Episode 2 of American Horror Stories unfolds with a chilling revelation that sends shivers down the spine: Those who perish within the confines of the haunted mansion are forever ensnared within its walls. Scarlett, enveloped in a morbid embrace with her spectral sweetheart Ruby, is lured towards the abyss of suicide, a sinister pact promising eternal companionship. Yet, for now, Scarlett chooses life's fleeting grasp.
As the narrative shifts to a darker, future timeline, detectives intrude upon Scarlett's domicile, their electronic signals leading them to the truth. The cellphones of four vanished maidens pinged from this address, their silence echoing in the void since. Troy and Michael, sensing the rotting odor of impending doom, clam up, steadfast in their decision to remain mute until legal counsel arrives. Mark this moment, for it marks the last whiff of law enforcement throughout the episode's grim tapestry.
The therapist's facade remains intact, while the passage of time reveals at least two months have withered away. Scarlett, unburdened by the weight of her heinous deeds, revels in the twisted dance of pain and terror that permeates the mansion's every corner. She embraces this macabre existence with open arms.
Michael and Troy's finances dwindle, and Adam, a contractor's arrival, only exacerbates the rift between them. Their unlikely alliance deepens into a fleeting romance, before the grotesque truth of Scarlett's secret chamber is uncovered. The lifeless husks of the girls stand sentinel behind the brickwork, their stares frozen in eternal agony. But Adam's betrayal cuts short their horror, as he viciously slays a fellow worker before their eyes.
Enter the figure cloaked in the ominous gimp suit, its blade flashing in the doorway's meager light. They whisper it's a man, yet the veil of mystery shrouds his identity, fueling speculation that Scarlett's sinister hand lurks behind the mask once more. The specters of the house's fallen continue to haunt Michael and Troy, their whispers crescendoing into a deafening roar as Ruby, the vengeful ghost, seals their fates.
Scarlett's response to the news of her parents' demise is eerily apathetic, her heart seemingly hardened by the atrocities she's orchestrated. She betrays little remorse, her soul irredeemably stained by the blood of the innocent.
As the chill of Halloween's night enveloped the town, Scarlett ventured out, accompanied by her ethereal companion Ruby, on a macabre soiree through the streets. Little did they know, their tranquility would be disrupted by the unexpected arrival of Shanti, who confronted Scarlett with a barrage of unanswered messages, accusing her of being a heartless psychopath, devoid of empathy or remorse. Strikingly, throughout the gruesome tale, not a soul among the doomed had betrayed even a hint of sorrow, despair, anger, or shock at their untimely demise and separation from cherished ones.
In the solitude of her abode, Scarlett reached a pivotal moment, issuing a heartfelt apology for the cold-blooded murders of four innocent girls. Miraculously, they forgave her, paving the way for her to sever ties with Ruby and bid a poignant farewell to her parents before packing her bags and exiting the familial haven forever. At the threshold, Scarlett cast a lingering glance at Ruby, whispering, "In this house of shadows, you are the sole being whose suffering fails to elicit a single ounce of satisfaction within me." This cryptic remark echoed, setting the stage for a later revelation.
Ten long months flew by, and the cursed murder mansion had transformed into a facade of blissful domesticity, as if the horrors had never occurred. Meanwhile, Scarlett embarked on a solitary quest, her sights set on Tony Peterson – the very man who had inflicted unspeakable horrors upon Ruby in life. Her heart hardened with purpose, she prepared to strike. Intriguingly, Ruby's ghostly form watched eagerly, her spirit gleaming with joy at the prospect of Scarlett's impending act of vengeance, eager for evidence of the deed in the form of photographs.
