Episode 5.8 - Mount Sunder (Season Finale)

Summary

The Road of Shadows — Episode 5.8 "Mount Sunder" (Season Finale)

Release Date: August 11, 2026
Host & Writer: Mark R. Healy

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Episode Overview

In this tense, character-driven season finale, Daniel Knox—uniquely able to see sinister, predatory beings known as "Shadows"—seeks refuge in a remote mountain community, still hunted and haunted by the supernatural. Joined by Amber, a traveler investigating her sister’s disappearance, Daniel faces not just the truth of his strange curse, but a confrontation with powerful Shadows. As old wounds, secrets, and unlikely alliances collide on the trails of Mount Sunder, Daniel and Amber’s journey reveals ancient horrors and a pivotal revelation that may shift the balance in the long war against the Shadows.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Ascent Begins: Alliances & Motives (01:51–05:31)

• Daniel and Amber set out to find the trail leading to the Shadows' lair, hoping Amber’s visions will guide them.
• Becca, a local outcast, joins the group. She admits to following Daniel and Amber in hopes of gaining proof of the supernatural and redeeming her reputation.
  • “If you only knew what I had to put up with over the years, you'd understand. … I figured if I could get proof … that would wipe the smiles right off their faces.” — Becca (03:19)
• Despite Daniel's concerns for her safety, Amber decides Becca’s knowledge of a mysterious trail could be instrumental.

2. Hunting Shadows: Questions and Doubts (05:46–07:45)

• Becca leads them through the mountain, recalling places where she herself felt disoriented, which aligns with Amber’s visions.
• The group discusses their unique connection to the Shadows:
  • “It's hard to explain, but we have a connection to them… There’s more than one? A lot more.” — Daniel & Becca (06:22–06:29)
• Uncertainty and tension loom: “This whole process is like stumbling around in the dark. We never know what we're going to find.” — Amber (06:33)

3. Confrontation at the Rocks: Ryvis vs. Ryvus (07:45–13:14)

• Daniel senses the Shadows' presence; the group is ambushed by Ryvus, a powerful Shadow.
  • Ryvus taunts the group, promising a gruesome fate for Amber.
    • “As for your friend there, Amber, she’ll die too. But hers won’t be a quick death.” — Ryvus (09:09)
• A violent struggle ensues. Daniel lands a crucial blow, discovering that Ryvus is susceptible to his axe:
  • Amber and Daniel piece together that Ryvis’s toxin, via Amber’s blood, altered Daniel—rekindling his role as “Nostroma” (the Shadows' nemesis).
    • “I've become Nostroma again. Not just to Dragisa's kin, but to yours as well.” — Ryvis (11:36)
• Ryvus is incinerated, leaving ash.
  • Becca, witnessing everything, is elated to have photographic proof, joking about cashing in on the ashes.

4. Aftermath: Truths Revealed & Boundaries Set (13:14–15:18)

• Becca seeks answers about the Shadows:
  • “So what the hell was that thing? It didn't seem like a vampire to me…” — Becca (14:12)
• Daniel explains: Shadows disguise themselves as ordinary people, feeding on humans in secret.
• Amber and Daniel thank Becca for her help but insist she can’t follow further. Becca, undeterred, collects ashes and promises to develop her photos.
  • “Although there seem to be weird flashes of light all over the place at the end there when you turned that thing to ash, I just hope the shots come out.” — Becca (14:53)

5. Reaching the Place of Stone: Discovery & Loss (16:50–19:32)

• Amber and Daniel press on, reaching a vision-confirming waterfall.
• They find the “Place of Stone” in ruins—the sanctuary destroyed by the Shadows to hide their secrets.
  • “This is just like what we found in Dragisa’s kitchen when she caved in her own den to stop us.” — Amber (19:10)
• Amber prepares for a dangerous vision, warning Daniel of its likely horror.

6. Within the Vision: Shadow Rituals & Revelations (21:15–27:55)

• Amber and Daniel are transported into a vivid, shared vision of the sanctum before its destruction.
• They witness horrific suffering: the creation of “wilted” shadows via ritualized sleep and feeding on victims.
  • “This is where the chosen come to sleep. … They sleep for days or weeks … people are brought here from far and wide and butchered.” — Amber (24:23)
• Dragisa, Shadow matriarch, appears as a vision, taunting and warning them:
  • “If you so much as touch that door, you will destroy your own humanity. … Bear witness to something so terrible it will tear your soul apart.” — Dragisa (27:42)
• Amber insists on continuing, opening a mysterious door in the vision.

7. A Glimpse of the Origin: The Beach & the Clipper (28:19–32:49)

• Amber and Daniel suddenly find themselves on a beach with a sailing “clipper” boat approaching.
  • Amber deduces the scene is from over a century ago—the arrival of the Shadows’ ancestors.
  • “That boat we saw ... I think what we were seeing happened more than a hundred years ago.” — Amber (31:48)
• This is the “key to everything”—the source and starting point for the Kin’s invasion.
  • “Where they made their home. Where they first began to branch out when they reached these shores. ... This is how we find the Blood Monarch.” — Amber (32:34, 32:49)

8. Aftermath & Partnership (33:14–34:01)

• With fresh purpose, Daniel and Amber set out to track down the Blood Monarch, vowing mutual support.
  • “We make a hell of a team, don’t we?” — Amber (33:30)
  • “I’ll always be there for you, Amber. Wherever the road leads us.” — Daniel (33:35)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Becca’s Candidness:
  “For vindication. … All the assholes in this town, laughing at me ... I figured that if I could get proof … that would wipe the smiles right off their faces.” (03:19)
• Ryvus’s Threat:
  “As for your friend there, Amber, she’ll die too. But hers won’t be a quick death.” (09:09)
• Revelation of the Transformation:
  “I’ve become Nostroma again. Not just to Dragisa's kin, but to yours as well.” — Ryvis (11:36)
• Description of the Ritual:
  “This is where the chosen come to sleep… They sleep for days or weeks at a time and awaken to feed. Their hunger is immense. People are brought here from far and wide and butchered.” — Amber (24:21)
• Dragisa’s Warning:
  “If you so much as touch… that door, you will destroy your own humanity. … Bear witness to something so terrible that it will tear your soul apart.” — Dragisa (27:42)
• The Vision’s Key:
  “That boat we saw … I think what we were seeing happened more than a hundred years ago.”
  “It is the key to everything. It’s the source. … This is how we find the Blood Monarch.” — Amber (31:48, 32:34, 32:49)

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Important Timestamps

• 01:51 — Amber and Daniel’s journey begins; Becca joins the party.
• 05:46 — Becca leads the way; the group approaches the Shadows’ domain.
• 07:45 — First signs of shadow presence; Ryvus appears.
• 09:09 — Ryvus threatens Amber in graphic detail.
• 11:36 — Daniel realizes his transformation (“Nostroma again”).
• 13:14 — Ryvus defeated; Becca reacts.
• 16:50 — Amber and Daniel reach the waterfall, leading to the place of stone.
• 19:10 — Discovery of the destroyed sanctuary, triggering Amber’s vision.
• 21:15–24:45 — Vivid vision of the wilted ritual and human suffering.
• 27:42 — Dragisa’s warning before the vision door is opened.
• 28:19–32:49 — The beach vision; insight into the Shadows’ origins.
• 33:14 — Daniel and Amber reaffirm their partnership and purpose.

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Final Notes

The season finale delivers a potent mix of suspense, world-building, and character depth, closing one chapter while opening the next: Daniel and Amber now hold the knowledge to hunt down the Blood Monarch, positioning themselves for the coming war against the Kin. With fresh scars and a sense of shared destiny, they descend the mountain—resolved to confront the darkness, together.

“We make a hell of a team, don’t we?” (33:30) — Amber

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For more episodes and exclusive content:
Patreon: patreon.com/BeyondTheDark
Website: theroadofshadows.com

Transcript

[Becca]

The Fable and Folly network, where fiction producers flourish.

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[Becca]

Perfect.

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[Narrator]

The road of shadows created by mark r. Healy a beyond the dark production season 5 episode 8 mount sunder.

[Amber]

Okay, grab your stuff, Daniel. Looks like we still have a few hours of sunlight left. Hopefully that'll be enough.

[Daniel]

Do you think we can find the trail we're looking for?

[Amber]

Well, it's hard to say, but hopefully the visions will guide me.

[Daniel]

And if they don't, then we won't

[Amber]

find what we're looking for in time. But on the bright side, I have to say you're looking a little better now. At least you finally got some color in your cheeks.

[Daniel]

Must be the fresh mountain air, right?

[Amber]

That's it. Maybe. Now that we've. What do we have here? Oh, it's Becca.

[Becca]

Well, fancy seeing you here.

[Amber]

Becca, what are you doing here? I thought you said you don't walk these trails anymore.

[Becca]

Me? Oh, I don't know. I just felt like I needed a bit of exercise, I guess. This seemed like as good a spot as any.

[Daniel]

Becca, did you follow us here?

[Becca]

What? No, I would never.

[Amber]

And what's that you've got with you? Oh, a camera with a zoom lens. What's that for exactly?

[Becca]

You know, bird watching.

[Daniel]

I'm not buying that for a second. You should have gone with UFO hunting. I might have believed that.

[Becca]

Okay, guys, I'll level with you. I did follow you. I saw you gearing up to leave the motel a few Minutes ago. And, well, I realized that this might be my last chance.

[Amber]

Your last chance for what?

[Becca]

For vindication. I mean, if you only knew what I had to put up with over the years, you'd understand. I. All the assholes in this town, laughing at me behind my back, calling me names. I figured that if I could get proof that there's some supernatural creature living out here, that would wipe the smiles right off their faces.

[Daniel]

Go home, Becca. This is not the time.

[Becca]

There's something up here, I know it. And you two, you're about to make a stand. I could see it in your faces back at the motel.

[Amber]

I appreciate your passion, Becca, but like Daniel said, we can't bring you along.

[Becca]

But. But I'll take you there. I can take you right where you need to go.

[Amber]

Okay, what are you talking about?

[Becca]

Remember I told you there was a trail I found? One day I started to feel all weird and confused and I got the hell out of there fast. That's the place you're looking for? I mean, it has to be you.

[Amber]

You know how to get there?

[Becca]

Sure. I mean, I can take you there right now.

[Amber]

But you said you were disoriented and lost your way.

[Becca]

Yeah, I kinda lied about that. The truth is, I didn't want you to ask me to take you there. But now I've had a. Well, I guess you could call it a change of heart. See, last night I was thinking about it and I realized that I need to see this thing, whatever it is that you're hunting, to prove that I haven't wasted all these years believing in stuff that was never real.

[Amber]

It really means that much to you?

[Becca]

Yeah, it does.

[Daniel]

Amber, this is a bad idea.

[Amber]

Wait a second, Daniel. If she can get us there, to the trail, that might be exactly the break we need.

[Daniel]

It's not safe.

[Becca]

I don't care about that. I'm accepting the risk. And I won't get in your way, I promise.

[Daniel]

You don't know what you're dealing with out here, Becca. Trust me.

[Becca]

Alright, well, if you don't let me tag along, I'll just follow you anyway. Either way, I am not missing out on this.

[Amber]

Okay, you can come. But if something bad happens up there, don't say we didn't warn you.

[Becca]

You got it?

[Daniel]

Well, I can't say I like it, but Amber's right. If you can take us to the trail we're looking for, it could make all the difference.

[Becca]

Hey, one thing before we go, guys. Was I right about the vampires? Am I gonna see one today?

[Daniel]

No, not A vampire? This thing, it's a whole lot worse.

[Becca]

Alright guys, it's this fork here to the left. Keep going that way.

[Amber]

Well, you seem pretty sure of yourself, Becca. How long has it been since you were last here?

[Becca]

It's been a while. But I still remember the way everything is crystal clear. Right up until the final trail, of course. When things got all, you know, turned around.

[Daniel]

What do you think, Amber? Is she on the right track?

[Amber]

I think so. Yeah. It feels like we're getting closer.

[Becca]

So how do you two normally find these critters? Do they leave tracks or some kind of scat?

[Amber]

If only it were that easy.

[Becca]

Well, come on. Don't hold out on me. I want to know.

[Daniel]

It's hard to explain, but we have a connection to them. I guess you could say.

[Becca]

So. There's more than one?

[Daniel]

A lot more.

[Dragisa]

Oh.

[Becca]

How many do you think live up here?

[Amber]

Um, well, we don't know for sure. A lot of the time this whole process is like stumbling around in the dark. We never know what we're going to find.

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[Daniel]

It may seem glamorous to you, Becca, but that's not how it really is. Amber and me, we never asked for this. We were forced into it.

[Becca]

Really? How?

[Daniel]

That's a long story. Maybe we'll tell you sometime. But right now we should probably stay focused. Hey, look at that up ahead. There's something on the side of the trail.

[Amber]

Looks like a little bench made of logs.

[Uber Eats Announcer]

Oh.

[Becca]

Shhh.

[Amber]

That's it.

[Becca]

That.

[Amber]

That's the one from my vision.

[Daniel]

Are you sure?

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Amber]

Yeah, that's it. That's definitely it. I'm absolutely certain of it. This. This must mean we're on the right track.

[Becca]

There. That part right there up ahead. It's where I started to get turned around. I lost my way and found myself going in circles, so I don't know how much more help I'm gonna be actually.

[Daniel]

You've done a great job getting us this far, Becca. Thank you.

[Amber]

Yeah, I. I don't know. We'd had found this on our own. Not this quickly anyhow. It's a good thing you showed up when you did.

[Becca]

Well, glad I could help.

[Daniel]

Look up there, Amber. Past that clump of rocks, I see something glinting. Do you think that could be the waterfall?

[Amber]

It's a little too far away to see clearly, but yeah. Yeah, it could be.

[Daniel]

In that case, we need to be careful. It won't be too long until.

[Becca]

What is it?

[Amber]

Do you sense something, Daniel?

[Daniel]

Yeah, I just caught a scent of something in the air. I Think it's bloodlust?

[Amber]

I'm feeling something, too.

[Daniel]

I've got the ax ready. Let's just take it slow. Stay on your toes.

[Amber]

Hey, I think I caught some movement behind that clump of rocks you mentioned. Did you see it?

[Becca]

Hang on, let me get my camera. Ready?

[Ryvis]

Daniel?

[Becca]

Oh, shit. It's the prowler.

[Ryvis]

Amber, Becca, get behind me.

[Ryvus]

So it's come to this. I tried to reason with you. I tried to make you understand, but you wouldn't listen. And now here we are, forced into a confrontation where we both. Both stand to lose.

[Ryvis]

We don't make deals with shadows, Ryvis. Not with you or anyone else. Sorry to disappoint you.

[Ryvus]

And that will be the death of you. And as for your friend there, Amber, she'll die too. But hers won't be a quick death like yours once Dragisa and her cronies get their hands on her. Well, they're going to take their time with her. Dissect her. I guarantee it won't be pretty.

[Ryvis]

You want her? You have to get through me first.

[Daniel]

Shit.

[Amber]

Daniel.

[Ryvis]

Dammit, this guy's fast.

[Ryvus]

You don't look so steady on your feet, Daniel. Are you ill?

[Ryvis]

Feeling just fine, Ryvus. Gotcha.

[Ryvus]

So you did, Daniel. Good for you. Another pointless flesh wound.

[Ryvis]

Hurts, doesn't it?

[Ryvus]

The pain will fade in time.

[Ryvis]

You sure about that? Maybe you should take another look.

[Ryvus]

What?

[Ryvis]

That slash I just gave you on your arm. Look at it. Ryvis.

[Ryvus]

What? No, it's ash. I see. Ash.

[Ryvis]

That's right, fucker. Looks like you're not as tough as you thought you were.

[Ryvus]

This is impossible.

[Ryvis]

Not really. It all makes sense when you think about it.

[Amber]

Daniel. What the hell is going on?

[Ryvis]

I figured it out when I picked up the ax just before Amber, back at the motel. For the first time in days, it didn't feel cold anymore. It was warm. Something had changed.

[Ryvus]

What have you done?

[Ryvis]

I put the pieces together. My illness, the change in the axe. It all goes back to the first time we fought.

[Ryvus]

What about it?

[Ryvis]

After you threw me aside that day, Amber tried to grab you. She laid her hands right on you. And when that happened, she managed to spill some of your blood. Barely enough to even notice. But it was there. Right after that, when she tried to help me off the ground, she accidentally grabbed the wound on my leg. The old shadow bite that never healed.

[Amber]

The blood that was on my hands. It must have entered your body through the wound.

[Ryvis]

That's right, Amber. Ryvis's toxin has been in my bloodstream these last couple of days. That's what made me sick. It's the same reaction you had after you were bitten back at Pete's cabin.

[Amber]

Holy shit. Your body has been assimilating his toxin these past couple of days.

[Ryvis]

Exactly. And when the axe started to feel warm in my hands again, I knew the process must have finally finished. And now it's not just warm. It's blazing hot. That can only mean one thing. I've become Nostroma again. Not just to Dragisa's kin, but to yours as well. Now, Ryvis, this can't be. Look on the bright side. Those wounds that have been giving you so much pain since our last fight, they aren't gonna hurt for much longer.

[Uber Eats Announcer]

Daniel.

[Ryvis]

Damn, this fucker moves like lightning.

[Ryvus]

That's right, Daniel. You still have to hit me.

[Amber]

You got him?

[Ryvus]

Yeah, just a glancing blow. You'll have to do better than that.

[Amber]

Yeah?

[Ryvis]

How about this?

[Amber]

Heck ya.

[Ryvus]

I won't fall to you, demon. I will kill you. I live to feel Mother's light shine on me again.

[Ryvis]

One more decent shot, Rybus.

[Daniel]

That's all I need.

[Ryvus]

Mother watches over me. Even now, she protects me.

[Amber]

Oh, my God.

[Becca]

Oh, that was awesome.

[Amber]

Daniel. Daniel, are you okay?

[Daniel]

I'm good.

[Amber]

Come here. Oh, you had me worried for a minute there.

[Daniel]

Oh, yeah, I guess I rolled the dice on that one.

[Becca]

Little

[Amber]

Becca. Are you taking photos of us hugging?

[Becca]

I'm just. I'm just capturing the whole experience.

[Daniel]

You know, if it's okay with you, I'd rather not have my face plastered on the front page of the local newspaper in connection with the Prowler. Or anyone else, for that matter.

[Becca]

Oh, don't worry. This is for my personal collection only. You have my word.

[Amber]

Well, I hope you got what you wanted.

[Becca]

I think so. Although there seem to be weird flashes of light all over the place at the end there when you turn that thing to ash, I just hope the shots come out. Okay. So what the hell was that thing? It didn't seem like a vampire to me. Not a werewolf, either.

[Daniel]

We call them shadows. They hide in towns and cities masquerading as normal people, killing and feeding on human flesh in secret. Only a handful of people know they even exist.

[Becca]

Oh, my God. Holy. I mean, this just gets better and better.

[Amber]

Look, we'd love to sit and chat all afternoon about shadows, but it's getting late. Time is wasting, and this isn't over yet. Daniel, we should get going.

[Becca]

Okay. Where to now?

[Daniel]

Sorry, Becca, but this is the end of the line. Thank you for your help, but we need to go it alone from here.

[Becca]

Really?

[Amber]

Yeah, why don't you head back home?

[Becca]

All right. Let me just take some of these ashes first. I bet they're worth a fortune to the right buyer. And I'll get these photographs developed right away. My friend Johnny has his own photo lab right here in town.

[Daniel]

Good luck, Becca. We'll see you back at the motel later, I hope.

[Becca]

Take care up there, guys. I'll see you safe and sound back in Silverton.

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[Dragisa]

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[Amber]

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[Amber]

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[Daniel]

Look at that. Got ourselves a waterfall. Is this the one from your visions?

[Amber]

This is it, down to the last stone. We're definitely on the right track.

[Daniel]

And further along the path, it looks like a drop off. Didn't you mention seeing a cliff at some point?

[Amber]

Yeah, yeah, and after that, there should be a steeper section as we climb higher up the mountain.

[Daniel]

Well, we should get on with it. I guess. Some will be going down within the next couple of hours.

[Amber]

I just. I hope we're not too late. How are you feeling, Daniel? You coping okay?

[Daniel]

Feeling better with every step. I think I finally started to recover from Ryvis's toxin as we were leaving the motel. And now I'm feeling almost 100%.

[Amber]

I'll bet turning that fucker to ash has helped a little, too.

[Daniel]

No doubt about that. Anyway, it's all good now. I'll be fine. Should we get going?

[Amber]

Yeah, let's go. Right this way. Follow me.

[Daniel]

How much further do you think?

[Amber]

It's close. Yeah, it's not too far now.

[Daniel]

You said that an hour ago.

[Amber]

Yeah.

[Ryvus]

Yeah.

[Amber]

Well, this time I really mean it.

[Daniel]

Sun's almost down. Gonna need the glow sticks before long.

[Amber]

Oh, don't worry. I packed plenty. We're not gonna run out.

[Daniel]

I hope not. Because finding our way back down this mountainside in the dark might be.

[Amber]

What is it?

[Daniel]

What's that over there?

[Amber]

It's.

[Becca]

Shit.

[Amber]

Oh, I feel it now. It's faint, but. Yeah, I think this is it. The place of Stone. Daniel, we found it. Come on, let's check it out. Keep your axe at the ready.

[Daniel]

I don't see an entrance. Where do we get in?

[Amber]

Huh? There was definitely a door in my vision. A big stone archway. But this. This doesn't look the same. Maybe we're in the wrong spot.

[Daniel]

Watch your footing. This ground might be unstable. See that? There was a landslide here. The whole area is covered in dirt and loose rocks.

[Amber]

Oh, shit. That's it. Those motherfuckers. Don't you see? This is just like what we found in Dragisa's kitchen when she caved in her own den to stop us getting inside. They've done the same thing here.

[Daniel]

They destroyed their own sanctuary.

[Amber]

Looks like they knocked the the entire thing down, stone by stone.

[Daniel]

Ryvis said they were just abandoning it.

[Amber]

Well, I guess they decided to take it to the next level. They trashed the place before they left. Damn it.

[Daniel]

Maybe this was the avalanche you saw in your vision, like. Like some kind of foresight. So we're too late.

[Amber]

Maybe not. If I can find a spot that allows me to tap into the ether, it might still have some residual energy. Enough to spark another vision. Just like in Dragisa's kitchen.

[Daniel]

Okay, so we should get on with it, right?

[Amber]

Yeah.

[Daniel]

Amber, what is it?

[Amber]

Remember back in Lambert, how I told you that experiencing a vision was like pulling the lid of a rotting garbage can? It somehow exposes the shadows to their core, peels back the lies and deceit, and reveals their true nature. Well, here in this place, I can already feel that it's going to be worse. It'll be amplified a hundred times, and that means it's going to be horrific. Maybe too much to bear.

[Daniel]

You don't think you can go through with it?

[Amber]

I bet that sounds stupid, doesn't it? After we spent so much time and energy getting here.

[Daniel]

I can't say for sure that I'd want to expose myself to it either. Our places were reversed. If you want to back out, that's okay.

[Amber]

No, I'll. I'll do it.

[Daniel]

Take my hand and hold on tight. I'll be with you every step of the way.

[Amber]

I know you will. Come on. It's this way.

[Dragisa]

I feel safe.

[Amber]

Something over here. A kind of pull from this boulder, maybe. Maybe this was part of the old entrance.

[Daniel]

Watch your step.

[Amber]

Keep hold of my hand. I'm going to lean down and put my hand right here.

[Ryvus]

Fuck.

[Daniel]

What happened? Where are we?

[Amber]

Holy shit. I. I don't. I don't know. We must have.

[Daniel]

Where's the mountain? Did we teleport or something?

[Amber]

No, I think we're inside.

[Daniel]

Inside what? The place of stone?

[Amber]

Yeah, but not really. This is just a memory or some manifestation of the ether. We're seeing what the place of stone was like before the shadows destroyed it.

[Daniel]

So this is a vision?

[Amber]

The most powerful one I've ever had, but, yeah, I guess it is.

[Daniel]

If this is one of your visions, how am I here?

[Amber]

I don't know. Maybe the fact we're touching or. Daniel, we have to hurry. I can feel my mind slipping. The shadows are working against me somehow.

[Daniel]

Okay, what do we do?

[Amber]

Let's see. What, through this archway? Come on.

[Daniel]

So, what is this place? What did they do here?

[Amber]

I don't know yet. But my skin is crawling, I can tell you that much. There's a kind of malevolence here that's almost indescribable. Let's try through here. Come on. Ugh. God, that's awful. Do you hear it?

[Daniel]

I don't hear anything.

[Amber]

There are people screaming and they won't stop. I can't bear to look.

[Daniel]

Are you okay?

[Amber]

There was suffering here, Daniel. So much suffering. Oh, this is what I was afraid of.

[Daniel]

Do you want to go back the other way?

[Amber]

No. No. This is where we need to be. Maybe you can help me, though. Just describe what you see.

[Daniel]

It's another chamber, but this is the largest yet. Big, round, circular, with a depression in the middle, almost like a fire pit or something. And there are platforms around the wall.

[Amber]

Platforms?

[Daniel]

Yeah, I thought they might be part of a staircase or something, but they're way too large. They almost look like their beds.

[Amber]

It's where they sleep.

[Daniel]

Where who sleep?

[Amber]

The wilted this is where the chosen come to sleep. No, Rest. That's what they call it. They come to rest. In my mind, I see them lying on these stone pillars or altars or whatever they are.

[Daniel]

I'm not sure I'm following, Amber.

[Amber]

When the shadows are chosen to become wilted, they come here to the place of stone to undergo a kind of metamorphosis. They sleep for days or weeks at a time and awaken to feed. Their hunger is immense. People are brought here from far and wide and butchered.

[Ryvus]

Oh.

[Amber]

Oh, it's awful. I hear their screams.

[Daniel]

So this is how the wilted are made. Or born, whatever you want to call it.

[Amber]

Yeah. When the shadows arrive, their skin is smooth. But after many months of sleeping and feeding, sleeping and feeding, their skin becomes wrinkled. They gorgeous themselves take in their last meals, and then their blood thickens.

[Daniel]

Their blood. What do you mean by that?

[Amber]

Daniel, we have to keep going. There. On the other side of the room. A door.

[Daniel]

Yeah, I see it.

[Amber]

Daniel, we have to make it through. On the other side. That's. That's what we came for.

[Daniel]

What's on the the other side?

[Amber]

Come on. Stay with me.

[Dragisa]

I wouldn't do that if I were you.

[Amber]

It's Dragisa.

[Ryvis]

Damn it. I don't have my axe.

[Amber]

Don't worry. We're not really here, Daniel. And that is not the real Dragisa. Just a projection of her.

[Dragisa]

You're right, Amber. I wouldn't be so friendly. Foolish as to confront the two of you directly. In truth, I'm many miles from here, safely out of your reach, Too scared to face us. I'm not afraid of you. But I recognize that for now, I'm overmatched. There will come a time that we will face each other in the flesh. But it will be a time of my choosing, not yours.

[Amber]

Sooner or later, you're going to back yourself into a corner. You'll have nowhere left to run.

[Dragisa]

We shall see. I have not exhausted all my resources just yet.

[Daniel]

Sorry to tell you that you lost another resource today. That old plan with your friend Rivus didn't quite work out.

[Dragisa]

Ryvis was an expendable asset and he did his job well enough.

[Amber]

You used him to slow us down.

[Dragisa]

That was one of his purposes, yes.

[Amber]

And that's why you're here now, isn't it? You just want to get in our way, delay us in the hope that I lose my grip on this vision.

[Dragisa]

You've earned yourself a great victory here today. The walls of this sanctuary have stood for many years. I myself slept here. Not so Long ago, as my body underwent its transformation. The act of bringing it down, stone by stone was. The most difficult thing I've ever had to do.

[Amber]

Daniel, we have to keep going.

[Daniel]

Sorry, Dragisa, we don't have time for your bullshit.

[Ryvis]

We're opening this door and you can't stop us.

[Dragisa]

That would be a very bad idea, Daniel. For both of you.

[Amber]

Keep going. Daniel.

[Dragisa]

If you so much as touch the that door, you will destroy your own humanity. Don't you understand? You will bear witness to something so terrible that it will tear your soul apart.

[Ryvis]

Pull on the handle, Amber. Do it.

[Dragisa]

Stay back. Don't touch that.

[Daniel]

What happened? Where are we?

[Amber]

We must have left the place of stone somehow.

[Daniel]

So where did we go?

[Amber]

Well, the ocean, I guess. Guess?

[Daniel]

Yeah, I can see that. But why are we here?

[Amber]

I don't know. I can't say I've ever seen this beach before.

[Daniel]

Did Drugisa win? Did we lose our grip on the Place of stone or something?

[Amber]

No, I. I don't think so. I feel like we've gone deeper somehow. I know that this beach on the surface looks serene and tranquil, but there's something underneath. Look.

[Dragisa]

Listen.

[Daniel]

Yeah, you're right. What is that?

[Amber]

I don't know. I can't quite. I think the vision is starting to slip away. We have to hurry, Daniel.

[Ryvis]

Hey, look.

[Daniel]

Down there. Out on the water. See it? Down past that rocky outcropping.

[Amber]

Oh, some kind of sailing boat.

[Daniel]

Should we go and check it out? Looks like it's coming into land.

[Amber]

It's too far away. We'll never make it. I'm barely hanging on here.

[Daniel]

Maybe if I run, I can reach it.

[Amber]

Wait, wait, I. I think I understand now. I think I've got it.

[Dragisa]

Oh.

[Amber]

Keep hold of my hand, Daniel. We're slipping.

[Daniel]

We're back at the landslide. Back in the real world.

[Amber]

Yeah. The vision is gone. It's over.

[Daniel]

What the hell happened?

[Amber]

I'm sorry. I. I tried, but I. I couldn't hold it any longer.

[Daniel]

It's okay, Amber. I can't say I'm too upset. My head is pounding. What did we just see? Where did we go?

[Amber]

Help me up. Get me away from these damn stones.

[Daniel]

There. Is that better?

[Amber]

A little. Thanks. Damn. We must have been caught up in that vision longer than it seemed. The stars are out.

[Daniel]

Yeah, I'd say at least an hour has passed. Maybe two.

[Amber]

We're going to have to be careful climbing back down the mountain.

[Daniel]

We have the glow sticks. We should be fine. So you said you understood what was happening back there on the beach. Tell me about that.

[Amber]

Yeah. So did you notice anything in particular about that sailing boat back there?

[Daniel]

It was big. Kind of old looking, I guess. Tattered.

[Dragisa]

Uh huh.

[Amber]

Yeah, it's old. In fact, that kind of boat is called a clipper. And it was mainly used in the 1800s.

[Daniel]

Since when did you become an expert on boats?

[Amber]

Well, since I helped a kid with his history paper in the library last year. We did quite a lot of research together, as it turns out. Anyway, I could be wrong about the exact kind of vessel, but there's another detail I noticed. The sails were all torn up.

[Daniel]

Yeah. Must have been through some storms or. Oh, shit. Ryvis's story about your geese's kin traveling across the sea.

[Amber]

Exactly. That boat we saw, I don't think it was landing on that shore today. It didn't land there yesterday or the day before. I think what we were seeing happened more than a hundred years ago.

[Daniel]

The vision was showing us the past.

[Amber]

Yes. I think that going through that door unlocked some sort of, I don't know, a race memory or something like that. Something that's sacred to the Kin, taken from a pivotal moment in their history.

[Daniel]

A boat arriving on a beach. That's all we get from this whole ordeal. Not sure it was worth it.

[Amber]

You were only experiencing the vision secondhand, Daniel. You probably didn't get the nuance. But me, I felt it all.

[Daniel]

What are you saying, Amber?

[Amber]

I'm saying that the beach we visited isn't just a random place. It is the key to everything. It's the source. It's where everything started for the Kin. Where they made their home. And where they first began to branch out when they reached these shores.

[Daniel]

This is how we find the Blood Monarch.

[Amber]

Right? We have a starting point now. The first step that's going to lead us to her.

[Daniel]

That's why Dragisa was trying to stop us from going through the door and seeing the beach. She knew how important it was.

[Amber]

Uh huh. Yeah. She knew that once we possessed that knowledge, we would have a chance to find the Monarch and take down the entire Kin.

[Daniel]

Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get off this damn mountain.

[Becca]

Hey.

[Amber]

Thanks for being there with me. I don't think I would have made it through that ordeal without you.

[Daniel]

I was just returning the favor, Amber. You took care of me when I needed it too.

[Amber]

Yeah, I. I guess I did. We make a hell of a team, don't we?

[Daniel]

You bet. And don't worry. I'll always be there for you, Amber. Wherever the road leads us. I'm going to see you through to the end.

[Amber]

Me too. Here, grab a few glow sticks and watch your step on the way down. We've got a long journey ahead of us.

[Narrator]

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 audio productions by Mark R. Healy. 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 roadofshadows.com the Road of Shadows stars Hamish Pledgemars, Marta Da Silva, Liz Maury, Joseph Tweeter, Marlon Dance Hooey, Sarah Safarian, Nicholas Ewan and Thomas Barker. The Road of Shadows is a Beyond the Dark production.

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