I can't...I can't believe what I've done. I can't change it.
I feel like I want to die. I deserve to die. I should die.
I made everything worse. I was the traitor to my allies, my friends. I wasn't thinking straight.
I have my gun here with me.
I think
Frank's here. I don't understand. I heard a noise in the kitchen, and there he was. He offered me a glass of cola.
He says he's here to do what must be done.
I asked him what that was, and he just told me to keep drinking. I'm starting to feel funny. He's trying to kill me, isn't he? He put something in the drink!
Good thing I still have my gun with me. I don't think he's seen it yet.
He apologized, but says he had to stop me.
He's been watching me, hasn't he? He was in on the whole thing, wasn't he?!
Apology not accepted.
I'll wait until his back is turned.
Nonono... I can't. Not again.
"What're you doing?"
He must think I have nothing left to write now.
Funny how this all started out as me, an idiot writing about things I didn't understand. I understand now. These things, whatever they are, are not to be trifled with. And they are unstoppable. The End will come and no one can stop it.
I'm sorry. For everything. I want to tell him that. I want to tell all of them that. I lost my mind. I don't know what happened. Lina... Frank... I've been such an asshole.
I need to apologize. But...that won't be enough. Can't be enough.
I deserve to die. I have to do it.
I'll wait until he leaves.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
The Man in the Hat
I took a drive this morning in Lina's old car. Hasn't been used in a long time.
I was thinking about everything that's happened lately. Oh, God! I've done such terrible things!
I wish I could take them back, undo them. I wish there was something I could do to fix it.
I don't know how to atone for my sins.
After I parked the car in the garage, I headed to the elevator that would take me to the top. That's when I saw him.
The man with the hat. He was wearing a gray fedora and suit. At first I didn't know for sure it was the same guy that Torrance mentioned.
He was staring at me.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"Nobody." He smirked. He glanced at a pocketwatch in his hand; I could hear it ticking.
The elevator arrived and I stepped in. I heard him say, "This is gonna be good."
As the doors closed I could still hear the ticking.
I was thinking about everything that's happened lately. Oh, God! I've done such terrible things!
I wish I could take them back, undo them. I wish there was something I could do to fix it.
I don't know how to atone for my sins.
After I parked the car in the garage, I headed to the elevator that would take me to the top. That's when I saw him.
The man with the hat. He was wearing a gray fedora and suit. At first I didn't know for sure it was the same guy that Torrance mentioned.
He was staring at me.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"Nobody." He smirked. He glanced at a pocketwatch in his hand; I could hear it ticking.
The elevator arrived and I stepped in. I heard him say, "This is gonna be good."
As the doors closed I could still hear the ticking.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Reckoning
After I went home, I had trouble breathing normally. I was hyperventilating.
Not just because of what had just happened. It hit me.
All of it.
I wept for hours.
Oh, God! What have I done?!
Not just because of what had just happened. It hit me.
All of it.
I wept for hours.
Oh, God! What have I done?!
Checking on Ralph
I found out I was in Texas. That's kind of random.
So I got a flight back to L.A. I'm home now. I feel I need to take some time to get my thoughts and feelings together before I do something I'll regret later.
After I freshened up and composed myself, I went to visit Ralph in the hospital. To my surprise, he was up and walking around, and he was mumbling to himself. He didn't seem to notice my presence.
As I got closer, I heard that he was saying things like, "You have to let me in" and "Let us infuse your life with something special!"
I recognized the latter as the slogan of that Illumination drink and its manufacturer.
When he saw me, he straightened up. "Hello," he said in a hoarse voice.
"Hello," I answered.
"So how's everyone? How's Lina doing?"
I was silent a moment, trying my best to keep back the tears. I think my voice cracked a bit anyway.
"She--she's fine," I said. "Everyone's fine."
I couldn't bear to look him in the eyes.
"They're home waiting for you to get better!" I smiled a false smile.
He had hope on his face. "I can't wait to get married. I'll be with that beautiful babe for the rest of my life." He closed his eyes, imagining the future. "We'll be together. We'll have beautiful children. Lots of 'em. My kids'll overrun the world!" He chuckled.
I could only nod. He must have noticed the sadness in my eyes on the verge of tears, because he looked more grave again.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," I said. "Just happy that you'll be better again in time for the wedding."
Beaming, he said, "I am too. Just so long as the wedding doesn't turn out to be a hallucination."
Self-deprecation. That was the Ralph I know.
We shook hands and I was about to go.
Then something changed in his eyes.
Before I could do anything, he lunged at me, screaming, "Can you hear the music?! It's coming! The music is coming!" Several nurses had to peel him off me.
I fled from there as fast as I could.
So I got a flight back to L.A. I'm home now. I feel I need to take some time to get my thoughts and feelings together before I do something I'll regret later.
After I freshened up and composed myself, I went to visit Ralph in the hospital. To my surprise, he was up and walking around, and he was mumbling to himself. He didn't seem to notice my presence.
As I got closer, I heard that he was saying things like, "You have to let me in" and "Let us infuse your life with something special!"
I recognized the latter as the slogan of that Illumination drink and its manufacturer.
When he saw me, he straightened up. "Hello," he said in a hoarse voice.
"Hello," I answered.
"So how's everyone? How's Lina doing?"
I was silent a moment, trying my best to keep back the tears. I think my voice cracked a bit anyway.
"She--she's fine," I said. "Everyone's fine."
I couldn't bear to look him in the eyes.
"They're home waiting for you to get better!" I smiled a false smile.
He had hope on his face. "I can't wait to get married. I'll be with that beautiful babe for the rest of my life." He closed his eyes, imagining the future. "We'll be together. We'll have beautiful children. Lots of 'em. My kids'll overrun the world!" He chuckled.
I could only nod. He must have noticed the sadness in my eyes on the verge of tears, because he looked more grave again.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," I said. "Just happy that you'll be better again in time for the wedding."
Beaming, he said, "I am too. Just so long as the wedding doesn't turn out to be a hallucination."
Self-deprecation. That was the Ralph I know.
We shook hands and I was about to go.
Then something changed in his eyes.
Before I could do anything, he lunged at me, screaming, "Can you hear the music?! It's coming! The music is coming!" Several nurses had to peel him off me.
I fled from there as fast as I could.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Solitude
Looking through the documents I stole, I found something interesting that Larry would enjoy. (Apparently STAB and the SCP guys keep tabs on each other.)
A house in a nearby town.
There's something odd about it: it's full of strange occult artifacts that have the curious ability to bend space. Apparently it's unclear how to use any of the objects. But I did something right.
In the early hours of the morning I dragged the others out of bed (so they'd be really tired and struggle less) and I made them get in the car.
Then I drove to the location specified. It's supposedly a nature preserve, but I knew better. A bunch of SCP whatsits were there. Don't know if they're part of STAB or not. They began shooting at me on sight.
I drove on past them, sometimes lifting my shield to protect my face.
The car took a lot of bullets, and the others were screaming their heads off. Finally, the car wasn't working so well, so I jumped out and ducked for cover, quickly getting them out and crouching beside me.
"What are you doing?!" Fran screamed. "You're going to get us killed! See this is why I can't stand..."
She trailed off.
I said, "I found a haunted house that Larry will surely love!"
He shouted, "I don't love anything that causes me to lose my life before I can enjoy it! And what does this have to do with your sister or revenge?"
It took several clips, but I finally got all the SCP people. We safely proceeded to the house that was being hidden from the public.
I think my "friends" only went ahead and came with me because they were already here and they were curious.
Of course, I was planning on abandoning them the whole time. But at least they were somewhat cooperative.
How was I to get away without working transportation? I was going to cross that bridge when I came to it. All I knew was that I had to find a way to trap them here and get away myself.
As we entered, though, we could hear a siren. I knew from the documents that these SCP people had placed a nuke nearby in case their containment area was breached. It must have been activated.
I had to hurry.
Once we were inside, I started touching objects and moving them around to see what would happen.
"What are you doing?" cried Fran. "We have to get out of here!"
"She's right, man," said Larry.
I ignored them both and kept moving things around.
Suddenly we were outside.
Before our eyes, the house blew up. Then the explosion reversed itself.
The intact house wasn't the one we had entered, nor was the surrounding area the same. We were in a desert or something.
None of us knew where we were.
The house blew up and came back together a few more times.
"Huh," I said.
"It's a time loop!" cried Larry. "Well, sort of. It happens over and over, but with a rewind in between. I've never seen anything like it." He seemed awestruck.
And that's when I conceived of my plan.
I pulled my gun on them. My emotional instability must've convinced them I was serious. I carefully held the shield before us as we slowly made our way forward.
Every few seconds the house would explode again, then contract during the next few seconds.
Once we were at the edge of the explosion, I forced them to run forward.
I didn't know that the shield would work for sure, but fortunately it did.
We got in the midst of the flames unscathed. The house came back together around us. A family was there, going about their normal routine when the house exploded again.
I put the shield up and kept us safe. Then I told them goodbye and turned to make my way to the front door, since the house was together again. They started to ask why I was doing this when the explosion replayed itself. The shield still kept them safe from the time loop's effects for the moment.
"Because," I explained, "you are TRAITORS TO ME AND TO LINA. YOU TRIED TO HAVE ME KILLED."
They tried to deny involvement in the attack, but I SAW through their LIES.
"Mommy, who are they?" asked a little boy walking through the kitchen when he saw us; he was a member of the household. They were dressed like they were from the 1950s.
Before the woman could turn around or answer, the house exploded again.
"Goodbye," I said. "You have to PAY FOR YOUR SINS."
"Mommy, who are they?"
"Don't go, please!" yelled Fran as the house came together again. I started out the door. Larry frowned at me silently.
Fran yelled after me, in quick bursts. "Please! Listen to me! You have to listen! There's going to be a war!" I exited the door. "We have to stop it! It's going to--"
The house exploded again. But I was safe.
From a distance away, I could still hear, every few seconds, "Please! Listen to me! You have to listen! There's going to be a war! We have to stop it! It's going to--" And then it would reverse.
Some distance from the house, I came near a warehouse where some SCP guys were keeping an eye on the time loop. They just stared at me in wonder as I walked past. Must've been because I was able to escape the loop. Some of them tried to stop me, but I threatened them with my gun. Only one actually tried to shoot me. The bullet was deflected and hit one of his fellows in an artery in his neck.
My job done, I found a place to stay. Fortunately, I still have my iPad with me to update this blog. I will MAKE THOSE STAB AGENTS PAY soon.
Now I am truly alone.
A house in a nearby town.
There's something odd about it: it's full of strange occult artifacts that have the curious ability to bend space. Apparently it's unclear how to use any of the objects. But I did something right.
In the early hours of the morning I dragged the others out of bed (so they'd be really tired and struggle less) and I made them get in the car.
Then I drove to the location specified. It's supposedly a nature preserve, but I knew better. A bunch of SCP whatsits were there. Don't know if they're part of STAB or not. They began shooting at me on sight.
I drove on past them, sometimes lifting my shield to protect my face.
The car took a lot of bullets, and the others were screaming their heads off. Finally, the car wasn't working so well, so I jumped out and ducked for cover, quickly getting them out and crouching beside me.
"What are you doing?!" Fran screamed. "You're going to get us killed! See this is why I can't stand..."
She trailed off.
I said, "I found a haunted house that Larry will surely love!"
He shouted, "I don't love anything that causes me to lose my life before I can enjoy it! And what does this have to do with your sister or revenge?"
It took several clips, but I finally got all the SCP people. We safely proceeded to the house that was being hidden from the public.
I think my "friends" only went ahead and came with me because they were already here and they were curious.
Of course, I was planning on abandoning them the whole time. But at least they were somewhat cooperative.
How was I to get away without working transportation? I was going to cross that bridge when I came to it. All I knew was that I had to find a way to trap them here and get away myself.
As we entered, though, we could hear a siren. I knew from the documents that these SCP people had placed a nuke nearby in case their containment area was breached. It must have been activated.
I had to hurry.
Once we were inside, I started touching objects and moving them around to see what would happen.
"What are you doing?" cried Fran. "We have to get out of here!"
"She's right, man," said Larry.
I ignored them both and kept moving things around.
Suddenly we were outside.
Before our eyes, the house blew up. Then the explosion reversed itself.
The intact house wasn't the one we had entered, nor was the surrounding area the same. We were in a desert or something.
None of us knew where we were.
The house blew up and came back together a few more times.
"Huh," I said.
"It's a time loop!" cried Larry. "Well, sort of. It happens over and over, but with a rewind in between. I've never seen anything like it." He seemed awestruck.
And that's when I conceived of my plan.
I pulled my gun on them. My emotional instability must've convinced them I was serious. I carefully held the shield before us as we slowly made our way forward.
Every few seconds the house would explode again, then contract during the next few seconds.
Once we were at the edge of the explosion, I forced them to run forward.
I didn't know that the shield would work for sure, but fortunately it did.
We got in the midst of the flames unscathed. The house came back together around us. A family was there, going about their normal routine when the house exploded again.
I put the shield up and kept us safe. Then I told them goodbye and turned to make my way to the front door, since the house was together again. They started to ask why I was doing this when the explosion replayed itself. The shield still kept them safe from the time loop's effects for the moment.
"Because," I explained, "you are TRAITORS TO ME AND TO LINA. YOU TRIED TO HAVE ME KILLED."
They tried to deny involvement in the attack, but I SAW through their LIES.
"Mommy, who are they?" asked a little boy walking through the kitchen when he saw us; he was a member of the household. They were dressed like they were from the 1950s.
Before the woman could turn around or answer, the house exploded again.
"Goodbye," I said. "You have to PAY FOR YOUR SINS."
"Mommy, who are they?"
"Don't go, please!" yelled Fran as the house came together again. I started out the door. Larry frowned at me silently.
Fran yelled after me, in quick bursts. "Please! Listen to me! You have to listen! There's going to be a war!" I exited the door. "We have to stop it! It's going to--"
The house exploded again. But I was safe.
From a distance away, I could still hear, every few seconds, "Please! Listen to me! You have to listen! There's going to be a war! We have to stop it! It's going to--" And then it would reverse.
Some distance from the house, I came near a warehouse where some SCP guys were keeping an eye on the time loop. They just stared at me in wonder as I walked past. Must've been because I was able to escape the loop. Some of them tried to stop me, but I threatened them with my gun. Only one actually tried to shoot me. The bullet was deflected and hit one of his fellows in an artery in his neck.
My job done, I found a place to stay. Fortunately, I still have my iPad with me to update this blog. I will MAKE THOSE STAB AGENTS PAY soon.
Now I am truly alone.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
REST STOP CLOSE CALL
We were at a rest stop a little bit ago, and SOMEBODY tried to KILL ME!
I was standing there, stretching my legs, waiting on Fran and Larry, when I was SHOT AT.
The Shield kept me safe, of course, but still. When I looked up in the direction the bullet came from, I saw people on a nearby roof. And one of them was Judgment! That SOB is going to pay! STOP WATCHING ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At the sound of gunfire, Larry and Fran ran out to see what happened. I told them I was safe, no thanks to them.
I like how they were CONVENIENTLY OUT OF VIEW OF THE SNIPER.
It's like they ratted me out or something. THEY WOULDN'T DO THAT, WOULD THEY?!
And on top of all this, they keep trying to convince me to go home.
If they try to hijack the car again, I might have to follow through with one of my THREATS this time.
I was standing there, stretching my legs, waiting on Fran and Larry, when I was SHOT AT.
The Shield kept me safe, of course, but still. When I looked up in the direction the bullet came from, I saw people on a nearby roof. And one of them was Judgment! That SOB is going to pay! STOP WATCHING ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At the sound of gunfire, Larry and Fran ran out to see what happened. I told them I was safe, no thanks to them.
I like how they were CONVENIENTLY OUT OF VIEW OF THE SNIPER.
It's like they ratted me out or something. THEY WOULDN'T DO THAT, WOULD THEY?!
And on top of all this, they keep trying to convince me to go home.
If they try to hijack the car again, I might have to follow through with one of my THREATS this time.
An exciting day
The others aren't happy that I've brought them here. They keep demanding to be taken home. They say petty revenge isn't worth it. Well, I'm telling YOU--THIS IS NOT PETTY REVENGE!
It's fair play. Eye for an eye. Show them they are weak when someone stands up to them!
"Don't you think you've done enough?"
ENOUGH? WHEN IS MAKING MY SISTER'S MEMORY MORE MEANINGFUL ENOUGH--OR WHAT THEY REALLY MEAN, TOO MUCH? I WILL NOT STOP UNTIL THEY GET THE MESSAGE. THEY CHOSE US FOR THEIR SECRET MOTIVES. I WILL NOT STOP UNTIL THEY PAY FOR THEIR SINS.
The only thing that can be detrimental right now is my lack of protection. I don't have any armor or anything, so that could be a problem. Otherwise I'm excited about getting to the facility.
I just got an idea! It's a wonderful idea. I'm not going to spoil it yet in case you're reading this, Fran, Larry!
EDIT: I did it! I did it! Ha!
The instructions were a bit wrong, though.
I got the Shield of Solitude, one of the Objects I talked about in the past. I found a halfway house for recovering drug addicts and went to the front desk and asked to see the Holder of Solitude, carefully keeping my head down.
Once I found myself in the strange place on that path, I kept going, but there was no sign of any creature there. I was truly alone.
Thoughts of betrayal by the others kept nagging at me, though.
Finally I came to the obsidian pillar mentioned in the instructions, but that thing, that thing that I have no words for was not like any gargoyle I've ever seen.
True to the intructions, though, this otherworldly something or other enveloped me and showed me the lives of all who've ever lived, as stars winking out. It felt like forever.
My star was last and I wasn't shown my own fate.
I shut my eyes and traversed dimensions unknown to man. I found myself in a small room, alone. There was a shield on the wall, and I took it, suddenly finding myself back at the halfway house. The person at the desk scowled at me as I left.
Now I have a shield against my enemies. And friends, if need be.
Also, I don't think they read this. They would've said something about this morning's unfortunate accident.
It's fair play. Eye for an eye. Show them they are weak when someone stands up to them!
"Don't you think you've done enough?"
ENOUGH? WHEN IS MAKING MY SISTER'S MEMORY MORE MEANINGFUL ENOUGH--OR WHAT THEY REALLY MEAN, TOO MUCH? I WILL NOT STOP UNTIL THEY GET THE MESSAGE. THEY CHOSE US FOR THEIR SECRET MOTIVES. I WILL NOT STOP UNTIL THEY PAY FOR THEIR SINS.
The only thing that can be detrimental right now is my lack of protection. I don't have any armor or anything, so that could be a problem. Otherwise I'm excited about getting to the facility.
I just got an idea! It's a wonderful idea. I'm not going to spoil it yet in case you're reading this, Fran, Larry!
EDIT: I did it! I did it! Ha!
The instructions were a bit wrong, though.
I got the Shield of Solitude, one of the Objects I talked about in the past. I found a halfway house for recovering drug addicts and went to the front desk and asked to see the Holder of Solitude, carefully keeping my head down.
Once I found myself in the strange place on that path, I kept going, but there was no sign of any creature there. I was truly alone.
Thoughts of betrayal by the others kept nagging at me, though.
Finally I came to the obsidian pillar mentioned in the instructions, but that thing, that thing that I have no words for was not like any gargoyle I've ever seen.
True to the intructions, though, this otherworldly something or other enveloped me and showed me the lives of all who've ever lived, as stars winking out. It felt like forever.
My star was last and I wasn't shown my own fate.
I shut my eyes and traversed dimensions unknown to man. I found myself in a small room, alone. There was a shield on the wall, and I took it, suddenly finding myself back at the halfway house. The person at the desk scowled at me as I left.
Now I have a shield against my enemies. And friends, if need be.
Also, I don't think they read this. They would've said something about this morning's unfortunate accident.
Misunderstanding
So we're in Idaho now.
I've been researching about what that guy who called himself Judgment said. I think he might be the guy from Case #4. Anyway, I've been looking stuff up about people with eyes all over them, like Argus from Greek mythology, and the All-Seeing Eye and its connections to the Illuminati conspiracy theories. I still don't think I believe in those theories, but it sheds some light on what he was talking about.
Supposedly the Illuminati want to bring about the New World Order and control the world with one government. Complete power.
Maybe they're working for a similar goal. I don't know.
I'm not going to tell Fran and Larry this, though. They'd hate me more. You see, this morning while they were still asleep, I was afraid those STAB guys or those traitorous servants of the Witch might be after us, so I got up and snuck out to buy more ammunition for my gun.
At the gun shop, I asked the guy behind the counter for ammunition.
"What caliber?" he asked.
I placed the gun on the counter. "Whatever kind goes with this gun. I don't really know about these kinds of things." I smiled sheepishly. He looked amused.
A moment later I had my ammunition bought and paid for. But as I turned to go, I noticed something.
The man was walking into the back. His gait was slow and deliberate. Stiff.
"Hey!" I yelled.
He stopped and turned around.
"I can see that you're a Puppet of that Witch!"
"What?" he said.
"Yeah," I said, trying to keep him talking long enough to load the gun.
He started to look worried. "What the f--"
I shot him.
A young man came out of the back room and stared in horror. "What'd you do that for?!" he asked in disbelief.
"He was being controlled by something not human. I could tell by his awkward walking."
"He had an accident years ago and his legs were messed up. They had to fuse the bones. What were you--? Ohmigod!"
He ran to call the cops and I hightailed it out of there.
Am I losing my mind?
I've been researching about what that guy who called himself Judgment said. I think he might be the guy from Case #4. Anyway, I've been looking stuff up about people with eyes all over them, like Argus from Greek mythology, and the All-Seeing Eye and its connections to the Illuminati conspiracy theories. I still don't think I believe in those theories, but it sheds some light on what he was talking about.
Supposedly the Illuminati want to bring about the New World Order and control the world with one government. Complete power.
Maybe they're working for a similar goal. I don't know.
I'm not going to tell Fran and Larry this, though. They'd hate me more. You see, this morning while they were still asleep, I was afraid those STAB guys or those traitorous servants of the Witch might be after us, so I got up and snuck out to buy more ammunition for my gun.
At the gun shop, I asked the guy behind the counter for ammunition.
"What caliber?" he asked.
I placed the gun on the counter. "Whatever kind goes with this gun. I don't really know about these kinds of things." I smiled sheepishly. He looked amused.
A moment later I had my ammunition bought and paid for. But as I turned to go, I noticed something.
The man was walking into the back. His gait was slow and deliberate. Stiff.
"Hey!" I yelled.
He stopped and turned around.
"I can see that you're a Puppet of that Witch!"
"What?" he said.
"Yeah," I said, trying to keep him talking long enough to load the gun.
He started to look worried. "What the f--"
I shot him.
A young man came out of the back room and stared in horror. "What'd you do that for?!" he asked in disbelief.
"He was being controlled by something not human. I could tell by his awkward walking."
"He had an accident years ago and his legs were messed up. They had to fuse the bones. What were you--? Ohmigod!"
He ran to call the cops and I hightailed it out of there.
Am I losing my mind?
Thursday, August 23, 2012
New Destination
There's something I didn't mention before. Before I left the STAB facility, I grabbed some documents from the desk of that office the guy who recognized Torrance came out of.
According to these documents, the nearest STAB facility to here is one in Idaho. The others think we're heading home today. I'll explain what's going on to them later.
I've got to teach these people that they can't mess with me and my family and get away with it.
I intend to drive there as quickly as possible, only stopping for bathroom breaks. We'll get food at drive-thrus. Of course we'll have to stop to sleep, but I'm going to go for as long as I can.
None of us got much sleep last night, but I'm not tired. I'm too agitated for sleep right now.
The others are still mad at me. I tried to explain, but they think I've gone off the deep end. I hate to think what they'd do if they found out I killed Torrance.
I think they're trying to decide what to do with me.
According to these documents, the nearest STAB facility to here is one in Idaho. The others think we're heading home today. I'll explain what's going on to them later.
I've got to teach these people that they can't mess with me and my family and get away with it.
I intend to drive there as quickly as possible, only stopping for bathroom breaks. We'll get food at drive-thrus. Of course we'll have to stop to sleep, but I'm going to go for as long as I can.
None of us got much sleep last night, but I'm not tired. I'm too agitated for sleep right now.
The others are still mad at me. I tried to explain, but they think I've gone off the deep end. I hate to think what they'd do if they found out I killed Torrance.
I think they're trying to decide what to do with me.
Much needed rest
I was sitting in the car, thinking about what had just happened, when I wrote the post about how me and Torrance got inside and found Lina (I just had to write it down, get it out of me). Then I drove to a diner. Sure, we'd just lost Torrance and Lina, but it'd been more than 5 days since we ate.
It was there that I wrote the last post. I hope the others don't read this anytime soon. I don't think they'd understand. But I just had to get it out. I had to tell someone.
Now we're at a hotel, to get some much-needed rest. None of us can sleep. I've been trying to hide my sobs. I want to stay strong, for them.
But they hate me now.
Percy's dead.
After our meal, I had to stop for gas.
While I was pumping gas, I got to thinking. Mikey said they had their own reasons for wanting Lina out of the hands of STAB, but he wouldn't say more. They knew. THEY KNEW WHAT STAB WAS DOING TO MY SISTER!! And they did nothing to stop it before me and Fran and Larry came along. Then, after I found her, they left! There were no shadows or puppets anymore when I went back down to put her out of her misery. THEY ABANDONED ME.
I pulled Percy out of the car (he was surprisingly light). I didn't care who saw. It's high time people knew about this stuff, even if it freaks them out. I yelled at Percy, explaining everything I'd thought of. He, of course (the liars that he and his Queen are), denied it. He made excuses.
I couldn't stand this nonsense anymore. I took the nozzle out of the car and doused Percy. I told him to tell the truth.
Larry and Fran were yelling at me from inside the car. Fran even opened her door, ready to step out. I told her to stay where she was.
"Percy," I said, "you've been playing me like a fiddle, like Evan, haven't you?"
He said he wasn't.
"Liars burn in hell," I said, and I reached in and grabbed the cigarette lighter from its receptacle and lit the flame.
Larry and Fran were really yelling at me now. But I had to teach this monster a lesson! My sister's DEAD because of him!!!
I could tell they wanted to stop me, but were afraid that the whole place would go up any moment.
The flame touched the fluid soaking Percy's wooden frame and he went up in an instant. I reveled in it as I watched Percy's plastic face melt and drip burning beads onto the ground.
I hopped back in the car and sped off. The station exploded behind us. The orange fire was beautiful against the black sky.
I'm sorry for the other people there. They were innocent. But I had to show Them that They wouldn't win! That I wasn't going to stand for this! What I did had to be done.
It had to be done, right?
It was there that I wrote the last post. I hope the others don't read this anytime soon. I don't think they'd understand. But I just had to get it out. I had to tell someone.
Now we're at a hotel, to get some much-needed rest. None of us can sleep. I've been trying to hide my sobs. I want to stay strong, for them.
But they hate me now.
Percy's dead.
After our meal, I had to stop for gas.
While I was pumping gas, I got to thinking. Mikey said they had their own reasons for wanting Lina out of the hands of STAB, but he wouldn't say more. They knew. THEY KNEW WHAT STAB WAS DOING TO MY SISTER!! And they did nothing to stop it before me and Fran and Larry came along. Then, after I found her, they left! There were no shadows or puppets anymore when I went back down to put her out of her misery. THEY ABANDONED ME.
I pulled Percy out of the car (he was surprisingly light). I didn't care who saw. It's high time people knew about this stuff, even if it freaks them out. I yelled at Percy, explaining everything I'd thought of. He, of course (the liars that he and his Queen are), denied it. He made excuses.
I couldn't stand this nonsense anymore. I took the nozzle out of the car and doused Percy. I told him to tell the truth.
Larry and Fran were yelling at me from inside the car. Fran even opened her door, ready to step out. I told her to stay where she was.
"Percy," I said, "you've been playing me like a fiddle, like Evan, haven't you?"
He said he wasn't.
"Liars burn in hell," I said, and I reached in and grabbed the cigarette lighter from its receptacle and lit the flame.
Larry and Fran were really yelling at me now. But I had to teach this monster a lesson! My sister's DEAD because of him!!!
I could tell they wanted to stop me, but were afraid that the whole place would go up any moment.
The flame touched the fluid soaking Percy's wooden frame and he went up in an instant. I reveled in it as I watched Percy's plastic face melt and drip burning beads onto the ground.
I hopped back in the car and sped off. The station exploded behind us. The orange fire was beautiful against the black sky.
I'm sorry for the other people there. They were innocent. But I had to show Them that They wouldn't win! That I wasn't going to stand for this! What I did had to be done.
It had to be done, right?
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
How It All Went to Hell
After seeing my dear sister like that, I couldn't take it anymore.
I snapped.
I turned to Torrance, the barrel of the gun trained on him. "You did this to her!! It's your fault! You led them to us! You said it yourself!!"
"Hold on," said Torrance, backing away. "I didn't do this! I was trying to help. I--"
I was furious. "This was a trap! You did it all on purpose!! You...you...you set it all up to pick us off one by one!! First Lina, then Frank, now me!! What were you planning to tell the others? That I didn't make it, and neither did Lina?" I began to pace. "What I don't get is why. Were we getting too close to the truth for comfort?"
He looked at me for a moment, then said, struggling to keep his voice stable, "Listen, Omar. It's not like that. I--"
"You piece of--!!" A shot rang out. Torrance was suddenly lying motionless on the floor, a puddle of blood near his head.
It took me a moment to realize it had been me.
The cowardly scientist had watched all this in disbelief and now looked like he was about to lose control of his bowels.
I shot him dead, too.
I picked up Torrance's gun off the floor; I now had one for each hand.
Feeling around in his pockets, I also found extra ammuntion. I had some magazines on me as well.
I stepped with determination back up the steps to the room where the battle was still raging. Shooting indiscriminately, bodies started piling up on the floor. I kept shooting until both guns were empty. Few were left alive anyway.
I went around the bodies and back to the elevator. On my way back up, I refilled the clips and readied my weapons.
As the doors opened, I saw that the place was swarming with security. Several of them just barely had time to look over at me before I got them. From cover (namely a support pillar), I picked them off, one by one. I even got the lady at the desk. Again until the guns were emptied. By that time everyone in the room was dead. I tossed my gun away and kept Torrance's--it was better. There was one bullet left. For myself. It had all been for nothing. The others would be waiting for me.
I didn't care. These bastards laying motionless around me. They did this to me!! They did this to Lina!! They ruined our lives!
Then I heard something. Calling me.
I headed back down to Lina, barely bothering to pick up my feet enough to step over the bodies in my path.
She looked toward me. "Are you there?" she said, almost a whisper.
I felt sick and couldn't hold back the tears. "Yes," I said.
"Omar...Omar, it hurts. Why am I in pain? Am I in a hospital? What happened, Omar?"
"They..." I searched for the right words. "They killed you."
She was silent, and looked confused.
I couldn't bear it anymore. I couldn't see her like that. I couldn't leave her like that.
"I'm sorry," I whispered. I don't know if she heard me.
I closed my eyes and squeezed the trigger.
When I got back to the cars waiting outside, Larry asked where Torrance was, and Fran, upon seeing my disheveled appearance and a wound on my arm where a bullet grazed me, told me I looked terrible. Percy said nothing, just gazing at me with plastic eyes.
I told them Torrance didn't make it and that Lina was dead.
I snapped.
I turned to Torrance, the barrel of the gun trained on him. "You did this to her!! It's your fault! You led them to us! You said it yourself!!"
"Hold on," said Torrance, backing away. "I didn't do this! I was trying to help. I--"
I was furious. "This was a trap! You did it all on purpose!! You...you...you set it all up to pick us off one by one!! First Lina, then Frank, now me!! What were you planning to tell the others? That I didn't make it, and neither did Lina?" I began to pace. "What I don't get is why. Were we getting too close to the truth for comfort?"
He looked at me for a moment, then said, struggling to keep his voice stable, "Listen, Omar. It's not like that. I--"
"You piece of--!!" A shot rang out. Torrance was suddenly lying motionless on the floor, a puddle of blood near his head.
It took me a moment to realize it had been me.
The cowardly scientist had watched all this in disbelief and now looked like he was about to lose control of his bowels.
I shot him dead, too.
I picked up Torrance's gun off the floor; I now had one for each hand.
Feeling around in his pockets, I also found extra ammuntion. I had some magazines on me as well.
I stepped with determination back up the steps to the room where the battle was still raging. Shooting indiscriminately, bodies started piling up on the floor. I kept shooting until both guns were empty. Few were left alive anyway.
I went around the bodies and back to the elevator. On my way back up, I refilled the clips and readied my weapons.
As the doors opened, I saw that the place was swarming with security. Several of them just barely had time to look over at me before I got them. From cover (namely a support pillar), I picked them off, one by one. I even got the lady at the desk. Again until the guns were emptied. By that time everyone in the room was dead. I tossed my gun away and kept Torrance's--it was better. There was one bullet left. For myself. It had all been for nothing. The others would be waiting for me.
I didn't care. These bastards laying motionless around me. They did this to me!! They did this to Lina!! They ruined our lives!
Then I heard something. Calling me.
I headed back down to Lina, barely bothering to pick up my feet enough to step over the bodies in my path.
She looked toward me. "Are you there?" she said, almost a whisper.
I felt sick and couldn't hold back the tears. "Yes," I said.
"Omar...Omar, it hurts. Why am I in pain? Am I in a hospital? What happened, Omar?"
"They..." I searched for the right words. "They killed you."
She was silent, and looked confused.
I couldn't bear it anymore. I couldn't see her like that. I couldn't leave her like that.
"I'm sorry," I whispered. I don't know if she heard me.
I closed my eyes and squeezed the trigger.
When I got back to the cars waiting outside, Larry asked where Torrance was, and Fran, upon seeing my disheveled appearance and a wound on my arm where a bullet grazed me, told me I looked terrible. Percy said nothing, just gazing at me with plastic eyes.
I told them Torrance didn't make it and that Lina was dead.
Storming the Castle
The plan went off without a hitch. At first.
Torrance got us inside with a swipe of his card. The security guards let us pass without question.
The receptionist requested we sign in and record our business. Torrance remarked unfavorably on the OCD-like measures STAB takes with all their paperwork and records. The woman chuckled sympathetically.
Once past the front desk, we got on an elevator that led underground and then made our way down a large corridor. All was going well. We just needed to find someone and make them take us to Lina.
Someone soon came out of an office, but before I could draw my weapon, I noticed that Torrance had tensed up. The man who had come out looked up at us and said to Torrance, "You!"
Torrance tried to tackle him, but before he got him to the ground, the man had pulled what looked like a fire alarm and a loud wailing filled the place, oscillating between loud and soft, like an ambulance alarm.
I covered my ears, but my hearing began to fade anyway. The piercing alarm was stabbing into my skull.
We heard several sets of footsteps approaching from behind, so Torrance shot the man in the leg and we hurried further along.
The men behind us yelled at us to stop, but we ignore them and turned a corner, out of sight, though I carefully peeked around the edge.
As they came closer, something strange began to happen--every time one of the uniformed personnell trained his rifle on our position, it would suddenly swivel around toward one of his colleagues. They would all look surprised and perplexed and the ones now in the weapons' sights called out in surprise.
They all lowered their weapons until they came closer to us, but we were waiting and ready. As the first few came around the corner, we shot at them multiple times and they fell. Others got into position before we could defend ourselves, and squeezed their triggers; the guns turned on one another in the blink of an eye--they were being made to kill each other.
Thankful for the distraction, we reloaded and continued on, the siren blaring incessantly.
Torrance said the holding cells were down a level, so we took a nearby flight of stairs. We could still hear gunfire from above.
Without a guide, we would simply have to check each cell individually.
He swiped his card and a door opened before us, a corridor with many doors on each side, stretching seemingly unto infinity.
Once inside, we closed the door and Torrance pried open the control panel and shot up the controls so it couldn't open again from either side. We carefully looked through the windows into each cell, taking our precious time, but it was all in vain. No sign of Lina.
At the other end of the corridor, Torrance again swiped his card. This time a large room filled with desks and computers and large monitors on the walls, as well as a few doors in some of the walls labelled "Interrogation Room," was revealed to us.
And right there in the middle of it all, waiting for us, was another detachment of security personnel, with automatic rifles and covered head to toe in protective gear.
They shot at us unceasingly, but we were not injured. A wave of black rose up before us and absorbed the impacts. Then the shadows began tearing the men apart and they screamed in agony. I couldn't watch.
As I turned around, however, many of the men from before were there. They must have taken an alternate route. But they didn't attack us; I saw their movements were jerky and they moved past us, helping in the struggle against the others. We took the opportunity and ran.
Once near the back of the room, we found a small man cowered in a corner. He wore a lab coat, but he was the first person I saw, so I pulled him up and stuck my gun in his back.
"Take me to her or you die!" I yelled.
He stammered, "W-who?"
"My sister! Lina Friedman!"
"Sh-she's not here. She's down in the lab."
"What?!" I screamed in his face. "Why the hell would she be there?!"
"For...for the exp-periment..."
I had no idea why they were experimenting on her, but I was going to save her from this hell, from these demons. At the least, they certainly weren't human. Not anymore.
As we descended deeper, the alarm slowly faded to the point it was tolerable; there was still a ringing in my ears.
The doctor or scientist or whoever he was led us to Lina. It was a large room, accessed only by a thick steel door operated by a panel. Our hostage typed in the code and the door slid open.
And my heart broke.
She was there, alright. But...she was hooked up to a bunch of equipment. All sorts of wires and tubes and things I don't know how to even begin to describe were attached to her. Some were pumping oxygen, and I could see fluids coursing through others. It was a mass of machinery, taking up most of the room.
And half her body was gone, the machines in their place. I could see her face, though; she was looking toward us without sight. Her eyes were glazed over.
I called out to her, to let her know I was here to save her. She didn't move, like she hadn't even noticed.
She seemed almost dead.
I broke down crying.
I'm sorry, I have to continue this later, it's hard to write the story. My fingers are trembling.
Torrance got us inside with a swipe of his card. The security guards let us pass without question.
The receptionist requested we sign in and record our business. Torrance remarked unfavorably on the OCD-like measures STAB takes with all their paperwork and records. The woman chuckled sympathetically.
Once past the front desk, we got on an elevator that led underground and then made our way down a large corridor. All was going well. We just needed to find someone and make them take us to Lina.
Someone soon came out of an office, but before I could draw my weapon, I noticed that Torrance had tensed up. The man who had come out looked up at us and said to Torrance, "You!"
Torrance tried to tackle him, but before he got him to the ground, the man had pulled what looked like a fire alarm and a loud wailing filled the place, oscillating between loud and soft, like an ambulance alarm.
I covered my ears, but my hearing began to fade anyway. The piercing alarm was stabbing into my skull.
We heard several sets of footsteps approaching from behind, so Torrance shot the man in the leg and we hurried further along.
The men behind us yelled at us to stop, but we ignore them and turned a corner, out of sight, though I carefully peeked around the edge.
As they came closer, something strange began to happen--every time one of the uniformed personnell trained his rifle on our position, it would suddenly swivel around toward one of his colleagues. They would all look surprised and perplexed and the ones now in the weapons' sights called out in surprise.
They all lowered their weapons until they came closer to us, but we were waiting and ready. As the first few came around the corner, we shot at them multiple times and they fell. Others got into position before we could defend ourselves, and squeezed their triggers; the guns turned on one another in the blink of an eye--they were being made to kill each other.
Thankful for the distraction, we reloaded and continued on, the siren blaring incessantly.
Torrance said the holding cells were down a level, so we took a nearby flight of stairs. We could still hear gunfire from above.
Without a guide, we would simply have to check each cell individually.
He swiped his card and a door opened before us, a corridor with many doors on each side, stretching seemingly unto infinity.
Once inside, we closed the door and Torrance pried open the control panel and shot up the controls so it couldn't open again from either side. We carefully looked through the windows into each cell, taking our precious time, but it was all in vain. No sign of Lina.
At the other end of the corridor, Torrance again swiped his card. This time a large room filled with desks and computers and large monitors on the walls, as well as a few doors in some of the walls labelled "Interrogation Room," was revealed to us.
And right there in the middle of it all, waiting for us, was another detachment of security personnel, with automatic rifles and covered head to toe in protective gear.
They shot at us unceasingly, but we were not injured. A wave of black rose up before us and absorbed the impacts. Then the shadows began tearing the men apart and they screamed in agony. I couldn't watch.
As I turned around, however, many of the men from before were there. They must have taken an alternate route. But they didn't attack us; I saw their movements were jerky and they moved past us, helping in the struggle against the others. We took the opportunity and ran.
Once near the back of the room, we found a small man cowered in a corner. He wore a lab coat, but he was the first person I saw, so I pulled him up and stuck my gun in his back.
"Take me to her or you die!" I yelled.
He stammered, "W-who?"
"My sister! Lina Friedman!"
"Sh-she's not here. She's down in the lab."
"What?!" I screamed in his face. "Why the hell would she be there?!"
"For...for the exp-periment..."
I had no idea why they were experimenting on her, but I was going to save her from this hell, from these demons. At the least, they certainly weren't human. Not anymore.
As we descended deeper, the alarm slowly faded to the point it was tolerable; there was still a ringing in my ears.
The doctor or scientist or whoever he was led us to Lina. It was a large room, accessed only by a thick steel door operated by a panel. Our hostage typed in the code and the door slid open.
And my heart broke.
She was there, alright. But...she was hooked up to a bunch of equipment. All sorts of wires and tubes and things I don't know how to even begin to describe were attached to her. Some were pumping oxygen, and I could see fluids coursing through others. It was a mass of machinery, taking up most of the room.
And half her body was gone, the machines in their place. I could see her face, though; she was looking toward us without sight. Her eyes were glazed over.
I called out to her, to let her know I was here to save her. She didn't move, like she hadn't even noticed.
She seemed almost dead.
I broke down crying.
I'm sorry, I have to continue this later, it's hard to write the story. My fingers are trembling.
On the road again
When we came to, everything and everyone was gone (besides the radio tower itself, of course, and the outbuildings, one of which was now damaged badly). Even Percy's crossbow was gone. He figures it was the reversion thing, and that it's back hanging on the wall. Apparently it and other things in the outbuilding are invisible to us, unless we were to take a photo or video of it.
We went back out the way we came. The guards didn't try to stop us this time, so terrified they must have been. They weren't controlled by the Witch this time.
Anyway, so now we're back on the road. The STAB facility should be within half an hour of here, according to Torrance. We still don't know what form the aid will take. Perhaps the birds, perhaps the shadows, perhaps those Puppets from before (assuming they weren't all disintegrated by the cyborgs--or "Towerborn").
I guess we'll find out when we get there.
Since Mikey wasn't there to tell us anymore, Torrance and I have decided to do the original plan and just adapt it to the creatures as they come.
EDIT: We were in there for FIVE days?! Percy says the field is kind of random about when someone can leave. But still. Five whole days. Lina, Frank, now the rest of us. Others in the neighborhood will think we're all dead or something.
We went back out the way we came. The guards didn't try to stop us this time, so terrified they must have been. They weren't controlled by the Witch this time.
Anyway, so now we're back on the road. The STAB facility should be within half an hour of here, according to Torrance. We still don't know what form the aid will take. Perhaps the birds, perhaps the shadows, perhaps those Puppets from before (assuming they weren't all disintegrated by the cyborgs--or "Towerborn").
I guess we'll find out when we get there.
Since Mikey wasn't there to tell us anymore, Torrance and I have decided to do the original plan and just adapt it to the creatures as they come.
EDIT: We were in there for FIVE days?! Percy says the field is kind of random about when someone can leave. But still. Five whole days. Lina, Frank, now the rest of us. Others in the neighborhood will think we're all dead or something.
The Radio Tower
Turns out the Tower TV radio tower wasn't far away, though we had to park some distance away and walk from there. It was just within the Forest, though there was a checkpoint to get past.
A couple of guys stepped out of a small sort of gatehouse and stood in our way, asking if we had authorization to go beyond that point. They were eyeing Percy with special interest.
When we were unable to produce identification and verification of clearance, they pulled their guns and herded us toward the gatehouse. The shorter man held onto my arm with a surprisingly tight grip while he used his other hand to pull out his voice-activated phone to call someone to take us away.
My heart was pounding; I was sure the agents had caught us. In desperation, I was about to elbow the short guy in the gut and hopefully get my gun out to threaten them, but that's when the men stiffened, allowing us to slip from their grip. Their eyes watched us in terror, but they didn't move, like they were connected to strings that had gone taut.
That's when I saw that their jackets had an insignia that said SPC something-or-other. So I guess I was worrying about nothing in this case. Shady people, no doubt, but certainly not STAB. As far as I could tell, anyway.
But this confirmed that the Witch definitely wanted us here. We walked past, the men's eyes following us as we moved, tears of terror starting to flood them.
Some ways into the forest, our cell phones started acting strangely. The clouds above us grew long and dark, forming a gloomy canopy over the tower.
As we walked toward our destination on a large plain with few trees (even though it was a forest), we saw few animals. Once we saw a squirrel skittering past us. In an instant it disappeared--not ran off, disappeared. It was there one second, then blinked out of existence, then appeared at the beginning of its path again, and the same thing happened a couple more times until the squirrel vanished and didn't return.
Percy told us to be careful in this place. Any physical changes could revert to their previous state at any time and if we weren't careful, something could go wrong, like us getting trapped in the ground if we dug a hole and then it reverted. And, he made sure to add, this place doesn't allow death, which is why the Witch likes it. She can do all the torturing she wants for as long as she wants and there's no escape, not even loss of life.
As we walked further on, I began to notice we seemed to be making little to no progress. The tower never seemed to be closer. Percy shouted out that we were his "Queen's" guests and suddenly we were there.
On either side of the radio tower were two small outbuildings. Straining my eyes, I could see that on the door of at least one of them was a mark etched into the wood that looked like the handle and strings of a marionette.
We waited for whatever would happen next in silence. As we stood there anxiously, the tower briefly popped into another location, not far away. It was like one of those hologram images, where if you tilt it too far the image reverts to how you saw it in the first place. A moment later, it returned to where it was before.
This place was getting increasingly bizarre, like some demented Wonderland, so I was glad to have the distraction of someone coming over to talk with us. And boy, was it distracting.
It was a man in a loose-fitting monkey suit. Yes, it was Mikey from that abominable show Playtime with Mikey.
"Greetings!" he said. "So the Mistress invited you here, eh? You're right lucky then, aren't ya? Most who come here are nothing more than her playthings."
I asked him why Bobble the Clown wasn't here if he's the one who summoned us.
"Oh, he's busy infiltrating a, um, shall we say 'unfriendly' organization. You probably met a couple o' their folks on your way here. So the task was given to me."
"What's with your show's explicitly violent lyrics?" I knew I should be asking why we were called here and where Lina was, but my curiosity got the better of me (it was something that had been bugging me) and I accidentally blurted it out. "'Playtime...oh, crikey!/Look out he's got a gun'? And stuff about killing parents with an axe?"
"The hell are you talking about, cobber? There's nothing like that in the theme song. It's all innocuous lyrics, at least to those who take them at face value. Must've been that perception-changing fucker. In any case, you've been invited here because our dear Queen has got a proposal." There were briefly two Mikeys, then they snapped back into one. "Glad to see Percy was your guide. He's got lots of experience. Heard he led a herd of Puppets in your defense. Now, down to business. Ol' Queenie wants you."
"For what?" Fran spat.
"Look, I know my mistress isn't the most...palatable to most humans. And I know you sympathize with that damned kid. But even if we're not exactly fond of each other, cobbers, we need to work together." I was about to interrupt, but he held up a hand. "Both we on the side of the Mistress and her allies and you want the same thing: to save that sister of yours, albeit for different reasons."
"Why do you want to save my sister?" I shouted. "I've heard of some of your 'Queen's' exploits. She's nothing but cruel. She's not in the business of being a hero. So why?"
He was silent for a moment. "I cannot comment on that."
Percy spoke up. "I think you should accept. I know the Queen and all of us haven't done very good things to people, but we're powerful. More powerful than any human could expect to be. Even if you don't like us, it would be wise and logical to get help with your rescue efforts."
I sighed and looked at Fran and Larry and Torrance. They said nothing. I couldn't decide. Accepting the help of some impossibly powerful entity would be helpful, but it didn't seem right. She tortured people and made them do things against their will. But in the end I didn't have to decide.
"We accept," Torrance said suddenly.
Before the negotiations or plans could go any further, however, we were interrupted.
"Shit," Mikey said under his breath, looking past us.
We turned to see several of the cyborgs heading toward us, fast. But before they could reach us or fire at us, they started twitching and their weapons wouldn't work. After a moment or two of continuous spasming, they stood stone still.
But emerging from behind them, unaffected, was the man covered in eyes. He walked slowly but deliberately toward us, smirking. When he reached us, he said, "I am Judgment. And all of you will be punished for your sins."
"What sins?" Larry asked. "We haven't done anything wrong. If anyone's done wrong, it's those STAB guys or whatever. They beat me and tied me up!"
"You have done wrong by aligning yourselves against us. Against the One who is coming to End the world. I can see all of space and time with these eyes. I can see everything. We are all insignificant. Everything is pointless."
"Then why are you doing any of this if it's meaningless anyway?"
"Even though everything is without purpose and will soon come to an end, there is no reason not to have some fun while I still can."
"But even having fun would then be meaningless."
"At least it's a temporary pleasure."
The cyborgs came to life again and came for us, curiously not trying to shoot us anymore. Percy led us to the nearest of the outbuildings and shut us in. Judgment was just on the other side of the door, boasting that he would soon break through with the help of his soldiers.
"The Towerborn, those cyborgs out there, must have revised themselves into clockwork, since the field was effecting their circuitry," Percy explained.
As we watched through the window, unable to do anything (the building was empty), a large patch of shadow swept along the ground. Legs of several of the cyborgs fell off, having been cleanly sliced through.
Bits of the darkness crept upwards on individual cyborgs, tearing off arms and even heads (though many of these dismembered and decapitated individuals kept coming anyway). We didn't know what was going on, but we weren't complaining. Backup is always a good thing.
But then we heard noises on the other side of the building, almost like singing--the dirge of ghosts. Looking out another window, we could see people ambling toward us. Lightning flashed and it was clear that their skin was gray.
They came to the window and beat on it and the wall ceaselessly. They didn't let up even when swarms of birds attacked (similar to the one earlier in the day), ripping their flesh and burrowing inside them, and through to the other side.
Then it hit me--these were the birds from the first case I reported on! The convocation. They were on our side?
There was a splintering of wood as the door was broken through, and I looked in time to see a metal fist retracting from the jagged hole. The man who called himself Judgment reached in, undid the lock, and strode in.
"You cannot stop us, us servants of the All-Seeing Eye."
Percy dove toward the wall and somehow came away with a crossbow. He fired a few shots at Judgment, impaling some of his extra eyes. Blood spilled onto the floor. He shrieked in pain. A black substance sprayed everywhere; we were protected from its contact by Percy standing in front of us.
That's when eyes began appearing everywhere--the walls, ceiling, floor, windows. I made a point to stomp on a few as we fled back outside; feeling them pop beneath by heel was disgusting but satisfying.
The cyborgs and gray-skinned people had been giving deference to Judgment, but now that he was injured and no longer talking to us, they charged at us upon seeing that we came out without him, even as the shadows and birds continued to tear them to pieces.
Lightning struck again, and on the horizon to the left, I could see the silhouette of a man with long hair. Another bolt of light lit up his face: impossible eyes and a grotesquely large smile.
I began to feel dizzy again and stumbled. But I saw, no more than a few yards away, the...Slender Man?
I staggered back in my surprise.
I blacked out.
A couple of guys stepped out of a small sort of gatehouse and stood in our way, asking if we had authorization to go beyond that point. They were eyeing Percy with special interest.
When we were unable to produce identification and verification of clearance, they pulled their guns and herded us toward the gatehouse. The shorter man held onto my arm with a surprisingly tight grip while he used his other hand to pull out his voice-activated phone to call someone to take us away.
My heart was pounding; I was sure the agents had caught us. In desperation, I was about to elbow the short guy in the gut and hopefully get my gun out to threaten them, but that's when the men stiffened, allowing us to slip from their grip. Their eyes watched us in terror, but they didn't move, like they were connected to strings that had gone taut.
That's when I saw that their jackets had an insignia that said SPC something-or-other. So I guess I was worrying about nothing in this case. Shady people, no doubt, but certainly not STAB. As far as I could tell, anyway.
But this confirmed that the Witch definitely wanted us here. We walked past, the men's eyes following us as we moved, tears of terror starting to flood them.
Some ways into the forest, our cell phones started acting strangely. The clouds above us grew long and dark, forming a gloomy canopy over the tower.
As we walked toward our destination on a large plain with few trees (even though it was a forest), we saw few animals. Once we saw a squirrel skittering past us. In an instant it disappeared--not ran off, disappeared. It was there one second, then blinked out of existence, then appeared at the beginning of its path again, and the same thing happened a couple more times until the squirrel vanished and didn't return.
Percy told us to be careful in this place. Any physical changes could revert to their previous state at any time and if we weren't careful, something could go wrong, like us getting trapped in the ground if we dug a hole and then it reverted. And, he made sure to add, this place doesn't allow death, which is why the Witch likes it. She can do all the torturing she wants for as long as she wants and there's no escape, not even loss of life.
As we walked further on, I began to notice we seemed to be making little to no progress. The tower never seemed to be closer. Percy shouted out that we were his "Queen's" guests and suddenly we were there.
On either side of the radio tower were two small outbuildings. Straining my eyes, I could see that on the door of at least one of them was a mark etched into the wood that looked like the handle and strings of a marionette.
We waited for whatever would happen next in silence. As we stood there anxiously, the tower briefly popped into another location, not far away. It was like one of those hologram images, where if you tilt it too far the image reverts to how you saw it in the first place. A moment later, it returned to where it was before.
This place was getting increasingly bizarre, like some demented Wonderland, so I was glad to have the distraction of someone coming over to talk with us. And boy, was it distracting.
It was a man in a loose-fitting monkey suit. Yes, it was Mikey from that abominable show Playtime with Mikey.
"Greetings!" he said. "So the Mistress invited you here, eh? You're right lucky then, aren't ya? Most who come here are nothing more than her playthings."
I asked him why Bobble the Clown wasn't here if he's the one who summoned us.
"Oh, he's busy infiltrating a, um, shall we say 'unfriendly' organization. You probably met a couple o' their folks on your way here. So the task was given to me."
"What's with your show's explicitly violent lyrics?" I knew I should be asking why we were called here and where Lina was, but my curiosity got the better of me (it was something that had been bugging me) and I accidentally blurted it out. "'Playtime...oh, crikey!/Look out he's got a gun'? And stuff about killing parents with an axe?"
"The hell are you talking about, cobber? There's nothing like that in the theme song. It's all innocuous lyrics, at least to those who take them at face value. Must've been that perception-changing fucker. In any case, you've been invited here because our dear Queen has got a proposal." There were briefly two Mikeys, then they snapped back into one. "Glad to see Percy was your guide. He's got lots of experience. Heard he led a herd of Puppets in your defense. Now, down to business. Ol' Queenie wants you."
"For what?" Fran spat.
"Look, I know my mistress isn't the most...palatable to most humans. And I know you sympathize with that damned kid. But even if we're not exactly fond of each other, cobbers, we need to work together." I was about to interrupt, but he held up a hand. "Both we on the side of the Mistress and her allies and you want the same thing: to save that sister of yours, albeit for different reasons."
"Why do you want to save my sister?" I shouted. "I've heard of some of your 'Queen's' exploits. She's nothing but cruel. She's not in the business of being a hero. So why?"
He was silent for a moment. "I cannot comment on that."
Percy spoke up. "I think you should accept. I know the Queen and all of us haven't done very good things to people, but we're powerful. More powerful than any human could expect to be. Even if you don't like us, it would be wise and logical to get help with your rescue efforts."
I sighed and looked at Fran and Larry and Torrance. They said nothing. I couldn't decide. Accepting the help of some impossibly powerful entity would be helpful, but it didn't seem right. She tortured people and made them do things against their will. But in the end I didn't have to decide.
"We accept," Torrance said suddenly.
Before the negotiations or plans could go any further, however, we were interrupted.
"Shit," Mikey said under his breath, looking past us.
We turned to see several of the cyborgs heading toward us, fast. But before they could reach us or fire at us, they started twitching and their weapons wouldn't work. After a moment or two of continuous spasming, they stood stone still.
But emerging from behind them, unaffected, was the man covered in eyes. He walked slowly but deliberately toward us, smirking. When he reached us, he said, "I am Judgment. And all of you will be punished for your sins."
"What sins?" Larry asked. "We haven't done anything wrong. If anyone's done wrong, it's those STAB guys or whatever. They beat me and tied me up!"
"You have done wrong by aligning yourselves against us. Against the One who is coming to End the world. I can see all of space and time with these eyes. I can see everything. We are all insignificant. Everything is pointless."
"Then why are you doing any of this if it's meaningless anyway?"
"Even though everything is without purpose and will soon come to an end, there is no reason not to have some fun while I still can."
"But even having fun would then be meaningless."
"At least it's a temporary pleasure."
The cyborgs came to life again and came for us, curiously not trying to shoot us anymore. Percy led us to the nearest of the outbuildings and shut us in. Judgment was just on the other side of the door, boasting that he would soon break through with the help of his soldiers.
"The Towerborn, those cyborgs out there, must have revised themselves into clockwork, since the field was effecting their circuitry," Percy explained.
As we watched through the window, unable to do anything (the building was empty), a large patch of shadow swept along the ground. Legs of several of the cyborgs fell off, having been cleanly sliced through.
Bits of the darkness crept upwards on individual cyborgs, tearing off arms and even heads (though many of these dismembered and decapitated individuals kept coming anyway). We didn't know what was going on, but we weren't complaining. Backup is always a good thing.
But then we heard noises on the other side of the building, almost like singing--the dirge of ghosts. Looking out another window, we could see people ambling toward us. Lightning flashed and it was clear that their skin was gray.
They came to the window and beat on it and the wall ceaselessly. They didn't let up even when swarms of birds attacked (similar to the one earlier in the day), ripping their flesh and burrowing inside them, and through to the other side.
Then it hit me--these were the birds from the first case I reported on! The convocation. They were on our side?
There was a splintering of wood as the door was broken through, and I looked in time to see a metal fist retracting from the jagged hole. The man who called himself Judgment reached in, undid the lock, and strode in.
"You cannot stop us, us servants of the All-Seeing Eye."
Percy dove toward the wall and somehow came away with a crossbow. He fired a few shots at Judgment, impaling some of his extra eyes. Blood spilled onto the floor. He shrieked in pain. A black substance sprayed everywhere; we were protected from its contact by Percy standing in front of us.
That's when eyes began appearing everywhere--the walls, ceiling, floor, windows. I made a point to stomp on a few as we fled back outside; feeling them pop beneath by heel was disgusting but satisfying.
The cyborgs and gray-skinned people had been giving deference to Judgment, but now that he was injured and no longer talking to us, they charged at us upon seeing that we came out without him, even as the shadows and birds continued to tear them to pieces.
Lightning struck again, and on the horizon to the left, I could see the silhouette of a man with long hair. Another bolt of light lit up his face: impossible eyes and a grotesquely large smile.
I began to feel dizzy again and stumbled. But I saw, no more than a few yards away, the...Slender Man?
I staggered back in my surprise.
I blacked out.
Friday, August 17, 2012
Almost there
We found a rest stop on the last bit of our journey. This is it. We're almost to Lina.
Me and Torrance have made a plan. He's got someone else's ID card and I'm going to pretend to be a higher up visiting the place. Once we're past the guards and potentially alarm-sounding receptionists, we'll start pointing our guns at people and make them take us to Lina. We'll only actually shoot if necessary.
The phone is ringing. The caller ID says it's Frank.
EDIT: Frank says he called just to say he's alright. I asked him where he was, but he dodged the question, instead informing me that his leg has been healed somehow.
"What happened? What's going on?" I asked.
He said, "I gotta go."
EDIT 2: Just now the pay phone outside the restroom was ringing. I picked it up and it was that same weird, brain-piercing sound from that other phonecall.
Percy's here too, arriving right before the pay phone rang. He said he was making sure we were safe; Fran and Larry still haven't gotten over the fact that our mysterious informant is a puppet (Larry never met him face-to-face like me and Lina and Ralph). Torrance is used to that sort of thing.
The noise was loud enough that Percy could hear it even though he was standing a few feet away. Interestingly, however, he was able to tell us what in the hell it was (it sure sounds like it came from there).
He explained that it's from another show on Tower TV that I haven't heard of--an animated series called Bobble the Clown. He says that only children are able to watch it without blacking out, and that truly horrible things are discussed and shown on it. He further explained that even that sound, though it doesn't itself make us black out like the images, would be full of such terrible ideas that it would slowly break our minds if we were children. I wondered why I hadn't heard of this show or lots of children being harmed by it, and Percy said it's because somehow the signal of that particular series is being blocked from the public.
Since this show is from Tower TV, Percy suspects these calls aren't to harm us, but to summon us to the radio tower itself. But he doesn't know why.
I have reluctantly agreed. I know that Witch he serves can be terrible, but if she's currently on our side, who knows what additional help we might gain? These agents are professionals after all, while we aren't (with the exception of Torrance). So we're making a slight detour to where Percy will guide us. Apparently the tower is in the Sequoia National Forest near where a town called Forestview Plain used to be, but the field that surrounds the radio tower swallowed up the town years ago.
He says it will be safe for us to come and go unlike the unfortunate townspeople, since we're the Witch's guests.
Me and Torrance have made a plan. He's got someone else's ID card and I'm going to pretend to be a higher up visiting the place. Once we're past the guards and potentially alarm-sounding receptionists, we'll start pointing our guns at people and make them take us to Lina. We'll only actually shoot if necessary.
The phone is ringing. The caller ID says it's Frank.
EDIT: Frank says he called just to say he's alright. I asked him where he was, but he dodged the question, instead informing me that his leg has been healed somehow.
"What happened? What's going on?" I asked.
He said, "I gotta go."
EDIT 2: Just now the pay phone outside the restroom was ringing. I picked it up and it was that same weird, brain-piercing sound from that other phonecall.
Percy's here too, arriving right before the pay phone rang. He said he was making sure we were safe; Fran and Larry still haven't gotten over the fact that our mysterious informant is a puppet (Larry never met him face-to-face like me and Lina and Ralph). Torrance is used to that sort of thing.
The noise was loud enough that Percy could hear it even though he was standing a few feet away. Interestingly, however, he was able to tell us what in the hell it was (it sure sounds like it came from there).
He explained that it's from another show on Tower TV that I haven't heard of--an animated series called Bobble the Clown. He says that only children are able to watch it without blacking out, and that truly horrible things are discussed and shown on it. He further explained that even that sound, though it doesn't itself make us black out like the images, would be full of such terrible ideas that it would slowly break our minds if we were children. I wondered why I hadn't heard of this show or lots of children being harmed by it, and Percy said it's because somehow the signal of that particular series is being blocked from the public.
Since this show is from Tower TV, Percy suspects these calls aren't to harm us, but to summon us to the radio tower itself. But he doesn't know why.
I have reluctantly agreed. I know that Witch he serves can be terrible, but if she's currently on our side, who knows what additional help we might gain? These agents are professionals after all, while we aren't (with the exception of Torrance). So we're making a slight detour to where Percy will guide us. Apparently the tower is in the Sequoia National Forest near where a town called Forestview Plain used to be, but the field that surrounds the radio tower swallowed up the town years ago.
He says it will be safe for us to come and go unlike the unfortunate townspeople, since we're the Witch's guests.
An Incident at a Cafe
We all slept in late this morning, so we only just a short time ago stopped for a bite to eat in a small place called Wofford Heights. Torrance says the secret facility is just west of here, at the edge of the Forest. Normally a road trip like this would work up an appetite, but none of us were all that hungry. Too much to worry about.
After we walked out I saw a figure watching us, but he went around the corner when I turned to get a better look.
There was an unsettling mechanical sound on the air, like a clock counting down the moments you have left in the world, or a heart monitor waiting for your will to give up, but with metallic clanks instead of beeps.
"Hey!" I called, and followed the man to the alley behind the joint. The others were behind me.
And we found it wasn't a man, but some sort of robot, an android or cyborg. And even then, not just one.
They knew we would give in to curiosity. It must have been a setup.
They quickly surrounded us, and the leader marched toward me. Torrance and I quickly drew our guns and fired, but the bullets glanced off their metal skin. Didn't slow them down a bit. Then the leader reached me and firmly grabbed my throat with its unhuman arm, ready to crush my windpipes.
But before it could, there was another sound behind us.
"Halt," the one choking me said in a monotone. "What are you doing here?"
I struggled free and turned to see several people coming toward us. But their gait was jerky, and as they got closer I could see that their eyes were glazed over.
I knew instantly they must be under the control of Evan's Witch, for among them was our anonymous source: Pirate Percy.
I'm just disclosing this fact now, as I wasn't sure readers would believe that our source was a puppet from a kids' show (lots of people these days being--reasonably--skeptical of everything), and since I didn't know if he would get in trouble with his Puppet Queen for helping us.
But now it was clear that she was fully aware and was for some reason aiding us, with Puppets.
They leapt between us and the cyborgs and Percy yelled at us to flee. Before we did, however, we saw the cyborgs raise some of the Puppets above their heads and smash them on the ground. Some of these came apart like cheaply made toys. These Puppets, as well as those still standing, began to wrap the cyborgs with strings, which then started piercing the surface of the metal men on their own, while the cyborgs fired at the Puppets and us with some futuristic sort of firearm. A bolt of light hit one of the Puppets and incinerated her on the spot. We backed away while both groups distracted each other.
As the strings hooked themselves into the cyborgs, their shots became more erratic, until finally they were entangled enough that they could hardly move. That's when built-in saw blades popped out and began slicing through the webbing, one strand at a time.
A few members of each group broke off from the fight and started toward us.
At that point, we raced to the cars. A Puppet almost caught up to Larry and actually grabbed his shoulder as he was sliding into his seat; he slammed the door closed into the Puppet again and again, until finally, its skin splintering, it fell away. After that, we stepped on the gas and left as quickly as we could, speeding down the road.
I feel guilty for not helping any of the Puppets, since they no longer have any free will of their own, but I knew if we had stayed to help, the cyborgs might have killed us, or in anger the Witch herself may have turned us into Puppets as well.
But those cyborgs, or whatever they were. Where did they come from? Were they once people too? And why were they after us?
After we walked out I saw a figure watching us, but he went around the corner when I turned to get a better look.
There was an unsettling mechanical sound on the air, like a clock counting down the moments you have left in the world, or a heart monitor waiting for your will to give up, but with metallic clanks instead of beeps.
"Hey!" I called, and followed the man to the alley behind the joint. The others were behind me.
And we found it wasn't a man, but some sort of robot, an android or cyborg. And even then, not just one.
They knew we would give in to curiosity. It must have been a setup.
They quickly surrounded us, and the leader marched toward me. Torrance and I quickly drew our guns and fired, but the bullets glanced off their metal skin. Didn't slow them down a bit. Then the leader reached me and firmly grabbed my throat with its unhuman arm, ready to crush my windpipes.
But before it could, there was another sound behind us.
"Halt," the one choking me said in a monotone. "What are you doing here?"
I struggled free and turned to see several people coming toward us. But their gait was jerky, and as they got closer I could see that their eyes were glazed over.
I knew instantly they must be under the control of Evan's Witch, for among them was our anonymous source: Pirate Percy.
I'm just disclosing this fact now, as I wasn't sure readers would believe that our source was a puppet from a kids' show (lots of people these days being--reasonably--skeptical of everything), and since I didn't know if he would get in trouble with his Puppet Queen for helping us.
But now it was clear that she was fully aware and was for some reason aiding us, with Puppets.
They leapt between us and the cyborgs and Percy yelled at us to flee. Before we did, however, we saw the cyborgs raise some of the Puppets above their heads and smash them on the ground. Some of these came apart like cheaply made toys. These Puppets, as well as those still standing, began to wrap the cyborgs with strings, which then started piercing the surface of the metal men on their own, while the cyborgs fired at the Puppets and us with some futuristic sort of firearm. A bolt of light hit one of the Puppets and incinerated her on the spot. We backed away while both groups distracted each other.
As the strings hooked themselves into the cyborgs, their shots became more erratic, until finally they were entangled enough that they could hardly move. That's when built-in saw blades popped out and began slicing through the webbing, one strand at a time.
A few members of each group broke off from the fight and started toward us.
At that point, we raced to the cars. A Puppet almost caught up to Larry and actually grabbed his shoulder as he was sliding into his seat; he slammed the door closed into the Puppet again and again, until finally, its skin splintering, it fell away. After that, we stepped on the gas and left as quickly as we could, speeding down the road.
I feel guilty for not helping any of the Puppets, since they no longer have any free will of their own, but I knew if we had stayed to help, the cyborgs might have killed us, or in anger the Witch herself may have turned us into Puppets as well.
But those cyborgs, or whatever they were. Where did they come from? Were they once people too? And why were they after us?
Update
I'm getting paranoid all of a sudden. Ever since that circus freak appeared at the gas station, whoever that guy was. Although he does remind me of that one case I wrote about a little while back.
But seriously, man, it feels like we're being followed. Maybe he freaked me out more than I realized. But it's more than that--I keep looking in the rearview mirror expecting to see shady characters tailing us. More Men in Black types.
I think what Torrance said and all this stress is getting to me. I should probably take a nap or something, let Larry drive for awhile (Torrance has his own car).
First, though, I'll report the latest on Ralph. I called the hospital and they said he's doing a lot better, even staying awake for extended periods of time. His memory seems a bit fuzzy though. They expect that problem to gradually fade away.
I seriously need to get my mind off everything.
But seriously, man, it feels like we're being followed. Maybe he freaked me out more than I realized. But it's more than that--I keep looking in the rearview mirror expecting to see shady characters tailing us. More Men in Black types.
I think what Torrance said and all this stress is getting to me. I should probably take a nap or something, let Larry drive for awhile (Torrance has his own car).
First, though, I'll report the latest on Ralph. I called the hospital and they said he's doing a lot better, even staying awake for extended periods of time. His memory seems a bit fuzzy though. They expect that problem to gradually fade away.
I seriously need to get my mind off everything.
Gas Station Visit
We chose not to alert the police to Frank's disappearance, since they probably wouldn't believe our story, nor would they do anything if they did.
Since we didn't get very far yesterday, and after all the stress from worry about Lina, the oppressive atmosphere of the art gallery, the tangible terror at the abandoned apartment complex, and another person disappearing, we decided to call it off and return home to rest. But only to be ready again today.
The search yesterday had us traipsing back and forth across LA and the convoluted clue led us nowhere useful in the end, so me and Torrance were wondering if it was some dummy trail, a trick, a distraction. Of course, the obvious question is why they would want Frank?
Today we've been gathering more information, and no one recalls that red Mustang doubling back. So maybe north was the right direction in the first place, just the wrong location.
So now we need to figure out what that right location would be.
Torrance says there should be signs of being on the right track, such as people watching us or tailing us. It can be pretty subtle, but he'll recognize it.
A place to start, he said, is a secret location near the Sequoia National Forest. He said that's one of the facilities for STAB to interrogate important figures associated with supernatural threats. It's also part of the reason he left the organization--there interrogation methods are horrible. He wouldn't even go into specifics with me.
Anyway, so we've stopped for gas (we've been on the road for a few hours already, so it shouldn't be too much longer) and will soon continue after we've done enough leg-stretching and restroom-break-taking.
Hold on. There's someone over by the corner of the store. Is he...naked?! And covered in...are those eyes?! What in the
What in the hell is going on? A large flock of birds just flew down (I've seen Hitchcock's film, so I was worried for a moment since, you know, birds plus gas station...) and blocked my view. After they passed, the nude man with eyes all over was gone.
And I thought yesterday was getting strange.
I'm going to stop writing now. All this worry is making me feel sick. Lina, I hope you're alright! Please be alright, in God's name be alright!
No matter what I'm going to get you back. Regardless of what freaks are thrown my way, I'm going to save you, and maybe finally accomplish something in my life.
Since we didn't get very far yesterday, and after all the stress from worry about Lina, the oppressive atmosphere of the art gallery, the tangible terror at the abandoned apartment complex, and another person disappearing, we decided to call it off and return home to rest. But only to be ready again today.
The search yesterday had us traipsing back and forth across LA and the convoluted clue led us nowhere useful in the end, so me and Torrance were wondering if it was some dummy trail, a trick, a distraction. Of course, the obvious question is why they would want Frank?
Today we've been gathering more information, and no one recalls that red Mustang doubling back. So maybe north was the right direction in the first place, just the wrong location.
So now we need to figure out what that right location would be.
Torrance says there should be signs of being on the right track, such as people watching us or tailing us. It can be pretty subtle, but he'll recognize it.
A place to start, he said, is a secret location near the Sequoia National Forest. He said that's one of the facilities for STAB to interrogate important figures associated with supernatural threats. It's also part of the reason he left the organization--there interrogation methods are horrible. He wouldn't even go into specifics with me.
Anyway, so we've stopped for gas (we've been on the road for a few hours already, so it shouldn't be too much longer) and will soon continue after we've done enough leg-stretching and restroom-break-taking.
Hold on. There's someone over by the corner of the store. Is he...naked?! And covered in...are those eyes?! What in the
What in the hell is going on? A large flock of birds just flew down (I've seen Hitchcock's film, so I was worried for a moment since, you know, birds plus gas station...) and blocked my view. After they passed, the nude man with eyes all over was gone.
And I thought yesterday was getting strange.
I'm going to stop writing now. All this worry is making me feel sick. Lina, I hope you're alright! Please be alright, in God's name be alright!
No matter what I'm going to get you back. Regardless of what freaks are thrown my way, I'm going to save you, and maybe finally accomplish something in my life.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
What now?!
We decided to call it off for now and get ahold of the paramedics.
We went back into the foyer to tell Frank all of this while Larry was getting his phone out to dial, but Frank was gone. The hole he was sitting in was still there, the board with its nails was still there, blood soaking the edge. But he himself had vanished.
What happened? Where could he have gone? WHY? Did that thing he kept going on about catch up to him? Wouldn't he have called for us?
Oh, God, what do we do?
We went back into the foyer to tell Frank all of this while Larry was getting his phone out to dial, but Frank was gone. The hole he was sitting in was still there, the board with its nails was still there, blood soaking the edge. But he himself had vanished.
What happened? Where could he have gone? WHY? Did that thing he kept going on about catch up to him? Wouldn't he have called for us?
Oh, God, what do we do?
A Setback
So we got to the old familiar building.
It, too, was empty. No idea where the tenants went. There were no eviction notices or a condemned sign on the doors, so I don't know why everyone is gone or where they went. No doubt STAB had something to do with it.
We were exploring the place, looking for any other leads. The deeper we went, however, the darker the walls and floor and ceiling got, like they were burnt.
But again this makes no sense; there haven't been any reports on the news of a major fire like that, and there are no remains, thank God. I don't think I could stomach anything like that after that infernal "fine art gallery." My mind might just break.
Anyway, eventually we also started smelling smoke (but didn't see any) and the air seemed more and more oppressive, like our whole bodies were in a vice. The boards creaked underfoot and some began to snap and splinter.
We only made it a couple of floors up before Torrance nearly fell through the floor. We had to get out. It was too dangerous, and even if there were no more incidents like that, it would be too stifling to breathe.
As we were exiting the front doors on the ground level, however, it was like slow motion as Larry chanced to kick a pebble that was on the floor, and it flew up and hit Frank's leg, startling him. This led, in turn, to him losing his balance and falling backward into the wall behind him, and crashing through it. Before anyone could do anything or he could pick himself up, a loose board from the ceiling swung downward. Its end had sharp nails sticking out; fortunately Frank ducked in time so his head wasn't impailed.
But as a result, the other end of the board snapped loose, and the whole thing fell, the rusty nails digging deep into the flesh of his leg. He cried out in pain and started cursing that woman again.
He kept saying it was her fault over and over as he drew sharp, hissing breaths in and out, trying to hold in his agony.
We haven't been able to lift the board up yet and get the points of the nails out, and we're afraid to, worried it might have punctured an artery.
It's all surreal, this impossible chain of events. Was his marble woman real after all? Does she set out to cause "accidents" to happen to her targets? I don't know. I...just don't know.
We've come outside to discuss the issue (within earshot, if he should need anything). Should we call the search off for now and call 911? Would he be a burden if we tried to continue? I think Frank is so desperate to remain among us once again that he's trying to downplay the severity of the injury.
If he goes to the hospital, at least Ralph won't be lonely.
It, too, was empty. No idea where the tenants went. There were no eviction notices or a condemned sign on the doors, so I don't know why everyone is gone or where they went. No doubt STAB had something to do with it.
We were exploring the place, looking for any other leads. The deeper we went, however, the darker the walls and floor and ceiling got, like they were burnt.
But again this makes no sense; there haven't been any reports on the news of a major fire like that, and there are no remains, thank God. I don't think I could stomach anything like that after that infernal "fine art gallery." My mind might just break.
Anyway, eventually we also started smelling smoke (but didn't see any) and the air seemed more and more oppressive, like our whole bodies were in a vice. The boards creaked underfoot and some began to snap and splinter.
We only made it a couple of floors up before Torrance nearly fell through the floor. We had to get out. It was too dangerous, and even if there were no more incidents like that, it would be too stifling to breathe.
As we were exiting the front doors on the ground level, however, it was like slow motion as Larry chanced to kick a pebble that was on the floor, and it flew up and hit Frank's leg, startling him. This led, in turn, to him losing his balance and falling backward into the wall behind him, and crashing through it. Before anyone could do anything or he could pick himself up, a loose board from the ceiling swung downward. Its end had sharp nails sticking out; fortunately Frank ducked in time so his head wasn't impailed.
But as a result, the other end of the board snapped loose, and the whole thing fell, the rusty nails digging deep into the flesh of his leg. He cried out in pain and started cursing that woman again.
He kept saying it was her fault over and over as he drew sharp, hissing breaths in and out, trying to hold in his agony.
We haven't been able to lift the board up yet and get the points of the nails out, and we're afraid to, worried it might have punctured an artery.
It's all surreal, this impossible chain of events. Was his marble woman real after all? Does she set out to cause "accidents" to happen to her targets? I don't know. I...just don't know.
We've come outside to discuss the issue (within earshot, if he should need anything). Should we call the search off for now and call 911? Would he be a burden if we tried to continue? I think Frank is so desperate to remain among us once again that he's trying to downplay the severity of the injury.
If he goes to the hospital, at least Ralph won't be lonely.
The Gallery
Turns out the place Torrance was talking about was an art gallery.
It didn't look like much from the outside, surprisingly small. But supposedly it's sold some famous paintings.
A shock awaited us on the inside, though. I just...what the hell?!
Lining the walls were...
The paintings, some of them, they were normal enough. But oh, God. Sorry. Like I said, some were what you'd expect with modern art, like abstract and surreal. But my Lord! A lot of them were horrible, just horrible. The colors hurt my eyes (though, not as bad as that Playtime with Mikey show) and some of the imagery that's burned into my mind will surely fuel nightmares for some time to come.
Worst of all were the ones where...explicit...acts...on animals... Blood...lots of blood, and children...torture...wrongwrongwrongwrongWRONG!
I can't fully describe it without feeling like throwing up again. After I vomited (and I think the others almost did, too, especially after I did) I literally said out loud, "How in the hell is this legal?"
Fine art my ass. Excuses for perverts, more like. Torrance said something about how the artists must've been inspired by some red hooded spirit thing. Some folkloric depiction of a demon? Something real? I don't know.
But why we were there was to go into some secret place. I guess it's supposed to be a front for STAB. Why an art gallery? To show off their madness and depravity--that's my theory.
As we walked around, I noticed it was devoid of people, aside from us. Torrance said they must have known we were coming. I can't help but wonder if he tipped them off.
We went into the secret back meeting room or whatever, but it was also empty. Nothing but empty desks and shelves and file drawers. It seemed we had nothing to work with.
"Now what?" Torrance didn't have an answer.
Back in the main gallery, Larry said he remembered hearing stories of haunted paintings, like The Hands Resist Him where the work was supposedly haunted and the figures interacted with the real world.
I didn't know what that had to do with anything, so he explained that if these people were involved with the occult and paranormal stuff, and if they were inspired by an evil spirit to paint these images, maybe we could in some way communicate with that spirit or spirits to get information.
I started to tell him that seemed silly, but immediately stopped, realizing the idea of ghosts wasn't too different from the other stuff I've learned about. Larry began looking over the paintings, hoping to find signs of movement, and would occasionally call out to them.
While he was doing this, however, Frank yelled, "No! Not here! Not now!" After Fran and I came over to see what was the problem, he explained he thought he saw his mysterious marble woman in the painting before him. I looked and saw that it was an ordinary figure holding an umbrella (though I won't say what exactly was happening under the umbrella). But I do have to admit the figure did look a bit off before my eyes centered on it.
Finally, Larry said he had to conclude there were no spirits in the paintings, but he did find something intriguing. When he examined the paintings as he perused them all (he'll surely have those images stuck in his head forever) he noticed that some of the shadows were darker than others, and that some of them looked so out of place, like puzzle pieces. Maybe they would line up and form a hidden image if they were placed side by side.
Doing this revealed a number scrawled across several of the paintings in a weird stylized font: 1325. That was the address of the building we were at when Lina went blind. Time to go downtown.
It didn't look like much from the outside, surprisingly small. But supposedly it's sold some famous paintings.
A shock awaited us on the inside, though. I just...what the hell?!
Lining the walls were...
The paintings, some of them, they were normal enough. But oh, God. Sorry. Like I said, some were what you'd expect with modern art, like abstract and surreal. But my Lord! A lot of them were horrible, just horrible. The colors hurt my eyes (though, not as bad as that Playtime with Mikey show) and some of the imagery that's burned into my mind will surely fuel nightmares for some time to come.
Worst of all were the ones where...explicit...acts...on animals... Blood...lots of blood, and children...torture...wrongwrongwrongwrongWRONG!
I can't fully describe it without feeling like throwing up again. After I vomited (and I think the others almost did, too, especially after I did) I literally said out loud, "How in the hell is this legal?"
Fine art my ass. Excuses for perverts, more like. Torrance said something about how the artists must've been inspired by some red hooded spirit thing. Some folkloric depiction of a demon? Something real? I don't know.
But why we were there was to go into some secret place. I guess it's supposed to be a front for STAB. Why an art gallery? To show off their madness and depravity--that's my theory.
As we walked around, I noticed it was devoid of people, aside from us. Torrance said they must have known we were coming. I can't help but wonder if he tipped them off.
We went into the secret back meeting room or whatever, but it was also empty. Nothing but empty desks and shelves and file drawers. It seemed we had nothing to work with.
"Now what?" Torrance didn't have an answer.
Back in the main gallery, Larry said he remembered hearing stories of haunted paintings, like The Hands Resist Him where the work was supposedly haunted and the figures interacted with the real world.
I didn't know what that had to do with anything, so he explained that if these people were involved with the occult and paranormal stuff, and if they were inspired by an evil spirit to paint these images, maybe we could in some way communicate with that spirit or spirits to get information.
I started to tell him that seemed silly, but immediately stopped, realizing the idea of ghosts wasn't too different from the other stuff I've learned about. Larry began looking over the paintings, hoping to find signs of movement, and would occasionally call out to them.
While he was doing this, however, Frank yelled, "No! Not here! Not now!" After Fran and I came over to see what was the problem, he explained he thought he saw his mysterious marble woman in the painting before him. I looked and saw that it was an ordinary figure holding an umbrella (though I won't say what exactly was happening under the umbrella). But I do have to admit the figure did look a bit off before my eyes centered on it.
Finally, Larry said he had to conclude there were no spirits in the paintings, but he did find something intriguing. When he examined the paintings as he perused them all (he'll surely have those images stuck in his head forever) he noticed that some of the shadows were darker than others, and that some of them looked so out of place, like puzzle pieces. Maybe they would line up and form a hidden image if they were placed side by side.
Doing this revealed a number scrawled across several of the paintings in a weird stylized font: 1325. That was the address of the building we were at when Lina went blind. Time to go downtown.
We Embark
So we had to wait a little while for Frank to show. I guess he was late getting up. I think he was evicted from his own apartment and has been living in a homeless shelter. Needless to say, he's also lost his job. I guess his superiors thought he'd gotten back into old habits, too.
In any case, he looked normal again. He seemed exhilirated about being back with us, but also reserved. Can't say I blame him--after all, we've been pushing him away. I want to believe his story, I really do, but I can't. But I hope he's getting help. He looks like he could be.
Larry has worked himself up for the mission, since he's been shaken up ever since the incident. I told him to look on the bright side: there's likely no ghosts involved with this. He didn't laugh.
It's funny, though. I always imagined we'd eventually get into investigating paranormal events firsthand (rather than second- or third-hand stories), not get involved with some James Bond espionage bull.
Fran Fields was there, since we asked for her help, but she kind of seemed annoyed about the whole thing. Granted, she still doesn't know us all that well, but can she at least feign compassion for acquaintances? I mean, sure, her parents were killed, not taken, but Lina's life could still be in danger for all we know. I guess it'll take time.
Torrance was there as well, ready to give us information we needed. He claims to be an ex-agent and against what this STAB organization is doing anyway, but he's kind of short on the details. He won't tell us what their goals are, and when I pressed him on it, he just looked away. I'm pissed at him, and I'm still not sure if I should trust him.
Anyway, since the goons went north, we'll be heading that way. Torrance said he knows a place on Outpost Drive, which isn't too far from Hillside Avenue. We're following his car.
I'm going to try my damnedest to get my sister back.
In any case, he looked normal again. He seemed exhilirated about being back with us, but also reserved. Can't say I blame him--after all, we've been pushing him away. I want to believe his story, I really do, but I can't. But I hope he's getting help. He looks like he could be.
Larry has worked himself up for the mission, since he's been shaken up ever since the incident. I told him to look on the bright side: there's likely no ghosts involved with this. He didn't laugh.
It's funny, though. I always imagined we'd eventually get into investigating paranormal events firsthand (rather than second- or third-hand stories), not get involved with some James Bond espionage bull.
Fran Fields was there, since we asked for her help, but she kind of seemed annoyed about the whole thing. Granted, she still doesn't know us all that well, but can she at least feign compassion for acquaintances? I mean, sure, her parents were killed, not taken, but Lina's life could still be in danger for all we know. I guess it'll take time.
Torrance was there as well, ready to give us information we needed. He claims to be an ex-agent and against what this STAB organization is doing anyway, but he's kind of short on the details. He won't tell us what their goals are, and when I pressed him on it, he just looked away. I'm pissed at him, and I'm still not sure if I should trust him.
Anyway, since the goons went north, we'll be heading that way. Torrance said he knows a place on Outpost Drive, which isn't too far from Hillside Avenue. We're following his car.
I'm going to try my damnedest to get my sister back.
Bad Dream
Last night I had a nightmare. It was about the universe, its vastness. I could feel it, how enormous it all is. And how small we are in comparison. I felt so small.
And as I stood on the hillside, looking into the endless dark, I became aware of some things. Indescribable things, impossible things. It hurt to be aware of them, blasphemy to the eyes and all reason.
And they looked on me with such powerful hatred. They could kill me with no effort, like blowing out a candle.
I was so afraid. So scared.
And I felt like searching for Lina was pointless. Maybe it's better this way. Maybe it's better to give in to the mindless chaos of the crumbling universe and the impenetrably foolish ways of man. Let it all fall apart.
I know it was just a dream, but it felt so real.
It was unlike anything I've experienced before, asleep or awake.
I think it may have a lot to do with my worry and all this stress and the big search that we start on today (Torrance and Frank and Fran are going to meet us in the parking garage of the complex).
My nerves are still unsettled. With everything I know is out there, I can't help but wonder if something was getting into my head.
I guess I should go get ready. I'm mostly packed, in case the trip takes a few days.
And as I stood on the hillside, looking into the endless dark, I became aware of some things. Indescribable things, impossible things. It hurt to be aware of them, blasphemy to the eyes and all reason.
And they looked on me with such powerful hatred. They could kill me with no effort, like blowing out a candle.
I was so afraid. So scared.
And I felt like searching for Lina was pointless. Maybe it's better this way. Maybe it's better to give in to the mindless chaos of the crumbling universe and the impenetrably foolish ways of man. Let it all fall apart.
I know it was just a dream, but it felt so real.
It was unlike anything I've experienced before, asleep or awake.
I think it may have a lot to do with my worry and all this stress and the big search that we start on today (Torrance and Frank and Fran are going to meet us in the parking garage of the complex).
My nerves are still unsettled. With everything I know is out there, I can't help but wonder if something was getting into my head.
I guess I should go get ready. I'm mostly packed, in case the trip takes a few days.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
A Note
I found a note on my door today when I got home from the grocery store. It said:
Do not follow us
or we will be forced
to STAB you
to DEATH.
Yeah... Something tells me these guys aren't the most subtle. But what they've done already makes this a credible threat.
So I called Torrance with the number he gave me and accepted his offer to help look for Lina.
So I called Torrance with the number he gave me and accepted his offer to help look for Lina.
Since the police aren't helping, and Larry and Fran and I don't have much experience, and Ralph's out for the count, I feel like I have no choice but to accept.
I hope he's trustworthy.
Given everything else lately, maybe he was telling the truth about the blinding incident. I don't know what to think anymore.
I think I'll temporarily let Frank back in the taskforce as well; we need all the help we can get.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Hectic day
I found another lead: after asking some neighbors and owners of nearby businesses, it seems they saw some men in black suits and sunglasses get into a completely ordinary red Mustang and drove north.
Not much, but it's something. More info than I had before, and more than the cops are doing.
What's really weird, though, is that today I also got a phonecall with a really weird sound, kind of like this:
What the hell?!
Not much, but it's something. More info than I had before, and more than the cops are doing.
What's really weird, though, is that today I also got a phonecall with a really weird sound, kind of like this:
What the hell?!
Monday, August 13, 2012
Phonecall with an Ex-Agent
Just got off the phone with Torrance. His ravings about secret groups named STAB don't seem so absurd anymore.
He reminded me that he tried to warn us. I accused him of being in on it.
That's when he got really upset and told me he didn't want this to happen, that it might be his fault, but he wasn't in on the kidnapping. He might have led them to us.
He was so distraught that I think he was telling the truth.
He definitely knows more than he's telling, though, because he refused to answer my questions about why they would want Lina in particular and for what purpose.
Anyway, he offered to help me find her, and hopefully rescue her.
I told him I would think about it.
He reminded me that he tried to warn us. I accused him of being in on it.
That's when he got really upset and told me he didn't want this to happen, that it might be his fault, but he wasn't in on the kidnapping. He might have led them to us.
He was so distraught that I think he was telling the truth.
He definitely knows more than he's telling, though, because he refused to answer my questions about why they would want Lina in particular and for what purpose.
Anyway, he offered to help me find her, and hopefully rescue her.
I told him I would think about it.
Learning about Illumination
I've been doing Google searches and stuff, and I have found other people claiming to get sick after drinking Illumination. The symptoms described are just like those Ralph exhibited.
Gray skin, convulsions, fainting, sunken eyes. Also, some said things about skin peeling off extraordinarily easy. Thank God that didn't happen to Ralph.
These people said they got better quickly after getting off the stuff, though a few accounts said the people did end up dying. Some said something about hallucinations, even after being off the stuff awhile. Ralph already has issues with that sort of thing, I fear this could make it worse.
The company who makes and distributes it is Scott Brooks Health Drinks, Ltd. based in Britain. Don't know how they're keeping from getting sued. All I want is for my sister's fiance to get better, I don't care about money, but surely there are those who demand action against them.
How is this stuff even still legal? Was it even ever approved for public consumption?
I hope and pray for Ralph's health.
Gray skin, convulsions, fainting, sunken eyes. Also, some said things about skin peeling off extraordinarily easy. Thank God that didn't happen to Ralph.
These people said they got better quickly after getting off the stuff, though a few accounts said the people did end up dying. Some said something about hallucinations, even after being off the stuff awhile. Ralph already has issues with that sort of thing, I fear this could make it worse.
The company who makes and distributes it is Scott Brooks Health Drinks, Ltd. based in Britain. Don't know how they're keeping from getting sued. All I want is for my sister's fiance to get better, I don't care about money, but surely there are those who demand action against them.
How is this stuff even still legal? Was it even ever approved for public consumption?
I hope and pray for Ralph's health.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
An alright day, all things considered
After church I stopped by the hospital to check on Ralph.
He's been in there a few days now and is starting to look a lot better. I'm told he's been unconscious for much of the time, and keeps moaning about Lina, calling for her.
Larry's been looking over his collection of haunted house info (newspaper clippings, TV specials, all that) to take his mind off things. The reason I haven't put any of that on here is because I'm not convinced of its veracity. Outside of that, though, he's encouraged me not to give up and stay strong, all that cliched stuff.
Fran's visited us a few times to provide moral support, and she says she's also popped in to see Ralph a time or two.
My parents called as well (they heard about the missing person's report) and I did my best to keep them calm. I may have implied that Lina was fine, that she'd been found.
But I am glad to have all this support and be surrounded by all these kind, loving people. I'd probably go crazy without them. I do keep crying at night though, when I have nothing else to distract me from these thoughts.
I just realized something: Ralph hasn't drunk Illumination for a few days, obviously, but like I said he's looking better. I wonder if there's any link.
He's been in there a few days now and is starting to look a lot better. I'm told he's been unconscious for much of the time, and keeps moaning about Lina, calling for her.
Larry's been looking over his collection of haunted house info (newspaper clippings, TV specials, all that) to take his mind off things. The reason I haven't put any of that on here is because I'm not convinced of its veracity. Outside of that, though, he's encouraged me not to give up and stay strong, all that cliched stuff.
Fran's visited us a few times to provide moral support, and she says she's also popped in to see Ralph a time or two.
My parents called as well (they heard about the missing person's report) and I did my best to keep them calm. I may have implied that Lina was fine, that she'd been found.
But I am glad to have all this support and be surrounded by all these kind, loving people. I'd probably go crazy without them. I do keep crying at night though, when I have nothing else to distract me from these thoughts.
I just realized something: Ralph hasn't drunk Illumination for a few days, obviously, but like I said he's looking better. I wonder if there's any link.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
A Clue
Okay, I've been looking over the place very carefully the last couple of days, hoping to find fingerprints, hair, something. But no, I haven't found a thing. Whoever this person or persons are, they're damn good about not leaving any trace. It's frustrating.
Larry suggested I take a look at the security footage from the hallway camera, see if there's any leads there for identifying these guys.
EDIT: What the... You have got to be kidding me. Well, I found something: Men in Black. Honest to God Men in Black!? Men in Black!? MEN IN BLACK!!!!
I'm sorry, but I don't know how else to put it. Four or five tall men in black suits and sunglasses methodically broke into the apartment, and within like five minutes, they're back out carrying Lina. These are professionals. What the hell?
And what's more, this is all within about 30 seconds until my arrival home. How...?
Larry said something about men in suits, but I didn't imagine anything like THIS.
Why would super secret shady guys like that be after my family? I've never been involved in anything questionable, neither has Lina.
Larry suggested I take a look at the security footage from the hallway camera, see if there's any leads there for identifying these guys.
EDIT: What the... You have got to be kidding me. Well, I found something: Men in Black. Honest to God Men in Black!? Men in Black!? MEN IN BLACK!!!!
I'm sorry, but I don't know how else to put it. Four or five tall men in black suits and sunglasses methodically broke into the apartment, and within like five minutes, they're back out carrying Lina. These are professionals. What the hell?
And what's more, this is all within about 30 seconds until my arrival home. How...?
Larry said something about men in suits, but I didn't imagine anything like THIS.
Why would super secret shady guys like that be after my family? I've never been involved in anything questionable, neither has Lina.
Friday, August 10, 2012
A Decision
The police have been slow about looking for Lina. They said they have lots of cases where adults go missing and it turns out they just needed time alone or wanted to start a new life. They're just ignoring Larry's story. Jerks.
Lina's not like that at all. She would never up and disappear without telling anyone, especially without anyone else with her. I mean, she's making progress, but she's still not completely used to living without sight--something everyone else takes for granted, as did she before the "accident."
Fortunately I grew up on all those police and detective shows, like Dragnet and Kojak and Columbo reruns. It inspired me to become a private eye. After winning the lottery, I was finally able to take an online course and voila! (Sure, a printed-out online degree sounds lame, but it's something.)
I barely started my career when Lina got blinded and I found out more and more of this bizarre horror-movie crap that's actually happening, so I stopped to help take care of her while she got used to her new life and to get this group up and running.
I'll have to hope I remember enough skills to find her. It's been awhile.
Really, though, I'm surprised I'm not just freaking out right now. I'm staying pretty calm. I guess it just hasn't completely hit me yet.
Hope those bastards haven't left the LA area yet.
Lina's not like that at all. She would never up and disappear without telling anyone, especially without anyone else with her. I mean, she's making progress, but she's still not completely used to living without sight--something everyone else takes for granted, as did she before the "accident."
Fortunately I grew up on all those police and detective shows, like Dragnet and Kojak and Columbo reruns. It inspired me to become a private eye. After winning the lottery, I was finally able to take an online course and voila! (Sure, a printed-out online degree sounds lame, but it's something.)
I barely started my career when Lina got blinded and I found out more and more of this bizarre horror-movie crap that's actually happening, so I stopped to help take care of her while she got used to her new life and to get this group up and running.
I'll have to hope I remember enough skills to find her. It's been awhile.
Really, though, I'm surprised I'm not just freaking out right now. I'm staying pretty calm. I guess it just hasn't completely hit me yet.
Hope those bastards haven't left the LA area yet.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Oh God
Once they stabilized Ralph's condition, I came home to rest.
As I neared the door to the apartment, I could tell something was wrong: the door was ajar, the doorknob and its lock smashed and bent. To me, it almost looked melted.
After taking out my concealed handgun and pointing its barrel ahead of me, I crept quietly into the living room, fearing that the intruder(s) might still be there. Knick-knacks and decorative plants were knocked over throughout the room. Clear signs of a struggle.
My head whipped to the right when I heard a faint sound in one of the bedrooms.
Carefully, I made my way to Lina's room and kicked open the door. Larry was there in the middle of the floor, tied to a small wooden chair from the dining room and gagged with a roll of socks. He was struggling to get free and moaning all the while.
I lowered my gun. I took out the socks and asked him a million questions at once, especially, "What happened?" and "Where's Lina?"
Larry said that a bunch of guys in suits broke in while they were watching television (with audio descriptions so Lina could follow along) and came right for her.
Larry tried to fight them off, but he was knocked back by one of the men and a gun was pointed at his head by another. A few of them grabbed Lina, and she valiantly struggled for her life, but they held a cloth with chloroform on it to her face and she passed out.
These men took her out of the apartment, probably to take her to their vehicle. The remaining men tied him up in Lina's room. He doesn't know how much time passed between them leaving and my arrival.
I've already contacted the police, but what am I going to do? Ohgodohgodohgod.
As I neared the door to the apartment, I could tell something was wrong: the door was ajar, the doorknob and its lock smashed and bent. To me, it almost looked melted.
After taking out my concealed handgun and pointing its barrel ahead of me, I crept quietly into the living room, fearing that the intruder(s) might still be there. Knick-knacks and decorative plants were knocked over throughout the room. Clear signs of a struggle.
My head whipped to the right when I heard a faint sound in one of the bedrooms.
Carefully, I made my way to Lina's room and kicked open the door. Larry was there in the middle of the floor, tied to a small wooden chair from the dining room and gagged with a roll of socks. He was struggling to get free and moaning all the while.
I lowered my gun. I took out the socks and asked him a million questions at once, especially, "What happened?" and "Where's Lina?"
Larry said that a bunch of guys in suits broke in while they were watching television (with audio descriptions so Lina could follow along) and came right for her.
Larry tried to fight them off, but he was knocked back by one of the men and a gun was pointed at his head by another. A few of them grabbed Lina, and she valiantly struggled for her life, but they held a cloth with chloroform on it to her face and she passed out.
These men took her out of the apartment, probably to take her to their vehicle. The remaining men tied him up in Lina's room. He doesn't know how much time passed between them leaving and my arrival.
I've already contacted the police, but what am I going to do? Ohgodohgodohgod.
Hospital again
A little while ago, Ralph was seeming to be a bit better, up and walking around. He ambled into the living room, where out of nowhere he started kissing Lina passionately, her sightless eyes wide with shock. He then butted into our conversation about mundane things, telling some bad, pun-filled jokes. I was excited for a moment, thinking that that ordeal was over.
But then he collapsed and started convulsing.
I called 911 and he was swiftly taken to the hospital. Larry is home looking after Lina. She wasn't able to join us in the rush of things. She might come visit him later. I don't think Fran knows yet.
I am currently updating this from the waiting room, while I wait for word on what is going on.
The doctors still don't seem to have a clue why he's so ill.
But then he collapsed and started convulsing.
I called 911 and he was swiftly taken to the hospital. Larry is home looking after Lina. She wasn't able to join us in the rush of things. She might come visit him later. I don't think Fran knows yet.
I am currently updating this from the waiting room, while I wait for word on what is going on.
The doctors still don't seem to have a clue why he's so ill.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Everyone's uptight
I'm starting to feel like I'm being watched. I keep having the compulsion to look over my shoulder everywhere I go, and I've been jerking awake at night, covered in sweat.
Lina has admitted to feeling the same way. But I haven't actually seen any evidence of us being watched or followed.
What's worse, Ralph's condition is deteriorating. He'll only sip some water and that horrid energy drink. Can't figure why he likes the stuff. I've spent much of the day trying to convince him to go back to the hospital, but he is stubborn. He's also been neglecting to take his medication.
I guess that Frank again begging to come back was sort of a welcome relief. We ran into each other on my way back from the pharmacy. He looked more rested than before, which is of course a good thing (I suppose exhaustion forced him to sleep despite what he's afraid of). But he was still clearly scared. He was actually trembling, his voice cracking as he spoke to me.
I thought he was about to cry. I told him I would help him get into a rehab program, but he denied being on drugs again. When I said I would help him check into a facility, he lost it and walked away.
Damn shame.
Lina has admitted to feeling the same way. But I haven't actually seen any evidence of us being watched or followed.
What's worse, Ralph's condition is deteriorating. He'll only sip some water and that horrid energy drink. Can't figure why he likes the stuff. I've spent much of the day trying to convince him to go back to the hospital, but he is stubborn. He's also been neglecting to take his medication.
I guess that Frank again begging to come back was sort of a welcome relief. We ran into each other on my way back from the pharmacy. He looked more rested than before, which is of course a good thing (I suppose exhaustion forced him to sleep despite what he's afraid of). But he was still clearly scared. He was actually trembling, his voice cracking as he spoke to me.
I thought he was about to cry. I told him I would help him get into a rehab program, but he denied being on drugs again. When I said I would help him check into a facility, he lost it and walked away.
Damn shame.
Case #8: "Camper"
Fran has opened up a bit more and told us of an incident in her past. This is a rather short entry since she doesn't remember that much. It happened when she was young.
Ms. Fields' father and mother were, unfortunately, killed by something that seemed a man yet wasn't. It was once quite human, but had been turned into something else. She once heard it referred to as a "Camper," though isn't sure why it is called such. A Camper is turned by a water monster of sorts, she said. It would act like ordinary water, indistinguishable from the real thing, and take over someone who drank it or otherwise came into contact with it. It would cause the victim to become part of a sort of hive mind and eventually lose all humanity and memory of what they once were, to be replaced by something unnatural.
In hindsight, she is kind of glad her parents were killed instead of actually becoming one with the hive mind.
Ms. Fields' father and mother were, unfortunately, killed by something that seemed a man yet wasn't. It was once quite human, but had been turned into something else. She once heard it referred to as a "Camper," though isn't sure why it is called such. A Camper is turned by a water monster of sorts, she said. It would act like ordinary water, indistinguishable from the real thing, and take over someone who drank it or otherwise came into contact with it. It would cause the victim to become part of a sort of hive mind and eventually lose all humanity and memory of what they once were, to be replaced by something unnatural.
In hindsight, she is kind of glad her parents were killed instead of actually becoming one with the hive mind.
Monday, August 6, 2012
New member
I finally found someone willing to join in place of Frank.
She says her name is Fran Fields (I know--Frank/Fran--but that's what she said; she's white, too, so kind of impossible for her to be Frank in drag). She says her family has had a bit of history with supernatural entities. She doesn't want to seem to talk about it right now.
Fran has her own place, said she wasn't comfortable sharing living space with us. I can understand, us being little more than strangers at this point.
Having a history as a private detective, I easily ran a background check. Everything looks good.
And if you're wondering, I did do one for Frank, too, but I accepted him since he'd been clean for awhile. Too bad about him.
She says her name is Fran Fields (I know--Frank/Fran--but that's what she said; she's white, too, so kind of impossible for her to be Frank in drag). She says her family has had a bit of history with supernatural entities. She doesn't want to seem to talk about it right now.
Fran has her own place, said she wasn't comfortable sharing living space with us. I can understand, us being little more than strangers at this point.
Having a history as a private detective, I easily ran a background check. Everything looks good.
And if you're wondering, I did do one for Frank, too, but I accepted him since he'd been clean for awhile. Too bad about him.
Case #7: Gashadokuro
There is a Japanese urban legend of the Gashadokuro. It is said to be a giant skeleton which follows its victims late at night, then scoops them up into its hand and devours them, often by biting their heads off. This doesn't necessarily relate to the legend, but this case reminded me of it.
This story is not set in Japan, but in South America. In Colombia, to be precise. A group of FARC guerrillas came to a small village, where they proceeded to attempt to kidnap people. Those who tried to stop them or fought back were gunned down.
It seemed there was no hope.
Then the air was filled with an unbearable sound. Both the villagers and the soldiers covered their ears and looked into the sky above the jungle near the village to see a giant skeletal machine. When it was done screeching, they could see its grinding teeth and hear clicks and clanks as it drew closer.
It had no bottom half; it walked on its hands.
There was much shouting and the guerrillas tried to shoot at it, to no avail. It screeched again before grabbing in one hand several people, both terrorists and civilians. It consumed them, chomping them like clockwork, and their bodies were integrated into the machine, their blood and innards dribbling down between the ribs onto the ground.
The remaining guerrillas hopped back into their vehicles, hoping to escape, murdering any villagers who attempted to go with them.
The thing ate the FARC men, cars and all. They, too, were made part of the machine, presumably to build up the missing portions of the skeleton.
It is unknown what village this took place in, so it cannot be verified and the villagers cannot be checked on for their safety.
I was given this in another of those "Flame of Knowledge" letters.
This story is not set in Japan, but in South America. In Colombia, to be precise. A group of FARC guerrillas came to a small village, where they proceeded to attempt to kidnap people. Those who tried to stop them or fought back were gunned down.
It seemed there was no hope.
Then the air was filled with an unbearable sound. Both the villagers and the soldiers covered their ears and looked into the sky above the jungle near the village to see a giant skeletal machine. When it was done screeching, they could see its grinding teeth and hear clicks and clanks as it drew closer.
It had no bottom half; it walked on its hands.
There was much shouting and the guerrillas tried to shoot at it, to no avail. It screeched again before grabbing in one hand several people, both terrorists and civilians. It consumed them, chomping them like clockwork, and their bodies were integrated into the machine, their blood and innards dribbling down between the ribs onto the ground.
The remaining guerrillas hopped back into their vehicles, hoping to escape, murdering any villagers who attempted to go with them.
The thing ate the FARC men, cars and all. They, too, were made part of the machine, presumably to build up the missing portions of the skeleton.
It is unknown what village this took place in, so it cannot be verified and the villagers cannot be checked on for their safety.
I was given this in another of those "Flame of Knowledge" letters.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Case #6: Playtime with Mikey
In the wake of Candle Cove going on hiatus, a new show has taken up its timeslot: Playtime with Mikey. It is just as unsettling (if not moreso) as the previous show.
Playtime with Mikey is ostensibly a children's show featuring songs and a man with an Australian accent in a monkey costume. The costume, however, looks old and worn and dirty, and is too large for whomever is inside, as it sags everywhere. As you can imagine, this makes the song-and-dance numbers somewhat disconcerting and surreal.
But the true creep factor comes not from the costume, but the song lyrics and the indescribable myriad colors constantly shifting and swirling around the screen. These colors actually hurt the eyes (unlike Candle Cove, this show apparently can be seen by anyone, as I saw this one with my own eyes).
As for the songs, the music is often flat and dissonant, while the the lyrics seem fine at first, only to take on new horror (especially combined with these other elements).
An example (a song sung in every episode):
Fortunately, it looks like none of this sort of thing actually takes place on the show. It is unknown who or what is behind this new show, but it can't be good.
Playtime with Mikey is ostensibly a children's show featuring songs and a man with an Australian accent in a monkey costume. The costume, however, looks old and worn and dirty, and is too large for whomever is inside, as it sags everywhere. As you can imagine, this makes the song-and-dance numbers somewhat disconcerting and surreal.
But the true creep factor comes not from the costume, but the song lyrics and the indescribable myriad colors constantly shifting and swirling around the screen. These colors actually hurt the eyes (unlike Candle Cove, this show apparently can be seen by anyone, as I saw this one with my own eyes).
As for the songs, the music is often flat and dissonant, while the the lyrics seem fine at first, only to take on new horror (especially combined with these other elements).
An example (a song sung in every episode):
Playtime...with Mikey!
Is very, very fun!
Playtime...oh, crikey!
Oh no--he's got a gun!
Once you have arrived
You'll never want to leave,
For if you ever try,
Your parents he will cleave!
(With an axe!)
Playtime...with Mikey!
Is very, very fun!
Playtime...oh, crikey!
Oh no--he's got a gun!
He'll teach you how to hate!
Come on, let's dance and play!
It's really, really great!
Join in so he can say
(Really loud!):
"Playtime...with Mikey!
Is very, very fun!
Playtime...with Mikey!
Your soul now I have won!"
Fortunately, it looks like none of this sort of thing actually takes place on the show. It is unknown who or what is behind this new show, but it can't be good.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Depressed
You know, I'm starting to feel bad about how I've been acting towards Frank. He really needs help. I should help him get it.
As a side note, since I made him leave the taskforce, I've been looking for a replacement. No luck so far. Hopefully someone will turn up soon.
In the meantime, I've got to get back to the casefiles that are waiting.
As a side note, since I made him leave the taskforce, I've been looking for a replacement. No luck so far. Hopefully someone will turn up soon.
In the meantime, I've got to get back to the casefiles that are waiting.
Now Frank returns
Frank came by. Ugh. What a day.
He looked even worse, if you can believe that. He tried to convince me that he's being arbitrarily targeted by something, that he keeps almost getting into accidents. Why would anyone be after him of all people?
Reminds me of this "gangstalking" phenomenon I've heard about. Conspiracy theory nonsense.
Also, I'm pretty sure he is on some illegal substance again, because he proceeded to describe to me the thing that's supposedly after him. Now, I'm not one to discount possible supernatural phenomena out of hand, but given his history, Occam's razor demands I take the simplest explanation. First I've heard of something like this anyway.
So he says a woman is following him, but it's not a woman (if that makes any sense). She or it is made of marble, or at least looks that way, and he's not sure what her face looks like. Apparently she always lugs around an umbrella even though it hasn't been raining much.
This weird hallucination or whatever frightens him and he says he wants to come back to the group so he can spend every day here in the apartment again. Says he feels safer here since we keep it so neat and tidy.
I had to turn him away. I don't want Lina exposed to his drug use or his hallucinations, not in her condition.
Just now, while writing this, Torrance called. (Can't he leave us alone for God's sake?!) He said, "You're all in danger!"
I slammed the phone into it's cradle. I think I'm gonna go nuts!
He looked even worse, if you can believe that. He tried to convince me that he's being arbitrarily targeted by something, that he keeps almost getting into accidents. Why would anyone be after him of all people?
Reminds me of this "gangstalking" phenomenon I've heard about. Conspiracy theory nonsense.
Also, I'm pretty sure he is on some illegal substance again, because he proceeded to describe to me the thing that's supposedly after him. Now, I'm not one to discount possible supernatural phenomena out of hand, but given his history, Occam's razor demands I take the simplest explanation. First I've heard of something like this anyway.
So he says a woman is following him, but it's not a woman (if that makes any sense). She or it is made of marble, or at least looks that way, and he's not sure what her face looks like. Apparently she always lugs around an umbrella even though it hasn't been raining much.
This weird hallucination or whatever frightens him and he says he wants to come back to the group so he can spend every day here in the apartment again. Says he feels safer here since we keep it so neat and tidy.
I had to turn him away. I don't want Lina exposed to his drug use or his hallucinations, not in her condition.
Just now, while writing this, Torrance called. (Can't he leave us alone for God's sake?!) He said, "You're all in danger!"
I slammed the phone into it's cradle. I think I'm gonna go nuts!
Torrance returns
Torrance showed up again a little while ago.
He started sputtering something about how we "need to get out of this before it's too late."
I shut the door in his face.
He started sputtering something about how we "need to get out of this before it's too late."
I shut the door in his face.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Gaaah!
Ralph is getting worse. I'm really worried about him. He isn't acting himself. Instead of doting all over Lina and being over protective, he's been lying around with his eyes closed (though not sleeping much) and staying completely silent. None of the usual quips. Frankly, it's bothering me.
And poor Lina's been getting more and more depressed because she can't do anything, can't examine the problem, being blind and all.
But speaking of lying around, Frank came by today, begging to be let back in. I don't know if he's gotten back into drugs or anything, but his eyes were bloodshot and he was terrified. Whatever hallucinations he's had or dealers he's run into, I felt sorry for him, but I'm not gonna allow any relapsing drug addicts around my sister and sick soon-to-be brother-in-law.
I thought leaving that bad neighborhood would get me out of all these problems. Damn.
And poor Lina's been getting more and more depressed because she can't do anything, can't examine the problem, being blind and all.
But speaking of lying around, Frank came by today, begging to be let back in. I don't know if he's gotten back into drugs or anything, but his eyes were bloodshot and he was terrified. Whatever hallucinations he's had or dealers he's run into, I felt sorry for him, but I'm not gonna allow any relapsing drug addicts around my sister and sick soon-to-be brother-in-law.
I thought leaving that bad neighborhood would get me out of all these problems. Damn.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Venting
Today that man who blinded my sister had the audacity to show up at the apartment! I tried to shoo him away, but he pushed past me.
I asked him how he found out where we lived, and why the hell he was here. He said it was simple. He claims to be an agent (or, rather, former agent) of some super-secret organization by the absurd name of "STAB!"
I don't know why the hell he is suddenly interested in us, I mean, he's already ruined my sister's life forever. But even so, does he really have to come up with such ridiculous lies?
Anyway, he said he was here to warn us. That he's read the blog and we don't know what we're getting into. And that we may be in danger from his fellow "STAB" agents.
I called to Frank (then remembered he was gone), then called for Larry, who helped me push this guy (said his name is "Torrance") out of the apartment and shut the door on him.
Man, what the hell? Everything was fine until now. Me and Lina were moving up in the world, we won the lottery and got this nice apartment, invested some of the money and put the rest in the bank, she got to go to medical school like she always wanted, I got to start my own P.I. service (currently defunct), she found a great guy to spend her life with.
Suddenly Lina goes blind, I find out about all this impossible crap going on around us, Ralph mysteriously gets sick, the jerkass who hurt her comes back into our lives, starts harassing us and giving us all this bull.
Seriously, what is this?
I asked him how he found out where we lived, and why the hell he was here. He said it was simple. He claims to be an agent (or, rather, former agent) of some super-secret organization by the absurd name of "STAB!"
I don't know why the hell he is suddenly interested in us, I mean, he's already ruined my sister's life forever. But even so, does he really have to come up with such ridiculous lies?
Anyway, he said he was here to warn us. That he's read the blog and we don't know what we're getting into. And that we may be in danger from his fellow "STAB" agents.
I called to Frank (then remembered he was gone), then called for Larry, who helped me push this guy (said his name is "Torrance") out of the apartment and shut the door on him.
Man, what the hell? Everything was fine until now. Me and Lina were moving up in the world, we won the lottery and got this nice apartment, invested some of the money and put the rest in the bank, she got to go to medical school like she always wanted, I got to start my own P.I. service (currently defunct), she found a great guy to spend her life with.
Suddenly Lina goes blind, I find out about all this impossible crap going on around us, Ralph mysteriously gets sick, the jerkass who hurt her comes back into our lives, starts harassing us and giving us all this bull.
Seriously, what is this?
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
The doctors are baffled
We're back home now. They had no idea what's up with Ralph. No idea why he's sick. All the tests came back clean--MRI, EEG, CAT Scan, blood tests, etc. All sorts of stuff. Absolutely no clues about his condition. I think I'll be taking a break from researching cases to keep an eye on him.
I might post another one before then, though. We'll see.
I might post another one before then, though. We'll see.
Worry
Ralph...hasn't been looking so good the past few days. His skin is a little grey and his eyes look extremely tired, with bags under them. He insists he's fine, but I don't think so.
I'm taking him to the Emergency Room, while Lina and Larry hold down the fort. I hope everything is alright.
I'll update when we get back.
I'm taking him to the Emergency Room, while Lina and Larry hold down the fort. I hope everything is alright.
I'll update when we get back.
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