The Hollow Catacombs

 is one of the locations within Lorwich, Virginia, the principle location where Alone in the Dark: Illumination takes place.

Author Text
His lungs expelling detritus from the recent blast that had formed Carnby's makeshift exit, he paused to catch his breath. Was there no end to these accursed creatures? They were lesser fiends for sure, vulnerable, but they swarmed like ants, stung like bees and packed together like wolves. A few of the species Carnby now recognized from prior 'investigations' as shadow-servants, creatures spawned from darkness by something far more powerful. A few others, more ominously, he could not identify. Carnby disliked not knowing what he was up against.

Despite the massing menance gnashing outside, Carnby's procedural mind still sought answers. There was no significant coal deposits here. No silver or precious metals that might justify Deluge and Preston's unprofitable investment into the mine. It was simply a byzantine labyrinth of abandoned tunnels and defunct digging equipment, filled floor to ceiling with blasphemous horrors.

Reopening this facility seemed like an act of insanity. Financial suicide. But Carnby knew all too well of the Deluge Company's sordid history, more specifically, the character of the company's sociopathic CEO, Mitch preston. Preston was bold, arrogant, selfish, but not stupid. Since an early age Preston had been obsessed with the reality of the occult. Not heaven and hell, but outer dimensional beings. outer Gods. The legend of the Old Ones. Carnby had worked for Preston once before, until he saw what Preston had been willing to do to get what he wanted. Carnby had walked away and never looked back. Now it seemed their paths were crossing again. Preston reminded Carnby of EZECHIEL PREZGT, the madman who built the Derceto mansion in Louisiana where the Carnby's battle with preternatural darkness had begun.

If Carnby was to truly understand Preston's intentions and uncover what was really behind the dark invasion and downfall of this small town, he would need to press on.

Not that he had much choice. he could not go back the way he came in now. He was past the point of no return.

- The Author