Chapter Text
Chapter 1 - Prologue
New Haven, Connecticut (August, 1975)
Tide and 2 of his brothers were at a bar, it was Shockwave's 21st birthday.
Magma couldn't make it, on duty.
Elle was too young.
The 3 clinked glasses.
February, 1980
Tide moved to town, taking over the shop for his dad as he ages.
The shop was fine.
"What are you even doing all day?" Elle asks one night as they are closing.
Tide only ran it on paper, Elle did most of the work.
"Working! Like you" He pulled the shudders down over the windows.
"No, you go somewhere"
"Errands."
"Shockwave called yesterday, while you were out"
"Oh, whats he up to?"
"No clue, I couldn't get the phone. Busy working"
"Hm"
January, 1989
Tide adjusted his collar in the mirror.
Today was his youngest brother's funeral.
Car accident, Elle had just picked him up and was driving him to stay with them for the weekend.
Tide hadn't eaten all week, anesthetized by grief.
Elle survived the accident, and had run the shop dutifully since leaving the hospital- despite it all, despite blaming herself.
Maine, Hancock County Airport (May, 1989)
Tide maneuvered off the plane with only his pack and a brochure. His bag was heavy, heavier than he usually hiked with. It was all his belongings for the rest of summer, save for whatever acts of charity were left at the watchtower. Being all too practical, he brought only the necessities.
On his way to the exit, he passed a gift shop. His practicality weighed on him, and he began to stroll the aisles. It held self help books, t-shirts, snacks, an assortment of neck pillows and chewing gum. A leather bound journal caught his eye, black with off-white lineless paper, and a good medium size.
He left with the journal, several pencils, and the weight of summer pressing on his back.
Cadillac Mountain, the next day
His hike to the station was something between beautiful and grueling. He was a city boy at heart, but his commitment was made. Hiking it was. The worst of it was over, at least.
Cadillac Mountain itself was an often hiked expanse, but his post slightly southeast required more effort. Crammed between otter creek, Murray Young path, and Gorge path, he was to expect "minimal hikers, frequent storms, and" somehow, "the worst drought this park has ever seen". Perfect conditions for a lighting-struck fire, and isolation enough to forward Otter Creek and climb Sargent Mountain until his legs fell off.
He eventually made it.
The chill of the night fog had long settled in his bones, and his fingers were nearly feelingless as he fumbled to flick on the generator. "Thank god- I'm finally here" He grumbled and flung his pack next to him as he planted himself down on the cot. He would shower in the morning, he would make the bed in the morning, for now he needed to sleep.
Just as he felt himself settling in though, the radio on his desk crackled to life.
"'ey- new guy- I see your lights on" An accent that faintly reminded him of home spoke, tinny through the radio speaker "you can't be that pooped, pick up the radio Tower 5!". The voice was gruff, eager, and a little sing-songy.
Tide fumbled across the room, plopping himself in the desk chair. He picked up the radio with a sluggishness and responded the same. "Uh- this is Tower 5 on Cadillac Mountain, who am I speaking to?" he rubbed his eyes.
"Aah there he is! This is uh, this is Tower 4. Dorr Mountain. Just across the Gorge. Whats your name new guy?"
He cleared his throat "Its Tide, and you?". There was a silence, "Hello? Tower 4?".
"Mark, my name is Mark. 'Nuff about me. Whats wrong with you? Why watch?". The man across the line, Mark, asked. He spoke like he was taunting Tide, like he already knew what was wrong with him.
"Nothing, I just- I just wanted to help"
"Yeah Bull-Shit" Mark enunciated the space between the words, dragging the L's out, and distantly Tide could hear cans crunching. "No one comes out here cause they want to protect wildlife- you come out here cause you're running from something. What'dya do, new guy? What'd someone do- do to you?"
"You're rude- maybe you should guess since you're so smart." Tide found himself picking at the wood on the desk, running his fingers over something hastily carved into the wood, something he was too tired to pursue reading.
"Alright I'll give it a shot- you uh…" He snickered "you're a robot, some kinda android sent by aliens to survey the planet for our new alien overlords— that or a fresh divorcee". Mark rambled, seemingly proud of his witty storytelling. "New guy?… Tide?"
Tide fell asleep at the desk, his hand still hovering over the carving "Ashe Wuz Here".
Otter Creek, earlier
"Will are you sure this is worth it?" Vyncent asked, mostly because he was getting cold. William, Vyncent, and Dakota were boy scouts on their annual trip to Arcadia National Park, and Will dragged the trio away from the group.
Dakota responded "Listen Vynce, I don't know about the ghosts stuff, but I do know that taking initiative and surviving in the wild is exactly the kind of adventurous attitude Ms.G wants! How are you ever gonna call yourself a scout if you can't handle a little cold?" They were along the river bank, Dakota hopped across slick rocks and struck poses, one leg up in the air like he was kicking something.
"Its fine guys, we'll be back at camp in no time. We've been hearing ghost stories about this Mountain for years, its about time we find the truth" William spoke as his gaze was fixed on his compass, a small dingy thing that his dad had given him before he left. The three of them only ever got to see eachother on these scout trips. Dakota lived in New Haven, Vynce was a Maine native, and William lived in Deadwood. They met as kids in the Scouts program, and only saw eachother yearly at these Northeast Scouts trips. He knew Ms.G would be mad at them for running off, but he couldn't help the oppurtunity to spend some extra time with his best friends, or finally discover the truth of this Mountain.
"How do you plan on finding this ghost anyway?" Dakota asked, him and Vynce now both staring at William expectantly. "I snagged some candles from camp" William flipped his backpack to be at his front, pulling out 3 candles and a long lighter "We're holding a seance!"
An hour later, the group came upon the end of the marked trail, and an old campsite. There sat the remains of a campfire and loose litter, mostly beer cans and some plastic food packaging. Vyncent found a large stick, or maybe branch is a better word, at some point along the trail, and prodded at the burnt logs with it.
"I thought we weren't meant to have fires out here?" Dakota wandered the flat camp site. "You're not, but some people don't respect the rules." "I honestly wouldn't mind the warmth" Vyncent pointed out, and William couldn't ignore his own cold anymore. "Listen we'll uh, we'll head back soon ok?" As William tried to comfort his friend, a twig snapped behind them. "Fuck- what the hell was that?" Will's stomach lurched.
"Its probably just a bird or something! You guys know if anything tries to step to us I'll hug it so hard it can't even move" Dakota ran up to William, squeezing him. "Right- thanks Dakota. Lets get this show on the road".
William took a moment to place the candles in a triangle, light them, and have each of them sit on one side of the triangle. "Ok, now we'll hold hands, state our intention, and communicate with the ghost" Will explained, reaching out to lock hands with the others. Their hands met, and William spoke again, with more gusto.
"Hello, spirit of Cadillac Mountain. We have come to ask you some questions about who you are, and how you got here" The wild howled, cicadas trilled, and the chill of the cold Maine night persisted without care for their next question. "Ok, I'll start then. Could you give us a sign you are with us?" As William continued his confidence wained, but suddenly the wind pushed an empty can into the triangle.
All their heads swung to look at the can, and Dakota offered up the next question. "Whats your name?" as they spoke the wind kicked up ashes from the abandoned fire. Whirls of ashen wind flew through the air, dancing like brush strokes as they fell back to the earth. "I guess we have our spirit's name then" William chuckled as he gazed up into the sky,
"Hello, Ashe"