Session Two - 02/07/2021

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The next morning, before the rest of the group arrives at The Wish Doctors, Ophelia catches the attention of one of the local neighborhood kids, Billy, who hangs out on the sidewalk in front of the store. She asks him if he knows anything about the Corbitt House or the North End. Billy says he's been to the North End a few times but doesn't know the address. Ophelia pays him $2 to go up to the North End, ask around about the strangest stories he can find, and then report back to her at the end of the day. Billy takes the money and disappears into the crowd. The rest of the group arrives. Elijah starts going through the book collection looking for any pertinent information. Delia presses McQuaid for specifics about the police raid on the Chapel of Contemplation in 1912. McQuaid is reluctant to pursue this investigation, and shares what he's learned, including the blood sacrifice of eight children before the police busted the church, and his suspicions that only powerful people in the city's government could have kept this all so quiet.

Delia expresses doubt about what they know and Ophelia pulls her into the backroom for a private conversation. They discuss trusting the various members of the group, and Delia feels disappointed that McQuaid may be withholding information from them. Ophelia assuages her concerns, and they rejoin everyone. Monte mentions his own reluctance in going further with the investigation, until Ophelia mentions that Cecilia must have trusted him for a reason. She asks him about any previous strange relics he's found, and then expresses her belief that he's been brought to them at this time for a reason. Delia seconds her belief in fate having a hand in things here. Elijah puts in that completing this investigation would be in the best interests of the community at large. They all decide to continue for time being, and agree to go to visit The Macarios at Roxbury Sanitarium.

They charter wheelchair-accessible transportation and arrive at Roxbury Sanitarium a short time later. They ask the receptionist about visiting with the Macarios. After being told they're looking into a police investigation, the receptionist points them down the East Wing and lets them know that Vittorio has violent mood swings and is kept away from general population, though Gabriella can usually be found in a rocking chair and staring out the window for hours in complete silence. Monte approaches a nurse who points Gabriela out to them, and Vittorio's room to them as well. She offers to go get the doctor so they can access Vittorio. They approach Gabriela, who stays silent though is responsive to environmental stimuli. Ophelia asks about the house and approaches, offering her hand to Gabriela. Gabriela takes it and Ophelia experiences a vision. Gabriela then explains what happened at the house. She mentioned waking up at various points during the night and seeing a dark shape standing over her. It even began happening during the daytime if she happened to have been napping. She notes that the temperature would often drop during the appearances, as if the energy was being sucked from the room. She said it was always accompanied by an aura of intense hatred, specifically for Vittorio. It would often smash things, toss furniture, or invert crosses when Vittorio was present. Ophelia asks if the dark shape was a man in a black cloak, something she may have seen in her vision. Gabriela doesn't recognize that description, but grabs Ophelia forcefully and pleads with her to get through to Vittorio. Ophelia then pulls Delia to the side and describes her vision. She saw a pyramid in the desert beneath a moonlight starry sky. She saw a dark shape, but more clear and differing in detail than the shadow that plagued Gabriela. The shape Ophelia sees is a man in a black cloak. And above him, a strange constellation in the sky, one that seems to match one of the symbols they used in the sign for their shop.

They leave Gabriela and approach Vittorio's door. McQuaid peeks in and sees Vittorio, unkempt and kneeling with a bible clasped tightly to his chest. At this point, the nurse returns with Dr. Feinlander, who has been working with both Macarios since their arrival. He was surprised and pleased when the group tells him that Gabriela was lucid today, though a bit disappointed in how short the duration was. He agrees to let them visit with Vittorio, and calls to large orderlies, Johann and Felipe, over to accompany them into the group in case Vittorio grows violent. Monte suggests the doctor bring any photos of Gabriela that they may have on file so they could use it to try to calm Vittorio and engage him. Delia and Ophelia opt to stay out of the room, while the rest of the group enters.

McQuaid sees immediately that Vittorio is unhinged, his face and body covered in self-inflicted wounds. McQuaid approaches cautiously, offers the picture of Gabriela, and then asks about the house. Vittorio shrieks and backs away into the corner, holding his bible out in front of him like a shield. McQuaid tries again, and Vittorio starts gibbering and muttering random things, though McQuaid feels he's able to pick up a coherent phrase hidden among the gibberish. Dr. Feinlander states that this is how Vittorio normally tends to act and that they won't be able to get anything else out of him. They all begin to exit the room when Ophelia darts forward and reaches out to touch Vittorio in an attempt to see if she can get a similar reaction as when she touched Gabriela earlier. Vittorio drops the bible and catches Ophelia's hand, who then experiences another vision. Vittorio drops her hand and retreats back into the corner with his bible. Ophelia experiences some nauseous side-effects from the vision and is gently chastised by Dr. Feinlander for doing something so foolish. Dr. Feinlander turns to McQuaid and advises that they leave immediately.

On their way out, Ophelia grabs Delia's arm and asks the group if they have ever heard of the word "Nyarlathotep". Delia vaguely recognizes it, but can't recall anything specific. On the way back to Boston, they decide to regroup at the Wish Doctors first, but that visiting the Chapel of Contemplation may be the next best course of action.