There's another door on the far side, near the trapdoor.

"I can't. Not -- not yet. Not tonight. Please--" he is starting to sound absolutely miserable "--has he hurt you, are you taking anything-- what does It have you do--"

She is going to give Oswald and Lacie some space and Play It Very Cool and see if she can make her way across the cellar and listen to whether there's anything behind the door maybe.

What is Anemone looking for -- right. fuck. Carrie. In the world where it ate her or she is otherwise dead it is still fine to look for her; in the world where it did not eat her it is obviously horrible not to, he is just going to -- pretend to himself that he is living in the world where she's alive and they have to find her -- thank god for Anemone.

"Where are you going?" a cultist says to Anemone.

"Thought I'd give Oswald some space. He seems like he's having a moment, you know?"

"Seems like a bad idea to keep too close to the family reunion."

"My life is wonderful, Oswald. I am studying all the books in Samson's library. I perform the rites to honor our God while my assistants"-- she gestures at the cult members-- "harvest the Nectar. I am learning magic, Oswald, I can cast spells. And Samson loves me-- we can make love--"

"You're Miss Ferrier's friends?" the cult member says to Anemone and Mordred.

"Yes, that's right. I'm so glad she's finally found her true purpose."

"She said that you would want to join us, once we explained it to you properly," the cult member says. "And if you didn't, well."

Oswald, off to the side, is making a horrified face at his sister's response. After several beats of silence he asks, weakly, "What are the rites?"

"We sacrifice those who are weak and worthless to the Black Pharaoh to glorify Him and His power. I thought it was bad too at first-- but then Samson explained it all to me--"

Anemone says to the cultist, "Oh, yes. But you see, I've been serving our God for years now. I couldn't tell Lacie who I was serving until she was here - she wouldn't understand its beauty if I just described it, I'm no good at describing things - but she sees now, so it's all right, it's all worked out."

"Well, what do we have here," says Samson.

They need to get the fuck out.

THEY NEED TO GET THE FUCK OUT.

FUCK

FUCK

"Lacie, it seems we have some guests. Oswald," he says in the manner of a chiding parent, "you know you need to tell me when you're in town. You disappeared! I was worried!"

fuck fuck fuck are people moving is it gonna be harder to get out if she doesn't go right the fuck now she's sorry carrie

There are four cultists between Anemone and Mordred and the trapdoor and other door; one and Samson between them and the door they came in through.

Let's NOT go past Samson actually.

Mrrrgh okay and then a bunch of guards upstairs. If she could get to the trapdoor she could climb up the stairs...

A side door deeper into the basement does NOT sound like it will get them out of here -- but Carrie --

She is going to slowly move towards the trapdoor while Samson is chiding Oswald and internally pray to a long list of gods who might possibly be inclined to help them get out of here.