"Alan Wake." If he seems distracted, it's because the dark out there beyond the last house of the settlement is heavy enough to drag on his attention. Trees sway in the hungry night wind, waiting to be transformed into the shadows of grasping fingernails by the pop illumination of lightning snarling overhead. It's not exactly great for the nerves.

He gets why someone might want a partner for this trip. Nevermind that the walk to the shrines is presumably less menacing during daylight hours.

The ground grows soft and loamy as they reach the end of the beaten firm footpath. Mud squelches up around their boots.

"Your sister's not here with you, is she?"