The Story is a Background Case in Alan Wake 2, viewable on the Case Board in Saga Anderson's Mind Place. It is available from Return 3: Local Girl onward and covers Saga's overarching investigation into the reality-altering effects of the Dark Place and Alan Wake's writings.
Cases tab description[]
- Case in progress:
- I feel like I could spend a lifetime trying to understand all of this and still have questions. Still, this makes more sense than it did.
- Case solved:
- I feel like I could spend a lifetime trying to understand all of this and still have questions. Even so, I feel like I'm grasping how all this works a bit better now.
THE STORY[]
| Image | Description | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| THE STORY Wake wrote a book in the Dark Place called "Return." Scratch edited it into a horror story. I need to learn more. |
Start Return 3 |
The pages we’ve been finding are from a horror story called “Return”, written by Alan Wake, and the contents of this book are coming true. Why couldn’t it have been a romance? 
- ― Saga Anderson, case start (MP_METACASE_RETURN_DEDUCTION_RETURN_PHOTO_SAGA_24104)
HOW DOES STORY CHANGE REALITY? RULES?[]
Currently, this question cannot be answered due to unobtainable clues.
- Completion text:
- Art + Dark Place changes reality. If not stopped, story will overwrite reality??
| Image | Description and Tooltip | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Wake: Fiction coming into contact with the Dark Place has the power to change reality. So, whatever you write in the Dark Place becomes reality? It can't be that simple. Alan Wake: "Fiction coming in contact with the Dark Place can change reality. The story is coming true." (ORIGINAL_QUOTE_M_RETURN_WAKE_48721) |
Start Return 3 | |
| Wake: The story changes our reality bit by bit. The process is gradual. That means the effect isn't immediate. There is still time to fix this. Alan Wake: "Last time it didn’t happen all at once. The story came true bit by bit as it unfolded" (ORIGINAL_QUOTE_M_RETURN_WAKE_48720) |
Start Return 3 | |
| Logan's fictional room contains her actual mementos Maybe Wake can't invent wholly new ideas. Has to use what already exists? |
Interact with point of interest in Logan's room in Saga's trailer at the trailer park | |
| The story is affecting more people's memories It's not just Rose - Ilmo and Jaakko are affected, too. How long before my memories are affected? |
Talk to the Koskelas in return 3 | |
| The reality-changing influence of the Dark Place flowed like water flowed. Where a work of art proposed an alternative narrative. So it's not just writing. Other art forms work, too. |
Collect the Manuscript page The Overlap | |
| The stronger the connection between the belief and emotional response, the better. The darker, the better. Sounds like darker, more emotional works are more effective at altering reality. |
Collect the Manuscript page The Overlap |
- The Dark Place makes writing come true, taking something real and nudging it. They’re treating people’s lives like... toys. Can Wake be trusted with that kind of power? Can anyone?
- ― Saga Anderson, section completion (MP_METACASE_RETURN_DEDUCTION_STORY_RULES_SAGA_24105)
WILL MY MEMORIES CHANGE?[]
Currently, this question cannot be opened due to its prerequisite clue being unobtainable.
- Unlocked by: "The story is affecting more people's memories"
- Completion text:
- The horror story can't change my memories, but I'm still affected by its events.
| Image | Description and Tooltip | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| The Anderson family is immune to the effects of the story because of a hereditary power. Good. So long as my head is safe from the story, I can focus on fixing this. Tor Anderson: "Us Andersons aren’t bound by it. You can fight it. Don’t be the story, make the story." (ORIGINAL_QUOTE_M_RETURN_TOR_48718) |
Profile Tor (topic: "The Mind Place") |
- The story doesn’t affect me like it does other people, because of who I am. Because of my family.
- ― Saga Anderson, section completion (MP_METACASE_RETURN_DEDUCTION_MY_MEMORIES_SAGA_24106)
HOW TO STOP THE STORY?[]
- Unlocked by placing the two audio clues from Wake.
- Completion text:
- Only Wake can edit the story - not much time left. Need Clicker to make the fix permanent.
| Image | Description and Tooltip | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Wake: If we don't stop it, Scratch will use the story to permanently change reality at the start of Deerfest. That only gives us two days to stop this. Alan Wake: "Turn the world into a fucking nightmare." (ORIGINAL_QUOTE_M_RETURN_WAKE_49332) |
Start Return 3 | |
| Wake: Must get the Clicker before Scratch. With it, the story can be changed and Scratch will be sent back to the Dark Place. A magic light switch... Where do I even start with that? Alan Wake: "Scratch wants it to bring about his ending. That can’t happen." (ORIGINAL_QUOTE_M_RETURN_WAKE_48713) |
Start Return 3 | |
| Because Wake wrote the story, only Wake can edit it. I'll need Wake's cooperation in order to fix this. I can't do it alone. Tor Anderson: "It’s Tom’s story we’re dealing with, so he’s gotta be the one to rewrite it." (ORIGINAL_QUOTE_M_RETURN_TOR_48717) |
Profile Tor (topic: "The Clicker") |
- Wake needs to be the one to rewrite the ending. And I’ll need to keep an eye on him.
- ― Saga Anderson, section completion (MP_METACASE_RETURN_DEDUCTION_PREVENT_CHANGING_SAGA_24107)
THE "CLICKER"?[]
- Unlocked by the "Wake: Must get the Clicker before Scratch" clue.
- Completion text:
- A light switch w/ supernatural powers. Must be used with art to amplify reality-changing effect.
| Image | Description and Tooltip | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| The Clicker acts like an amplifier. It can magnify the reality changing effects of art. So Wake writes a story, the Dark Place makes it change reality, and the Clicker amplifies that change, making it permanent. Makes... sense? Odin Anderson: "The light switch is like an amp." (ORIGINAL_QUOTE_M_RETURN_ODIN_48719) |
Profile Odin or Tor (topic: "The Clicker") | |
| FBC file on the Clicker and its paranatural qualities The FBC speculates that the Clicker can only be used by a "capable parautilitarian." |
Profile Tor (topic: "Trusting Wake") | |
| The Clicker. He wanted it to make his horrific ending to the story come true. The art was there. The Clicker would push it across the final threshold. Scratch just needs the Clicker to make his ending into reality. Can't let that happen. |
Collect the Manuscript page Scratch On The Hunt |
- The Clicker amplifies any changes to reality suggested by a piece of art- makes them permanent.
- ― Saga Anderson, section completion (MP_METACASE_RETURN_DEDUCTION_CLICKER_SAGA_24108)
THE DARK PLACE...?[]
Currently, this question cannot be answered due to unobtainable clues.
- Completion text:
- Another world reached via Cauldron Lake.
- Home to the Dark Presence.
- Bleeding into our world through Overlaps.
| Image | Description and Tooltip | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Wake was trapped in the Dark Place for 13 years Wake was in another world that entire time? |
Start Return 3 | |
| There is an entity inside the Dark Place called the Dark Presence According to Wake, the Dark Presence can sometimes take his appearance. How? Why? |
Start Return 3 | |
| Wake says that the Dark Place can be accessed from the bottom of Cauldron Lake. So, what? Cauldron Lake is the gateway to some other world...? Saga Anderson: "The Dark Place, which is like New York, but is not New York. And can be reached from the bottom of Cauldron Lake, but is not really under the lake." (ORIGINAL_QUOTE_M_RETURN_SAGA_48714) |
Start Return 3 |
- The Dark Place. A dimension that’s home to monsters. Heh. Wild stuff.
- ― Saga Anderson, section completion (MP_METACASE_RETURN_DEDUCTION_DARK_PLACE_SAGA_24109)
DARK PRESENCE?[]
Currently, this question cannot be answered due to unobtainable clues.
- Unlocked with the clue "There is an entity inside the Dark Place called the Dark Presence"
- Completion text:
- Entity using artists to give itself power via their art. Uses power to corrupt people/try to escape Dark Place.
| Image | Description and Tooltip | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Wake: Scratch and the Dark Presence are "interchangeable." When the Dark Presence looks like Wake, it goes by the name "Scratch." An evil twin is a bit convenient. I'll keep an eye on it. Alan Wake: "He’s Scratch when he looks like me. But he can change into this... other form..." (ORIGINAL_QUOTE_M_RETURN_WAKE_48715) |
Start Return 3 | |
| Wake: In the form of Scratch, the Dark Presence is editing Wake's story. Wants to "turn the world into a fucking nightmare." Okay, well I obviously can't let that happen. Saga Anderson: "But, your double edited it into a horror story that’s now changing reality, taking over people" (ORIGINAL_QUOTE_M_RETURN_SAGA_48716) |
Start Return 3 | |
| The Dark Presence feeds on artists and the art they produce It's not just writing. Music, painting, film, photography - any artistic expression can feed it. |
Interact with the FBC documents in the jail cell during Return 6 | |
| The dark force of the lake was growing stronger. It was trying to make Ilmo and Jaakko be something they were not. The longer this goes on, the more people will get hurt. |
Collect the Manuscript page Ilmo Resists the Dark Presence |
- The Dark Presence leeches onto artists, manipulates their art. What power does it have by itself?
- ― Saga Anderson, section completion (MP_METACASE_RETURN_DEDUCTION_DARK_PRESENCE_SAGA_24110)
LIGHT AND THE DARK PRESENCE?[]
- Unlocked using the clue "Flashlight seems to weaken Taken"
- Completion text:
- Bright light weakens the Dark Presence, can provide protection.
| Image | Description and Tooltip | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Flashlight seems to weaken Taken It would make sense that light is effective against the Dark Presence, too. |
Start Return 3 | |
| Inside, a bright light. Saga felt safe. Like nothing could hurt her here. Well-lit areas are safe from the Dark Presence and the Taken. |
Collect the Manuscript page Saga Finds A Safe Haven | |
| The FBC brought powerful light arrays to subdue the Taken Looks like the FBC is also aware of the Dark Presence's weakness. |
Fend off Scratch at the Sheriff Station (Return 6) |
- The Dark Presence is vulnerable against bright light. At least that makes sense.
- ― Saga Anderson, section completion (MP_METACASE_RETURN_DEDUCTION_LIGHT_DARK_SAGA_24111)
HOW DOES THE DARK PRESENCE CORRUPT PEOPLE?[]
- Unlocked by: the Ilmo Resists The Dark Presence clue
- Completion text:
- Dark Presence uses a person's desire, anger, guilt, fear, etc. to corrupt them.
| Image | Description and Tooltip | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| He'd been on the trail of the writer forever. The writer he despised. He'd be caught. Murdered. He was reborn out of hate. Nightingale hated Wake. Did that Darkness use that hatred? |
Collect the Manuscript page Nightingale In The Dark Place | |
| Emmett Elwood had had enough. They reached at him with their unwashed hands. He'd beat them down. Beat them until they no longer moved. The Dark Presence used his phobia, amplified it into hate. |
Collect the Manuscript page Emmeet Taken | |
| "No one will find her corpse." But a secret like this doesn't die. It grew inside them. The darkness taking over. Mulligan and Thornton's guilt was a door for the Dark Presence. |
Collect the Manuscript page Deputies In The Morgue | |
| He felt like he was drowning. With every cough, the black hole grew bigger. He imagined looking through it. Into the darkness. The black hole grinned. This man was dying - pneumonia? The Dark Presence used his fear and pain. |
Collect the Manuscript page Gail Taken | |
| Cynthia had loved Thomas Zane. Tom only had eyes for Barbara. They'd be together now She sank into dark water. Into Tom. Cynthia had an unrequited love? Did the Dark Presence twist her feelings for Tom to corrupt her? |
Collect the Manuscript page Cynthia And Tom |
- The Dark Presence uses people’s weaknesses to corrupt them. Their guilt, fear, even their love.
- ― Saga Anderson, section completion (MP_METACASE_RETURN_DEDUCTION_DARK_CORRUPTS_SAGA_24112)
THE OVERLAP...?[]
- Unlocked using the "Saga Pursues Nightingale" clue
- Completion text:
- Where the Dark Place and our world "Overlap." Connected to urban legends, traumatic events? Piece of art needed to enter.
| Image | Description and Tooltip | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| some other strange reality, the Dark Place, merged with ours. This place and the Dark Place The page called this area an "Overlap." The page describes the Overlap being related to the Dark Place - where Wake was. |
Collect the Manuscript page Saga Pursues Nightingale | |
| Area around an Overlap is always flooded Does the Overlap cause the flooding...? |
Complete the Valhalla Nursing Home Overlap | |
| Bedtime stories, folktales, urban legends connected to a specific place. These were the sites where Overlaps came to be. So Overlaps can only form in specific places. |
Collect the Manuscript page The Overlap | |
| An Overlap needed a push from both directions to manifest itself Reality eroded by repeated dark lore And a counterpoint, crafted in depths of the the Dark Place connecting the story on the other side For the Overlap to form, it can't just be an urban legend - it must be supported by an accompanying narrative in the Dark Place. |
Collect the Manuscript page The Murder Sites |
- They’re literal overlaps between our world and the Dark Place. Did Wake name all these things?
- ― Saga Anderson, section completion (MP_METACASE_RETURN_DEDUCTION_OVERLAP_SAGA_24113)
HOW TO ENTER?[]
- Completion text:
- A song about remorse. A float about murder. A poem about terror. I'm seeing a pattern.
All artistic works tied to dark events.
- A song about remorse. A float about murder. A poem about terror. I'm seeing a pattern.
| Image | Description and Tooltip | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| I entered the Cauldron Lake Overlap by reciting the poem The poem was about a local legend - a witch's lost heart. About terror. |
Start Return 3 | |
| I entered the Watery Overlap by completing the parade float The float was about a murder. The specific content of the art seems significant. |
Enter the Huotari Well Overlap (Return 3) | |
| I entered the Dark Place by playing Tor and Odin's song The theme of the song was regret - remorse for how Tor treated my mother. |
Enter the Valhalla Nursing Home Overlap (Return 5) |
- Overlaps require pieces of art to enter. Is that because of the Dark Place’s focus on art?
- ― Saga Anderson, section completion (MP_METACASE_RETURN_DEDUCTION_ENTER_OVERLAP_SAGA_24114)
CASE: CLOSED[]
| Image | Description | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| CASE: CLOSED I feel like I could spend a lifetime trying to understand all of this and still have questions. Even so, I feel like I'm grasping how all this works a bit better now. |
Find all the clues and complete the last question in the case board |
- For every answer, I have a thousand more questions. But I know enough now. Enough to finish this case and stop the Dark Presence.
- ― Saga Anderson, case completion (MP_METACASE_RETURN_DEDUCTION_RETURN_CASE_CLOSED_SAGA_24115)