DUMBWAITER
You open the dumbwaiter door and out falls the Lodger’s luggage. You stare anxiously into the void of the dumbwaiter shaft.
You lift the luggage up from the ground and haphazardly turn it upside down to dump out the contents. However, the only thing to fall out is a single newspaper clipping containing an article about the Lodger.
As you handle the luggage, a fine mist rises from the floor, forming into the apparition you know as Emmett, the Lodger.
“Please tell me you can save the child.”
“No games from me, friend. I loved Miss Elsie, I loved all the McDermotts. Hell, if I could’ve just left a bit earlier and taken her with me then, neither of us would have been caught up in all these ghoulish monkeyshines! If I knew some trick or magic to bring her back right now I’d do it, but I’m afraid I don’t know any such thing. This is real magic we’re dealing with, real dark magic.“
“At first, I couldn’t remember much past getting home and going to my room, but… it’s starting to come back to me. Remember when I said we all went inside the house to warm up a bit? Mrs. McDermott brought out some hot cocoa, and we all partook to shake off the chill. When it seemed like we wouldn’t be doing no more choring for the night, I decided to make my exit. I snuck off to my room and grabbed my bags. I started to feel a bit nauseous, and a sickly taste was in my mouth. Something told me I needed to get out of there ASAP. I grabbed what I could and stepped out of my room, clenching my stomach. I remember seeing Virgil in the hall, wide-eyed with shock and fear, just as I dropped my bags and everything went dark real quick. I reckon that’s what it feels like to be poisoned.”
“That cuts deeper than you’d imagine, friend. So you’ve read a few stories about me in the papers and decided to paint me as some sort of a monster? Well, you’ve got me pegged all wrong. I’m a teacher, and a darned good one. There’s a science behind blending a friendly and fun demeanor with an educational classroom. Part of being a good educator is allowing room for the next generation to expand their minds. I overestimated a particular student’s knowledge of chemistry and they paid the ultimate price, but it was purely an accident. I’m no poisoner, and I’m certainly not a murderer!“
You lift the luggage up from the ground and haphazardly turn it upside down to dump out the contents. However, the only thing to fall out is a single newspaper clipping containing an article about the Lodger.
As you handle the luggage, a fine mist rises from the floor, forming into the apparition you know as Emmett, the Lodger.
“Please tell me you can save the child.”
“No games from me, friend. I loved Miss Elsie, I loved all the McDermotts. Hell, if I could’ve just left a bit earlier and taken her with me then, neither of us would have been caught up in all these ghoulish monkeyshines! If I knew some trick or magic to bring her back right now I’d do it, but I’m afraid I don’t know any such thing. This is real magic we’re dealing with, real dark magic.“
“At first, I couldn’t remember much past getting home and going to my room, but… it’s starting to come back to me. Remember when I said we all went inside the house to warm up a bit? Mrs. McDermott brought out some hot cocoa, and we all partook to shake off the chill. When it seemed like we wouldn’t be doing no more choring for the night, I decided to make my exit. I snuck off to my room and grabbed my bags. I started to feel a bit nauseous, and a sickly taste was in my mouth. Something told me I needed to get out of there ASAP. I grabbed what I could and stepped out of my room, clenching my stomach. I remember seeing Virgil in the hall, wide-eyed with shock and fear, just as I dropped my bags and everything went dark real quick. I reckon that’s what it feels like to be poisoned.”
“That cuts deeper than you’d imagine, friend. So you’ve read a few stories about me in the papers and decided to paint me as some sort of a monster? Well, you’ve got me pegged all wrong. I’m a teacher, and a darned good one. There’s a science behind blending a friendly and fun demeanor with an educational classroom. Part of being a good educator is allowing room for the next generation to expand their minds. I overestimated a particular student’s knowledge of chemistry and they paid the ultimate price, but it was purely an accident. I’m no poisoner, and I’m certainly not a murderer!“