little nightmares nightmare across time chapter 7: the art studio
(This is also a reference to bioshock you'll see later)
The next morning after the windmill incident, Hilda had some breakfast with the others ``thanks for the breakfast mum!" Hilda said, before someone knocked on the door they turned as Johanna answered to see alburg on the other side "greetings! Johanna!" He introduced "I wish to speak with your children, specifically six and mono!" Johanna turned around to the four children ``you two didn't mess with alburg again did you?" She asked suspiciously, "no! Not this time!" Six reassured "relax miss! They didn't break any law, I just need to have a word with them!" Alburg corrected, six and mono then took their breakfast and took a seat on the couch where alburg took out a large sketch canvas "is this about the tall guy that attacked the precinct a few weeks ago?" Six asked saddened "unfortunately yes…" alburg announced "that incident was… exactly what I was looking for!" The two children looked confused, "so far trolls have started to die down on being a threat and trolburg has had a very low crime rate…" alburg continued "but the appearance of your tall advisory is just what the safety patrol needed!" He then lifted the sheet of paper where the next show another page that resembles an image of the tall man "when he started showing up, there had been multiple sightings of him so much so as they had started to give him nicknames…" he continued "some are calling him the phantom of trolburg, others are calling him the television walker, some even believe that he's the devil himself!" "So this tall guy's become some urban legend?" Mono asked "indeed! But so far no one has been able to know the identity of this tall thin man…" alburg immediately stopped upon saying that last name "wait a minute… the. Thin. Man!" Alburg smiled, took out a black sharpie and wrote underneath the image of the tall man saying "THE THIN MAN ™" "ha trademarked! As I was saying everyone who is now calling him the thin man! Has become the new threat to trolburg!" He then pulled another page with the image on the tall man at a studio "there has been thin man activity in the old art studio! I requested your assistance for it!" "Why us?" Six asked "don't take this the wrong way, but I need you to act as bait for the thin man!" Alburg answered, Hilda immediately stepped forward "what?! That's not cool! You can't just use them as a human sacrifice!" She protested "Now now, I'm not saying I'm going to feed them to the thin man! I'm just using them to draw him out!" Alburg explained "it's ok we've survived worse, we've gone through a city infested with monsters. I'm sure an art studio will be a cakewalk!" Mono reassured while six drooled a little. "Fine but I'm coming with you, just to make sure!" Hilda announced as she and the other two children followed Alburg out the door and into the city.
In the city Hilda six and mono road around in a safety patrol jeep while Hilda kept staring at alburg suspiciously, "relax hilda, i told you we can handle ourselves!" Mono reassured "it's not you I'm worried about,it's alburg…" Hilda replied softly "like I said before, total glory hound…." Soon they had driven to the farther side of town where near the lake was an old artist studio, they parked near the front entrance and exited the vehicle before observing the structure "yup was a real beaut back in the day…." Alburg said "the place was filled with all sorts of sculptures, artists and poets but one little rat infestation later and bam! Out of business… we shut it right down…" he then noticed the door to the studio was chained up and tugged on it "no worries!" Six said "finding entrances and exits are our specialty!" Mono added on he six and Hilda then climbed up to a nearby cable that led to a window with a massive hole in it and went inside.
Inside the building the three saw nothing but darkness. They wandered around, mono pulled out a flashlight and illuminated the area where it was a mess, abandoned sculptures, canvases, and art tools on the floor, the kids then found the front door and moved to it. After a few hits on the other side the door wouldn't budge before a large metal shutter slammed over it, the lights slowly turned on, statues and paintings began to rise and a voice came over the speakers. It was the voice of a deranged woman "ah ah ah, not in my studio…" it said "thin man, alburg, thin man, alburg, some people can be just too dull to be around… you see the artist has a duty…to murder the mondane and enlighten the spirit… so say goodbye to that windbag and welcome… to the art studio!" A line of light glowed a pathway to the deeper parts of the studio "follow the path of the artist and you will see what beauty lies beyond!" The children then followed the path and went deeper into the studio…
"I have not seen any real life since I got here…" the voice continued as the kids were stopped by a maze of electrified wires ``let's see if you're just some John Doe, or something more unique…'' They then carefully snuck through the wires carefully so as to not get electrocuted until they managed to escape and reach the other side "amazing! You must tell me where you studied!" The door opened and saw a bunch of statues suspended by large ropes underneath a bottomless pit, the had jumped onto the statues one by one holding onto them to not slip until they had jumped onto a piano where the exit was suddenly the rope behind to snap, the children then ran and grabbed onto the ledge just as the piano fell into the pit, they managed to lift themselves onto the ledge and onto the exit door before the sound of the piano hitting the ground was heard "my my! I see the potential ooze from you all! I waited for so long to find a subject worthy of my artistic talents! But unfortunately those that come are yokels and dullads. Where are my manners? Come in! The artist awaits you… in the auditorium!" The doors opened and the lights formed a pathway. The children then followed it to a large gallery filled with many lights, paintings and statues and televisions. It was a beautiful sight to behold "WELCOME… TO THE ART STUDIO!" The voice announced proudly "no need to thank me for jamming the transmission of that boor alburg… he has his own selfish glory to bask. I know a much richer earth to fill…" the three basked in the mesmerizing paintings and statues "for example, I test you small birds… but with purpose! I test all the ones who have become disciples like you… while some rise like stars, others fall from the trees… Come in! Don't be shy…" the children then saw the pathway had lead them to the auditorium, a large part of the studio, first they were at tickets booth and snack bar where it was broken and filled with stale foods they continued forwards until they were at the halls and head what appeared to be piano music they followed the noise until they were at the theater room where it was filled with withered chairs with a bright light from the stage lighting room and a large figure was inside and watching the show, onstage was a viewer playing the piano and tied to the seat and had dynamite wrapped around it "yes yes! Da da da! Yes yes- no no NO!" The figure yelled as the viewer stopped playing "I'm trying! Please!" The viewer pleaded "yet again young Xander! Let's take it from the top!" The viewer then continued playing, the children stared at the viewer as the lights flashed onto it "yes yes! Higher higher! Presto presto! No NO!" "Oh artist you sick f*%(! Let me out of…" just as the viewer was about to finish his sentence the dynamite around the piano went off and instantly killed the viewer reducing him to a smoldering corpse with both arms separated from his body, the kids were instantly horrified and mono vomited in his bag "oh I'm sorry you had to see that small birds…." The being known as the artist continued "you see his light had unfortunately… faded… but you may help me! Here!" One of the chairs flipped over and under it was a Polaroid camera "take young Xander on the stage in all his glory!" The children then took the camera, stepped onto the stage and began to take pictures of the dead viewer, Hilda especially felt a sense of dread about their actions. Once they were done they hopped off and exited the theater as did the figure
"I know why you have come, my master has ordered me to annihilate your raincoat wearing friend but I have a much better idea in play…" the artist continued "yes I will spare you, but only if you become part of my masterpiece, head to the gallery. Hurry now! My muse is an unbearing b(!#h WITH A VERY SHORT ATTENTION SPAN!" The children then rushed back to the gallery where they saw the artist, she was horrifying, her hair was raged and brown, she was wearing an artist beret and outfit complete with an apron covered with paint splotches her fingers on one hand were ice picks and the other were paintbrushes her face was covered by a stitched up leather mask with a single eyehole where her eye had poked outwards. She marveled at a giant statue that depicted a bunch of hands with four frames in them, "behold! When I am nothing but bones… this is what they will point to!" The artist cheered as she turned "my hands of glory!" She then went back upstairs "do not be afraid, small birds! Touch it…" the three then placed the picture of the dead viewer in the frame and weapons descended from the ceiling, "there are three men in this area. All of them, former disciples who wish to surpass me! Only I must be at the top of artistic perfection!" The artist continued "eliminate them all and I will think about letting you run free! Hurry now!" The three immediately rushed away with the weapons in tow.
They then looked around the studio finding nothing. Suddenly they heard the sound of heavy boots and ice crackling, they then hid behind a corner and turned to see the hunter and the iceman moving around the area, the monsters were looking for the children "so… riceman…." The hunter asked, turning to the iceman "iceman." He corrected " whatever, sorry if this gets a little personal but… what's up with the boss?" "What do you mean?" "As in, he's been a little… twitchy lately…." The iceman took notice of that last part "oh he gets like this sometimes!" He answered "believe it or not he was actually a decent person a long time ago…" "then what made him flip his lid? The signal tower?" "It had a part to do with it… but he had a friend long ago, now he and his friend were like besties. But one day the two friends had a "falling out" and he became cold and bitter…" "whoa poor bastard…" " yup he's got a real tragic past, and he's hoping that what we're doing will make up for it!" Suddenly the two monsters overhead the artist through the speaker "hunter iceman! Don't interrupt my small birds hunt for success!" "Artist! What a surprise…." The iceman replied sarcastically "artist?" The hunter asked "yeah she's just as she thinks, she's an artistic mastermind says some… she's an artistic sociopath says I!" The iceman continued "so you finally got some more followers for your gigantic ever-hungry ego?" "Indeed! My master says I must eliminate the raincoat wearing brat! But after seeing her and her friends evade my traps. I knew I must see more in her!" "Wait… did you say raincoat wearing brat?" Meanwhile the two managed to sneak past the two monsters.
As the children searched for the monsters the artist assigned, they looked around the poetry section where they found a gray creature wearing a beret, striped shirt and black pants and shoes wandering into another hallway, the children then followed the monster to the hallway trying not to get its attention to the monster. Eventually they saw the monster staring blankly at the television, six took her crossbow and fired it directly at the monster's head killing it instantly "That poet was a brain dead fool… take his photo before he goes stale!" The artist ordered from the speakers as the three did as they were told. Once they were done with the pictures the television in front of them flashed to life, the kids then back away from the screen as a familiar pair of hands pressed against the screen then from the television, the tall man, now known as the thin man, emerged from the screen and walked towards them and drew blue energy spears from nowhere and launched them to the children but mainly aimed at six. The kids ran through the halls until they triggered a trapdoor and fell through the floor. They leaned towards the sides as the thin man leaned down and looked at the square hole twitching slightly before standing up and disappearing. The kids then peeked out and crawled upwards not to alert the thin man. Once they were on their feet they continued through the deeper parts of the studio before they saw the thin man staring blankly at something in his hand…
At the same time the thin man started at a photo of six and mono making silly faces with the word "BESTIES" with hearts drawn in black sharpie behind it. He sighed "just remember… this is her fault… not mine…``''keep telling yourself that…" the thin man turned around and saw the glitchy shadow of mono "you know why you're doing this…``''to restore the flow of time and end this horrible cycle of pain of course!" "Or are you just doing this because you just want to take your rage out on someone else…?" The glitch continued "this is wasting my time just leave!" "Okay but don't be surprised if I come back… but still deep down you know exactly why you're doing this…" the glitch then disappeared. Just as the thin man continued staring at the photo a radio sound played in his pocket, he put the photo away and pulled out a shortwave radio "what is it?" "Boss, we know the children are here!" Said the iceman on the other end "I know I saw them earlier, does artist know they're here?" "Well yes but you know how she is…." The thin man groaned "of course… just keep looking for them and we'll have them in no time…" the thin man then hung up and teleported.
At the same time the three children hid behind the corner of the wall near the thin man before he disappeared, they continued through the studio using a lift to get to the upper floors of the studio once they did, they saw the shadow of a large man wearing a Mountie hat and a cape, and made stone sliding noises. The figure then walked away and shut the door. The kids then looked around and saw a creature dressed in a painter's apron and had a curly mustache "ha! The artist thinks she is excellent with every art ever created but I will rise from that imbecile!" He cheered as he carried a canvas in his hand, the children then sneaked behind him not to attract him, they followed him to the gallery where the painter was experimenting with the canvas by attaching cables to it. Six saw a bucket of water near it and got an idea, she snuck around the painter, climbed onto the cabinet where the bucket lay on top. Once she was there she threw the bucket onto the cables causing them to electrocute the painter killing him instantly. "An interesting way of disposing of that fool… take his photo. Quickly!" The artist ordered. The three children hastily pulled out the cameras and took photos. Once they were done they exited the room and went outside to see the elevator rise upwards then open. The three then went towards the elevator and descended to the lower floor…
Downstairs the children saw the same being in the Mountie hat except they could see it's full body, he was wearing a Mountie uniform with a radio on its shoulder and it's body was literally made from solid stone and had a glowing yellow eye. The golem-like monster shmbled it's way over to another area "master I have arrived at the lower floors!" It said over the radio "excellent work Mountie now they should be in here somewhere… comb the area." The thin man ordered on the other end as the monster known as the Mountie stomped through the studio where the children followed the stone monster. Eventually the three were led to the gallery where the artist watched her artwork "soon you shall become part of my legacy…" she said to herself "artist… what a surprise…" the Mountie said sarcastically "Mountie? I'm guessing that the boss sent one of my former disciples to watch over me?" "Something like that given that you're a wild card…" "what's that supposed to mean?" As the monsters continued to argue the children snuck around them but the Mountie caught them "nice try, you little imps!" He remarked, "but I have a mission to complete and no pompous little twits interfere with it! See this artist?! This is what completing a mission looks like!" "oh I see how it is…" the artist then stepped forward towards them before sucker punching the Mountie as he dropped the children "you're trying to eliminate my disciples so I can die with my legacy!" "What!? That's absolutely ridiculous!" The two monsters began to argue with each other. Meanwhile the children snuck behind them as the thin man appeared once again, "ahem…" the artist and Mountie turned around "uh boss… we didn't expect you to be here…" "you… let the brats get away…" he growled "t-tell you what boss… you stay here…" the Mountie started, shaking in fear, "and we'll go get them!" The artist finished before the two began to leave, the thin man's eyes widened as they left "NO!" he boomed, startled the other monsters "ok… you can come too…" the Mountie replied as they chased down the children.
As the children continued to run from the monsters they ran past a puddle of water. And got an idea, mono then slammed his axe into a wall and cables started to appear. The Mountie then rushed towards them just as the cables touched the water electrocuting him. The artist arrived to see the damage, "well it appears that we have reached the end of our hit list…" she announced, then pulled out a remote as the lights flashed to life forming another pathway with the door at the entrance at the end. "Freedom awaits… don't worry I'll take the pictures…." The shutter slid open and the children rushed towards it. Just as they reached the door something else decedended: a large metal grinder moving towards them. The artist giggled before laughing sinisterly "YOU CHEAP ASSHOLE! YOU TRICKED US!" six screamed "I said that I would let you free…" the artist replied sinisterly "but I didn't say anything about you being alive…." The three back away as the grinder moved faster and faster, six then dropped her crossbow before picking it up and shooting it at the artist's leg, the artist then screamed in pain, dropping the remote into the electrified pool, shorting it out and the grinder causing it to fire a saw blade out of it and into the artist, killing her instantly.
The kids started shaking heavily after committing the brutal murder that just happened before the doors to the entrance bursted open with alburg and other safety patrol officers holding a battering ram "did you find anything that- oh…" alburg paused seeing the damages "ok, in our defense she was trying to kill us!" Six pleaded "so this wasn't third degree murder?" Alburg asked, pointing at the artist's corpse."Sort of…." Mono responded, Hilda then turned to the artist's corpse before kicking it slightly "BURN IN HELL YOU SICK F!(K"!" She screamed, surprising the others "damn…" six said dumbfounded, "don't tell mum I said that…" Hilda replied before the thin man appeared looking at the rotting corpses, he growled at the sight of it "no… I DON'T WANNA BE ALONE!" He screamed, holding his hands to his face before teleporting straight towards them, the others then shut the door as fast as they could before running away into the dreary night.
The thin man then slammed onto the door repeatedly before crying, "no… I don't wanna be alone again…" he sniffed collapsing to his knees, the iceman and the hunter then showed up seeing the destruction. "Hey boss… uh I don't know what… this is… but I don't want to…." The iceman responded, "Uh, is he ok…?" The hunter asked, pointing to the thin man "he's probably just a little angry… like I said he gets like this…" the two monsters noticed that the thin man's crying was getting louder "sometimes…" "uh sorry we didn't show up boss we kinda forgot…" the thin man then stopped crying before rising to his feet and turning "you… forgot about me…?" "Uh yeah we thought that you went back to your place and waited for us…" they then saw the thin man had started shaking "c'mon boss it's no big deal I'm sure you were just fine!" "The waiting… the nightmares…" he growled "The hallucinating, the nightmares and all you can say is that I'm JUST FINE!?" "Whoa boss, calm down, I didn't mean to upset you…" "I didn't even know if you guys were dead or alive! I was suffering! And you said you simply forgot!?" "Uh boss…" "SILENCE ICEMAN! I am not letting this happen again!" Thin man then summoned a bunch of energy spears "you all need to be punished for this failure!" The other monsters covered their faces in fear "I don't want to do this but- I HAVE TO! You must be punished for this. I won't tolerate failure! J-just stay still! And s-stop looking at me like that!" The thin man hesitated "I can't stand when you look at me like that…" he started twitching as the monsters gave off looks of true fear in their eyes "I- I can't stand it… why are you giving me that!?" The thin man started trembling in despair before the energy spears disappeared "what's happened to me? Oh god!" The thin man held his head before falling to his knees. The iceman reached out to him "uh boss maybe you should head back I think you're having another… breakdown…." "Another…?" The hunter asked in fear, "WHY WOULD I EVEN TRY TO HURT SOMEONE LIKE YOU GUYS?!" The thin man boomed, startling the monsters before he grabbed onto them pinning them to a wall "I MEAN JUST LOOK AT YOU TWO! CUTE INNOCENT BEINGS! NOW TAINTED BY THE FILTH OF THE PALE CITY!" He continued while laughing insanely "HURTING EITHER OF YOU WOULD JUST BE CRUEL AND DISRESPECTFUL!" He then squeezed the two of them to him. "come over here! I'm so sorry trying to hurt you both over a measly mistake! We all make mistakes right? Punishing you guys for something like that? How could I?" He then let go of the two monsters "tell you what, we get some dinner and we can think of a new idea to catch those kids… ok?" "Uh sure I'm fine with it…"
At the sea shack restaurant the three monsters started eating their food, though the hunter and the iceman looked at the thin man with concern "you… you doing okay boss?" "I'm… I'm insane…" the thin man replied sorrowfully, resting his fingers to his head "no you're not boss! You just go a little overboard sometimes!" The iceman replied, trying to lighten their master up "but it's true! I see and hear things that aren't here and- and I even tried to kill you!" "Sure that happened but you probably didn't mean it!" The hunter replied,"But I nearly did! It was as if you hated me!" The Thin man then covered his face "and maybe you should… you have every right to be!" He then lifted his head slightly "do you really think that I'm doing the right thing by ending six?" "Boss look, you said it yourself six is the entire reason why we're like this! If we eliminate her from the equation then we'll finally be free!" The iceman replied confidently, "right… right… this- this entirely six's fault!" The thin man said with his confidence restored, "let's see if we can make a plan to eliminate her!" The other monsters smiled as they thought of new ideas to eliminate their enemies…