Ray and Ross get back into their car and head back for the hotel, but as you leave town you catch a glimpse of a mysterious Native American watching them from the distance. As soon as you take your eyes of him for a moment he’s gone and leaves you with nothing but an awkward feeling deep inside…
That evening, as you all (All all you that is) have supper in the Valley View Restaurant, Ross happens to make eye contact with a man who is dining alone a few tables away and staring at him intently. Recognizing him from the photograph as Maximilian Delaney he appears to be about 70 years old, mostly bald, and dressed in a dark gray business suit. He is tall and lanky, with piercing blue eyes—which lock onto Mark who is now looking back at him.
The room falls suddenly silent as Delaney and Ross lock gazes. A moment later Ross realizes that time has stopped around him: His friends and the other guests frozen mid-bite, their food and utensils suspended in front of their faces. Only Delaney and Ross are moving… Delaney breaks off eye contact, then ignores Ross as he sips his soup. His voice, however, echoes inside Ross’s head.
“You did well to come here,” the voice says calmly. “You have done all that I have commanded, and I am well pleased. But now you must leave. You cannot begin to phantom the secrets of this valley, and nothing good can come from your interference.”
Before Ross can act, the scene returns to normal and time flows as usual once more. The table where Delaney was sitting is now empty, though his soup bowl and whine glass are still there.