Tunnels and exits heading toward and away from Whitney Green. A web. Something solid was beginning to form, connections were being made. I just wasn’t exactly sure where it all led.

Mo’Lock went on. “After another hour I began hearing noises ahead of me. I walked faster until I was running. The noises got louder as I got closer. At first it was just a banging sound, then voices.”

I raised an eyebrow, but stayed head-down on the desk blotter.

“As I got closer to the voices and the banging, the tunnel was no longer smooth. It was rough dirt with rocks, rats, and trash everywhere. It was when I stopped running that I heard your voice.”

That got my attention. I raised my head. “My voice. You heard my voice? Are you sure?”

“Yes, and Blout’s as well. You were arguing. It was high above me and there was an echo.”

I nodded for the ghoul to continue his story.

“I moved cautiously toward the sound of your voices when suddenly it changed to yelling and screaming. I thought you and Blout might be under attack so I ran, but unfortunately I was blocked by a large steel door. I pulled and kicked at it, but it was too strong. So I did all I could. I listened.”

“Meanwhile, I was getting my ass kicked.”

Mo’Lock ignored me. “A short time later a thunderous stampede came from the other side of the door. There was a great grinding noise, and then the door unlatched and flew open. I was face-to-face with your assailants. At first they didn’t see me, but when they did, they started screaming and crying, cowering against the wall. They were terrified of me.”

“What were they? Did you get a good look?”

“Undead of some sort. Nothing I’d ever seen before. They were mummified, dried skin tight against their skulls, with empty eye sockets.”

I nodded. “That’s them.”

“I approached one that was near me. It screamed and carried on. I didn’t mean to, but in trying to calm the thing, I accidentally grabbed a necklace that was around its neck, and it came off.” Mo’Lock stopped talking and looked down at his feet. “It was terrible.”

I didn’t say a word. He’d go on when he was ready.

“The thing just turned into dust at first, but then it liquefied and became blood. Just like that, there was a pile of clothes soaked in blood.” The ghoul shook his head. I guess it was a little too close to home for him.

“What happened next?” I urged.

“Chaos. The other things started running away, back the way I’d come. I was about to give chase when I remembered you were somewhere on the other side of the door. As I started through, I was overcome by black smoke and intense heat. I tried to push on, but it was too much. I ran to one of the sewer covers. It was melted shut, so I had to break the concrete to escape. I could see the building on fire, but when I saw you and Mr. Blout were all right, I came back here.”