The Christmas music was unsettling and to be honest, the entire look was out of place, for whatever possessed the owner of this map to add a medium sized tree, decorated with flashing lights and colourful trinkets, did not seem to understand the severity of the situation that the occupants were normally in. But he stood there still, watching the glow of the tree with the shipwreck landscape in the background, pausing during this horrific event to look at the strangeness of the item. Why… Why was Christmas here? Eli blinked behind the blindfold as if it was some sort of trick of his eye but the more he stared, the more real it felt. Suddenly his heart jumped and he whipped around, looking in all directions before seeing the barmaid take off towards the corn maze, a hooded figure drifting not too far behind. Eli bit his bottom lip in frustration and quickly looked to his long time friend, Rosie. "Go, but be safe!" A cast of his hand towards the chase and the dark owl took off towards the scene as Eli dove back to the task at hand. Ciphers, he ran towards one, trying to ignore the pressure of Christmas tugging his thoughts towards the tree once again. Cursing under his breath, his palms slammed on the machine, turning the knob, shaking the pole to try to get it to connect to the door. He'd been at this for too long, but then again, how did the passage of time work on these occasions? Could he have been here for days? Even weeks? Possibly months? There was no telling because there was no grasp of the outside world, and the only way to know… was to get through that door.

The siren went off as soon as the last dial was pressed and Eli threw his fists up in glee, finally a good match where none of the rocket chairs had sent a soul to the manor to be tormented once again. He could hear the click of buttons as he ran towards the sealed door, rounding a large boulder to spot the suit and tie wearing young man. He looked sweaty and Eli didn't comment because it was stressful enough. "Come on… come on…." The whisper of his companion followed after Rosie landed gracefully back on his own shoulder. The Seer raised his hand, gently nuzzling under her beak which made her lean into him as a sign of comfort. Click. The door unlocked and the sound of steel plates rubbing against rusted metal echoed through the area. "Come on!" The lawyer beckoned him and Eli checked over his shoulder, from what he could tell, the other two girls had got out through the other gate. But then why wasn't the hunter here? "Come on, Seer!" Pressure in the males voice caused him to look back and nod. Right, he couldn't just stand there in thought when they were so close to all getting out. He took several steps forward, watching as the lawyer ran towards the tunnel. Christmas tree… wait…. The brunette slowed to a complete stop and turned towards the map. No hunter still, but the crows were beginning to group together near the rocks. This didn't make sense, not when he was meters away from finally getting home. But…

Eli charged back into the map, ignoring the burst of crows that flew into the sky around him. Where was he, where was that hunter. It was the only thing on his mind as he ran, checking back occasionally to say goodbye to the only way out, his only way out. As he neared the suspected area, the glow from the magical lights cascaded across the dirt floor and he stopped to see a shadow blocking some of it. Hastur, a terrifying creature with too many eyes and too many limbs remained just feet from the survivor but those many eyes barely glanced in his direction. Instead they were focused on the tree, the lone tree in this old torn up area.

"You should be running, little survivor."

The rumble of his abnormal voice shook him to the very core but Eli stood strong. "Why didn't you chase us like usual." The boy all but demanded. Several eyes swiveled in their sockets before landing on the cloaked human standing so close. Silence, the eyes went back to the tree.

"Go before you miss your chance."

So he hadn't tried, but why? Eli hated many things in life but winning under false notions was something he would add to that list. "Why are you being kind, why now?" It wasn't the first time they'd met but then again… if he had left, it would have been their last.

"... I'll never understand the ritual behind this celebration… Nor do I feel the need to follow these traditions… but it… makes people happy…"

Eli frowned to himself, from what he was hearing it almost sounded like Hastur was speaking to himself, confused about the tree lights and sparkle. He took a step towards it. "It's just a stupid thing people follow because they need a reason to be good to each other." He explained in the most blunt of terms. Eyes locked with his covered ones and colour rose abruptly to the surface of his face. "Sorry… I just think the holiday season is- well…. It's not completely stupid, I guess." With such a deadly gaze following his every action, Eli was finding himself shifting from one foot to the next as his own owl took off to land on a nearby crate. Was this when he died? Would this whole thing be a mistake? Maybe he should have just left-

"What makes it special for you, child."

The seer's eyes narrowed under the blindfold at the title but he looked back towards the tree. "I guess... The idea of community, friends and family, all those coming together sounds nice." Not that he was used to it. Hastur finally removed his gaze and they both stared together at the object for a long silent moment.

"Together."

His heart sank in his chest as he recalled the stories the older survivors told late at night in the manor. Haunting tales of lost loved ones and wronged deaths, he didn't know much about Hastur but maybe… he felt alone. Just this once, even with it being foolish, Eli walked towards the being and stopped when he was only two feet away. "I… don't mind…" He could feel an air of confusion drift off the creature but when the seer sat down on the dirt, the only thing Hastur did in response was shift a tentacle down towards the other, it uncurled and Eli froze in place until the soft limb rested on the top of his head. Together… even just for a little while, if this made the creature's life a bit better, he didn't mind playing the game just a bit longer.