Both the girls had calmed down significantly after getting untied, and were now discussing what to do next. “So, what’s the plan?” Lindsey asked.
“Well, I guess we should probably save our friends, figure out a way to get us all back to normal, and try and stop whatever they’re trying to do so that they can’t just use some other group of people.”
“That sounds good, but it’s going to be a little hard for us to stop them when we don’t even know what they’re trying to do-“
As if by a complete twist of fate, the book they had received earlier from the library fell out of Heather’s purse, which the guards had apparently not noticed since it was covered by her blazer. Picking the book up, Heather suddenly made a connection, “What if their big plan is to try and figure out the Mercurin’s cure for death!”
“No… You don’t think…”
“Well, let’s keep reading and see if there’s any similarities…” Sitting down on the hard concrete floor of the cell, the two continued to read the book.
‘While it had long been thought the secret to defeating death was lost to time with the original raids of the Mercurin castle, Michael and his wife were pleasantly surprised with the return of many of their family’s documents by those who had originally destroyed their family. However, what they were not expecting was the massive loss in life that would be required to complete such a potion. Still, undeterred, they began gathering the materials to return their family’s honor. Digging downwards, the Mercurins were pleased to discover an underground system of caves with which they could safely begin the brewing process. Digging a massive pit, they filled it with water from a nearby lake, almost completely draining the contents and causing a drought for the nearby farmers. Then, they taxed the residents of their meals, leading to a famine that weakened the residents nearby. Finally, under the guise of night, the family raided their own settlements, killing all who were not of blood relation to the Mercurins.’
“Holy shit!” Lindsey commented, covering her mouth.
‘Pleased the potion was coming to fruition, the Mercurins knew they would have to act quickly within the coming nights in order to ensure the potion would work properly. However, just as they had discovered the secret of the final ingredient, and the nearby settlements, tired of the tyranny of the Mercurins and the atrocities they had committed in the name of dark magic, attacked the manor, killing the last of the Mercurin line and throwing their bodies into the wretched poo, destroying the caves behind them and salting the land, in hopes that if nobody would use the Earth again to perform such acts.’
“Well, that’s good,” Heather said, pleased that justice had been served as they continued reading.
‘However, deep beneath the Earth, trouble was brewing. While the family had been unsuccessful in procuring the correct final ingredients, the introduction of spirits of unrest and magic to the potion began a chain reaction that no-one could have anticipated. The pool of liquid began to fester, voices of the dead bubbling up, and suddenly, as if some greater power had intervened, the newly dead Mercurins crawled out of the pit, their complexion a pale, dark blue, a strange liquid dripping out of their wounds. Despite being returned to life, it appeared as though any semblance of the humanity they once had was gone. It was in these caves that the Mercurins stayed for over one hundred years.
It was several years ago that the curse known as the Mercurins fell upon the Earth once more. A group of historians, wishing to discover the fate of the long dead family, entered the mansion of the Mercurins, and discovering the caved in entrance to the underground pit, dug through, only to find the ghosts beneath. Of course, so much time had passed that the ghosts had once again regained their intelligence and were filled once again with the desire to finish the potion they had started and return humanity to the ghouls. Discovering they could no longer communicate with the regular humans, the Mercurins threw them into the pit, turning them into the ghosts as well, and after a quick re-education, had joined the ranks of the Mercurins.
After several horror stories arose, the group known as Miracle Curing Incorporated became the first group to successfully make contact with the Mercurins. They promised the ghosts they would help them complete their potion, so long as they had the right to sell the product, and help them in developing a new system of ‘body modularity’ that the Mercurins had been believed to have discovered. However, if they failed to complete the potion by a due date, the Mercurins promised them they would destroy everything both of them had worked for. That due date is-‘
“It’s today!” Heather said, suddenly realizing the seriousness of their situation. “That’s why they’ve been keeping us captured here! If they don’t finish it today, the actual ghosts are going to stop them from selling the goo!”
“If we can get out of here, we can stop them and maybe be turned back to normal in the process!” Lindsey said, hope bursting through her voice, “Let’s get out of here!
“Okay, but the door’s locked…” Heather said.
“Please,” Lindsey said confidently, “Leave that to me.” Taking a pin out of her hair, she began fiddling with the door lock, and after a bit of work, managed to get the door open.
“Great!” Heather said, leading Lindsey out the door and sneaking quietly down the hallway.
What do the girls try to do next?
1.) See if they can try and save their friends
2.) Try and find an exit
3.) Explore the facility