Draconissa was scuba diving in the lake for clues. With the two psychics being dead, she had to do something to help out.

The tank on her back was heavy, but down here, it barely even mattered. A glint of metal caught her eye.

Swimming as fast as she could, she went to the very bottom of the lake. There was a metal rod lying on the bed of the lake.

Scooping it up hastily, Nissa began to get excited. Was this one of the murder weapons?

She swam to the surface, thoroughly pleased with her find. However, she felt a searing pain in her shoulder. She began to find it difficult to stay afloat!

Shortly afterwards, the tube connecting the tank to her mask was severed. She began to sink and the oxygen began to bubble in the water.

Panicking, Nissa tried to reach the surface, but the pain in her shoulder stopped her from getting there. She slowly drifted back down to the bottom of the lake, gasping for air.

It did not take long before she drowned.

“Another one down,” Mongoose said quietly.

==================================================================

It was grim in the dining hall. It had only been five days since the killings began, but already their numbers seemed to be thinning out. Ichihollow 21 was particularly upset. Some of these innocent victims, he’d actually spent time with them, gathering sacrifices for the Dark Ones. He had never felt so bad in his life. How could someone do that to anyone?

He got another sandwich and ate it while mulling over the happenings. It was almost too much to bear.

He finished the sandwich and left the dining hall. He was so depressed about the whole thing. These people meant a great deal to him.

Ichi rambled aimlessly to himself as he walked. It seemed to have a slightly positive effect on his mood, though not by much.

He paused. He could swear he had just heard footsteps behind him. Fear in his heart, he slowly turned his head. A stony-faced fellow member walked straight passed him and carried on.

Sighing a breath of relief, Ichi continued on his journey. He turned and walked straight into someone.

“Oh, sorry...” he muttered.

The person turned. It was the stony-faced cultist. They dropped their hand and a knife slid out from their sleeve. They took it and before Ichi could react, they sliced his throat.

Blood gushed from the wound. He fell to his knees and looked up at his attacker. He grabbed at their robe, but fell forwards, dead, before he could reach them.

==================================================================

All this concentration and focus really was thirsty work. Equinoxious had felt the thirst for some days now, she’d lost count exactly.

“Just this once, I’ll take a five minute break. Nothing bad will happen to them in those exact moments,” she thought to herself.

Well, she was half right.

As she was coming back from the kitchen, Equin heard a knock at the door. Curious, she answered it. She was pounced upon by the burly, thuggish cult members collecting the sacrifices.

When she next opened her eyes, she realised she was bound on the pedestal, with the elder standing over her, hatchet gleaming in the torchlight.

“I am assured by my most trusted children that nothing will go wrong today,” the elder announced with a twitch in his eye.

Equin was terrified. She could barely utter a squeak.

“No words, my dear child?” the elder asked. “Very well. We shall proceed.”

He swung the hatchet.

==================================================================

Meanwhile, in the Sacrificial Afterlife...

Lord Bat-Winged Squid-Head had donned a pair of reading glasses and was working with Insom to get the documents filed as quickly as possible.

Buzz had woken up and, while still seemingly angry, he seemed to have calmed down.

Hattie and the thin, rat-like man were debating on the various Dark Ones and how likely they were to devour or simply enslave humanity.

The familiar signs they were waiting for did not appear, since Toastie’s essence did not pass on to the afterlife.

However, another monstrous sign did appear, signalling the arrival of another ancient, unspeakable horror.

“I AM LORD HASTUR AND I HAVE RETURNED!”

“Erm...who did you say you were?” Buzz asked, confused.

“I SAID, I AM LORD HASTUR!”

“I didn’t hear either...” Insom said, also confused.

“Forgive them, my lord, for they know not what they are saying,” Hattie said humbly.

“How the hell do you know who...erm, what he...it is?” Buzz asked, confused once again.

“Simple, he is The King in Yellow, Lord Hastur,” Hattie replied.

“I’m not even going to ask...” Insom said, placing her hand on her face.

==================================================================

Water way to go, Draconissa!

Ichihollow 21 was shanked!

Equinoxious, one of your Spirit Watchers, was sacrificed!

==================================================================

I apologise for how late this update is. I have recently had some problems in real life. I tried to update on time, but couldn’t. Sorry for any inconvenience.

PM me your votes everyone!

Agents! PM me your targets!

The last Spirit Watcher! PM me your save!