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Chapter Text

Ever since Sarabeth Jenkins had memory, she always had a great disdain for puppets. It did not matter how cute or realistic they were, puppets were something that always made her skin crawl as those lifeless eyes stared back at her. So, she was known as that one kid who couldn’t participate in some school trips or be in the same room where puppet shows were playing growing up. Yes, of course that there came some teasing and jokes about little Ms. Jenkins couldn’t take the idea of a puppet talking to her because she would panic, or that she was one of the few percent who greatly found “The Muppets” disturbing, and that she was probably being overly dramatic. Still, could they blame her for being terrified of those things staring back at her or talking as if they were humans?

Or… that her subconscious loved to bring the possibility that perhaps they were only pretending to be non-living things, and that one day they would haunt her and torment her. 

Well… perhaps the last part was a bit of a stretch as Sarabeth herself still was unable to outgrew, nor forget, her first and last time she watched “Dead Silence” on theaters. To her defense, she was not told it was a film about puppets, but was invited by her cousins to have some good time (who did not mention they intended to “cure” her pupaphobia.) As expected, Sarabeth was already out when Ashen and Detective Lipton found the old theater filled with those dreadful toy demons. Her cousins were surprised that she lasted that long, but she was paralyzed in terror to even move or leave right when Lisa Ashen was murdered by one of those dreaded creatures. 

She supposed the million of those things in one place was far worse than a single killer puppet…

To make a long story short from that disastrous movie night, it was clear Sarabeth was officially out of any plans involving puppets or any of her family and peers trying to cure her pupaphobia, and that it took two weeks for Sarabeth herself to be able to sleep normally without screaming about how Billy would murder her in the night until she woke up all sweaty and pale. Not to mention her mother would not appreciate hearing another “Beth accidentally punched another dummy at another haunted house.” Story 

“And they said it was just a puppet movie that would help me realize puppets weren’t that bad…” Sarabeth huffed as she opened her old black Kipling Seoul backpack to store her camera, notebook, Polaroid camera, lenses, and extra battery. She stopped momentarily to release a sigh before turning to a tabby cat staring at her on her bed. “I know that you’ll be upset about me leaving this early, Lulu; but mommy has to do work in order to spoil you. I promise I will be back at noon and get you some good tuna.”

The cat meowed back at her unimpressed before narrowing her yellow eyes as Beth sighed before reaching her left hand to pet the cat as she added. “And I promise to bring you whatever good box I can find on my way. Does it sound good to you, Catulu?” 

Catulu stared at her owner still with her narrowed eyes, but gave an approving purr that caused Beth to crack up a smile as she finished petting her and getting up. “Well, it looks like we both agreed into something. Please behave, and remember not to try to rip open your treat bag again. If anything, mom or Brody will check on you in the noon if I take too long taking the pictures. Luv ya, furball!”

Sarabeth gave the cat a goodbye kissed before putting on her backpack and getting out of her room. She walked to the kitchen counter to pick up her car and home keys. Her eyes suddenly shifted to a picture on the counter as her breath shortened. She felt her body slowly stiffing as tears threatened to come into her eyes while she stared at the young man in the picture. His gray eyes sparkling against his christopol rectangle glasses staring right at her holding the faint memory of the last time she ever saw those eyes staring lovingly at her…

It has been officially another year since he disappeared. Now he was supposedly gone, but….he just couldn’t be gone…he promised her-

With some strength she got, Sarabeth shook her head and forced her gaze at the door. She took a big breath before muttering to herself. “Focus, Beth. You have a long day ahead of you, and the quicker you get it done, the better.”

Then, she walked out of her apartment and locked the door. She locked her keys into her front pocked and walked down the stairs up to the first floor and headed towards her black Honda. The sky was still dark as it was early in the morning, so it was better for her trip to avoid too much traffic, and to get that “Halloween” spirit her editor so wanted to see and working her emotions productively. Still…it wasn’t precisely a job she was looking forward to this time…

Specially since…well, it had to do with the place it most likely began the entire fear and, arguably, hatred towards puppets in general.

The Handemen Studio was known as the studio that close down due to low ratings, and was eventually burnt out due to a mysterious fire; but it was mostly known as the home for producing some old puppet show called “Mortimer’s Handeemen.” A show that Beth herself did not watch, obviously due to her fear of puppets, but because she was also forbidden specifically by her mother and late grandmother “Rosemary Kruber” from doing so. Well…anything puppet related in general, the more she thought about it.

Perhaps it was maybe the reason why Beth developed a fear and hatred of puppets….

Anyways, Mortimer’s Handeemen was the main show that dear old late Grandma Rose forbade around in the entire Kruber family. There was no episode to be aired, no old vintage merchandise to be bought, and absolutely nothing that had to do with the late creator Owen J. Gubberson himself. Beth’s mom, Hannah Jenkins née Kruber, followed up pretty closely unlike her sister (and Beth’s aunt) Rebecca Hannigan, née Kruber, who pretty much let her kids watch or interact with puppets, did. So, Beth also had to grow up playing outside with her late father while her mother and Grandma Rose argued with aunt Becca about something related to puppets or maybe the show in general. Beth never particularly tried to get into the conversation or even hear it, as it was more within the older women than herself.

Still, probably the memory of Grandma Rose yelling her lungs out while cursing so loudly with her old Southern accent when she saw anything related to Mortimer’s Handeemen, probably made Beth want to avoid it as possible too…

She made a left turn before checking her GPS to see how close she was getting to the place. The sun was slowly risen as about 30 minutes had passed. “You would not be happy about this, Gran…” She muttered to herself. 

People often assumed it was the beef some Christians' mom had with Pokémon, but this was nothing like it. The show…she show was forbidden for an entirely different reason, which was a strong ardor from her family towards it.

It was clear that there was some hatred for Owen Gubberson and his creations with her late Grandmother and part of her family, but the real reason of this hatred was something Sarabeth eventually learned as she got older. It was a personal lost to the family that caused this hatred. It happened many years ago, about the time the show was still airing, that managed to get into the news of the time but eventually died down enough to let the rest of the Kruber family be left alone by the press, but remained in the old newspapers from the 80s.

That something? It was the alleged suicide of Amyrose Jeanette Kruber, a former friend of Owen Gubberson, and…late Grandma Rose’s younger and only sister. 

Beth didn’t know much about her late great Aunt, outside that she used to be a fun-loving person who had a strong passion and love for puppets. She didn’t exactly work at Owen’s show, but was a friend of him in the puppet business due to them meeting at some bar or something. The thing was that they knew each other and were supposedly friends (although the face of Owen from the old newspapers made it hard to believe.) Owen was described to not be a social person or even like to be around people as her late great aunt did, so the family never precisely met him or heard too much about him outside her late great aunt talking about him.

Sarabeth slowly began to turn right trying not to focus on the burnt down studio, or the vandalized mural of the main cast waving at the visitors. She felt discomfort as she entered the building. 

So, in a nutshell Owen Guberson and Amy Kruber were somewhat friends…until they weren’t. This was according to what the old newspapers and media reports mentioned, as Amy was a subject that wasn’t spoken too much in the family. From what Beth found, Owen and Amy apparently had a big fight (which was taken from interviews of employees at the old studio) and this was a major blow to their falling out. Then...things took a darker and sad turn. One night, one of the old puppeteers was returning to the studio when he heard a scream and rushed in. The next thing he found was Owen Gubberson crying as he held the dead body of Amy Kruber in his hands. 

This was the final coffin to the studio’s reputation, as it closed down momentarily for police investigations.

The police found no fingerprints, or clues that could link to a suspect or any indication that it was a murder of some sort, so they declared that Amyrose Kruber hanged herself at the main stage of the studio. The reasoning was sorta accepted by the people by the press, but not by Beth’s family, specially her late Grandmother and her own mother. They…they pretty much put the blame of Amy’s death into Owen himself, from what Beth could tell, and the only report of Rosemary addressing the issue claiming “That is nothing like the Amy I knew…”

Possibly…they believed he murdered Amy himself and frame it as a murder…

“Yet…I don’t think he was that crazy to do so…wasn’t he?” Beth muttered to herself in her voice recorder before pausing.  She unbuckled her seatbelt, and got out of her car and locked it. She glanced at the entrance door filled with some broken down, and withering wooden planks before turning the device in her left hand on again and putting it closer to her mouth. “I…I don’t personally believe Mr. Gubberson could possibly behind my late… well Amy Kruber’s death. As crazy as he looked in the pictures, I hardly believe he could be possibly be able to kill someone…let alone a supposed friend of his. Maybe it could be just a rumor, and simply adding on to the whole “Mad man obsessed with puppets” rep Mr. Gubberson has.” Then she stopped the recording. 

There was some great irony into what Sarabeth Olivia Jenkins herself was doing. Breaking into the same studio she and her family tried to dissociate themselves with to investigate for some newspapers' entry. To her defense it was something asked by her possibly insane and egocentric editor for some good Halloween story. There was no wonder about why she was chosen as the person to cover this specific story, but particularly this wasn’t exactly the entire reason about why Beth was even convinced to enter. It had to do with important reasons…

And…tying to get at least a sign about her missing pals, and finding if he perhaps left a sign or…was even alive…

Well…her memory went by when the idea about this was first implied.

1 month ago, September 15. Conference room at 5pm…

The conference room was decorated from head to toe with Halloween decorations like faux spiderwebs around the wall, plastic pumpkins with carved faces drawn to them, black and orange balloons with adorable monsters, and some banners decorating the room. Not to mention that the main table. There used to be a skeleton in front of the door greeting visitors, but most likely it was taken to Ms. Swan’s office for more than obvious reasons. Still, the Halloween theme was going hard…not to mention even the holiday tree of the office was filled with some decorations to look more haunting. 

Her co-workers were sitting at the table talking about their latest ideas for the newspapers and articles, some even mentioning pirate ships, or doing some sort of “Alice in Wonderland” party or any other Halloween suggestions to keep their readers engage. Others were talking about fall decorations and what the preparations for the official coming of Fall. All good stories or ideas, but Beth’s mind was having a hard time thinking about what story she could possibly tell. There wasn’t any “so-called” spirit in her…not the soon-to-be three years…specially around these days. So, Beth often found herself trying to focus on her research but eventually falling back into staring at the one picture of her phone.

They were out in a park, it was around fall, and they were trying to investigate into solve old haunted bridge. As they waited for the van to bring their cameras, they started to play around in the grass by rolling around, finding pine cones, and keeping Brody from trying to feed the squirrels again. Eventually, they decided to rest together in a tree, and Beth decided to show her boyfriend a cute pine cone she found before he started to goof off and take it from her hands pretending it was the alleged evil ghost trying to eat her. 

Then Brody saw them and decided to take a picture, that became one of Beth’s fondest memories of Fall with her best friend Brody, and her Anthony Pierson…

“Why the long face, pal?” Beth nearly yelped when she turned around and saw a skeleton head next to her face. 

“Fuck!” She yelped before narrowing her eyes at the black haired woman kneeled next to her holding the skeleton’s head. “I would appreciate it if you could stop sneaking on me holding…whatever skeleton thing you got!”

“Sorry, sorry!” Ericka Swan chuckled as she got up. She glanced at the skeleton head in her head. “Found him at a discount, he is such a charming little fella. I’m calling him Rick R Mortus!”

Wishing to roll her eyes at her editor’s pun, Beth settled for an annoyed. “Adorable…”

Probably ignoring or not realizing her obvious sarcasm, Ericka responding by adding. “I know! He has a set of arms, which I wanted to use, but apparently that would be too much Halloween spirit, so I settled of caring the head and say some random Shakespearean quote.”

“Ericka…it's the middle of September, fall doesn’t begin until Friday…” Beth rolled her eyes as Ericka simply chuckled. 

“C’mon, Fall is the time for the scary month and I want to raise the spirit of my journalist team with spooky decorations!” Ericka beamed before taking a seat on a free chair next to her. Beth only stared at her.

“Umm yeah, I am not diggin’ the whole “Spooky vibes” and neither is the rest us, nor the building.” Beth commented before Ericka rolled her eyes.

“Ah yeah. Apparently putting a skeleton greeting everyone was too much for those guys. At least I got a pal to make me company. He has a funny bone you know?” Ericka snickered as Beth and her colleagues tried their best to ignore her pun. “Anyways, I wanted to check how my little Sarah J is doing! So, do you got already your ideas for this upcoming month?”

“Not…not precisely…”Beth muttered as she put her phone down. Ericka’s wide grin slowly faded when she noticed the young man with the rectangular glasses holding the pine cone. 

“Oh…it’s getting closer to the anniversary of Anthony’s disappearance, isn’t it?” Ericka softly asked as Beth turned away. She slowly reached out a hand to pat Beth’s back. “I understand, and I am sorry for your lost, dear.”

“It’s aright…”Beth muttered as she put her phone into her jacket. Ericka’s brown eyes stared at her as she began to rub her hand. “I’ll…I’ll try to focus into an idea or some article. It…it’s just that the fall-”

“Reminds you of your guy, doesn’t it?” Ericka said as Beth nodded. “Hey, we still got like a month. Fell free to take it slow. I can give you some Halloween or fall ideas and you can work on them right away!”

Finding a bit of strength to smile, Beth thanked her editor. “Thanks, Ericka.”

“You’re very welcome, pumpkin!” Ericka smiled back before pulling Beth into an embrace without noticed. “I am sure they’ll find him soon enough. I am sure he is alive somewhere just as the others, missing you so much.”

If he even was alive by then. After two long years, and now three in a month, hope was the thing that started to slowly died down….

Feeling the awkwardness and her body beginning to tremble, Beth wrapped her arms around Ericka as she let out a big deep breath out. Ericka then broke the embrace before offering some tissue paper from her pocket, which Beth received before cleaning her eyes, whipping any upcoming tear coming down her face.  “Thanks.” She thanked her editor.

“Anytime!” Ericka smiled before staring down at Beth as she pursed her lips. “Well, you can take the rest of the day off, if you need. I highly suggest that you get yourself some water and fresh air.”

“Will do and thank you.” Beth said before Ericka helped her pull her things away into her backpack. “So…umm when is my deadline precisely?”

“I’ll give ya a month or so to come up with some good Halloween or Fall idea when you feel so much better.” Ericka muttered before handing Beth her camera and voice recorder. “I’m having some ideas, but I want to give my little journalist some options first!” She explained with some awkward laugh in the last sentence.

Quirking an eyebrow asked in curiosity. “Oh. Did you have any idea in mind?”

“Umm perhaps, mostly about haunting things, and mysteries. You know, the whole Scooby-Doo type of shit thing.” Ericka casually said. Beth narrowed her eyes feeling slightly unconvinced. “But well, I don’t want to bother ya with that as well…you need a break.”

Not having the mental energy to even fight and ask Ericka to spill it out, Beth decided to stick with a simple nod and just get out before saying. “Well, I will see you tomorrow…and please, don’t sneak up on me with Rick again.”

“No worries, I will!” Ericka chuckled before waving a hand at her. “Remember to take some fresh air and some time off. Take care, and Toodaloo!”

Present. October 17. Handemen Studio at 6 am.

Feeling the morning breeze air coming in, Beth decided to hurry up and make her way into the entrance of the studio. The placed was covered with some graffiti, along with some dark marks due to the fire that took place nearly 30 years ago. Beth decided to pull out her camera and take out some pictures. There wasn’t anything particularly scary about the place, but it had the vibe of the “Halloween Spirit” her editor wanted to go by. After taking some pictures, Beth slowly pulled her camera down and stared at the broken entrance and the wooden planks in front of her.

She was really doing this, wasn’t she?

“This…This is the former Handeemen Studio.” Beth found herself gulping as she recorded her voice for her notes. She could fear the shivers running down her spine as her legs started to tremble. “The place looks obviously abandoned, and it smells quite bad. Rumors say that people go missing here, but that is just the type of story you get around things like this.”

This was it. The moment of truth. The day when Sarabeth Olivia Jenkins would break into some old studio, where some puppet show was made. The day when she pretty much did the opposite of what her late grandmother would want, and something her mother would highly disapprove. The same studio that contained a tragedy that haunted her family for years, and the same alleged place, her Anthony went before his disappearance three years ago…

“You’re chickening out, aren’t you, Jenkins?” Beth muttered to herself as she stared at the entrance. “It just some pictures and then you will get out. There shouldn’t be anything that can frighten ya. It would be probably just rats, and maybe some trash here and there.”

And…and definitely there would be no puppets around…Yeah….not at all. 

“T-there is nothing to fear.” Beth muttered as she put a leg inside the studio before bending enough to let her back not touch any black as she moved forward to fully enter the studio as she got her other leg in.

Bump! Bump!

“Relax, Beth. It’s just your heart.” She reassured herself before turning on her phone’s flashlight. “There is nothing to be frightened. Just…just some dirt, remains, and…some ugly cutouts of the characters.”

It took her about 10 minutes to fully calm down and actually pace around the studio and look around. 

It was just like visiting those “haunted” places with Anthony and the gang. It just that it used to be a production house for a puppet show…

“So, my first impression of the studio is that it is in some sort of good shape.” Sarabeth said as she pressed her recorder. “There are some dirt, and questionable smells, but so far the view gives off haunted house vibes…but well it is an actual-abandoned house.”

She took some pictures around the walls and the pieces of destroyed walls. Oddly enough, they looked more as if someone broke through the walls than rather the ceiling or the building falling apart, but it was something she couldn’t precisely tell since she was no architect. Still it was a weird observation around the place. 

“I…I wonder if perhaps they try to get through the walls or something…”Beth muttered as she took a picture of the hole in the studio. “Those poor souls…”

She took a small pause to stand still and let her thoughts in about the fact that a family member just as many people died in this studio. There was something eerie about visiting the place, like it was a cemetery of some sort. It wasn’t that Beth wasn’t entirely bothered by it, or thought it was a normal place to be in. It was like a feeling in between those things. A neutral stance, an understanding that something bad happened and feeling empathy for those who have lost someone in their lives.

“Regarding how I feel about this place.” Sarabeth muttered to herself as she pressed her recorder.”It's hard to describe, but I feel a way of eeriness and feel like a manifestation of the tragedy on the place. I…I didn’t know much about who my late great aunt was or even got to meet her in the first place. So… I don’t feel myself wanting to cry…but I do feel sad knowing my mom and my grandmother loved died here…”

Now, the studio wasn’t as bad as she originally thought. Yes, it looked in pretty bad shape, but there wasn’t something alarming, or anything that could make Beth run away. Everything around the place was all about old merchandise, some posters of episodes that were turned down, and old newspapers around. She took some pictures around the place as her heart started to calm down.Not to mention she wanted to shift focus from the tragic backstory, and get some information about the place and its state. She decided to explore downward a bit until her eyes captured a peculiar piece of paper nailed at the wall. As she walked closer, she realized that it was a broken news article. It contained a picture of the studio on fire during the night, with the following headline and portion of an article below:

Fire at Handeemen HQ

By Alan Andrews 

“A fire erupted at the home of “Mortimer’s Handeemen” late Monday night. Eight cast members are confirmed dead, seven more seriously injured. The cause of the fire is currently unknown. Story continues on pg.”

And that was where the article finished. There was some information about the news article. It appeared to be from the late 80s or 90s as the page was torn up to even see the day properly, but it was Tuesday 24 of February of, presumably, 1987. Unsure about whether it was appropriate to take the newspaper with her, Beth decided to take a picture just after her eyes were drawn to the picture of the fire presented in the article. There was something unusual about it. Taking a closer look, Beth zoomed in with her camera to analyze the picture better. Then she realized there was some sort of figure around on the fire.

It wasn’t a body of the victims burning, but the fire rather looked as it was a man, or something resembling a giant man or a human made out of fire…seemingly wanting to get out of the building. It looked almost distressed, but yet again it could have just been the shape of the head. Sarabeth did not hesitate to shoot some pictures up before putting her camera down. 

“That is so strange…”Beth muttered as she stared at the newspaper piece. “Maybe it's my eyes pulling a trick on me. Still…I guess it would make some good story or something. I dunno maybe a manifestation of the tragedy?”

Well…saying it out loud didn’t sound as good…

“Anyways, I should get some other pictures.”Beth said as she turned around and walked away from the newspaper. She glanced around the hallway she found herself in and noticed some posters about the main cast. “Ericka would probably make a fuzz if I don’t take any picture of those…those things… It was their warehouse after all…”

Taking a moment to consider Beth turned sighed and told herself. “At least they don’t look too much as puppets so it's fine…”

Slowly, she pulled up her camera and walked up to the first poster.  It had the main cast to the left and a small description in the right. It contained an old-looking kinda puppet, with a disturbing toothy smile and an elegant old-timey suit with a top hat and a monocle. He was doing a welcoming or presenting type of pose. He probably was the titular “Mortimer Handee.” Underneath, on the left it was a mime or some painter stereotype holding a drippy paint palette. No idea who the guy was. Next to him was a yellow dog waving. According to his collar, his name was “Rosco.” Next to the dog, was a woman dressed in a red dress wearing a white apron. She was blonde and had blue eyes. It reminded her of a housewife stereotype. Underneath her, there was a red-haired scientist with some strange looking glasses, a turquoise face mask, with two toned-eyes (one green and the other one left) holding two sorta beakers.  Underneath was the show’s tittle. The description on the left read:

“Mortimer’s Handeemen aired its first episode on October 11th, 1985. Created by Owen Gubberson, Mortimer and his puppet pals have been called “Even better than The Muppets!” By the San Diego Sun-Times Examiner.

Beth took a picture with a slight sneer. “I supposed The Muppets had a rival back then. Still, I guess the compliment is a slight achievement.”

She walked next to the next post before noticing it contained two glued down items, separated in an individual stand. One contained a top hat, and the other contained a monocle. Beth took a picture of them before focusing on the two posters. On the left it was a drawing of the titular character “Mortimer Handee” smiling as a red ribbon was underneath him with his name written in yellow. 

“He looks like some monopoly man knock off.” Beth muttered as she took a picture of Mortimer’s poster. “Maybe some mixture of a grandfather too, but definitely a knockoff of the Monopoly man…”

Then, she took a picture of his description…

“Mortimer Handeemen Owen’s original originally top secret….design has baffled puppet makers in the world.” Beth read the poster before stopping at a particular portion. “...Nuance and lifelike motions…”

Well, hopefully any of those things would not be near. The last thing she would want was to see that thing staring down at her…

“Moving on!” Beth said within a sneer as she focused on reading the next sentence. “Owen often says “Mortimer is more me than I am.” Well, that…that is an interesting thing to say…”

Deciding not focused too much on Mortimer’s description, Beth moved to the next poster which was the red haired scientist. Her name was apparently Riley Ruckus (it looked like someone found alliteration cute) and her description was basically about her being the fan favorite, and having a catchphrase “More data!” She also was the apparent owner of the giant yellow dog named Rosco, who was the largest puppet and required too puppeteers. They were apparently a duo.

“So…she has a giant dog. He’s probably the least disturbing out of these guys.” Beth commented before taking a picture of Riley’s poster and the glued down items underneath them.

The next puppet was named Daisy Danger. She was the other female member of the gang, and the one that looked like a southern housewife. Her description was about being a helpful homemaker who often help planned parties, and had a temperament so strong that she became an entirely different person named…“Daisy Danger.”

“So….is she always angry or is the Danger part of her actual last name?” Beth asked confused before taking a picture of her poster.  She turned around to see the remaining one. “I guess the creepiest one is the last one…”

The last puppet was Nick Nack, who arguably had the creepiest design by far. Apparently he was the theater kid who made shows, told poetry, made music, well the artsy related stuff. He was also mentioned to apparently fight with the scientist one puppet, Riley Ruckus. Most likely playing into the whole brains vs heart type thing. 

“So…is everyone in this whole damn show, except Mortimer, have an alliterative name?” Beth asked as she took a picture. “I guess it adds to the charm, but it would be awkward to be the only guy without a name not starting with the same later as your last name.”

She took a moment to close her eyes as Anthony’s laughter rang through her head. He would have stopped at every poster and make some dry joke about the characters, and what was the creepiest thing about them. At least if he didn’t find something interesting when he allegedly came here, he would have gotten some fun goofing around as usual to make up for his disappointment.

Maybe even left a can of his favorite soda or chips. Any sign that he was here.

So far…there was no sign of him or any clue that he was near. Maybe he went to another place and Brody thought…

“ Moving one.” Beth forced herself to get back to her attention at what mattered. 

Taking enough pictures, Beth was about to turn around before a sudden light turned on. It was on the same hallway she found the newspaper piece. Curious, Beth slowly walked further down the aisle and nearly yelped when she saw the cardboard cut-outs of Mortimer greeting her (showing his balding head) and Riley Ruckus and Rosco chilling together. There was some old furniture, and an old shelf filled with old VHS tapes of the Handemeen episodes. In front, there was a small blue theater with the floating heads of the main cast. It was hard to tell but she could see some sort of man or mannequin standing there and holding….holding what it looked like a puppet.

“I-It’s probably a mannequin or s-something.” Beth let out a nervous chuckled as she pulled her camera up before clumsily taking a picture as the flash went off.

“I wouldn’t mind some photos, but first you should always so whoever your is your muse knows!” Suddenly the puppet rose as the lights turned on. It was Mortimer speaking.

“JESUS CHRIST!” She cried loudly.

Beth’s heart began to found loudly as she yelped and lost her balance. She could feel those empty green eyes staring down at her as her hands started to tremble. Her breath began to shorten up as she saw the puppet staring down at her with the permanent smile on his face. The masked man simply sat with his head over his left hand. 

This couldn’t be real…there was still a puppet around…A puppet…one of the puppets from the show!

“I-I b-better b-be going now…” Stuttered as she clumsily tried to get up from the floor. “V-very funny prank! Y-yeah…”

Her words stared to failed her…

Bump! Bump! Bump!

Her heart was pounding so widely as her hands started to tremble. 

“I….I need to get out….g-get out!” She cried as she tried to run feeling her legs heavier than usual. 

Why there was a puppet? Why was the puppet talking and not the guy normally? WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE THE PUPPET?!

“Take a big breath, my dear, there is nothing to be afraid of here!” The puppet reassured her as Beth’s heart began to beat louder and louder. 

Not buying whatever thing the man behind the puppet was saying Sarabeth simply stuttered. “H-hey…If…if i-is t-this is some s-sort of p-prank. P-please s-stop…it is not funny!”

The man still did not move, but the puppet pulled back as Sarabeth stared at him with her green eyes. He simply said in a surprisingly calm voice. “You are afraid of me, aren’t you?”

She could only nod. He let out a soft chuckled. 

“It’s alright, I don’t bite!” He joked. Sarabeth’s mouth remained closely tight. “It’s ok my dear, breathe it out. After all I’m not moving at all, I’m just like a little sprout.”

She glanced around the room to see if there was any jerk hiding behind a secret camera. To either her surprise or dismay, it was just simply the two of them around. Unsure of what to do, Beth decided to follow the man’s advice and started to breathe in and out. There was nothing to get afraid outside the giant puppet the man was holding, who decided to sit down into place and understandably was calming her down after realizing she got scared. 

Feeling herself calm enough to talk, Beth asked. “Who are you?”

“Well of course the one and only Mortimer Handee!” The man chuckled. Beth narrowed her eyes hoping he would give her a serious response. 

Oh, so we are going the whole in character route…

“I guess that is your costume.” Beth muttered before turning around. “Umm, yeah it was really “funny” the whole scare the shit out of me with your costume, but I gotta go and-”

“It was not my intention to frighten you or get you feeling blue.” The man rhymed again. Beth had to give him credit for thinking about making cohesive dialogue using only rhymes. “After all I love to meet someone new!”

“Ok?” Beth quirked an eyebrow before walking closely to the small theater. She noticed some small puppet like kids in front of her. She felt a bit unseated by them. 

“Ah there are my little Handee crew!” The guy who held Mortimer said. 

“Cute…I guess?” Beth said with a sneer. “Umm anyways…since you are ummm in costume…do you mind if I take some pictures? It would help for my journal entry.”

“I will gladly pose for your camera!” The Mortimer guy said. Beth took some pictures of him and the five puppets in front of her. 

“Thank you, sir.” Beth let out a tiny smile. “I am not one particularly fond of puppets, but I guess this is manageable.” He only smiled.  “Umm by the way, are there any umm you know members of the handee gang?”

“They’re inside far away on the east side.” He explained. Beth nodded as she decided Mortimer alone was enough as she did not wish to see the other things running around the studio. “You know, we didn’t have a proper introduction, and I don’t want to look like I’m conducting a misconduction!”

“Pardon?” Beth asked confused. 

“May I have the pleasure to know who this Betty is?” The Mortimer guy asked before extending his wooden hand.

He is really invested in his role, isn’t he?

“I’m Sarabeth. I am a college journalist.” She introduced herself before slowly approaching the man and awkwardly shaking the puppet's hand as shivers ran down her spine feeling the old wood. 

“A pretty name fitting for a young Betty indeed!” Mortimer chuckled before Beth released his hand. He stared at her once again before asking. “Have we met before? You look vaguely familiar, like someone I used to know, all rest assure.”

There was something strange about his comment that caught Beth’s attention. It was mostly likely the case of some guy wanting to play along with her via the weird looking monopoly knock off….but…what if it was someone else? I mean only a few co-workers and part of her close friend group knew she was up at this hour taking some pictures where she just broke in. It wasn’t far off the idea that Brody decided to break in and give her a fright, but if it was Brody…then he would have already removed the mask and apologize and-

Wait…Brody would never go as far as to scare with something he knew she wouldn’t laugh at…

So it was probably some other person messing in the studio, but…but why the hell didn’t they just knock the Mortimer act already? Looking closely at the way they were dressed, arguably the rope around their neck made it harder to remove the mask alone with one hand. Still, they could just take off the ugly thing in their hand and speak to her normally without pretending to be the puppet. The best reasoning to the insistence of Mortimer being played around, was most likely about pretending to be their character. 

Like some sort of method acting. Not appreciated, of course, but to their credit it was they were quite good at keeping the Mortimer persona for so long.

“Alright, bud-bud, I hardly think we met each other unless you're my boyfriend or any of my friends?” She let out a painful chuckled. 

“I’m afraid not.” The Mortimer guy said. There was some small disappointment in Beth without her response. 

“Well, then…we never met until now.” Beth offered some awkward smile before gazing at the figure holding Mortimer. “I gotta give credit when credit is due, you have a real talent on keeping up with your character.”

“Years of experience it takes to make this act be so victorious.” He chuckled. Beth nodded impressed.

This guy probably is some hardcore fan. Still strange to find one sitting alone by themselves in an abandoned warehouse…

“Years of playing Mortimer? Damn, I can now see why it is hard to break from the role.”She lightheartedly joke before her eyes gazed on the four estranged puppets in front and asked. “So…what are this guys for? Do you sell them or is it like…part of your act?”

“They are friends that I love to give around, they are one of a kind in this little puppet town!” He beamed. Beth named no comment on that. He then proceeded to ask. “Interest in keeping on keeping this little lassie you found? After all, it is not every year you get his opportunity all year ‘round!”

“Fuck no!” Beth said nearly automatically without even thinking twice about what the man just said. 

“Pardon?” The Mortimer asked in a rather serious tone. It was most likely due to the fact that Beth blurted out the f-word. 

“Sorry, I…I didn’t mean to curse.” Beth apologized before giving a sneer to the puppets below. “As…as you probably found, I am not a person p-particularly fond of puppets…nor is my family fond of them. It’s a taboo, ya know?”

“Well, the least you could do is perhaps try one on dear! After all, it would give something to the Halloween cheer!” He rhymed.

Beth narrowed his eyes at him. That guy won’t leave her alone until tried one of those hellish thing around, wasn’t he? Well, she was not going that far into their pretend game. 

“Yeah…thanks but no, thanks, bud.” Beth said as she crossed her arms. She free her left hand to gesture at the four puppets around her. “The whole act is really cute but putting on one of these things is my limit. I…I am not exactly a person who would love to put this… thing on my hand and pretend that is talking to me. No…No offense.”

“None taken.”  He simply smiled. He leaned a bit closer before rhyming. “Well if you really insist on going, then I would gladly help your trip feel more easygoing.”

Knowing that there was a catch, Beth proceeded to ask. “But you first want me to try a puppet on?” He nodded. “Well, I-”

Then…then it was then when she realized she didn’t even know how far she wandered off the studio. Yes, she walked down to some hallways, and some exits were blocked to the accident nearly 30 years ago, but Beth didn’t even know how she found herself looking back the mysterious newspaper piece she found, or how the lights from the aisle she walked suddenly turned up.  

She of course had better changes going back alone to herself, but yet…it wouldn’t even take a while to get lost and not remember where the nearest entrance was. The hardcore fan that loved to presented to be Mortimer seemingly had to know the place, and all he asked from here was to put on a puppet on her hand. She could just put it on and get it off as fast as she would like and get out of the place she shouldn’t be on the first place as fast as possible. 

“If that’s all it takes…” Beth muttered before picking a random blue haired puppet from the batch. Her hands trembled as those lifeless purple eyes stared at the void. 

“Try it on!” Mortimer insisted 

Beth gingerly turned the puppet outside down to check if there was anything off about it. She awkwardly pressed against the thing until she made sure it was safe enough to touch. Then, taking a big breath, Beth slowly put the puppet on her right hand. The felt caressed her skin as she pulled forward. Her hearted beat loudly until Beth found herself staring down at the puppet for a bit. It wasn’t entirely that bad. It was a bit heavy, but there wasn’t something unusual about it.

“I guess this is kinda nice.” She confessed as she turned the puppet around her hand examining. Her heart wouldn’t beat, or her hands trembling, but at least she was getting used to it. Still, she probably wouldn’t pick another puppet again, but at least it was a positive step forward in overcoming a silly phobia.

“You poor innocent little dove…you did really put it own like a glove.”The Mortimer guy suddenly began to talk. His voice wasn’t as friendly as before as it became groggier and sorta sinister. Beth slowly felt as if an invisible rope was wrapping around Beth’s hand.

“Shit!” Beth cried when she tried to take the puppet off. It stayed down as it was tied down to her wrist. Eventually she started to feel her body becoming heavier. “What…what is going on?!”

Then the man suddenly dropped on the theater, as if he was the puppet instead of the one he was holding. The room started to become darker as Mortimer eyes starter to glow. Beth glanced around panicked as she felt her body freeze in place. “HELP! ANYONE?!”

There was just an aerie silence…

“Yaknow...there's a reason Handeemen puppets are so lifelike and true. When you wear them, they really...wear you..." The puppet whispered, in a voice that sounded almost like a threat.

Her body started to become stiffer and her and heavier. The room was becoming darker, and there was like some sort of smoke coming over that began to make her sight less clear.

Was this some sort of drug? Who was this man? what was even going on?

" BA ROOM TAKKA EES KELLA MORAZZA VEE TEKRA DAZZA!! “ The puppet man began to chant in a language Beth couldn’t recognize. 

She felt her head spinning as the figured in front of her began to become a blurry figure…

“Your soul belongs to us now, no need to fight…. “  A raspy voice whispered into her ears, but there was nowhere near her. 

" Rise puppet...RIIIISE!! AND CLAIM THE SOUL OF THIS HOST FOR YOUR PRIZE!" The puppet yelled macabrely.

Slowly, Beth started to close her eyes and next thing she knew she fell down to the floor. She battled to keep her eyes upon what her eyes allowed to see. She could barely feel her body anymore, but did know a rainbow loom bracelet she was wearing broke into pieces by the force of her fall. Beth tried to tingle her fingers trying to get a feel of herself before she realized she was slowly closing her eyes.

Little by little until her eyes were fully close. Then everything stared to become quiet, and the last thing he heard was his laughter and calling some person.

“Riley, come here! We got another one all clear!”

Three days ago, October 14. Conference room, at 3 pm.

Today was the day. Today marked the three-year mark of Anthony Pierson’s mysterious disappearance among Kelly Bierch, Michael “Mike” Rodriguez, Veronica Pruner, and Randal Reynolds, who disappeared at the same time around Anthony himself. The last trace of the group was some abandoned equipment in Mike’s car, along with some recently bought beers. There was no other trace, and the police declared them presumably dead.

She refused to accept it, as they had to found his body first…otherwise, part of her still had hope that he was found at least alive as well as the others, or perhaps some sort of trace that could indicate they were still living. 

“She’s usually quiet about this time of year.” She could hear some of the freshmen mutter among themselves as Beth focused on getting into her seat, ignoring the mannequin dressed as a zombie that her editor insisted on calling Johnny Rotten,  Rick R. Mortus best skelly-buddy…

“I heard her boyfriend went missing.” Another one freshman whispered as Beth took her seat and took out her laptop. 

“Must be hard for here, specially during this time of year.” Another student whispered as she turned to her friend. 

“You three knock it off.” Ariel, one of Beth’s co-workers scolded the group. The kids stared at the older woman and nodded. “We all know Sarah is not doing her best right now, but can we please be a bit considerate and not whisper around her? This is a delicate subject, and whispering around is not showing enough respect to her.”

“Sorry!” The trio apologized. Beth simply gave them a weak nod. The children quickly returned to their work, as Beth turned to the blond woman with a weak smile.

“Thanks, Ari.” Beth muttered as Ariel patted her back. 

“Anytime, Sarah. I know today is hard for you, and I want to make sure anyone is not making things awkward or…well…you know opening old wounds.” Ariel said within a sneer as Beth nodded. “Anyways, I will be off to town taking pictures of some Halloween decorations. Crazy Swan would lose it if I don’t get some good pics for the Thompson’s Edgar Allan Poe theme decorations for their home around a few blocks from here.”

“Good luck it. I’ll…I’ll continue on with my article.” Beth muttered before shifting her eyes to her computer. 

This year, she wasn’t feeling as festive as she used to do. It didn’t help that Ericka Swan herself managed to get the entire office decorated with other festive decorations. The good thing was that her, most likely, insane editor wasn’t running around carrying a plastic skeleton head greeting all the unfortunate reporters and journalists that entered the building. Still, at least it was helpful to concentrate in her less than enthusiastic article and not think about…

Not now, Beth. You gotta finish this article first and then you can walk with Brody to get a strawberry soda and cry all you want at the news report with Catulu when you get home. Now, you promised Ericka to work on your entry…

Shaking her head to find where her last sentence was, Beth focused on rereading again her entry about fun activities to do for the Halloween season. Right now, she was stuck at the haunted house near the Pembroke’s Library. It was a harmless attraction, mostly toward kids, where they saw scary creatures jumping around as the tour guide “Holly Andrews” told them the supposed legend that the place had. It was the 2nd place Beth suggested visiting, and the last one she was looking forward to least as picking up other good places was already hard enough.

Since…well…her and Anthony often loved to visit as many haunted houses, or ghost “towns” (which were simply some streets decorated as one) trying to find and report as many mysteries as they could…

The Haunted House near the Pembroke’s library, was the first attraction they went together when they just started dating. It was a sweet date for the two of them, not to mention he took her to the fair where they got their matching alien keychains, and accidentally knock some poor scarecrow nearby.

“Double, double toil and trouble: Fire burn, and cauldron bubble. By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes!” Everyone in the room stared down at the door as they stared at their editor wearing a short black cape and a party witch hat. She used to wear a white wig and a fake witches nose that wrapped around her head, but it looked like she got tired of wearing them most of the day. “How are my precious little ones doing?”

“Must you always quote that line when you enter the room?” One photographer asked. Ericka simply let out a snort. 

“It adds to the environment, Susan!” Ericka simply responded before taking out her notepad and pen shaped like a magic wand. “Now, let the wicked witch of the office check everyone’s progress!”

Everyone decided to focus on their work, ignoring Ericka walking around waving her pen as if it was a magic wand of some sort. The older woman walked around the place talking with photographers, checking journal entries before suggesting some changes, reviewing pictures, brainstorming ideas, and discussing what pictures could work for the next set of papers. Then Ericka turned around before noticing Beth and walked up to her.

“Hocus Pocus! How are we in your focus?” Ericka smiled before taking a seat next to Beth. She cracked up a smile when Ericka bop her nose with her pen.

“Not as spooky as the wicked witch of office would like.” Beth sighed deciding to play along with Ericka’s odd Halloween persona. Ericka raised an eyebrow at her as a cue for Beth to continue. “I am not particularly feeling this article. I find it rather dull, and not to mention it doesn’t have that Halloween vibe or excitement we are looking for.”

“Umm…The Andrews’ Haunted house it is a pretty good suggestion, but it feels as if you were uninterested based on your “I guess it would be entertaining for some.” Takes the spooky and fun aspect of the attraction.” Ericka confessed as she leaned over to read what Beth had written so far. She pursed her lips before commenting. “You’re not feeling the Halloween Spirit, are ya?”

“Nope! I am not digging any Halloween…or fall spirit if I’m being honest.” Beth sighed before staring at her dull article. “I’m having a hard time digging the whole “What fun things to do!” as well…visiting the places suggested don’t bring me joy as they used to…”

Ericka gently patted her shoulder before saying. “Hey, we are not as far from the deadline and this wicked witch still has some spells up her sleeves that could be useful!”

Then she stared at Beth with an elongated smile as Ericka began to pull something from her literal sleeve. Knowing and working for her from some years, it was clear there was some sort of idea she had in mind and was dying to tell. The downside, it was that it was a face Beth recognized and learned from experience that particularly smile, was the same insane smile she always carried when she had a stupidly crazy idea about something that she knew Beth would possibly think as ludicrous.

“For the love of Christ…just spill it out, Ericka!” Beth sighed just as Ericka finished pulling some old paper up her sleep and slammed it into the table.

“Now that you ask, Sarah J, I have the best idea for ya! I want you to visit that old studio that broke down to a fire and write an article about the rumors for the place!” Beth could only stare in horror at the newspapers in front of her, but mostly at the tittle of the article.

“Haunted? Rumors spread about the old abandoned Handeemen Studio.”

“You officially lost your mind…” Beth muttered just as Ericka let out another snort.

“You just sounded like my ex-husband. That’s what he said when I saw my Halloween Decorations in the office!” Ericka said as Beth stared at the newspaper in frog of her. “I guess he thought Johnny Rotten was an overdue or something.”

Ignoring her comment, Beth decided to ask the next logical question. “How long did you carried that newspaper just to make that joke?”

“Two hours, nothing like breath control and some stretching can help for the discomfort.”Ericka confessed as she gave her arm a little stretch. “But that’s not the point! The thing that this would be a perfect addition for our newspapers and articles! What better way to get into the spooky vibe than to give off a mystery itself!”

“Nope. I am not taking this!” Beth said as she slid the paper towards her editor. Ericka pursed her lips in a sight pout.

“‘C’mon, Sarah J! You want to give a good article for Halloween, and this could be it!” Ericka beamed before pulling Beth closer to her. “It would be just about the mystery surrounding the studio and-”

“Ericka, have you forgotten my family isn’t precisely fond that particular studio or well…the show that was produced in there?” Beth pursed her lips as Ericka stared at her with a rather serious face.

The Handeemen Studio? Why would she even go there? Her mom would totally disapprove of the idea and…well…it was revisiting a family tragedy from some sort…

“Oh do you mean the story about your Great Aunt killing herself at the main stage?”Ericka asked. Beth let down a bit of shivered.

“Yeah. My family is a bit touchy about that whole ordeal, specially my mom.” Beth explained with a slight sneer. “We basically have forbidden to watch the show or do anything in relation to late Mr. Gubberson and-”

“Sarabeth, I understand the gravity and I absolutely I am against the idea that we take that story for our news articles and blogs.” Ericka said before sliding back the newspaper towards Beth. “So, I rather not mention late Amy Kruber, or if you happen to wish a mention a respectful mention the tragedy could be helpful; but that would be taking a bit of focus from what I want you to do.”

“Breaking the law?” Beth retorted. Ericka frowned.

“Nah, I hardly doubt breaking into the studio is even illegal.” Ericka commented before tapping at the newspaper and saying. “What I want us to focus is into covering the mystery around the warehouse about the alleged missing people, although it is clearly some bullshit, and turning into a mystery story but reminding readers of the tragedy and events.”

“So…you want me to take some pictures and write an article like something I used to do for the page my missing boyfriend and I used to do…” Beth said just as Ericka nodded. “Ericka, what the actual fuck?”

“Hey! My original idea was about you just writing into some Scooby shit mystery about the rumors…but then I thought about it more, and I knew it would give you a hard time writing something and-”

“And this particularly thing isn’t it?!” Beth asked in disbelief. “Do you expect me to break into a studio that carries a personal tragedy, want me to do a sorta article like I used to do in Vox Veritas, while…while…I am still thinking about my missing boyfriend?! Ericka Esther Swan, what the actual fuck is wrong with you?!”

Everyone turned towards Beth after her comment. Ericka pursed her lips and shook her head. “Sarabeth, I wish I could allow you not to write anything for this entry, but the big guys have made clear of what they expect from us. I know that you are sad about Anthony, and you are fighting your feelings out…but sometimes we have to work with our emotions into something positive.”

Beth frowned at her as tears started to threaten her eyes. Ericka continued. “I’m not asking you to use your pain as entertainment, but to write a heartfelt story around a mystery and spooky event that reminds readers that the Halloween Spirit is not only about having fun, but also community. Not to mention, I am sure this can help you work with your feelings and take a break from the positivity.”

“I…I don’t think that I can do it.” Beth muttered to herself before glancing at the article she was making that made her feel unhappy as ever. “Yet it does sound like a better job than this…still the situation…you know…”

“Well, at least just think about it.” Ericka said before standing up and patting her shoulder. “If you don’t want to take it, you can continue on in your article and I can suggest some good improvements; but if you ever change your mind feel free to give me a call. Just don’t call me around 7 pm as I am currently busy teaching in my yoga class at that time.”

“Will do and thank you, Ericka.” Beth muttered. 

Present. October 17. Place and time, currently unknown.

“Testing! Testing!” A loud voice rang through Beth’s ears. She didn’t know who it belonged, but it looked to belong to some sort of older woman. 

Her body was aching, and her wright hurt like hell, and not to mention she couldn’t feel her lips at all. Beth was lying on something soft, like some sort of chair…but…but she was strained or something as she started to feel something holding her back making it hard for her to move. Beth slowly opened up her eyes and was immediately welcomed by a bright light in front of her. Naturally, Beth turned towards her side. Everything was still blurry as ever, but it looked as if she was in some sort of dentist or doctor's office.

There were tables filled with tainted cabinets, and some sort of tools lying around. It was hard to tell what they are as everything moved around her. Now…what just went on, and where was she? All she could remember was suddenly fainting after some guy- No. Puppet yelled some sort of spell and the she started to lose her consciousness until she was knock down. Perhaps someone found her and called an ambulance…or maybe she was kidnapped for something horrible.

Either way, Sarabeth could only wish to know where was she right now…

“Lab rat’s breath seem to go steady. Soon their testing would be ready!” The same strange female voice announced. Beth tries to move her head to get a closer loot at her. Within the blurs and different colors, she was able to distance a large blob of orange with some lilac, a tint of green, white, and tainted spots of red pacing the around…but…no it wasn’t pacing around…it…it was floating.

How could she possibly float? Was Sarabeth dead or…

It was a puppet. It had to be one of the puppets from the posters she saw before fainting. She was…the scientist one. Annie? No, there wasn’t any Annie mentioned on the posters. Perhaps it was the one that was named Daisy Danger…but she couldn’t be it. Daisy was the blond one, the red one had the dog named Rosco…yeah Rosco. It started with an R.

Reagan? No…it wasn’t it.

Ronda? Umm…not quite yet…

What was her last name again? Was it Focus? 

No, no, everyone except from the Monopoly looking one had a name starting with the same letter…

Ruckus? Yeah…Ruckus…Ruckus… that was her last name.

Rolly Ruckus? It was something like that.

Riley Ruckus! It was Riley Ruckus, that was her name. Riley was the scientist one, so she probably had a lab…which could mean…was Sarabeth in her lap? Why would a studio even built up a laboratory that big? She did hear that Owen tended to be a tad egocentric, but that was going overboard. Still…her head was still spinning around to even think properly about what was even going on. 

But…it was safe to assume she was in a laboratory of some sort, with the pupped named Riley Ruckus. 

“I cannot believe Mortimer won’t let me get her to leave!” Riley, Beth presumed, ranted as she paced around the room. Beth could see a splotchy dark figure walking all zombie like. “This is a waste of my brilliant works! If I had the chance I could prove that brat is a disgrace, and then perhaps test her on fireworks!”

There was a sinister tone within the last sentence, among with some malice and a dark pleasure that made Beth’s skin crawled in horror. 

This was not a good place to break in, wasn’t it?

“I cannot wait to get rid of Scout, just with one little slip and then she will be out!” Riley chuckled diabolically. “Now, I gotta stay up and finished in this host, and then enjoy some well deserved roast!”

Wait…who was host and Scout? Was Riley referring to her?

“Mmm…” Beth attempted to say something when she realized her mouth was shut tight. More or less…it looked like it was sewn.

“What was that?” Riley asked before rushing towards Beth who pretended to drop dead. Felling Riley’s eyes upon her, Beth did her best to remain calm just as she felt a wooden hand pressing against her left hand. 

They remained like this for about a minute before Riley released her and walked away muttering. “It was probably a rat…”

Beth decided it was best to keep her eyes closed shut, as she didn’t know how far Riley was or if she was looking down at her. 

“Not a bad host, still a waste for Scout at most.” Riley muttered as she was seemingly recording something or typing in something. It was hard to tell, but all could Beth was here was tapping. “Mortimer saw some used in this thing, so I guess after Scout fails I can run some test in a wing.” 

There was suddenly a slam and some steps. Beth still had her eyes shut tight, but could feel some air coming from afar. Most likely belonging to an open door of some sort. Some steps began to sound as it looked like someone had stepped in. Beth could feel some sort of dark energy around the room. She thought about opening her eyes once again but something inside her told her it was best to remain still.

“How is the little host that we capture doing today? It looks like things are doing well our little prey.” It was the same voice she heard from the guy playing Mortimer. 

What was he doing in here?!

“Mortimer, sir! Things are going well as you can tell.” Riley said in a rather happier and less threatening tone than before. “Everything would be ready for my tests to run steady.”

“Wonderful! Now, how long would it take for Scout to finish her break?” Mortimer asked 

“Not too long, hopefully in an hour but it won’t take any daylong.” Riley explained. “However, I do fear for what the host may be headed.”

“And that is what? What is the worry about?” Mortimer asked.

“What would we do with the host after we’re through?” Riley asked before grabbing Beth’s wrist aggressively. “I do intend to experiment a bit after scout’s future embarrassment.”

Were they planning to experiment on her? Were aliens actually real?!

“It would be decided with time.” Mortimer said. “Now, let’s get us some tea, to calm down and get us some glee.”

“But-” Riley was about to protest, but Mortimer interrupted her. 

“The spell needs some time to settle in properly, and you could interfere by mingling with our property.” Mortimer scolded her.  Beth could feel his eyes looming at her as he said “She’s probably awake but won’t remember much after our break.”

“What? Was the lab rat listening to our chat?” Riley asked. There was a brief moment of silence. Then Riley muttered out of nowhere. “I…I understand, sir. I will get out as you finished the transfer.”

Then Beth heard some steps fading away into the distance, and the sound of a door closing. What was all about it. She kept her eyes closed knowing Mortimer was still around. She tensed momentarily when she felt he was pressing a wooden index finger against her forehead. She felt a cold breeze slowly covering her body as she relaxed once again.

Was this another sort of spell of his?

“It is time to sleep host. When you awake, you would not remember much from your uptake.”

Then, she heard him walking away and closing the door behind him. Beth weakly opened her eyes again to notice the room as empty. Her body was relaxed, and the lights slowly stared to fade. The cold winds caressed her skin as she stared to feel her eyes becoming heavier. If she could do so, Beth would yawn but the closest thing she got was from a muffing sound as her eyes began to close.

All she could think to know was on nothing…perhaps a strange dream about memories before…

One day ago. October 16. Wendy’s at 8 pm.

She remembered she was seating at a table for two barely eating her fries. Her Dave single sandwich has just gotten a single bite. The older woman in front of he pursed her lips as she took a sip from her lemonade as she stared at Beth. Sarabeth didn’t have much appetite due to the stress of trying to finish her article that she was disliking for her college paper, her small fight with her editor, and of course processing that three years had passed ever since Anthony disappeared.

“So…umm how is are your studies doing, honey?” Her mother, Hannah, asked. Beth put a fry in her mouth. 

“They are going ok. I’m having some troubles with my papers for Ericka Swan, my editor.” Beth explained before taking a sip of her soda. “It is far better than the Christian College for sure.”

“Yeah, I can see that.” Hannah nodded in agreement with a slight smile. “I wasn’t fond of it either if you want my full honesty. Still, I do think you were a bit harsh on it.”

Beth decided to take a bite from her Dave single before considering a small nod. She swallowed her bite and said. “Perhaps. I’m still glad I left that place and changed to where I am now. Talking about it…we have been working on our articles for this October.”

Hannah leaned forward in interest. “You did say you were having troubles with your article.”

“Yeah, it’s my Halloween entry.” Beth explained before taking another bite of her burger. “I originally thought about a Fall themed entry but…when I loved at the ideas, I keep going back to some old pictures.”

“Old pictures? Like the one of Brody and your friends running around the field horsing around? Hannah asked. 

“Yeah and some old pictures Anthony and I took during the fair.” Beth confessed. “I just could look at the pine cones or pumpkin spices without thinking about the time we got jump scared by an actor in a scarecrow costume.”

Hannah’s smile began to fade as Beth took a momentary pause to catch her breath before continuing. “So, I decided to focus into fun Halloween activities, but then there was something that just…that just…”

“Reminded you of Anthony.” Hannah completed the sentenced with an unamused expression. Beth nodded. 

“Yup. So, my Halloween and holiday spirit is nowhere to be found. Ericka already knows I’m having a hard time, and suggested I try another story but worked around my feelings and write a less “Halloween is fun!” article and a more “dramatic” type of thing.”

“I see.” Hannah replied as Beth let out a tired sigh. 

“It’s been hard to write something when the only thing in my mind comes about that Anthony hasn’t been found yet…” Beth muttered. “It’s been 3 years since he suddenly disappear without a trace along with my friends and I…I just cannot bring myself to write something.”

“Yeah, you were never the same ever since he disappeared.” Hannah commented with some concern and slight bitterness. Beth could only nod as the mother continued. “I know that the dueling is hard, but…Sarabeth…you just can’t keep up curling and letting yourself hurt like this. It’s been three years already.”

“I know that three years just have passed, but I cannot simply move on from him! He…he just disappeared and I want to know whether he is ok or if I have a body to bury.” Beth defended herself. Hannah shook her head in disapproval.

“Sarabeth, the police declared him dead. We don’t know much, but there is nothing we can do.” Hannah replied.

Feeling the heat rising from her body, Sarabeth tried herself to remain as calm as possible, but still she gave a slight frown as she remarked. “That’s only because they cannot find any clues about him…but…but he has to be around somewhere….he…he has to be!”

Hannah pursed her lips as she reached for her daughter's hand and said. “Honey, I understand that the process of losing the love of your life is rough. When your father died, I was in denial that he was killed at the battlefield. Every day, I wanted to tell myself that it was a bad dream, but he would eventually return into my arms and we would be together again…but that was just my hopes.”

Beth took a small moment to let tears to run down her face as she listened to her mother's words. Part of her wanted to scream and tell her that she was wrong, and that Anthony promised that he would be back one day, or that they would found him alive or even gave her a body to bury. Still, the other part of her listened closely as she understood her mother had the best intentions, and she understood her mother was right in a sense. 

“The thing is…I don’t want you to allow yourself into a sort of toxic hope pretending that one day Anthony would return.” Hannah said just as Beth lowered down her head. “I know that you refused to accept the police answer as there is no guarantee that he could be actually dead, and you have a right to feel hopeful that he would be found alive, but…Beth you also have to acknowledge his disappearance has been eating you alive.”

“So…you want me to find someone else?” Beth asked before Hannah whipped off her tears. 

“Of course not. I…I just want you to still miss and love him but move on in a healthy way.” Hannah explained. “You need to work into your grief in a healthy way and not let it consume you so negatively.”

“I…I just hold tight the promise that he will be back…” Beth muttered just as Hannah nodded.

“Maybe he will, and maybe he won’t.” Hannah said before standing up and sitting next to her daughter to pull her into an embrace. “But you have to work within your grief. The duel is hard, but I am sure you can do it.”

“Funny enough Ericka told me something similar. She wants me to work with my emotions and do something positive about my emotions through her suggestion of the paper.”

“That’s very considerate of her.” Hannah chuckled as Beth nodded with a small smile. “Say, maybe you can do the paper. What precisely is it about?”

Panicking knowing her mom would change her mind about the mention of the Handemeen Studio, Beth opted for a simple. “It is something similar to what Anthony and I and our gang used to do in our free time.”

“Getting into trouble trying to find UFOs?” Hannah teased as Beth chuckled.

“Mom!” Beth giggled before nuzzling her mom. “Nah. It was about talking history behind buildings who were famous for a peculiar mystery.”

Hannah made a humming sound before kissing her forehead. “I am sure it would have been something Anthony would adore + it can be helpful to keep your mind busy. What did you tell Ericka?”

“It was a no at first, but then I told her I would consider it.”Beth said.

“I mean it's been a while since you and your friends hang out in another wild investigation, not to mention you used to have so much fun writing articles about those mysteries.” Hannah said. “Besides, doing an article in honor of Anthony sounds like a sweet idea. You should totally do it, and hopefully it would help clear your mind up.”

And perhaps she could find at least one clue about where Anthony could have been if she was lucky..

“Thanks mom.” Beth nodded. 

After eating, Beth decided to take a small break and walk towards next to some bench of an old broken park. It was one of her favorite spots to sit down with Anthony as they ate some frozen yogurt and talked about what other mystery to cover. It has been years since Beth ever sat down into that place, and in all honestly felt nice. Her mother was out buying some cat food at a near convenience store. Beth told her she wanted to spend some time alone to call up Ericka, before settling on sitting on “the stop” out of good memories.

The bench still contained the bubble gum Anthony as a tendency to put under, and the accidental nail polish spill by Beth herself some years back. 

“I should have gotten the frozen yogurt.” Beth lamented with a sly smile before picking up her phone and dialing at Ericka’s number. 

“Ah, Sarah J!” Ericka greeted her over the phone. “Just in time! I just finished wrapping up my yoga class today. Waddya need, pumpkin?”

“Is the Handeemen Studio’s report still available?” Beth asked 

“Oh yeah! Not many people are too interested on it.” Ericka said over the phone. She took a pause before asking. “So, did ya change your mind?”

“Yeah.” Beth said. “I want to take that report!

Handeemen Studio, October 17. Time, unknown. Section, the testing room.

Beth eventually woke up on a strange chair. She slowly started to regain control over her body as her eyesight and hearing started to adjust. Her mouth was still sewn shut, but it began to hurt less. The downside was that her right arm felt heavier for some reason, but at least the pain was becoming bearable. She wasn’t sure how much time had passed over at the last time she opened her eyes, but at least thing started to become much clearer this time.

“Raise left arm!” Beth hear a young voice demand. Beth tried to rub her eyes before she felt a strange material against her face. 

Was…was her head under some type of cover?!

“No! No! I just said raise the left arm.” As Beth’s eyesight became cleared she her eyes shifted towards a blue haired pigtail puppet girl that was…that was on her arm. 

Terrified Beth slowly began to move her right arm trying to make sense of what was happening. Perhaps there was some sort of button or machine inside the puppet that made her talk, or complain that Beth was not following her orders. She tried to tingle her right-hand fingers, but found herself feeling into a strange void, almost as if it was in another time or space. 

“This can’t be real!” Beth thought to herself as she glanced at puppet sewn to her arm. 

Just some hours ago the she found the puppet lifeless and a strange theater before Beth fainted and woke up with that hellish thing sewn to her wrist. There just had to be a logical explanation. Maybe…maybe she was stuck testing some old animatronic maybe …

“Wait…I’m not making the host do that!” The puppet said before turning toward Beth as if she had a mind of her own. “Is this host awake?”

Was…was the puppet actually talking to her?!

Beth could feel the puppet eyes as the mouth of the thing began to drop wide open. 

Did…did she just make eye contact?!

“Was-Was that eye contact?!” The puppet seemingly had the same question in mind. That was a sign that perhaps…just perhaps Sarabeth was stuck with a sentient puppet being on her hand. 

This…this cannot be real…it…it just can’t be!

“Oh no! no! no! no!” The puppet started to panic as she looked around the room. She took a big breath before turning towards and saying “Y-you supposed to be out! Zoned! A-a zombie! I’m…I’m supposed to control you completely!”

And just with that sentence alone, Sarabeth began to panicked as he frantically stared to shake the puppet around and trying to get off the chair she was in. The puppet girl bounced around up and down. “Hey! Hey! Hey! OUCH! That hurts, she-hulk!”

“I…I need to get this thing off my hands and get out of here somehow!” Beth thought to herself as she clumsily stood up and try to keep her balance as she walked.

“W-Where are you going?! Y-You need to stay right here or we’re both dead!” The puppet cried again. Sarabeth stood in place before turning towards the puppet with a trembling head. 

She didn’t mean…they were possibly on a threat to die, didn’t she?

“Oh, you heard that right, Giantnormica.” The puppet said. “Now you better stay calm and just pretend that I have control over you, so when Riley appears she doesn’t suspect that…well I can’t control you and you’re awake!”

So…so there were more of those things?!

“You are not responding…”The puppet muttered. She paused momentarily before saying. “Shit! I…I forgot Riley sewn your mouth shut. Umm…if you can hear me nod your head.”

This being the only option to communication Beth had, she opted to nod her head. 

“Well that is great. Just to make sure you are not B.S me, shake your head.” The puppet demanded. Beth shook her head. “Well. At least you are not entirely useless.”

What did she even mean by that?!

“Ok, so listen, here is what he gotta do. Just stay still and don’t move right after Riley-” but her words were interrupted by a mysterious screen turning up.

Beth found herself slightly yelping at the sight of a puppet woman leaning too closely on the screen. Her pupils were small, and one of her eyes was twitching, and she was wearing a disturbing face mask with a creepy toothy mouth painted on. Based on the signs of red hair, and the green and blue eyes. There was no doubt the puppet was no other than Riley Ruckus.

So…so the puppets were alive after all…

Chapter Text

This….this couldn’t be real…it just couldn’t be…

“Welcome to puppet host orientation. Our purpose is to measure your host control and manipulation.”  Beth anxiously glanced at the older puppet as the screens appeared closely. The room echoed her rhymes. 

So, it turned out that puppets…at least the ones stuck at this warehouse were alive. Unless this was some sort of elaborate prank, but based on the reaction of the blue haired little demon sewn to her hand, it was clear that this was very much real. Let alone mention on the subject about manipulating “hosts” (Sarabeth’s best guess was how they called humans) it meant that the puppets became the puppeteers and the puppeteers…well they became the puppets themselves. This was some sort of sadistic irony that made her sick to the stomach the more she thought about it…

“I guess God must really hate me…”  Beth thought to herself within a shiver as she stared at the frighting image of the puppet named Riley on the screen. “Getting me trapped in a murder house with evil puppets…”

And a little foul-mouthed gremlin sewn to her right hand…

Her thoughts were interrupted when she noticed the blue haired thing on her hand started to speak again. This time to Riley herself. “Wait a minute! I-I think there is something wrong with my host!”

Oh. So that’s how things were going to be…

“Rhyme, Scout!” Riley demanded with irritation. 

“Wait…so little blue gremlin has a name?” Beth thought to herself as she glanced at the puppet who supposedly was named Scout. “I…I think I heard Riley talk about you before…”

Yeah. It was a faint memory when Beth accidentally woke at some sort of lab. It was probably after that demon puppet thing scientist sewed her mouth shut and…well, the small angry blue gremlin in her wrist. Riley…Riley Ruckus was working and muttering to herself something about Scout. What was it? Her tone wasn’t exactly enthused, and she was complaining about Beth and the Scout named thing. It was something about a waste…or was it about materials. No. No, it was certainly about her frustrations about not being able to get rid of Scout and wishing to experiment on…

Fuck! This was just about another hit on her already terrible luck…

“Shit…” Scout muttered to herself before returning to Riley and attempting to rhyme. “Sorry! Umm… What if my host is not working? Can I get another one without any jerking… around?” 

As much as Beth wanted to be offended by Scout accidentally insulting her again, there was an attempt at making a cohesive rhyming (which was already something hard in the first place.) So, she simply nodded at Scout’s small “ugh” at the end. The rhyming itself was questionable, but when she thought more about it, it was refreshing to see that at least she would not have to endure as much rhyming dialogue in what short time Sarabeth herself had to enjoy. 

Also…that meant that puppets could talk normally without having to make a rhyme…well out of every dialogue they did? Why don’t they just talk normally then?

Any thoughts that Beth had about how the hell did those things worked were interrupted by Riley giving not very welcoming news…

“You had two FAILED testings in the past, this third attempt will be your last!” And with those words, Beth and Scout automatically stared at each other in horror. 

So…so death was a guarantee! Horaay…

“Ok, I know that you just listened to what Riley just said, so don’t try to fuck with me by pretending you did not.” Scout pouted as Beth narrowed her eyes at her. “So…you and I are basically just a few steps from death right?”

Being unsure about if it was a question Beth was meant to answer or not, she choose to simply nod her head.

“Good. So… just play along and pretend that I have total control over you.” Scout muttered with a few anxious glances to make sure Riley wasn’t paying attention. “Just walk around and follow my directions and hopefully we can get out this as fast as possible!”

“What do you mean by 'hopefully?!” Beth internally thought before begrudgingly nodding. 

“Well it is good that at least we are on the same page…unless you are bullshitting me right now…” Scout narrowed her eyes before Beth shook her head, trying to find the urge to smack her. “Well, at least you are listening to me, which is a start.”

And the hope for the chance to rip her off her hand was starting as well…

“Did you say something?” Riley asked, seemingly hearing a bit of what Scout said. 

“Oh. Umm, No!! No, no. Just…just talking to myself. I didn’t mean too…err…share the wealth.” Scout rhymed as a response to Riley’s question.

“Surprisingly coherent rhyme, Scout.” Riley said much to Scout and Beth’s relief. “Your future, perhaps, is no longer in doubt. Proceed!”

Then the screens turned off just as Scout let out a sigh of relief. Beth couldn’t help to release through her nose some air she didn’t realize she was holding. So far, that scientist puppet thing did not realize Beth was still awake, neither she knew about Scout having zero control over her. It was a small victory, but if life and her terribly luck with this place had thought Beth something, is that things were soon going to get worse somehow…eventually.

So far, there wasn’t a particularly reason not to fear as Riley said that perhaps she was putting in consideration their future at hand. Remembering how “nicely” Riley was talking to Scout, Beth wouldn’t put her bets on that the puppet mangler thing would stick to her words…

“Well, that was a close one.” Scout muttered with a little smile. She then turned to Beth and frowned. “Ok, big and tall. Do you see that slot over there? Stick me up there so I can unlock the door.”

“You don’t have to be so bossy about this, kid…” Beth bitterly thought to herself before walking up the slot near the handmade metal door. 

As she was about to place Scout to the slot, Beth eyes shifted towards the room in amazement. This was some type of Sci-fi movie shit found in the movies Beth and Anthony would often watch together. How long have the puppets took the type to upgrade the studio and still keep it as less suspicious as possible? That…that also raised the scary question about how long have the puppets been alive, or if puppets were always alive. Perhaps…perhaps some sort of aliens that were involved or a type of supernatural horror that was tied to…umm bringing them alive.

Still…that implies that they have….they have kidnap people and murdering them…

“Host…didn’t you just hear me? I told you to stick me up that sloth!” Scout was quick to snap Beth out of reality. The young woman turned to her right to see the tiny blue haired puppet narrowing her round eyes at her. “Are you going to stand there like an idiot? We. Are. In. A. Hurry. If you don’t stick me into that close right now, Riley is going to get so mad and-”

And without thinking twice, and probably wishing to shut the demon puppet thing for once, Beth took the demand into the literal sense and pressed the puppet against the slot. 

“OW!” Scout grunted before raising herself up. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

“Well, you did tell me to stick you up that slot.” Beth thought to herself while she only nodded.

“Ooh you are just an asshole!” Scout remarked.

“Look who is talking!” Beth thought to herself.

They crossed the door and entered into a tiny room with a strange metal box in the middle. Looking around, it appeared that this either was a hall or some sort of office. There was another door in front but it was locked. It seemed that the only way to cross the door was to complete whatever test Riley had to find. Beth glanced anxiously at a security camera that was following them around. Riley was watching every single step they were making.

“Let the testing begin!” Riley announced via the microphone as the box opened to reveal some sort of strange T like figure with two red buttons sticking out.

“Ok, listen up, Gulliver’s Travels.” Scout muttered as she leaned closer to the red button. “We have to press this buttons at the same time.” 

Beth nodded before reaching her left-hand closer to the red button. Scout began to count “Three. Two-”

Beth’s fingers were leaning closer to the button before Scout said. “Oh no, wait! Mm…let’s go on three.”

“You couldn’t decide it before telling me the instructions?” Beth mentally lamented before retrieving her hand from the red button.

“Three…two…one!” Scout counted as both pressed the red button. Nothing occurred rather than some pleasant tune. 

That was it? Well, at least it wasn’t something too complicated….or murderous.

“That…that was surprisingly well done.” Riley commented in a rather annoyed tone of voice. “Continue forward. Let’s see how you handle the next now!”

There was a slight shiver in Beth’s body at how Riley growled the last sentence before opening the door. 

They continued forward to an empty room with another closed door at front. There was no strange box, or some sort of test that Beth and Scout could interact with. They made their way as the door behind them close. Beth glanced around at the empty old gray walls trying to figure out if something would eventually come out. Nothing happened, just Riley announcing the following.

“Please wait here and do no further tread. Another test subject is finishing up in the room ahead.” Riley explained.

“Well, that doesn’t sound too ba-” Beth was about to mentally say right before a less than welcoming sounds came forward.

“AAAAH!!!”

BRRRRRRRR

RAAAARP!

ROOOOMP

“AAAAAAAH!!!”

Beth’s legs began to tremble as she started to clumsily back down feeling her legs slowly getting heavier and heavier. The screams became louder as some sort of shredding or devouring voices sounded from afar. Beth’s heart pounded wildly before everything became silence after a big 

BOOOMP!

And a…

ROAAAAAR!!!

“I’m going to be sick…” Scout muttered to herself in disgust and fright.

“That makes two of us, kiddo…” Beth muttered to herself.

The door slowly opened and there was a room similar to the one they completed the button test before…just…just that it had the small alteration of a big puddle on the floor that look-like blood. Beth glanced nervously at the floor wondering what was the cause, and if the previous text subject managed to make it alive. Although the latter was more about keeping her nerves under control enough to force herself to walk forward to the next room knowing that if she didn’t, then perhaps…perhaps she would become a puddle of blood as well.

The slowly walked through the door as Beth noticed the walls were splatter with blood. There was an eerie silence on the room as they slowly entered. Riley didn’t speak, but Beth noticed another strange box in front of them. Perhaps, Riley was simply waiting for them to arrive to the box. Maybe she was getting bored at their progress or maybe.

“BUUMP!” 

One of the vents dropped to the floor causing Beth to slightly yelp. P-Perhaps it was only a malfunction of the studio. Possibly some rat running through the vents! Yeah, that seemed reasonable. Slowly, Beth gave a few steps forward slowly reaching to the box.

Just…just play along. Nothing bad is going to happen. Nothing…nothing was mutilated.

Just…just keep calm.

Keep it positive, Jenkins. 

Things would get only worse if you-

Then, in a flash another thing dropped to the vents. Beth jumped back nearly loosing her balance as she tried to scream in vain forgetting her mouth was sewn shut. She was quick to pull her left arm and Scout to her chest in an awkward embrace as her heart beat loudly.

Shit got real! Shit got so fucking real! THEY ARE NOT FUCKING AROUND, AREN’T THEY?!

The hanging body of a mysterious person with a black bag covering their heads, was enough of an answer for Sarabeth herself, since the body remained still, and the rope swirled around a bit. She could feel her lips trembling as she was unable to fully scream.

“AH SHIT!” Scout cried in horror as she pressed herself closer to Beth. 

This place just kept getting worse by the second…

“ That was a test of reflex and reaction. Which, you barely passed to satisfaction.” Riley chillingly explained. Beth slowly placed her left arm out as Scout, breathing hard moved forward.

That was a what now?! Now a test of hearing or balance was something not to look forward to…

“Test my reflexes when I kick your ass, Riley …” Scout angrily muttered to herself as Beth forced herself to walk past the dead person’s body in front of them. She sneakily nodded to Scout in agreement.

“That makes two of us, Riley…” Beth thought to herself with a frown as they reached for the box in front of them.

The box, however, did not open up like the last time. It contained a U- looking thingy with two peculiar-looking levers that turned right up. From that Beth could gather, and the gear-looking shape, it appeared that this time they have to move the levels in the same direction. So, deciding not to slow down on their test, Beth put Scout closer to the lever on her right, as her left hand held the level on the left side. 

“O-Ok, I remember this one.” Scout muttered to Beth as she held the level to Beth’s right. “You have to turn this thing at the same time I do in the same direction. So, just watch me and hear for my cue to switch sides. Ok? Here we go…” 

Beth only nodded as she concentrated her gaze on the level on her hand. Scout muttered. “Right.”

They slowly turned the level to the right side in a slow pace. Beth could feel the security camera leaning over them in curiosity to see if they were able to fail the task. Beth could only move the level in a clockwise motion as she nervously waited for the puppet on her right hand to cue that they were switching sides. Eventually, Beth could feel the turning coming to a close.

Click

“Good. Now, left.” Scout muttered before both started to move the levels counterclockwise. 

Click

Music began to play as a small smile formed in Beth’s lips just as Riley spoke through the microphone again. This time, in disbelief. “Huh…Another test passed; but this success, I suspect, was your last! 

She was eager to see them fail, wasn’t she?

Then the door swooshed open as the duo walked through the next room. The room was about the same side as the other rooms they crossed before, this time it contained some shelves with some old VHS tapes. In front, there was another locked door, and a screen. This time, it didn’t contain the peculiar image of a white mitten but rather a lock. Thankfully, or well rather unluckily, Riley decided to speak again.

“Please hold steady. The next chamber isn’t quite ready.” Riley explained before turning her microphone off.  There was an awkward silence trying to figure out if the welcoming surprise from last time would appear. 

Thankfully it was just silence. For now.

“Hey you, host, look at me for a second.” Beth turned to her right when she felt a tiny soft smack on her cheek, She stared at the blue haired gremlin frowning at her. “You’re killing us right there! You are NOT passing for a mindless zombie slave at all, and you’re dragging me down with you!”

Beth frowned at the puppet in front of her as she mentally responded. “Well, you are not doing well either by your bossy attitude and trying to shift the blame into me!”

“I don’t feel like you get how bad THIS situation is.” Scout spat. Beth narrowed her eyes at her.

“Well, it’s not like I’ve been to this place before and I am aware of what others fucked up thing those…those wooden shit demons have in store. I’m BASICALLY getting jump scared by whatever fucked up thing this guys keep coming up with!”  Beth Mentally replied. 

“I don’t have all the time to keep you full informed, but here is some small crash course.” Scout continued as Beth stared at her still in anger but curiosity. “Basically you’re in a  decommissioned sound stage filled with murderous sentient puppets from a canceled TV show, who were brought to life by an evil voodoo spell, and now they want to drain your life force in order to sustain themselves, so they can bring back their cancelled show and take over the world!”

Basically they were this type of parasite megalomaniac creatures that were most likely affected by some sort of dark spell, and decided to go into a murder spree or trick victims. So, some sort of shit that was in horror games. Got it!

“Shit…that was actually pretty damn good.” Scout congratulated herself before turning to Beth with a frown and asking. “Did you understood all that? Because I’m not repeating it again.”

“Well, that explains pretty much everything. ” Beth thought to herself before nodding.

“You…you must be a phenomenal listener or you're just being an asshole again.” Scout huffed before glancing at the door before glancing at Beth. “Listen…I might have exaggerated a little with the whole “You're messing things up” type of thing.”

A little?!

“You did fuck up in some aspects, but I also hold some accountability for our situation too, and I admit I…possibly was a bit sharp and bossy around you.” Scout confessed with a small sigh. “I know that you probably figured out I’m not exactly captain popular around here, so that’s probably a factor affecting our luck…plus you being a dickhead.”

She would take every opportunity to insult her, wouldn’t she?

“The…the thing is I never…” Scout paused momentarily before changing her words and saying. “The thing is that I…I also want to get away from this place too. This place is nuts, and you can figure out Riley is basically a crazy loony bitch that is waiting to attack us.”

Beth did not question how Scout changed her mind into what she was about to say, but nodded at the last statement. 

“So…what if we worked together as a team? I…I can never pass Riley’s little dog and pony show, and perhaps if we complete it together…you and I get to go free and go our separate ways!” Scout suggested. Beth leaned over with her with interest. “So what do you say? Are we a team or what?”

Knowing it was possibly best working with what she got (and repressing the idea of finally yeeting the gremlin off her hand) Beth nodded as Scout cracked up a smile. 

“Great! At least you’re not entirely an asshole.” Scout beamed as Beth mentally groaned. “Still, I think probably you want to get rid of me, but the feeling is mutual. You are a grumpy guy…”

And back to “Insult Beth” time…

“I apologize for the pace being slow. The next chamber is ready to go.” It was Riley that caught their attention. The screen unlocked to the white mitten.

“What took her so long?” Beth asked herself as she brought Scout closer to the screen as she began to scan her tiny hand. “Was she listening to our conversation…or did something came up?”

Well, only time would possibly tell about what mysterious circumstance would appear to their luck. Anyways, the next room was pitched black. Was this some sort of pop quiz? What was even behind that room? The only thing Beth could do was to enter into the darkness unsure of where to go. Thankfully, that small little mouthy creature stuck in her hand proved to be of some use. 

“Hey, hit me GENTLY on the head to turn on my light.” Scout demanded. Beth stared at her startled, but mostly confused.

“Those things had some sort of night vision or a lantern inside them?” Beth thought to herself before taping on Scout. Her eyes lighted up like a flashlight.

This…this was strange…

They slowly walked through some old beaten up boxes, filled with some old merchandise, some parts of broken walls and old furniture. It was like walking through a maze in the middle of the night, there was no assurance of what was a dead end or a corridor as everything looked pitch black into the distance. Beth found herself into some dead ends or walking around passing the same microscope she swore it was the same, eventually she reached another end…except…except it was different. 

Her eyes slowly opened wide as with her left hand she touched the graffiti on wall. There was no guaranteed to know how long it was there, but it couldn’t be far from some years or something. Still, Sarabeth’s eyes were drawn to the shaped painted in red.

It was a triangle and two circles. The pyramid with the eye in the middle, just as the as her tattoo on her right hand. This…this wasn’t possible!

“The…the Vox Veritas logo?!” Beth muttered to herself with surprised and a bit of horror. 

“This…this was not here before!” She could hear Scout comment in confusion. “This was DEFINITIVELY not here LAST time!”

Naturally, Beth decided to figure out if there was something behind that wall. It…it must have been something, unless….unless, it was some sort of prank, but why would someone use their logo as a prank? They were mostly treated as a joke for years, and were told to get a real hobby and- No. It couldn't have been a prank, here had to be something in there. They always agreed to tag whatever creepy haunted place they're visit to not get lost and to create hiding spots for cool effects.

And also in a sad attempt to get more recognized, but that wasn’t entirely important.

Carefully, Sarabeth looked to her sides before a blue light on the left caught her attention. She carefully tiptoed her way and gently leaned forward to discover a secret spot. Beth entered staring at everything with widened eyes. From the empty drawers, to the broken computer screens, the lampshade, some VHS tape, a keyboard, some photos, and a play recorder.

“What the hell is all this?” Scout asked herself.

“ A…a set-up…”  Beth thought to herself before walking close to the tape recorder. This…this was something she has never seen any members of the gang do before…

It…it was somewhat familiar…

She glanced at the VHS tapes, but figured out they were mostly empty or from episodes based on their smudged fabric branding. Her eyes focused once on the table and was about to press play on the recorder when a picture captured her attention. It was a picture of Riley. She…she was sewing into something. It had human teeth and eyes. It looked like some sort of leather face type creature. Hopefully she wouldn’t see any of those things around (although, it was a false hope from her part…)

 Beth decided to keep the photograph to herself. Probably as some sort of evidence once she escaped, or probably to make up from the stolen cameras the puppets owned her…

Shifting her thoughts away, Beth focused on playing the recorder just as shivers ran down her spine and she became pale when she heard the voice behind the recording.

“Ok…It's…uh, it’s April 15th…This is Anthony Pierson. Log, No. 5. I’m sorry, I gotta keep my voice down, I think there are puppets nearby…”

This…this couldn’t be real… it…it couldn’t be him, could it be?

“This is it. This is fucking it! A real supernatural phenomenon, the one I’ve been looking for my whole life, and it was hiding here in…in a run-down warehouse in bum fuck nowhere! I can’t believe I almost bailed on this place. I gotta get pictures of everything, not just for the website but for the world! I’m gonna keep my research hidden compartments around the warehouse. I’ll use the Vox Veritas symbol, the pyramid with the eye, to mark where they are in case I need to find them. I’d keep it at home, but who am I kidding…my home…my home’s a Pontiac gram dam right now- What was that?! Shit!”

He was there…he…he was there the entire time.

Anthony fucking Pierson was at the Handeemen Studio the entire time. He…he was there and he knew those things were alive…he…he willingly broke in for God knows how long and investigated. He…he didn’t dare to fucking tell her he was there or even mentioned he used t break into the studio to capture some stupid ass pictures of puppets?!

Why the fuck didn’t he even bother to at least leave a damn message or a clue that he was running off being stupid again? Why didn’t even Randal have the guts to come and tell her Anthony was breaking into a studio for a private investigation!

Why did he even promise that-

No, no, Jenkins, calm the fuck-up. This is the first thing you hear from him after three years and you are about to lose your shit?

But he didn’t even-

No…this…this wasn’t the best way to react. Yes, she was furious that he keep this thing hidden from her, but also…part of her was overjoyed or relief to finally find a sign of him. There wasn’t exactly a precise date or year from the tape outside that it was April 15, but it was something. This was that something Beth was hoping to find after three long years. Still, it would be nice that he could have left her anything.

Maybe he had his reasons, or knew she would panic knowing it was related to puppets…

It was a sign…and part of a clue to figure out if the puppets…those evil things took him as well. Anthony was never the type to leave his job undone, unless things got bad with the cops or Mildred was threatening him again…

There must have been more about him…

“That guy sounds nuts, and that’s coming from a talking puppet!” Scout huffed just as Beth stared down at her with some slight offense.

“You just said that in front of his girlfriend, kid.” Beth commented.

Letting her annoyances about Scout, Beth began to further down think about her most recent discovery. She, obviously, had no idea Anthony broke into the place (presumably with Randy, as Anthony often needed the help to make as much footage as possible), so this was some sort of side joke he probably mentioned to her about that she couldn’t remember, or probably never explicitly told her, but she did remember he used to be away working on another big thing for their page. He said that she probably wouldn’t be too eager but would love the supernatural lore behind it. 

Yet, there were a ton of things Beth would often draw the line, but recently Anthony wasn’t acting like himself again…

Thinking more about it, Anthony slowly started to become stressed about it. He constantly mentioned that it wasn’t ready, but it was something bigger than he expected. He refused any help available, but only asked for reassurance that he truly stood for something. Beth obviously was the first one to comfort him, and he would always wrap his arms around her muttering how thankful he was to have her. 

His voice…his voice still contained that love, but it felt rather melancholic as well…

Whatever project he was working on became a mystery. She and the rest of the gang never got to see what he had in stored, because he disappeared without a trace or anything behind. The only last moment they share it was when he called her drunk asking to come into their favorite spot three years ago before he disappeared the next day without a trace. It was also the same day when he made her that promise that kept her hope alive for so damn long…

Three years ago, October 14th. The Spot, around 10:30 pm

He was drunk as ever. She didn’t know how many bottles he drank, but he was drunk. He was sitting alone at the bench staring at an empty bottle of whiskey in his hand. His black hair was a mess, and his clothes were covered in dirt and grease. Sarabeth wasn’t precisely sure about what happened before he called her desperately to come and see him at their spot this late at night.

She only knew that he recently fought with Crow (Randal Reynolds) a few days ago (and that Crow was being immature enough to block their calls or say a thing in that manner), and that he was undergoing through some shit he refused to talk about after he sold his ban and recently started to take less care for himself.  Still, he tried his best to not get the gang members involved, and still participated in some small investigations Brody and J.J suggested. 

He still tried to call her and ask her about her day, and checking if her new boss, “the loony of Mrs. Swan,” was treating her well. Still, it did not help that he tended to crack a bit more and his voice was becoming softer. Almost as if he was loosing himself or fighting against some serious issue he was too delicate to tell her about.

Or…he was probably going under another relapse after two years of being clean.

Now, that fear was threatening to becoming true when she saw him staring at the empty bottle in his hand looking like a hot mess. Let alone he forgot his glasses again.

“You…you came.” He muttered with a sly smile when he noticed her presence. His gray eyes were struggling to face her. He looked almost if he was about to cry.

“Your voice was nearly cracking and so eerily quiet when you call me” She responded as she held tight some water bottles she bought at a 7-11.  “I came as fast as I could, Sorry if I was a bit late, I was getting you something to drink.”

And she was also hesitating whether to come and call the paramedics or his mother…

She took a sit next to him and frowned at the empty bottles. She let out a small sigh and glanced at him before handing him some water. “I also got a feeling that you got drunk, so I brought you some water.”

“It was just some bottles, Beth.” He let out a bitter chuckle before opening the bottle and taking a few sips. “I’m not fully drunk yet…”

Yet, he was somewhat drunk…

“Did…did you eat anything or took something else?” She asked. Anthony shook his head. 

“Just a hot dog from a street vendor, and some alcohol.” He explained before rolling up the sleeves of his messy gray hoodie. His arms were thin, but no signs of needles seen. “It was all I took. So, don’t worry too much me going back to my old life, Beth.”

A part of her was relieved. The alcohol was not a good sign, but it was far better than a full relapse…

They sat down quietly at the bench. Anthony rolled down his sleeves and tossed the bottle to the drown. Beth would normally scold him for it, but her mind was too preoccupied on the state of her boyfriend. He called her to her phone, drunk as ever, begging her to meet him about something important. He was no longer chuckling, smoking (although, it was a good sign that he was working on quitting), or leaning against the bench rambling about a new idea he had for their page. 

He was not being himself for a long time, and she…she feared what would he want to tell her next…

“So…what is going on?” Beth asked trying to break the silence, and hopefully get an answer to what was this all about

His smiled faded as he turned his head facing the other way. His right hand held her left tightly. “Can…can we talk at the old quarters?”

Beth could feel her body stiffening as she frowned.“Anthony, we are not walking to that abandoned house this late at night, specially with your state.”

“I have a small set up before I called you. I asked you to come here because I didn’t want to alarm you.”

Well he did alarm her with his drunk call… “Anthony, I-”

“It’s important and…it is safer if we talked at the quarters…”

“A-Alright.”

She should have refused, she should have told him that they’ll be getting into her car and back to her apartment. Yet…she accepted his request. Her heard told her that she was being a fool, but there was something in the way he told her about the importance that- It…It clearly meant to him something, and he wanted to tell or talk to her about it. Let alone he has been going through some hard times, and she was not a person who could deny such a simple request. 

She always tried to be as supportive as she could to him….and…and she didn’t want to make him as if he was alone during his times of need.

Although she was never sure how to help him while keeping his wishes of not wanting to but the burden into her…

They walked some good miles to the old abandoned house near some old broken down buildings that the city refused to acknowledge (or were too lazy to get destroyed for some reason.) She opened the door and turned in the flashlight of her phone. Everything was just as they have left it a few weeks ago, except for a few spray cans missing and a few pictures of their pin board gone. He guided her upstairs towards the destroyed room that became their entrance to the roof was. She hesitantly followed him, while making sure he didn’t tip over some loose floor. Eventually they climbed their way to the rooftop, where she saw some blankets on the floor and some papers neatly stacked under a rock.

Was he going to tell her something about an incident? 

“Don’t worry, I am not in trouble with the cops.” He muttered as helped her get to sit on one of the blankets. He followed her after as he tossed the rock to the side. He handed her a small report. “Those assholes actually mocked me and suggested this.”

She glanced at the report. I turned out to be a submission request for a crazy story in satirical newspapers' organization. “They gave you this?”

He nodded. “I…I tried to reach them about something important but…but those assholes…” He let out a sigh before huffing. “They even brought the records…”

“Shit! What did you tell them?”

He tensed up for a moment as he hesitated. “I…I am not precisely sure how to even tell you without sounding mad or frighting you up…”

She glanced at him with widened eyes. He facepalmed as he shook his head. “I didn’t do anything bad, it’s actually related to my investigation…”

“Shit…did…did things got bad?” She instinctively took his hand. He gave her a bitter smile as his gray eyes sparkled.

“It…it was rather a desperate resort.” He huffed. A tear slowly began to fall from his eye. He started to attempt to laugh as he held her close. She embraced him. “I was a fool…”

“Anthony…what is going on?” She asked him as she pulled away. Her left hand was swiping off some of his running tears. He stared at her before pressing his lips against her.

The kiss felt melancholic and bitter. 

“Anthony…”

“ They can hurt you …” 

“What?” She asked unsure to what he said.He did not respond.

Maybe it was some drunk rambling…

Anthony simply stared at her before cupped her face. His eyes stared at her as his thumb caressed her cheeks. He slowly started to sob before he pulled into another embrace. His arm held her torso back and one of his hands held her head against his chest. She embraced him back as her own tears threatened to leave her green eyes…

“I love you so much, Beth….I love you so much.” He sobbed. He could fear his tears falling into her, she slightly pulled away to face him. His lips trailed to her temples and cheeks as he started to tremble. “Sarabeth…I love you so much…s-so much…”

“I love you too, Anthony.” She reassured him. “What is going-”

But he kissed her again. He pulled back as his hands cupped her face again. He move a strand of her off her face as he muttered. “I am so sorry…”

“W-what is going on? Are you ok? What happened, are you being chased?” She had so many questions but he didn’t seem to want to answer.

“I’ll be making a very stupid stunt tonight.” He muttered. Her eyes widened. He instinctively held her tight. “Listen… it is nothing that would threaten my life, but…but I am afraid of things may not go down well…”

“Anthony, you are rambling off again…” She breathed out. “I…I am not following you.”

He reached towards the rest of the papers he had lying next to him. “This is my information and whatever they will ask you about me…if they come to you.”

“Who…who them? Anthony, I…I think we should take a break because your-” 

“Just trust me on this. There is so much that I owe you to explain but, right now it is not a good time…certainly not in a few days until I come down with the proof…”

Proof? What was he on about? Was he even thinking right?

“You…you…you didn’t get into trouble, did you?

He frowned. “No, not exactly. It…It will be clear when I come back…”

“You are leaving me?!” She could feel her body trembling as the heat was rising. 

He became stiff before shaking his head. He placed another kiss on her lips. “no…not exactly. I mean sorta…but…I am not breaking up with you or leaving the town.”

So he was going somewhere? why couldn’t he tell her where or why? Or even a cohesive answer…

“What…what are you planning to do?” She asked him. Her eyes stared at him with dread. He took a long sigh before smiling at her.

It was that same old smile that he always gave her when it was another “You gotta hear what I found this time”, or “I know it may sound crazy, but we gotta stick together on this.” That type of smile that always reassured her that things would be alright. That he’ll be alright and he was just being the same fearless dumbass that she fell in love with so many years ago.

The one that was confusing her and scarring her about his well-being.

“I…I can’t exactly explain it fully. You…you would have a hard time believing me due to me being partially drunk.” He muttered before reaching for her hands. She stared at him wishing for another answers. He gave her a long kiss as his eyes were watering down once again. “but I promise that whatever happens I’ll be back.”

“An-”

“I’ll be back, and then I will explain to you everything.” He muttered. He stared at her again as he let another sigh escape his lips. “Whatever you do or whatever happens, never lose hope that I’ll be back. I…I don’t know how but I will return, even if it seems unlikely, I will find a fucking way back here…back to Vox Veritas, back to my shithole of a home, and…and back to you...”

She ought to tell him that he was scaring her, that she wanted to know what was going on but…but her heart took over as she simply said. “I…I will…I will promise…”

Riley’s laboratories, the testing rooms. Time currently unknown.

“They could harm you.” His voice rang through her ears like a ghost. It…it wasn’t a drunk rambling, wasn’t it? He…he was afraid that she could get involved…

Beth couldn’t remember how long was she even standing there, but it appeared not to be so long. Her eyes could only stare back at the voice recorder. It…it somehow made some sort of sense now. Well, partially as she didn’t know the full story of what was even going on, but at least she got the concept that Anthony found out the puppets were alive. That…that couple possibly be tied up about something bad happened to him at the studio.

And that when he called asked to meet her… it…it was to tell her goodbye as it would become the last time they have ever seen each other again…

He knew he was going to-

“Host? Host are you there?!” An annoying cry interrupted. 

Oh shit, she forgot she wasn’t alone…

“Hey, host! Are you listening to me?” Scout rose herself up to her face. She was scowling at her. “I’ve been calling you for like an hour…well it was actually 2 minutes…but I still stand my point.”

Beth quickly remembered the task ahead. 

“I…I am very sorry, Scout. It’s been a while since I even heard from my boyfriend…” It was what Beth tried to say but it all sounded like muffles. She forgot for a second that her mouth was sewn.

“Don’t tell me that you know that crazy crackhead…”Scout muttered to herself. Beth could feel the heath rising from her body. “Why does Riley always has to give me the worse hosts…”

If she could talk or be able to do something, things would have ended much nicer for the both of them with the little shit off her hand…

“Shit… you heard me didn’t you?” Scout slowly turned towards Beth, who only nodded. “It was mostly something to myself, ok? Well… I am partially upset about you ignoring me, but I guess that loony was important to you.”

“He is my boyfriend…” Beth would have said but she only chose to nod. 

 “Well, It is understandable that you slightly got distracted.” Scout said in a surprisingly soft tone, but she went back in a flash to scowl at Beth as she said. “But I hope that next time you actually try to remember Riley doesn’t give a shit about sentimentalism.”

Beth nodded. Scout did have a point. As much as Beth would have wished to spend hours trying to investigate or let her mind wondering about the mystery of Anthony himself, right now this was no time to sit around and yearn for the old days.

Her life was at risk, and she had a role to play. So, she made her way out of the secret room she found. Scout surprisingly was staring at her. 

“Umm but…but if we find out another symbol of the loony…ummm maybe we can check it for a few seconds.” Scout said once again using a softer tone than the usual angry tone she’s been using for quite a while. “Just for a few minutes, alright! I…I know that he is somewhat important to you, and some comfort would do you nicely.”

“Well, that is actually pretty thoughtful of you-

“Maybe that could also help you concentrate better!” Scout huffed just as Beth took a long sigh. 

You make me want to rip you off my hand and get rid of you as fast as I can…what is your fucking problem with me?!

Eventually the day to finally talk back to the blue little gremlin will come once they got out. Now, she had to be focused on her mind on trying her best to survive. Hopefully, once she was able to get out, she would try to find out a way to get help and stop this madness. She would, must certainly, take her full time focusing into what happened to Anthony Pierson and if his disappearance was connected to the others. 

And hopefully find out if he was alive…

They walked a bit of a long way through the empty halls. Perhaps this was some sort of way to Riley to test how well the puppets tended to handle their hosts, or maybe the sadistic bitch simply enjoyed seeing them getting lost and with the fear of what could come to them. It was terrifying. Endless dark hall after endless dark hall. There was no way they knew they were going, it was all dark and empty. There could be a chance that something might be something after them.

A silent predator reaching towards them. A quiet chase about an unknown foe. Anything could be possible in this warehouse of horrors. 

At least there wasn’t silence. Still, Beth couldn’t have been more unfortunate enough to learn about Scout’s weird habit of singing when she was nervous…

“It’s a small world after all…”

“It’s a small world after all…”

“It's a small, small world…”

“T-There is just one moon”

“And….and one golden sun…”

“And…and a big….smile means... F-friendship to…” The blue haired puppet seemed to stop momentary. “Fuck, I forgot the rest and I ran out of songs…”

Beth wasn’t unsure about whether to be happy about Scout ending her small torture with those catchy songs, or the fact that now they were forced to continue on with the dreadful silence…

Thankfully, God decided to show some mercy upon them when they reached a dead end with a black glass window behind them. Beth glanced around the room. She noticed a chalkboard next to the window. This probably was some sort of recording room or office. She looked closely to see if the chalkboard contained some important information, or a clue about what was the place about.

Reminders (To cast and production crew)

• Filming starts at 6:30 AM SHARPLY

• Puppets to be handled ONLY by Owen or the puppeteers

• Mortimer ONLY to be handled by Owen (No exceptions)

• Please remember that this is a children’s show, and that we frequently have child guests. Please keep profanity and coarse language at an absolute minimum

So, this was probably some sort of recording area before the puppets. Quite strange that the puppets decided not to delete what was written in the chalkboard. Maybe it was related to what the blue haired little thing mentioned the puppets waiting to bring their show back. It was an odd choice, but this old warehouse was the house of an old television host.

“D-Did you see that?” It was Scout that gasped. Beth glanced around the window. She could see a shadow moving. 

Nope. Let’s go the other way. Let’s ignore the looming shadow. No more puppets, no more surprises, and no more bad luck for-

ROAAAAAR!

At that moment Beth felt as if her soul left her body for a minute. 

“HOLY FUCKING SHIT!” It was Scout that yelled. Probably for the both of them as a thing pretty much taking from hell appear in front of them.

Thankfully (which was debatable) Beth was able to finally recognized one of the puppets. It was that giant dog that required two puppeteers, well or rather four or three of them based on how many arms that thing contained (as the more she glanced a it, the more unsettling things she saw.) The most notorious feature was that he…or it…contained rotting pieces of flesh sewn all together. Its mouth was broken down and sewn to become lager, with a tongue that-that was made out of several human tongues. It had sharp teeth, and an expression that thirsted for blood…

Somehow the puppets managed to top horror after horror Beth encountered…

The monster seemingly intended to bite the chicken wire from the glass, but came to a stop when his mistress began to speak. “Rosco, bad dog. Sit, my pet!”

The creature gave them a threatening glance before frequently walking away to disappear into the shadows. Beth would have let out a small sigh of relief if it wasn’t for Riley happily saying “Don’t attack them…not quite yet.”

That…that was clearly a sing that things most likely were not going to go down smoothly. If horror movies, video games, and her short time at the Handemeen studio taught her anything, it was that things would go down terribly for now on. Riley clearly was cooking something behind their backs. Why else would she tell her mutant dog thing to not attack them yet?

She was obviously preparing to kill them. Maybe right after they cross to the next section the dog was already there waiting patiently. There was no way in this damned living hell that Riley Ruckus was clearly not preparing a certain doom from them!

They. were. dead.

“Host…don’t stand there, we gotta continue or tests unless you want Riley to come down and get us.” Scout spat. Beth was about to protest but she wouldn’t risk her stakes, so she proceeded to walk through the door at the left. 

“How are you not aware she is trying to get us? What could stop her from interfering?!” She thought to herself as she entered the room, partially glancing at some scribbled plate (Perhaps some code or puppet language)

The next test seemed to be somewhat decent. It was some sort of strange box with three tubes that dropped something to three wholes underneath them alongside a red, yellow, and green button. There was also a small slot to the right with some small buttons. At the top she saw a rather cute and much friendly Riley cutout jumping up and down. This was obviously the next test (ignoring the them song playing as well.)

“She sure has a lot of self-respect and admiration to herself to put her damn face on her machine.”  Beth thought to herself as they approached the machine.

“Welcome to visual hand coordination. This custom design handee big ball drop and sort device will test your ability to non-verbally relay information.” Riley spoke over the microphone in a strangely calm tone, that made Beth wonder if she was happy about something.

Also…did she just use “Handee” as a noun?

Scout, seemingly not reading the room or heard what Riley chuckled to herself before they even entered, decided to respond and poke an angry bear behind their testing. “Rhyme, Riley! She joked.

If she wasn’t fearing for her life or being in her worst nightmare, Beth would have snickered a bit. 

“INFORMATION RHYMES WITH COORDINATION! DO NOT QUESTION MY RHYMES PARTICIPATION!”  And there it was the Riley she just met. She was either trying to keep it all together, or maybe was not trying to blow her cover. 

“She was just mad because she knew it was a stretch.” Scout chuckled to Beth, who simply was wishing for the testing to be over. “Ok, teammate, I think I remember this one. Stick me to that slot so I can see the balls coming and press the buttons to correspond to what I say.”

It sounded easy enough.

Beth stuck Scout into the slot machine. The first pace of the test was rather simple. It was simply pressing the button of whatever color Scout told her to press. It was like that sort of two teammate game where one player took over a task while the other one took care of the next. Scout checked the colors, and Beth pressed the buttons. Then, it started to get more difficult as now they were using nouns. So, now it was pressing the color accordingly to what nouns the machine said like corn, heart, or turtle. Then, it now combined the nouns and colors into one, which make it slightly harder to complete. 

Thankfully years of Zelda and mystery games helped her and Scout finish the puzzle with ease. 

“Holy shit we did it!” Scout smiled. Beth allowed herself to smile too.

One test down. God knows how many to go…

“You passed the test you always fail somehow…” Riley spat just as Beth’s smile quickly faded. “I am skeptical, but continue forward….for now…”

This was not good…perhaps Riley started to suspect something was going on with them…

“Isn’t it amazing host?” Scout asked with a bright smile after she got herself out of the slot. “We passed that test, didn’t we?”

Unsure on how to respond, Beth only nodded.

“Shit, I think we are acing this!” Scout chuckled to herself. Beth couldn’t feel sure about how she should have taken their small victory. “We only got one more test and then sweet victory…well sorta. We still got to go through the whole evaluation to make sure no loose threads are on, and then is sweet victory!”

Unless Riley decides to be a bitch and interfere with their plans…

“Do you think that we are about to kill this tests?” Scout asked her. Beth shook her head hoping Scout could possibly reconsider about the possible danger. Sadly Scout didn’t take this lightly. “Of course you have to be the asshole again…at least have the decency to enjoy our victory!”

She was starting to wish that her head wasn’t covered, and her mouth sew to give a piece of her mind to the puppet in front of her…

Knowing it was mostly a loosing battle to try to argue with Scout, Beth decided to continue her way to the next test. She made a right turn and stopped when a picture on a wall slightly scared her. Giving it a good glance, she noticed it was a picture of Owen, he seemingly was working on a puppet (Riley Ruckus). Although the picture of a not fully created Riley was unsettling, Beth eye's shifted towards the man himself. 

She had a vague idea of what Owen Gubberson was fully like. She did hear something that he was egocentric and secretive. Well… she did hear some descriptions that her Nana gave a long time ago, but they weren’t precisely an accurate description outside describing Mr. Gubberson as some sort of psychotic murderer. 

“With that innocent whispering voice, those black eyes and a good-for nothing face that smirked about not being charged for what he did!”  The voice of her late grandmother shivered through her ears.

At least her Nana wasn’t exaggerating that Owen wasn’t a friendly looking man. That scowl alone could probably frighten about ten small children. Not to mention that his black and gray hair was messy enough to make her wonder if he ever came outside or something. He clearly didn’t look like the type of person who liked people, or wanted friends, so people weren’t joking when he said he wasn’t a very social person.

Yet somehow her late great aunt managed to become one of his friends, as he allegedly was grieving over her suicide when he found her at the studio…

“Shit, that’s Owen. That’s the guy that made us.” Scout explained. “He’s like some sort of God you know?”

So…he tried to play God or something? That could explain a bit 

“Do…do you know him? Scout turned towards Beth. 

“Umm more or less. I don’t know him as per se, but my family does and hates his guts.” Beth thought as she gave Scout a “So-so” hand gesture.

“Oh, that sounds interesting.” Scout told her. “I don’t know much about him either outside being the creator of the show and apparently bringing the puppets to life.”

When did he exactly bring them to life? It was probably after the show got cancelled or something…

After giving another good glance to Owen, Beth and Scout continued forward to the next test. The corridor was dark and humid, so remembering Scout’s odd ability, Beth gently bopped her head to turn off the light. Hopefully, the way could be shorter as Beth wasn’t exactly up for another round of Scout anxiously singing another annoying song.

They walked a bit through the halls. This time, Scout seemingly seemed to be somewhat terrified. 

Hisss….hissss

“Wait…wait…d-did you heard that?” Scout muttered. Beth nodded as she could hear her heartbeats slowly increasing.

They took a few steps. She saw some small sparks coming in. 

It was just a broken cable…

Hisss….hissss

That…that did not sound like a broken table, or some harmless thing lying around the studio…

Beth’s steps became slower as she glanced around nervously. Scout seemingly seemed to be on board as she looked left and right at a fast pace.

“H-host…I know this will sound crazy but…but you gotta turn off the light…” Scout muttered.  Beth immediately froze. 

What?! No, no, no, no, no! She was NOT crossing that hall without a light. She saw too many movies and video games to understand the logic of the situation.

“Host…you gotta trust me on this. Turn my light off before they find us!” Scout whispered as she gestured to the empty halls.

Beth was about to refute when she saw a small ember light slowly reaching towards the hall. She bopped Scout’s head quickly (perhaps with too much force) as she waited for the mysterious thing to finishing passing by. 

Hisss…hisss…hiss…

What the fuck was even that?!

“That was a close call.” Scout muttered as she placed a hand on her head. “Still, keep that force down, she-hulk!”

“Sorry….I panicked…” Beth muttered to herself. 

They walk through the hall was short and quiet. Beth couldn’t help but to anxiously glance around, ready to run away from whatever unpleasant surprise could be near. Thankfully that encounter seemed to be the last as they eventually reached the end of the hall where everything was visible now. Their setting appeared to be some broken down bathrooms. One leading towards the tests, and the other leading towards a certain pyramid with an eye on it.

“I am pretty sure you’ll follow that triangle thingy.” Scout muttered as she glanced at the right. “Just don’t take too damn long, ok?”

They slowly approached the corridor where the logo of Vox Veritas resided. The inside was a destroyed corridor containing….washing machines. Odd, but trying to make sense of her situation and place was simply a waste of time. Beth walked to through some halls, trying to search for another hiding stop. Occasionally ignoring the rats (and refusing to acknowledge how they had a human skin puppet on), and avoiding the broken down washing machines Beth finally fond the finding stop after accidentally pushing down a giant wooden board. 

The hiding place was less detailed. There was another broken screen, some empty storage boxes (and others that didn’t contained anything useful), and some soundproof wall pieces. Beth found the next tape lying around a storage bin (which contained some episodes schedules and information about meetings.) Before pressing down the tape recording, Beth turned towards to pick up another picture Anthony took.

This time it was only one. It was a picture of a rather much normal looking Riley (like the one in the posters) talking with Mortimer about something. In the background, it appeared that where were…were some bodies hanging. 

It was very disturbing.

She put the picture into her pocket just like the other she found in his last hiding spot, then she turned towards the tape recorder and press it. 

“Testing! Testing! Testing! Uh…It’s March 4th, it's 11.Pm.” Anthony led out a tiny yawn before continuing after he cleared his throat. “Okay, start here.  Uh… this is Anthony Pierson, co-founder of Vox Veritas. We’re an independent journalistic caven and blog, we investigate paranormal phenomena and shine a light where the government and the illuminati don’t want light shown. We’re here at the abandoned Handeemen warehouse, a place that local homeless populations say is haunted. Anyone who wanders in, never leaves. What terrible secrets does this place hold?”

There was a small pause before he continued 

“Alright cut there…” Anthony sighed. “Uh… this place is it's a total wash. If I don’t get something soon, I’ll get Randy to bang some pipes upstairs, get some reaction shots. I don’t know, photoshop or heat reading, whatever…” He took a big breath before muttering to himself. “Just for once I would like to not have to fake this…”

“Well, I was suspecting the loony was probably some sort of Scooby-Doo type investigator, but this is sad!” Scout commented. 

Normally, Sarabeth would mentally tell her to shut it, or defend her group but…yet she did have a small point.

Truth to be told, Vox Veritas was mostly a blog about a bunch of college geeks (and some dropouts) messing around and telling scary stories and creepy pastas. They often tried to get accounts, but mostly they were some crackheads or some kids messing around trying to get them to look bad. Still, they were hopeful to prove to the world that they were serious about their stuff (Well, mostly Anthony.) although deep down, they had their doubts about that they day of proving themselves could come. 

She could recall one of those summers where they would be running around taking pictures and videos. This time Beth was running down a video for their blog. It was a mystery about some haunted bride’s home or some shit. She was trying to get some footage of the house while talking eagerly about it. Then, she decided to film Anthony just for fun and hopefully get his expertise. He flipped off at the camera much to her annoyance, and told her (when she demanded to know what was going on) He complain about it being BS again.

She later got to learn his sour mood was due to some comments from his family calling his job and hobby a waste of time and a disappointment. Still, Beth was not going to let those words ruin the mood or get his down.

So, to cheer him up, Beth decided to give him some words of encouragement before taking her alien keychain and making silly voices asking Anthony to help the alien population be seen. It took a while for Anthony to crack up a smile, before he played along and messing with the camera pretending Beth’s keychain was an important guest start. It didn’t take long for Randy to tell them to get a room as he set up the cameras. At least Anthony got to smile, and they got some cute pictures together with their keychains…

It was a fond memory, specially since she put her keychain into her…into her car keys…

Beth instinctively reached over her pocket as it was where she hid her keys. Normally she expected them to be gone but froze when she could feel the felt alien underneath her hand. 

They were still there…her car keys! The puppets didn’t steal them from her as well as her other stuff. Maybe they didn’t find a usage to them…

“Is everything ok, host?” Scout asked. Beth nodded. “Oh alright. You were not moving, and I was wondering if something bad happened…or feared that we might get another delay…”

Oh, right…they haven’t completed their tests yet…

Hopefully, this would be the last thing they do before figuring out a way to escape Riley before she tries anything else. They carefully left the hiding room and made their ways into the next test. It was full of smoke, but Beth could see some lockers forming a somewhat labyrinth. Perhaps this was the next test. 

She had to admit it took Riley this long to do a rat in a labyrinth to find their cheese…

“Shit, I can’t see with this smoke.” Scout coughed. Beth tried to ignore the fact that apparently it had puppets. The puppet turned to Beth. “There’s probably a lever or something. Stick me up the air and I will guide you.”

And what she meant about guiding, she meant playing a game of hot and cold, but somehow finding a way to fit a swear into every hot or cold Beth reached into. Eventually they reached towards the lever and pull it off. The smoke vanished into the air. Probably it was the vents that got turned off or some sort of fan. It didn’t really matter, It was gone for good, and that what was being important.

“Phew!” Scout smiled as Beth put her down. “That smoke was a hell on my asthma.”

Wait…could puppets actually have asthma?!”

“I…I don’t have asthma…I don’t know why I said that…” Scout confessed. Beth couldn’t help to crack up a smile.

As much as Scout annoyed her more than it terrified her, she had to admit the little gremlin had some charm. 

“Anyway, a-hole, we got another test to run.” Beth momentarily stopped to glance at Scout. “Oh, you are getting that name for being negative about this whole ordeal!”

Beth only glanced at her. “Okay…okay, I might be exaggerating a bit about the whole negative thing, but at least try to be happy that we are nearly done!”

“I don’t think you are realizing Riley is probably-”

“Are you waiting around to start your tests? Or are you waiting for me to give you an eternal rest?” It was Riley that threatened over the microphone

As much as Beth didn’t want to approach the test, there was that something about 

Beth and Scout rushed their way out of the labyrinth of lockers, making a good attempt to ignore the splashes of blood around the walls. Eventually they reached towards another machine. This time it was stranger looking. It contained three old screens, one slot machine on the right. This time there were no buttons to press, but rather a bit table with a closed opening. 

“Welcome to advance visual hand-sync test version 1.013.”Riley explained, in her usual cold and stern demeanor. “Please approach the Handee flag and wave machine.”

Apparently “Handee” is somewhat a noun in this place.

“Umm…I have sorta a confession…” Scout muttered to Beth. “I…I probably was gloating around last test…since it was the first time I’ve ever pass it. Now…umm… I-I Must confess that never reached this far…”

Beth never wanted to be able to facepalm more than this instant. “And you just chose to tell me this information right before we had to start this test?!”

“Don’t give that look!” Scout protested. “It’s not my fault that Riley always give me the worst guys!”

There was a silent pause as Beth was mentally exhausted at this point to even argue with another insult of the blue gremlin.

“Shit…that actually implied that you weren’t a good host…” Scout muttered to herself. She took a long glance at Beth before saying with narrowed eyes. “I will leave it as a maybe, since you’re a bit of an asshole…”

“I…I cannot believe that I am saying this, but why don’t we just finish Riley’s tests.” Beth thought to herself as she walked to testing machine. “I mean I am pretty sure Riley is planning something, but the sooner we finish, the sooner we can get out and go our separate ways…”

The second test was rather different. Scout this time was probably doing something in her slot, maybe pressing something. The whole test consisted on taking one of the flags that the machine presented according to what color was on the screen, then she would place it in a small slot and take the next one. It started to get slightly more complicated as the machine turned on the other two screens, which two contained some random words and the remaining one the color of the flag. Eventually, the final level had the color named on the screen to be a different color opposed to the color presented, so Beth had to refrain herself from reaching of the wrong flag due to the color the screen asked her to pick being a completely different one.

Eventually Beth completed the test just as Riley didn’t seem too overjoyed about it. “Impossible! Even at your best….there is NO WAY YOU COULD HAVE MADE IT THROUGH THAT TEST!”

Yeah, Riley was slowly loosing it, wasn’t it? This was clearly a bad sign, but somewhat well deserved considered what horrors did she put them through…

“Yes! Now we only need to get past examination, and then sweet freedom!” Scout chuckled. 

Well, hopefully they could figure a quick escape plan befo-

“Relax, Riley….you have plans in place to slow down this accelerating pace…” Riley muttered to herself, seemingly forgetting that the microphone was still on. 

Beth could feel her skin crawling, as she could hear her body trembling. There was clearly something off about that rhyme. Something that told Sarabeth Jenkins that she better pray to God that she is quick to get herself and Scout out somehow. It was pretty obvious that Riley wouldn’t let them out alive, so Beth’s suspicions turned out to be true…

Well…somewhat true as Riley was genuine expecting them to fail, but it appeared she had a plan B in case they actually succeeded…

Or maybe she was rhyming about something else, but that seemed unlikely…

“What the fuck does plans in place mean?” Scout asked herself.

“A very bad sign that Riley is clearly intends for us to fail…” Beth thought. 

Hesitantly, Beth and Scout proceeded to leave the last testing room. They walk crossed a tiny hall, where some toilets resided. It smelled like the dead, but it didn’t really matter to Beth. Her mind was on trying to figure out what could possibly be Riley’s big plan and when it would have taken place. It obviously had to had that mutant dog thingy involved somehow. Hopefully when she opened the closed door, she could try to figure out what Riley hand ind mind and-

Woosh!

Beth was slightly startled when a mysterious door swung open. She slowly turned towards it to find a secret passage. It was most likely another hiding spot that Anthony found. Yet…how did that door even open up? There was no strong air and Beth nearly passed it down. Could this place be really haunted?

“Neat!” Scout commented when she glanced at the entrance. “Wanna bet this is another place the loony found?” Beth shook her head. “You really take the fun out of the situation, host…”

Ignoring Scout’s comment, Beth proceeded to walk through the small hiding place. This time, there was no Vox Veritas symbol, but there was a tape recorder and one photo. The surroundings were mostly toilet paper and an empty first kit aid box (which meant Anthony probably used it.) As per usual, Beth decided to see what was the picture he took with his Polaroid. 

She carefully reached over the picture and immediately became so pale that one could confuse her with a ghost when she saw the content.

This…this is bad…really, really bad…

So far the pictures Anthony had taken, were all about Riley doing something (Like talking to Mortimer or sewing whatever the fuck that creature was) but…but this time…a real horror was presented, one that Beth partially understood but never fully thought about it…

The puppets actually kidnapped people…

As the picture painted, there was a ban and Riley was getting out along with her host. She was attacking some young man in red as she was pressing some sort of chloroform against him. 

So…so this is how the puppets got some of his victims. Still…why there hasn’t been any reports so far around, or any account that they disappeared at the studio?!

Beth hesitantly 

“Okay…uh…it’s May 3rd. This is Anthony Pierson. This is tapes 7 or 8…I actually can’t remember.” He took a small pause before speaking. “Okay…uh…They’re not ghosts. I can tell you that. They’re corporeal. The scientist one, Riley, she has a-a lab downstairs. I found it tonight and I’ve…I’ve seen some bad shit in my life… I’ve…I’ve never seen anything like that. S-She’s like a puppet Mengele or something…” 

He sounded frightened at his discovery, but slightly fascinated to what mysterious story he was uncovering. He continued with his finding “She… she had these tapes too. They’re just staked up in boxes. Now, a lot of them were burn but this one…actually did play…”

Then he pressed the audio.

“People think that the occult is all superstition and nonsense but… I can feel something moving inside of Mortimer when I say these words. As…as imperfect as they are…his…his soul is in there. It wants to come to life. I’m so close...”

“That was Owen Gubberson, the creator of Mortimer’s Handeemen.” Anthony explained “I did a little digging in the library. This guy was a nut! really off his rocker, obsessed with his puppets, obsessed with the occult…with…with brining them to life. He thought his puppets had souls that were trapped in their bodies…and that he’d go crazy enough to find some occult that would bring his puppets to life, and did the world go so crazy that the spell actually fucking worked!”

“Wow…that was Owen’s voice.” Scout commented. 

Beth stood still gazing at the tape. This…this was something she did not bargain for. It…It was like some sort of tangled up thread that was slowly unraveling. The story was slowly starting to become deeper and somehow Owen fucking Gubberson got himself involved somehow…

Yes. She was aware that a spell brought them to life and that it was Owen’s doing but…but…how long did he brought them to life? In…in that tape it didn’t sounded like if it was when the show was threatening to end! 

It had to be before, it certainly had to be…

But…but that actually raised another question! Was he even aware of the consequences that could lead to?!

She could fear her breath shortening as Owen’s words repeated through her head. He had plans to bring them to life and succeeded, which lead to some unspeakable horrors like kidnapping and…

Murder. 

They were capable of murder, weren’t they? Perhaps…perhaps they were even capable of disguise it and…

The voice of that old newscast video played through her ears…

“Owen gubberson, the creator of Mortimer’s Handeemen, was found sobbing and embracing the corpse of the late ventriloquist Amy Kruber in the main stage of the warehouse, where her alleged suicide took place…” 

And make it look as if it was a suicide…

Chapter Text

Puppets….it…it had to be puppets…

The one thing that the Kruber family constantly tried to keep themselves distanced from, and the one thing her late Great Aunt loved the most…and one of the things Sarabeth feared and disliked (arguably hate considering her current situation...)

Of course, it had to be puppets…it had to end in puppets somehow. 

Somehow everything was tied around them. At first, it did partially make sense considering the warehouse used to produce some puppet show, so obviously puppets were around. Owen Gubberson created the dreadful demons and somehow was a good friend with the late Amy Kruber until something happened and she died tragically at the studio. That was the overall and basic main story, but….but apparently…apparently it…it wasn’t the full thing.  

No…no…the real thing…the real thing possibly….possibly was worse…

Which meant that Nana Rosemary was actually right about Great Aunt Amy not hanging herself…

After all…no one could really answer why did she… committed the deed. 

The most accepted reasoning they constantly brought out was that she was undergoing through many problems and struggles. It went against the whole accounts and descriptions that tended to picture of joyful late forties to mid-fifties Southern Belle who adored her job as a ventriloquist, who could be both professional and optimistic; but it was hard to truly know the struggles, trials, and inner demons a person has to fight and…and be strong day-to-day.

And…undergoing through immense pains and uncertainties when someone you love dies or…disappears without a trace from day to night…

Beth never got to meet or even know too much about Amy, but she was sure that the woman wasn’t just a “Happy go-lucky ventriloquist who was beloved by many.” The woman possibly had her struggles and tribulations, possibly quite some problems with Mr. Gubberson himself (based on accounts and some overviews.) It…It was possible that her friendship with him was draining her and affecting negatively. 

After all, her Nana did referred to Mr. Gubberson as a cruel leach. Yet…she hated the guy too, so her accountability was quite biased to take it as a truth. 

There was that possibility that Amy did hung herself as it was widely (depressingly) accepted as a fact. Possibly…possibly she took her final breaking point where she couldn’t take it no longer and…and ended it all. Still…there was something that never particularly sit right with Sarabeth about this. Perhaps it was her small studies on true-crime stories (mostly for class analysis), or her thought process as a journalist taking over her as something made her think there was something particularly off with this reasoning. That something that made her doubt that it was a suicide in the first place…

She…she never particularly liked to think about it, after all, just as her Nana said…

“The entertainment world lost a ventriloquist, but our family a member, an aunt, and…and I lost a sister…”  She could recall the faint voice of Nana Rosemary bitterly turning off the TV. She couldn’t remember why, but it was a while ago. Still those words somehow managed to stay.  

Still…those words marked how important Amy was, and there was that part of Beth that made her asked herself “Wouldn’t she be important to Mr. Gubberson? They were good friends after all.”

Well, for starters they did have a big fallout (one that her Nana Rose knew quite well) and some accounts into how Owen was a mad and difficult man. He could have real reasons to hurt her, but still he never resorted to physical aggression (not to mention Nana Rose and Great Aunt Amy already knew how it felt.) There was that chance that he finally lost it and did what her Nana and family believed

Yet…it felt off somehow, as if he was purposely written off to be the one to blame. After all…she couldn’t take off the image that the broadcast of 1987 presented:

“Owen gubberson, the creator of Mortimer’s Handeemen, was found sobbing and embracing the corpse of the late ventriloquist, Amyrose Kruber, in the main stage of the warehouse, where her alleged suicide took place…” 

It could have been that he accidentally murdered her, or she found out her body. No one truly knew how long was he there or how long Amy was dead. Late Puppeteer “Jake Bowen” came rushing after he heard a loud noise and that’s how the rest began. Let alone that Owen was quite protective of the studio, and would even try to spend the night.

There were many weird details that didn’t add up, so Beth often found herself having the benefit of the doubt….until…until…

Until it came back to fucking puppets again.

The puppets…the Handy dandy, or whatever their name was, were alive. How long? She still haven’t figured out how, but long enough to turn an abandoned warehouse into a shop of horrors and heinous crimes. They were alive long enough to kidnap hundreds of people, butchering like some sort of cattle and…

Long enough to get her own boyfriend fascinated enough to investigate…

Those evil things were alive and thriving. They created an elaborated door system using what could possibly behind the old Mercy Hospital’s stolen equipment, or the unsolved mystery about the robbery of a second-hand store (Both cases that Glitch was invested.) Either way, they were alive, like for a long time, and…and somehow there was more to it…something that connected to Owen Gubberson and what her Anthony found before he disappeared.

It all tied up to an obsession:

“People think that the occult is all superstition and nonsense but… I can feel something moving inside of Mortimer when I say these words. As…as imperfect as they are…his…his soul is in there. It wants to come to life. I’m so close...”

Owen wanted to bring them to life…or well Mortimer as a matter of fact. Perhaps later he decided that the knock-off Monopoly man would feel lonely, and decided to bring them all to life. Whatever came first didn’t matter, what was important is that the bastard somehow managed to bring them to life. When? there was no evidence or a conclusive fact to abide, but there was the conclusive and factual evidence:

His death and the studio burning down. 

• January 3 of 1991.- Owen Joseph Gubberson was officially declared dead after four long years of search for his him or his body. He had a memorial made by his father and half sister: (Now) late carpenter Mycroft Gubberson and Attorney Priscilla Gutierrez, née Gubberson. (Source: Broadcast of 13 News in 1991 at 8:30 AM. She found it when briefly researching her late great Aunt’s death in curiosity. She never watched it fully as guilty overwhelmed.) 

Notes: Big mistake on her part from not seeing the full broadcast. 

Questions in hand : None.

• Somewhere around 1986 to 1987 on February 24: The studio burnt down in a late morning night. Most likely around 8pm to 11pm. (Found in a ripped out article at the entrance of the studio. Written by Allan Andrews.) 

Notes: Fire injured seven, and killed eight. Owen was placed in the deceased eight, however nobody was found. 

Questions in Hand: Where the other bodies actually found? What was in the other half? What was the full article like?

So there was some possible time set around when could the puppets come to life. Still, not enough concrete evidence to put the pieces together, but speculations would help put on a clearer image (something that she often did for Vox Veritas) from what she knew. Right now there were two possibilities at when Owen brought them to life:

1. 1988/1989 to 1991- This could mean that the puppets were brought to life after Owen’s death. He probably brought the puppets to life before he died as a last wish, or something in his twisted mind that made him think maybe they needed to live or something.

This seemed not precisely possible, but it was a possibility she couldn’t ignore. 

1. 1985 to 1897. This was an approximation into somewhere in the show’s time of airing and a where the fire possibly took place. That could mean that Owen was alive at that time and that he brought the puppets to live. Maybe after the show ended or before. Meaning that…Amy was also alive too.

This seemed to be the most plausible so far. Still no conclusive evidence but…it would tie the mystery in regard to the alleged suicide.

And if her reasoning was correct from the second option…that…that meant that the puppets were most likely alive during the show still being on air. Which…Which could mean that…

The puppets murdered Amyrose Kruber and made it look like a suicide…

They were capable of many atrocious things such as kidnapping, mutilating, and of course murder. It would (tragically) unsurprisingly that they murdered someone, and…and perhaps took over the studio through the fire (although that was a conspiracy.)

That could also explain why Owen was holding her body close. He regretted her demise because it was his own creations that killed her but…

Why wouldn’t they listen to Owen? He was their creator after all. 

Well…this what all she could gather to form a story. There was clearly something deep, and something terrible tied to the studio many tragedies and more that she was too afraid to learn…still…it was her duty as a journalist and proud member of Vox Veritas (although they were not as active as usual) to bring the voice to the light. 

Anthony clearly was working on the mystery about what happened before he disappeared into her personal tragedy that also was tied to the studio itself as well. His story was separated but somehow tied into what horrors lied ahead, and as he and (possibly) the other members of the gang investigated deep down into what became of the studio

Before possibly becoming part of the history themselves…

So, now she had the stories at hand. Both incomplete, but somehow tied together due to her boyfriend investigating. Both having to do with the one thing she could rather stay away, but that also held the answers into both of the mysteries.

And…and the possibility of figuring out why Amy’s life was stolen…

“Umm host, are you ok? I…I kinda can sense your hands are trembling. Well…I can sorta feel your hand is trembling due to me being stuck in your hand and- Actually…I think you probably figure it out due to…our… circumstances. ” Beth gave Scout a glanced. She turned off the voice recorder that contained Anthony’s log. 

“Sorry, I was processing an idea.” Beth said mentally before turning to Scout. Her hand awkwardly reaching towards the little creature’s head to give her two very quick and awkward pats.

“I’ll take it as a yes…I guess?” Scout, in a much accepted, kind tone said before turning towards the dark entrance in font of them. “Well…I won’t say too much about it. You’re clearly one of those awkward guys…no offense.”

“None taken. I…I still getting used to a puppet being stuck in my hand, but you don’t terrify less and less.”   Beth thought to herself, avoiding adding how Scout was annoying her more than terrifying her…but she wanted to be nice.

“Anyways, we better get going. We don’t want Riley to go mad.” Scout said before pausing to add. “Well… madder than she actually is.”

That was a pretty good reason to get going. You don’t want to poke the already angry red bear…

Pulling her tendencies as a journalist aside, Beth and Scout cautiously made their way out of the hideout. She didn’t particularly want to set up a sound that could make Riley suspicious (or any strange creature like the one they encounter before. She got the nattiest feeling that there were more of those things that came from.  They were clearly not alone. It was a lesson that Beth had to learn the hard way after Mortimer managed to trick her. 

And perhaps Anthony as well, but she refused to let her thoughts go there… 

They crossed through another dark hall. This time, and to Beth’s slight luck, Scout wasn’t muttering another song to make the situation more terrifying. It wasn’t as if the puppet-thing did it on purpose (She had her other ways into annoying Sarabeth herself), but rather it was a habit she (unluckily) learned. Ironically, that simply added to the irony of the living-horror Sarabeth was stuck in. Ignoring that she feared and disliked puppets, that is. 

“What’s up with horror and Nursery/lullabies, anyway? Knowing my situation, I am surprised neither Riley nor anyone has recited “Freddy’s Nursery” yet…” She thought to herself. Not to crack lighten up her situation, but to rather calm her fears. 

Keep it real, not sensational, but also keep it human.

It was the motto Ericka Swan used when she was in her professional editor mode. It was mostly a reminder for the team, interns, and newcomers about the 5 ethics of journalism; It also worked as a reminder that they were human after all, and they were allowed to be (not precisely in front of the public, but to themselves.) Ericka (in her likable loony and eccentric self) had a peculiar way to put it that somehow combined her side-job as a yoga instructor at night.

“Journalism is the body of a journalist just as we have our own body. We cannot bend or change the limitations of our own body, but we can work around it. We must keep it real. If we cannot do a pose fully, then we shouldn't force ourselves to do it perfectly. If we cannot get a story fully or is it more than we can chew, then we cannot force ourselves to make a full story. However, limitations are only tools to creatively approach our problem. We can work with the limitations of our body to do the best we can so we can use our strengths. Limitations are not an excuse to quit.”

Limitations are not an excuse for quitting. There wasn’t much that Sarabeth could do in her situation, outside trying to remain calm. She was surrounded in a warehouse of horrors, with murderous and dangerous sentient creatures. They were around everywhere, They were highly intelligent (well from what she had saw), and they were capable of murder and kidnapping.  

Stress and panic would get her nowhere. They were watching her from the testing room cameras. 

Fear? It was natural. She couldn’t get herself to stop being afraid, but she could do her best to keep it under control. Still never forgetting her facts.

Keep it real.  

There were high stakes of encountering dead, optimism was bullshit.

But also keep it human.

Sometimes a witty comment, or even some blue gremlin rambling was a good way to distract from the fear (but still acknowledging it was there.) There were so many things wrong, and clearly a growing sense of dread that was slowly growing like a vine in an old window. It kept growing bigger, with more things to be concerned and to be afraid. Many mistakes made and secrets to unveil.

She made a huge mistake into accepting Ericka’s offer.

She made the mistake of not telling her mother or even Brody out all people where she was going. First rule, and you already forgot Jenkins…

She broke into an old abandoned place like a fool and fell from an obvious trap. Let alone being stuck with one of her phobias…

This was a giant mistake. She could have just simply continued on with her article. Totally not going back into an old family tragedy, and lie to her widowed Mother (who would be very upset to find the truth.) She could just simply force herself to her best and suck it up.

And totally not accept as it was the closest thing she was to hear about Antho-

Keep it human, Beth. Humans made mistakes.

Hissss

Keep it accurate, not sensational. She quickly bopped the head of the blue thing in her hand. Thankfully, with less force than before. 

“Shit! Another sock puppet…” Scout whispered as a dim amber light walked through the floors.

She got a nasty feeling that Sock puppets weren’t precisely made out of socks…

Hissss

“Be careful…” Scout muttered as Beth slowed down her pace. Any wrong moment would set them up.

Stomp! Stomp!

The creature had a peculiar slow pace. It was definitely not good.

Breathe in and out. Your limitations are just tools to your success. She slowly inhaled and exhaled. Her heart began to calm down as her body shivered less. The amber light became larger, as a foul smell welcomed her. 

Hisss

Keep it accurate but human. She was clearly in danger. The creature was getting closer, and any wrong movement could call its attention. She was understandably afraid. Acknowledge the fear, do not let it fully in. 

Left foot, then right foot. She took one step.

Stomp!

Hisss

The light was slowly fading. Deep breath. Left foot, then right foot. 

Stomp!  Stomp… Stomp… stomp… stomp…stomp..

The footsteps were fading, and the amber light was vanishing with the darkness of the halls. Now, the only light to their avail was the next room ahead. This was the last encounter they would have with that Riley Ruckus wo- sentient puppet woman. Examination . What ever that was, Beth knew she didn’t want to go forward with it. 

She had enough with having a living puppet inside her hand. She did not want another puppet being near her. 

Definitely not the crazy scientist threatened up their life.

Or…the one that had a hatred for Scout…

Or…the one that obviously had clear intentions for them to fail.

Or…the one that had a fucking giant mutant dog that could easily mutila-

1. NOT. LET. INTO. FEAR. 

She forced herself to take a long deep breath as she slowly entered the room. Her fear and she raging thoughts would be her downfall. Riley was observing her, and Beth couldn’t let herself jump or panic when she heard the doors closing to shut. Keep it accurate. Those thi- they were not aware you were conscious. They think the gremlin in your hand is your puppet.

Puppet….p-puppet…she…she was pretending to be a puppet. 

She did her best to ignore the big rough eyes sta-LAYING around the room, among with the felt hands, and decap- head pieces of p-puppets. They were not staring at her. They were not alive. So there was nothing to fear as she forced herself to take a step forward. Those eyes were not following her. They were hollow.

They were not alive. (Hopefully)

They were not watching them. 

Those beady eyes were clearly not following her…

“Host are you ok? You look more nervous than before.” Scout commented. Beth let out a quick nod. Partially a lie, but she was in no 

Just ignore and keep going, Sarabeth. The more you acknowledge them, the more they’ll get into your head…

It didn’t take long for them to reach into the end, but it wasn’t particularly something that eased the many fears Beth had. Outside the shelves full of parts of those demons, there was also the exit. It did not lead to another dark hall, but rather a large room with a metal door in the back. Yet…that wasn’t the thing that was raising all the red flags inside Sarabeth’s head.

It was the sketchy machine in front of them, tauntingly called the “Fail-o-tron.”

Riley was not being subtle about her intentions, wasn’t she?

“The “Fail-o-ton”? Come the fuck-up!” Scout let out an annoyed sigh. “I know Riley hates me, but that is going overboard.”

“And not subtle at all...” Beth glanced around trying to look for a nearby exit. There was an exit to their left. But if they run now, then Riley would know the truth…

“Hey, big and strong, don’t feel threatened by the situation.” The blue little thing tried to reassure her. “I…I am pretty sure Riley just wants to taunt us. I mean she was really loosing it back there.”

“And preparing a plan B.” Beth thought to herself as she stared down at the machine. 

It wasn’t as neatly done like the previous one. For starters, for once Riley didn’t but her damned cutout dancing around. Well, the closest thing to it was a piece of wood lazily placed. It wasn’t even properly cut or sanded. Then there was the “Fail-o-tron” sign. It was painted in a rush, and there was still some fresh paint dripping. Just like the other too it had the screens, and the small slot on the right. 

Although all the buttons were red…

“I’ll be honest with you, host.” Scout began to talk one again. “I never thought we could make it this far into Examination, but I am glad we did. Still, I am a bit confused about what the machine has to do with it.”

It’s a trap. It is obviously a trap. It had all the clichés from head to toe… 

“Anyway, we better get ready and then get the fuck out while we still can.” Scout muttered. As much as Beth wanted to remain still, the leaning camera watching her was good enough to made her get close to the machine. 

“You have arrived to the final station.” A strangely happy Riley began to talk over the speakers. 

One red flag.

“and I am sure you are ready for examination.” The puppet continued to speak over the speakers. “But I decided to put a test just for you that you may find… quite [she let out a nasty snort] the taxation. Good luck!”

“What?!” Scout gasped in horror. “Well, Fuck you too, Riles…”

And a plain big red flag. 

“Well butter my backside and call me a fucking biscuit!”  She mentally groaned. “How many red flags do you plan to set, up Riles?!”

She was mad enough to even use Southern slangs like her late Nana did, although she was born in New Jersey…

Keep it- Fuck it. Just try to survive…

She glanced at the machine with reluctance and then turned towards Scout. “Please tell me you’re actually realizing she’s sabotaging us…”

“I know.” Scout sighed in oblivion. “I cannot believe Riley gave us another test!”

And that this is clearly plan B. Horror movies, the saw saga (ignoring the horrendous tricycle abomination) multiple boss battles, and games taught her that some people are not willing to let guys win. Still, recalling Scout’s reluctance and fear about the “reflexes” test made it clear she wasn’t a particular fan of horror 

Well…neither was Beth when it came to True Crime or in Real life…

“Hey, I know that you’re nervous. I mean I can sense it, but that’s not the point.” Scout spoke again turning towards Beth with a smile…or well what it looked to be one. “We aced through Riley’s tests before, and I am sure we can ace this test and stick it up to Riley. Then….well errrr…fuck I…I actually never thought about our escape plans…”

Smiling slightly at Scout’s attempt of pep talk, Beth gave the puppet two awkward pats on the head. As much as they had their differences, at least they did try to act as a team.

“I’ll take it as an either “Your pep talk was shit, but effort was appreciated” or…well…It wasn’t exactly a great pep talk.” Scout sighed. Beth did her best not to chuckle, as it pained her stitches. Scout turned towards the machine in front of them. “Anyway, let’s do this. One more test, and then we can figure out our escape plan.”

And hopefully a way to play fire with fire…

Beth carefully stuck Scout into the slot machine. Her green eyes focused around trying to figure out what exactly would it do. From what she could see, it looked like the “drop and ball” Hande e (whatever that meant) machine. The downside was that the buttons were completely red, so there was no idea how to tell which colors were dropping by. 

Perhaps if her memory served, she could remember the rearrangement of the original buttons. Unless…Riley was evil enough to not put balls of the three colors. 

The second portion of the machine had the strange opening of the flag game. She wasn’t sure about how to approach it or theorize what could Riley do. There was not enough evidence to analyze or draw conclusions. Maybe there would be flags of the same color, or Riley would have her press the button and take out the flags. 

Only the actual test could really tell…

“Ok…it’s starting up.” Beth felt her stomach turning as she glanced at the machine.

“Red!” 

She pressed one of the buttons just as a yellow ball dropped and lights went red. 

One strike!

“Yellow!”

 She pressed another one of the red buttons. A green ball dropped. Lights went green. Ok, so this was some sort of game of chance.

“Oh shit, something is happening…” Scout muttered to herself just as the machined opened the small cabinet full of colorful flags.Beth glanced around the TV for clues. 

Ilaqueation. (Colored white.) Wrong answer. (What does that even meant?!) Never heard the word.

Euthanasia. (Colored green.) Not it. (Euthanasia- Killing or Permitting the death of a sick or helpless individual, mostly in mercy.) Dark. Knew the word due to some research assignment years ago. 

Gripe. (Colored turquoise.) Riley was just being a bitch… (Gripe- Grasp tightly or clutch.) There are other definitions but she didn’t remember them fully.

Blue. (Same color as name.) Gotcha.

Instead of normal distractions, she was just mocking them about their situation…

Ignoring her increasing annoyance, She took the blue flag. Her eyes quickly darted to the machine about to drop another ball just as Scout said. “Red!”

She tried to press two of the buttons with her fingers. A yellow and a green ball fell.

Two green lights now. Strike two!  

“Shit… you gotta make sure you don’t get strike three…” Beth anxiously glanced at the flags rising once again. 

The four options appeared. This time, there were not in English to her dismay. Reading a couple of the words, she was able to recognize they were not in Italian or in Spanish (Enrique, code name: Bodoque, help her realize the difference. Tho her spanish wasn’t good either.) It was Latin. The downside was that her knowledge was limited outside what remained from a class years ago, and a dictionary her aunt Rebecca gave her for it. 

Well, at least that one cancelled class and the book were useful outside choosing the name “Vox Veritas” for the organization and gang…

Hic. (Light blue.) Latin for “This” and “There.” If she recalled correctly it also meant “Here,” but she couldn’t remember. 

Manebis. (Light blue.) It was something like “I stay or I remain.” Wait- That was Maneo. This was third or second person. Based on Riley probably was directing it at them. It was safe to assume 

In. (Light blue.) Possibly could have been in English. In Latin meant something like “in” (Just as a normal word on English, Jenkins you idiot.) “into,” “on, “upon.”

Aeternum. (light blue.) In Latin, it meant something like “Forever” or “Eternally”

“You will stay in there,”  “You will stay here eternally” or “ You will stay here forever.”  

Zero subtly, but at least she was not taunting but straight up telling them they were doomed to failed. Still…she did waste her time trying to make her translate the whole words thinking she could get the translation of the color she was looking for. 

Her Spanish was horrible but at least she was able to figure out part of the colors (Outside “Marron” and “Café.” For some reason Enrique had a beef with the textbook trying to claim “Marron” was the right translation and not “Café”, as he claimed the later was the right one.)

Either way she would have an easier time knowing what color what it was, unlike Riley putting a whole phrase and not- 

“Wait...they…they don’t have different colors…”

One color. It was light blue!  

Without hesitation, Beth reached towards the light blue flag. Her left hand swung right ready to grab the flag and deposit it into the bin. She let out a whimper and instinctively drop the flag into the floor. Her hand trembled as she could still feel the painful sting running through her fingers.

“FUCK!” She mentally cried just as a muffled sound came out into her mouth. stung horribly.

Riley put a fucking zapping device into the testing machine. Still, oddly enough it didn’t give her the dreaded third strike, but neither another green light signaling that she passed the test. 

This was odd….

“Host are you oka-” but Scout’s phrase was interrupted when the machine started to violently shake. Sarabeth retracted Scout out of instinct. Scout glanced in horror. “W-What is going on?!”

The screens began to change from image to image. Words became a jumbled mess, as only gibberish and flashy colors appeared. Eventually they just changed over the Handeemen logo, and “disconnected” logo. The flags began to rise up and down until smoke began to cook. Beth clumsily stepped back just as the flags flung off the machine, while the balls dropped horribly.

“What is even going on?!” Beth glanced in horror as she could feel her whole body trembling.

Pump! Pump!

Screen 1 turned red. One white word in capital letters read: IT’S

Pump! Pump! Pump!

Screen 2 followed after screen one. The word in capital letters read: GAME

Pump! Pump! Pump! Pump!

Screen 3, just as the other two became red. The words read: OVER 

Screen 4 only had a smiley face. All in red. 

Pump….PUMP! PUMP!

Beth’s heart pounded loudly as her palms began to sweat. She nervously glanced at the four screens as she instinctively began to back down. 

IT’S GAME OVER :)

She could feel all those beady eyes staring down at her. All those smiles from the detached heads mocking her just as Riley’s sinister laughter rang through the speakers. Beth turned over to Scout in panic as the blue little thing began to breathe loudly. 

PUMP! 

They just failed the test. Riley set them up for failure. 

PUMP! PUMP!

“Uh oh! From what I can tell it looks like your test didn’t go so well.” Riley mocked them pretending to sound caring. Scout frowned. 

She knew! Riley was setting up from the start. They were never meant to win 

PUMP! PUMP! PUMP!

“ THIS is bullshit!” Scout emphasized this in her protest. She accusingly raised one of her hands to the speakers. “You’re sabotaging us!”

Riley did not respond. There was an aerie silence. This was not good…

Stomp…. stomp… stomp…

Beth could hear something walking from the next room. It sounded huge and angry.

“F-fuck! Fuck! F-f-fuck!” She could feel the room air getting thicker and thicker…

PUMP! PUMP! PUMP!

“I warned Mortimer about you!” Riley barked. Her tone was harsh and sharp. Scout lowered her arm. Beth took two steps back. “I said you weren’t a Handeemen through and through!”

So…this whole time Riley has been trying to convince Mortimer to get rid of Scout? Why?

Why now?

Why did she decide that this third trial was the charm?

W-why did it had to be when Sarabeth had to be the host?

W-why it had to be her? She never wanted to be here. She never asked to be here in the fucking place!

Riley’s voice interrupted just as Beth’s suspicions from early became true.” You had your chance, you couldn’t float, and now my dog makes a two-down through your throat!” ROSCO GET THEM!”

ROOOOOAAAAAAR!!!

The doors front the next room opened up. A giant mutant beast rushed through the entrance. It was angry and thirsting for blood. Beth’s legs trembled as Scout screamed in panic. Rosco let out a nasty growl. 

He was a giant compared to the first time they encountered him, and he was definitely more eager to hunt them down than before…

PUMP! PUMP!

“HOST, RUN! Scout pushed herself against trying to encourage Beth to run. Her feet began to clumsily run towards the left. 

She could hear Rosco’s claws scratching the floor as he made his way across the room. She did not look down. She kept on running as she could feel her soul leave her body. 

“Happy Birthday, my tadpole!” The soothing voice of the late Mathew Jenkins ran through her ears. It was an old memory… 

“Daddy!” A young 6-year-old Beth rushed to embraced her dad. He was wearing his military uniform. He returned from deployment after 6 months. He immediately carried in her arms and kissed her cheeks filled with small tears. “I missed ya so much.”

“I missed you too, my Sarabeth.” His green eyes sparkled. He took a small box from his pockets. It contained three tickets from Jersey City, New Jersey, to Orlando, Florida. She gasped in excitement. “Don’t tell your mother yet. I want to surprise her as well!”

Her deepest memories were passing through her eyes as she ran.

PUMP! PUMP! PUMP!

“Mom! You won’t believe what I got in my research assignment for JFK!” She could see her 10-year-old self stop when she glanced at Aunt Rebecca and her mother scowls fading. 

They were clearly fighting over Nana Rosemary again, but Beth was too young to know it. “Did…did I come in a wrong time?”

“Not at all, pumpkin.” Her mother cracked up a little smile. “Did you told Aunt Becca hi?”

“T-there is a door!” Scout cried. Beth noticed a door that had two buttons like the first room they got in. She clumsily made her way behind the panel. She could see Rosco rushing through the door.

“Auntie!” She embraced her aunt. Aunt Rebecca smiled at her but then frowned when she saw her ears. “Do you like ‘em? Dad helped me chose the earrings!”

“They’re lovely, sugar plum.” Auntie Rebecca smiled. It was partially genuine. She then turned to her mother and frowned. “I reckon that you didn’t tell mama a thing about this, Hannah.”

“Now what would you care about my own daughter gettin’ her ears pierced and how Mama would say?” Her mother protested. Beth did her best to ignore the increasing animosity among the older ladies. “You always get the poor woman on her nerves, Rebecca. I cannot recall a single day when she entered through that door, and she isn’t pitching a hissy fit over Tim and Caroline watching that stupid sh-”

Knowing that it was best to leave the ladies alone, Sarabeth backed down. “I’ll…I’ll go to my room and do my homework. I’ll tell Dad about my A plus when he wakes up.”

Rosco tried to charge through the door just as Beth and Scout pressed the damned red buttons. The wired door closed just as the beast attempted to chew though the wire. 

PUMP! PUMP!

Beth rushed through the door behind them that opened. It was the twitch level thing. They didn’t have much time as the beast seemingly was breaking his way through the doors. 

Time was running out. She was going to take her last breaths, and never got to see her mother one last time…

“T-turn! T-turn!” Scout cried as they turned clock wise the 

“Sarabeth Olivia Jenkins?” It was a cold Thursday morning. She was in her Junior year getting ready for school when they called. The star didn’t shine yesterday…

Click!

“I am…” Officer Wilkins and Brooks stood at the door. They gave her empathetic smiles.  There were other men in uniform, and one that carried a badge that read “Dr. Evans.” 

Sarabeth’s eyes were filled with tears. 

“He…he was a good man.” Officer Brooks smiled as he put a reddish-brown hand on her shoulder. She instinctively rushed towards his chest. He did not hesitate to embrace her. “I am very sorry, Sarah…”

In that morning she knew he was gone for good…

She could feel the level getting stuck. The metal door slowly closed in as Rosco was trying to figure out a way without getting his dirty blonde fur tangled in the broken wired door.

“S-Switch!” Scout cried. Beth began to switch in the other direction.

ROAR!

Rosco let out an angry bark as he tore down the door. Beth hands trembled as she turned the never ending level. She could feel his nasty warm breath coming closer…

“He died in action.” Officer Wilkins spoke. Hannah nervously drank her coffee. Tears were rushing down her face. Mathew Oliver Jenkins was gone.

“We’ll arrange a funeral. You can keep his uniform if you wish, Han.” Aaron Brooks gave a reassuring smile. His arms were still wrap around Beth in a side hug. “I…It was an honor serving with him. I know that he’s with our good Lord, watching us and taking care of you and his little Sarah.”

Beth and Hannah gave returned the smile. Officer Brooks was a good man, and a great friend for the family, and for her father.

PUMP! PUMP! PUMP!

Rosco started to attempt to force open with his massive paws. She desperately moved the switch. It felt as it was far closer to the end. Her hands began to tremble as the doors slowly closed in.

Clic-

It was jammed. Rosco’s paws were jamming it. 

“F-fuck!” Scout gasped. Their hands still remained on the levels.

PUMP!

He leaned to the door. His red eye as piercing at them determine to get them. The levels remained stuck. This was the end…

PUMP!

“L-leave you fucking asshole!” Scout’s stuttered in a fail attempted to threaten Rosco. He only snarled at them as he attempted to open the door.

They should give up. There is no reason to keep going…

Riley already won. She probably planned it all from the start.

Perhaps…perhaps she could meet her father, maybe Anthony…

It was over…

No…that was not the girl Mathew and Hannah Jenkins raised.  Something inside her protested. She found herself grasping strongly the level, trying to turn it, although Rosco was blocking it.

Quitting was not in her vocabulary. That part of her continued. She didn’t give up on that scientist bitch’s tests. She didn’t give up on Her Anthony…

Pump! Pump! Pump! Her heart beating loudly…

“Keep goin’! Don’t. Give. In.” S omething inside her told her to push forward…

And so she did. Afraid, but she did. 

With what force she had (which caused her to trip over the level and fall) she and scout pushed counter-clockwise the level, forcing Rosco to retrieve his paws as a massive BAM! closed shut the gates.

“I need to fucking breathe…” Beth patted (or what her sewn lips allowed her to) as she dropped to the floor. 

Air. She couldn’t breathe properly…

She needed to breathe. The black back around her make warm and thick, and her long brown curls with purplish ends weren’t helping either…

She needed some air. She needed to really make sure she was alive. And that she wasn’t dead.

She needed some air. It didn’t matter how nasty it smelled, she wanted some fucking air. Not to mention the bag as already making it difficult (with her sewn lips, but fuck it! They were going too…)

She rose herself enough to properly sit. Her left hand reached towards her neck. She tried to felt around where was the knot in the back. Where the fuck is it…where the fuck is it…

GRRR….

She yelped before trying to find the knot with more desperation than before. Shit it’s too tight!  She frowned when she finally felt the surrounding knot.

WOOF! WOOF!  

If I could have a knife or some key…

Keys.

Wait…she did have keys… She rushed to the left side front-pocket. She unhooked them clumsily from her pants. She carefully open the round metal circle that held her keychain, and then brought it to the knot. This would be harder with one hand…

She gave a glance to Scout. She was still in the floor. Her face carried a blank expression as she glanced at the door.

SCREEE! SCREEE!

She winced at the sound of Rosco scratching the outside. She held the metal part of the keychain with her thump and index. The Rest of her hand was desperately trying to get the knot to untie enough. Please slide through….please slide through

Scout remain mobile. She only glanced at the door with a blank expression.

BAM! BAM! BAM! 

She managed to get some of the fibers from the rope to break with the split ring of the keychain. She tried a couple of times (and trying not to get the keychain to fall from her grasp.) It took her a bit but she was eventually able to untied (not a lot) the knot on the rope. She let the keys fall to the floor as she then pressed a tiny crevice of the knot with her short nails. 

BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!

With desperation, sweat, and probably some horrible looking nails now, Sarabeth was able to achieve her task. She quickly removed the knot holding the rope together. She didn’t bother to undo all the swirls from the rope out of desperation, so she only loose them enough, so her head could slide out. Then before she could even blink, she removed the black back from her head as she could feel some cool fresh air against her face and curls. 

She tossed the bag to a side as she was too afraid to even toss it against the door. 

Scout eventually rose to the floor. She glanced at her as her expression draw from blank to horror, and then she stared at the floor. 

Grrr….

She could see some nasty, and bloody points trying to reach the crevices of the metal door.

  We need to go now! “MMMPH!” Beth attempted to say, but only muffled sounds came out. 

She frowned before taking her car keys once again. This stitches won’t do any good….

SCREEE! SCREEE!

She inhaled (although it was the only thing she could ever do) and held tight her breath. Her left hand trembled as she rose the slit ring from the keychain (that had seen better days) and brought it to her lips. She closed shut her green eyes and slowly (and painfully) began to cut each stitch out. 

ROOOAAAR

It stung bad. Still she cut the next one…

BAM!BAM!BAM!BAM!

She ignored the beast’s desperate attempts to get in. She also ignored the dripping liquid from her mouth, and the taste of silver. 

BAM! BAM! BAM!

She could feel her mouth beginning to open half way. Cut. Just cut. It doesn’t matter how much it hurts, Jenkins. YOU. NEED. AIR.

She cut and cut until the last stitch. She removed her the thread from her mouth before she dropped to her knees. 

She cough out and spit some good amount of good. Still it felt good to fully breathe again….

“ROSCO, BAD DOG!”

The sounds seized to a stop. Beth whipped her mouth with her hand. 

“RETURN. RIGHT. NOW.” Riley barked on the speakers. Jesus Christ, that pitch was annoying. 

Grrr….grr….grr….

She glanced at door. It had a big and ugly scratches. She felt herself curling into a ball when she felt Rosco’s breath through the crevices of the door. Eventually he started to lose some interest as the nasty rotting breath began to fail. She let out a sigh she was holding for too long.

“He’s gone…” She muttered. She turned to her side to spit some blood off her mouth. It ached like hell, but it was worth it.

It felt good to hear her own voice again. She smiled (painfully.)

“Holy shit…” Beth could feel Scout’s breath hitching. She turned to the blue puppet sewn to her right hand. She was slowly raising up. “Holy fucking shit…”

Beth wanted to ask if Scout was alright, but the blue little thing spoke panted. “ She tried to kill me. S-She actually tried to fucking kill me.”

There was no doubt in regards into who was the she Scout was referring to…

“ Riley tried to kill me!” Scout gasped in horror. Her purple eyes were still at the scratched door. “Riley tried to kill me! Well…I…I knew she always hating me, but I never thought she would be willing enough to…”

She panted loudly before turning towards Beth. Her face carried hell within her eyes. “IT WAS YOUR FAULT!”

“Excuse me?!” Beth asked defensively. Scout was startled momentarily. She forgot for a second Scout didn’t see her cutting her mouth stitches.

“FUCK! y-you-y-you actually freed your mouth…” Scout muttered to herself. Eventually that shocked faded into anger. “I- It doesn’t matter. It…IT JUST FUCKING PROVES HOW PROBLEMATIC YOU HAVE BEEN! IT’S. YOUR. FAULT.”

Beth’s face went red as she frowned. “What do you mean it’s my fucking fault? I only tried my best to survive!” Letting her anger get the best of her, she continued. “I think the only one to blame if you, you…you…blue haired monstrosity!”

Scout stared at her momentarily in confusion before frowning. Well, that insult was shit, but it didn’t change any of her anger. 

“How is it my fucking fault that Riley DECIDED to sabotage us? After all it is you who should be blamed into not seeing RILEY WAS NOT BEING OBVIOUS ABOUT HER PLANS!” She snarled as Scout pouted. 

“HOW THE FUCK WOULD I SUPPOSE TO KNOW WHEN RILEY THREATENS ME 24/7?!”

“HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO FIGURED OUT SHE FINALLY DECIDED TO KILL US BOTH?!”

“MAYBE IT WAS BECAUSE SOMEONE WAS DOING A SHIT OF A JOB PRETENDING TO BE A MINDLESS ZOMBIE!”

“I THINK IT WAS BECAUSE SOMEONE WAS NOT BEING HELPFUL AT ALL AND KEPT PROVOKING RILEY!”

“THAT WAS ONE TIME!” Scout protested. She then pointed an arm at Beth accusingly. “ Oooh…but you know what was not one time? YOU THE FUCK TENSING UP AND WONDERING OFF!”

Beth clutched her keys. She was having enough of the blue little monster trying to put the blame into her. “WHAT ELSE DID YOU EXPECTED ME TO DO?! I NEVER ASKED TO BE THROWN INTO THIS MADNESS, OR HAVE YOU IN SEWN INTO MY HAND!”

“THEN MAYBE YOU COULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT IT BEFORE BREAKING INTO SOME ABANDONED PLACE!”

Shocked and annoyance momentarily replaced Beth’s anger “How the fuck was I supposed to know that wanna-be monopoly a-hole would trick me into falling into his trap?!”

“Shit…you actually do have a point…”Scout’s expression softened before her scowled appear. “But that doesn’t justify you wandering off, wasting our precious time listening to some lunatic’s tapes! I just wanted to be nice about it, but it was annoying having to stop whenever you saw his stupi-”

“That lunatic…”Beth hissed as her teeth gritted. “It’s. My. Boyfriend.”

Missing. Missing boyfriend, but she couldn’t bring herself right now to clarify it. 

Scout’s mouth dropped as her eyes became wide open. It took a moment for Beth to realized, it was the first time she ever told Scout about her relationship. Well, it was the first time she finally got to tal- argue with the blue little gremlin after getting her mouth (which was still aching) sewn. 

Scout glared at her still in shock. Then, it slowly faded to a face of horror and designation and she muttered “We’re so fucking dead…” Tell me something I didn’t know…

“They’ll operate on us….maybe…maybe dismantle us…or do horrid experiments with us while we still alive!” Scout patted as she dropped to the floor. Beth let out a sigh. 

She was definitively not helping out in this situation. 

“They won’t kill us. Oh, no, no, no. That would be merciful.” Scout continued. Beth only limited herself to stare wondering whether to just rip her out of her hand, or shut her up. “They’ll make sure we remain alive, and pay up for defying them and-”

“Are you finished?” Beth groaned. Scout stared at her and nodded. “Good. I was two seconds from ripping you off my hand…”

“Hey! You’re not the only one that has it difficult here.” Scout huffed. “You’re not on Riley’s black list, or have that crazy Person guy’s girlfriend stuck with you.” Beth only rolled her eyes. 

“Well, I am not dying here in this place!” Beth rose herself just as Scout let out a small protesting hey!

If she was going to die. Then better die at least attempting to get out than just wait for any of those…those creatures to come and get her.

Specially Riley…

“Where do you think you’re going, giarnormica? If they looking for us!” Scout protested.

“Good!” Beth paced around the room trying to figure out some sort of exit near them. She could feel Scout’s beady eyes glaring at her. Still, that didn’t stop her from adding. “Because I don’t intend to die here, nor with a blue haired-wannabe Chucky!”

There was a small snort. Wait…did Scout just snort?

“Ok, that did make me laugh…” Scout muttered before letting out a small huff. “Well, then fuck you too…whatever your name is!”

Shit. She actually forgot to even introduce herself to Scout at the heat of the moment…

“It’s Sarabeth.” She sighed as her eyes darted towards a closed door. There was a slot next to it. “Sarabeth Olivia Jenkins Kruber. I usually go by Beth. I legit don’t care what you want to call me. Just don’t call me Sarah. I am not particularly fond of people calling me that.”

She was actually expecting an alternate name from the blue little thing anyway, but better take the chance of getting called Sarah.

“Sara-beth.” Scout repeated as she glanced at Beth. “First time I ever heard one of the hosts names.”

Beth decided it was wise to ignore it as she brought Scout to the slot machine. The blue puppet attempted to force her arm to stop. “whoa! whoa! whoa! What are you trying to do, browny-locks?”

“I told you. I am getting out of here.” Beth hissed. Scout narrowed her eyes at her. “So, if you could be so nice, do you mind putting your fealty hand-mitten thing on the screen.”

Scout stared in momentary confusion before going. “No.”

She could just stick her into the slot, but then she would have to deal with angering the little weasel out again.

Beth frowned before remembering what they had agree before starting off the tests. They were teammates, or well attempted to be a team. They helped each other through the tests, but they never really said when did that agreement ended. So, there was that loophole that kept their deal still intact…

“but…” Beth trailed off in a fake innocent tone. “Didn’t we agreed to be a team?

Scout narrowed her eyes at her. “Oh…don’t you dare bring that back!”

“Well, we never established when did that agreement ended.” She sneered. Scout frowned at her. 

“That was just to pass Riley’s tests. Now that we failed [because of Ms. Pettiness] there is no use to keep that agreement up!” Scout argued. Beth frowned before giving her a little smirk.

Technically, not getting trapped by Riley did count as a test….

“Well, arguably surviving this place is itself a big test. ” She made sure to emphasized on the last word. Scout let out an annoyed sigh. “So, we’re still holding that deal; and hey, I think it’s better that perhaps we at least try to work together as neither you nor I would want to drag you to help.”

It was at least something both truly agree upon.

Scout stared at her in some small consideration before opening her mouth to say. “So…if I agree to keep this whole teammate thing going on and help you escape…does that mean that you can take me to the outside world?”

Beth was genuinely taking back by her answer. She had her reservations, but it was only fair to let Scout get to go outside as an exchange for helping her. “It's a deal.”

Scout extended her hand felty-hand mitten. Beth hesitantly took it and shake it. Shivering at the texture and the fact that Scout’s beady eyes were staring at her. God, why did it have to be puppets?

“Sheesh, that was awkward, Sara-Beth.” Scout commented. Was she going to keep calling her Sara-Beth, or was she just messing with her?

“Sorry, I am still getting used to physically interacting with you.” Beth explained. 

Choosing to ignore or simply not wanting to bring the subject further, Scout pressed her mitten (Hand? Arm?) against the stop. The screen scanned her mitten (Hand) and the doors opened. Carefully Beth bopped Scout’s head alongside with a “Sorry” (already knowing it was an awkward hit) as both ventured through the halls.

“Ok. I am obviously new to his hold thing.” Beth glanced at Scout, who nodded with a sneer which Beth decided to ignore. “So…ummm do you know where is the nearest exit?”

“The only one available is on Mortimer’s section.” The little blue puppet explained. Fuck.

“Is…is there a chance we can find a way back to the entrance of the studio?” If she was able to enter, why not just leave the place through the same way? Sadly Scout had another set of bad news to tell her.

“Sorry to break it to you, twinkle hands, but once you enter here, you cannot leave through the entrance.” Scout explained. Beth let out an annoyed sigh. “Hey, don’t blame me! It was Mortimer that put a spell on the entrance. Unless he wants you to leave (which is highly improvable) you cannot leave through the entrance.”

“So that’s probably why the rumors said “once you enter you cannot come back” about the place.” Beth commented rather to herself. “Mortimer kept them trapped (including us too) and got them into this madness.”

That explained why Anthony disappeared…still if he kept coming back, that meant that Mortimer allowed him to go?

Just to drive a theory out of her head, she asked. “So…can Mortimer let people in and out as he pleases?”

“Pretty much…unless He doesn’t know about you, which is rare considering this place is full of snitches…”Scout once again explained. Well…that did make sense.

“Well…thanks for the explanation, Scout.” It felt too weird addressing the puppet by her name. Scout momentarily froze before nodding. 

They fell into silence momentarily as they carefully wondered off the halls. Wanting to break the silence momentarily, Beth asked. “So…do you have full knowledge of this place? Like you know where are we heading?”

“Eeeh about that….” Scout railed off. Her voice had a hint of panic. 

“ You don’t know where he are heading right now?!” Beth let out an exaspherated sigh.

Taking her word from earlier against her, Scout turned to her with a sly smirk and said. “Well, as part of our deal of being teammates. I am pretty we have to work together to figure out a way out. Which includes working together to figure out where we are!”

Sometimes the little twerp made Beth forgot she loved to mess up with people…

“So…your editor asked you to come here?

After hearing Scout’s habit of singing when she was nervous, Beth was quick to learned it most likely stemmed from Scout disliking the idea of dreaded silence. It wasn’t as if Beth dislike it, in fact she was rather thankful that Scout decided to open her mouth to talk (or rather interrogate) her about her situation. It was far better than wondering scared through dark halls and having Scout quietly singing catchy children’s songs or lullabies the whole way. 

And it also helped work on their communication skills. Considering the first thing they did was scream at each other’s throats. 

“Yup. That’s Crazy Swan to you.” Beth explained. Scout stared at her. 

“You call her “Crazy Swan”?” She asked. Beth nodded. “Is it like derogatory or-”

“Nah, she actually chose it, and we call her that in the best way.” Beth explained with a small snort. “She’s a really nice lady. You would think that because she’s middle-aged she would call herself “Crazy Swan” to hip-cool with the kids, but I am 90% sure she gives 0 crap and wants to enjoy life not caring about what the others say.”

“And the 10%?” Scout asked with curiosity.

“That probably used the nickname just mess with her ex-husband.” Beth smiled recalling her editor’s comments about her ex-husband, Hubert Hemsworth, and being done (mostly inthe best way) with her shenanigans. “They have a decent relationship and they got along. Mr. Hemsworth actually works with her around the building. He was the one that originally called her Crazy Swan.”

Still, they had their bad comments, but they always kept it in private. At least Mr. Hemsworth helped Ericka remain in check and not overdo herself at times when it came to decorations.

At least the office did appreciate having Ericka be the one person that made the holidays fun.

“Was it derogatory or a joke?” Scout asked as they continue walking.

“No idea. I never asked Ericka about it, nor does she seem to want to touch the subject.” Beth confessed. “All I know is that it didn’t work out within them and that Mr. Hemsworth recently re-married. Ericka is single.”

“Interesting. She does sound like fun.” Scout said, Beth nodded in agreement. They walked a bit before she decided to move from Ericka’s love life, and focusing into their original focus of their conversation. “So, the studio was your Halloween Entry for the news papers.”

“Pretty much.” Beth let out a sigh. Sadly it turned into a complicated situation she didn’t wished to be in. 

“But you fell into Mortimer’s trap and now you’re here with me.” Scout summarized. Beth nodded as she smiled at Scout. “Eh not bad. I guess I was partially wrong about you being an a-hole.”

As much as she drove her crazy at times, she wasn’t that bad of a bei-puppet-pal to hang around with. 

They eventually fell into silence as they walked. Beth walked around and could distinguish some sort of exit or tunnel from a far distance. That mean that they were getting closer into another room or something like that. Hopefully, there would be no encounters with other puppets (would they be called Handee-friends or Handeemen?), whatever the so-called sock puppets were, or any of the Handeemen near.

Which speaking of the devil….they never heard from Riley Ruckus outside calling Rosco back.

There was no doubt that those guys were looking for them and chasing them. Those creatures were capable of many things, and Sarabeth did not wish to even think about how they would be when raging (which Riley undoubtedly was.) Hopefully (if God’s will decided it or if life chose to not give them the middle finger) where they were heading would not have any unwelcomed puppet waiting for them.

As just the thought of a room filled with puppets ready to launch at her made her feel at unease. 

Probably not a good idea to think about the negatives, or the puppets that want to kill you, Jenkins…

Shifting her thoughts, she thought it was wise to focus into the surrounding mysteries ahead of her. First things first, She now knew about where Anthony’s little project from three years ago was. Now, there was the mystery to unravel around where was he now (as she refused to think about what could remain of him), and if his tapes (and little investigations) would lead a clue into what happened with the rest of the missing people that disappeared alongside him. 

As his tapes didn’t give any information, but at least she knew Randy was by his side. 

And…and there was the mystery of what remained of Owen Joseph Gubberson, and the possibility that the Kruber family was right about late great aunt Amyrose being murdered (but not by Owen.) The biggest lead that she ever got was Owen had long time ideas to bring his puppets to life, and that there were missing or incomplete pieces that explained the mystery of both tragedies and how they were tied together.

And that the Handemeen themselves were the masterminds behind it (Which Beth hoped was the case, as she’ll feel terribly if it just happened to be a crazy conspiracy she made.)

At least she got some information out from what Scout said. Apparently Owen was like some sort of God figure among the puppets (the more she analyze it the more creepy it became), and that Mortimer put a spell on the entrance that kept or let people in or out of the studio depending on whether he wished or wasn’t aware they were not. Also, that the implication that the puppets told him everything, but that was sorta to be expected considering her fuzzy memory when the spell didn’t fully set in. That wasn’t particularly useful, but she had to take into accountability all the facts to her avail.

“At least I can infer that playing God definitely bit Owen in the back.” Beth thought to herself as the walked closer to what seemed to be another room that used to be some sort of office. “Considering his creations committed atrocities…unless Nana Rose was right about him being heartless. That is another thing to consider…”

That could also mean that he only regretted Great Aunt Amy’s death, but there were no exact answers. 

“And there’s Mortimer spell. It explains a lot but also explains so little.” She frowned to herself, getting a slight confused glance from Scout, which she didn’t noticed. “I reckon I gotta dive everything I want to know, including…Anthony as well…”

What? 

• What became of Owen Gubberson?

• What actually happened during the night of Great Aunt Amy’s passing?

• What happened during Anthony and co’s time at the studio?

• What happened to the other puppeteers?

When?

• When did Owen Gubberson actually died?

• When did the puppets fully took over the studio?

• When did Anthony decided that was worth it to continue on this mad- (Jenkins, be reasonable!)

Where?

• Where was Anthony now? Where was everyone?

• Where was the body or what remained from Owen Gubberson?

• W-where they were heading now? (Well, time and luck would answer that one)

• Where….w-where were the other puppets?

How?

• How did the puppets even take over?

• How was Great Aunt Amy murdered by the Handeemen (if her theory was corect)

• How did event he nutcase of Owen Gubberson brought his puppets to life?

• How did that fire even started?

Why?

• Why did Anthony never told anyone else about this?

• Why did Owen’s creations betrayed him?

• Why was Great Aunt Amy hung at the main stage of the studio?

• Why there was a fire?

“Sara-Beth, did something happened?” Beth green eyes quickly shifted towards Scout. She was awkwardly staring down at her trying to figure out what went on. 

“Sorry. I was thinking about….well quite a lot of stuff.” Beth confessed. “Sometimes I tend to go quiet and annalyze whatever thing came to me. It is a bit of a habit due to my job and what I am working as a major.”

“Well, it does explain a bit into why you did zoned out.” Scout commented. She glanced around the front just to realized both girls reached towards a end that forced them to go right. “Oh shit. I guess this is the end of that hallway.”

“And it smells disgusting.” Beth covered her nose with her free hand as a rotting smell entered her nostrils. “Any idea where we are now?

“No clue.” Scout sighed as she glanced at her dark surroundings. “We’re most likely still in Riley’s labs.”

Notiticing the translucent window behind them, they carefully glanced towards the outside, curious to see what was even behind them. They carefully peaked hopping not to catch whatever was. 

Both immediately yelped when the say the image of that dog-puppt creature feeding off some human on the ground. 

They were definitely at the laboratories….

Trying to both ignore the bague shadow of the creature and the fact that Riley’s madness didn’t extend on rats alone, Beth decided to feed a bit of her morbid curiosity while asking Scout. “W-What is that thing?”

“Definetively some fucked up thing from Riley’s labs.” The blue puppet explained as she quickly turned away from the window. “That could also mean she lured us into Roscos’s playing room….considering….emmm.”

“She tried to use that thing to maul us to death?” Beth asked. Scout nodded. “Well, that does explain how she would quickly get rid of those who failed their third trial.”

“Well that’s when she’s in a bad mood.” Scout explained. “Rosco makes Riley happy, so she gives him hosts to make him happy and make her feel better. It’s not a merciful kill as Rosco tends to play with his vitims….more or less chase them…which saying  it out loud makes it plain obvious we’re possibly at a same situation…”

“Which makes this whole situation far more terrefying that what already is.” Beth added. “But…well let’s focus on trying to get out this mad woman’s hell as fast as we can.”

“Before she find us…” Scout let out a shuddered. 

They walked off to the right following the halls that forced them to continue on. To her surprise, the halls slowly began to expand as some dim red light lighted the halls. The disguting rotting smell was increasing, leading Beth to cover her nose with her left hand as they walked. Glancign around her surroundings, she found herself marveling at multiple cables and weird contraptions.

It was evident that the Handeemen spent years perfecting the studio, although from the entrance it looked just like a normal building. Perhaps this was like some underground type of secret society of lair. Definitively a good way to keep unsuspecting humans (or what they called hosts) from fully thinking the place was haunted. 

Which would also come to play Mortimer’s spell letting them in and out. Perhaps the studio was like a Venus Flytrap. It slowly closed in to capture its unsuspecting prey. 

Or in other cases having the puppets some to trap hosts (considerign on the evidence that Anthony gathered, which did imply a lot of practice and care to put into it.

Which meant they were alive since a really long time…

Curious, and well not wanting to let the silence sink in further, Beth asked to Scout. “Umm do you happen to know long long were the puppets alive? More specifically, the Handeemen.”

“I actually don’t know. I cannot even remember when exactly I was brought to life.” Scout sighed. “I only remember waking up one day at Riley were all this mess happened.”

“Oh. Thank you….” All hopes from getting at least getting a clue from Scout faded. Still, that didn’t stopped her from asking Kim (Code name: Kitty) to help her figure out what happened. 

Seemingly as if Beth told her the strangest sentence, Scout muttered to her. “Well, I do know for certain about this rumor. Other puppets believe that Owen brought the four horsemen to life after the show ended, but it is being said that he brought them to life when the show was airing.”

It was a rumour, but at least it was a lead. If it were true, that meant that Owen recorded the audio Owen found during the beginning of the show, which could meant that perhaps this was the thing that got him to fight with her Great Aunt about. 

Well that was some far line trying to reach the points togethers, but at least it was some lead into the mystery surrounding Owen and Amy themselves…

“That means it was definitely the puppets that mudered her…” Beth let out a small shudder. “ Well if the rumor turns out to be correct, which would lead to another set of-”

“Holy fucking shit….” She felt herself stopping. All thoughs seemingly flowing with her sentence. 

There…there were at least hundreds, all forming endless lines. The smell of rotting and fertilizer was strong, so there was no doubt this section was the source of the putrid smell. Still, the mysterious section was able to make Beth’s stomach crawl, not out of disgust but out of fear. The more she glanced around, the worse it became. 

There were humans handing from the ceiling. Hundreds of humans in black bags.

“I…I never been to this section before…” Scout commented. “Well, I never actually tried to wonder off around Riley’s place but like- Well, y-you do get the gist, Sara-Beth.”

Reaching out to the pictures her Anthony took, she pull and placed them back into her pockets until she found the picture Anthony took of Mortimer and Riley. It was definitely the same place, but somehow worse. How long has these people been trapped…were they even alive at this point?

“I…I think my boyfriend was here…or well found the place somehow from upstairs or somehow got into the ceiling.” Beth muttered as she show Scout the picture her boyfriend took. “Looks like its a section Riley and Mortimer meet over. 

“Shit I didn’t realized you actually kept the pictures.” Scout muttered to herself. Beth only glanced at her, waiting for Scout to get back into the main focus. “Oh, right about where we are…ummm I think is is human resources.”

Human Resources….out of all the things Beth could wish she didn’t want to find out about the place, the twisted and dark sense of humor.

“This is where Riley manages hosts. I never been into this place before, but I do know this marks the end of Riley’s section.” Scout continued nonetheless, seemingly not to catch the twisted irony or either wished not to think much about it. 

Focusing on the positives, Beth decided to take this small progress as a victory. “Well, that means that we gotta find an exit out here, and get the hell out of Riley’s section.”

“Well, we better get going..” Scout anxiously looked around. 

Walking around, trying to ignore the hanging bodies or the growing feeling of being watched, was easier said that gone. Beth found herself trembling at every step she took, trying not to think much of her situation and look around for a possible exit or a sign that it was reaching towards the end. The putrid smell surrounded the place, made it a harder task, but eventually after lurking around, the girls were lucky enough to distinguish a a door. 

“Crap!” Scout cried as a small while lock became visible the more closer they got it. Eventually they reached close enough to realized, the door opened through a slot. Strangely, the slot was locked. 

“Can you stick your han-arm thingy ont he slot?” Beth asked. 

“Negative, Browny-locks.” Scout sighed. “It is locked, which means we got to figure out a way to unlock it. It’s usually a pin or a restricted area when you see the locked rooms.”

Glancing closely around (hoping) to see a sign that could easen up their luck, she noticed a small flat circle near the slot. “I think that is a pin.”

“Shit…which means we need to get one.” Scout muttered. She gave Beth a distressed look before saying. “Well, if the door is lock, then that means Riley most likely dropped a pin in here.”

In other words, they would have to search the play for the dreaded pin….

“This is going to be hell…” Beth thought to herself. 

And thus, that’s how the duo spent an hour or what it felt like an eternity searching for the pin. The more the girls walked around the hosts, the more the putrid smell grew and the tension became worsen. Beth could even swear that they were not hearing the air coming out from the top, but rather the moans from the people hung.

The hundreds of people hunging from the ceiling…

After some endless rounds of fruitless searching, Beth and Scout sat down near a hospital Beth laying around (something which Beth suspected was stolen from the Mercy Hospital before it shut down.) They glanced at the hundreds and hundreds of people (hosts) at their front. 

Then…then she started to realized there was some small, but frantic movement. The darkness of the room (or Human resources..) made it harder to determine.

Unless Beth’s eyes were starting to fail or or she was loosing her mind in this mad pla-

Mmmmm…..mmmm

Was…was that a breath?

Mmmmmm

It…it did’t came from either herself or Scout, which meant….

“I-I think these guys are alive…” Beth commented. Scout glanced at her with a mixture of amazement and horror. “I…I think I can hear them breath loudly and move…”

“Please tell me you’re bullshitting me about this…”Scout muttered. 

Then, one of the bodies franctically moved causing the girls to yelp, and for Sarabeth to force down her hand against her mouth to prevent her from futher screaming as the body suddenly dropped to a stopped. 

They were in fact very much alive…

“we should free them…” Beth commented. God knows how long were they trapped…

“WHAT?!” Scout glanced at her in horror. “Are you out of your mind? It’s not worth the risk.”

Beht could feel her blood rushing in. Did it had to be know when the blue little heathen decided it was time to argue again? What was so wrong to free one of the hosts?

“What do you mean is not worth it?” Beth huffed. “I cannot stand here alone knowing these guys are very much alive and stuck here. Why is that so bad?”

“I don’t want them to be in that position either, but Riley has a fucking alarm system set up around the studio. If we ever try to force down our way, she will know where we are, and she would not hesitate to make it worse for not just for us and for ourselves! ”

That did explained how did the puppets knew she broke in….

“Shit…you’re right, sorry…” Beth sighed. She glanced at the hosts in front of them. “I don’t want to take the risk of dealing with Riley, which means that dog mutan shit would come in too….but also I don’t just want to leave them there ya-know.”

Surprisingly, Scout nodded as she glanced at them with a sorrowed look. “Neither do I, but if we’re lucky to get, then we can figure out a way to help out the others.”

Beth found herself smiling at Scout as she said. “That does sound like a good plan. Now…we gotta figure out a way out here and find the pin and continue our way to find a way out.

Scout nodded before Beth stood up to walk again across the maze that it was those dreaded meat lockers (as it was far too cruel to refer to it as human resources.) Scout gave Beth an a small look and said. 

“Do…do you also feel more terrible the more you walk around here?” She asked.

“Yeah, I really do…” She confused with a weak smile. “But, hopefully we can put an end to this.

That was if they survive…