Through a Dark Lens 1:1

This is the first installment of a new project that I'm working on. The premise is simple: the direction of the story is determined by reader votes.

This iteration is a Lovecraftian horror story. David Davis (www.hpkomics.com) is on writing duties, and I'm on illustration.

You are Mika Briggs, assistant director of the Harcourt Estate museum. Many people find the museum off putting, but it’s always been a good job.

Tonight, though, the once familiar museum has become a sinister maze. The corridors of the manor that houses it have become twisted and distorted. The very building has become a predator- following your every move.

A searing heat chases you through the halls. Sinister shadows creep along the walls.

Too concerned by what follows, you do not see the grasping hands that have erupted from the tiles. They grab at your ankles.

You’ve been ensnared by the dessicated hands. They pull you down, holding you in place and preventing you from running from the dark forces that have been chasing you.

The hands seem to be grabbing you from all sides. You can’t gain any leverage to break free and now the heat and shadows are almost upon you…

You wake with a start, drenched in sweat. This is the most severe nightmare you’ve had since the vivid dreams began several years ago. You take gulping breaths, trying to calm yourself.

As the immediate fear recedes, you realize your phone is ringing.

The time is 4:44 AM- and your phone shows an unfamiliar number is calling. Was it the nightmare that woke you up, or was it the phone call?

You bring the phone to your ear.
“H-hello?”

From the other end a gruff, yet apologetic voice comes over the line:
“Hello, Ms. Mika Briggs? This is Detective Tetsuya with the Harwell Police Department. Do you know a Dr. Alexander Pavel?”

“Yes, I work for him.”

“Ma’am, I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but we believe he’s dead. We searched his contacts and ask that you meet with us to identify the remains.”

“Pavel… dead?”

“It seems that is the case, ma’am. When would you be able to drive by the museum to verify the remains?”

You feel a sudden sense of dread and loss at the news.

“I’m on my way right now.”

“Ma’am…”

You hang up the phone.

The manor is located on a sprawling estate which now operates as a museum dedicated to the collections of the ancient Harcourt family of Rhode Island. The museum has never appeared as busy as it does now. The parking lane is filled with police cars and an ambulance.

You and the detective exchange a few, brief words. He escorts you up the steps and into the manor.

He pauses as he opens the door. He appears tired, but ultimately apologetic. It offers little comfort.

“We appreciate your willingness to come in right away. I admit this is rather unorthodox. It could have waited until later, though. I guarantee you we are planning on being here for a long-”

You are admittedly confused and exhausted as you snap at the detective.

“Don’t you guys use dental records for this sort of thing?”

You continue your way through the foyer and down the hall. He is silent for a moment, careful in his choice of words.

“Normally we do, if there are teeth to compare them to,” he finally says.

Your mind races with terrible images. Just what has happened here?

You enter one of several sitting rooms that can be found in the manor. You are horrified to see a white blanket spread over what is likely to be the body of Dr. Pavel. A deep crimson stains the sheet. In a moment of grim irony you realize that this room’s rug- which Dr. Pavel had always been so fussy about the cleaning of- has likely been permanently damaged by his viscera. But something seems off…

The figure below the blank seems smaller than it should be. Dr. Pavel was a slight man, sure, but this seems as though he is not entirely… intact.

Tetsuya motions you closer to the remains as he speaks to a coroner near the body.

“Phillips, show us the ring.”

You approach the body, flanked by Detective Tetsuya, and make a shocking discovery. One of Pavel’s hands is exposed from under the sheet by the coroner… only it is charred and bone-thin, as though his body was thrown into a fire. All that is left of the hand is flaking and skeletal. The wedding band- which he still worse despite his divorce- had melted and grafted into what was left of the flesh.

All you can seem to do is let out a weak and fearful “Oh my god” at this revelation.

You can vote just by leaving a comment on imgur, or through the official site (http://pollcomics.com/through-a-dark-lens--vote.html). If you vote through Imgur, I'll send you a message when the next installment opens for a vote (the odds of stumbling across it randomly in user sub are fairly low).

Poll: What best describes your reaction to this grisly sight?

A// You’re shocked by the horror of the scene, but the ring isn’t enough to identify Dr. Pavel. You ask to be shown more.

B// You’re gripped by your need for confirmation. To the surprise of Tetsuya, you remove the coverings yourself.

C// You’ve already seen enough. Every instinct tells you that this corpse is what is left of Dr. Pavel. You confirm Tetsuya’s suspicions.

D// You feel dizzy and sick to your stomach. This is too much.