Shadows of London: 2-9 Tomb of the Undying

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Caroline finally reunites with Roger near the church. Among the tombstones, a shocking secret is about to be revealed.

Info

Style: Event Logs: "Rise a nobler frame by fire!" Required: Pursue the Scarlet Rose Recommended: Wonderful Age (Dress), Pursue the Scarlet Rose, Night in Moulin Rouge Rewards: 3,000 , 600 , 3 , 1 , 1 , Blueprint: Born Human

Born Human

Dialogue Choices

Do you think we should open the coffin and examine it?

• Refuse to let the coffin be opened
  • Priscilla goodwill up
• Ask Roger for his reasoning
  • Roger goodwill up

Transcript

Expand for script.

• The sunset paints half the sky red. In the distance, Big Ben strikes seven times.
• After a long day, my body is exhausted, but I force myself to keep going.
• The church's silhouette gradually appears, illuminated by the moonlight, as twilight fades and the darkness finally descends.

• By weak candlelight, I barely manage to spot a distant figure.
• You: Roger... Roger?

• I speak tentatively, unsure of myself.
• Roger Evans: Oh, so you're finally here.

• Relief floods me as I hear his familiar languid voice.

If you asked Vincent what he thinks in 2-6

• Priscilla Barnet: It's so late, Caroline. If you hadn't come soon, we would've gone to Madam Petit's residence to look for you!

• Priscilla Barnet: Were you having such a good time chatting with Mr. Savile?

• You: (She is still mad at me after all.)

• I clutch my ribs, which ache from running, trying to steady my breath. Priscilla pouts, walks over, and gently rubs my back.
• Roger Evans: Priscilla was so furious just now. She couldn't stop complaining to me.

• Roger Evans: Luckily, your friend happens to be a poet she likes.

• Roger Evans: Otherwise she might have ended her friendship with you by now, who knows.

• Ignoring Priscilla's protests, Roger winks at me and smiles with a knowing look.

If you agreed with Priscilla in 2-2

• Roger Evans: For a moment, I thought that Mr. Savile you were with was the Mr. Savile on Priscilla's list.

• My heart skips a beat. I hope the darkness of the night can conceal my nervousness.
• You: No, no. We were with Mr. Vincent Savile, an acquaintance of Mr. Erskine's.

• I don't know what Roger is thinking, but he changes the subject anyway.

If you agreed with Roger in 2-2

• Roger Evans: I thought that Mr. Savile was an old acquaintance of yours from the club.

• My heart skips a beat. I hope the darkness of the night can conceal my nervousness.
• You: No, that's not true. He has no connection with the club, and neither Priscilla nor I has ever seen him at the club.

• I don't know if Roger believes this, but he changes the subject anyway.

If you caught up with Priscilla in 2-6

• Priscilla Barnet: Finally? What does that mean?

• Priscilla Barnet: So you shook off those infected people and ran to this church a long time ago? Why didn't you come and join us, then?

• Priscilla Barnet: Caroline and I almost got into a scrape with Scotland Yard as we were trying to figure out where you'd gone!

• You: (We didn't "almost" get into a scrape...)

• Noticing that Priscilla's becoming irritable due to hunger and fatigue, Roger does his best to placate her.
• Roger Evans: Alright, alright, let me explain. After we split up, I deliberately chose to run in the opposite direction from you so I wouldn't accidentally lead any pursuers to you.

• Roger Evans: When the coast was clear and I wanted to return to find you, Scotland Yard arrived. I didn't want to tangle with those gentlemen again.

• Roger Evans: How did it go? Did the girl make it home safely?

• You: Yes, we took her home to her family.

• You: The girl's grandfather mentioned that there used to be a pastor named William Akerman in the slums.

• You: When the strange sickness broke out in the Eastern District, only Pastor William was willing to take in the sick elderly people and children.

• You: I think this is a new lead worth investigating.

• You: The only issue is that he seems to have disappeared after a fire.

• Roger Evans: William Akerman...

• Roger looks up and gazes at the spire of the church in the moonlight.
• Roger Evans: This was his church.

• You: What?

• We turn around simultaneously, gazing at the church.
• Roger Evans: I've done some research on that strange sickness you were all talking about.

• Roger Evans: According to the records from several parishes in London, there was indeed a pastor who insisted on taking in sick patients.

• Roger Evans: But on a dark night thirteen years ago, his church caught fire, killing and injuring many patients inside.

• Roger Evans: The pastor himself went missing afterwards.

• Roger Evans: And that church which suffered such a terrible disaster is this very church.

• You: This church? But... it's in such good condition...

• Roger Evans: The church was renovated eight years ago.

• Roger Evans: It's hard to see when it's dark, but if you examine it carefully during the day, you can still see many traces of the fire.

• Roger Evans: I also talked to the current pastor, who said that after that fire, the strange sickness in the Eastern District completely disappeared.

• You: It completely disappeared?

• Roger Evans: Isn't it a funny coincidence? It's just like the Great Plague that happened two hundred years ago.

• Roger Evans: —"rise a nobler frame by fire!"

• His rich voice echoes on the night breeze, and I feel a shiver run down my spine.
• You: (So the fire at this church also happened thirteen years ago?)

• The fire. Pastor William Akerman...
• These words linger in my mind like a spell, as if they could lure me into some abyss.
• Priscilla Barnet: This is not the time for poetry, Roger.

• Priscilla Barnet: Since Pastor William's whereabouts are unknown, there's no point in us staying here.

• Priscilla Barnet: Let's hurry home and discuss the next steps for our investigation.

• Roger Evans: I know you're really hungry, Priscilla, but I hope you can hold on for a few more minutes.

• Roger Evans: I spent the whole afternoon sheltering in this church. Of course I wasn't just having a chat with the pastor.

• Roger Evans: Follow me.

• Roger strides off into the distance. Priscilla and I exchange puzzled glances and follow through the dewy wild grass.
• He stops in front of a tombstone and turns around.
• My feet suddenly turn to stone. Confused, Priscilla looks at me.
• Priscilla Barnet: Caroline, what's wrong?

• You: That's... that's...

• The words carved on the tombstone are indiscernible at this distance in the darkness, but they still burn brightly in my memory.
• Roger Evans: All people die, and I forgive you. Please don't shed tears for me, my friends.

• Roger Evans: This Mr. Jesse Lindvall seems to have been a very interesting person.

• Priscilla Barnet: Jesse Lindvall?

• You: ...why did you bring us here, Roger?

• You: Jesse has passed away. Let him rest in peace.

• Upon hearing my somewhat curt response, Roger does not become angry, but instead lets out a soft sigh.
• Roger Evans: I mean no offense towards the deceased. But there is a reason why I brought you here.

• Roger Evans: There are suspicious circumstances surrounding the cause of Jesse Lindvall's death. You're aware of this, aren't you?

• You: ...

• I say nothing. Roger kneels down and gently touches the soil next to the tombstone.
• Roger Evans: Come and take a look, Caroline. The soil here is loose, and there are no weeds growing on it.

• Roger Evans: Jesse Lindvall has been buried for over a month now. His grave shouldn't look like this—unless someone has tampered with it.

• My heart tightens, and I can't help but crouch down.
• You: (Yes, this soil is indeed very loose.)

• Roger Evans: This grave must have been reopened. The question is—

• Roger Evans: —was it from the outside or from the inside?

• A chill runs from my spine straight to my brain. Roger looks at me grimly.
• Roger Evans: Caroline, out of the three of us, you're the one who was the most familiar with Jesse Lindvall.

• Roger Evans: Do you think we should open the coffin and examine it?

Refuse to let the coffin be opened

• You: No, that's absolutely unacceptable.

• I answer without a moment's hesitation. Roger raises an eyebrow.
• Roger Evans: Do you think we'd desecrate the deceased? Caroline, let me remind you, what have we been chasing for these past few days?

• Roger Evans: If Jesse Lindvall's "death" is connected to vampires, and his grave has been dug up...

• Roger Evans: Are you going to give up on such an important clue just because of a few frivolous customs?

• You: This is not a frivolous custom.

• Roger Evans: What is it, then? Perhaps it doesn't comply with "A Lady's Code of Conduct"?

• Priscilla Barnet: Stop it, Roger. Caroline did the right thing.

• Before I can retort, Priscilla suddenly and firmly puts Roger in his place.
• Priscilla Barnet: Exaggerated displays of mourning and comparing people's mourning attire are frivolous customs I too deplore, but respecting the deceased is a different matter.

• Priscilla Barnet: What we ascribe to is not empty etiquette, but conscience.

• I take a deep breath and reach out my hand in the darkness, tightly gripping Priscilla's hand.
• You: Thank you, Priscilla.

• Roger looks at us strangely for a moment, then stands up and dusts off his knees.
• Roger Evans: Conscience...

• Roger Evans: It seems that my moral standards have fallen too low.

• Roger Evans: I apologize that I offended the two of you by asking you to go against your conscience. Please take no notice of this outsider.

• You: (Outsider?)

• As I gaze back at Roger, once again I wonder about his origins and what he's been through.
• You: Roger, you—

Ask Roger for his reasoning

• You: Do you know what you're saying, Roger?

• I can't help but be shocked that he could say something like this so calmly.
• Roger Evans: Do you think this is blasphemous to the deceased? Do you think I'm a crazy scoundrel?

• You: I don't think you're crazy. But at the very least, you should fully explain to us why you think it's necessary to open the coffin.

• You: Is there really no other way?

• Roger claps softly.
• Roger Evans: Very good, Caroline. You're truly different from the other well-bred ladies I've met.

• Roger Evans: Any other London lady would probably have fainted by now, and then told me to get lost.

• Roger Evans: First, what we know for sure is that someone has dug up this area since Jesse Lindvall was buried.

• Roger Evans: Whether it was the work of professional grave robbers, intent on stealing the body and selling it for profit, or his family dug it up themselves—

• You: That's impossible!

• Roger Evans: I'm just stating the facts.

• Roger Evans: Now, consider two more possible scenarios: either someone with ulterior motives dug up the grave...

• Roger Evans: Or Jesse Lindvall came back to life and escaped from his coffin on his own.

• You: ...

• Roger Evans: It's even possible that both of those scenarios are true.

• Roger Evans: Let me remind you, Caroline, what have we been chasing these last few days?

• Roger Evans: Now, we can confirm our hypothesis by opening the coffin and seeing what's inside.

• I say nothing.
• I have to admit that Roger's analysis makes sense. But digging up graves and opening coffins—

• ???: Miss Rayes?

• A perplexed voice echoes in the empty graveyard.
• Startled, the three of us break off in the middle of this disturbing discussion
• Edward Grey: What are you doing here so late?

• You: Doctor Grey!

• His features are barely visible in the flickering candlelight, but I can see him nodding towards Priscilla and Roger.

If you agreed with Priscilla in 2-2

• Edward Grey: And you two are...?

• You: Edward Grey, please allow me to introduce you to Miss Priscilla Barnet and Mr. Roger Evans, a detective.

• Edward Grey: Well met.

• Doctor Grey must be wondering why I've come to Jesse's grave with a detective. But his expression gives nothing away.

If you agreed with Roger in 2-2

• Edward Grey: Good evening, Miss Barnet... and Detective Evans.

• There is a slight coldness in his polite tone.
• I can't tell if it's due to the way Roger spoke to him last time, or because of Doctor Grey's wariness towards him. Perhaps it's a combination of both.

• Edward Grey: I apologize for interrupting your conversation.

• You: Um, it's alright. We weren't really talking about anything...

• I can't tell Doctor Grey that we were discussing the possibility of excavating Jesse's grave.
• He gives me a searching look, and his tone carries a hint of concern.
• Edward Grey: At four o'clock this afternoon, news spread that Scotland Yard had been sent to the Eastern District to maintain order.

• Edward Grey: Now this area is even more dangerous than before, Miss Rayes. You must be careful going out.

• Edward Grey: I wouldn't recommend being out after sunset like this.

• Edward Grey: If there's nothing else, may I see you home?

• I awkwardly turn to look at Priscilla. Doctor Grey smoothly reads the situation.
• Edward Grey: Miss Barnet and Detective Evans, would you like to come along?

• Priscilla Barnet: Ah, I can't. I can't leave my carriage outside.

• Priscilla Barnet: Caroline, you should go with Doctor Grey. I'll have Roger be my coachman.

• With a meaningful smile, she grabs Roger's sleeve and leaves with him.
• ...
• Doctor Grey and I are left standing side by side in the cemetery. Neither of us moves.
• After a while, he breaks the silence.
• Edward Grey: ...are you here to mourn Jesse?

• I bite my lip and turn to gaze at his profile.
• Under the moonlight, his expression is filled with sorrow.
• You: Yes and no.

• You: Doctor Grey, the last time we were here, you told me that you suspected Jesse had been attacked by a vampire.

• Edward Grey: Yes.

• You: As a matter of fact, I discovered something strange about Jesse's grave today. It might have been... opened.

• A terrifying silence descends upon us.
• A chilling aura emanates from Doctor Grey's body, and my hands turn clammy with cold sweat. This isn't the side of him that's a doctor.
• Edward Grey: Did you open the coffin and look inside?

• You: What? No, of course not!

• You: I wouldn't do that to Jesse!

• I glare at Doctor Grey with a hint of annoyance and a barely noticeable twinge of guilt.
• He doesn't seem offended. His expression softens as he looks at me with a half-smile.
• Edward Grey: I don't think you would do that either.

• Edward Grey: This is not something a lady—no, this is not something a person with basic morals would do.

• His words carry a heavy weight. I nod silently, then take a deep breath.
• You: But... Doctor Grey, if... if Jesse is really...

• The words are on the tip of my tongue, but I hesitate.
• But Doctor Grey completely understands what I mean. His smile fades, and he looks intensely into my eyes.
• Edward Grey: What will you do if Jesse has really become a vampire, Caroline?

• This question weighs heavily on my mind. For a moment, I cannot find any answer.
• You: ...he's Jesse...

• Doctor Grey looks at me with pity, his voice growing softer.
• Edward Grey: Yes, Jesse... So, what would you do?

• Why does he keep asking? He knows that the answer to this question will be cruel.
• You: What about you, Doctor Grey? If Jesse has really become a vampire, what will you do?

• Edward Grey: I won't consider this for now.

• You: You won't consider it?

• Edward Grey: So far, all of this is still just speculation. I won't take any action until Jesse's transformation is confirmed.

• You: Is this your decision as a vampire hunter?

• He looks somewhat surprised that I said the words "vampire hunter" out loud, but he still nods.
• Edward Grey: Do you think I'm cold, Caroline?

• You: You're not cold. It's more like you're utterly rational. You always choose the optimal solution.

• Edward Grey: Isn't it natural to choose the optimal solution?

• You: I can't answer that question. But I do know that many people, even when they know what the optimal solution is, still choose to do something else.

• You: (Like my father, Vincent, and even Aunt Petit... and Jesse himself.)

• Edward Grey: Do you hate me for always choosing the optimal solution?

• He looks at me intensely, with some frustration and reluctance for some unknown reason. Suddenly, a feeling of discomfort arises within me.
• You: No, I don't hate you... I might just be... afraid.

• Edward Grey: Afraid of what?

• You: ...

• You: I think I'm afraid that I won't be one of your "optimal solutions".

• He looks at me in astonishment, a complex expression on his face. He tries to speak several times, but stops himself.
• My heart is in chaos. I'm astonished that I could utter such words.
• Ever since I discovered his other identity, a lingering wariness has been swirling within my heart.
• But at this moment, standing in front of Jesse's tombstone, I find myself having a heart-to-heart conversation with him.
• Edward Grey: ...it's getting late, Miss Rayes.

• Edward Grey: Come on, I'll take you home.

• In the end, he still retreats behind the comforting smile of Doctor Grey.

• Doctor Grey accompanies me onto the omnibus, escorting me all the way to the back entrance of my aunt's residence.
• Several times, I want to ask him if he knows Pastor William Akerman.
• But every time I try to speak, his serious, icy expression in the cemetery appears in my mind.
• The passengers on the omnibus are enthusiastically discussing the afternoon's riots in the Eastern District, while we, who have just escaped from the Eastern District, remain silent.
• The silence is only broken as we approach Aunt Petit's residence.
• I quietly ask Doctor Grey to keep my whereabouts today a secret, while praying in my heart that Aunt Petit hasn't had a chance to read the newspaper yet.
• When I get home just before dinner, I rush to my room, trying to get rid of my stained, muddy coat so there's no evidence of where I've been.

• During dinner, Aunt Petit seems as calm as ever. She makes no mention of Scotland Yard or the turmoil in the Eastern District.
• She simply talks about the tea parties she's been to with other ladies, and news she's heard from everywhere...
• And the latest updates on the progress of the renovation of her villa in the south of France.
• Madam Petit: Frank's letter included a sketch of the design. It looks wonderful.

• Madam Petit: I always found the main bedroom that faces the sea a bit noisy. The sound of the waves made it difficult for me to fall asleep.

• Madam Petit: The bedroom on the other side of the second floor would be more suitable for me. I adore its view of the lavender field.

• You: That sounds lovely, Aunt Petit.

• I chime in casually, allowing her to naturally shift the topic of the conversation to me.
• Madam Petit: But it'd be such a shame to leave the main bedroom empty.

• Madam Petit: A bold young woman like you wouldn't mind such a trivial thing as the sound of the ocean waves, would you, Caroline?

• You: Au-Aunt Petit?

• I almost drop my knife and fork. My aunt frowns slightly, seemingly dissatisfied with my lack of social graces.
• But her words weigh much more heavily on me than her furrowed brow.
• Madam Petit: Going to the Eastern District, getting caught up in riots involving infected people, and tangling with Scotland Yard...

• Madam Petit: Caroline, do you truly believe that your parents would want to see you risking your life to stay here?