Herman

There's a darkness here.

Haunting me.

Changing me.

I'm scared

of what I might become.

Alice.

No! Ooh! Ah!

It calls to me.

It's always worse when it storms.

One more warm night.

One more good meal.

It's lonely out here.

Searching for a God I never believed in.

She always wished I did.

It's been 40 long years

since it took her from me.

I wish I could see her one last time.

The real her.

Not this evil trick.

But that's a fairy tale.

My reality is the darkness.

The torment.

That sound.

And I can't take it anymore.

I need to end it

before it's too late.

There's only one way out.

God have mercy on me.

I know, sweetie.

I don't forget a thing like that

You're the only one who ever understood me.

The only one

who didn|t try to make me feel like some kind of a...

I don't know

what I'd do without you.

You're quite the chef.

What do you mean?

I don't know what else I can do for you.

I don't know how else to be there for you.

What else do you want from me?

I am not jealous.

At least I'm trying not to be.

Just overthinking is all.

When the righteous cry for help,

The Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.

The Lord is near to the

brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Many are the--

Herman.

-Who's there? -It|s Sister Mary and Sister Josephine from the convent.

I'm sorry to bother you, but

our power went out when we lost heat.

Please can we come in?

It|s freezing cold out and storming.

Thank you.

Okay. Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay.

Here you go.

Nice and warm now.

So kind of you to let us stay.

Sister Josephine can't stand the cold for very long

in her condition.

What's her condition?

She can't see very well and has had some confusion

in recent months.

You know, I really don|t have a lot of space here and

kind of have a lot going on.

I completely understand,

and I promise we'll leave just a as the storm passes.

Oh, my.

You know, I'm

I'm not supposed to have visitors.

Right.

You've taken the vow of solitude.

You know me?

Of course. We pray for you.

Well, you shouldn't be here.

I know, and

I promise we wouldn't have come if we didn't have to.

I just knew you had a working fireplace and...

Just until our power comes back on.

When do you think that will be?

Soon.

We hope.

Something smells good.

Were you cooking?

I won't let you take her from me.

Not this time.

Is everything okay?

Yes. Be right out.

Wow. This is delicious.

This is rabbit stew, right?

I love rabbit stew.

It's a real treat.

Is this something that you make often?

Only on rare occasions.

What's the occasion?

Are you celebrating something?

Not exactly.

Is everything okay?

Look, if you're gonna stay here.

I would prefer,

and I think it's best

if we keep to ourselves.

It's nothing personal.

I just can't get over the meal.

I mean, who taught you to cook like this?

Quite the chef.

What is it?

Oh, nothing.

You remind me of someone.

Well, I hope that's a good thing.

If I may ask,

what made you come here?

It's no small thing choosing to be alone.

He|s not alone.

Excuse me. What did she say?

Sometimes Sister Josephine says things.

It is here with you.

What|s here?

Darkness.

You've seen it?

It cannot be seen.

It can only show.

Show what?

-Pain. -Okay, I think we can just--

No. How did she know that?

Like Sisyphus

pushing the rock up the mountain

and down it falls

again and again

forever.

I think Sister Josephine can see just fine.

Jesus says whoever follows me will never walk in darkness.

God has put us here in the darkness.

Why? To watch me suffer?

Herman, if you're suffering,

we're here for you.

You have no idea

what you're dealing with.

Maybe not, but I'm not afraid.

You should be.

It will take everything you love.

What did it take from you?

Everything.

Sorry.

It|ll all be over soon.

The darkness cannot be escaped.

You must

go through the darkness

or its presence will linger here.

I've tried.

I've tried.

It's worse than dying.

On the other side of darkness,

there is light.

Maybe Sister Josephine is right about one thing.

Maybe we're here for a reason.

Maybe we can help you.

I don't want any help.

I don't want to be here anymore.

Where would you rather be?

With her.

Who is that?

Were you married?

You need to leave this place.

It's not safe here.

Why isn't it?

Sister Mary, you don|t understand.

It will infect you.

It will slowly invade your mind. It|ll make you think things.

It makes you see things and,

it makes you feel things.

Terrible things.

Like what?

Quickly, while you still can.

-Please don't make us go back out there. -You need to leave this place.

Trust me. You do not want to be

It|s okay, Herman. God will protect us.

We must stay.

We must.

You're making a serious mistake.

Has it gotten darker?

Yes.

Well, it only gets worse.

It doesn't have to get worse.

You don't know what you're talking about.

I think maybe you've been alone too long, Herman.

But it's okay. We|re here now.

Do you have anyone who cares for you?

Not anymore.

It was your wife, right?

You must have really loved her.

What was she like?

I|m sorry, Herman, for whatever it is that you|re going through.

But I want you to know that you are loved.

God truly loves you.

She was too good for me, and she knew it.

That can't be true.