Episode 4.6 - Christina

Summary

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The Road of Shadows – S4E6: "Christina" (August 19, 2025)

Episode Overview

In this pivotal episode of The Road of Shadows, Daniel Knox and Amber continue investigating the eerie disappearances in Oakwood. Their search leads them to Grace, a woman whose daughter Christina vanished under suspiciously similar circumstances to Thomas Cracknell—another townsperson mysteriously erased from Oakwood’s collective memory. As they unravel Christina's story and comb through her belongings, new evidence comes to light—hinting at Dark forces at work and deepening the show's mythology surrounding the “Shadows.”

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Revisiting Familiar Ground ([01:18]–[02:29])

• Daniel and Amber note their return to a spot significant in their search: "Wait a second. We've been here before, haven't we?" ([02:00], Daniel)
• The conversation hints at manipulation or a loop, as if they're being “played” or misled by someone or something.

2. Meeting Grace – The New Witness ([02:31]–[04:02])

• Grace welcomes them in with a brusque but open attitude: “Come on in off the street, won't you? Right through here. Take a seat... I won't bite.” ([02:34], Grace)
• She immediately proves purposeful, asking direct questions about their motives and the townsfolk.

3. The Town’s Amnesia and the "Ostriches" ([04:02]–[05:56])

• Grace acknowledges Oakwood’s widespread selective amnesia: "Lots of ostriches in this town." ([03:56], Grace)
• She defines “ostriches” as those burying their heads in the sand—unwilling or unable to acknowledge the truth.

4. The Thomas Cracknell Disappearance ([05:47]–[08:22])

• Grace recalls Tommy's personality and disappearance: “Tommy was never really a big talker. Quiet kind of guy... always gave me a smile and a wave.” ([06:07], Grace)
• The circumstances around Tommy’s final days were odd: "...he went running off into the woods. And if I had to guess, I’d say he ended up at the bottom of some deep, dark ravine..." ([07:43], Grace)
• Daniel and Amber highlight the parallel with Christina’s disappearance.

5. Christina’s Story Unfolds ([09:08]–[15:19])

• Grace introduces the true purpose of the meeting: “I want to talk about Christina. That’s who we should be talking about.” ([09:08], Grace)
• Christina, Grace’s 23-year-old daughter, vanished “two years ago now... she got up one morning and walked out the door and never came back.” ([09:50], Grace)
• Grace paints a portrait of a close-knit mother-daughter relationship, sharing memories like Monopoly nights and recipe organizing ([10:17]-[11:27]).

Notable Behavioral Shifts ([12:40]–[14:44])

• Christina exhibited increasing forgetfulness and withdrawal: “Then things started to slip... she started showing up late for work, too... until she missed Monopoly night. Just plain forgot. That's when I knew something was—” ([12:49]-[13:27], Grace)
• Strong parallels are drawn between Christina and Tommy’s pre-disappearance behavior ([13:34]-[13:58]).

Community Apathy and Stonewalling ([11:34]-[11:54])

• Grace experiences resistance and indifference from townsfolk and authorities: “No one wanted to help. It was like... talking to a brick wall.” ([11:43], Grace)
• The police are unhelpful; friends stop supporting her search.

Christina’s Odd Habits ([14:49]-[15:19])

• Christina begins leaving for long, solitary walks: “She’d come back with mud on her sneakers and pine needles stuck to her... she was never the outdoors type.” ([15:08], Grace)

6. The Search for Evidence ([18:26]-[28:55])

Christina's Room ([18:26]-[22:02])

• Grace allows Daniel and Amber to search Christina’s preserved bedroom, offering hope of finding clues.

Personal Effects and Clues ([22:10]-[24:15])

• They discover innocent mementos: photos, cassette tapes, sketches.
• The mood is somber and authentic, with Amber remarking: “It would have been nice to—wait, wait. What’s this?” ([22:52], Amber)

The Diary and Disturbing Entries ([23:02]-[28:55])

• The diary’s early entries are normal; later ones become chaotic and cryptic:
  • March 1978: Early, routine entries
  • 1981: Mentions of a mysterious “J” at her work
  • 1982 and onward: Unfinished thoughts, frantic scribbles
  • Repeated, unnerving phrases: "Hear the voice" ([24:43], Christina’s diary), "Follow the voice" ([25:34]), and finally, "Heed the voice" ([27:14])

Visual Clues & Possible Leads

• Eerie sketches of the bridge, woods, and a Gothic mansion: “This looks like the bridge... another one, just trees, the woods out beyond the bridge? ...another drawing... Holy shit... it’s a house. The detail is amazing... it’s so Gothic.” ([25:48]-[27:53])
• A highly detailed drawing of a man, likely “the Oakwood Shadow”: “A man with hard, chiseled features and flowing black hair.” ([28:44], Daniel, Amber)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Grace (on Oakwood’s collective denial):
  “Lots of ostriches in this town.” ([03:56])

• Grace (on Christina’s withdrawal):
  “Then things started to slip... until she missed Monopoly night. Just plain forgot. That’s when I knew something was—” ([12:49]-[13:27])

• Amber (linking Christina and Tommy):
  “...Thomas Cracknell exhibited some of the same behaviors before he went missing. Arriving late for work, forgetting things.” ([13:34])

• Grace (her reason for meeting):
  “The reason I wanted to see you... you're the first people I've come across in years who were actually asking questions, seeking answers.” ([08:42]-[08:59])

• Amber (confronting the supernatural):
  “The shadow was in this poor girl's head. Driving her mad. I've no doubt about it now.” ([27:31])

• Discovery of the likely culprit:

  • Amber: “A man with hard, chiseled features and flowing black hair.”
  • Daniel: “Do you recognize him?”
  • Amber: “No. But I can take a pretty good guess at who it might be.”
  • Daniel: “So who is it?”
  • Amber: “I think the face we're looking at is none other than the Oakwood Shadow himself.” ([28:44]-[28:57])

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Key Timestamps

• [01:58] – Daniel and Amber realize returning to a familiar location.
• [02:31] – Introduction to Grace and her guarded welcome.
• [03:56] – Grace uses “ostriches” to describe the townsfolk's denial.
• [05:47] – Grace describes her memories of Tommy.
• [09:08] – Grace pivots the discussion to her daughter, Christina.
• [12:40] – Christina’s behavioral changes before her disappearance.
• [15:08] – Christina’s new habit of solitary outdoor walks.
• [18:26] – Entry into Christina's untouched bedroom.
• [23:02] – Discovery of the crucial diary.
• [24:43] – Cryptic diary entries begin: “Hear the voice.”
• [25:48] – Sketches point toward the woods and the bridge.
• [27:14] – Diary’s most disturbing message: “Heed the voice.”
• [27:44]-[28:09] – Sketch of an imposing Gothic mansion, possibly the Shadow’s residence.
• [28:44] – Artistic rendering of the mysterious Oakwood Shadow.

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Summary & Thematic Insights

• Repression and Forgetting:
  The episode strengthens the motif of societal amnesia. Grace’s dogged memory contrasts strikingly with the rest of Oakwood’s willful blindness.

• Linked Disappearances:
  The show deepens the disturbing parallel between Christina and Thomas’s cases: both exhibited odd behaviors, both vanished, and both evoked mounting apathy in others.

• Subtle Supernatural Influence:
  Christina's final diary entries and sketches indicate mental manipulation and perhaps outright possession by the Shadow.

• Hope Through Clues:
  The diary's entries and sketches, especially of the bridge and a distinctive Gothic mansion, offer new places and faces for Daniel and Amber to investigate—potentially bringing them closer to Oakwood's sinister core.

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Takeaways for Listeners

Episode 4.6, “Christina,” is a turning point:

• Featuring a rare, surviving witness, it reveals the Shadow’s escalating impact on individuals and the town as a whole.
• The diary, with its cryptic warnings and disturbing illustrations, offers the investigators—and the audience—the first concrete leads hinting at both the Shadow’s identity and its physical lair.

The stakes are rising, the Shadows’ grasp is tightening, and Daniel and Amber are now closer to the truth than ever—but their next moves will require courage to face whatever lies at Oakwood’s forgotten heart.

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Transcript

[A]

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[C]

The Road of Shadows Created by Mark R. Healy A Beyond the Dark production season 4 episode 6 Christina so this is the place?

[A]

Yep, this is it.

[C]

Wait a second. We've been here before, haven't we?

[A]

This street.

[C]

Practically this very spot. Look. That's Mary Jacob's place over the road.

[A]

The newspaper lady. Yeah, ma', am, you're right.

[C]

Are we getting played here? Is someone screwing with us?

[A]

Only one way to find out. Come on, let's go take a look.

[B]

So you made it.

[A]

Are you Grace?

[B]

That's me.

[C]

Weir.

[B]

I know who you are. Come on in off the street, won't you? Right through here. Take a seat there at the kitchen table. Go on, I won't bite.

[A]

It's a nice place you've got here.

[B]

You think so? Seems kind of cold to me. Of late. Anyway. What can I get you? Tea? Coffee?

[C]

I'm fine, thanks.

[A]

Nothing for me, thanks. Grace, do you mind if we get down to business? We'd really like to hear what you have to say.

[B]

Sure, we can do that.

[C]

Before we get into that, I'm curious. Do you know Mary Jacobs from across the street?

[B]

Of course I know Mary. She's been my neighbor for years. What about her?

[C]

We visited her a couple of days ago to ask her some questions.

[B]

Yeah, I know. I saw you. Heard you asking about Tommy Cracknell, too.

[A]

You overheard our conversation?

[B]

Well, not all of it. No, but enough to make me curious. That's when I started asking around about you.

[C]

So you remember Thomas?

[B]

Course I do. Why wouldn't I?

[A]

Everyone else in Oakwood seems to have forgotten he ever existed.

[B]

Well, I'm not exactly surprised to hear that. Lots of ostriches in this town.

[A]

Uh, ostriches?

[B]

Sorry. It's just what I call the folk who bury their heads in the sand. Seems to be a lot of those around here lately.

[C]

Is Mary Jacobs one of those?

[B]

Probably. Can't say for sure. I haven't had a decent chat with her in, well, a couple of years, I guess.

[A]

Did you two have a falling out?

[B]

Not especially. I just don't go out of my way to socialize anymore. To be honest, every time I strike up a conversation with the people around here, I can feel myself getting stupider by the second.

[A]

So you've noticed that some strange things are going on in this town.

[B]

Strange? Yeah, I don't know if I'd call that more like. I don't know, like people don't care.

[C]

Is there a cover up of some sort, do you think? Are people lying about what they know?

[B]

Why would they do that?

[C]

We found an article written by Mary Jacobs about the disappearance of Thomas Cracknell at the library. It's right there in black and white. But when we went to talk to her about it, she denied all knowledge. Said she didn't even remember the guy.

[A]

Yeah, she said it must have been an editing error. That her name appearing as the author was some kind of mistake. Do you know if Mary really did write the article?

[B]

Yeah. Can't say for sure. But if the article has her name on it, I'm sure she wrote it.

[C]

So why would she say she didn't?

[B]

Mary's been losing her mind for years now. A few screws loose in the head, if you know what I mean.

[A]

And what about all the other people in town who have forgotten Thomas? Are they crazy too?

[B]

Ostriches, that's what they are.

[A]

So what can you tell us about him?

[B]

Well, that's going back a long way. Close to 30 years.

[C]

But you met him. He wasn't a figment of someone's imagination.

[B]

Oh, he was real, all right. Saw him plenty of times at that bakery where he worked.

[A]

What was he like? Did you talk much?

[B]

Yeah, he was friendly enough. But Tommy was never really a big talker. Quiet kind of guy, you know? Kept to himself a lot. But he always gave me a smile and a wave whenever he saw me.

[A]

Is there anything else you can tell us about him? Any close Friends, Places he liked to hang out?

[B]

Couldn't say, really. Like I said, we weren't close.

[C]

What about the day he disappeared? Can you tell us about that?

[B]

Well, I didn't see the incident myself, but it was big news in town. Caused a real stir. And it was a shock, too. A mild mannered guy like Tommy suddenly flipping out and attacking the police and running around like a crazy person. No one saw that coming.

[C]

Any word on why he did it?

[B]

None. It was a real mystery to all of us. Totally out of character. There was talk that maybe he was sick. And I heard an old lady at the grocery store claim that he was drunk, but I don't know about that myself.

[A]

Do you have any idea where he might have gone?

[B]

They said he ran off out along the highway.

[A]

I think he was seen out near the bridge just west of town.

[B]

Oh, yeah? Yeah, they had people out searching for him in the woods, didn't they?

[C]

We can't find any records about what happened after the bridge. We were hoping you might remember something.

[B]

Sorry, but I've got nothing to tell you about that. In fact, there is probably not a soul on this earth who can. Tommy's long gone. Simple as that.

[C]

Someone must know.

[B]

You know what I think? I think something awful happened to Tommy. Something that made him lose his mind. And after that, he went running off into the woods. And if I had to guess, I'd say he ended up at the bottom of some deep, dark ravine in a place where no one's ever gonna find him.

[A]

So you think he's dead?

[B]

What's the alternative? That he's still out there now, 30 years later, wandering around like some raven lunatic? I don't think so.

[A]

Maybe we can go back a bit to Thomas's younger days, and.

[B]

Look, we can sit here spitballing about what might or might not have happened to Tommy Kracken all day, but that's ancient history. The truth is, I didn't ask you here to talk about him.

[A]

You didn't?

[B]

No. The reason I wanted to see you is because. Well, you're the first people I've come across in years who were actually asking questions, seeking answers. The rest of these ostriches, they don't want to know anything. Like they're all afraid of discovering the truth. I'm.

[A]

I'm not sure I follow.

[B]

I want to talk about Christina. That's who we should be talking about.

[C]

Christina. Who's that?

[B]

Christina Evans.

[A]

Wait a second. This is the first time we've heard about her. Who is she exactly?

[B]

She's my Daughter you mentioned on the.

[C]

Phone, you wanted to talk about a disappearance you thought was more important than Thomas Cracknell.

[B]

That's right. I was talking about my baby girl.

[A]

Okay, were listening.

[B]

Okay, where to start?

[A]

How about the timeline? When did this happen?

[B]

Two years ago now. Well, a little more than that, actually.

[A]

And what happened?

[B]

That's where it gets hard to describe. If you want the short version, she got up one morning and walked out the door and never came back. But it's not quite as simple as that.

[A]

Take your time, go back as far as you need. We're happy to listen to the whole thing.

[B]

Yeah. Okay. So Chrissy and me were always close. I know that some kids don't get along with their folks after they hit those teenage years, but it was never like that with us. We used to sit and watch Jeopardy together and go for walks. And every Tuesday night was Monopoly night, come rain, hail or shine. The two of us were working our way through Grandma's stack of recipes too. Putting everything in order and writing them all nice and neat in a brand new book Chrissy picked up at the newspaper store. She loved scrapbooking and drawing pictures. And.

[A]

How old was Christina when she left Grace?

[B]

Well, she was 23.

[A]

And was she a college student or working somewhere?

[B]

She worked three days a week at the car dealership. As a secretary, that is. Didn't much like it there, to be honest. But you can't pick and choose jobs in a place like Oakwood. You just take what you can get.

[A]

Sorry. Which car dealership was that?

[B]

Oakwood Motors.

[C]

Did you go and talk to people there after she disappeared?

[B]

I went and talked to people everywhere. Turned this whole damn town upside down from one end to the next.

[A]

And what happened?

[B]

No one wanted to help. It was like. Like talking to a brick wall.

[A]

What do you think that was?

[B]

Beats me. I guess no one cared.

[C]

Did Christina have friends? Anyone she hung out with on a regular basis?

[B]

A couple of good friends, yeah. Abby and Stacey. And I'll admit, for the first couple of months they helped a little. Gave me a hand putting the flyers around the town, that sort of thing. But it didn't last. Pretty soon they went back to being like everybody else.

[A]

Any romantic connections?

[B]

She had a few flings, I guess, but nothing around the time she disappeared.

[A]

What about the cops? Did you talk to them?

[B]

Sure did. Went through the motions, filed some paperwork, but nothing ever came of it.

[A]

Did you. Did you notice any changes in the way that Christina was acting in the lead up to her disappearance?

[B]

Yeah, no question about that. She wasn't herself in those final few weeks.

[A]

Can you elaborate on that?

[B]

Well, there was the forgetfulness for a start. Now, I'll be the first to admit that Chrissy wasn't always the most organized girl, but she had a good head on her shoulders for the most part. Then things started to slip. I'd send her to the grocery store, and she'd come back with only half the items on the list.

[C]

So she was being distracted by something?

[B]

Something like that. She started showing up late for work, too. But I didn't think a whole lot of it until she missed Monopoly night. Just plain forgot. That's when I knew something was. What is it?

[A]

Hmm?

[B]

You two just looked at each other funny. Did I say something wrong?

[A]

No, no, nothing like that.

[B]

Come on, Amber. I'm laying everything out for you here in plain sight. The least you can do is level with me.

[A]

We're not trying to hide anything from you. But maybe you aren't aware that Thomas Cracknell exhibited some of the same behaviors before he went missing. Arriving late for work, forgetting things.

[B]

Really?

[A]

According to what we can piece together, yeah.

[B]

So do you think my girl and Tommy are somehow connected? How is that possible?

[C]

We don't know for sure yet. It's just a possibility we're considering.

[B]

But why would they both act that way? Is it some kind of disease or.

[C]

We honestly don't know.

[A]

Grace, what else can you tell us about those final few weeks? Did Christina talk about what was happening to her?

[B]

No, she didn't say anything. In fact, as the days went by, we talked less and less. I figured she was upset about something and trying to work her way through it. I thought that in time, she might come to me and get it off her chest. But she never did.

[A]

Did you notice anything else about her behavior?

[B]

Yeah. She was going out a lot. Much more than usual.

[A]

Driving somewhere?

[B]

No, just walking. And she'd be gone for hours. I wondered if she might be trying one of those new health kicks or something. One time she came back with mud on her sneakers and pine needles stuck to her. A sweater.

[A]

She'd been out in the woods, maybe.

[B]

And that just. Well, it wasn't like her, you know? She was never the outdoors type.

[C]

Did she mention meeting anyone new?

[B]

No, nothing like that.

[A]

There has to be more to this. We're missing something.

[B]

Can I ask why you're so invested in this? What's your connection to Tommy Cracknell?

[C]

We never heard of him until a couple of days ago.

[B]

What then? Is this about money? Because if you came here looking for a fast buck, I'VE got nothing to give you.

[A]

We don't want your money, Grace. We. We think something bad is going on here in Oakwood.

[B]

And.

[A]

And we want to put a stop to it.

[B]

You working for the government?

[A]

No. Definitely not.

[C]

We're freelancers.

[B]

Huh. And you're just doing this out of the goodness of your hearts, huh?

[C]

That's right.

[B]

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[A]

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[B]

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[A]

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[C]

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[B]

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[C]

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[B]

Here. This is it. Her bedroom. Pretty much the same as the day she left. Go on, take a look.

[A]

Are you sure you're okay with this? Grace, if you think we're intruding.

[B]

Look, if there's anything in here that helps you find out what happened to her, then, well, that's all that counts. I just want answers, you know?

[C]

Did you look through her things after she left?

[B]

A little. But it was a painful experience, as you might imagine. So many reminders. Sorry.

[C]

You didn't find anything?

[B]

Nothing much at all. I mean, I thought that maybe she'd left a note somewhere explaining why she left or where she'd gone, but there was nothing like that.

[A]

So we have your permission to go through everything?

[B]

Yeah. How about it?

[A]

Thank you. We promise we'll be careful.

[B]

I'm gonna head back downstairs and make myself a coffee. I don't much feel like watching you as.

[A]

Yeah, it's fine. We'll come down as soon as we're done.

[B]

Yeah, you do that.

[C]

So, what do you think?

[A]

Looks pretty normal to me. These posters make it feel a bit more like a teenager's room, though. I mean, Michael Jackson.

[C]

There's Duran Duran, too. They're one of your favorites, right?

[A]

Yep. Although I can't say I have posters on my wall.

[C]

Maybe she was still a teenager at heart. I guess so. Where should we start?

[A]

I'll check the drawers over here. Why don't you take a look at the desk?

[C]

What are we expecting to find here?

[A]

I don't know. I mean, this is the first time I've ever investigated a. Yeah, I was gonna say a hollow skin, but we don't know for sure that's what happened to Christina.

[C]

But the evidence points pretty strongly in that direction. All the facts line up. The erratic behavior, the mysterious disappearance, and.

[A]

The fact she's been pretty much erased from the town's collective memory. If what Grace told us is true.

[C]

That is just like Thomas Cracknell.

[A]

Strange that Grace hasn't forgotten Thomas like everyone else.

[C]

Why do you think that is? Is it something to do with her connection to Christina?

[A]

Grace strikes me as someone who's pretty stubborn. Strong willed. If the townspeople are being influenced by the shadow, having their memories altered, maybe she's just more resilient to its influence.

[C]

Makes sense. Hey, take a look at this.

[A]

A Rubik's Cube. This is no time for games, Daniel.

[C]

No, take a look. There are tiny sketches all over it. See here an arrow pointing inward. And here, an apple.

[A]

Christina was doodling, that's all. Grace told us she liked to draw.

[C]

But you don't think that maybe if we solve the cube that these arrows will somehow line up and.

[A]

And what? Tell us where to find the nearest produce store.

[C]

Very funny.

[A]

Let's keep looking.

[C]

Let me check these drawers.

[A]

I'm not finding much. Here. A photo frame with Grace and a young woman. This. Oh, this must be Christina.

[C]

At least we know what she looks like now.

[A]

Okay, what else have we got? Clothes, a spare pair of sneakers, Some cassette tapes.

[C]

Blanks. Maybe she recorded something.

[A]

No, no, they're all albums. Hall and Oats. The Psychedelic Furs.

[C]

I guess finding a tape recording that explains everything is hoping for a bit too much.

[A]

Yeah, we're not gonna be that lucky.

[C]

Got some pencils here. Some more sketches on loose pieces of paper.

[A]

Take them out. Let's have a look.

[C]

Let's see. This looks like the kitchen from downstairs.

[A]

This next one, That's Grace.

[C]

Yeah. Not a bad likeness.

[A]

Yeah, Christina had some talent.

[C]

What else have we got? A cat, a bird, View out the window.

[A]

Is that it?

[C]

That's everything.

[A]

Damn. I mean, it would have been nice to. Wait, wait. What's this?

[C]

Must have been under the papers.

[A]

Holy shit. This.

[C]

This looks like a diary.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Bingo.

[C]

Let's see what's in here.

[A]

Okay, the first entry is March 1978. That's years ago.

[C]

Probably not what we're looking for.

[B]

Let's.

[A]

Let's flick forward a little.

[C]

There are more sketches here.

[A]

Yeah, cats and butterflies. I mean, pretty, but not exactly relevant.

[C]

Grace said that Christina disappeared a little over two years ago. It would make the date somewhere in early 1982.

[A]

Uh huh. Here's an entry from 1981. July.

[B]

Take a look.

[C]

A sketch of a car.

[A]

Ah, she's writing about her job at the car dealership here. Looks like she might have taken a liking to one of the salesmen.

[C]

No names?

[A]

No. She just refers to him as the letter.

[C]

Jim, John, Jerry.

[A]

Yeah, it could be anything.

[C]

Might give us a place to start, though.

[A]

Yeah, we should definitely check in at that place to see if we can get some leads. Even if we don't find Jay, someone might still remember her.

[C]

Keep going.

[A]

Okay, so then it's September. October. Just more of the same. Looks like a perfectly normal diary to me.

[C]

Let's see if there's anything from 1982.

[A]

Uh, okay. January. Nothing much. And then we.

[C]

Look at that.

[A]

Now that's something different.

[C]

Three words taking up the entire page. Hear the voice.

[A]

No date on the entry. And the writing is a little messy for her. Almost like she was in a hurry or something.

[C]

Let's see what's next.

[A]

It's another entry. Oh, she's writing about her grandma's recipe book.

[C]

Yeah, but it's not complete. Look.

[A]

Oh, let me see. I think my favorite of all the recipe so far has been the peach cobbler. But mom doesn't. Oh, it just cuts out there.

[C]

Like she totally lost her train of thought. Didn't bother coming back to finish the entry.

[A]

That's unusual for her. Yeah, all of the previous entries look complete.

[C]

Try the next page.

[A]

Damn. Just three words again. Follow the voice.

[C]

Just like before. They take up the whole page.

[A]

Even messier than last time, too. The strokes are shaky as hell.

[C]

Another sketch.

[A]

Hey. Hey. This. This looks like the bridge. The one we visited on the highway.

[C]

Maybe from the other side, from a slightly different angle. Yeah, I think you're right.

[A]

And what's this on the other half of the page? A circle.

[C]

It looks like an incomplete sketch. Maybe it's like the previous entry, something she started and never finished.

[A]

A few pages with nothing much going on. Scribbles and strokes. God, it's an incoherent mess.

[C]

Wait, here's another sketch. What is it this time?

[A]

Just trees, I think. The woods out beyond the bridge?

[C]

Could be. Huh.

[A]

There's another circle thing on the page beside it. More detail here, though.

[C]

Is that a face, eyes and a chin? Some hair on top?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah, you could be right. Let me flick through some more pages.

[C]

There's a word repeated here a few times. Greystone. What do you suppose that is?

[A]

Someone's last name or a location. I'm not sure. Keep looking.

[C]

More scribbles.

[A]

Lots of scribbles. Lots and lots of scribbles.

[C]

There. Another message that takes up the whole page, but I can't quite read it.

[A]

It's the messiest so far. Let me just turn it this way a little. Okay. Oh, I've got says heed the voice.

[C]

So we've got hear the voice. Follow the voice. And now heed the voice.

[A]

The shadow was in this poor girl's head. Driving her mad. I've no doubt about it now.

[C]

Must have been torment.

[A]

Okay, we've got another drawing here and. Holy shit.

[C]

It's a house.

[A]

The detail is amazing. Look at these statues and gargoyles and the architecture. It's so.

[C]

Gothic.

[A]

Yeah, that's the word I'm looking for.

[C]

Do you think this is a real place or a figment of Christina's imagination.

[A]

If it's real, do you think this could be the Shadow's den? The place we've been looking for?

[C]

I haven't seen anything remotely like it. Not in Oakwood.

[A]

What if it's out there somewhere in the woods?

[C]

You might be right.

[A]

This could be our big break. Should we go ask Grace if we can borrow the diary? I could go and make some Xeroxes.

[C]

Wait a second. Amber. There's something on the next page. Turn that over for me.

[A]

Here. Okay, let's take a look.

[C]

That's definitely not a circle this time.

[A]

No, you were right. It's a face. But there's so much more detail in this one.

[C]

A man with hard, chiseled features and flowing black hair.

[A]

Do you recognize him?

[C]

No. But I can take a pretty good guess at who it might be.

[A]

So who is it?

[C]

I think the face we're looking at is none other than the Oakwood Shadow himself. The Road of Shadows is created by Mark R. Healy. Want to hear more stories just like this one? Head over to Patreon to hear other.

[B]

Audio productions by Mark R. Healy.

[C]

There you'll also find lots of bonus content, free stuff and ad free episodes that you can hear a week early. All of that and more is available now at patreon.com BeyondTheDark. You can also hear more at the Road of Shadows.com the Road of Shadows Season 4 stars Hamish Plagemas, Marta De Silva, Liz Mory, Joseph Tweedow, Chloe Elmore, Larry o', Blander, Sian Luxford, Cameron Alexis, Thomas Barker and Alejandro Pedrosa. The Road of Shadows is a Beyond the Dark production.

[B]

The Fable and folly network where fiction producers flourish.

[C]

Now look here. Wooden Overcoats is back.

[B]

Enjoy yourselves for one night only.

[C]

Just a minute.

[B]

On September 7th, we're performing at King's Place in London to celebrate our 10th.

[C]

Anniversary with a brand new episode, Never seen before, Never heard before. Rudyard ruins everything.

[B]

Hip hip, hip, hip.

[C]

See our funniest funeral live before your.

[B]

Very eyes at King's Place on September 7th. Or book yourself a streaming ticket so.

[C]

You can join the party online anywhere in the world.

[B]

Tickets are available on the Kings Place website [e-mail] we want this to be the biggest birthday party ever and we need your help. Spread the word, tell everyone and book.

[C]

Your tickets now because we're going back to piffling.

[B]

Enjoy yourself.