The Darkness Pt. 3
[Part 2 can be found here https://caseycrook92.medium.com/the-darkness-pt-2-9b6d62485380
At the end of Part 2, Carl finally submitted to the darkness. He lost all of his memories and started back fresh, except quite a bit changed around him.]
(photo credit Bryony Richards https://matadornetwork.com/trips/393977/)
⚫️ 🌌
I hear the crackling and sizzling of my fire as I make sure it is properly doused.
The night surrounds me. I feel a chill.
I look to the stars above me and think of my mission.
I secure my pack and move on.
:compass: I know the way. I can do this.
👀 It wouldn’t hurt to look around, would it?
Or react with any other emoji.
The most reacted emoji determines my fate.
😭 🎒
I bring my finger to my face. It’s wet.
“What- Why am I…?” I’m crying. What’s going on?
I sniff and set down my pack.
“Maybe I have some tissues in here.”
In my pack, I have a canteen with a little bit of water 🍼, a little bit of food 🍃, my climbing gear :knot:, a very cute .gif of a cat playing a sparkle emoji like it was bongos 😺, a flashlight 🔦, this weird orb 🔮, and a really cool knife with the trans flag on it 🔪.
And at the bottom of the pack, I have some spare change :coin: and a strange golden…. mango-looking fruit :mango:. It kind of glows.
Hmm. No tissues. I give myself a moment.
[I am Filled with Purpose, A Little Sore, A Little Munchy, and A Little Sad.]
[I am also Feeling Lucky. Sometimes, I will avoid bad consequences.]
I repack my things and prepare to head out on my journey.
:compass: I know the way!
👀 Maybe I can look around a little more?
⚫️ Submit to the darkness.
Or something else.
:compass:
I know the way! No time to waste! I set off to explore the caverns of Yellowstone!
I head towards and nearby cavern. I pull out my flashlight to check my path, careful to conserve battery, since I’m not sure when next I’ll see starlight.
I continue until I see the ledge into the darkness.
I pull out some rope and secure myself so I can ensure a safe landing.
:rock: I land among the stalactites.
⚫️ I land nowhere.
Or something else.
📺 :knot:
I drift into the black of the cavern, uncertain of my destination. I hold tight to my rope, ready to catch myself.
I float a while in silence and darkness.
And then, all at once, a colossal screen comes to life. The audio-visual hum of static fills my senses as I grip my rope to try and slow my decent into it.
But it’s too close for me to change course and I fall through the screen.
I land on turf grass and my gear clatters around me.
I try to rub out some soreness as I survey the scene.
A Sun starts over the horizon. In its center, a laughing baby laughs down at me.
A small horde of fluffy colorful creatures run over a hill towards a cartoonish house.
I have to get out of here. There’s nothing of value for me here.
:control_knobs: Change the channel. [The second most reacted emoji will determine the channel.]
⚫️ Turn off the TV and submit to the darkness.
Or something else.
:control_knobs: 🌲
The world shifts suddenly.
It’s night, but there’s not a star in the sky.
I appear to be on sort of a plateau. There is a winding path down into a wide river valley.
Near me sits a small mountain with several geothermal formations. A stream runs up the other side of the mountain.
I see a collection of trees. A bear scratches their back against a tree.
Okay, this is definitely more workable. But… where do I need to go? I know that I need to explore the darkness. But how? Where can I go to help me?
:park: Head down to the valley.
🌄 Head up the GTF side of the mountain.
💧 Follow the stream up the mountain.
🌲 Head to the forest. [Bears are dangerous.]
⚫️ Submit to the darkness.
Or something else.
🌲
Through the forest, then! Obviously the best decision for my health! No reason why I wouldn’t go the way that has the bear, of course.
Okay. I take a deep breath.
Brown color, hunch in shoulder, small round ears, large size. We’ve got a grizzly, it looks like. And it’s spotted me.
Not great news.
I keep an eye on them, but avoid eye contact, and I keep myself small.
I creep towards the woods, careful to keep a good distance from the bear.
They stop scratching and take a few steps towards me.
I stop moving. What now?
:speaking_jead: Get big; make some noise. I can scare them off.
🙇 Get smaller; lay down and let them pass.
◀️ No, this is a terrible idea. I can just go somewhere else.
⚫️ Submit to the darkness.
Or something else.
🙇
If it’s brown, lie down.
I make myself small on the ground and wait.
I hear the bear getting closer. I feel their breath on my neck, and I try not to move.
They poke me with their snout, and sniff me some more. They grunt and then turn and I hear them walk away.
I wait on the ground for several minutes to make sure they’ve moved along, and then I glance around to make sure the coast is clear.
I stand back up and head into the forest.
I wander through the trees for a bit. I hear birds and small animals. I see plants.
It’s beautiful, but it’s just…. the woods. There’s no magic here except, of course, the magical beauty of our National Parks Service.
This isn’t my mission.
Wait, what is my mission?!
:brain: Take a moment in nature. Think it through. Center yourself.
👀 No, I just am not seeing it. I can find something of value here.
:control_knobs: Change the channel.
⚫️ Oh, I remember now! I’m definitely here to submit to the darkness.
Or something else.
:brain:
I take a moment in nature. I close my eyes and listen to the leaves and animals.
Why am I here? What brought me to the cave?
I feel the weight of my pack. It’s not just for me.
There’s something important in the pack. The fruit?
No… The fruit feels important. Weighty, but I also feel… I need to bring someone something.
I feel the warmth of sunlight, but I open my eyes and see darkness.
I’m not where I need to be. I’m not in the caves.
This is a false darkness.
I have to get out of here.
👀 Look for a crack in the facade. Find a way out.
:control_knobs: Change the channel.
⚫️ I feel a connection to the real darkness. It can guide me back.
Or something else.
👀
Maybe I can find a crack in the facade, a way out.
I wander around, looking closely at several trees and rocks. I bend down to examine the grass. They all seem real.
I pause and think again.
And then the bird song stutters.
Animals move in reverse. Leaves shudder unnaturally, and then everything pauses.
And it moves forward again.
It’s a recording! A snapshot of a location.
I just need to move beyond the bounds of its existence and I should be able to break free.
I orient myself and start through the forest. I travel for some time and then I crest a small hill and before me, I see only darkness.
I reach my hand out. It’s a sheer drop, just like before.
I secure myself again and head once more into the darkness.
Maybe this time it’ll lead me where I need to go.
:rock: Deep in a cave, and headed deeper. Why does it feel like I’m climbing?
🌋 In a hotbed of geothermal activity. What is that building?
🏠 A ruined swamp. What happened here?
⚫️ Nowhere.
Or something else.
:rock: and 🏠 tied. :knot: was also used.
[The following posts were posted in pairs.]
A)
I land deep in a cave. I slow my descent as I see the rock getting closer.
I gather my gear and look back. The cave is sealed behind me. There is only down.
As I head down the tunnel, I feel the air shifting. My legs feel like I’m climbing a mountain.
I push down and feel a force against me.
I hear my stomach rumble, so I pause on a rock for a second to grab my pack.
I pull out my canteen and take a small drink, even though I want more, because I don’t want to finish off my water just yet.
I reach into my pack and look for the food 🍃, but…
“Wait, where-” I sift through my things.
I have my canteen with a tiny bit of water 🍼, my climbing gear :knot:, my flashlight 🔦, and my really cool knife with the trans flag on it 🔪.
And at the bottom of the pack, I have some spare change :coin: and the mystery fruit :mango:. Hmm, I hope it doesn’t come to me having to eat that fruit. It seems important…
[I am Filled with Purpose, A Little Sore, Discombobulated, Hungry, A Little Thirsty, and A Little Sad.]
[I am also Feeling Lucky. Sometimes, I will avoid bad consequences.]
I sigh and repack my things. Time to push on.
Ahead of me is a large opening in the cave.
There’s a narrow swinging bridge across a canyon that leads to another cave, and there’s a winding path that leads down into the canyon.
Wind whistles through the canyon in even beats.
Where to next?
▶️ Across the chasm, I suppose.
:person_climbing: Might be better to head down.
⚫️ Submit to the darkness.
Or something else.
▶️
1)
I land hard into soft, wet earth. Where did my gear go? It was just…
I look around me. Uprooted trees, burned trees. Large slashes in the earth. Craters.
It looks like this swamp became a war zone.
I start walking around to survey the landscape and my stomach rumbles. I reach for my canteen… and it’s gone?
I take stock of my pack: I have a tiny bit of food 🍃, a very cute .gif of a cat playing a sparkle emoji like it was bongos 😺 and this weird orb 🔮.
And at the bottom of the pack, I have the weird fruit :mango:.
[I am Filled with Purpose, A Little Sore, Thirsty, Discombobulated, A Little Munchy, and A Little Sad.]
I sigh and repack my things. Time to push on.
In the distance, I see a cliff face and a waterfall. It’ll be tough to go up there without my gear. In the opposite direction, I see another ridge, covered in sharp edges and craggy surfaces.
At the center of the swamp lies a massive dead tree, recently felled, and still a little smoldering with unnatural fire.
💧 Head to the waterfall.
:rock: Head to the rocky ridge.
🌲 Investigate the tree.
⚫️ Submit to the darkness.
Or something else.
🌲
2)
I move to investigate the tree.
It looks like it was struck by lightning several times and lost its structure. Its roots were deep, impossibly deep, so it must have been extremely old- or at least, if it wasn’t, it must have had a hell of a gardener taking care of it. Probably some magic, too.
Along with a lot of the other trees, it looks like it was destroyed in a storm that blew through here recently.
Also, there are no signs of life, animal or otherwise. At least… underneath the tree appears to be the remains of a cabin.
I sift through for valuables and find some fish 🐟 and a teapot :teapot:. I go ahead and take a few bites and load what I can carry into my pack. I figure I can boil some water for safe consumption.
[I am now Well Fed.]
I continue up the tree and see a squashed patch of rotting fruit. Hmm, it looks familiar. I get a closer look.
Oh, this is the same fruit that I have in my pack! Interesting. I might have the last one left in existence. I’d better be careful with it…
I stand up and look around. I think I’ve gotten everything I can out of this swamp.
Where to?
💧 Head to the waterfall.
:rock: Head to the rocky ridge.
⚫️ Submit to the darkness.
Or something else.
💧
B)
Across the chasm, I suppose.
I walk carefully across the narrow strip of land. I feel air rush past me from above (or below?) in a steady rhythm like wing beats.
I look around but see only darkness. The immensity of it all threatens to seep in, but I continue on.
The path leads up, but forks.
In one direction, I see a soft light flickering around a corner, like a fire.
In the other, I hear a soft humming and the scraping of tools.
🔥 Go towards the fire.
🎵 Follow the noises.
◀️ Head back down the chasm.
⚫️ T pose in place indefinitely.
Or something else.
🎵
C)
[CW body horror; specifically, many limbs and unusual body parts]
I move closer to the noises. The tunnel brings me up (down?) to a massive chamber.
I see hundreds of plants arranged in rows like rows in a library. On the opposite side of the chamber, I see a small wooden door. A steady rhythm of air blows in through a missing wall that leaves the entire area exposed to the chasm.
I hear old scissors snip. A serene voice floats through the caverns, like a hand through a flower patch.
“We don’t know when the work is done,
We don’t know the words to this song,
But I’ll see you in the morning.
Hmm hm hmm hu-huh hu-hmhm
Da da da Dada da hu-hm.”
I catch a glimpse of her from around a column of dangling vines. Her massive form gives way to many, multi-jointed arms with long, spindly fingers. She holds onto the side of the cave with several of her arms.
On her back, two massive, bat-like wings beat wind through the caverns. Bright orange and patterned, like moth wings to resemble bark or eyes.
She continues humming for a bit as she delicately snips various plants. As she reaches my row, I try to hide from notice, but she calls out.
“Oh! Little adventurer! I did not see you there. Come here, before me. You have nothing to fear.”
🙇 I go before her and show reverence. She clearly seems powerful, so I wouldn’t want to cross her.
❓ Wait. Why do I know her gender? Call out, “Sure, but uh, do I know you from somewhere?”
🏃 Run to the door.
◀️ Run back down(?) to the other path.
⚫️ Later, nerd.
Or something else.
❓
3)
I walk off towards the waterfall.
I don’t know if the water is safe to drink, so even though I’m thirsty, I decide to wait until I camp so I can boil the water just in case.
All the wood down here is too limber and wet to make a good fire. It’ll be best to set up once I’m up on the ridge.
I move a little bit away from the waterfall so I can avoid the slippery, mossy cliff rocks and I ascend.
It’s hard work, especially since I have to move so much more carefully without my gear.
It’s hard, but I make it to the top. I lay a moment a catch my breath.
[I am Tired and Thirsty.]
I see a valley with a narrow stream and several small creatures.
I see a lake with crashing waves, like something is thrashing underneath.
I see plains, a thriving ecosystem: Several grazers moving as a herd. Small creatures being chased to hiding spots. But, hmm. I look around.
I can’t see birds anywhere.
Further down, I see the river feeds into a waterfall. Just below that plateau is the swamp I just climbed out of.
I scan the horizon. It looks like there are several mountains and ridges in the area.
From the forest, I hear movement and what might be giggling, or perhaps a bird.
What now?
🌲 Explore into the forest. Follow the noises.
🚦 Move carefully along the ledge of the ridge back towards the valley.
🌊 Move carefully along the ledge of the ridge back towards the lake.
:person_climbing: Climb down to the river, get some water, and then climb back up and set up camp.
⚫️ I take a very careful and considered route to the darkness.
Or something else.
🌲
4)
I move towards the noises and into the forest.
A small black figure darts behind a tree before I’m able to catch a glimpse. It laughs.
I walk up to the tree I saw it behind. “Excuse me, I-” Nothing.
I look around, and see it again. “Hey! I-” Gone again.
I see them peek from behind another tree. They appear to be a small humanoid made of a strange kind of black static.
They giggle. It seems to come from all around me.
The trees dance around me. I look to the trees. Nothing seems familiar.
They giggle.
Dammit, I’m lost.
:speaking_head: “Hey, excuse me, little, uh… friend. Do you know the way through this forest?”
~~star Use the stars to guide me out.~~ [There are no stars.]
▶️ Just keep walking and ignore them. I can get out of here.
⚫️ I know a pretty easy way out of here.
Or something else.
:speaking_head:
D)
[CW body horror; specifically, many limbs, unusual body parts, eyes, unnatural growths]
Wait. Why do I know her gender? I call out, “Sure, but uh, do I know you from somewhere?”
Her massive form shifts to bring her head into view. An eye larger than my whole body peers from the chasm. Around it, thin stems grow into and out of her face.
Oh, you poor thing. What has this world done to you?” She seems to be smiling.
“Huh?” I step out from behind the vines, but still keep my distance. “What do you mean?”
“My dear, the darkness takes from us all. Such is the way of the world, I’m afraid.” Her tone shifts to being almost mournful, but something underneath it seems mocking. Her arms continue to work the garden around me.
“But what-”
I’ve lost many children, you see. I’ve even been forced into a terrible feud with my ex-husband.” Snip. Snip. “So tragic.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“But you don’t remember me, Carl?” Her wing beats pulse.
I shake my head. “No, I’m sorry, I don’t.”
“That’s because the darkness took us from each other before we could accomplish our greater purposes.” She pulls her torso back up to the mouth of the chasm.
“Such a shame.”
🙇 I go before her and show reverence.
🏃 Run to the door.
◀️ Run back down(?) to the other path.
⚫️ That sucks. Bye again.
Or something else.
🏃
E)
[CW body horror; specifically, many limbs, unusual body parts, eyes, unnatural growths]
Okay no this is too creepy. I have to get out of here.
I bolt for the door, but several of her arms crash in around me, blocking my escape.
“Oh, Carl, don’t you want to stay?” Her eye comes back to stare at me.
“Not really, sorry,” I croak out.¹
“I’m so sorry to hear that, Carl. I don’t mind to let you leave, but you need to do something for me, Carl.” She sniffs.
I fold in and bow. “Anything. What is it? Just let me go.”
“Oh, I’m so glad to hear this, Carl. I truly am.” Her arms curl around me, closing in. “You took something from me, Carl. You-”
“No, I didn’t take anything, I swear! We just met.”
“No, Carl. You took something from me, and you don’t remember because this place takes from you, too. It’s alright. Nothing to be ashamed of. You can be forgiven. I just need you to give it back.”
One of her hands folds out in front of me.
:mango: Give her what she wants.
⚫️ Leave a different way.
Or something else.
¹I am not a frog.
:mango:
5)
I call to the figure, “Hey, um, excuse me, little uh… friend, do you know the way out of the forest?”
They giggle and disappear behind a tree.
Behind me, I hear a soft voice “This way.”
“Oh, uh. Thank you!” I move towards where I heard them.
Behind me, they call again. “No, this way!” I turn and catch a glimpse of them again. I trip over a fallen branch and I see them a different direction.
“No, it’s over here!” They giggle.
“No, I-” I lick my lips. “Please, I just need to find my way out.”
[I’m getting Dehydrated. A random one of my options will be replaced with ☁️.]
They giggle.
▶️ Keep following them.
◀️ Maybe I can follow my tracks back out of here.
~~star Use a star to guide me out.~~ *[There are no stars.]*
~~coin~~
~~black_circle~~ ☁️ Submit to the darkness.
Or something else.
☁️ ⚫️ tied even though Submit was ineligible.
6)
I close my eyes. I breathe deep. I lick my parched lips.
I feel the world around me begin to fade. I can’t get out of this.
I’m lost.
There’s nothing I can do.
I can’t.
Submit to the darkness.
I feel a drop hit my forehead. I open my eyes.
A soft rain has rolled in. I open my mouth and take in some rain water. It’s not exactly sanitary, but it’s definitely refreshing. I can’t help but laugh.
I pull out my teapot to catch a bit for later. I seal it up as best as I can.
I flip through my pack.
Wait, where’s the-
c!echo #the-darkness
F)
[CW body horror; specifically, many limbs, unusual body parts, eyes, unnatural growths]
I sigh and reach into my pack.
I pull out the fruit :mango: and her eye glistens. I roll it into her outstretched hand.
Her arms uncoil from around me and she brings it close to her face. I take a step towards the door.
The fruit seems to lose its glow.
“Wh- No!” I rush towards the door and struggle to get it open.
“What did you do to it?!” The fruit rots in her hands.
I slam the door behind me and shiver as a strange wave overcomes me.
The Gardener crashes against the door, and I hear her yell after me.
I feel myself vibrating and I double over.
I hear echoing through the cave like a thought, “Wait, where’s the-”
A force crashes into me and knocks me on my side.
“What-”
“What-”
I look back.
“How-”
“How-”
I feel myself moving myself, but something feels strange. I hear myself talking about myself, and I have two memories of recent events.
[I am Discombobulated and Doubled.]
I rub my head and look at the mountain in the darkness ahead of me.
:brain: Focus and pull myself together.
:person_climbing: Head down to the mountain’s peak.
⚫️ Leave a different way.
Or something else.
:brain:
Okay, I don’t think I should continue like this. I take a breath.
“OOkk II jjuusstt nneeeedd aa sseeccoonndd.” [OK I just need a second]
I think back on my experience. It’s certainly not been linear, but it’s been mine. Me. It’s fine.
It must have had something to do with that fruit. It seemed to end once I gave it to The Gardener, but I wonder why she wanted it.
Did she want to be in more than one place? Is that even what the fruit was supposed to do?
Why did the Master of Mists want it so bad?
Wait, the who?
Is there another Carl rattling around in here I don’t know about?
No? Okay. I take a breath. Not sure what that was, but it’s fine.
“Testing. Ttesting.” I wave my arm through the air. Feels normal enough…
Behind me, I hear the banging and yelling begin to calm down, but she’s clearly still upset.
Ahead, snow rises from nowhere onto a rocky mountain that trails into the abyss.
:person_climbing: Head down to the mountain’s peak.
🚪 Maybe I can go ask The Gardener some questions.
⚫️ Did you say “Abyss?”
Or something else.
🌌
I look for constellations, but can’t quite connect the dots.
[There are no stars.]
What now?
:person_climbing: Head down to the mountain’s peak.
🚪 Maybe I can go ask The Gardener some questions. Maybe she’s had enough time to cool off,
⚫️ Hey get a load of that infinite expanse of darkness, doesn’t it remind you of something?
Or something else.
:person_climbing:
I brace myself and start down to the mountain’s peak.
I secure my pack and move from rock to rock. The path is treacherous and confusing.
The snow rises, and I beat on.
I move down, and the mountain seems to funnel around me.
All points from the base of the mountain close in around me and head to a point in the distance.
A tall metal rectangle looms over the point. A faint red light appears in the side as I approach.
The light seems to hover over the black metal and follow me like an eye.
I slowly move closer. “H-”
“HALT” I stop. The voice screams again.
“INTREPID INTRUDER IF YOU ARE TO OBTAIN THE TREASURE AT MOUNTAINS PEAK YOU MUST ANSWER MY THREE RIDDLES”
“Okay, but first, what’s your name?”
“I AM GAIUS CICEREIUS AND I HOLD TO THIS PATH AND YOU SHALL ANSWER MY RIDDLES OR YOU SHALL LEAVE THIS PLACE AND NEVER RETURN”
“O-”
“RIDDLE ONE IT IS A FRUIT”
The snow falls. It watches.
“Is th-”
“THE FRUIT IN QUESTION BEARS SEED”
“Don’t th-”
“THE FRUIT IS RED WHAT IS THE ANSWER TO MY RIDDLE”
⚫️ Yeah I have no idea.
Or something else.
🍓
“Okay so is it a strawberry?”
“INCORRECT A STRAWBERRY IS NOT A FRUIT”
“Yes, they a-”
“NO THEY ARE BERRIES NOT FRUIT” The light shakes back and forth.
“A berry is a-”
“I WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH ANOTHER HINT”
The air is still.
“So-”
“YOUR HINT IS AS FOLLOWS”
The snow rises around Gaius. I lean to try and look underneath them.
“THE FRUIT IN QUESTION ALSO HAS GREEN”
It is still.
“Green?”
“YES SOME OF IT IS GREEN BUT MOST OF IT IS RED AND IT HAS SEEDS THAT IS MY RIDDLE”
⚫️ Yeah I have no idea.
Or something else.
🍉
“Okay wait, are you describing a watermelo-”
“CORRECT” Confetti shoots from a hole in the box.
“Wait, but watermelons are berries!”
“INCORRECT A WATERMELON IS A FRUIT”
“Yeah most fruits are berries, except, ironically strawberries, which are ac-”
“SECOND RIDDLE”
“So this is kind of a sham?”
“THE RIDDLE IS A WORD THAT RHYMES”
I tap my feet.
“…Is that it?”
“IT RHYMES WITH A WATER FOWL”
❓ “Hey what’s the prize?”
⚫️ Goose.
Or something else.
:owl:
“Owl?”
“NO YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND IT DOES NOT RHYME WITH WATER FOWL THE PHRASE BUT IT RHYMES WITH A WATER FOWL A SPECIFIC ONE”
“Do I get to know which one?”
“I WILL GIVE YOU A HINT”
“Okay, thank-”
“THE ANSWER TO THE RIDDLE IS A WORD THAT RHYMES WITH DUCK”
Wait, no, it can’t be…
⚫️ Submit to the darkness.
Or something else.
:face_with_symbols_over_mouth: (cussing emoji)
“I mean…” I throw my arms out. “If you’re sure?”
The snow falls around me. The light watches.
“Fuck.”
“NO” A laser shoots from the light and barely misses me. “THAT IS MOST DEFINITELY NOT THE ANSWER TO MY RIDDLE THAT WORD IS WHOLLY UNACCEPTABLE AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE PUNISHMENT FOR ITS USE”
I kick a rock. “… Sorry.”
“THE ANSWER TO THE SECOND RIDDLE RHYMES WITH THE WORD DUCK BUT IT IS A LONGER WORD THAN DUCK BUT IT IS NOT TRUCK”
“Hey these don’t really seem like riddles…”
“YOU MAY GUESS NOW”
❓ “What’s this treasure anyway?”
⚫️ Submit to the darkness.
Or something else.
:beaver:
“Beaver.”
“WHAT THAT DIDN’T EVEN-”
“No sorry that’s like a muskrat.”
“NO THAT ALSO D-”
“Woodchuck! It’s a woodchuck.”
“OH THAT IS INCORRECT THE ANSWER TO THE RIDDLE STARTS WITH F”
“Wait, why do you keep giving me hints?”
“YOU SEEM TO STRUGGLE WITH BASIC RIDDLES”
“Hey! That’s not nice.”
“IT STARTS WITH F AND RHYMES WITH DUCK WHAT IS THE RIDDLE”
“… And it’s not fu-”
“NO IT IS A DIFFERENT WORD THAN THE ONE YOU SAID BEFORE”
❓ “What’s this treasure anyway?”
⚫️ “No, I’m pretty sure the answer is fu-”
Or something else.
🚒
“Firetruck! It’s firetruck.”
“ARE YOU SURE”
“No?”
“WELL YOU SHOULD BE BECAUSE THE ANSWER TO THE SECOND RIDDLE IS FIRETRUCK AND YOU ARE CORRECT” A small party horn plays.
I manage to squeak out² a “Yayy.”
“YOU SHOULD NOT CELEBRATE JUST YET INTRUDER”
“Because there’s still one left?”
“AND BECAUSE YOU ARE SO SO TERRIBLE AT RIDDLES”
“Okay, c’mon now, you don’t need to be-”
“I HAVE TRULY NEVER SEEN SOMEONE SO BAD AT RIDDLES IT IS TRULY BAFFLING THAT YOU HAVE BESTED TWO OF MY STRONGEST RIDDLES BUT THE THIRD SHALL BE THE MOST FEARSOME RIDDLE OF ALL AND YOU HAVE INCURRED A PUNISHMENT SO PREPARE YOURSELF”
I look around.
“ARE YOU PREPARED”
“Yeah, c’mon, I’m ready.”
“BECAUSE YOU DID A CUSS I SHALL PROVIDE NO HINTS”
“Okay just an actual basic riddle with no hints?”
“CORRECT”
The snow falls. Wind dances between the flakes. I shift my feet.
“Okay so what’s the riddle?”
“WHAT”**
“You didn’t give me the riddle.”
“OH BUT I DID”
“No, you just said-”
“SO YOU GIVE UP”
“No, I just-”
“THEN SOLVE THE RIDDLE”
“What?” Gaius hums.
What does it want from me?
❓ “Oh come on. What’s this treasure anyway?”
⚫️ Submit to the darkness.
Or something else.
²I am not a mouse.
😺
“Hey, Gaius, I have a thing to show you.” I pull off my pack. The light floats a little closer.
“OH” I pull from my pack the gif of the cat playing sparkle emojis as if they were bongos.
“WOW”
“It’s very cute.”
“IT IS VERY CUTE”
The cat plays.
“So-”
“YOU WILL RECEIVE NO HINTS AS PUNISHMENT FOR YOUR RUDE BEHAVIOR”
“Yeah. Right. The riddle…”
❓ “Oh come on. What’s this treasure anyway?”
⚫️ Hey, I know the answer: darkness.
Or something else.
❓
“Oh come on. What’s this treasure anyway?”
“DO YOU WISH TO KNOW WHAT THE TREASURE IS”
“Uh. Yes.”
“THEN YOU SHALL ANSWER FOR ME MY RIDDLES THREE”
“Oh come on.”
“THE FIRST RIDDLE IS A FRUIT”
I look at Gaius and then I look around. “Watermel-”
“CORRECT”
“Okay.”
“APOLOGIES IT APPEARS AS IF MY CONFETTI HAS ALREADY DEPLOYED SO INSTEAD I SHALL GIVE YOU A CONGRATULATORY HORN”
“No, it’s fine I-” a small horn plays. “Thanks.”
“YOU ARE WELCOME RIDDLE TWO RHYMES WITH A WATER FOWL”
“Firetruck. You can skip the-” A horn plays again.
“CORRECT YOUR SKILL HAS GREATLY IMPROVED SINCE YOU LAST PERFORMED THESE RIDDLES”
“Yeah because that was-”
“RIDDLE THREE SINCE YOU ARE PERFORMING SO WELL I TRUST YOU WILL NOT NEED A HINT FOR THE THIRD RIDDLE”
I sigh. “Yeah, but can I get one anyway?”
“I TRUST THAT WILL NOT BE NECESSARY BUT I ASSURE YOU THAT THE ANSWER TO THE RIDDLE DOES NOT HAVE FEATHERS OF ANY KIND”
“No feathers. Cool. Narrows it down. Thanks.”
“NO PROBLEM”
⚫️ Hey, you know what doesn’t have feathers? Darkness.
Or something else.
🐢
“Hmm, okay, well.” There doesn’t seem to be any penalty for just guessing forever. I guess I can just name off everything I can think of that doesn’t have feathers.
“Me. Carl.”
“INCORRECT”
“What about more generic, a turtle?”
“ALSO INCORRECT”
“Okay so I’m just supposed to guess until I get lucky?”
“NO YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO CORRECTLY SOLVE THE RIDDLE I HAVE LAID BEFORE YOU”
“Okay, yeah. Sure.”
“WHAT IS YOUR NEXT GUESS”
⚫️ Wanna see a magic trick? I’m gonna disappear.
Or something else.
👨
“What about a human?”
“NO”
“No? Not like that guy that said man is a featherless biped and the other guy said ‘Behold! A man!’ but it was a chicken with no feathers?”
“NO IT IS NOT A CHICKEN A CHICKEN HAS FEATHERS”
“Yeah, I know but-”
“IT IS ALSO NOT A MAN BECAUSE THAT IS ESSENTIALLY JUST SAYING HUMAN WHICH IS THE THING YOU GUESSED JUST NOW EXCEPT THERE IS AN IMPLIED GENDER”
“Yeah, okay.”
“IT DOES NOT HAVE FEATHERS HOW IS THIS SO HARD FOR YOU YOU ARE NOT EVEN CLOSE”
“I dunno, Gaius, most things don’t have feathers! I don’t have feathers!”
“YOU ALREADY GUESSED YOURSELF AND YOU WERE WRONG”
“I know. I’m not guessing. I’m just making a point. This rock doesn’t have feathers! The snow doesn’t have feathers! Blood doesn’t have feathers! I can’t really just guess everything that doesn’t have feathers until I get the one thing you’re thinking of.”
Gaius hums and watches.
“WERE ANY OF THOSE GUESSES”
“Yeah sure why n-”
“ALL OF THOSE ARE INCORRECT YOU ARE VERY BAD AT THIS RIDDLE I THINK I HAVE STUMPED YOU”
⚫️ Okay ✌️
Or something else.
🔮
[Unfortunately at this point, no one had reacted to the initial post to create stars, so there were no stars. Thankfully, though, I was able to just message a friend to give Carl the star we needed to keep moving.]
Ok. So I’m getting a little desperate at this point.
I reach into my pack and pull out the mysterious orb. I lift it high.
“THAT IS INCORRECT”
“No, I wasn’t- I wasn’t guessing. I was hoping it would do something.”
“YOU CANNOT SEE STARS SO THE STARLIGHT ORB WILL NOT CONNECT YOU TO ANOTHER WORLD”
“Oh. Um… Hmph.” I look back. “So how do I-”
“I DO NOT KNOW HOW IT WORKS FOR YOU I SEE ALL STARS WITHOUT ISSUE”
“Alright, buddy. You’re laying it on thick.” I look around.
“STAR IS ALSO NOT THE ANSWER TO THE RIDDLE THAT WAS NOT A HINT”
Snow falls around us.
I look back again. “Wait! There’s one!”
A star has appeared! I hold the orb high again, and it begins to glow.
Ranger Carl
“@/oracle I call upon you to help me pass this riddle! Help me figure out what has no feathers!”
morgan 🔮
CARL
MY MOST TREACHEROUS FOE
WHY DO YOU ASK ME THIS
Ranger Carl
“Oh no. Um… Hello? This is Carl.”
“I have been trapped by a sort of riddling robot situation and I was hoping you might be able to uhh… help solve this riddle for me?”
morgan 🔮
WHY DO YOU SEEK GUIDANCE? I MEAN THIS NOT TO ASK WHY NOW, BUT WHY ALWAYS?
I HAVE WARRED WITH YOU FOR SO LONG, AND YET YOU DO NOT ACT FOR YOURSELF. MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICE, CHOOSE VIOLENCE AS WOULD BE WISE, OR SIMPLY PICK A THING WITHOUT FEATHERS. IT IS NOT A DIFFICULT RIDDLE
Ranger Carl
“Um… what? I need… help? I’ve been picking things that don’t have feathers, so I sought guid-”
“HELLO IS THAT NECROMANCER MORGAN”
morgan 🔮
OH HELLO, IS THAT YOU?
MY FRIEND
IT HAS BEEN TOO LONG SINCE WE HAVE SPOKEN
Ranger Carl
“NECROMANCER MORGAN IT IS SO GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU I HOPE YOU ARE DOING WELL IT IS GAIUS CICEREIUS I AGREE THAT THIS RIDDLE IS VERY SIMPLE YET THIS INTRUDER STRUGGLES”
morgan 🔮
WAIT LET ME ASK, THIS IS THE RIDDLE ABOUT THE THING WITHOUT FEATHERS, RIGHT? I LOVE THAT ONE
Ranger Carl
“YES IT IS A CLASSIC I LOVE IT TOO I AM SURPRISED THIS ONE DOES NOT SEEM TO KNOW IT ALREADY VERY FUNNY RIDDLE”
“Okay, this seems, like… Can I just, like…. get a hint, at least? I just really would love to get this treasure and move on.”
morgan 🔮
THERE IS TREASURE? I LOVE TREASURE
Ranger Carl
“YES THIS ONE IS VERY GOOD TOP TIER TREASURE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SOLVE MY RIDDLES THREE MY GOOD FRIEND NECROMANCER MORGAN”
“Wait, no. What?”
morgan 🔮
I WOULD LOVE TO, MY FRIEND GAIUS, HOWEVER, I APPEAR TO BE TRAPPED IN AN ORB AND WOULD BE UNABLE TO COLLECT
Ranger Carl
“NO WORRIES I CAN SIMPLY GIVE THE TREASURE TO THE NEAREST POSTAL WORKER TO BE DELIVERED TO YOU UPON YOUR COMPLETION OF THE RIDDLES THREE”
“Wait, I think I’m a postal worker.”
“EXCELLENT I MAY HAVE A DELIVERY FOR YOU SHORTLY”
morgan 🔮
FANTASTIC
Ranger Carl
“THE FIRST RIDDLE IS A FRUIT”
“And it has seeds.”
morgan 🔮
WAIT IS THE SEEDS PART OF THE RIDDLE? OR IS THAT A HINT
Ranger Carl 🔮
“THAT WAS AN UNLICENSED HINT I DID NOT GIVE THAT HINT BUT IT IS TRUE OF THE FRUIT IN QUESTION FOR THE FIRST RIDDLE INTRUDER PLEASE DO NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER HINTS AND REMAIN SILENT FOR THE DURATION OF NECROMANCER MORGAN’S ATTEMPTS AT THE RIDDLES THROUGH WHICH YOU SO UNCEREMONIOUSLY FAILED”
I grumble and kick a rock.
morgan 🔮
OH THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION. IS THE FRUIT A WATERMELON?
Ranger Carl
“THAT IS CORRECT MY GOOD FRIEND NECROMANCER MORGAN” Confetti shoots from a small hole in the side of the obelisk.
“Wait, why did Morgan get conf-”
“RIDDLE TWO HOLD ON I FORGOT WHICH ONE THAT ONE WAS OH YES RIDDLE TWO RHYMES WITH A WATER FOWL”
morgan 🔮
DO I GET TO KNOW WHICH WATER FOWL OR IS THAT PART OF THE RIDDLE
Ranger Carl
“YOU MAY KNOW IF YOU WISH TO RECEIVE A HINT”
“It rhymes with duck.”
“NO MORE UNLICENSED HINTS OR YOU WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE PREMISES BUT YES IT RHYMES WITH DUCK AND IT IS NOT A CUSS”
morgan 🔮
OF COURSE IT IS NOT A CURSE. EVERYONE KNOWS THOSE AREN’T RIDDLE MATERIAL THAT’S JUST CRUDE
Ranger Carl
“EXACTLY THAT WOULD BE RIDICULOUS I WOULD NEVER ASK SOMEONE TO CUSS”
morgan 🔮
IS IT A FOOD TRUCK?
Ranger Carl
“NO IT IS NOT A FOOD TRUCK BUT THAT IS CLOSE SO I WILL ACCEPT THAT ANSWER”
“Wh-”
“RIDDLE THREE”
“Wait! Hold on! What the hell! That one was really hard and you shot at me that one time!”
“FOR DOING A CUSS YES I SHOT AT YOU”
“But that wasn’t the right answer and-”
“IT WAS CLOSE ENOUGH RIDDLE THREE HAS NO FEATHERS”
morgan 🔮
OH SHOOT IT WAS A FIRETRUCK WASN’T IT, I SHOULD HAVE GUESSED, MY BAD.
OH HEY A HAIKU I LOVE THOSE
Ranger Carl
“THAT IS CORRECT THE SECOND RIDDLE WAS FIRETRUCK BUT THAT IS OKAY I ACCEPT YOUR FLAWS AND I LOVE YOU CONGRATULATIONS ON THE HAIKU” A small horn plays.
morgan 🔮
SORRY I GOT DISTRACTED WHAT WAS THE RIDDLE AGAIN?
Ranger Carl
“THE THIRD RIDDLE DOES NOT HAVE FEATHERS THAT IS THE RIDDLE THAT YOU AND I LOVE SO MUCH”
morgan 🔮
OH SHOOT YEAH THAT CLASSIC RIDDLE
I LOVE THAT ONE
Ranger Carl
“TIMELESS AND PERFECT”
morgan 🔮
YOU COULD PUBLISH A RIDDLE BOOK WITH JUST THAT ONE IN IT AND IT WOULD SELL LIKE HOTCAKES, HONESTLY
Ranger Carl
“MUCH LIKE ME GAIUS CICEREIUS THE BEING ASKING YOU THESE RIDDLES IT IS A PERFECT RIDDLE”
morgan 🔮
IT’S TRUE
OKAY, THE ANSWER TO THE RIDDLE IS MY VERY GOOD FRIEND GAIUS CICERERIUS, WHO DOES NOT HAVE FEATHERS.
Ranger Carl
Gaius hums.
The light watches the orb as the snow falls around us all.
The obelisk shifts and then breaks apart and begins floating. Confetti shoots from the cracks and horns blare.
“CONGRATULATIONS MY GREAT FRIEND NECROMANCER MORGAN YOU HAVE SOLVED MY RIDDLES THREE AND YOU SHALL REAP THE REWARDS YOU HAVE SO SKILLFULLY GAINED WITH NO HINTS FROM MYSELF AND I SHALL PASS ONTO THIS POSTAL WORKER YOUR TREASURE WHICH YOU CAN TREASURE ONCE THE POSTAL WORKER HAS PASSED THE TREASURE TO YOU”
morgan 🔮
THANK YOU GAIUS I APPRECIATE THE RIDDLES EVEN IF THE ADDED HINTS MADE THEM EASIER THAN I WANTED. I AM SURE THE TREASURE IS JUST FANTASTIC
Ranger Carl
“THANK YOU MY FRIEND I SHALL SEE YOU IN THREE TO FIVE BUSINESS DAYS UNLESS YOU CUSS BETWEEN NOW AND THEN IN WHICH CASE I AM COMING FOR YOU”
morgan 🔮
YOU KNOW YOU CANNOT TOUCH ME ANYMORE GAIUS, I HAVE GROWN TOO POWERFUL
CARL MY FOE, A PASSING WORD OF ADVICE IF YOU WANT?
Ranger Carl
“OH YOU KID SO MUCH NECROMANCER MORGAN IT IS GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU AGAIN”
“Yeah. Sure. Hit me.”
morgan 🔮
EMPLOY MORE VIOLENCE, IT ALWAYS CHANGES THE PROBLEM YOU HAVE INTO A DIFFERENT PROBLEM
AND IT IS GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU TOO GAIUS. I’LL SEE YOU SOME TIME SOON
Ranger Carl
“Gotcha. I’ll keep it in mind. Thanks. I’ll get your treasure to you soon.”
The light fades and I put the orb away.
I step forth to claim “my” prize.
I step forth and behold the mountain’s peak that Gaius guarded. Every rocky path leads down. Snow rises and lands on the peak and then tumbles from the peak to the rest of the strange mountain.
Gaius hovers around me. I reach down and brush away some snow.
Underneath, an eye looks back at me.
“H-hello?”
No response.
I uncover the rest and I see before me, a thin, fuzzy worm, magenta in color with a long nose attached to a string. Googly eyes cling lightly on top.
My heart warms to see it. A tear rolls down my cheek. A name springs from my mind.
“Wormy?”
“THAT IS CORRECT” I jump.
“Whoa, uh. Forgot you were there.”
“THE COMPANION TO THE WORM MAY LITERALLY AND METAPHORICALLY TAKE THE REINS OF FATE UNDER THEIR OWN CONTROL AS WELL AS DOING SOME COOL MAGIC TO MAKE THE WORM DANCE”
I pick up Wormy and the world around me fades.
So you have most of what you need.
I sit in the dark and play with Wormy. A lonely star twinkles on the horizon of the void.
Something about the act centers me. Helps me remember. And plan.
And it’s almost as if they can speak to me.
You just need to know where your destination is… And maybe it’ll be dangerous so maybe we need some Armor?
“Hmm… Where would I get Armor?”
Possibilities pass through my mind.
“Why would I need Armor?”
Threats appearing.
“Where am I going?”
I try to think through everywhere I’ve been. Who’s known me.
“Why haven’t I known them?”
I think through possible scenarios of why.
“How many times have I been here?”
I eat some fish and drink some water.
“How long have I been here?”
You’re getting lost. Focus and follow the string.
Wormy dances over my hands.
“Someone told me I need Armor. I have everything else I need. I should focus on that. Move forward. Not get too ahead of myself. Stay on track.”
Wormy nods approvingly. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Wormy climbs into my bag.
The thought materializes in my head. I speak it into reality.
“Where could I get Armor?”
And I open my eyes.
What do I see?
[what won was a custom emoji of Zagreus from the video game Hades that said “Hades Good”]
[Part 4 can be found here https://caseycrook92.medium.com/the-darkness-pt-4-87b06312653d ]
