Chapter 6 - 1938

when needed. But this case is different than anything I've encountered before, leaving me with many, many sleepless nights. When I became a doctor, I took an oath, one that made me swear to help those in need. And I can't help but feel like I failed here, that that that we did something wrong, that this will be a stain on my soul for the rest of my life. Every time I closed my eyes, I can see her, I can hear her, her her screams or please for help.

Did we make the right decision? I thought so at first, but now I don't know. God, Please forgive me for what we did to that poor girl. She was so young, And please God, never let me have to step foot in Lighthouse Ever Again Lighthouse Chapter six interview with parents Robert and Dorothy august Am is this is this really necessary? Doctor? We will need to have a full report along with my recommendation during observation before the hospital makes a decision

based on what you described over the phone. It is a terrible ordeal which you were stuck in, and I want to make sure that I understand exactly what you and your family have gone through. I'm just not sure how any of this will help with our lease, anything to help our little girls. Fine, how did it begin? I don't know the exact moment, unfortunately, just that one day she was different, so unhappy, outbursts of anger, mostly more so than a normal child. Yes, we have two

more boys, good boys. And did they ever Oh no, they never would like that. This is different. We thought maybe it was something that came with having a girl. We recommended her every time, but still she persisted, and then it got worse in what way? She got violent, which she has never done before. What did she do? She pushed her brother. Surely it's normal for her siblings to fight with each other through a wall a wall.

Now the wall in question was in the spare bedroom, the one under renovation, so the integrity of it wasn't fully up to code. But for her to push him like that, she could have really hurt him. They were playing and they got out of hand and she just lost control. She pushed him and then jumped on top of him and scratched his face. Was he seriously injured, No, thankfully, just the scratches, nothing too deep. Are there other instances?

She pushed a girl on the playground. The teacher said she watched it happen and said it was very unusual behavior for her. Said she usually saw the two girls giggling together, but now the other one just stays far away. She was suspended for two days. I hope you don't mind my saying, but she got the belt for that one. And at breakfast the other morning, she didn't like her eggs, so she threw her plate at the wall, shattered it

into a million pieces. If I was an inch over to the left, it would have hit me in the head. What did she say about it? That's the thing. She doesn't remember it, any of it, throwing the plate, not just the plate, the school friend and the wall too. She claimed she doesn't remember a thing. No, I thought she was just saying that to avoid getting in trouble, but seeing the way she carried on about it, she was scared. She genuinely didn't know what she was getting

in trouble. For that's what clute is in that something might be war. Don't you want to play with a doctor? Offer long saying things things that scare us, like it's nothing to be concerned with. But the content of what she is saying was disturbing, such as how she's going to drown her brother or stab another one with her sewing scissors. I don't think she means or even knows what she's saying. But we took the scissors away and

started locking up any sharp utensils. I see anything else, well, there are the people orthy there's no point in hiding it, Roberts. It wasn't real. It was to her, and please, every bit helps. Every detail is important. That's the only way I can make a full assessment. She sees things, sees things in the house. Does she describe these things she sees? She sees people? Are they people she knows recognizes? Where in the house? Does she see them all over everywhere? Really?

Has she described them? Who are they? Sometimes? We catch bits and pieces now and again. There's a little boy whom she describe in cold, whose teeth are always setting. There's also a young woman she sees the kitchen, and someone else she calls the boulder man bowler man. She claims she sees a man and he's always wearing a bowler hat. But none of that was real. She's just seeing things. Have either of you seen any of these people? Know?

But every child has imaginary friends. What do you mean, yes, you've seen something that she has. Once when I was in the garden with her, we were planting some flowers when she suddenly looked up and pointed towards the tree line and asked if I could see him? See who the boulder man? I saw something. He was there, and then he just wasn't. I thought maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me, because it was like nothing was ever there at all. Why didn't you tell me this?

Because I didn't think it mattered, just some shadows strick of the light, But then everything else started happening. Did you recognize him? No, I didn't get a good book. Jesus Christ Dorothy, he asked to know everything. I can't believe you never told me. Tell him about the photos. What photos, Dorothy? Tell him? Robert, alright, fine, I've taken some photos of the family altogether. I have my own equipment and I can develop them downstairs in the basement.

Converted a side room into my photo lab. Now I could show you later and show you some of the photos. At first, I thought maybe it was just a blemish or miss firem camer What was in the photos? Her face? It seems to be covered by something by what It's like a shadow covering her face, hovering over her. And you've seen this in more than one photo, yes, all of them over the past few months. And your other two nothing nothing in their photos. No, have they seen anything.

It would be helpful to speak to them as well, just in case. Yes, of course. What happened next? Well, after the wall incident with Robert Jr. August time is twelve p m. Robert, it's nice to meet you. Do you prefer Robert or Bob? Is fine, sir, Bob? It is then you have great manners. Bob. How old are you? I'm and how old were you when your sister was born? I was seven. That is quite an age difference between you, Yes, sir, and the oldest. So that means I look out for them,

both your sister and your brother. You mean, yes, sir, Do you feel like you have to look out for them often? No, sir, just the normal kids stuff, making sure they don't get in trouble. Do you know why I'm here talking to you about, right it is? Tell me about your sister. I understand she harmed you not too long ago, just a few scratches, kids stuff. Your parents tell me she pushed you through a wall. Yeah,

I was hoping they didn't tell you that part. Why is that she's only eight, a kid, and she bested me. I didn't want my friends to rag on me. I assure you your secret is safe with me. I just want to know about what happened and see if I can help make some recommendations for what's best for her. We were just messing around. She was being annoying, but I guess that's her job because she's my little sister.

So I took her bear, her stuffed animal. Yes, sir, I took it into the other bedroom, that the one we're supposed to stay out of because they're rebuilding it and there's a lot of sharp obs x in there. And I pretended like I was going to drive a nail through it if she didn't stop, and she got upset. I assume I wasn't gonna actually heard it. Honest, I know she loves that teddy Bear. She takes it with her everywhere. I just wanted her to leave me be.

Then what happened. She was crying and pleading with me, and then she just stopped. She got really still and just stared at me. But you promised not to tell again, you can trust me. Well, there was something wrong with her eyes. What do you mean? They just got all black and scary. And I thought I thought I heard someone whispering under her breath. No, it sounded like a bunch of other people were there, But but there wasn't. It was just us. What were they saying? I don't know.

It was hard to make out, but it was real scary. And Madeline moved her head like she was listening to anything. To you. No, but she tilted her eyes back to me and gave me a really creepy smile. Right before she jumped on me. I thought she pushed you, well, sort of, but she jumped with such force that it pushed us both backward. I toppled over some lumber and went straight through the wall into the hallway, and she attacked you again. She did. She began to scratch my

face and just started laughing. I put my hands up to protect myself and tried to get her off me, but she was just so strong. I couldn't believe it. It was like she was in a trance or something, and I kept yelling for help until my dad came and pulled her off me. She started crying. She just snapped out of the days and didn't remember anything. I see, But you were unharmed. A few cuts and bruises and scratches. Is this the first time she's lashed out at you

like this, yes, sir. I mean she's been acting strangely since we moved in a few months ago, but nothing like this. Strangely how your parents said that sometimes she sees people, yes, sir, but she talks to them too. I catch her sometimes I'll walk past her room she's having a lively conversation within air, or into the kitchen and she's setting the table talking with someone. But any time I've asked her about it, she just says it was nothing, and there's nothing there, No nothing, but I

can hear the whispers sometimes too. Talking at nine twelve am, Patient three two files zero three to one to seven, Interview five. How are you today, Madeleine goreat how are you? I'm doing well. Do you wake my picture? It's very nice? Did you just draw it? I did you know what it is? It looks like the lighthouse, but from a long time ago. I see the light is on. No, that's from last night. Last night I sat growing again, Madeleine, you know that's not true. The lighthouse hasn't been operational

in years. You don't have to pretend with me, Madeleine. It's been a few days since you and I first started speaking, But today I want to talk to you about the incident from last night. Do you remember the day before the day it was? But do you remember what happened during dinner time at the table? I don't remember what we have for dinner. Your mother invited me to stay for dinner so I can observe you all as a family. I sat across from you, and you

sat in between your brothers. I remember bread, Yes, there was fresh bread in the basket. Your mother made it. But do you remember what happened with the bread. Your mother did not want you to spoil your dinner and told you that you couldn't have any more. And then and then I didn't have any more, no, Madeleine. And then your brother took the basket away, and you took your knife and you cut him. I cut him, Yes, you cut him right across his palm. Do you remember

a little Why did you do that? I don't know. Did somebody tell you to do that, Madeleine? You can tell me. He said it wouldn't hurt him. Who said? He said that it was only for pretend, and it was to convince them mommy to give me what I want. Who told you this, Madeleine? He said, I can't come play in the dark with them until I do these things that I keep doing them, but I don't remember. Calm down, it's all right. He doesn't like you. He wants you to go away. He wants you to stop

asking me questions, Madeleine, listened to me. Whomever is telling you this, they are not real. Do you understand? It's your subconscious mind and sometimes it does not have your best intentions at heart. He is real. They are real. They are my friend, Madeleine. Madeleine, what are you doing? He said, you have to go away. Now, what's that noise? He said, you are interfering. Please sit down. He wants me to come play with him. And if I don't make you go away, I will never be able to

Madeleine stop this now, Madeline stop. Lighthouse will return after these messages and now back to Lighthouse. It is now August. It has been a few days since what happened, and I I still don't know how to explain it. What I saw was just not possible. I think my time in this house has somehow affected my judgment and and clouded my medical training because I saw I saw something in that room with us. Something was there whispering into

her ear. I can still hardly believe it, and my mind refuses to even consider the possibilities or ramifications of what that means. I have avoided seeing her the past few days, but I'm due back in a few hours to speak with the middle child, who you may be holding the key to answer some of those what are you doing? You're off of me? Out of it? Stop crazy. If the floorboard creaking didn't wait me up, I'd be dead. She would have stabbed me right in the heart, Hubert,

please calm down. Don't tell me to calm down. Did you see what she did? She tried to kill me. I thought you said the sharp utensils were locked up. It was a pair of pruning shears. Can you believe it? She tried to murder me. Stop at Dorothy, just stop it with her, with our little girl, all right, you have to do something about this. There is something inside of her. That thing is not my Madeleine. You hear me,

it's not. I don't know what it is, but it's not her If you don't do something to help her soon, so help me with them. That's all I want money. You don't know what you're saying as me. I hate you, he says, you're not my real family. There, Madeline, do you know what you tried to do last night? Yes? And I would do it and get it and get it and get to get away from you. Let me go door for you again. As she is sitting in with my interview with Henry. Yes, sorry, Henry and your twelve.

It's okay, Henry, you can talk to him. Yes, what can you tell me about your sister? She's my best friend. They are very close. You love your sister, I can tell. I want you to know that I'm trying to help her. All of us are. Do you understand that? Yes? Does your sister tell you about her friends, the ones she sees they live in the house with us. Have you seen them as well? Go on? Now? Sometimes do they talk to you also? I don't want them to. They

scare me. It's okay. Sometimes the unknown is scary even to me. Does she tell you what they say to her sometimes? And what does she tell you? One of them tells her to do bad things, bad things to you, to your family. I don't know just And does she do them sometimes? Like with your hand the other night and with what she did to your father last night? I guess how is your hand? By the way, it's going to scar, but it's getting better. I help them change the bandages twice a day. Does it hurt? I'm

sorry to hear that. I'm sure we'll stop soon enough, though, Henry, do you know why she does these things? Why they tell her to do them? I don't know why they tell her, but I know why she does them. Why because she wants to go live with them? And do you know where the dark is? Do you want to live with them in the dark. I'm glad to hear that, Henry. You want to help your sister, don't you? Yes, good, because we need your help to help out Madeline. Okay, Abigail.

Her name is Abigail. Her middle name is Abigail. For some reason, Henry and Madeline have a game where they call each other by their names. She calls him Michael and he calls her Abigail. They've been doing it for years, one of those things siblings do. I suppose is she going to be okay? You're not going to take her away? Are you well? Henry? Growing boy? So I'm sure you

understand how serious this is your sister is. She's not well okay, and her outbursts keep getting worse and worse, and we're afraid she's going to hurt someone, even herself. Considering what happened last night, I may need to recommend she go away for a bit, but only so we

can figure out how to treat her. Do you understand I'm going to ask you something that is very important though, Okay, okay, is there something that we're missing, something that maybe we don't know or haven't heard, that can possibly help us. I don't think, So take a moment to think about it, okay, if anything comes to mind. Well, I heard her say once that you love mom. Probert's Madeline. She's gone. What

do you mean gone? She's not here. I was watching her, honest, But then one minute she was there and the next she was gone. With your father, I don't know where did you see her last? Well, we were in the study and she was reading, and then she was gone. Man, Then h m hmmm. Lighthouse will return after a word from our sponsors. And now lighthouse continues August, still no sign of the girl. Her disappearance has taken a toll on her mother, and while there is still tension in

the household, it's of a different kind. No longer does the threat of bodily harm at her hands hang over them, but the thought of their little girl gone missing and not returning has replaced it. Robert the father, has secluded himself from the rest of the family, it seems, and has been coping with the bottle. The two boys, while upset as well, are doing all they can. A few times they've helped me comb over every inch of the house and its grounds to look for her. But a

last and no avail. The police think that it was an intruder, but the family, well, hm, it's been four days. That's a long time to be missing, and I'm beginning to do any more. I don't know where she can be, and I'm afraid that she's gone, gone forever. I understand, and I am very sorry. In my experience, these cases can go either way, but often the patient gets nervous at the thought of being taken away and tries to avoid the inevitable. But she's just a little girl. I

understand that, Mrs Hollis, But children are very resilient. You've seen what has been going on. Tell me what you think. I don't think it's appropriate for me, please, doctor. In my professional opinion, I think that's personal. I I think this is a very unique case, unlike anything I've ever seen before. And to be honest, I'm unsure if modern medicine is what's needed here. There seems to be something else at play here. She's not our little girl, Dorothy,

Mr Hollis, tell her what you really think, doctor. Don't bullshit me, because I know you see it too. Mr Hollis. You're drunk. I think you should perhaps lay down and get some rest. But don't you understand the two of you. You saw what she did, what she was doing, what she tried to do. She's gone, Dorothy, that that thing is not our daughter. What you're saying, oh, I know, I know. No amount of doctors. We're going to fix what was in her, whatever it is was. Don't worry.

I did did what Mr Hollis Robert, do you know something about Madeline's whereabouts? Did you not hear what I said? That ain't Madeleine? Where is Roberts? So care of it, Dorothy. It's the care of the thing and made sure it'll never hurt this family again. What did you do? Robert? Where is the girl? He's gone away? Where is she in the dark room? Oh god, Robert, it's soule A, Dorothy, She's gone, She's gone. What did you do to her? You monster? I'm a monster. I am. Something was inside her,

something it was telling her to kill the family. I had no choice. I had to stop it. What did you do? I knew I had to stop it. I mean, christ you know what she's tried to do to me? So I planned it to end it. She loves that god to and Teddy bear of hers, so I was gonna take it and lure her into the basement with it in my workspace, the dark room, and when she was in there, all alone, defenseless, so is I'm gonna

kill her. Just wrap my hands around her throat and squeeze, squeeze until she couldn't breathe anymore, until she stopped moving. It's tried, my god, I tried. But as I was doing it, I looked to do her eyes and I saw her, I saw her, my little girl. I just I couldn't let her go, and she she dropped to the floor, and I hoped, I hoped she would get up, but she who's already too far gone too It is okay. They couldn't finish when it's start, and they couldn't fix

right had already done. So I left or there. I closed the door, locked her in its just let nates are run. It's course you you killed her. I've protected my family September three time is it doesn't matter. This is the final entry about patient three to file zero three to one to five seven. It's been less than a week since, but I've tried to block the events

of that evening out of my head. It's it's difficult for me to come to terms with it, but I feel as if I can finally put into words onto this recording, and perhaps getting it off my chest will be of some relief, one final act of retribution. Perhaps. After Robert admitted his transgression and Dorothy discovered the body of their young daughter in the dark room, I along

with Robert, joined her. Seeing her there, her small body broken, clutching to her beloved teddy bear, nearly broke me, but I held it together as best I could, as Dorothy was breaking down enough for everyone. This poor child, who knows how long she suffered lying there in the dark, anguishing over the end before death took her. How How could this child, this poor sweet child, be a vessel for such evil? Because that is what happened in Lighthouse.

It harbors an evil something I cannot explain with medical science, something that defies all explanation. Robert, for all his faults, was I hate to say this, but he was right. Madeleine was just going to get worse, keep having outbursts until eventually she would have killed someone, maybe even me. Though he may have taken it too far, It was too late, the deed was already done. But now there was the issue of what to do with her, her her body. So Robert and I, God help us, we

decided to take matters into our own hands. The girl was already reported, were searching for her everywhere, but to invite them into the home again, to let them see this terrible tragedy, it would have been too much for Dorothy to bear. So we we buried her there in the basement, in the dark room, forever, sealing her in the place where she took her final agonizing breath. As we dug deeper and deeper, I felt every bone in my body crying out against my actions, going against every

oath I swore to uphold. But this needed to be done. Whatever had taken hold of her, whatever still remained, it needed to be buried forever, never to be let loose again. We hoped to God that the whole was deep enough, close to the bowels of hell, from where would never return. And as the last patch of dirt was returned to its place, I realized that in a strange way, Madeline did get her wish. She was finally living amongst her friends in the darkness. I am so sorry, so very

sorry for what I have done. Ah I cannot live with this immense guilt, and I hope that we have made the right choice. Please forgive me and my soul for my actions. This is Dr Malcolm Albright MHM, and this is my final entry. I'm sorry, m H m H. Lighthouse is a production of I Heart Radio and Bamford Productions. Chapter six featured the voices of John McCormick, Paulina Logan,

b J Gripp, Ali Trasher, and Alyssa Rose. Written and directed by Jeff Heimbuck audio engineering, an original musical score by Corey Celeste. Production assistants by Alex Gona. Executive produced by Holly Fry. Questions comments, you can reach us at the Man in the Hat is Watching at gmail dot com. Thank you for listening.