Welcome to ghost Wax, a foreign Tall Tales production. The following story may
contain graphic content. Listener discretion is advised. Ghost Wax is written and directed
by Robert Knutsen, production and editing by Aaron Schenrock. Our theme song is
by Bo Hoover. This episode features Robert Kannutzen as Von sid and Harold,
Aaron Schenrock as Luca, Stephanie Olsen as Pip, h J. Raider as
Olivia, a La Lushka as Amya, Mitchell Brooks as Charlie, Sarah Becasme
as Adelaide, and Mark ar Kusha as Sane. Outro music by Colton Warren.
Episode forty four, Dissent to great so quiet with the glass up?
I prefer the breeze can't be helped. Don't despair. I will try.
We have reason to be optimistic, after all, though the recent history of
banishings is how many of us are there left? After Dalton twenty two,
The last Stand of the Last Stand. You said you'd try. Yes,
not to despair, and I shall. Olivia will banish the cipher, the
plague will subside, Brighter days are ahead. You'll see very good, very
good. Right the ardent locked down tight, air tight, nothing will enter
up to the vanishing. We were just discussing how you will perform brilliantly,
and that we have total faith in you. Don't make that face. We
were fine. I believe you. I do wish you would take the rekindled
Adelaide into the chamber with you, even just as a reservoir. She could
be so helpful. You are lucky we've allowed it to stay in the building.
We have nothing to fear from her. Similar assurances were made of the
last just before the murders. That was truly different. She really is a
nice young woman. They all seem nice, but they are animals. The
second you forget that, you are locked in a cage with animals. But
yes, very well, all possible assets must be evaluated. Some of us
still follow protocol. I think you'll like her. It's time, Emir,
would you accompany me to the upper chamber. I'd be delighted, And Master
Von said yes, I am censured, so I am not allowed into the
upper chamber. I will continue my functions and protect the ardent. Good.
I don't imagine this will take over long. Olivia, fight well, you
will prevail. We had best hope. So that's it. The Ardent is
sealed and the upper chamber is cloistered above. Nothing can go in or out.
We are well stocked on snacks. How long could this take? The
longest banishings have taken upwards of six months. Welcome to my world. Yes,
I suppose so, But Charlie, I assure you, once this banishing
concludes, we will work on freeing you from the confines of the lodge.
If the eyes that pursue you are agents of the Cipher, they will be
greatly diminished. And if they aren't, we'll find out what they are and
how to help you. I just want to know we have fresh water.
I can resort to cannibalism if I have to, but dying of thirst is
one of my greatest fears after the salt mummies. Oh yes, fresh water
in a reservoir. Additionally, the alchemists have core matter that they can render
into many simple materials we might need on demand. I dare say the Ardent
is now our own little vessel, unmoored from reality, itself, self sufficient
and safe. The safest location may be anywhere we are unmoored from the cosmos,
and yet they still expect us to work. It's just a few reclaimings
from the backlog. Pip, will you come with us to the labs.
I know we're all sealed in and all, but I would still feel better
if I had you in sight. Very sweet, but let's call it earshot.
When the bodies start moving and talking and shit, I just can't Adelaide.
Yes, I'm feeling Wow. Luca, is the ghost wax picking her
up? Yes, I think so. I still can't hear anything she's saying,
but the needle is moving. Good, Adelaide. Your speech should continue
to return to you as your strength continues to grow. Grow already feel so
strong. Oh, yes, you are only just beginning. Amazing. Do
you hear the phantoma responding to her trying to talk? I do? They
are kindred spirits after all. I feel fear, I feel attention all around.
I want to help. How can I help? Unfortunately, I think
it will take some time before the others are fully willing to make use of
your more wondrous capabilities. You see, Adelaide, Addie, please, yes,
Addie, the other Hamsa and I in the pursuit of our great work,
well, we are very protective of our safety. We are by our
nature very hard to harm layers and layers. It's hard to explain, but
the part of the issue is you are one of the rare things that could
harm us easily if you so chose. They are afraid rekindled have hurt us
in the past. You are a weapon, and for now a weapon is
all they can see. But I know that you are more. I have
seen your heart and I will show you mine by my deeds. The others
will too. We have nothing to fear from each other. We want the
same thing, all of us, I think agreed. Yes, this building
is on moored. We are very safe, but still with all hands on
deck in the upper chamber, would you stay and watch the apiary, keep
the phantomer company. When we are closed like this, they tend to get
a little bit lonely. Yes, I like them. They're there. Rest
your voice. We will be back shortly. We are going to reclaim a
young man who died very unnaturally and see if we can determine why it happened
and what we might do about it. Okay, uh, shall we yes,
walk and talk with me Luca while we have a moment here? Yeah,
a gift? What really? Yes, it's nothing extravagant. I suppose
it is rare. Why did wait one year ago we started working together officially.
I can't believe it's only been a year. It has been eventful.
What what is this? When you were taken into the order, they took
an object from you, I know that it was very difficult, and well,
while this is not them little if that gave the object its power,
it is something I made. In the likeness of it. It's called a
tumbling staircase, an impossible object like the one you manifested, just not so
puissant. It's it's beautiful. The things you make are beautiful, full of
goodness, purity of intent. We cannot choose what others do with what we
put into the world. We can but put them into the world with an
open heart. I am to wax sentimental, quite inspired by you. Thank
you. You are a good friend and a fine young man. I don't
mean to overstep, but I often feel very much like an inverted Geppetto to
your Pinocchio, only in that you are young and proficient with the making of
things, and I am older and well wish you were a real boy.
Forgive the metaphor, it was muddled I'd have been rather lucky if you'd actually
been my father. Well, I look forward to working with you more.
Yeah, me too. So, hey, you too cool working on it?
Are we cool? What do you mean? Just feels I don't know,
I feel weird about everything. No, it's it's gonna be fine,
crazy days. Yeah, speaking of which, do you hear that I've been
feeling like I can Yeah, sounds so bizarre. Ever since they sealed the
building off, something is really different. Something in the walls. Yeah,
come put your ear here. Huh that's yeah, what is that? Usually
you get like pipe sounds or buzzing from electricity ere you know, building noises,
but there's like nothing less than nothing. Weird. Hey you two?
Uh having a nice wall? Listen quiet, We are listening to the wall.
Yes, the ritual has many bizarre secondary effects. By the way,
if your cell phones get any textual messages from numbers you don't know, numbers
from people outside the building or from any deceased relatives, do not respond.
How incredibly haunting. Yes, so you said unmoored from reality? How literal
is that? If I went to the front doors and like got them open
somehow would we all be pulled out into the vacuum of space. No,
I mean, I don't think so. Or would it be like a desert
out there and big sandworms would start chasing us and eat Pip. At least
I get to be Geena Davis in this reference, what would happen? You'd
likely see the buildings across the street, people passing by, but were you
to exit, you'd be lost elsewhere. We only appear to be where we
currently are, So where are we really? Nowhere? Ominous? It's the
last peaceful place in the cosmos. Honestly, what a sad thought. Not
all violentles is bad. The crucible of a star is quite violent. Not
all chaos is undesirable. The fragmenting and spiraling of galaxies is a thing of
great beauty, even if it is mostly madness. So poetic today, Eh,
poetry, Grandpa doesn't really work. Apologies I wax philosophical during a banishing,
especially ones I cannot be part of. Yeah, what bullshit. I
made my bed of coals, now I lie in it. It's not fair.
The injustice I am concerned with is the one that befell this young John
Doe in our examination laboratory. Shall we attend to them. Oh boy,
I can't believe I don't get to see Olivia twist that tick mister media out
of our reality. Instead, I get stuck on corpse chat duty. I'll
try not to take it personally that you referred to the Chapter of Reclaimers and
their sacred duties as corpse chat. Sorry, all right, let's head down
there. This is Master Reclaimer Owen von Sid, together with Philippa, James
Seer, Charles Baybridge, Order Initiate and Luca Eso Reclaimer. Shit did we
all just get promotions? They cleared me? Oh wow, that hit harder
than I imagined it would children later mm mmm, Master Reclaimer Owen von Sid
in attendance. The deceased was recovered by Francis Faraday and Margo and Jeers in
a tenement building in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on a lead provided by Miss Philippa.
The subject has not been able to be identified due to a complete lack of
a face, arms, or other means of identification. Oh that reminds me.
I keep forgetting how ubiquitous tattoos are, Luca Charlie, did either of
you note any identifying tattoos on the body during your initial examination? No,
Nope. Yes, well, m I see why we were given this one.
A reclaiming of some kind would be the only way to identify this body,
as his DNA was nowhere in the system either. This poor fellow has
had all traces of himself erased. As I said, the subject's face and
arms and therefore finger prints are missing. There are no marks, cuts,
or surgical indications of any kind, simply smooth, unbroken absences where it seems
any marring of the flesh has been erased. Sinuses, mandible material, facial
structures all visible, but those cross sectioned appear undamaged. The face has been
removed back to the line of the ears, the left arm up to the
shoulder, the right midway through the forearm. There are no signs of bleeding,
and the report indicated that there was no blood at the scene, though
it was a transient flophouse of sorts, so said scene was not the most
secure and may have been tampered with. Reclaiming will begin after final preparations.
Philippa, are you sensing anything disgusted? But nothing from the body. It's
like its blank. How are we going to do this one? Do you
want to draw out the spirit? Inhabit them. Well, I actually have
an apparatus for situations like this. Get a lot of faceless cases more often
than I'd care to. There were a series of cases where a killer had
come to learn of the Reclaimer order, and, in an attempt to render
the dead unable to speak to us, destroyed their faces. Luckily, my
predecessor was a master medium and an early adopter of the spirit board get out.
Oh yes, we solved a fair few grisly ones with a planchette in
hand. That's incredible. I, however, was interested in giving the dead
a more physical final experience, and so I repurposed something U Luca, the
large glossy box there. Oh, this crest looks familiar. Yes, there
aren't many of them left. But the chapter of wheels sort of your predecessors,
I suppose the artificers whoa oh wow, holy shit, this porcelain face
once sat upon a meticulously crafted and lifelike automaton of human shape. They became
quite a lot more than a gilded curiosity, and were gifted flesh. However,
this beautiful face seemed a shame for it not to have a use.
Are you talking about Cooza? The librarian was a puppet person. That's why
you were talking about Pinocchio earlier, because you were carrying a puppet face in
your bag. Huh, Maybe you are right. At any rate, I
will affix the prosthetic to the body and they can inform us as to what
transpired. Oh lord, hang in there, After what you've been through,
I'm sure this won't be that bad. Yeah, just a limbless dead body
with an articulated automaton mask telling us how it died. No, big please,
don't let me get used to this, Shita. Could you hand me
the suture kit? Lost soul come home again, return to us and tell
us your tale. Use these borrowed eyes to see and lips to speak.
Oh no, oh no, I am so sorry, but your life has
ended. Nothing will harm you now though, and not ever again. We
wish to help you. Oh no, I I knew this would happen eventually.
Why why I knew I was going to die? Fuck Mama's right.
Breathe in and breathe out. I am getting some intense feedback as I apply
pressure to try and calm them. Whatever killed them left quite a mark here.
Let me just make a little adjustment there try speaking again. Oh that
that feels much better the magic touch. Can you tell us your name,
Zaine, I'm saying, don't ask me my last name. Perhaps your family
would No, I don't want them to know anything. Nothing. Please,
I'm gone. Okay, I'm dead to them already. They don't they don't
need to grieve me again. Okay, very well, But Zay, could
you tell us what happened to your body? There seems to be a good
deal of you missing. Yeah. Oh yeah, Wow, my face must
have fallen in or maybe they put it in. Wow, that was the
rush of a lifetime just thinking about it. God, it felt so good.
It was almost worth it. They who Harold? Or? He said
it was Harold. He showed me where the soft spot was, where to
find the hole, how to use it. I want to be mad at
him since it killed me, but I've done everything like meth heroin fuck unnamed
laboratory shit that won't be ruining people's lives on the street for years yet.
But oh wow, nothing was like this, Charlie. If you would take
down the name Harold or I wonder Harold a herald pardon? Please tell us
what happened to you? Uh, I'll spare you and I the painful backstory.
If it's all the same, the abuse, the acting out, the
first using, the getting kicked out of the house, so many variations from
so many people, but all essentially the same. You can just fill in
the blanks. There is no need. This is your story. We would
listen into whatever you wish to say. Yeah, no, we don't,
We don't need to. Okay, Well, I do want to say one
thing about it. I mean that recording thing, like if anyone is going
to listen to this ever, I guess just like, don't take shit your
kids do that, that's that's bad, or or you think is bad.
Don't take it personally. Not everything your kid does is some attack on you
or the family name or whatever. My using was because of a whole I
had inside myself, one that got opened up by a few neighbor boys and
then got made worse and worse over time, filled in, torn open,
and then made wider and wider by little cruelty after little cruelty. But shit
with my parents didn't get really bad until they caught me using pills and decided
that was me declaring war against the family, the house and them personally like
I liked them fine until all that shit started. Anyways, Like Mom and
Dad, I wasn't trying to hurt you, Okay, fuck that. I
don't need to do that dance anymore. I bounced around, homed, unhomed,
homed again. And you know, you don't know scary until you've been
out on the street at night and with with the shadows walking all around,
feeling like you are being followed, and then realize you don't have anywhere to
go, nowhere to hide. That's when I started taking lots of uppers.
Gotta stay up all night, watch your own back, sleep when you can
during the day, but you gotta spend all day trying to score really,
so you wind up not sleeping much at all. And so you see shit,
That's why so many of my friends who didn't have anywhere wound up seeming
so haunted. I think, you know, no sleep, no dreams,
no kind of dreams at all, but surrounded by nightmares. I'd hallucinated before,
never going up or down, but just from the not sleeping. So
this guy, Harold, I had seen him around a few places and I
never really knew him, but he waved me over in this empty building.
A bunch of us were hanging out, and you know we could get into
through the door someone forgot to lock. Anyways, Harold waves me over and
didn't say anything at first, just waves. He always wears his hoodie up.
You know, he's got a few of them, always these like loud
patterns all over them. Looks like he's got graffiti drawn all over him.
And it's kind of cool actually, But he's got a mask on. Said
it's because he's burned, but I don't know. Guy's a nut whatever.
It's got little x's for eyes and a smile stitched on. I used to
think it was kind of scary, but the pandemic days everyone had a mask,
so by then it wasn't even that weird. Okay, So he waves
me over and just points. There's this spot on the wall, middle of
a concrete wall, super tagged up, lots and lots of spray paint and
shit all over it, but no names I recognize, or any cruise,
just like pictures and shapes like crazy trippy shit. But there's this spot on
the wall where all the other pictures are kind of pointing towards that spot.
Doesn't have any paint at all just a sign drawn over it that says Heaven.
Only the H and the E were both capitalized, so maybe HEV and
I don't know Heaven. Yeah, and it wasn't lying Just looking at it,
I could feel my mind slowing down. Then Harold said this weird fucking
thing. What did he say to me? Come on saying, go ahead,
reach out and touch faith. Yeah? Well, I already wanted to,
wanted to reach out. And when just the tippy tip of my finger
touched it, electric liquid relief, this flood of joy rushing up my fingers
and into my blood, like pure love. Part of me wanted to shove
my arm and just right away, the opposite of touching a hot stove.
Right, But a little part of me self preservation screamed out, and so
oh I pulled back. Nice it was. It was the nicest. But
then there was numb, like more than numb. Nothing in the dim,
dirty light of that empty building. I could see where the tip of my
finger wasn't just empty space at the end of my knuckle. Oh god,
she sure felt like it. Sorry, I feel kind of dusty. Oh
my, perhaps I didn't clear the mask thoroughly. I'm very sorry. I
I'm sorry. I feel like I have something in my eye. You okay,
it's all right, Charlie Van said, Oh, and could could you
look in my eyes? Do you see anything? M No, I do
not. Okay, that's okay. Maybe you should go rinse them. Yeah,
yeah, okay, I'll be right back. I'll go with him.
I could use a break. I understand. Poor kid. Mm hmm,
he's a user. Oh you think so? Lah, Yeah, definitely,
you're right. He told me he's had addiction problems before, he had to
take a year off to get it under control before he went to college.
I see nothing to be ashamed of, certainly, but perhaps this story was
Yeah. I think it was getting to him realizing how this is gonna end.
Poor boy. M hm, you had discovered the cost of this mysterious
spot in the wall. Yep. When I came to Harold was gone.
I had lost hours just that tiny little touch, and I'd sailed away for
hours. I went around looking for him to ask him what the hell was
going on, but I couldn't find him. A part of me was pissed,
like thinking he put something on the wall, like some kind of acid.
Maybe part of me hoped he had more, but I couldn't find him.
So I went back to the spot, half expecting it to be gone,
you know, but it wasn't. It was there. I started like
messing with it. It was soft, the spot. I tried pushing stuff
into it later, like the concrete was like I don't know, doweye.
Whatever I pushed in there, like a broom handle or a rock gone,
The rock came back, sheared clean. The edge sharp enough that I sliced
a finger on it, like the tip of my index finger just flapped loose
because the edge was so sharp, which is when I got the idea,
the idea to reach in again, just a little, just using this part
of my finger I already had practically cut off when I thought that, Like
shit, I got so scared. I realized then what was going to happen,
Just like with all the other shit, A little bit, a taste,
a touch, but then it's so good you hope it never ever ends,
and so you start to compromise more and more, give it more and
more of yourself, and fuck. This spot in the wall was like a
metaphor made real. Right. I walked around the building. I found this
guy I knew who had some paint pens. I went back to the hole
and xed out the word heaven wrote in don't I knew what was going to
happen, left wrote it off, planned to move towns if I had to,
But I mean I was a goner. I'd been bit. I could
practically feel my brain rewiring itself into a machine that just said get more.
Fuck. Nothing else felt good anymore. Nothing. I don't even really remember
going back, rationalizing all the way you cut your finger. It's so dirty
where you've been staying, you'll probably get an infection. Anyways, might be
a good idea to just lose that little bit. Before I knew what was
happening, I gave it my index finger up to my knuckle. So stupid.
I'm so sorry. God damn it, I'm so fucking sorry. I'm
sorry to myself, God damn it, say please forgive me. Fuck fuck.
But it was so so good. It felt like falling into infinity,
fucking ambrosia. My soul was singing, you just you can't know what you
do to get that feeling back. I do, I understand, Yeah,
you do, don't you. You You've got the look of someone who had
heaven lost it can't find the way back, don't you. Oh, well,
shit, I think. Once I'd lost my whole left hand, I
started giving it more to like fight the feeling of horror and shame at having
already given it so much, I couldn't stop. This wasn't like a normal
fix. It wasn't I would stuff my sleeve into my pocket, trying to
make it look like I still had had an arm. I don't know who
I was trying to fool. I don't know who would have even noticed or
cared if they did. I don't know. Shame is a fucked up funny
thing. I got all the way up to my shoulder one night, and
the euphoria got so intense I almost passed out and fell forward my face like
almost grazed it. That was a wake up call. I realized how easy,
how fucking easy, it would be fall asleep and fall in. I
was so scared, get me away about a week. I might have stayed
away forever. But Harold showed back up new neon pink mask, shining out
under his hood at me in the dark. You know it misses you,
it told me. He said that to me, and his breath. There
was something in it a smell. I didn't realize I had missed some kind
of incense, and I realized that the spot smelled like incense. And fuck,
I don't even know what happened, but I was back there again.
This time was different. Before all of me had focused in so hard on
it, on the fix, but now I felt like it was watching me,
like it had been waiting for me. I just grazed it and lightning
white hot everywhere, and I slipped. I knew it was going to happen.
I'd scolded and screamed at myself all week about it. Do you want
to fucking die? But then it just happened. My legs gave out,
I fell. I fell into it. This big bang of pleasure went straight
to my brain through the face that disintegrated into the hole in the wall.
Part of me is still there, a forever moment, my last moment.
Oh, God's saying, I am so sorry. But wait, there's there's
something else I can My ears were left. I hear something. It's Harold.
He's talking. He's over me, Yes, concentrate. What is he
saying? Yeah, it's weird. It almost seems like he's talking to the
whole dong to worry. He says, don't worry. I just need him
to stay alive long enough to finish the big nasty on his back. What
does that mean, the big nasty on my back? Oh? Yeah,
yeah, then I felt like I mean, they didn't even really register because
of the bliss rolling through me. But I think he rolled me over.
I think he burned something into my back, like a shape, A shape,
a big sharp star. I I thought, Luca. Didn't you say
there were no markings, you didn't see any during the initial exam. No,
I didn't see any. I don't think I did. Perhaps it was
hidden somehow or healed. Here. Help me turn him over and we will
see what we can find. Yes, a scisun is inscribed. What is
this form? Oh god, old Luca. Oh shit, oh oh wow,
Charlie, deep breaths. Are you okay? Put your head under the
faucet here? Oh shit? Oh fuck? Oh okay, Charlie, let's
get you to medical. Okay, come here, okay, hey, Pip,
yeah, what is it? Would you look into my eyes? Okay?
Sure? Let me Oh oh no ah, hey hey just sit down.
No oh, here you go sit down. You're going into shock.
I Okay, keep breathing. I don't know what you did exactly why.
This is what they want. They showed you the truth, so now your
eyes belong to them. Fuck you, this is your fault. It's your
fault. I have to do this. You think I want this? Fuck
you. You broke their heart, Pip, you have to pay for it.
Okay, okay, okay, holy shit, this is really happening.
Fuck okay the shock. Lean into it and let that happen. It'll be
easier. Okay, one down, once to go. Don't take a lass.
Look around, don't you okay? Please? Oh God, please please
wake up. I'm so sorry. Oh my boy, God right, I
can't. I can't hold on, Oh Charley, thank the God's stay back,
please please. The car's fire is still burning. Can you see him,
guy, he's here beneath me, but flash my eyes? Is he
okay? You shielded him? I tried to here. Can you reach him?
Don't let the fire touch you here. Give him to me. I'll
take care of him. Oh, they're gentle. He's unconscious, a great
deal of force, but he's okay. The fire didn't touch him. No,
he's unconscious, but he's okay. I can't believe it. Good,
yes, yes, good, good, Charlie. I need you to listen
closely. I'm very badly hurt. I think I think I can hold on,
but I need you to get me something from my quarters. Charlie,
Charlie, Charlie, can you hear me? Why didn't you save me?
I, Charlie, why didn't you save me? No? Oh, no,
oh no, Charlie, why didn't you save me? Why? I
try? I wanted to. I thought you thought we could outpace the documents
in your heart. I did not realize how deep it and rooted. I
am sorry. I failed you. I am about to bet your head and
with the broken piece of this stone. And you are apologizing to me because
you are my friend, even if I am not yours. Please Charley,
listen, I will die, I promise. I am ready. Whatever has
forced your hand, you have one. I accept it. The last necromancer
felt that will be how it is. But please, Charlie, you cannot
black Fish. I can barely hold on to him. I have nothing left.
If you strike at me now, I will consume him on instinct,
without wanting to. It will be a reflex. And oh no, please,
Charley, please, he is the best of us. Do not condemn
him to oblivion because of my failings. Just give me time time to let
him go gently, Please don't. Please, Just give me a few moments
to let asam my other half, to let him go. Really exactly how
long? Maybe I don't I don't know, to detach him, let him
go adrift. Maybe five seven minutes, that is all. Oh, thank
you, Charlie, thank you. That's too long. They'll be coming,
Charlie. Wait if you kill me, If you do this, all that
I have bound will be loosed. This place will fill with horrid, dangerous
things in. You won't survive it either. I died almost a year ago.
My soul died the night before you came for me. When my wall
split open and it looked through. It stripped me bare, showed me the
dangling marionette corpses you things have made of us, showed me what happened to
the real world. I've only got one way out now. Please know you
are my friend. I trust. Need a few more. Please not like
this. You've had enough time already. As am I I am sorry.
Suck my beautiful high and m