Cory’s Story: Ventriloquist

Hi. How are you doing? Do you have a name?

Ventriloquist.

My name’s Cory. How are you doing?

I feel so…alone.

I have news for you, then. We’re part of a system. There’s many people here, like Ribbon, or Jasmine, or…maybe we’ll ignore the ski lodge occupants right now.

I cannot be alone. Let me go with you.

Sorry, I’m not sure that’s the best idea. I only have one way back up the canyon, and it leads somewhere private.

Please don’t leave me alone. I don’t want to be alone.

Where’s Scarlet? I thought Scarlet was down here a day or so ago. Jasmine isn’t far, or Rimira. Although Rimira may not like you. She…prefers being alone.

Scarlet left.

Scarlet left? Where?

I don’t know. Please, I don’t want to be alone. If you leave, the monsters will come back.

Monsters? What monsters?

I don’t know, they scare me.

Okay, I have a plan. We’re going to walk through the tunnels to the forest. Do you think Scarlet went there?

I don’t know, Scarlet left me alone with the monsters. Please don’t leave me too.

Could you explain the monsters? I might know what you’re talking about. If they’re what I think they are, you’ll be safe in the forest.

Monsters…coming for my skin, making me bleed…blood, dripping from my bloody body…oh, please don’t leave me alone.

That sounds strangely like…are we talking about monsters here, in the canyon?

I don’t know. I don’t know where I am. Please, don’t let the monsters come again…

Okay. You’re talking about memories, not monsters in the canyon. But I thought Scarlet’s thing was the blood from a body…what happened to you? Actually, wait, don’t answer that, I don’t think I should know.

Scarlet was in a big fight and saw people stabbed in the stomach. Oh, I don’t know what that means. The monsters…

Ventriloquist?

The monsters coming for my skin…

Ventriloquist, I don’t understand what happened. How can I help you feel safer?

The monsters coming for my skin, to string me up a puppet with no blood…

I don’t know what these monsters are.

Please don’t leave me here. I don’t want to be strung up with no blood…

It’s alright Ventriloquist, nobody’s going to hurt you.