Storming the Beach

In turns out that I wasn’t that far from my destination. The small prison I had been kept in wasn’t located near the actual Prison as I’d feared. It seems it was the temporary jail for those brought through the sewers from the actual Prison in preparation for the “Warding Ritual”.

I had returned to the top of the well where I had made another escape (from The Brute, if you recall). The door I emerged from had previously been locked; I was only a single haunted staircase away from Agrippa.

The Shadow though, had already made quite a mess.

The once smooth walls were covered in the infection, it was seeping out of the well. I moved away and down the staircase, itself covered in growth, to the chamber above Agrippa. The Shadow’s filth had one positive effect it seemed – the laboratory was broken open. With great haste, I began my career as a junior chemist.

Mixing the ingredients together created a disgusting potion, its taste most likely only rivaled by Buckley’s. With curiosity, I realized I actually had no idea what it was supposed to do. I only knew that it would help Agrippa to escape from his bonds. Most likely, it would restore some vitality to the dead husk he was confined in, allowing him to journey with me to our mutual oppressor. A little company wouldn’t be half bad right about now, even if it was a crazy centuries old occultist.

I brought the mystery drink down to him, much to his delight. The potion, apparently, would preserve his life in such a way that I would be able to take him with me to the finish.

 He stated, very matter-of-factly, that if he drank it I would be able to cut his head off without killing him, and then carry it to the gate. It had to be the stupidest, craziest, most horrific plan I’d ever heard in my entire life.

Naturally I went along with it.

With a bone saw I tore through the alchemist’s neck. If Agrippa was in any pain he certainly didn’t show it or voice any disapproval at my decapitation skills. Armed with my latest (and weirdest) item, I moved on. Finally, I was ready to desecrate the Inner Sanctum.

Carefully moving to the bridge, I surveyed the area to make sure I wasn’t going to be rushed by five Gatherers again. Once I was positive I was alone I returned to the electrified hallway and reassembled The Orb. It was larger than I imagined but it emanated the ethereal blue I had expected. The mystic object drained the power from the defence and in a few seconds the way was clear.

Finally, after everything he’d been through, Daniel returned to the place where it all began and where this entire fucking mess would end.