Scene 2: Cursed blood

Alexander feels himself jolted from a stupor. He casts his gaze this way and that trying to make sense of the situation.

His voice bellows, echoing like thunder in the still night of the Graveyard, "I demand that you make yourselves known, intruders!! Don't be fools, we are the Rookwood! You know we WILL find out who you are, one way or another! Our influence stretches wide and large, we have eyes and ears over the entire region and beyond!!!"

Nathaniel sees Elias, who stayed behind, apparently talking to himself. However, in his confused state, he isn't able to focus. Though he tries, his attention is soon caught by a thud behind him. He turns to see Alexander lying prone inside the grave, mumbling something.

As the cousins are looking around the open grave. Roderick challenges the trespassers to show themselves, making them aware that they have already been found and would not escape from the Rookwoods. He notices the dogs slowly moving backwards out of the shadows, menacingly surrounding two weirdly walking shapes.

"Miiiloooooorrrrd. Apoooooloooogeeeeee" one of the half-decomposed peasants that just walked into view grunts as it awkwardly bends to pay respect to Roderick. "Faaaarrrrmmm muuusst"

He widens his eyes in surprise, and horror. What on Earth are these... things??
Then he sees the dogs have cornered these strange beings, who address him as Milord, and seem to show deference.

"How can you... move, and talk?? Wh-What are you doing here?? Answer at once!" he says, but his voice does not sound as firm as he'd wished.

Claire struggles in the grip of whatever it is that's suddenly grabbing her. She tries to scream or fight herself free but it's too strong and keeping too tight of a hold over her mouth. In a last desperate attempt to at least make herself noticed, she kicks at the dirt under her feet, throwing a clump of soaked, muddy earth in the direction of the closest family member to her. She actually manages to hit and the earth hits his thigh with a wet smack.

Alexander recoils from the horrific statue he's uncovered. Some sort of pagan god with a goat's head and a horrific grimace.

The two farmers look as confused, as much as the remains of their facial muscles allow them to, when Roderick asks them how can they move and walk. They bow again, never looking Roderick directly when speaking "bleeeeesssssseeed... leeeeggsss. Weeee farrrrm" It looks like they are not entirely sure what Roderick is asking. They are just going for a night's work as usual.

---

As Alexander recoils at the sign of the horrific blood-stained statue, he is suddenly startled by some flying mud from outside the grave. When he looks up, to make sure he is not being buried alive, he sees Claire's feet kicking in the air and the same black cat as before sitting on the other side of the grave, staring away. When he climbs to check what the cat is look at, you see Claire being taken away




Nathaniel seems to be in some sort of shock state and Elias is wondering the graveyard on its own, but nearby.