Margaret is sitting on a tombstone as the nightly fog rolls in as she pulls out her hand sized telescope to try and get a look at the stars
Willow slowly walks into the cemetery, looking around, a small leather backpack slung on back. "Hello..?"
Margaret looks around to voice as she spots Willow, "Hey Willow." She waves her down
Willow runs over, "Margaret! Hey!" she points to the mausoleum, "I have a crowbar. I was gonna try and break that tiny house thing open?"
"You sure you want to do that? Is that like... I dont know... disrespectful?"
"Wait, is it like a grave?"
"Yea it's like a big tomb"
"OH crap. So sleeping there isn't an option?"
"I mean you could, but I'm not gonna take my chances"
"No. No, you're right," Willow sighs, "I'm starting to think that maybe it actually isn't the best idea to sleep in the cemetery. I was betting on the tiny house grave actually being just a tiny house."
"Probably not... truthfully I just came here to explore and look around. I don't know where else to sleep so maybe I'll find a bench and hit the hay there?"
"Not a bad idea. I have a towel I'll probably just lie on. This place is pretty cool.. and spooky.." Willow wanders around, though staying near Margaret, reading gravestones and stargazing.
"So... how have you been doing? How you been holding up?"
"I'm not sure. I think something in me died. But something else is in me now and I don't like what it thinks." Willow says, "Howve you been? You're the one who.. climbed the staircase and saw.. whatever you saw, after all."
"I'm holding up. Still kind of shaken on that and more confused. A part of me want to say it was all one big dream but it felt some real and something would not make since without the other so it has to be real... I'm just trying to wrap my head around how." Margaret sighs.
"I know what you mean. I have a million theories but.. it's all so crazy. So wrong. Insane." Willow says, "Do you think they have something.. I mean the monsters, the staircase, do you think they have something to do with this supposed larp..?"
"I hope not. If so I wonder what the heck this Lucy is up to because people dying was not to say on my todo list"
"It just seems like.. the fact that the meetup was there, and they spoke of monsters seeking us out.. it feels like.. a very very strong coincidence?"
"Yea... I'm probably going to start taking notes. I don't trust them one bit if it keeps up with this whole monster thing."
"Yea. And Tim.. It's so.. ugh. I don't know anymore." Willow sighs, "Do you remember at all what you saw? Or would you rather not talk about that yet..?"
Margaret thinks back to it and tries to recall it, "I saw crimson trees hanging from the sky? and a large cross being slowly pulled up with something on it? I was all very confusing"
Carl arrives, “Hey, guys?” Carl looks around as he drived a bit faster than usual. Making sure he didn’t “accidentally” break the law and go too fast, he starts walking.
"That's so.. weird. Like.. another world. Weird. Wweeeeeeird. But that would support my theory.. and the crazy monsters-" Willow mumbles.
“Alright hi guys, sorry I was on my phone for a minute but I saw.. you’re Willow and you’re Margaret right?” Carl sweats as he thinks they’ll get mad at him for not paying attention.
"Yup!" Willow walks over to a bench, casually laying towel on it before lying down, stargazing again.
"Yea." Margaret finds another bench near by and does the same
“Alright, cool!” Carl sits down accidentally on the same bench as Willow and apologizes. “Sorry!” He moves to another bench.
"OH. It's ok, I'm gonna be sleeping here though. I don't think too many murderers come to Graves at night..?"
“Don’t sleep here. Me or Margaret can take you somewhere. And yeah I’m like 99% sure you have a good chance at getting killed or spooked here.” Carl sits back down on the same bench as Willow. “I think I’ll look at the stars for a bit. Astronomy is just as cool as everything else. Ooh, and Geology. Man I love minerals.”
"That's really cool! But uh, I'm not sure if Margaret actually has a place to go either."
"Yea no. Im good. I'd rather sleep here"
"And I've already stayed over at Myla's.. and.. I think made Alex mad or worried, which made Myla.. I dunno. I don't want to use people." Willow sighs.
“I don’t care. Just, I’ll pay for your hotels and I’ll sit out in the car.” Carl smiles knowing they may be too stubborn to not accept it. “Wait. It’s creepy. Nevermind, I’ll leave and you guys can do whatever at the hotel. Man I don’t know what’s creepy or not, my friends told me if anyone says somethings creepy it’s a joke and they get me in messes all the time.. and I’m 22!”
"I dunno.. I appreciate the offer though, really. You shouldn't waste your money on me though. I dunno about Margaret, I think she just likes it maybe? I'm not sure." Willow sighs, "It's ok. You literally can't be creepier than those weird monsters so."
“I’m not wasting my money. If I have enough to buy a house everywhere I want one..”
"..how the heck did you get that much money?!" Willow asks.
“A good job. A really good job. Just, other stuff, but now I’m wondering if my friends are actually friends. I don’t know, they always treat me and butter me up but… I’m realising now..” Carl starts realising his friends probably aren’t friends and that some strangers are somehow kinder than them. His head hangs low, thinking about things. Margaret looks around just relaxing and listen to convo, not really paying any mind. “Anyways guys, please just come on and I’ll pay for your hotel. You can stargaze for a bit but l’ll stay here with you.” Carl looks around and at the stars. “Very.. nice.”
"No I'm good. To be honest I just meet you and I don't trust you. Besides, I prefer the outside," Margaret says.
"I'll also be honest! I love story time. I've actually never been in a hotel! Otherwise I've told you why.. but really, thank you. It's nice that you care." Willow says.
“Yeah. You just met me. You’re right… sorry. A hotel is cool. It’s like a house but it’s smaller and not permanent. How about I’ll give you the money? Please man I just- ah.” Carl knows it’s hopeless but still decides to stay with them, even if they sleep at the cemetery.
"OH! Like the tiny cemetery house that's actually a grave!" Willow says, "And really, I've gotten along fine by slowly stealing strangers groceries and borrowing their kitchens at 4 in the morning."
“HAAHHA! Good one.” Carl laughs, “That’s a joke. Right?”
Margaret is still just looking around with her eyes, relaxing on the bench.
"Uhhhhhh" Willow stares at the sky, "Yes yes! I am well rehearsed in joking!"
“You know what I’ve decided it’s not I’m also paying for your groceries. I have some money on me at all times for emergency in case I run out of snacks!” Carl says, “Or in case I run into an emergency.”
"I was just.. 'joking'...-"
“Here’s like- I didn’t carry much right now but here. 20.” Carl takes out 20 dollar. “Margaret, for you too!”
"OH my God what the heck noooo." Willow says.
Margaret just stares at him, "I'm good. Thanks but no thanks"
Carl thinks. Too much? Yeah, but he gets paid a fair amount.
"I don't even know what to say. I.. I cant take this," Willow says.
“Here.” Carl forces it into Willow’s hand and puts it next to Margaret. Margaret just stares at it before going back to star gazing
"I really cant" Willow gives the money back, placing it into his palm and closing his fingers, "Really. Thank you but nooo. I can't do anything to pay you back for that much."
“You don’t need to pay me back!” He forces it back into Willow’s hand.
"I refuse. I will win!" she gives it back, again, "If you give it back again I will instantaneously explode. I am not bluffing." Willow's words would be immediately followed by yells. Cheering? From the woods. Sounds like a crowd cheering about... something.
Willow perks up, standing from the bench, "You guys hear that, right..?"
"Hm? Yea... I hear that." Margaret stands as well as she starts walking in that direction
"OH, we're investigating? This has definitely gone wrong before. Maybe.. it's a party, though.." Willow follows Margaret towards the sounds into the woods-
“We should not investigate honestly. This weird shit creeps me out. Is this like the ARG LARP?” Carl follows Willow. The money is now out of his mind and goes in the thoughts of death and an ARG.
"True. But maybe that's also why we should investigate. I'm itching for answers." Willow says.
"I don't know. But I don't know why people are cheering so I want to know whats on the up and up" Margaret says.
“I guess..” Carl takes the lead and spreads his arms to try and protect the rest. “Yeah. You’re right.”
The cheers get louder as they walk. They can see something in the woods. A door. A golden door, appearing to be leaking a strange hot pink substance.
"Yea! And if it's a party maybe they'll have food we can eat! And mingle. Then eat more food." Willow sees the door. "....uh. guys? I happen to recall Raine showing me his very very nice door drawing at the first meeting." The door isn't attached to anything.
Margaret looks confused at the weird door, "The heck?"
It's just standing there. The cheers are coming from it.
"Not sure if this is related to his drawing... but.." Willow's mood changes, suddenly curious but more cautionistic and observant.
“Did this look like whoever Raine is drawings?” Carl asks.
"I can't really remember.." Willow picks up a stick, poking the door.
"Why don't we open it?" Margaret looks to the door.
"Magic door. Wait, crap, magic staircase. Staircase was also weird and random and empty. This is just that but door." Willow mumbles.
“This is creepy as hell.” Carl picks up a pebble and throws it at the door.
"Well 2nd times the charm," Margaret goes to open the door.
"OH crap I wasn't prepared for you to actually open it-"
The door opens! It... leads to more woods..? The leaves are lush, the trees looking nice. There's cheering. A crowd is nearby.
“What the hell?” Carl is confused and looks at the inside. Margaret looks confused before walking inside
"Woa! People maybe! Let's say hi!" Willow says.
“Be careful..” Carl is the last to step in.