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"I'm afraid we're reduced in numbers tonight," Henry says. "Actually, we should have one more, but— he's not back yet?" A head shake from Whatsherface. "Just us, then."
"Uh-huh," you say.
"Still skeptical, aren't you?" His smile is unwavering. "We all start skeptical. I started skeptical, believe me, until I caught wind of your father— well, you don't want me regaling you. More important things on the docket. Friends, this is Charlie, my niece— unofficially! Very unofficially." He's addressing the other two. "<span class="mu-i">Do</span> you still go by Charlie?" Addressing you, soliciously.
"Uh," you stutter. (The 'niece' removed any capacity for reasoned thought. Like a crossbow bolt to the temple.) "N— no."
"Charlotte! I'll remember that," says Henry, and swishes past you, and goes and sits down near the eyewatering black circle. He spreads his legs out. The other two cultists are saying 'Hello' and 'Nice to meet you.' "Now, I think we better cut to the quick. I'm sure you agree, given the—" He raises a hand. "—skepticism. Would you like to share with us what you witnessed with regards to what was under there?" The hand is pointing to the black circle.
"Why should I?" you say.
"Because we— because I, mainly," he amends, "but also these good friends here, more and more every day— we understand." His eyes dance like a flame. "You're not alone, Charlotte. I promise."
>[A1] If Richard were helpful one bit, you wouldn't have to do this. Spill the beans about your eyeball-type experience.
>[A2] You are not spilling one single thing until you get some damn answers. Capiche?
>[A3] You are not spilling one single thing, ever. It wasn't even that bad. It was just a really big eyeball, plus a lizard, and you don't need to talk about that with strangers. Or worse-than-strangers.
>[A4] Write-in.
> Get some damn answers. (If enough of these are selected, they may be split into multiple updates.)
>>[1] Where the hell are you?
>>[2] What's that circle in the floor?
>>[3] What are they doing here?
>>[4] Did Henry just pull you through, like, a couple hundred feet of mud?
>>[5] Why are they acting like normal people? It's scary.
>>[6] Do they know that their god makes people want to murder other people? For no reason?
>>[7] Why do they even bother with the support group thing? They can just say cult.
>>[8] Does Henry know anything about, um, murder rituals?
>>[9] Does Henry know anything about, uhh, worm-resurrection rituals?
>>[10] Write-in.
