After killing the Angel, Alex sent one of his clones to clear out Bright Falls and the nearby towns that had fallen under the influence of the Anomaly connected to Cauldron Lake and the Dark Presence.
During the process, Alex realized why the Angel and Demon he had killed didn't teleport away like they usually did and instead behaved like ordinary humans — using smartphones, driving cars, eating human food. The reason was that around Cauldron Lake, reality itself was distorted, obeying the story written by Alan Wake and Scratch. Angels and demons didn't fit into that script, so their powers didn't function here. They had to play the roles of regular mortals. That was why the Angel couldn't use his "heavenly radio" to contact his kin, and the Demon had been forced to drive a simple Toyota.
The area surrounding Cauldron Lake now lived by different laws — the laws of a fictional story, dictated by the writer's pen. Alex understood that he didn't have much time: sooner or later, Crowley, as well as those currently ruling the Heavens, would send new followers to claim the shard of Amara's power. Crowley intended to use the fragment to accelerate Amara's growth and then enslave her will. The Angels, on the other hand, wanted to use its power to destroy her forever. Everyone had their own goals, but for ordinary people, it all meant nothing but disaster.
After some thought, Alex decided not to waste energy on unnecessary worries. He had already sent a clone — it would deal with any angels or demons foolish enough to approach Cauldron Lake. The more came, the more would die. So Alex simply brushed off his concerns and chose to keep following the plot written by Alan Wake. After all, his goal wasn't to kill Scratch — it was to catch him.
Leaving the forest near the small town of Watery, Alex received a notification on his phone. He stopped and looked at the screen: the anomaly from Cauldron Lake had expanded again, further distorting reality. Alex shook his head — for the first time, he was facing something that literally rewrote existence itself. But it was a valuable experience: someday, he would face another enemy or entity capable of altering the laws of the world, and as he knew, there were plenty of those across the endless multiverse.
Leaving the forest, Alex stepped into an alley behind Suomi Hall. Around him stood old boats awaiting repair, and by the wall, sitting on a folding chair, was a man in a black biker jacket calmly smoking.
Deciding to play the role of an agent, Alex approached him and struck up a conversation, asking about the trailer park that was supposed to be nearby. From the short talk, he learned only what he already knew: the park belonged to the Koskela brothers, and all matters had to be discussed directly with them. Thanking the man, Alex headed off to find Saga.
As he exited the alley, he noticed a parked bus with the logo of the "Valhalla" retirement home. Alex expected to see Saga nearby, but she wasn't there, so he decided to check inside Suomi Hall, guessing she might have returned there.
Upon entering, Alex once again saw Ahti standing on the stage, singing for a group of elderly people. Their eyes met, and Alex nodded politely. Ahti smiled back and gave a slight nod. Alex decided to listen for a bit. He had always admired how this man, despite his immense power, managed to remain kind and humble, helping others and enjoying life.
Ahti was singing the song Yötön Yö — "Nightless Night." Listening, Alex couldn't help but smile slightly: the song's meaning was that you can never truly escape the darkness that follows you.
At that moment, someone placed a hand on his shoulder. Alex turned and saw Saga.
"Find out anything?" he asked, looking at her.
"Other than the fact that I apparently have some relatives and that the bus driver from the retirement home recognized me — not much. I also found out that the trailer park belongs to the Koskela brothers, like half this town. And you, it seems, decided to enjoy some local music with the elderly?" Saga replied with a faint grin.
"Ah, Thor and Odin Anderson," Alex said, nodding. "This meeting will do you good, Saga. They know a lot. They once helped Alan."
"Wait… are you saying they're actually my relatives? Or is this just another part of the crazy script we've landed in?" Saga frowned, pressing her hand to her forehead.
"Let's talk outside so we don't disturb anyone," Alex suggested, motioning for her to follow him out.
Saga once again gave Alex a suspicious look but still followed him. After leaving Suomi Hall, they moved a bit away from prying ears. Alex lit a cigarette and began explaining what was happening, speaking as if he had drawn his own conclusions from the information in the book Departure. In reality, he knew the full truth, but he spoke carefully, as though he were merely guessing.
Saga listened attentively. Gradually, everything began to form a coherent picture — why people recognized her in Bright Falls and even in Watery, why all the hints pointed to her connection with this place. She had simply forgotten — forgotten her childhood, forgotten that she grew up here. The moment she crossed the border of Bright Falls, she had fallen under the influence of the book Return and lost part of her memories.
Alex's words sounded absurd, yet the longer Saga thought about them, the clearer it became — everything made sense. She was like a heroine in a story who had lost her past and now had to uncover the truth on her own. Rubbing her forehead, Saga took a deep breath and began to analyze what she had heard. In any case, she needed to meet Thor and Odin — her supposed relatives, who might know more.
"Alright, so we've figured out my possible past. But I'll still take your advice — I won't believe everything people say about the time I supposedly lived here," she said, mentally piecing together all the clues.
"They say you left because of Logan's death. That's something you definitely shouldn't believe," Alex replied, flicking away the ash and putting out his cigarette.
"Got it. Now we need to find the Koskela brothers. They might tell us exactly where the trailer park is — the one where I supposedly lived. I repeat — supposedly," Saga added, looking at him with determination.
She moved forward, knowing where to find the brothers — near the bridge that had been flooded after the storm. Alex followed her, though he understood that the flood was just a precursor — a sign of a new Fold opening.
When they reached the bridge, their attention was drawn to two massive biker motorcycles. Alex stopped involuntarily, admiring them. Like many men, he had a fondness for machines like these. Seeing his gaze, Saga rolled her eyes — both Alex, her husband, and Casey shared the same obsession with bikes. Not sharing that enthusiasm, Saga walked toward the Koskela brothers to talk.
Alex decided not to interfere and instead look around. Passing by Saga, Ilmo, and Jaakko, he gave them a friendly nod and approached the flooded part of the bridge. Crouching down, he touched the water. Instantly, a thick, viscous sensation enveloped his hand, and from the depths came the muffled voice of the Dark Presence — the same one, repeating that he could change nothing.
Alex rolled his eyes and withdrew his hand."Quite the opposite," he thought. "I'm already changing the story — Saga's learning the truth much earlier than she's supposed to."
While he half-listened to Saga's conversation with the brothers, another thought was running through his mind — how to prevent what was meant to happen: the attack on the motel and the attempt to kill Alan Wake. In the original timeline, Scratch escaped the Dark Place by taking over Wake's body. But this time, he would appear in his true form.
Alex reached into the inner pocket of his coat, pulled out a small notebook, and quickly wrote a short message for Ilmo and Jaakko — a warning to stop them from making a fatal mistake. He knew the brothers were cheerful and carefree, but he didn't want either of them to die due to their recklessness.
When he finished, Saga was wrapping up her conversation. Alex folded the piece of paper and stepped closer.
"Thanks for the help, Ilmo, Jaakko. If I ever end up around here off duty — I'll definitely take you up on your offer as guides," he said with a friendly smile, extending his hand.
"Hahaha! Thanks for the compliment, agent! We'll give your family the best trip of their lives!" Ilmo laughed heartily, shaking his hand firmly.
Alex smiled in return and discreetly passed the note. Then he shook Jaakko's hand and followed Saga.
When they disappeared into the woods, Ilmo unfolded the note. His brother looked over his shoulder, and both silently read what was written. Ilmo paused for a moment, staring after the departing pair.
"What do you think, brother?" Jaakko asked, nodding at the note.
"Seems like there's someone out there who understands what we're really dealing with," Ilmo replied quietly, tucking the paper into his pocket.
"Should we gather the guys?" Jaakko frowned.
"Yeah. Call them in. But not to capture Wake. If this note isn't lying — someone else will come for him. And he's the real cause of everything that's happening in our town," Ilmo said, his face growing serious, a hint of unease in his voice.
Jaakko nodded, pulled out his phone, and quickly sent a message to the others — telling everyone to be on alert. Meanwhile, Ilmo looked once more in the direction Alex and Saga had gone. A faint smile appeared on his face — not only because he had finally seen Saga again, but also because someone out there knew what they were doing… and still chose to stay silent.
At that moment, Alex and Saga were walking along a narrow, muddy path leading to the "Coffee World" park, managed by Ilmo Koskela. The deeper they went into the forest, the thicker the darkness grew — as if someone were slowly dimming the light around them. Alex squinted, glancing around carefully.
Suddenly, the dry crack of a branch echoed nearby. Saga instantly pulled out her gun and flashlight, aiming the beam toward the sound.
"What was that?" she asked warily, scanning the area.
"Looks like we've got company. Stay sharp. In case you haven't noticed — it's getting darker," Alex replied, drawing Ivory from its holster.
"You're saying the Dark Presence has reached this place too?" Saga asked, throwing him a quick look.
"The bridge didn't flood for nothing. Even if you're the main character in this story, that doesn't mean your path will be easy. In stories like these, there are always obstacles. And don't forget — this isn't a heroic saga. It's a thriller. Here, heroes usually die… or fall to the darkness," Alex said calmly, continuing forward.
Saga frowned at his words. She regretted never reading anything like this — maybe then she would've understood better what to expect. But with Alex beside her, she felt more confident: if anyone knew how to avoid the traps of a story, it was him.
They moved on, cautiously scanning the forest. Any moment now, the Taken could appear. As they turned another corner, Saga suddenly felt Alex grab her by the collar and yank her back. The next instant, an axe whistled past her face and buried itself into a tree trunk.
From behind a boulder, a Taken leapt out, its body wrapped in thick black smoke. Alex fired — the bullet tore through both its legs, and the creature tumbled backward, crashing into a tree with a dull thud. Alex rushed forward and delivered a finishing shot to its head.
Saga caught up and shone her flashlight into the darkness — more Taken were already approaching. Alex sighed heavily. Too bad he hadn't brought any flares. But he still had Ebony and Ivory — that would be enough.
He drew his second pistol. These Taken were faster than usual, darting in and out of the shadows. But once the flashlight's beam touched them, the darkness around their bodies melted away — and they became vulnerable.
Taking cover behind trees, Alex and Saga dodged the flying axes and sickles.
"Where do they even get all these weapons?" Saga asked while quickly reloading her pistol.
"No idea. Maybe they conjure them from the darkness itself. But at least it's not the worst thing I've had thrown at me," Alex replied, peeking out and firing a few precise shots.
"I don't even want to know what that means," Saga muttered, pulling a flare from her pocket.
Alex noticed her movement and frowned."You had that the whole time? Why didn't you say so? I left my bag in the Impala."
"You didn't ask," she replied with a sly grin. "And yes, I took it from your bag. Just in case."
Alex gave her a blank, mildly reproachful look. Saga made a quick hand signal — I throw, you shoot.
He nodded. Saga darted from behind the tree and hurled the flare straight at the Taken's feet. A blinding flash erupted, and the creatures screamed as fragments of burning darkness scattered through the air.
Alex leapt from cover, opening fire with both guns. Every shot hit its mark — bullet after bullet, the Taken fell one by one, until the flare's light faded and silence returned.
Saga stepped out from behind the tree, watching as Alex calmly lowered his pistols.
"Nice shooting," she said, impressed.
"My girls never let me down," Alex replied, kissing both Ebony and Ivory.
"Never seen models like those before," Saga said, stepping closer to examine the guns.
"A gift from my father," he replied with a faint smile. "Custom-made — tailored just for me. There's nothing else like them."
"You even gave them names?" Saga raised an eyebrow.
Alex shrugged with the same relaxed smile.
"When you've spent half your life with someone — they deserve a name."
Alex only smirked and carelessly shrugged before continuing forward. After a few minutes, they reached a fork in the path. Alex glanced at Saga, silently asking whether they should keep going or look around first. Saga chose the second option — maybe they could find some kind of clue nearby. Alex didn't object and turned onto the side trail.
The narrow path led them to a small house that looked like an old forest ranger's cabin. Alex and Saga began to search the area, and Alex's gaze fell on an old generator beside the wall. He grabbed the pull cord, and after a few rough coughs, the machine sputtered to life. A few seconds later, Saga appeared from behind the cabin — the noise had caught her attention. She stared at Alex in confusion, silently asking what the hell he was doing.
Alex just shrugged again and, without answering, stepped inside the cabin. The place was a mess — furniture overturned, drawers pulled out, papers scattered all over the floor.
"It looks like someone was searching for something," Saga said, pointing to the boot prints in the dust.
"I think I know what," Alex replied, pulling a white sheet of paper from behind the wall.
"Another manuscript page?" Saga asked, walking closer.
"Something like that. From the looks of it, this one hints at where your trailer key might be," Alex said, handing her the page.
"There's no guarantee it's even my trailer," Saga noted as she examined the text. "Maybe this thing created it... what did Wake call it again? The Dark Presence."
Alex just shrugged and watched her read. The page described her conversation with the Koskela brothers, their trek through the forest, and even how they headed toward "Coffee World." The writing stopped abruptly right at that moment.
Saga was growing increasingly uneasy — these pages only retold what had already happened, offering no hints about the future. She folded the paper and slipped it into her pocket before suggesting they keep moving — toward the park, where the key might be waiting. Alex agreed, and they set off.
The road ahead was eerily quiet, yet something about it put them on edge. The Taken didn't attack — they merely watched from a distance, hiding behind the trees. Whenever Alex or Saga turned toward them, the shadows instantly dissolved into the darkness.
As they neared the park, a faint carnival tune began to play in the distance, and the flashing lights of active rides shimmered through the gloom. Alex took out his phone and checked the time — 1 p.m. But the sky was covered in a suffocating black haze, as if night had already fallen.
"Looks like we're close," Saga said, shining her flashlight toward the source of the lights.
"Yeah," Alex muttered, glancing around.
"Something wrong?" she asked, turning to him.
"Our tails are still behind us. Watching, not attacking," Alex said, nodding toward the dark treeline.
"Ignore them. We should just keep moving. We're almost there," Saga replied, shaking her head.
Alex narrowed his eyes toward the watchers — the Taken vanished instantly. He gave a slight nod and followed Saga. But he had no intention of letting their pursuers slip away unpunished.
The shadow beneath his feet rippled, forming the silhouette of a girl with long, flowing hair that seemed alive. Her strands stirred, stretched, and crawled across the ground toward the Taken.
Moments later, thin black tendrils burst from the darkness, grabbing the lurking watchers and dragging them into the void below. When everything went silent again, the shadow returned to its ordinary shape, as if nothing had happened.
Alex caught up with Saga just as she reached the entrance to "Coffee World."
As they stepped into the park, they began to look around. The first thing Alex noticed was how eerily unsettling the place felt. The flickering rides, blinking lights, empty benches… All it needed now was a couple of bloodthirsty clowns, and it would've been a full-blown horror park.
Alex pulled out his phone, checked the anomaly map, and saw that the highest concentration of readings was indeed right here. No surprise — another Fold was located somewhere in the park.
Saga shone her flashlight around and called out,"Is anyone here?!"
"Of course there is. Me," Alex replied with a smug grin, pointing both thumbs at himself.
"Does your wife ever tell you how stupid your jokes are?" Saga asked, giving him a tired look and accidentally flashing the light right into his face.
"She likes them," Alex said with a smirk. "Sometimes she even laughs. What about your husband? Doesn't he joke around?"
"Oh, he does. And just as stupidly," Saga admitted with a faint smile. "But sometimes, it helps to stay sane."
Alex chuckled and walked ahead confidently — he already knew where the key to Saga's trailer was hidden. It was locked inside a safe in the nearby souvenir shop.
When they reached it, the shop door was secured with a massive padlock.
"Looks like Imlo never managed to reach the staff. So where are we supposed to find the key now?" Saga said, shining her flashlight on the lock.
"Here, hold my cigarette. But don't smoke it," Alex said, pulling out a small lockpicking kit.
Saga eyed the cigarette doubtfully, then looked at Alex, who was already kneeling and pulling out a neat leather pouch of tools. Within seconds, he was deftly working the lock. There was a soft click, and the padlock opened, as if reluctantly giving in.
"Done," Alex said, tucking the tools back into his pocket.
Saga handed him back the cigarette. She didn't like how often he smoked, but decided not to comment — it wasn't her business, after all.
Inside, Saga found a light switch and flipped it, but the bulbs didn't even flicker. Darkness filled the room. Alex ignored it and headed straight for the counter, where he remembered a safe being kept. Crouching down, he noticed a note taped to the front and, without thinking, waved it off — literally — tossing the paper aside.
"He doesn't need hints," Saga muttered under her breath, picking up the note and reading it carefully.
A minute later, she had already figured out the combination, but before she could say anything, there was a soft metallic click. Alex had already opened the safe and pulled out the key.
"Mmm, what's that, Saga?" he asked, holding the key in his hand.
"I was going to tell you the code, but I guess you didn't need it. Where did you even learn to crack locks and safes? Or is that part of your agency training?" she asked with a teasing smile.
"Sometimes I get bored," Alex said casually, placing the key into her palm. "So I learn things. I can forge metal too. Among other things."
"Forge? Really?" Saga raised an eyebrow. "And what do you even need that for?"
"It looked cool," Alex said with complete seriousness. "So I thought, 'What the hell, I want to learn that.' And I did."
Saga gave him a long, almost blank stare. She was no longer surprised by his oddities and decided not to comment.
As they exited the souvenir shop, Alex casually grabbed a couple of keepsakes for memory — and a plastic knife. The very same knife he knew would come in handy for opening the next Fold. Saga noticed him discreetly pocketing the items but didn't say a word. Her intuition told her — he had a good reason.
Just as they were about to leave "Coffee World," Alex suddenly turned and walked off in another direction without saying a word.
"Hey, where are you going?" Saga called out, turning around.
He didn't answer. He just kept walking, purposeful and silent, as if he'd sensed something. Intrigued, Saga followed him. Soon they reached a decorative well standing in the middle of an empty square.
Alex leaned over, peering into the darkness below as if trying to spot something. Saga came closer and did the same.
"What are you looking for?" she asked, glancing at him.
"Do you still have any signal flares left? Or did you only take one?" Alex asked, holding out his hand.
"I've got one more. But why?" Saga asked warily, pulling it out of her pocket.
"You'll see," he said with a mysterious grin. "Just step back. If it blows, you'll want some distance."
He stepped closer to the well, turned the flare over in his hands, and squinted, gauging its depth.
Saga frowned but took a step back. Alex lit the signal flare and dropped it into the dark well. He knew perfectly well that it served as an entrance to another Fold — but he was curious to see how the darkness would react to a burst of pure light.
The flare hissed as it fell, disappearing into the blackness. Alex took a few steps back, pulling the frowning Saga with him, who still didn't understand what he was trying to do. But the answer came seconds later — the flare suddenly shot back out of the well with a deafening whistle, streaking into the sky and leaving behind a blinding trail of light.
Saga stood frozen, staring as it faded high above them, then slowly looked back down at the well.
"Heh-heh. Looks like someone didn't appreciate my gift. Shame," Alex said, pulling a mock-disappointed face.
"What was that even? Why did the flare fly back out?" Saga asked, not taking her eyes off the well.
"I was just testing a theory," Alex replied, pulling out his phone and showing her data from the FBC monitoring system. "See this? Here's the entrance to the Fold."
"So that's why it's so dark here, even though it's daytime," Saga murmured, instantly understanding what he meant.
"Exactly. But we'll come back later. For now, it's best not to open that door," Alex said calmly, shoving his hands into his coat pockets.
"We still don't know how to open a Fold. Do you think the clue's in my trailer?" Saga asked, frowning.
"Of course. We're following the story, Saga. Which means we'll soon meet whoever guards this Fold," Alex said, raising a finger.
"That story again… I'm liking this less and less," Saga muttered, shaking her head.
Alex just shrugged. It wasn't his fault someone had written such a script. Even with all his power, he had to play by the world's rules — because Chuck was watching everything unfold, still writing his "grand masterpiece." In the real world, Alex was restrained; his full freedom only existed in the Dark Place, beyond Chuck's sight — where Amara made the rules.
Leaving "Coffee World" behind, Alex and Saga followed the muddy road toward the trailer park to finally retrieve the key that would move the story forward. The dirt road stretched ahead, slick and heavy after the rain, while the wind rustled the wet branches of the trees.
As they reached the trailer park gates, they heard loud voices — drunken, hoarse, and tinged with a hint of madness.
Saga took out the key and opened the gate, letting Alex go first. Inside stood several old trailers, and between them, two men were swaying unsteadily on their feet. They were having a lively argument, loudly insisting that "water is poison" and that "a real man bathes only in moonshine."
Saga couldn't help but smile faintly, while Alex struggled not to burst out laughing.
"Go on, say hello to the grandpas," he said, barely containing himself.
"You mean…" Saga began, eyeing him skeptically.
"Yup. Thor and Odin Anderson. Local philosophers and drunks. They talk absolute nonsense—but there's always a hint of truth in it," Alex replied, still trying to keep a straight face, while one of the brothers ranted that "fish are a conspiracy by water spirits."
"And you think that's funny?" Saga asked, half-smiling.
"More than funny," Alex nodded, listening as the old men kept bickering.
While they were talking, Thor gave up first—he leaned against a trailer, muttered a curse under his breath, and vomited onto the ground. The stench of moonshine immediately filled the air. Meanwhile, Odin staggered to an old pickup truck, bracing himself against it, breathing heavily.
Saga sighed, hardly believing these were actually her relatives. She stepped closer and asked, "Excuse me, I'm looking for the Anderson trailer."
Thor and Odin exchanged a glance, blinking their cloudy eyes, then both stared at Saga. After just a second, warm, drunken smiles appeared on their faces—the kind grandfathers have when they see their favorite granddaughter.
"Sweet pie! You came just in time!" Odin exclaimed joyfully, spreading his arms for a hug.
"Don't listen to them, sweetheart! Everything they tell you is a lie! They want to make you helpless—to control your mind!" Thor declared, swaying from side to side and wagging a finger in the air. His voice carried the manic conviction of an old man who truly believed in his prophecies.
"Others believe because deep down, they want their thoughts to be controlled! But we're not like them—no! We're rebels! We have to stop the story before it becomes reality! You're not a book character, Saga—you're the mistress of your own story!" Odin said, placing both hands on her shoulders and staring at her with his one cloudy eye.
"Yes, I've heard that before… and I understand what you mean," Saga replied softly, a warm smile crossing her lips. "But how did you even learn about this story?"
Odin threw back his head and laughed loudly.
"Ha-ha-ha! I knew our little girl hadn't forgotten her roots! You're just like us, sweet pie! We're family! We're the Andersons! Vikings! Gods!" he shouted, spreading his arms wide. "And how glad I am to see you again, Saga. I'm your great-uncle Odin, and this is your grandfather Thor. It's been far too long, my dear!"
"Kära Saga… I'm so sorry…" Thor mumbled, his voice suddenly heavy with sorrow. That was all he managed to say before he lowered his head wearily.
"Now—go on, talk with your family," Alex said quietly, placing a hand on Saga's shoulder. "I'll check your trailer in the meantime. They'll help you… figure things out."
"And the key?" Saga asked, surprised as she turned toward him.
"Already with me," Alex replied with a grin, spinning the key around his finger. "You're an FBI agent, but getting something out of your pocket was easier than I expected."
Saga quickly checked her pockets and realized the key was indeed gone. Odin turned his bleary gaze toward Alex, who gave a polite bow, showing he had no intention of interfering in their family reunion, and headed toward the trailer.
Odin, squinting with effort, returned the gesture with a faint nod. Unlike Saga, he could see far more. He could feel that behind Alex's words and actions lay something far greater than mere courtesy.
Saga watched Alex walk away—his steps confident, as though he already knew exactly where to go. He hummed a tune under his breath and smirked. If only Brunhilde's world had an Odin like this one, he thought, Ragnarök would never have happened.
But what had already come to pass could not be changed.
Alex reached the Anderson family trailer and opened the door. His destination was the child's room—that was where he needed to go, and he intended to go alone. Saga didn't need to see what was inside: Logan's room, filled with subtle reminders of her death in the waters of Cauldron Lake. If she didn't see it, the Dark Presence wouldn't be able to affect her.
The moment Alex crossed the threshold, a sharp stench of alcohol hit his face. Empty bottles, wrappers, and dirty dishes were scattered everywhere. He grimaced and covered his nose with his hand.
"These old men clearly aren't too picky," he muttered with a smirk. "Feels like they'd drink pure ethanol if someone told them it was allowed."
Glancing around, Alex headed straight toward Logan's room, ignoring everything else. He knew why he was here—to find something that could move the story forward without causing Saga unnecessary pain.
Opening the door, he stepped into a small but cozy children's room. Everything looked frozen in time—toys, books neatly arranged on a shelf, and a bed with a faded blanket. His eyes immediately caught sight of a white sheet of paper lying on the pillow.
Alex picked it up and turned it over. It was a manuscript page—fresh, as if someone had just left it there for Saga to find. Scanning the lines, he frowned. It was exactly as he expected: the text was written to wound Saga again, to make her doubt the reality around her and believe that Logan had truly drowned in Cauldron Lake.
The page described how Saga returned to her daughter's room, memories flooding back with unbearable force. How the pain of loss pierced her heart again, forcing her to relive that terrible day once more.
"Nice move… but it's useless if Saga doesn't see it," Alex murmured, shaking his head. He carefully folded the page and slipped it into his pocket, deciding Saga must never see it.
Approaching the desk, he noticed an old photograph. In it were Thor and Odin—smiling, in their better years. Next to them stood a man dressed in black, wearing the symbol of the Cult of the Tree on his chest. In his hands was a familiar object—the Clicker. Beneath the photo lay a faded newspaper clipping about a girl who drowned in the lake.
Alex clenched his jaw and sighed. He knew this was all part of the script—meticulously arranged by Scratch and the Dark Presence to keep everyone bound to their roles. But he wasn't about to let that script break Saga.
He gathered every page, photo, and clipping that could remind her of the tragedy and tucked them into his bag. After scanning the room one last time to make sure nothing was left, he finally turned toward the exit.
"Time to head back," he muttered, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. "The Clicker's still in Coffee World. And I need to get into the Fold… start preparing the ground."
Alex took a drag, watching the gray smoke fade into the air. He had to lay the foundation to destroy the Spiral, save Alan Wake, and capture the Dark Presence hiding behind the persona of Barbara Jagger.
He exhaled, dropped the cigarette to the floor, and made his way back—to Saga and her grandfathers.
To be continued...
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