THE MAGNUS ARCHIVES #1 - Anglerfish - Horror Fiction Podcast

Introduction to The Magnus Archives

Overview of the Institute

• Jonathan Sims introduces himself as the new head archivist at the Magnus Institute, London, succeeding Gertrude Robinson.

• He has been a researcher for four years and notes that most supernatural investigations lead to dead ends, emphasizing the rarity of genuine cases.

• The Magnus Institute was founded in 1818 and holds nearly 200 years of case files, which are poorly organized due to a preference for academic work over practical investigation.

Challenges with Archiving

• Sims describes the archive's disarray, with thousands of files scattered or stored in unmarked boxes; many documents are handwritten or typewritten without digital copies.

• He mentions that little actual investigative material is stored in the archives, primarily containing only witness statements.

• Sims plans to digitize files and record audio versions but faces technical difficulties with audio quality on his laptop.

Statement of Nathan Watts

Context of Encounter

• Nathan Watts recounts an encounter from two years prior while studying biochemistry at the University of Edinburgh.

• He explains his social situation as an older student living off-campus and attending a celebration party for a friend's acceptance into a master's program.

Night Out Details

• The gathering took place at Ed's Albanach pub where they enjoyed drinks; Watts admits to overindulging leading to illness later that night.

• After becoming ill around midnight, he decided to walk home through Old Fish Market Close, despite being intoxicated.

Incident Description

• While navigating steep hills in Edinburgh, he fell down Old Fish Market Close but managed to check for injuries afterward.

Encounter in the Dark Alley

Description of the Setting

• The narrator describes a narrow, unlit street with a staircase leading to an entrance where a light fixture is either broken or off, creating total darkness beyond a few steps.

• A figure is spotted on the stairs, mostly shrouded in shadows. The narrator assumes the voice sounds male and suspects both are slightly intoxicated.

Interaction with the Figure

• Despite feeling uneasy, the narrator offers tobacco to the figure but notices something unsettling about their demeanor as they continue swaying without moving closer.

• As details become clearer, the figure's expressionless face and damp skin suggest illness; their swaying becomes more pronounced, evoking discomfort in the narrator.

Realization of Something Wrong

• The figure repeatedly asks for a cigarette in a flat tone, leading to an unsettling realization that it may not be speaking at all; its mouth remains closed.

• Observing that the figure's feet aren't touching the ground raises alarm bells for the narrator as they attempt to illuminate it with their phone.

Disappearance and Aftermath

• Upon turning on their phone's torch, the figure vanishes abruptly into darkness like being pulled back by an unseen force.

• Returning to safety among people and lights, the narrator reflects on this bizarre encounter while recovering from drinking.

Investigation of Events

• The next day reveals no evidence of what transpired; only an unsmoked cigarette is found near where they encountered the figure.

• Research yields no folklore or similar experiences related to Old Fish Market Close; friends dismiss it as drunken imagination despite insistence on clarity during intoxication.

Missing Person Cases

Connection to Disappearances

• Shortly after sharing his experience, missing person appeals surface around campus for John Fellow who was last seen at a party attended by the narrator.

• Notably, John’s appeal photo features Marlboro Red cigarettes similar to those offered earlier by the narrator during his eerie encounter.

Investigative Findings

• An investigation into Mr. Watt's account initially leads towards discrediting it due to lack of corroboration until further digging reveals six disappearances linked to Old Fish Market Close between 2005 and 2010.

Details of Disappearances

• Six individuals went missing: Jessica McCuan (2005), Sarah Baldwin (2006), Daniel Rawlings (2006), Ashley Dobson (2008), Megan Shaw (2008), and John Fellow (2010). All cases remain unsolved.

Unusual Evidence Found

The Mysterious Hand

Observations of the Hand

• Increasing the contrast in the visual reveals the outline of a long, thin hand positioned at what would be waist level on an average male.

• The impression given by the hand is oddly compelling, suggesting it may be beckoning or inviting attention.

Podcast Information

• The Magnus Archives is a podcast produced and directed by Alexander J. Lee, distributed by RustyQuill.com.

• This episode was written and performed by Jonathan Sims.

• The podcast operates under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike International License.

• Listeners are encouraged to comment on episodes, make donations, and access additional content such as links, images, videos, and show notes via RustyQuill.com.