The Magnus Protocol 29 - Keyed In

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Hi, everyone.

It's Billy Hindle, the voice of Alice in the Magnus Protocol.

Today I'm here to advertise Frights by Fire, a new storytelling and horror anthology podcast that recently launched on the Archee Network.

Frights by Fire is a weekly community-driven series bringing immersive sound design to live performances of spooky stories provided by the audience.

Created and hosted by Jonathan Magno, creator of The Grotto, and Jamie Petronas, creator of The Seller Letters.

Join Jonathan, Jamie, and special guests by the Fire as they bring horror tales written by their community to life.

Episodes are filled with frights, fun, and the fumbles that only performing in front of a live online audience can bring.

Search for Frights by Fire wherever you listen to your podcasts, or go to www.theredactedunit.com or www.terustbyquill.com for more information.

Have fun and see you later.

Hello, everyone.

It's Shahan, voice of Sam in the Magnus Protocol.

And today I'm here to advertise Hollow Disciple, a podcast recently launched on the RQ network.

Hollow Disciple is a thrilling, dark science fiction podcast from the brilliant creator of Wake of Corrosion.

In the vast abyss of dying stars lurks a forsaken vessel, silent and still.

Stumbling upon it, the scavenger crew of the L Peace begin an ill-fated rescue mission, convinced they have hit the jackpot.

But when the scouting party stops responding, their luck takes a dark turn, and the sinister nature of their prize and its unnerving history becomes all too apparent.

Hollow Disciple has a deep lore, full of mystery and discovery.

Search for Hollow Disciple wherever you listen to your podcasts, or go to linktr.ee forward slash holodisciple or www.rustyquill.com for more information.

This episode is dedicated from Skylar Keros to Aaron.

You are so incredibly important to us and worthy of genuine and gentle love and affection.

We hope at some point you'll be able to see this too.

We'll always be there for you, no matter what.

Sincerely, Skyler.

RustyQuill presents

The Magnus Protocol

Episode 29

Keyed In.

Sam, are you still out yet?

Oh shit, Sam, Sam, are you okay?

Sam,

can you hear me?

Oh, Christ, Sam, no, no, no, no, no.

Sam, oh, thank God.

Let's get you inside.

You're sure you don't want me to get the others?

No.

Lina will just want me to sign some gun forever.

Gwen, Karen, Alice.

I just can't face one of her told you so right now.

Alright.

What happened?

I went outside

to see the car.

It was eventually.

I watched it leave and then

it was just

there.

You're sure it was the same thing?

I'm sure.

Everyone else that attacked ended up...

well.

Dead?

Yeah.

I don't know.

It didn't feel like it wanted to kill me or eat me or whatever.

It felt...

it felt more like it was searching for something in my head.

Random memories just kept popping up and then suddenly I was talking and couldn't stop.

It was like that it was just an accident.

Do you know what it wanted?

What it was looking for?

It kept going after anything it could on the Magnus Institute.

Then my mind went to the hilltop center and.

And?

I think we need to go there.

Now, or something terrible is going to happen.

Sam,

I just found you lying unconscious in the rain.

You can't stop shaking.

You're going to be lucky enough to catch pneumonia.

Don't think we can.

Something important is going to go down, and I need to get there.

No.

No, you can't stop me.

Wanna bet?

Celia, please.

Fine.

But we're going together.

Call Alice and let her know what's happening, just in case.

I'll ask Georgie if she can look after Jack this morning.

Thank you.

Don't thank me.

This is a really, really bad idea.

I'm heading off for the night, Gwen.

Make sure you lock up when you're done.

Are you sure I can handle such an important responsibility?

There's no need for that, Gwen.

I actually thought you did rather well with the minister, all things considered.

Let's not end things on a sour note.

Well,

I'm afraid I do have to run.

I presume I can trust you to close up.

If you like.

Excellent.

Please don't call me unless it's an emergency.

Cheshire Police Constabulary.

Case Homicide.

Date.

30-01-2020-0035.

Collection.

Cheshire East CID Repository.

Item.

1 times 2019-2020 Travel Diary.

Pink with Flowers.

Significant Blood Damage.

UPC 2956-723676.

Case 3692-20.

Serial number 9528-3674.

Collector David Collins, SOCO-98549.

Routing to Northwest Long-Term Evidence Storage.

Scanned information reads: Travel diary of Mrs.

Viola Locke.

If found, please return to 151 Lacey Green, Wilmslow, England, SK94BY, or call 07873-52 Text Obscured by Bloodstain, and get a lovely smile as a reward.

Tuesday, 19th November, 2019, 14.30-ish.

Stanley has really outdone himself this time.

Woke up 7.45am expecting a short walk around the green before aerobics, and instead he throws a new travel diary in my lap, that's you, and tells me to pack a bag for somewhere cold this afternoon.

Spent first half of the morning packing, then second half running around like a headless chicken looking for my passport.

Thank goodness I renewed it.

Nearly missed the taxi after Stan had to rush back inside for the fourth time to check the oven was off, and even then he still managed to forget his stick.

I'll let him off this time though.

Feels a little ungrateful to get on his case when he's gone to all this trouble.

Besides, I'm fairly certain I left the immersion heater on.

Must remember to turn it off when we get back before he sees it or he'll pitch a a fit.

Apologies for the handwriting diary.

In back of the taxi, on way to airport.

15.15.

Prague.

The sly devil.

I knew he was doing something up in the loft.

Probably digging through the old travel box.

The soft old thing.

Pardon the crumbs.

I'm just having a spot of tea and cake before the plane.

Note: call Sandra when we land.

Get her to turn off the immersion.

7:30 PM

He's only gone and booked the Archibald.

Even the same room.

And you'll never guess, that dashing Tomas who was serving the drinks with his funny little jokes.

He's the manager now.

I feel oddly proud of that.

I'll have to leave it there.

Absolutely shattered.

And we've got a big day tomorrow.

Must call Sandra first thing.

Wednesday, 20th November, 2019.

8 PM.

This is the first chance I've had to write all day.

Breakfast by the river, then up up onto Charles Bridge, gorgeous as ever, but cold.

Across to Old Town, past that wonderfully Gothic tower and fancy clock.

Stopped for food.

Stan ordered an early beer, but I let him off as he's been on grand form.

Stumbled on this hilarious sex museum on the way back.

Stan was all blushing and averted eyes, but I insisted we went in.

Then it was back to the hotel to freshen up for a lovely seafood dinner in Camper.

He's definitely keeping us away from Lovers Bridge.

Probably wants to re-enact his proposal.

I doubt he even could with his hip, but I suppose I'm happy to play along.

He may be a grumpy old fart, but he does love me.

I hope our lock is still there.

Could you imagine?

Fifty years locked together.

Goodness knows it stands a better chance than most.

That must have been the biggest padlock they sold.

It barely fit around the rails.

Right, often odd.

I always get mawkish when I'm tired.

Note, must, must, must call Sandra in the morning.

Thursday, 21st November, 2019.

Or Demknot, Svertzvertse.

Thursday, 24th December, 2020.

I miss him.

I'm all alone on Christmas, and it's my fault.

Friday, 1st January, 2021.

Happy New Year, Stan.

Friday, 29th January, 2021.

I never told you what happened, did I, Diary?

I just agreed with whatever they said had happened.

But I suppose I should write it down before I use the key.

It was raining when we went to Nacampia.

It was cold, wet, and honestly, if Stan wasn't so set on going, I would have skipped it.

Anniversary or not.

It turned out they'd cut all the locks off the bridge years ago, so there was no sign we'd ever been there.

I could tell Stan was disappointed, but he still dropped to one knee.

Silly kid.

And, just as I expected, he got stuck.

His hip always played up in the damp.

Thankfully, a local lad stepped in, but I could tell Stan was really upset.

This was supposed to be his grand gesture, and instead, he was filthy, I was shivering, and the cafe wasn't even open yet.

But you know Stan.

When he gets a bee in his bonnet, there's no stopping him.

So he marches over to see when the cafe opens and starts faffing around, checking the doors, even though he can see the closed sign.

A moment later, he's calling me over.

He points down some narrow stone stairs that lead to the canal, and at the bottom, there's a little sign with a picture of a lock, surrounded by the words, Zanchene Museum.

My check isn't what it was, but according to Stan meant the lock museum.

Stan got all excited at this, said he was going to buy another lock for the bridge, come hell or high water.

I tried to talk him out of it, but he was on a mission.

It was only when we reached the bottom of the stairs that we noticed the squat man outside.

He was soaking, worse even than us, and he didn't even seem to care.

Instead, he sat on the museum step playing some game with a mankey-looking deck of cards, and somehow smoking a pipe despite the downpour.

Scruffy doesn't begin to describe it.

His clothes were patched all over and the shapeless floppy hat he wore barely covered his lank hair.

Stan was hesitant.

We were out of sight of the road after all, but he put a brave face on and pointed with his stick before speaking loudly and clearly.

Open?

The man blinked slowly, then gave a lazy nod.

I wanted to get back to the road, but off Stan went, ducking under the heavy wooden lintel, and I followed him.

It was dark and damp-smelling inside.

Unsurprising, really, given it was so close to the canal, and the weak bulbs shed just enough light to see the tunnel led to a spiral staircase leading downwards.

I told Stan he was going to break his neck, but he just limped on down them without a backwards glance.

At the base of the staircase was a colossal wooden door.

There was a thick white key in place of a knocker that had four spiky arrows pointing inwards at the handle end.

I was rather proud of myself for recognizing the symbol of the Knights of Malta who supposedly built the canal.

Stan tried the door and it seemed locked tight.

He turned to me then, so crestfallen by this latest defeat that I couldn't help but take pity on him.

He clearly hadn't seen the key, so I reached out and grabbed it myself.

It was clearly made from some sort of ivory.

smooth and cold to the touch, colder even than the stone of the tunnel itself.

I half worried it might be frozen in place, but it came away from the knocker easily, and I swear, when I slid that key into the keyhole, I heard the lock grind open before I'd even turned it.

Stan hurried inside with a satisfied grin, and I followed.

The room beyond was large, with damp stone walls interlaced with thick oak beams, and a large millstone in the centre.

Lined around the walls were incongruously pristine dark and glossy wooden plinths, each with a little pillow displaying a different lock.

There were some simple, modern-looking padlocks near the entrance, but walking around the millstone they grew older and stranger.

Some were elaborate and delicate with golden filigree.

Others were oversized gothic affairs of worked iron with screaming faces and keyhole mouths.

As I kept circling the room though they grew simpler, until finally at the far end was a simple wooden bolt with what looked like a spiked wooden paddle beside it, stained with something old and dark.

I turned to point this out to Stan, only to find him still by the entrance, staring at one of the more modern locks.

I couldn't see how this had caught his eye given all the other beautiful and grotesque exhibits, but as I drew nearer, I understood.

It was our lock.

I don't know how it got there, but I was certain.

A closed padlock of thick steel with an engraving, for the love of a lock.

That was Stanley's little joke.

I'd always teased him about his surname, even after it was mine as well.

I gently picked it up.

It was ours, after all, and it felt like the most natural thing in the world.

That was when everything changed.

First, the main door slammed shut with an echoing boom.

I cried out in surprise, and Stan gave an angry yell.

He rushed over and started tugging pointlessly at the iron ring handle, but it was locked again, and there was no keyhole on this side.

Instead, there was writing carved deep into the back of the door.

Odemknut Zvirtzvetse.

I wrote it down at the time and have since looked it up.

It means, unlock your heart.

The door didn't shift despite Stan carrying on.

It was only when he finally stopped for breath that I noticed a sound in the previously silent room.

Rushing water.

That was when I really got frightened.

Sounds silly, I know, but up to then I I was still assuming it would all work out.

It would turn out the wind caught the door and we'd be let out, that somehow it was all a mistake.

But the water, that scared me.

Filthy water was already pouring in under the door, and even as I watched, it creeped up the edges on each side, spurts of the same fetid liquid rapidly gushing in with terrible force.

It was even seeping between the wooden boards of the door itself, which began to groan under the strain.

We hurriedly backed away, our feet splashing through the already rising water, searching for a way out.

Looking around, I saw more pouring in from between the stones on all sides, trickles thickening into gouts, and it wasn't long before it was lapping at our knees.

Stan was yelling again, screaming for help, but there was no one to hear besides me and whatever had locked us inside.

As I was splashing around, my foot caught on something heavy protruding from the floor.

A bolt.

Heavy iron against the floor covering what looked like some sort of trapdoor.

In a blind panic, I scrabbled with my arms for the bolt, straining my neck to keep my chin above the surface.

My searching fingers finally found it, and, without thinking, slid it open.

Suddenly, the walls and floor were rushing up and away from me as I fell, utterly terrified, certain I was going to drown down there, alone in the dark.

Instead, I landed hard, only a few feet down, with the stinking water rushing past me in a torrent, down and away through a tunnel.

I forced myself up till my shoulders just cleared the trapdoor.

The water level had lowered as it drained away down my tunnel, but it wouldn't be long before it climbed again, as ever more water streamed in, even from the darkness above now.

I looked over at Stan.

He had seen what happened, and for a moment, he smiled, moving towards me.

I try to remember that smile.

The look on his face when he thought everything was going to be okay.

Then his foot slipped, his hip gave way, and he fell.

Hard.

I heard his skull crack on the wet millstone even over the roar of the water.

I still like to tell myself that was when he died.

But I couldn't possibly have heard him begging me for help.

But the water was so strong.

Too strong.

Every second I hesitated, more was rushing through the trapdoor, threatening to wash me away with it.

Soon I wouldn't even be able to close it.

So I braced the trapdoor against my back and then heaved it upwards, thrusting with my legs.

I've no idea how my back held up under the strain, but I managed to force it closed.

Except the bolt on the underside was weaker than the one on top.

I knew it wouldn't hold on its own.

Not unless...

Unless I locked it.

So I did.

Using our lock.

Water was still pouring through all four sides of the trapdoor, but it was holding.

I didn't know how long for, though, so then I ran, forcing myself along the tunnel through the icy water with numb legs before it rose too high.

I know I couldn't have heard him calling for me, even if he was still alive, which he wasn't.

I couldn't have heard it over all the rushing water and through the sturdy wood of the trapdoor.

He wasn't calling for me.

But I heard him as I escaped down the tunnel.

I still hear him.

I don't remember much of the rescue.

I was unconscious for most of it, but apparently I was still screaming as they bundled me off to the Nafrantishku hospital.

It turns out that the lad who helped stand up earlier heard my screams coming up through a drain and called for help.

I'm still in contact with him.

He's called Andre and has a beautiful little girl.

Stan washed up two days later on the bank of the Voltevar.

They wanted me to identify the body, but I didn't recognize him.

We made the news, you know.

Two stupid British tourists mistake flood relief tunnels for a tourist attraction.

But I know it was real.

I've still got the key.

I wanted to throw it away so many times, but I just couldn't bring myself to.

Horrible or not, I traded Stanley's life for it.

And it is so very beautiful.

Even better, it works.

I haven't found a lock yet that it doesn't open.

Doors, safes, lock boxes.

I even tried it on a crack in the wall once, just to see what happened.

It can open anything.

I've been thinking about using it on myself.

I could push it into my chest, give it the smallest turn, and open up my heart.

Just reach in and pull out all the grief.

Perhaps I will.

After all, what have I got to lose?

Either way, I won't be missing you soon, Stanley.

So,

how's Sunlight treating you?

You know, can't complain.

News to me.

Ha

if I'm honest, I actually am struggling to get back on days.

I keep catching myself online at 2am.

Yeah, I noticed.

What can I say?

Insomnia's a bitch, and it's not like anyone else is up then.

Nonsense.

The night is full of creeps and weirdos.

Your words, not mine.

So, how's things your end?

Sam still getting on okay?

He's doing fine.

Wow.

I thought you two were close.

So did I.

Ah.

Listen, Alice, while you're here,

I've been meaning to talk to you about something

serious.

Yeah, I know what you're going to ask, and no, salmon pink really isn't working for you.

You need something in rich puce.

Alice, we've got to talk.

It's important.

Okay.

So, um.

The thing is, the new job is

not exactly.

Damn.

I'm really sorry, but I think I need to check this.

Hold on for two minutes.

Oh, uh, yeah, sure.

To listen to your messages, press one.

You have one new message.

Alice, it's um...

I thought you should know.

Celia and I are on our way to Paddington right now.

We're catching a train to Oxford.

I think we need to stop the Archivist thing from doing

whatever it's going to do at the Hilltop Center.

I know you won't want us to go.

You'll just be like, it's stupid.

It's reckless.

You're an idiot.

Alice?

Listen, Teddy, I'm really sorry, but I have a train to catch.

A train, right?

No, honestly, Ted, I'm so sorry.

It's really important.

I mean, I wouldn't rush off like this if...

Sure, sure.

I get it.

Drop me a line later, yeah.

We can pick up where we left off.

Of course.

Great.

Cheers, Teddy.

Look after yourself.

For God's sake, Sam, pick up.

Pick up, pick up, pick up.

You useless sad.

What the hell do you think you're doing?

Okay, Alice, listen.

No, you listen.

You're going to get off that train right now, otherwise I will come in there and drag you off.

Do you hear me?

Ticket.

No, I don't need a ticket.

I'm just grabbing my mate.

I can't let you pass without a ticket.

You can buy one over at the ticket desk.

For God's sake!

Doors are closing, Alice.

I call you once we're in our seats or something.

No, Sam!

Wait!

Sam!

Damn it!

Miss, I'm going to have to ask you to step aside.

Listen, mate.

I trust you.

Wait.

Do you see that?

Who?

Seriously.

But no, look.

Look!

On the train, there's...

Right, that's it.

Sarah, can you show this woman out, please?

No, no, wait, wait, listen.

I

fine, fine,

get it.

Pick up, Sam.

Pick up.

It's on the train.

It's on the train.

The Magnus Protocol is a podcast distributed by RustyQuill and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Sharealike 4.0 international license.

The series is created by Jonathan Sims and Alexander J.

Newell and directed by Alexander J.

Newell.

This episode was written by Alexander J.

Newell and edited with additional materials by Jonathan Sims.

With vocal edits by Nico Vitese, soundscaping by Meg McKellar and mastering by Catherine Rinella with music by Sam Jones.

It featured Billy Hindle as Alice Dyer, Shahan Hamza as Samama Khalid.

Anuja Battersby as Gwen Bouchard, Lorianne Davis as Celia Ripley, Sarah Lambie as Lena Kelly.

Kazim Tosina Moray as Teddy Bourne.

With additional voices from Jonathan Sims.

The Magnus Protocol is produced by April Sumner with executive producers Alexander J.

Mule, Danny McDonough, Lynn C.

and Samantha F.

G.

Hamilton.

And associate producers Jordan L.

Hawke, Taylor Michaels, Nicole Perlman, Cetius DeRaven and Megan Nice.

To subscribe, view associated materials or join our Patreon, visit rustyquill.com.

Rate and review us online, tweet us at the RustyQuill, visit us on Facebook, or email us at mail at rustyquill.com.

Thanks for listening.

Hi everyone, it's Billy Hindle, the voice of Alice in the Magnus Protocol.

Today I'm here to advertise Frights by Fire, a new storytelling and horror anthology podcast that recently launched on the Archee Network.

Frights by Fire is a weekly community-driven series bringing immersive sound design to live performances of spooky stories provided by the audience.

Created and hosted by Jonathan Magno, creator of The Grotto, and Jamie Petronas, creator of The Seller Letters.

Join Jonathan, Jamie, and special guests by by the fire as they bring horror tales written by their community to life.

Episodes are filled with frights, fun, and the fumbles that only performing in front of a live online audience can bring.

Search for frights by fire wherever you listen to your podcasts or go to www.thereedactedunit.com or www.rustyquill.com for more information.

Have fun and see you later.

Hello everyone, it's Shahan, voice of Sam in the Magnus Protocol.

And today I'm here to advertise Hollow Disciple, a podcast recently launched on the RQ Network.

Hollow Disciple is a thrilling, dark science fiction podcast from the brilliant creator of Wake of Corrosion.

In the vast abyss of dying stars lurks a forsaken vessel, silent and still.

Stumbling upon it, the scavenger crew of the L Peace begin an ill-fated rescue mission, convinced they have hit the jackpot.

But when the scouting party stops responding, their luck takes a dark turn, and the sinister nature of their prize and its unnerving history becomes all too apparent.

Hollow Disciple has a deep lore, full of mystery and discovery.

Search for Holo Disciple wherever you listen to your podcasts, or go to linktr.ee forward slash holodisciple or www.rustyquill.com for more information.