IGEBM, Si, and Storm were awoken from their sleep by chanting coming from what they thought was the woods. Unable to go back to sleep, the trio ventured out into the even darker dark forest and soon discovered when they reached the end of the forest that the sound was, in fact, coming from a cave within the mountain. They went down it and came across a cave, with the mysterious cloaked figure, the Ferryman, the Axecutioner, and Martin Helsyth inside reciting the chant.

IGEBM, Si, and Storm watch as the cloaked figure, the Ferryman, the Axecutioner, and the ghost of Martin Helsyth recite a chant while standing in a circle, too focused to notice them. However, that changes when Storm accidentally drops his flashlight onto the ground. "Carp." he says as the chanters turn to face him. "You three!" Helsyth and the Axecutioner shout in unison! "We don't want any trouble." IGE immediately says, dropping his flashlight and raising his hands in the air as if the cops just caught him committing a crime. "Why are ye three here?" the Ferryman asks in his pirate-like voice. "We heard chanting and wanted to know where it was coming from." Si explains after repeating IGE's actions. "We'll see ourselves out." He turns around and begins to walk away nervously, followed by his friends.

"Not so fast." the Axecutioner says, his ghostly figure descending into the ground and rising out in front of the group, blocking their exit. He raises his axe and pushes them back, into the cave. "How did you two even get out of your rooms?" Storm asks. "'Cause last time I checked, those walls trapped you in." "We were freed." Helsyth answers. "By who?" Storm responds. "Him." Helsyth says, pointing to the cloaked figure. "Hello, my guests." the being says. "Are we supposed to know you?" IGE asks, confused. "Correct." the figure answers. "You may have seen me around, but clearly it's time that you meet your host in a much more... interactive way." "You mean you're...?" Si realizes. "Mr. Shiver." the cloaked figure finishes.

"What are you going to do to us?" Storm asks. "Nothing, nothing." Shiver answers. "As a matter of fact, I was about to let you go. Alec, you can move now." "Fine." the Axecutioner groans. "I was really hoping to behead someone today..." He moves out of the way, allowing for IGE, Si, and Storm to exit the cavern. "I hope the rest of your stay here is good." Shiver says to them as they leave, before quietly saying something to his friends. "It's not like they'll ever have a chance to tell anyone if they don't." The Axecutioner brandishes his axe. "Only a few more days..." Helsyth says. "And then we'll be rid of this island..." the Ferryman continues. "Forever!" they all cheer in unison.

TOMORROW - "THE RITUAL!"

---

Cast (in order of appearance)
IGEBM as IGEBM
LegendarySi as Si
Stormy as Storm
Mr. Shiver
The Ferryman
The Axecutioner
Martin Helsyth

Writing began 10-25-2023 at 4:46 PM EDT
Writing completed at 10-25-2023 at 5:12 PM EDT
Published 10-28-2023 at 5:00 PM EDT
Written by IGEBM
Cover art by IGEBM

---


People I'm Tagging So They Can See This
Zibonzi, ShadowZibonzi, Firestar2477278, DarkIce8727742, Aspirin60, GhostlyBit_57, Silabear, Rob333, DarkRob333, TheMcPig, violiie, Greief, Sp3nc3r_, Rakkitatoru, LeLovesJazz, CrownDeluxe, AxolotlArmy, BigFatPotat, ShadowOnTheLoose, WhisperOfTheWild, The Last Kirbalorian, Purpl3_, GoldenScientist, ClayMan1077

---

IGEBM Publishing Subscribers

If you would like to "subscribe," read and comment on this thread.

spookyshxdow
PandaWonka
SteamMallard07
LegendarySi
ExtremeGames
RyluSpark
cloudkitty
RB22486
illager
anonpmc4611129