Tunnels

The Tunnels are a system of caves located, unbeknownst to its inhabitants, directly beneath the Town. It is where the Creatures sleep during the day, and its walls are covered in mysterious cave paintings made by them.

History[]

Season 1[]

While Tabitha Matthews is digging in her house's basement, the floor collapses and she lands in a cave, where she is found by Victor. Victor says that the Boy in White said she would come, and that he was supposed to wait for her. As tremors shake the house above her, Victor says that it isn’t safe, for the tunnels are where the Creatures sleep, and shows her the cave paintings that they make. before dragging her off.^[1]

Season 2[]

Victor leads Tabitha through the tunnels. Tabitha asks where they are going but Victor tells her not to talk, lest they wake the Creatures, who sleep in the caverns beneath the Town, and explains that he was told by the Boy in White to wait for her. As they walk, Tabitha finds a suitcase with a wedding dress inside, but Victor urges her to keep moving because the Creatures will wake up soon. They continue making their way through the tunnels. After seeing rats feeding on the corpse of a bird, Tabitha says they should go back but Victor tells her they have to go through and be brave.

As they press on, they find a number of sleeping creatures surrounded by a collection of random objects, including the ventriloquists dummy, the sight of which causes Victor to run off. Tabitha finds him curled up in a corner, and asks him which way they should go. Victor says he is scared, because this isn’t the way the Boy told him to go. Tabitha tells him that they have to be brave and keep moving, and chooses one of the tunnels in the fork. Tabitha and Victor find a chamber with various archways blocked by sticks, and a stacked pile of stones in the center. A ball-like stone is rolled from one, knocking the stacked stones over. Tabitha examines one of the archways, and sees a vision of a Ghoulish Child, frightening her. Victor warns her that the Creatures are beginning to wake up, and they panic before heading down another tunnel that leads to an exit in the forest.^[2]

Tabitha experiences a vision of the Ghoulish Children from the caves after Ethan assembles a wooden block puzzle similar to the one she saw in the tunnels.^[3] Tabitha assembles Ethan’s block puzzle by the mouth of the caves and announces her presence. The Ghoulish Children emerge from the Forest, all saying “anghkooey” repeatedly. Tabitha tries to ask who they are but they surround her and begin touching her, overwhelming her. After they disappear, Jade arrives, and Tabitha asks if he saw them. Jade points out her nose is bleeding and asks what she means.^[4]

Jade bikes to the mouth of the caves and ties a spool of thread to a tree outside and heads inside. As he ventures inside, he is startled when he comes face to face with a ventriloquists dummy, which he pokes to ascertain that it is a normal toy before heading further inside. Jade continues to venture deeper into the tunnels, and stops at the large chamber. Suddenly, altars with the Ghoulish Children appear, surrounding him, as they all chant “anghkooey.” When Jade looks up, the roots on the roof of the tunnel have formed the symbol, with light from the sky shining through it. The visions then disappear, leaving him alone.^[5]