The Dungeon is the lair of The Musicbox Monster, a malicious and mysterious entity in the Township that preys on those who are trapped in it. The Dungeon is difficult to find, as it usually appears as a set of ruins within the Forest.
History[]
Season 1[]
After climbing through a Farway Tree, Boyd Stevens is transported to the bottom of the dry well in the Dungeon[1]
Season 2[]
Boyd calls out, hoping to get a response. After hearing none, he begins to try and climb out, but slips and falls back down, prompting him to yell in frustration. Boyd calls for Sara from the bottom of the dry well, and laughs bitterly about how she said they would be safe inside the tree, adding that this does not feel safe to him. A voice from the top calls out, and asks Boyd if he is real. Boyd answers that he is, and the voice offers to help Boyd if Boyd helps him. Boyd promises to if he helps him out. The voice says that Boyd has to climb up, and sends a rope down, warning him to hurry because “they” will be back soon. Boyd climbs the dry well, and sees a vision of Ellis at the bottom, talking about the boat. Boyd almost slips, but catches himself. The voice asks if he is ok, and Boyd says he is fine. Boyd reaches the top of the shaft and collapses on the ground in relief. He is startled by the voice, which is impressed that he made it given the length of the climb. Boyd finds the voice belongs to an elderly, emaciated man that is shackled to the wall. The man asks if Boyd has a gun, and when Boyd answers yes, requests that Boyd kill him.[2]
Boyd is shocked by the man’s request, and asks where he is. The shackled man reminds him of their deal, and asks for Boyd to kill him. As Boyd looks around, noticing skeletons shackled to the walls, the man asks if he is from the Town. Boyd answers yes, and the man says he always thought the Town was the worst part, but then he went through the tree. The man muses about how the Farway Trees always take them different places, or sometimes leave them stuck or trapped, and that is when “they” get you. Boyd asks whoo “they” is, but the man says that Boyd has a kind face, and asks for his name. Boyd introduces himself, and the man says his name is Martin. Boyd asks Martin how long he has been imprisoned, but he long ago lost count. Martin says it has been so long since he saw kindness, which is why he urges Boyd to leave. Boyd tries to see if he can free him from his shackles, and notices Martin’s United States Marine Corps tattoo. Boyd reminds him of the “no man left behind” motto, and refuses to leave him behind, but Martin repeats his request for death.
Boyd continues searching for a way to free Martin, who says even if he could be freed, he does not think he could make into Town. Boyd offers to carry him, and shows him the Talisman, which can keep the Creatures away. Martin asks him if he thinks the Creatures imprisoned him and says they are simply the tip of the spear. Boyd tries to change the subject and asks Martin where he is from as he tries to free him. Martin says he is wasting time before the two hear a music box. Martin warns him that they are coming, that there are nightmares in the forest and that Boyd has to escape before the music stops. Boyd finds the music box nearby. Boyd is able to break one of Martin’s chains as the music box keeps playing. Martin then asks Boyd if he ever thinks Abby was right about it all being a dream. A shocked Boyd asks how he knows about that but Martin collapses to the ground. Boyd then notices the worms crawling beneath his skin. The music stops, and Martin says they are out of time. Martin cuts Boyd’s arm and holds his arm to the wound, saying that his blood is now Boyd’s and dies. The dungeon then disappears, with only ruins and the torch in Boyd’s hand left behind. After Boyd makes it safely to the Clairy's Canned Goods Truck, he keeps the torch there.[3]
After the Musicbox Monster possesses Julie Matthews, Marielle and Randall, rendering them comatose, Boyd, Deputy Kenny Liu and Sara Myers go to the ruins of the Dungeon in search of a way to help them. Sara stops and says she can hear the music box, but Boyd and Kenny cannot see it. Sara promises that she can hear it and becomes disturbed, telling Boyd that she can hear Julie, Mari and Randall screaming in pain. Sara’s nose begins to bleed as she begins screaming too, repeating the nursery rhyme and telling them that “it” needs them to stay. Sara tells them that it is laughing at Boyd for bringing it to Town and seeing it free, it wants to hurt them and was so excited when it touched Kenny’s arm. Boyd asks how they can stop it, and Sara tells him that Julie and the others are dying, and when they do it will be too late. Sara tells him he needs to make the music stop, but does not know how as the pain overwhelms her.
While Sara recovers at the Dungeon ruins, Kenny asks Boyd what their plan is. Boyd says they should go back to Town, explaining that there is nothing they can do at the moment. Kenny asks what they tell people, and Boyd says they need to assure them that they are working on it and try to make them feel safe. After returning to Town, Boyd attends his son's wedding to Fatima Hassan, and their vows give him an idea. Boyd then returns to the truck and retrieves the torch. When he lights it, the Dungeon is restored to its full form.
Boyd notices the music box in one corner, while Julie, Marielle and Randall are chained to the wall. Boyd tries to rouse them, but they are unconscious and he promises to free them. Boyd prepares to destroy the music box, but a vision of Abby tells him that destroying it will only prolong all of their suffering. The three victims of the monster then begin screaming. Abby tells him that he believes he needs to be a hero, but none of it really matters and he no longer needs to suffer and he can join her. Boyd recoils from the vision of his wife and asks why this monster is letting her talk to him. Vision Abby responds that hope is what feeds their suffering and pain, made him abandon her when she needed him most, and is what feeds the forest, not fear. Abby tells him to leave the three prisoners, saying they will just die tomorrow if not day. Boyd then smashes the music box with the torch, and all three wake up. The Dungeon then disappears, and Boyd declares victory.[4]
Season 3[]
Julie follows Randall after he storms off, and they find the ruins of the Dungeon. Julie begins feeling something, and is drawn toward the ruins, but Randall stops her from going further. Julie asks if he feels it too, but Randall says he does not and they need to get the van back to Colony House.[5]
Julie continues to fixate on the Dungeon, and returns with Ethan. She explains that since her ordeal, she hears people screaming endlessly. However, when she visited with Randall, the voices quieted for the first time since she woke up. Ethan asks if that's good, and Julie admits she does not know but feels like the ruins want her to enter. Julie says she is scared, and asks Ethan what he would do, given that she sounds like a character in one of his stories. Ethan says she is at a threshold, and while it is scary, the hero needs to be brave, and Ethan offers to go with her. The two cross the arches, and Julie is returned to the restored Dungeon alone. She begins remembering her and the others torture. However, it is a vision, and as Julie seizes on the ground, Ethan calls out for help.
Julie continues to be overwhelmed by sounds of torment in the Dungeon. However, the noises suddenly stop, and Randall and Marielle disappear. She then sees Martin, shackled to the wall, shouting to a voice at the bottom of the dry well that he has to climb. Martin, addressing Julie by name, has her throw the rope down, where it is received by Boyd. Martin thanks Julie and tells her to leave, warning her that it is not safe. As she leaves, she turns back and sees that he has disappeared. Julie exits the doors and finds herself in the Tunnels. She hears her mother and Victor speaking, and follows the sound of their voice towards a light. Ethan arrives with Kenny and Acosta as Julie wakes up, and she pulls her brother into a hug.[6]