 am**

"Looks like there's a cellar on the plans; I imagine that's where anything of much interest would be hidden away." Thomas says, having walked back over to the others.

Posted: **Sun Jul 14, 2019 3:45 pm**

"Let's take a look" says Howard. "We'd better get the guns" he whispers, taking a sidelong glance at the clerk.

Posted: **Sun Jul 14, 2019 11:50 pm**

There was no sign that the clerk had overheard their conversation.

Posted: **Mon Jul 15, 2019 3:31 am**

"Now that we've found it," says William, "should we notify the Louisiana State Police? These are wanted fugitives from Massachusetts, after all." He examines the photographs to see if the building matches the one in the flyer.

Posted: **Mon Jul 15, 2019 11:23 am**

The flyer was crumpled and mud-stained but the house behind the Brodie/Brown brothers looked very similar to the elevation drawings in the plans.

Posted: **Mon Jul 15, 2019 3:12 pm**

"It looks like a match" says Howard. He looks uncomfortable. "We could tell the police, but they don't know what they're dealing with, do they? And we can't tell them the truth."

Posted: **Tue Jul 16, 2019 3:46 am**

"I say we tell the police first, and take action as a last resort. Don't forget that they can't just barge in without evidence, so we'll need that as well. saidLawrence, his voice lowered so as not to catch the clerk's attention.

Posted: **Tue Jul 16, 2019 7:06 pm**

"Let's tell the police, and we should probably send a message back to Captain Keats as well, although I'm sure he won't be able to do much to help." Thomas says.

Posted: **Tue Jul 16, 2019 11:48 pm**

"Agreed," says William. "That's the best course of action. We'll have to be careful when we actually go there, as the culprits will recognize us from last year. If they spot us, they could disappear again."

Posted: **Wed Jul 17, 2019 7:24 am**

Posted: **Wed Jul 17, 2019 3:59 pm**

"We should confirm that they're actually there" whispers Howard. "If we get the police involved in a wild goose chase, they won't take us seriously again."

Posted: **Wed Jul 17, 2019 5:00 pm**

Rather than detract from what they were doing, the whispered conversation only seemed to attract the attention of the clerk.

”Is there something I can help you with, gentlemen?” he asked, as he looked in their direction.

Posted: **Wed Jul 17, 2019 11:53 pm**

"Yes, is there any way to make a copy of this document here?" asks William. "Or, failing that, may we photograph it?"

Posted: **Thu Jul 18, 2019 10:04 am**

The clerk left his desk and walked over to where the men were sat at the table. He looked at the plans, then picked up the property file and carefully turned the pages. After a moment, he said, ”The copyright has expired so that doesn’t present an issue in terms of copying the plans. We don’t have the facility the copy anything this size, as plans are drawn by hand. Depending upon the level of detail you require, a draftsman might reproduce those for you, but I would not like to speculate as to how much that might cost..”

“If you just want a copy for reference purposes, then you are welcome to take photographs. Alternatively, you are welcome to borrow a pencil and some paper, if you merely wish to make some sketches?”

Posted: **Thu Jul 18, 2019 1:01 pm**

"I can handle this" declares Howard, eager to show off his artistic talents. Despite being a more of a painter than a sketch artist, he attempts to copy the plans.

Posted: **Thu Jul 18, 2019 1:58 pm**

While the others watched on, with the borrowed paper and pencil Howard dashed off a copy of the floor plans of the house.

The clerk looked over his shoulder and nodded appreciatively. ”Very good, young sir. I doubt you could build a house from your drawing but it would certainly be a place to start.”

”Is there anything else I can help you with today?”

Posted: **Thu Jul 18, 2019 5:22 pm**

"I should think that is everything, thank you." Thomas says with a smile. "This will be quite helpful."

Posted: **Thu Jul 18, 2019 7:11 pm**

Posted: **Thu Jul 18, 2019 8:40 pm**

"Yes, thank you," says William, "you've been a great help. We found what we need."

Posted: **Thu Jul 18, 2019 9:26 pm**

Oscar was stood by the car, smoking a cigarette while he chatted up a young woman who was passing with a baby carriage. He flicked away the cigarette and straightened up as the four men approached.

He smiled at the girl as she moved away and said, ”Where to, gennelmen?,”

Posted: **Thu Jul 18, 2019 10:23 pm**

"Thank you, Oscar," says William. "We'd like to go to the Louisiana State Police headquarters, please."

Posted: **Thu Jul 18, 2019 11:27 pm**

Oscar raised a questioning eyebrow but said nothing as he opened the car doors to let the men in.

Ten minutes later they were turning onto South Foster Drive. Oscar pulled over to the kerb, stooped the engine and turned around in his seat to address them. ”If you don’t mind, ah’m going to park here,” he said. ”Some of those cops can get a might... over-enthusiastic... when they see a black man driving his own car. Ah’ll be waiting for you here when you’re done...”

The headquarters of the Louisiana State Police was a large red brick building, halfway down South Foster Drive. There was a steady stream of people going in and out the front door and the entrance hall was a hive of activity. Local and State Police came and went, with a couple of apprehendees taken down to cells as they waited to be seen.

Eventually, the Police sergeant at the main desk beckoned them forward. A stocky, well-set man who appeared to be approaching retirement age, he looked them up and down and said, “Out of towners, eh? I can tell by your clothes! What can I do for you, young sirs? Cabby driven off with your luggage? No clean sheets at your hotel?” He laughed at his own joke while he waited for a reply.

Posted: **Fri Jul 19, 2019 12:16 am**

"No, Sergeant, I'm afraid it's much more serious than that," says William Preston. "You're right that we are from out of town, though. My name is William Preston, and my friends and I are from Massachusetts. A few months back there were some serious crimes committed there, including kidnapping and murder. They were committed by a couple of men running a hotel at a place called Squatters' Lake. The Massachusetts State Police can confirm all the details. We've managed to track these fugitives down to Louisiana, more specifically to a hotel they've opened up called 'Brown's Hotel.' It's located in Pointe-aux-Chênes, far to the south. They're operating under the names of William and Robert Brown."

Posted: **Fri Jul 19, 2019 8:07 am**

The sergeant reached below the desk, pulled out a notepad and started taking notes. He recorded William’s name and that of the others, and jotted down the the names of William and Robert Brown/Brodie.

”Murder and kidnapping, you said?” as he wrote. ”And you look like private citizens to me. So what’s your involvement in this?

Posted: **Fri Jul 19, 2019 3:58 pm**

"They were involved in the kidnapping of a mutual friend of ours. His father tasked us to help locate him" replies Howard.

Posted: **Fri Jul 19, 2019 5:52 pm**

The sergeant nodded as he wrote. He asked for the name and a description of their kidnapped friend and ascertained that he was still missing. He took the name of Captain Keats at Arkham PD, and added that to his note. He passed it behind him to a passing patrolman with instructions to make some telephone calls.

”Thank you, gentlemen,” he said. ”We have the address of where you are staying so we will be in touch if we find anything.” He nodded and then looked past them to the next person in the queue.

Posted: **Fri Jul 19, 2019 9:14 pm**

"Thank you, sergeant," says William. "Be very careful, they're extremely dangerous, and they've already pulled up stakes once when they realized they were under suspicion. Is there anything else we can do to help? We'd recognize these men if we saw them again. Of course, they'd also recognize us."

Posted: **Fri Jul 19, 2019 10:20 pm**

The sergeant’s eyes flicked back to William. ”We’ll ask the local PD to run past and see who’s there. If there’s someone there and we need you to take a look then we’ll be in touch.” He looked back to next person in the queue, indicating that the conversation was over.

Posted: **Sat Jul 20, 2019 3:03 am**

"We're wasting our time here" Howard mutters in William's ear. "Let's drive down and visit the PD ourselves."

Posted: **Sat Jul 20, 2019 3:29 am**

William nods and prepares to leave.

Posted: **Sat Jul 20, 2019 12:36 pm**

Posted: **Sun Jul 21, 2019 7:41 am**

"Well, now that we've got this over with, what next?" said Lawrence, quizzically. He wasn't particularly confident in the state police, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to go speak with the local force.

Posted: **Sun Jul 21, 2019 10:23 pm**

”I’m not sure that he was entirely convinced. Well, perhaps we should call it a day, and we can head down to Pointe-aux-Chênes in the morning. I’d like to write this letter when we go back to the lodging house anyway.” Thomas says to the others.

Posted: **Sun Jul 21, 2019 10:40 pm**

Oscar had obviously been looking out for them as they emerged from the Police Station, as he was pulling up at the kerb not 30 seconds later. He studiously avoided the gaze of a loitering trooper as they climbed into the car, and was on his way as quick as they settled into their seats.

”Where to next, gennelmen?,” he asked. He smiled over his shoulder and followed up with, ”You do know that there's more to this town than State House and the State Police, don’t you? Too much work makes Jack a dull boy, ain’t that right?”

Posted: **Mon Jul 22, 2019 5:48 am**

"That sounds good to me, Oscar," says William. "Where would you recommend?"

Posted: **Mon Jul 22, 2019 7:38 am**

Oscar glanced at his watch. It was approaching 3pm. ”Well... ah reckon it’s a bit early to being looking for a juke joint,” he grinned. ”But Baton Rouge has some beautiful parks, if that’s your bag?”

”What are plans, gennelmen?,” he asked. ”You planning on staying around Baton Rouge for a few more days?”

Posted: **Mon Jul 22, 2019 3:55 pm**

"We plan to head to Pointe-aux-Chenes tomorrow morning" says Howard. "Can you take us there? Do you know anything about the place?"

Posted: **Mon Jul 22, 2019 10:51 pm**

”Pont-o-Chain?” said Oscar. ”Ah don’t think ah’ve ever heard of that. That down in Cajun country? It sounds French.”

He pulled the car over to the side of the road and took a travel atlas from the his seat pocket. He flipped back and forth, checking the index and comparing the map, until he found its location, down in the bayous. ”Ah ain’t never been down that way before but ah can drive you. Ah reckon that’s a hundred miles so you’re looking at four hours either way, allowing for a break. Are you thinking about going there and back in one day?”

Posted: **Mon Jul 22, 2019 11:44 pm**

Thomas suggests that "We could be there for a couple of days, depending on what we find while we're down there. We're looking for the people running a particular place.".

Posted: **Wed Jul 24, 2019 4:14 am**

"Say, Oscar, what other kinds of places can we find around here, aside from juke joints and parks and such?" inquired Lawrence, curious.

Posted: **Wed Jul 24, 2019 8:23 am**

”A couple of days? Ah need to think about where ah can stay. We’ll find a boarding house for you gennelmen but most houses ain’t open to the likes of me!” said Oscar, with a concerned look on his face.

He looked over to Lawrence. ”That depends on what sorts of places you wants to see. If you’re wanting to catch up with the news, the library will have had the afternoon editions by now, or you could go for a stroll down by the river and there’s Elk’s Theater on Third Street, but that don’t open until later tonight. There’s the Knights of Columbus Hall too, but ah don’t reckon we’d here having this conversation if that was your bag.”

Posted: **Thu Jul 25, 2019 4:58 am**

"I'd like to visit the library," says William. In addition to the newspapers, he'd like to do some background research into the place where they're going.

Posted: **Thu Jul 25, 2019 4:02 pm**

”"I'll join you" says Howard.

Posted: **Thu Jul 25, 2019 10:38 pm**

Wednesday March 5th, 1930 3.20pm
Hill Memorial Library, 95 Field House Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The Hill Memorial Library sat in the midst of the Louisiana State University, in a modern renaissance-style building with yellow-white stucco walls. Inside, everything was still new, with large windows to allow light into the room. Floor to ceiling bookcases contained the library’s collection.

The main reading room was busy, with smartly attired students - mostly male, but some female too - sat studying at the desks. The librarian at the front desk explained they were welcome to use the library, but not being members, they could not remove any of the reading materials. He pointed them in the direction of the newspaper archive and local history sections, he explained that they had about two hours until the library closed for the evening.

Posted: **Fri Jul 26, 2019 12:32 am**

Thomas isn't accustomed to spending much time in libraries, so decides to stick to the newspaper archive and look for any references to the hotel.

Posted: **Fri Jul 26, 2019 6:08 am**

William peruses the local history section, looking into the history of Pointe-aux-Chenes to see if there's anything there that could have drawn the fugitives they're chasing such as the lake, or if there have been any unusual happenings there.

Posted: **Fri Jul 26, 2019 6:55 am**

Lawrence joins Thomas in the newspaper archives, looking for anything on any recent disappearances.

Posted: **Fri Jul 26, 2019 3:58 pm**

Howard also searches newspaper archives for disappearances, especially in the vicinity of the parish where Point-aux-Chene is located.

Posted: **Sat Jul 27, 2019 8:03 am**

Two hours had passed and shadows were starting to fall across the Library before the four men met up again, gathered around one of the larger desks to share what they had found.

Thomas produced an advertorial from The Morning Advocate - Baton Rouge’s daily newspaper - for Brown’s Motel shows the picture of William and Robert, standing in front of a large Victorian house. The advertorial states that they will open for business in early March, and plan to offer fishing trips and tours of the Bayou. It didn’t tell them much more than they already knew from the flyer.

William had found some limited information about Pointe-Aux-Chenes in amongst a series of pamphlets about local towns.

Pointe-aux-Chenes is a Indian settlement in the Terrebonne Parish, first settled in the 1700s. It is home to approximately thirty families, primarily Houma and Chitimacha Indians but also Atakapas, Biloxi and Choctaw. The predominant languages are a mixture of Creole and French, although some English is also spoken.

Pointe-aux-Chenes got its name from the Acadians who named the area after the beautiful oak trees that were growing in the area when it was first settled. The villagers support themselves as farmers, fishermen and hunters, although farming is under threat because of encroachment of water into the area. Traditional hand-crafted items are available to purchase.

A large sugar plantation once occupied much of the area, but all that remains is the owner’s house, a Victorian dwelling in need of renovation. Lobbying for Federal support to build a levee to control the water has not been successful. The majority of dwellings in the village are built on stilts as protection against the tidal waters.

The villagers are predominantly Roman Catholic and the building of a church has recently commenced, although there is some evidence that traditional religious practices are also observed. The local Treateur is still consulted by villagers when they are ill, with the primary method of treatment being the laying on of hands, accompanied by prayer and healing herbs.

The mention of the Chitimacha Indians sent Howard back to searching through the back issues of the ‘Advocate. A short article about research into traditional Indian practices had caught his eye. He returned promptly and laid the newspaper on the desk and pointed out the article to the others, “... the Chitimacha revere snakes, worshipping the Father of Serpents, who will revenge himself upon anyone who harms any of his scaled brethren...”

Posted: **Sun Jul 28, 2019 7:17 am**

"Snakes," says William. "Maybe our quarry is taking up snake worship now. I don't like snakes much, but they're preferable to that thing in Squatters Lake. At least it doesn't look like they've killed anyone yet, but they're about to open for business."

Posted: **Sun Jul 28, 2019 7:32 am**

“Perhaps it isn’t really a snake, but the same as that thing back at Squatter’s Lake. They couldn’t have brought it with them, so they relocated where they could find another, maybe. But I would guess that they’re going to get up to exactly the same nonsense as they were before, so we’d better put them out of business before they get started.”

Howard has a steely glint in his eye.

Posted: **Mon Jul 29, 2019 11:32 am**

Agreed! Thomas says, looking towards Howard. "And the sooner we do something about them, the more likely we are to prevent anybody else from being taken by them."

Posted: **Mon Jul 29, 2019 11:49 pm**

The tinkling of a bell from the front desk indicated that the library would soon be closed. Students finished their studies and rose from their desks as library staff bustled around, quietly and efficiently, tidying up before they to would head home.

The four young men were among the last to leave and Oscar was waiting for them as they left. He drove them back to their lodging house and dropped them at the kerb. ”Ah’ll see you gennelmen in the morning, just after breakfast,” he said. He bid them a good evening, and drove off in the direction of downtown.

Posted: **Tue Jul 30, 2019 7:47 am**

Posted: **Tue Jul 30, 2019 7:09 pm**

Posted: **Wed Jul 31, 2019 1:06 am**

Posted: **Wed Jul 31, 2019 8:23 am**

Thursday March 6th, 1930 1.20pm
Pointes-aux-Chenes Road, Pointes-aux-Chenes, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana

It had been an early start, the four young men having barely finished breakfast before Oscar appeared at the door. Mrs Sykes would keep their rooms for them and they expected to be back in a couple of days, so they had packed light.

She had fussed around them like a mother hen, checking they had everything they needed before presenting them with a wicker picnic basket with sandwiches wrapped in parchment paper for their journey. As William and Howard stood in the morning sunshine, it felt almost like a Tom Sawyer moment, as if they were on a voyage of exploration. At least it did until Thomas and Lawrence emerged from the boarding house carrying the gun cases. As they packed them in the trunk, a sober realisation of what they were about to do dispelled any good feeling they had.

The drive south was steady, although the temperature and humidity rose steadily the further they went. Jackets and collars were soon discarded, with the breeze through the windows doing little to disperse the heat. Oscar kept his on though, explaining the police were less likely to stop them that way.

After three hours, they passed through Terrebonne, the last town before Pointes-aux-Chenes. It wasn’t much more than a Main Street with a town hall, police station and a handful of stores. People had turned to look as those drove through, as if strangers were a rarity in the town. More blacks and creoles were on the streets and more entrenched views were obvious too, with ‘Whites Only’ signs visible on park benches and public facilities as they moved slowly through the town.

Beyond Terrebonne, the vista changed as solid land gave way to the bayou that led all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico. Tall cypress trees, their roots below water towered alongside the road. Spanish moss draped from their branches gave an eerie feeling of partially-clad beings, lined up and waiting for the order to march.

Not far out of town, the road surface changed from bitumen to gravel and the crunching noise from the tyres put paid to any attempts at conversation. They passed a couple of men driving a cart north towards Terrebonne, but other than the farm and fishing signs pointing off the road down dark tracks, there was no other signs of humanity.

Ten more minutes had gone by before they saw the freshly painted sign by the side of the road. Oscar let the car come to a halt by the “Brown’s motel” sign, which pointed down a sun-dappled path, flanked by the ubiquitous cypress trees. The tall house they recognised from the plans sat bathed in sunlight at the end.

Oscar turned off the engine, and the croaking sound of frogs and buzzing of insects filled the air. “Is that it?” asked Oscar, as he looked down the path. “Is that the place you’re looking for?”

Posted: **Wed Jul 31, 2019 3:50 pm**

When he sees the sign Howard gives an involuntary start. It seems so brazen, somehow, just displayed for all to see.

Clearing his throat, he says “Could you fellows step out for a moment? We need to discuss something.”

Posted: **Wed Jul 31, 2019 11:25 pm**

Thomas steps out of the car, keeping his gaze fixed on the house. "Well, we seem to have found the place. What are we going to do? Obviously, we probably shouldn't just go up to the front."

He takes another long look at the house, waiting to see if anybody is coming or going.

Posted: **Thu Aug 01, 2019 3:54 am**

William also gets out of the car. "We'll want to talk to the locals about the place," he says. "They may have seen things."

Posted: **Thu Aug 01, 2019 4:25 am**

"Good thinking, William. We'll need all the information we can get for this." said Lawrence, after exiting the car. On the outside, he was calm and composed, but he had a feeling of dread for what was going to happen most likely later today.

Posted: **Thu Aug 01, 2019 8:12 am**

Posted: **Fri Aug 02, 2019 2:10 pm**

"Well, we could take a look around here, see if we can find anybody who will answer our questions." Thomas adds.

Posted: **Fri Aug 02, 2019 3:52 pm**

“Look” says Howard. “Why don’t we just level with Oscar. Tell him why we’re here, but leave out the monster part for now. Ask him just to drive to the house and confirm if those two old bastards are there, and get the hell back. If we show our faces around town, people will remember us.”

Posted: **Sat Aug 03, 2019 3:31 am**

"Yes, I think you're right," says William.

Posted: **Sat Aug 03, 2019 7:30 am**

Oscar had stepped out of the car for a cigarette. He heard his name mentioned by Howard and glanced across the roof of his car with a quizzical look on his face.

Posted: **Mon Aug 05, 2019 2:26 pm**

"Hey Oscar, come over here, we need you to do something for us."" Thomas pauses for a second before continuing.

"The real reason that we're here is that we're looking for a couple of guys, and we think that they run that hotel over there. Trouble is, they'd recognise us and we want to have an advantage over them. Do you think you could head over to the hotel and see if they're around? They're both older gentlemen, and one's in a wheelchair. Once you find them you can come straight back to us."

Posted: **Mon Aug 05, 2019 3:37 pm**

Oscar pinched out his cigarette and strolled around the car. He opened the trunk and fished out a fuel can and a chauffeur’s cap.

He set the cap on his head and said, ”Ah’ll tell them my master’s running out of gas. They’re more likely to help if it’s a white guy in distress.” Laughing to himself, he tipped his cap to his passengers and then walked smartly down the track towards the house.

As they watched from behind the trees, Oscar strode up to the front door and knocked briskly. A minute or so passed without answer so he knocked again. As he waited, Oscar craned his neck left and right, as if trying to see if there was any movement inside. They were too far away to tell whether or not he had heard anything but he suddenly turned to the left and started to walk around towards the back of the house. He disappeared from viewing, swinging his gas can as he went.

The four men waited. A minute passed, then two. It was starting to look as if Oscar wasn’t coming back...

Posted: **Tue Aug 06, 2019 3:13 am**

"We'd better go see what's keeping him," says William. "Let's approach carefully, in case they're back there, so they don't see us."

Posted: **Tue Aug 06, 2019 4:07 pm**

"It's only been a couple of minutes" says Howard urgently. "Give him more time. Let's get the guns ready though."

Posted: **Wed Aug 07, 2019 4:50 am**

"I would have to agree with Howard. Let's give him a few more minutes. In the meantime, we ready the guns." said Lawrence.

Posted: **Wed Aug 07, 2019 5:06 am**

"All right," says William, helping to get the guns ready.

Posted: **Wed Aug 07, 2019 10:34 am**

Thomas gives his gun a quick check over, before saying to the others "Let's give him five minutes, and then we'll go help him.".

Posted: **Wed Aug 07, 2019 8:19 pm**

Five minutes had passed and nothing stirred in the direction of the house. With some reluctance, the four men set off down the path, between the cypress trees and the water that lapped gently at the edges. The croaking of the frogs almost drowned out the sound of their feet on the gravel path. Almost, but not quite.

It was a short walk of no more than a couple of hundred yards before the path opened out to a wider area in front of the house, presumably parking for any poor unfortunates who made the mistake of planning to stay there. The house looked freshly painted and there was a wooden bench bathed in sunshine on the veranda. From closer up, they could see that the windows were all shuttered on the inside.

The frogs continued to croak, but from the house there was nothing but silence.

Posted: **Thu Aug 08, 2019 1:13 am**

"How are we gonna get in? I assume there's a back door, somewhere." inquired Lawrence, in a whisper. He had readied his gun like the others.

Posted: **Thu Aug 08, 2019 1:17 am**

"Remember Squatter's Lake?" says Howard. "They did whatever they did to their victims in a shack. I'm going to look for any outbuildings."

He sets off, weapon ready.

Posted: **Thu Aug 08, 2019 3:24 am**

William follows him, shotgun in his hands and pistol on his belt. "It's less likely they've dug secret tunnels too, not here in the bayou," he says. "They'd get flooded. Let's see if there are any footprints around." He takes a good look.

Posted: **Thu Aug 08, 2019 9:48 am**

The four men turned to the left and followed the route taken by Oscar. The water was less than a dozen yards away from the house at any one point. A low chainlink fence stretched across the grass and into the water, which suggested that the water was encroaching on the plot upon which the house stood. Normally, no-one would think of buying such a plot, but they all knew what ties the brothers had to the water.

Like the front of the house, the windows were shuttered from the cellar to the roof. They carefully rounded the back of the house and found a low brick wall to their immediate right with steps leading down. Oscar’s gas can was at the foot of the wall. Its owner was lying face-down at the bottom of a short flight of stone steps, with blood glinting in his curly black hair... ...

Posted: **Fri Aug 09, 2019 12:27 am**

Lawrence looks the scene over in utter silence.

Posted: **Fri Aug 09, 2019 1:32 am**

Howard is overcome with anger.

"Those bastards" he hisses. "I'm going to kill them."

Posted: **Fri Aug 09, 2019 3:03 am**

Posted: **Fri Aug 09, 2019 11:10 am**

For information, this is the view over the bayou to the rear of the property.

Posted: **Fri Aug 09, 2019 11:44 am**

Thomas quickly moves down the steps and over to Oscar, checking his injuries and for any signs of life.

Posted: **Fri Aug 09, 2019 12:34 pm**

Oscar was out cold. Thomas surmised that it was a blow to the back of his head that had done the damage. It had bled heavily, as scalp wounds often would, but the blood was now starting to congeal. Thomas had seen similar injuries before when patrolling the streets of Arkham and he didn’t think that there would be any lasting damage. Oscar would have a sore head and some bruising but probably nothing more. Probably.

As Thomas turned to look back to report on Oscar’s condition, he noticed that the door at the bottom of the stairs had been tampered with. It looked as if it had been forced open but someone had tried to disguise the damaged woodwork, so that a casual observer would think the door was still secure.

Posted: **Sat Aug 10, 2019 3:45 am**

Lawrence heads down the stairs, as Thomas did.

"You think I should take him back to the car?" he said in a whisper, gesturing towards Oscar.

Posted: **Sat Aug 10, 2019 3:51 am**

"Maybe we should try to revive him" says Howard. "He might be able to tell us what happened".

Posted: **Sat Aug 10, 2019 4:19 am**

William kneels beside Oscar and tries to bring him around.

Posted: **Sat Aug 10, 2019 1:12 pm**

”It looks like the door here has been forced open!” Thomas says to the others, before taking a look inside.

Posted: **Sat Aug 10, 2019 1:26 pm**

Oscar’s eyes flickered open and he stared at William uncomprehendingly. He looked around at the others and raised his hand to the back of his head. He winced as he touched the area where he had been hit and looked at the blood on his fingers with bewilderment.

”What happened?” he asked. ”Did ah fall and bang ma head?”

Behind where Oscar lay, Thomas had pushed open the door. Beyond was a cellar under the house. It was difficult to see how far it went as it was dark, and the space looked to be at least partially partitioned off.

Posted: **Sat Aug 10, 2019 3:10 pm**

"Did you see anyone, Oscar?" asks Howard urgently. "Why did you come back here?"

Posted: **Sat Aug 10, 2019 5:12 pm**

"I don't know what happened, Oscar," says William. "When you didn't come back after a while, we came looking for you and found you here. I was hoping you could tell us what happened."

Posted: **Sat Aug 10, 2019 5:51 pm**

Oscar tried to sit up but the colour drained from his face almost immediately and he was forced to lie back again. ”Ah heard a noise back here, so’s ah came to take a look,” he said. ”The door was open so ah came down the steps... and the next thing ah know, ah’m talking to you... ...”

He touched the back of his head again, carefully examining the bump that was growing there. ”Ah guess someone hit me on the head but ah didn’t see nobody.”

Posted: **Sun Aug 11, 2019 1:04 am**

"Whoever did it must have come up behind you," says William. "He probably didn't want you looking inside."

Posted: **Sun Aug 11, 2019 11:10 pm**

"Maybe it's time for us to go in" says Howard, gripping his shotgun.

Posted: **Sun Aug 11, 2019 11:17 pm**

”You’re not leaving me here, are you?” said Oscar, fearfully. “What if whoever hit me comes back?!”

Posted: **Sun Aug 11, 2019 11:21 pm**

"You'd better go back to the car and wait for us there. If we're not back in..." Howard checks his watch... "thirty minutes, go to get help. Do you have a watch?"

Posted: **Mon Aug 12, 2019 8:24 am**

Unsteady on his feet, Oscar had to be helped back to his car. He insisted that Howard fetched the tyre iron from the trunk and checked that all the doors were locked.

As Howard turned to head back to the house, Oscar knocked on the window to draw his attention. ”Ah remembered something,” he said. “There was two boats - skiffs - round the back of the house when ah got there. They ain’t there no more. Could be that’s who hit me.”

Posted: **Mon Aug 12, 2019 10:16 am**

Howard nods and quickly returns to the house. He relays Oscar's information to the others.

"We'd better not waste any more time."

Posted: **Mon Aug 12, 2019 11:52 am**

"If they've gone onto the water, perhaps they're trying to repeat what happened at Squatter's Lake. Are there any any more boats around?" Thomas asks, looking around.

Posted: **Mon Aug 12, 2019 12:52 pm**

Posted: **Mon Aug 12, 2019 3:24 pm**

"Well of course they're trying to repeat it" says Howard. "That's why we're not at Coney Island right now. Look, if they're out in the swamps they could be anywhere. Me, I'm searching this house. I want to know that those evil old bastards have actually been here."

Posted: **Mon Aug 12, 2019 10:22 pm**

OOC: spot hidden 26%,[dice]0[/dice]

"I say we comb through this house first. Like Howard here said: if they're out in the swamps, they could be anywhere. Our old friends could spring an ambush on us in the bayou." suggests Lawrence, cradling his rifle, his voice still somewhat lowered.

Posted: **Tue Aug 13, 2019 2:20 am**

William peers out into the distance and is just able to see something.

Posted: **Tue Aug 13, 2019 8:02 am**

William peered out into the swamp. He thought he saw movement low among the cypress trees but he couldn’t be sure.

As he turned away, he glanced down. In the mud at the edge of the water were signs that two boats had been beached. He couldn’t be sure but it looked from the footprints like a scuffle may have taken place and body dragged in the direction of the boats.

Posted: **Wed Aug 14, 2019 12:47 am**

"Okay then, let's check the house first, but let's be careful." Thomas says, his rifle at the ready. "There might be more of those things from last time."

Posted: **Wed Aug 14, 2019 2:08 am**

"Wait, I see something!" says William, pointing out the boats and describing what he sees. "They've got someone, and if we don't hurry that someone will be dead."

Posted: **Wed Aug 14, 2019 2:28 am**

"What!" says Howard, alarmed. "Let's get down there!"

Posted: **Wed Aug 14, 2019 7:55 am**

Posted: **Thu Aug 15, 2019 3:38 am**

"We can't exactly swim out there," says William, "and I don't see any other boats. Maybe we can rent one?"

Posted: **Thu Aug 15, 2019 3:52 am**

"From where?" says Howard, frustrated. "Why don't you go down there and see if you can see which way they might have headed. I'm going inside now!"

He enters the house.

Posted: **Thu Aug 15, 2019 4:15 am**

"From the locals, maybe," says William. He heads down to the water and tries to get a closer look.

Posted: **Thu Aug 15, 2019 11:52 am**

"I'm coming with you, Howard!" Thomas says as he follows him inside.

Posted: **Thu Aug 15, 2019 5:09 pm**

William stepped down carefully to the water’s edge and studied the area opposite the house carefully. It was peaceful until there was a sudden flurry of movement as two herons took flight, startled by an alligator nearby. As he looked across the water, Wiiliam became aware of ripples on the surface as the ancient reptiles leisurely swam in search of food. It seemed there were more prosaic dangers here, in addition to anything the Browns were mixed up in.

Behind him, Howard and Thomas carefully walked down the steps into the basement. At the bottom of the steps, a square room opened up before them. To their left a grill at ceiling level let in some faint light from outside. Ahead were two doors. The nearest one to the right, they guessed, would lead to stairs to the upper floors. The second was further back, in the middle of the wall, next to an empty fire place.

Posted: **Fri Aug 16, 2019 3:34 am**

Lawrence followed his compatriots into the basement, rifle at the ready.

Posted: **Fri Aug 16, 2019 4:01 am**

Having seen everything he can, William returns to the house and also ventures into the basement, wondering how they keep it from getting flooded.

Posted: **Fri Aug 16, 2019 7:33 am**

"Let's check that second door" says Howard, indicating the furthest one.

Posted: **Fri Aug 16, 2019 6:41 pm**

William looked around the dark walls of the cellar. It appeared that they had been painted in some kind of bitumen compound to try to keep the water at bay.

Howard moved across the rough floor in the direction of the door. He reached out and carefully opened the door. In the light from the torches carried by his comrades, a large room was illuminated beyond. Against the back wall, there was a familiar looking white sheet hanging from the ceiling and some large wooden crates supported by trestles... ...

Posted: **Sat Aug 17, 2019 3:05 am**

William grips his shotgun and remains silent, not wanting to alert anyone who may be down here.

Posted: **Sat Aug 17, 2019 3:56 am**

Gripping his shotgun, Howard moves carefully forward to take a peek at what's behind the sheet...

Posted: **Sun Aug 18, 2019 9:56 pm**

Thomas decides to keeps an eye on the door they had just come through whilst the others are investigating the sheet.

Posted: **Sun Aug 18, 2019 10:17 pm**

Posted: **Sun Aug 18, 2019 11:59 pm**

Lawrence heads into the other room where Howard is, shining his torch on the sheet.

Posted: **Mon Aug 19, 2019 2:28 am**

Posted: **Mon Aug 19, 2019 9:13 pm**

"Well? What's behind the sheet?" Thomas shouts to the others.

Posted: **Mon Aug 19, 2019 9:37 pm**

Howard carefully peered behind the curtain, where he saw a familiar-looking table. Leather straps hung down from the corners, with fresh bloodstains indicating that it had been used recently. The glass jars that had contained viscous green liquid and the strange spines previously seen at Squatter’s Lake had been smashed, and glass, spines and the green liquid adorned the floor near the table.

There was a sudden creak. It wasn’t clear if it came from the wooden crates lined up against the back wall or from somewhere else in the house...

Posted: **Tue Aug 20, 2019 1:16 am**

Howard draws the curtain back carefully so that the others can see the scene, suppressing a shudder when he sees the spines.

Hearing the creak, he says “We’d better check these crates before we do anything else”.

Posted: **Tue Aug 20, 2019 3:56 am**

"Keep the noise down," whispers William. "We don't want anyone to hear us." He trains his shotgun on the crates.

Posted: **Tue Aug 20, 2019 4:43 am**

With a deep breath, Howard leans his shotgun against a crate as he attempts to open it.

Posted: **Tue Aug 20, 2019 7:18 am**

The wooden lid wasn’t fastened down and moved easily. Howard noted with a sickening feeling in his stomach that there were blood splatters on the rough wooden interior.

The lids on the other three crates moved just as easily and were also empty. Wherever the creaking noise had come from, it wasn’t from the crates.

Posted: **Tue Aug 20, 2019 8:50 am**

"We'd better check upstairs" Howard tells the others, quietly relieved.

Posted: **Tue Aug 20, 2019 2:35 pm**

"Come on then, let's hurry and find out what's going on." Thomas leaves the room and walks over to the other door.

Posted: **Tue Aug 20, 2019 3:11 pm**

Thomas opened door and shone his flashlight up the stairs. They were of rough, wooden construction - very much for the servants of the house, not visitors - although years of use had rubbed away at any rough edges. In the middle of the tread was a trail of blood, still fresh and not congealed, that suggested something may have been dragged down the stairs.

The door at the top of the stair stood ajar. From above came another creak.

Posted: **Tue Aug 20, 2019 3:22 pm**

Howard, eager for revenge, pushes past Thomas and slowly up the stairs. Shotgun ready, he pushes the door open as quietly as possible.

Posted: **Tue Aug 20, 2019 6:41 pm**

The door at the top of the stairs swung open into a kitchen. The windows were shuttered but a few cracks of light pierced the interior, lighting dust motes as the hung in the air.

The kitchen was spartan. To the left along the wall was another door, then the back door. Straight ahead was a shuttered window above a Belfast sink. To the right, there was an opening to another darkened room, in which the outline of a dining table could be seen.

Posted: **Tue Aug 20, 2019 11:27 pm**

Thomas follows Howard up the stairs. After looking around, he taps him on the shoulder, and points to the darkened room. "Let's check over here, Howard." he says in a low voice.

Posted: **Wed Aug 21, 2019 1:26 am**

Howard nods and leads the way into the room.

Posted: **Wed Aug 21, 2019 2:03 am**

William follows as well. "Keep in mind there may be innocent people staying here," he whispers.

Posted: **Wed Aug 21, 2019 7:26 am**

The dining room, like the kitchen, was shuttered and dark. Two dining chairs lay on the floor as if pushed roughly out of the way by people in a hurry. Other than that, the room stood as if ready for a meal.

Opposite the way they came in, there was an opening into another dark room to the left and what looked to be on opening to a hallway on the right.

Posted: **Thu Aug 22, 2019 2:20 am**

Lawrence had trailed just behind the others, acting as a rearguard in the case of an ambush.
"Someone's been here recently. Whether it's a guest or not is beyond me, but somebody has been here. Looks like they left in a rush, too.", he muttered, shining his torch on the table.

Posted: **Thu Aug 22, 2019 3:01 am**

"They must have heard us," whispers William. "We have to figure out which way they went and find them before they warn someone." He takes a good look around.

Posted: **Thu Aug 22, 2019 1:54 pm**

"I'll check the other room." Thomas whispers as he starts to walk slowly.

Posted: **Thu Aug 22, 2019 11:55 pm**

William saw more bloodstains in the light of the torches held by Thomas and Lawrence. It looked as if the stains originated in the hallway and lead in the direction of the cellar door by which they had made their entrance.

Lawrence played the beam of his flashlight across the table. There were five place settings, set as if for breakfast. While he did that, Thomas moved through the arch into the room at the front of the house. Again, the windows were shuttered, but this time less well than the back of the house, so the two couches could be seen more clearly. It seemed as if someone had searched the room, as books lay scattered upon the floor by the bookcase, and someone had taken a blade to the cushions of the couches.

Posted: **Fri Aug 23, 2019 1:53 am**

“They must have overpowered whoever was here, and dragged them out to the boat” says Howard, as he surveys the scene. “We’d better check the rest of the house, just in case.”

Posted: **Fri Aug 23, 2019 3:14 am**

William nods. "Whoever tossed this place didn't belong here," he whispers, "or they'd have known where to find whatever they were looking for. It must have been other burglars like ourselves, and they fled fearing the owners had returned. It would help if we could find out who they are. They could make useful allies."

Posted: **Sat Aug 24, 2019 11:33 pm**

Posted: **Sun Aug 25, 2019 12:05 am**

Posted: **Sun Aug 25, 2019 4:38 am**

Posted: **Sun Aug 25, 2019 11:04 am**

Posted: **Mon Aug 26, 2019 11:59 pm**

William moved across the darkened room and peered through the gaps in the shutters. The view was restricted but there was no obvious signs of anyone moving around outside.

From the limited light from the front door, stairs to the upper floors could be seen in the hallway.

Posted: **Tue Aug 27, 2019 2:25 am**

"I'm going upstairs" says Howard.

Posted: **Tue Aug 27, 2019 3:36 am**

"I'll come with you," says William, following him.

Posted: **Tue Aug 27, 2019 7:30 am**

Opposite the front door, the stairs lead upwards and back into the house. As Howard lead the way up the stairs, the beams from the flashlights carried by Lawrence and Thomas cast looming shadows ahead of them.

The stairs turned right at the top, opening into a landing that stretched away to the left and the right. Opposite the stairs, a door stood ajar. From beyond, an irregular thumping noise could be heard...

Posted: **Tue Aug 27, 2019 3:44 pm**

Howard nods his head towards the source of the noise, and leads the way to it.

Posted: **Tue Aug 27, 2019 7:17 pm**

Thomas follows Howard towards the door, clutching his gun tightly.

Posted: **Tue Aug 27, 2019 7:55 pm**

As the two men approached to door, there was a noticeable coppery smell in the air..

Posted: **Wed Aug 28, 2019 12:48 am**

Lawrence quietly steps behind the pair, rifle raised towards the door, with the flashlight angled away from it. After all, you don't want to alert whoever's in there.

Posted: **Wed Aug 28, 2019 2:18 am**

Steadying himself, Howard pushes the door open.

Posted: **Wed Aug 28, 2019 3:42 am**

William covers them with his shotgun. "Blood," he whispers on noticing the smell.

Posted: **Wed Aug 28, 2019 11:09 am**

Blood was an understatement.

The door swung open to reveal the naked body of a man, spreadeagled on the floor with his feet towards them. Where his genitals had been was just a mass of mangled flesh, and his blood had run out onto the floorboards in a wide, expanding pool.

There was more blood on his chest and it appeared that his throat had been cut. Holding him to the floor were four of the metallic spines, nailed through the fleshy parts of his calves and forearms. Despite the massive damage sustained by his body, some life force clung on as his left leg twitched, as if he were trying to lift it clear of the gore-slicked spine but without success.

The opening door completed its arc and thumped softly against the wall. The man’s bald, blood-splattered head jerked up and they stared into the furious gaze of Robert Brophy!

Posted: **Wed Aug 28, 2019 3:06 pm**

The situation in the room is far worse than what Howard was expecting. He recoils and then empties the content of his stomach on the floor. His knees are shaking and he cannot bear to turn his head to look at the grisly sight again.

Posted: **Thu Aug 29, 2019 12:03 am**

The sight of a corpse, even one as grisly as this, wasn’t about to slow Thomas down. He raises his shotgun towards Robert and places his finger on the trigger. ”Stay still, you bastard!” he shouts, whilst watching him for any sign of him trying something.

Play@YSDC

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Re: Ch.8 Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down

Re: Ch.8 Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down

Re: Ch.8 Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down

Re: Ch.8 Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down

Re: Ch.8 Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down

Re: Ch.8 Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down

Re: Ch.8 Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down

Re: Ch.8 Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down

Re: Ch.8 Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down

Re: Ch.8 Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down

Re: Ch.8 Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down