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Wake (V.O.): Stephen King once wrote that “Nightmares exist outside of logic, and there’s little fun to be had in explanations; they’re antithetical to the poetry of fear.” In a horror story, the victim keeps asking “why?” But there can be no explanation, and there shouldn’t be one. The unanswered mystery is what stays with us the longest, and it’s what we’ll remember in the end. My name is Alan Wake. I’m a writer.
Wake (V.O.): I’ve always had a vivid imagination, but this dream unsettled me. It was wild and dark and weird even by my standards. So yes, it began with a dream. Following a typical nightmare pattern, I was late, desperately trying to reach my destination — a lighthouse — for some urgent reason I couldn’t remember. I’d been driving too fast down a coastal road to get there. I’d seen the hitchhiker too late. He was dead. I was convinced they’d put me in jail, and I would never see Alice again. Suddenly, his body was gone.
Wake (V.O.): I was in shock from the crash. I could hardly stay on my feet. I had to go to the lighthouse. I knew there was something important waiting for me there. The bridge had collapsed. I’d have to find another way to the lighthouse.
Hitchhiker: You don’t even recognize me, do you, writer? You think you’re God? You think you can just make up stuff? Play with people’s lives and kill them when you think it adds to the drama? You’re in this story now, and I’ll make you suffer! You’re a joke. There wouldn’t be a single readable sentence in your books if it wasn’t for your editor. You’ll never publish another one of your shitty stories, ‘cause I’m gonna kill you! It’s not like your stories are any good, not like they have any artistic merit. You’re a lousy writer. Cheap thrills and pretentious shit! That’s all you’re good for. Just look at me! Look at your work!
Hitchhiker: You missed your deadline! You can’t stop me.
Alan Wake (V.O.): I realized that the hitchhiker was a character from the story I’d been working on.
Hitchhiker: How does it feel to die by the hands of your own creation?
Steward: This way! This way! Hurry! It’s going to collapse! Mr. Wake, it’s me, Clay Steward, remember? Quickly, get inside! There’s no time to lose. Oh no! Stop! No! Die, dammit! Die! No! No! Naahh! Ahh!
Wake (V.O.): I was trapped. There was no way out.
Hitchhiker: Die, die, die, die, die…!
Wake (V.O.): The cabin was a death trap. I had to get out.
Wake: Damn it!
Diver: Follow the light. You are hurt. You should go into the light. You are only safe there. Well done. I have something important to tell you. It goes like this: for he did not know, that beyond the lake he called home, lies a deeper, darker ocean green, where waves are both wilder and more serene. To its ports I’ve been. To its ports I’ve been. Do you understand?
Wake: No.
Diver: Follow my light. I entered your dream to teach you. The darkness is dangerous. It’s sleeping now. When it feels you coming, it will wake up. There’s no time, I can only show you the most important thing. The hitchhiker has been taken over by the Dark Presence. You can’t hurt him now. The darkness protects him from all harm. Only light can drive the darkness away and make him vulnerable again. Here. Take this light. Turn your flashlight toward him and burn the darkness away. You did it. Now the darkness no longer protects him. But it’s still inside, controlling him. He can’t be saved. He is still a threat. He is still your enemy. Here. Take the gun.
Hitchhiker: Now you’ll die!
Diver: Good. You’ve done well. Remember what I’ve taught you. That is all. I will give you back your dream now.
Wake (V.O.): In the nightmare, a terrible darkness was taking over the world. The lighthouse was the last safe place on Earth.
Hitchhiker: You made me this way! And now I’m gonna kill you! This is it, Wake! You’re dead, just like me! Die! You’re dead! I can keep this up forever!
Old Woman: He’s here.
Alice: Alan, wake up.