She was going to ask Simon more about the faceless and Yeager when a man suddenly entered the room. He didn't appear to be much older than her but the ill-fitting suit seemed to be an attempt to make him look older and possibly more important than he really was. He was not unattractive looking but he gave off very unfriendly vibes. She had a feeling this guy was going to be a pain in the ass to deal with. He gave her a hard, appraising look before asking coolly,
“Enjoying our little town miss?”

She quirked a brow at him and gave him her own appraising gaze before shrugging a shoulder in answer. "I can't say it's the nicest place I've ever been." She leaned back against a nearby table and gave him a pointed look. "Some of the locals have been a bit hostile." She didn't specify whether she meant him or the faceless monsters outside.

He paused as if he had weighed her words careful before he chuckled an obviously fake laugh. Things seemed less tense but still off … “I suppose not. But these are just a mere irritant. It gets worse, I'm Dean by the way.”

After introductions he shared some details. He seemed to be more assertive then Simon, more certain as if he had assumed that Simon told her a few things. He had asked as far as her story went, how she came to be here focusing more on recent events with the car and the Faceless more then the reason behind her coming here.

“Well, your stuck here now. Yeager won't let anyone leave. Not until he's happy. We're cut off, can't leave at all … there's some sort of strange fog that just returns us here regardless of how much we wonder it … well the fog doesn't take us back it just doesn't let up but the moment we set back regardless of how long we're out there we just return as if we only took a few steps from the place. Their in the fog. The Faceless, the Hunters, worse the Deep Ones ...”

He let that sink in using the term the Faceless as they called them apparently he didn't know their name either and just followed what they called them, it had not really mattered. “You're welcome to try leaving but I figured I'd save you the trouble. No luck though, our search has been for naught so all we can do is dig in at the hospital. We have it fortified as best as we can manage. Otis, Simon and myself ventured out to grab a few things and look for an appeasement to calm Yeager down … I don't suppose you've found or seen a yellow sign.”

Dean couldn't describe it as if he had no real clue about it, just a yellow sign. No description, nothing on it, all too familiar from what she read. Simon she noted seemed more and more nervous though Dean seemed to be the opposite relaxing more and more though he peered out the window, back turned and made his final bombshell.

“Your no longer in New York or the Catskills … none of us are.”

Dean still seemed to be a bit off to her so when he didn't ask her anything more about why she was here, she didn't volunteer the information. He gave a little more information about Yeager, confirming that he was responsible for the strange happenings tonight. She wondered if this Yeager person and the Yellow King were one in the same. But if that were the case, why would this yellow sign appease him? When she spoke to him on the phone he seemed to imply he had the sign. He had offered it as a reward for her meeting with him, hadn't he? Back before revealing he had a hostage. Oh God, had Mike been one of those faceless things outside? Had Yeager "erased" him like Simon said. She shuddered to think it.

That's when Dean dramatically statement his "we're not in Kansas anymore...". If he'd expected a big reaction from that, he didn't get one from Kirsty. "Yes, well, I kinda already figured that." She replied blandly. She still wasn't convinced this wasn't a dream... Though, maybe it was both another dimension and a dream. Wasn't there something like that in the Lovecraft Lexicon? A dimension you could enter through dreams. If anyone could really do something like that it would be her. She decided to share a little of her theory with the others. "Considering Yeager is a character in a book my friend just gave me. A book that was supposedly written before the turn of the last century."

She pulled the Chamber's manuscript from the bag as evidence. "I assumed it was a prank at first but those monsters outside looked pretty real. Simon said Yeager made those things, that he erased people... Why the hell would he do that? What does he want?" She didn't tell them she suspected he wanted her. That he was the one who told her to come here. She wouldn't put it past this Dean guy to hand her over to Yeager as his form of "appeasement".

A horrid thought occur to her as she pondered her agent's fate. What if the first Faceless one had been him? There were three of them but two came from the river which she believed to be the Hudson at the time.

“I would think that something was seriously wrong with you if you didn't think this was a bit abnormal.” He listened to he theories. Simon seemed to be a bit ency and she noted that he froze when she mentioned what Yeager wanted. Her head was trying to make sense of everything but she was missing something. And Simon seemed to know something, looking away quickly, even more nervous then when Dean had first showed up.

Like then he didn't say anything and she realized that he was afraid of saying anything in front of Dean. "You with Simon and the girl?”

He confirmed this. Otis said he was one his way and Dean turned his attention back to the book that he barely looked at. “I'm not a literature buff but you think this mess is all connected to this book?” He paused upon seeing the title, it was minute but she was an actress and noted things visual and audio cues, her marks, and Dean relayed that brief clue that something bothered him.

“How did you get this? Who gave this two you?” He sighed. “He made them. I don't know his motives but there are theories from the mundane to the morose Some really bizarre shit.”

"My friend gave it to me right before he went missing. I'm afraid I can't tell you much more about it." She shrugged, pretending to know little about the book and it's origins. Though really, she wasn't sure how much of what she did know was true. "I am sure it's linked with my friend's disappearance though. It's what led me here." Again she left out the phone call, not ready to reveal that she had been in direct contact with Yeager.

"I doubt that the book will be very useful. It mentions this town and a studio near Dutchman's Landing but it's no clearer on what the yellow sign is supposed to be. It's all very vague. It didn't mention those faceless things either so really, I think you guys probably know more about all this than I do." She looked from Dean to Simon and then back to Dean. She had a feeling Simon still wanted to tell her something but he'd clammed up in front of Dean. She didn't trust Dean but she didn't want to put him more on alert by making it seem like she was deferring to a child more than him. "You said you were hold up in the Hospital? Did you mean there are other people there too? Do you need to be meeting back up with them soon? Should we be searching foe weapons or supplies or something? I'd like to help you all if I can? It's sounds like I'm going to be just as stuck here as the rest of you if we don't get this sorted out."

He took in what she had to say, thinking whatever private thoughts he had while rubbing his chin. He had to be deducing how much he was going to tell her as if she couldn't handle the truth or he didn't know how much of it to reveal to her. At last he reached some sort of decision.

“I'm afraid you're no longer in the Catskills. The park you were at is similar to it but not it …. you're lucky though, the Deep Ones are near the river. I'm unsure if Yeager has any control over them though. I think they help when they want too.

“The signs on the outskirts of the city have a welcome to Carosca sign …. the population changes though I've only seen the signs twice and they could have been different signs not that I wouldn't believe some self correcting sign after all this.” He paused for a brief moment and nodded.

“Several others. Most of the survivors gather there. A few of us gather whatever supplies we can or even search for that damn yellow sign your book mentions. Apparently it marks the place that Yeager is at but we can never find it, we've taking to thinking that it moves around.”

He sighed, pointed to the boxes. “We got to load those up when Otis comes around next. He sort of floats around between the groups we have out in the city. Those things are gone for a reason, the calm before the storm so we're best hunkering down at the hospital and riding out whatever happens there. Once things calm we'll assign you to Otis, you'll ride with him until you get a feel of the city and can be assigned to a group, better to know the layout a little first. It won't help you inside the buildings but running from a bad scene is best when you have a good idea where you're going.

“There hearing is good we found but as long as you don't get to close or make too much noise you can walk past them or just stand still until they pass provide they don't bump into you.” He explained a lot answering what he could.

From what she guessed each team scavenged with Otis doing the rounds picking up things until he had a full load to go to the hospital. If they had regular meeting points for each team or changed it via walkie talkie it was somewhat effective.

When Otis arrived the boxes were loaded up, the trunk carefully closed just in case there were more of these things around and they climbed into the car. Otis and Dean in the front and her and Simon in the back. Otis introduced himself and unlike Dean she didn't get any strange vibes from him. She would learn that he was a taxi driver whenever he was away from this place, getting a feel for the layout of a place had been useful and he had mentioned that details changed, some times small ones, sometimes great ones. He noticed though. That was his gift and that made him useful. He was about Mike's age, approaching middle age but not too old. Most of her time was spent with simple small talk with Dean or Otis until she saw Simon unfold a few blank pieces of paper from his pocket along with a pen and from the back was a jewel case from a disc, though it was clear that he only used it to support his writing in a flowing script, he had neat writing for a boy she noted. When he was finished he turned over the objects to her, had this been what he ran off to get when he said he had to go to the bathroom?

That jewel case was unimportant, though it stored some malware protection for a computer. But the words on the paper had been obvious:

Don't trust Dean, you got to get away from him

She listened to Dean as he explained thing situation, responding when appropriate but playing is cautiously until they met up with Otis. She was relieved to discover he did not give off the same skeevy vibe that she got from Dean. She hoped she could be more honest with the former taxi driver once they were alone. Maybe he could help her find out what happened to Mike.

She was disappointed she hadn't had a moment to talk to Simon alone. He seemed to have have something important to tell her before but as they had been with Dean and Otis the whole time she had not have a chance to question him about it. He had not given up it seemed though. Once they were in the back seat of Otis' car he passed her a note, again warning her not to trust Dean. Not that she needed the warning. She took up the pen and scribbled a reply then passed the not back to him.

"I'm working on it. What were you trying to tell me before? Why is it so important for me to leave this place?"

Indeed Otis had been a cabbie. He liked to talk and he knew how to carry out a conversation without saying anything important. Small talk she noted. Her attention had been divided between her conversation with the two men and her secret one in the back seat.

She pulled it off though faking her way through it for the most part seeing that her focus had not had to remain deeply on what she was discussing and in part with the slow method of communication. Simon wrote for a bit but soon enough he was turning a page towards her so that she could read it.

Yeager is not normal … he can become those that have lost their faces, gaining them as a macabre collection. He wears them and when he does he sounds like them, looks like them and even has there memories while wearing the guise.

Dean is a twin and Yeager has used his identity before to get at us. I saw the two together, talking when they thought they were alone. Yeager claimed that he could release any of his puppets by simple reattaching their faces.

I do not know how, I don't understand it but he wants to destroy us and there have been numerous times where anyone new vanishes without a trace. When the two met they talked about this yellow sign we've been looking for. Yeager has it, he keeps moving it, he teased about us nearly finding it, teased that only the right people could find it and they were none of those Dean has bringing to him.

I spied the two after Dean was showing suspicious behavior, right after some people had already gone missing. It's always the new ones and I'm afraid that you'll be his latest victim. I've mentioned my suspicions to Otis, he's the only one I thrust. He's the only one that wasn't born here … he doesn't believe me, but he hasn't said anything either. He needs more proof before doing anything but by then it will be to late I know it.

Simon's message confirmed her suspicions about Dean. She would have to be careful not to be alone with him. Of course, that still didn't solve her problems. She still didn't know what had happened to Mike and now with this new information she wasn't sure she'd be able to trust him if she found him, or someone who looked like him, for fear it was Yeager in disguise. This Yeager guy sounded like a complete asshole. He was clearly toying with these people and her too now. He could have taken her at the park if he'd wanted. He could have come to her as Mike and lured her back to his lair but he'd sent those faceless things after her instead. What was his game?

She wrote a new message to Simon:

I will be careful not to go off alone with Simon but, if what he said was true, there isn't any way for me to leave. I am as stuck here as the rest of you. Besides, Yeager has my friend so I can't leave. I think he wants me here but I don't know why exactly...

Though she had a guess, he might want her for her abilities. She wondered if they might allow her to find the yellow sign everyone was looking for.

I think I might have a way to find the yellow sign but it's risky. I have to go to sleep. I might need a guard in case Dean tries something while I'm out.

Simon did not know about her ability, wondered about her going to sleep then nodded letting her know that she would be safe. While she had wondered about Yeager's motives she had been some what confused, he had to be playing with her and the others. He wanted her here and now that she was, now that he could have had her he let her go.

But she was unable to leave this city according to Dean. He could have been lying but she didn't think that was the case. That felt genuine at least. There was a lot of crap going on here and she had pondered some of it, even made her own theories at times. If he was after her ability then his technique to steal faces would allow him easy access to that skill, while she didn't know exactly how it worked she could guess he would only be able to do it while wearing her face and she wasn't in a hurry to give that up.

They soon came to the hospital. A wall surrounded it and a gate shut off the parking lot. The hospital had been something else at one stage, it wasn't huge but didn't need to be with the population and the fact that there would be numerous hospitals about it would do. Just two buildings though as she looked at it Simon jumped out of the car, opened the gate and closed it again once the car had been through. It was locked with a chain though the walls were scaleable being about six feet the Faceless did not climb. The Hunters, whatever they were did though but the gate provided some protection.

Simon hoped back in and the car was parked. Supplies were unloaded and taken inside where there was a woman about twice her age with long black hair who assisted them, the supplies stored in the cafeteria with a ton of other boxes that had been gathered up.

Food and water for the most part though others had toiletries and even a few CDs though she didn't recognize the artist.

The woman looked her over, “My you look like Clair. Doesn't she look like Clair?” No one said anything and the woman extended a hand. “Hi, I'm Rachel. Pleased to meet you, are you hungry?”

She felt better having a plan, even if it was still a fledgling one at the moment. She followed Simon and the others into the hospital, memorizing the rooms and hallways as much as she could as they went, just in case. Once they had a second she would get Simon to take her someplace where she could lie down and try to sleep. It was a long shot but she felt certain that her abilities were the main reason Yeager wanted her here. Maybe no one had found the yellow sign yet because it wasn't in this reality.

If nothing came of it then she did still have the option of calling Yeager again. She didn't expect to getting any useful answers from him though, just more lies and riddles. He had said he'd call her after releasing Mike and he hadn't done either. Unless, of course, Mike had been the first faceless in the park. She was still hoping that wasn't the case though. Yeager still hadn't called here though, he'd done nothing to bait her further. She wished she knew what his motives were. He'd passed up an opportunity to grab her twice now. Was he wanting her to come to him? If things got desperate she might have too... If he truly was keeping everyone trapped here.

She was distracted from her reverie by the appearance of Rachel. It was nice to see another woman here, even if she looked a bit harried. She mentioned someone named Claire but no one seemed to want to answer that. She wondered what that was about. "I get that all the time." She said with a smile as she shook the hand Rachel offered. "I think I have one of those faces. People are always saying I look like someone they know. I'm Kirsty, by the way. It's nice to meet you though I wish it could be under better circumstances."

Rachel mentioned food and she suddenly realized how late it was. She'd been so pre-occupated with saving Mike that she hadn't thought about eating or anything. She stomached growled at her suddenly, as though making sure she knew it didn't appreciate being forgotten about. "Gee, now that you mention it, I guess I should eat something. It's been such a crazy day, I don't think I've eaten anything since breakfast. After that though I think I'm going to need to crash for a bit." She looked to Otis. "You don't mind do you? I know you've probably got a ton of things to go over with with me but I'm afraid I'm gonna be rather useless if I don't get some rest soon."

“Great, I've got a few of these bugs out with the microwaves.” She smiled and patted the back of her hand. “You really do look like Clair though.”

She departed and Otis shook his head. “Naw, it's alright. I don't need you on the runs and can brake you in tomorrow after you've rested a bit. I still have a few people to bring back here before calling it a day any way.”

The food wasn't great but not bad. Served in the cafeteria they had been going through the supplies here as well as gathering up what they needed thus it was hospital food, in this case fish. But it was filling at least. If necessary Rachel would warm up additional meals using the oven that could cook a great many trays at once contrary to her earlier statement, though there was lights and electricity so it wasn't too bad. Kristy could only guess at the running water situation but if they still had electricity then all was good.

There were no shortage of rooms though they all stayed close together on the same floor near each other, easier to gather everyone up in an emergency. These were the sorts of rooms that had 2 to 4 people to them though there were others close by near the nurse's station that were for single patients, those that needed a closer eye but were just released from ICU. After selecting a room she was left alone, Simon assured her that he would keep an eye out just in case Dean got any ideas while Otis was out but Rachel was around now at least.

She had just been about ready to try out her idea when she had an incoming call.

“I've been a bit busy. I'll save you some time, it's not going to work. You're stuck here, even in your dreams you cannot leave but you're free to try.” Yeager again, as charming as ever.

“But now that you are here, do you wanna see it ...” a lengthy pause as if there was some sort of innuendo there or perhaps he was baiting her. “Do you wish to see the yellow sign?”

She'd been just about to turn in when her cell rang. She was immediately put on her guard by it, having no doubt as too who it might be. Figures Yeager would call right after she'd given up hope that he would. She tried but ignore the more paranoid observations that he had somehow waited until she was alone and just about to go to sleep to call. He couldn't know what she'd been intending to do.

“I've been a bit busy. I'll save you some time, it's not going to work. You're stuck here, even in your dreams you cannot leave but you're free to try.”

She sighed, or maybe he could. He'd gotten half of her plan right anyway. She didn't think she could dream her way out of this mess. She'd only hoped to find clues about the yellow sign. "I think I will." She replied, no longer trying not to sound snarky when talking to him. He'd been fucking with her from the beginning and she was getting tired of it. "Not that I don't trust you."

“But now that you are here, do you wanna see it ... Do you wish to see the yellow sign?”

"I would like to see my friend more, whole and unharmed." She answered somewhat coolly because returning to a more casual, though still sarcastic, tone. "But I suppose since I'm here it would be a shame not to see this famed sign. Is this the part where you tell you'll show it to me if I leave the protection of the hospital and come to meet you somewhere? That didn't prove to work well when we tried it with the gazebo."

“Suit yourself,” he didn't sound displeased or shocked that she wouldn't take his word on the matter that it wasn't going to work. He certainly had been playing games, to that she was sure. She could here it in his voice.

“Oh, who says that you are not just where I want you? In fact you are in the least safest of places in all of my city but I am just the key, I can only open the door but you must walk through it.

“But I guess your friend wasn't exactly whole last time … hm … those thoughts are rather impure, especially the ones with your in that green dress.

“But Kristy, you're already asleep,” a brief chuckle. “Stuck in that hospital, so out of it … you ate the food didn't you? It doesn't surprise me … ah, but I can meet you there in the hospital. You cannot go anywhere but I can show you the sign, I can show you the door but you need to walk through it. Do so and I'll even restore your friend, I'll even send him back but the choice is yours, it's always been.”

Yeager's comments were as vague and unhelpful as she had expected them to be. She was getting tried of trying to decipher everything he said and was half tempted to tell him to go fuck himself. Instead, she forced herself to pause and think. He claimed she was already asleep, hinted that the people here had drugged her or something. It was possible but why? To curry favor with Yeager? Why would he bother trying to convince her to come to him willingly if he knew the towns folk were about to hand her over to him anyway?

She looked around the room. It didn't look all that strange but that didn't mean much. Dreams could seem real enough when you were inside them. She stood up and walked to the window to look outside. It still overlooked the town. She put her hand to the glass to see if the cold seeped through it. It did. If this was a dream it was a convincing one. She tried to feel out with her other senses, find something to lend credence to Yeager's claim. She returned to talking to him while she tested her surroundings for flaws. "Is that the deal you made Mike? Or Dean's brother? Or the score of other people who have disappeared from this town? You tell you'll show them the yellow sign, let them imbue whatever meaning they want in that, but make them come to you for it?" She moved to the door to the room she was in and held her hand out as though to grasp the knob. "Is that the cost of using your power? You can only steal faces from people if they come to you of their own free will?"

She frowned and retracted her hand. She was tired of this game. Tired of guessing. If Yeager wanted her that badly she was going to make him work for it. She stepped back away from the door and glared daggerously at it. "I have no interest in becoming one of your pawns, Yeager. If you want my submission you are going to have to put a little more effort into it. You can start by proving you are not a complete fucking liar. You said this is a dream. That you could meet me here. Then prove it. Open the door and step through it yourself. Maybe once we've met face to face I'll be more willing to do as you request and follow you back through it."