The Darkness Beneath the Hill

The doctor fully draws his 1911 gripping it tightly, the light from his miner's helmet sweeping the area as he looks around the cavernous room.

"Gentlemen," he says firmly, "I believe we need to notify the constabulary. Mr. Winscott is likely in trouble... and we may be as well. I'm afraid it was not the rats that got to him."

Max screams as loudly as he can

JOSH DO YOU HEAR US ?

Pablo, in disbelief, "And what do we even tell them, that a lizard man from our wildest nightmares absconded with our friend?!"

Pablo stows his nightstick away and pulls out the .45 revolver "Percival is right though, we need to get out of here, now. We can come back with help."

"We tell them, Percival replies, "that our good friend found some tunnels under his home, and seems to have gone in alone to investigate them. What's more, there are signs that vagrants may be residing within the tunnels, and we are concerned for his well-being."

He looks at the others in turn (although, moreso at their feet so as not to blind them) and adds, "I am not so prideful that I cannot admit when something seems out of my league, gentlemen. We do not even know how long Mr. Winscott has been down here, or if we can help him in the first place. However, I believe we have a duty to protect our town, and for that we need the police."

Edit:

Gregory glares around at the others.

"Hmf. Am I seeing a group of men, or damned mice? Joshua is out there, and could easily be in harm's way, and you would leave him here with wasted delay?"

He shows all of them the camera and flashbulb.

"Did you not hear its scream at the bright light? It is some dumb perhaps prehistoric and certainly savage beast. We can easily best it. Arm yourselves!"

He draws his gun and looks around.

"Where is Leland...?"

"My statement stands, sir," Percival retorts. "At the risk of sounding callous, Joshua may already be beyond helping. You would have us rush headlong into unknown peril over uncertainty. Your camera flash may have caused... whatever that was... to retreat. Are you certain it's alone down here?"

The doctor shakes his head. "Someone should go for additional assistance."

Max is thoughtful

Yes we need more help, but if we do not say that there are monsters here, they will come without weapons and what good would that do but increase the number of body count ?

No, we have only two possibilities as I see it : Go find the authority and tell them this incredible truth for them to come with weapons or go there ourselves and try to rescue Josh.

Personnalité I am for the second approach. Leland went back screaming when he saw the monster, I am not sure we will see him again in these tunnels.

He listens carefully for any noise comming from below

The shock of being attacked wearing off, What attacked me, I couldn't see what it was. Did you say a lizard man? Surely it was just someone with a skin deformity.

Thinking about the new delema, he offers his thoughts, What if we tell them we found some wild animals. That might be enough of a threat to have them bring guns. And considering that brutal assault, wild animal isn't far off.

"As I stated previously, just tell them there seem to be vagrants living in the tunnels," Percival reminds the others. "Perhaps mention the stench of alcohol. If the local constabulary thinks they can pinch some bootleggers, they'll be down here armed and en masse."

"We should all go back to the entrance, a few of us stay there in case Joshua comes back. The others go tell the police what we witnessed. We can say some vagrants have taken ahold of the tunnels, they're violent, causing havoc, and we fear for our friends lives. My markings should be able to quickly lead us back, we just need to be alert if that...thing comes back."

Max nods

Alright, I only hope it will not be too late for Josh, but may be it is already !

I'll stay at the entrance this foul creature did not impress me too much ; well I mean not enough to flee, but it was not far, I guess I'll have some nightmares.

Gregory sneers.

"And Leland? You would allow not only one but two of our companions to wander here where they could be harmed?"

He shakes his head.

"I was in the War. I understand prudence, but this approach smacks of cowardice in this situation. I say some of us go search these tunnels further. There could be more intriguing finds such as these carvings, after all, and both Joshua and Leland may need urgent help. Some others," he adds, glancing sidelong at Percival, "may go and seek the authorities. I myself intend to continue searching."

Gregory begins to walk towards where the creature disappeared, looking for signs.

Upon hearing the gunshot, however, he turns and runs back the other way, gun drawn.

Percival begins to point out that it's telling as to his motivations that Gregory mentioned finding things like the carvings before helping the others, but upon hearing the gunshot he begins running towards where it came from, still tightly clutching the 1911 in one hand and the small cage in the other.