When the Lights Go Out: MAN OF MEDAN [The Dark Pictures Anthology]

xiv. la menteuse

It's a shame, what happened to Fliss. I liked her. I thought she was a good person. Turns out I was only mistaken.

But it wasn't my fault. It was just an accident, I didn't mean to do that. I was just... in shock, that happens, right? Yeah, it's all good... It's all good...

I still couldn't take my eyes away from the bodies that laid down below. I could see their blood slowly spreading out, mixing with each other. And then I noticed a figure looking up from below.

It was the Curator.

Just like everytime, he's there. He always is. Seeing him calmed my nerves a little bit. And then he walked away with his hands on his back.

It's now time to leave.

I climbed down the ladder for the last time. And then I kept walking and walking. I don't know where I was going to go, but I just kept on walking.

Until I arrived at where Conrad and Fliss are. Seeing Conrad's state made me cry again. I kneeled in front of him and hugged him. I didn't care if some of his blood were now on me. I just wanted to hold him one more time. Then I took his watch and put it in my pocket again. It's something to remember him by.

And then I heard Julia scream from behind.

"Conrad! No!" Julia cried and then leapt to me and hugged me. "No, no, no!"

"Ssh... It's okay, it's all right." I reassured her while carressing her back. Although I directed it more towards myself. No one else consoled me, so I did it myself.

I felt terrible for Julia though. I know full well what it is like to lose a brother. But I felt more terrible for myself. I lost Ed again. This can't keep happening to me.

"Come on." Alex told us in a soft voice and we all ran across the weather deck to our safety. We were panting profusely as we entered a control room. Julia was bawling her eyes out like crazy.

Alex hugged her and whispered to her, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

How about me? Is no one sorry for me? I was there! I was the one who witnessed him die! Fuck, I saw three people die in a row! And no one is asking me how I am?

"What happened to Conrad and Fliss, Emma?" Julia asked me.

Then I told her what happened. Not quite...

"We... we were being chased by... something, I don't know what fuck it is. And then we ended up up there. Then there was Fliss. I don't know how but she was there. She was being frantic and everything, she was acting like an absolute madman! We were really scared of her!" I told them while I acted like I was genuinely scared.

Alex wasn't convinced enough though. "That doesn't sound like Fliss..."

"You weren't there, were you?" I snapped at him. But Julia was getting impatient.

"What happened next?"

"And then... and then..."

"And then what?" Julia asked.

"And then he jumped." I couldn't take it anymore. I cried again right then and there.

"Why would he do that?" Julia asked again.

Trying to put the blame more on Fliss, I continued, "If he didn't, Fliss would have probably pushed us both."

Julia shook her head. "No, Fliss wouldn't do that.

"Believe me, Julia, I'm your friend, right?" I said, then held her hands and squeezed it tight. Julia sobbed again.

"How did she die?" Alex asked me, but it only infuriated me. Why does he keep asking such stupod questions? I didn't want to admit what I did to Fliss, so I continued with my act.

"What does it matter? She was a fucking psycho! She jumped and fucking killed herself!" I screamed.

"Ssh, tone it down. They'll hear us." Alex said. "I know this is the absolute worst time to say this but, we can't stay here."

Julia's head was low. "Just give me a minute."

Then everything faded to black and the next thing I knew, I was back at the Curator's repository. He was standing in front of one of his bookshelves, browsing in them.

"Oh, hello." He greeted with his back turned on me. He then out whatever hook he was holding back to its place. "Things appear to have taken a turn towards the... spiritual. Wouldn't you say?"

He grinned at me and then came back to his seat.

"Hmmm... I wonder, how is it, watching the candles burn... one by one?"

"I'm not sure what you want me to say."

"Now you're three down, just when you were doing so well." He said, taunting me again. He then wrote something on his book. "Has anyone seen Brad, besides you, of course?

"No, I don't think so. Alex doesn't seem to know anything about it." I said, feeling bad for Alex as well. It seems like everyone is losing their brother here.

"So you'll be the one to break the news then? How exciting. I wonder what you'll say this time?" The Curator looked at me with a huge smirk evident on his face. I crossed my arms and leaned back on my seat, quite annoyed by his remark.

"Can we not talk about this?"

"Well then, how about Conrad? Took a step into the unknown, I fear. Too bad."

I tilted my head and asked him, still with a bit of exasperation, "Are you punishing me?"

"Oh don't be silly. Of course... not." He smirked once again. "So tell me: Fliss--"

"Don't start." I interrupted him and looked away. Talking about her made me very uneasy. I don't want to remember what happened back there, I really don't.

"Oh, Elaine. There is no point acting like your hands have never been dirtied before." He laughed, keenly waiting for my response.

Enraged, I shouted, "Excuse me?!"

But he just continued.

"A few years ago, remember? You were... involved in a kidnapping of young teenagers, weren't you?..." I sat there in silence but he took it as an affirmative. "Human trafficking really is nasty business."

I paused before yelling at him. "That fucker got what he deserved!"

The Curator smiled, fully satisfied with my answer. Thankfully, he changed the subject.

"Have you figured out what's going on... how to stop it... how to save the lives of your poor unfortunate 'stowaways'? Although, I'm not sure whether saving them is still your objective..."

"It was an accident, okay?"

"Whatever you say. But you will find out soon, everything that is behind all this. It's a pity that the ship's previous occupants never managed to. Quite a lot of deaths that night."

"I know. I saw everything." I sighed. Flashes of their death came back to me. That whole ordeal really was unfortunate.

"Let me help you out, give you a little hint." He offered.

"If you're not yet tired of giving more offers, then I guess I need some." I said with ostensive curiosity.

"Well then, how can I put this? There may be forces at play here that are more... scientific, and even some that are more... political, you know? Less... supernatural?" He crossed his legs.

I gave his hint a thought. "Do you mean that... those hallucinations... they were all just hallucinations? But how...?"

The Curator only smiled.

"Well, it's good that you're starting to realise something." He closed his book and took a set of cards and showed them to me.

"That everything... and everyone may not be quite what they appear to be." And then he threw the very same cards onto his table, but now, the cards were different. "I hope that helps."

"That... kind of shed some light. Thanks."

"A pleasure." The Curator politely smiled. "Well, aren't you excited to find out what your poor unfortunates are making of all this and how you might avoid any more... unnecessary... tragedy? Go on. Back to it. Speak soon."