Ghouls of the Miskatonic/Chapter 9
Plot
Rex and Minnie are searching for clues regarding Lydia's last known whereabouts in Arkham's nightclubs. After gathering information on the Miskatonic campus, they are directed to The Commercial. They gain entrance to the club by bribing the doorman, who directs them to Rufus, a club worker, for further assistance.
At Miskatonic University, Oliver and Finn visit one of the electrical engineering labs, hoping to meet Dr. Hayes for assistance in analyzing the silver sphere. Dr. Hayes is absent, but his student, Kate Winthrop, offers her help. Finn explains his unsettling experience with the sphere and shows it to her. Kate takes a keen interest, explaining its alignment with her research on Arkham's severely disrupted electromagnetic fields. She activates a flux stabilizer, a device designed to strengthen or weaken localized electromagnetic fields, causing profound discomfort to both Finn and Oliver. Kate further demonstrates another device that records electromagnetic flux density, explaining that by measuring these fields, one can pinpoint weak spots in the fabric of reality. The ultimate purpose of her research is to strengthen the electromagnetic field to "shore up walls between worlds."
Back at The Commercial, Rex and Minnie find Rufus at the bar near the dance floor. Rufus offers drinks and cigarettes to them, which Rex happily accepts. Despite Rufus revealing that he is blind, he confirms that he "saw" Lydia at the club a week prior. He noted Lydia was dancing, drinking, and smoking excessively before leaving with another girl and two men. Rex becomes heavily intoxicated from the drinks, and Minnie assists him as they depart.
Amanda awakens in a dark cave, her dress torn, and herself bound in chains. She recalls leaving The Commercial with Rita and heading towards the Garrison Street Bridge to return home. A misty cloud suddenly appeared, from which ghoulish animals had emerged and dragged them both away. Amanda is then startled to discover another person in the cave, who turns out to be Rita, also chained. As Rita attempts to reassure Amanda that they will escape, a monstrous, ghoul-like creature emerges.