How To Complete The What Lurks Beyond The Pines Side Quest In Dying Light The Beast

The good news is Eli marks his family cabin’s location on your map. But be prepared to find the place broken into by some less-than-friendly squatters. The cabin is crawling with Infected. Clear out the undead riff-raff before you start your investigation. Once the area is secure, head inside the cabin. Look for a map on a table; interacting with it will give you the Cave Spare Key. Then, turn around and rummage through a pile of journals on the floor to find a Congratulatory Letter. These little bits of lore paint a sad picture of William’s life before everything went south.

With the key in your possession, it’s time to find the cave to actually start the What Lurks Beyond the Pines side quest. Head out the back door of the cabin and follow the uphill path with railings. You’ll have a choice to either pick the”boring” walking path or the “hardcore parkour” path. Let’s be real, you’re playing Dying Light, so you know which one to choose. Both paths lead to the same road and, ultimately, the cave entrance. Use that shiny new key to open the door.

Navigating the Cave and Finding William

As you venture into the cave, you’ll come across a small pond. I hope you have a swimsuit because you’re going for a dip. Dive in to find a storage box at the bottom containing a Voltaic Wrench and a Bracelet. Back on dry land, you’ll spot a skeleton with a Reinforced Stick nearby—might as well grab it. Pushing deeper, you’ll find some crates with ammo and resources. Stock up, because you’re going to need it. Eventually, you’ll find William deep inside the cave, looking disoriented. When you approach him, he’s going to mistake you for his son, Eli. You’ll get two dialogue options:

• “I am not your son.”
• “Uhh… Dad, let’s go home.”

Whether you play along or try to snap him out of it, the outcome is the same. William, believing he’s on a mission, will ask you to set four explosive charges around the cave to seal it off. At this point, the What Lurks Beyond The Pines side quest has given you an intra-side quest (or side quest-ception). And in the Dying Light fashion, the cave is swarming with Volatiles. Silly little survivor, you didn’t think it would be that easy, did you?

Explosives Stealth Parkour

Things are about to get really intense! You need to connect cables to four explosives, all while avoiding the Volatiles lurking in the darkness. Stealth and parkour are your best friends here.

The Four Explosives

1. First Explosive: This one’s easy. It’s right across from where you’re standing. Just traverse the nearby platforms to reach it and attach the cable.
2. Second Explosive: Follow the wall handles across the chasm, jump to the opposite wall, and keep climbing. You’ll reach a metal platform with a skeleton on it. Loot it for a Dirty Note (not that type of dirty folks) to get more backstory. From there, continue platforming until you reach the second explosive.
3. Third Explosive: This one requires you to follow a broken cable. Don’t drop to the ground level! Instead, jump between platforms, taking out any stray Infected. You’ll need to repair the cable, which means briefly turning on your flashlight—try to be quick about it. Near the broken cable, there’s another skeleton with another Dirty Note.
4. Fourth Explosive: The grand finale. Follow the cable trail, trying to keep your flashlight off as much as possible. You’ll pass a grisly scene with a wheelchair and more bodies. The final explosive is on a high platform. You’ll need to backtrack slightly and climb some wall handles to get up there.

The Heartbreaking Conclusion

With all four charges set, make your way back to William. Before you talk to him, grab the Police Note from the nearby desk and a Pickaxe sitting on some boxes. When you speak to William, you’ll have another choice; yet, once again, your choice doesn’t change the tragic ending. William, in a moment of clarity and sacrifice, will push you out of the way before detonating the explosives, sealing himself inside with the Infected. All that’s left is to escape the collapsing cave and return to Eli. You can choose to tell him the truth or spare him the details because, overall, the guy lost his father.

Final Thoughts: Yes, I’m Crying! So Are You!

By completing the What Lurks Beyond The Pines side quest, you receive William’s Knife, 2x Beginner Manuals, and 10,000 XP. This small side quest is a somber reminder of the personal tragedies that unfold in the shadow of a global catastrophe. It’s a beautifully crafted, gut-wrenching quest, and a definite must-play for any Dying Light fan. Even in an apocalyptic world, our inner demons can linger with us; however, so can our angels.