CONTENT WARNING Includes some heavy language, although censored, and include other topics that may disturb some people.
FBI WARNING Federal law provides severe civil and criminal penalties for the unauthotized reproduction, distribution, or exhibition of the following tapes.
You have been warned!
TAPE 1 – ANIMAL WILDLIFE – 01/19/97 Wonders of the World: Animal Wildlife A short documentary brought to you by Anthony Meyer.
Earth is full of many wonders! Starting from the wildlife and the ancient ruins of the past. In this episode of Wonders of the World, we will be looking at the weirdest and rarest animals. I’m sure that after watching this, you will feel weirded out on some of the creatures featured here. Strap your seatbelts in, we’re going to travel the world for unique animals!
Animal #1: Blobfish The first animal in our journey is the… slimy blobfish. Also known scientifically as the Psychrolutes marcidus, it inhabits the deep waters off the coasts of Australia and Tasmania, as well as in the waters of New Zealand. Blobfish are typically shorter than 12 inches, and live in depths of between 2,000 to 3,900 feet. The pressure in those depths is 60 – 120 times greater than the sea level, rendering gas bladders – the internal gas-filled organ that contributes to the ability of bony fish to control their buoyancy – inefficient. So, the fleah of blobfish is primarily a gelatinous mass with density that is slightly less than water. This allows the fish to float above the sea floor without expending energy on swimming. The blobfish has a relative lack of muscle, but this is not a disdvantage. The main food source of blobfish is edible matter that comes in front of it, such as deep-ocean crustaceans. So cool, right? Or are you a little squamish? Don’t worry; it is time for us to find another animal to documentate. Goodbye, blobfish!
Animal #2: Okapi The curious okapi looks like a cross of a deer and a zebra, but is more closely related to giraffes. The okapi, known scientifically as the Okapia johnstoni, is endemic to the northeast Democratic Republic of Congo, in central Africa. The okapi stands about 4.9 feet tall at the shoulder and has a body length around 8.2 feet tall. Its weight ranges from 200 to 350 kg. It has a long neck, and laarge flexible ears. Its coat is usually a chocolate to reddish brown, with heavy contrasr from its white-black stripes on its legs. The male okapis have short horn-like protuberances on their heads, called ossicones. Okapis are diurnal, but may be active for a few hours during the night. They are solitary, only coming together to breed. Okapis are herbivores, feasting on grass, ferns, fruits, leaves, and fungi. For now, we will have to leave our okapi friends to the savannas. Goodbye, okapis! It’s time for our next animal!
Animal #3: Axolotl The axolotl is no surprise to some people. The axolotl, known scientifically as the Ambystoma mexicanum, is a paedomorphic salamander closely related to the tiger salamander. The axolotl is found in many lakes, such as Lake Xochimilco underlying Mexico City. Axolotls are unusual than other amphibians, in that they reach adulthood without undergoing metamorphosis and instead of taking to land, adult axolotls remain as aquatic creatures and gilled. The heads of axolotls are wide, with lidless eyes. They possess undeveloped limbs with long, thin digits. Males are identified by their swollen cloacae lined with papilae, while females are noticeable for their wider bodies, which are full of eggs. Axolotls have three pairs of external gill stalks (or rami) behind their heads and are used to move oxygenated water. Axolotls have barely visible vestigial teeth, which develop during metamorphosis. The primary method of feeding is through suction, during which their rakers interlock to close the gill silts. Axolotls may look cute, but do not put them under captivity. They belong in the wild, in their natural habitat, like all the animals here should. Now, we’ll move on to the final animal!
Animal #4: Stalkers Stalkers, known scientifically as post-humans, are the most excellent hunters in the world. They barely make any noise other than footsteps, for their voices have been taken. Preferred hunting grounds include houses with families inside. You will hear screaming, items shattering, chaos from the house. After which, the Stalkers nest in the house with their new friends. Burn the bodies if they stand up again. If it is hard for you, remind yourself that they are no longer human. After acquiring friends and taking over the house, the Stalkers will nest within it. This is the—– “Alright, Mr. Harrington. Could you please describe your encounter with these… Stalkers?” “I found a house infested with them. It had families infected by them, like I said those bastards would do. I recorded it… Here. That’s evidence. I recorded through the windows, found nothing at first sight. But then I saw the dining room light on. I snuck there and saw three of the family members, or at least that’s what they once were, standing idly in the room.” “So, you’re saying these Stalkers infect people to turn them into another, and stand with no movement when idle?” “Yeah. Kind of. As I was saying, I recorded them and snuck to another window, where I saw an infected child running back and forth down the hall. Young infected are more active during idle stages.” “Alright, we’ll write that down.” “And I tried finding the Stalkers responsible for the infection of the family. But I was seen by a Stalker. It… broke through the window, but I already started running when it saw me. It tried to catch up to me, and I was lost in the woods.” So now you know the many wonders of the world in animal wildlife! Thank you to our sponsor, Minerva Research Institute, for making this documentary possible!
We hope to see you again in the next episode of—
TAPE 2 – SWARM TORNADO SAFETY – 06/09/97 Tornado Safety An informational video by Occulium Technologies. Tornadoes have continued to impact areas every year across the country, causing lots of damage to property with its massive winds. Many suffer injuries from tormadoes, along with death and property damage. If not taken with care, tormadoes can be a massively dangerous threat. However, you can survive a tornado if you follow safety precautions. Here are three important tips to keep you and your family safe.
TIP 1 – BE PREPARED
The first tip is to always prepare for the worse. You must stay alert at all times. Prepare these necessary items:
Fresh batteries and a battery-controlled TV or radio to listen to the latest emergency weather information.
An emergency kit, with items such as water, medication, food, and weapons to defend against them.
A tornado emergency plan to access your safe shelter, preferably an emergency bunker.
Other important things, such as important telephone numbers.
TIP 2 – STAY AWARE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS Pay close attention to changing weather conditions in your area. Tune in to local radio and TV stations or a NOAA weather radio station for further weather information. Sometimes, a tornado may strike without time for a proper tornado warning. Pay attention to the disappearances of families in your area the color of the clouds to determine if they a tornado is to come. Alternatively, you can buy the Kalvena Alarm as an early warning system, created by Occulium Technologies.
TIP 3 – CREATE AN EMERGENCY BUNKER Beforehand, you must create an emergency bunker to wait out the tornado. You can use any modifications, but you should copy our preferred layout: Step 1 – The bunker has the following measurements: 10 ft long width, 8 ft long length. Step 2 – Create a concrete foundation that is at least 8 inches thick. Step 3 – Cover the floor boards with wool. You do not want them to hear you. Step 4 – Stay quiet. Stay quiet. Stay quiet. Stay quiet. Stay quiet. Stay quiet. Stay-
After learning some important tips, it is time to learn what to do during a tornado. Step 1 – Quietly bring your family to the bunker. If one could not catch up, leave them. Your house has been occupied by them. Step 2 – Turn off all the lights and try not to make any sound. Step 3 – Arm your weapons. Protect your family. Step 4 – Check your family for bites or scratches. If one or more is found to have bites or scratches that seem to originate from humans, kill them to avoid further spread of infection. Remind yourself, they are no longer human. Step 5 – If one of them were to breach the bunker, kill them with a knife. Alternatively, fire is most effective against them. But this will attract more. Do not use a gun. This will attract more. Step 6 – Wait them out. If they cannot find you and your remaining family, they will leave and you will survive to tell the tale.
Now, the tornado has passed. Here are things to do after you survive the tornado: Step 1 – Survey the damage. Step 2 – Look for movement. Step 3 – If you see movement, return to the bunker. This means that they did not leave yet. Step 4 – Do you see the lights outside? If yes, return to the bunker. If not, it is bait to lure you and your family outside.
Congratulations! You have just survived a tornado! Now you know how to properly keep you and your family safe during a tornado. Tornado Safety By Occulium Technologies
TAPE 3 – DEEP SEA – 08/15/97 Wonders of the World: Deep Sea A short documentary by Anthony Meyer and Minerva Research Institute. The ocean. A beautiful yet mysterious place. The oceans fill up 70% of the planet, and a lot has not been uncovered. Join us in our underwater adventure to the deepest depths of the ocean! The lukewarm oceans are full of life. Corals form, giving homes to various underwater creatures. Once diving, you will see the true wonders of the lighter parts of the ocean. Schools of fish swim above, which can be disrupted by the predators of the ocean, such as the ever-popular Great White Shark. Looks can be deceiving in the ocean’s environment. A stingray may look innocent, but its venomous spine in its whip-like tail is sure to inflict damage to its enemies. But in the ocean, it’s not just the creatures that become the danger. The habitat is wild. Underwater volcanoes and vents found on the sea bed. Allow us to introduce the Mariana Trench. It is the deepest trench in the entire world, going as deep as 36,201 feet, almost 7 miles! In that depth, nothing can live in the Mariana Trench. … not any creature we know of, that is.
Who knows? Maybe something awaits in the darkness? Forever alone in those depths? Waiting to be uncovered? Those are all flawed facts. There is something in the Mariana Trench. And it’s not alone. They’re called the Gardeners. Their eyes shine bright in the darkness like a star. They have multiple legs. They spread the corruption. Do you want to see them, Lewis? I’ll take you to them. That marks the end for our deep sea exploration. Thank you to Minerva Research Institute for making this happen! We hope to see you again in the next episode of—
TAPE 4 – SACI – 01/05/95 – 01/11/95 Welcome to Scalira Computing, the most trusted computing company in the world. Backed up by the US government, this tape aims to revive the SACI Project. What is the SACI Project? During the height of the Cold War in the 1960s, Scalira Computing, commisionned directly by the government, aims to create a supercomputer by the name of SACI, or the Super-Advanced Computer Intelligence. The project was headed by the administrator of Scalira, Dr. Ivan Stewart, and has the purpose to calculate and analyze possible Soviet attacks and plans to quickly create counter-offensives to defend against said attacks. Unfortunately, the project was a colossal failure. SACI did not even turn on. However, just recently in late 1994, the project received a shocking breakthrough. SACI was finally alive, connected to the Internet. Today, on January 5th 1995, we here at Scalira Computing have made several tests on SACI. It has become a type of question-answer program. Here are the results on the first day.
January 5th 1995 Hello. I am SACI. What would you like to know? What is the function of the amygdala? Processing… The amygdala is thought to form the core of a neural system responsible for processing fearful and threatening stimuli.
What else would you like to know? How does a chameleon change its skin color? Processing… When a chameleon experiences a change in body temperature or mood, its nervous systems tells specific chromatophores to expand or contract.
What else would you like to know? What will the weather be in East Baton Rogue Parish, LA, tomorrow? Processing… 32% Chance of Rain Day 42 Degrees Night 31 Degrees Humidity 15% Wind 7 mph Visibility 10 mi
What else would you like to know? 1,273 x 50 = Processing… 1,273 x 50 = 63,650
What else would you like to know? Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore,” is from what poet? Processing… The Raven is a narrative poet written by American writer Edgar Allen Poe. It was published in 1845.
The test went on for hours, with a 100% success rate.
It was time to commence the second phase: creating a poet based on a theme. January 11th 1995 Hello. I am SACI. What would you like to know? Can you create a poet based on a single word? Processing… Based on how I see it, yes. 5% Chance of Error. Give me the word. Forest. Processing… Please wait a moment…
Lewis ran, Sophia close behind To the forest, the pair ran Screams filled the luminous night The pair heard footsteps behind
They ran and ran, and Sophia tripped Lewis hid, and Sophia screamed He did not cry, when silence hit He pressed forward, into the night
Lewis stopped upon a river The river flowed, but with red Lewis tried to tread ahead Sophia called right behind
‘Lewis!’ she screamed. ‘Come out!’ Lewis ran the other way But could see us watching from above ‘I just tripped, it hurts!’ Sophia screamed
‘Please come help me!’ Lewis hid within a bush Sophia passed him hiding tightly Sophia is with us now
Can you see us, Lewis? Look to the sky, the stars sing Space is beautiful in its silence Just look up and you will see them
We know who you are, Lewis We know where you are, Lewis I remember you, Lewis
You cannot hide from us You cannot run from us We are watching, Lewis Come back to your beloved Sophia
The system crashed, and SACI turned off. Its bizarre response scared everybody in the facility. Dr. Stewart was interested, however. Nobody understood why he wasn’t scared. Dr. Stewart wants to continue the project. Everyone agreed to follow his request. It was best not to question him. SACI took several months to reboot. It was back to normal. But Dr. Stewart told everyone that SACI is to stay in his office. It is classified, he said. Now, we have never heard of SACI ever since. It was as if the project ended, but only to lower class employees. The higher rankings know well aware what SACI is. But we may never know. Who is ‘Lewis’? And what was SACI trying to tell us? It bothers my mind every night. But I don’t question it. I let it stick there, for some reason. But I can’t shake off the feeling that what SACI told wasn’t generated, but instead spoken. Like a living being…
TAPE 5 – THE SOLAR SYSTEM – 10/11/96 The Solar System A short documentary by [REDACTED] Supported by Optica Foundation
The solar system. A vast complex of celestial objects all circling the Sun in the middle. And yet, it is simply a little feature among the vast Milky Way galaxy. Today, we will break down everything in the solar system to give you some insight on the wonders of space.
The Sun The Sun sits in the very centre of the solar system. All celestial objects orbit around it. The Sun is very, very hot. With a surface temperature of 5,778 K, the Sun provides heat and light to the planets. If the Sun was gone, Earth would be a cold, barren rock.
Mercury The closest planet to the Sun. Mercury is also the smallest planet in the solar system, and has the most craters. Mercury has no moons, and the biggest crater can fit the entirety of Western Europe! Because it is close to the Sun, it takes around 87.97 days to orbit around it, the shortest of any planet.
Venus Venus is the second planet from the Sun, and is also the hottest. It is named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty. Unlike most planets, Venus spins clockwise on its axis. It is also the second brightest natural object in the night sky, after the Moon, of course. A day on Venus is longer than an entire Earth year!
Earth Planet Earth. Our home. It is currently the only planet known to support life. The proof? Just look to yourself and around you! Earth has only one natural satellite: the Moon. It is also the only planet not named after a god, which makes it stand out more.
Mars Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun, also being the second smallest planet in the solar system, being larger than Mercury. It is named after the Roman god of war. Mars is also called the ‘red planet’ because of its environment. It has two satellites: Phobos and Deimos. Mars is also home to the tallest mountain in the solar system.
Jupiter Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun, and is also the largest. Being a gas giant, Jupiter has no solid surface. It has a lot of moons, to be exact 79. The largest moons are Europa, Io, Ganymede, and Callisto. The magnetic field of Jupiter is also 14 times stronger than the Earth. It also has the Great Red Spot, thought to be a massive storm more than twice the size of Earth! But it is not a storm. In reality, it is actually a corrupted spot on Jupiter.
Saturn Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun. It has dense rings, and is also a gas giant. It has a whooping 82 moons. The notable moons are Titan, Enceladus, Dione, Hyperion, Mimas, and Rheas. The rings on Saturn are actually the gateway to Jupiter.
Uranus Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun. It is named after Uranus, the Greek god of the sky, who in Greek mythology, is the great-grandfather of Ares, grandfather of Zeus, and father of Kronos. Uranus has rings, but are very thin. Uranus has 27 moons, including Titania, Umbriel, Ariel, and Oberon. Uranus also spins clockwise on its axis, like Venus.
Neptune Neptune is the eight planet from the Sun. It is the coldest planet and is the smallest of the gas giants. The surface of Neptune is almost Earth-like. It has 14 moons, including Triton, Nereid, Naiad, and Thalassa. You can also see a noticeable grey ‘storm’ on Neptune. This is a portal.
Neptune has been corrupted. Neptune was the first. Its moons are corrupted.
Neptune is the portal, Saturn is the gateway, Jupiter is the landing point.
Moon is the station, Earth is the target.
Witness it commence.
Away from your view is this spectacular process.
Neptune has been made beautiful. We have perfected it. It is ours. It is ours. It is ALL ours.
Soon, the galaxy will be like Neptune, too.
Soon, Earth will be like Neptune, too.
Soon, everything will be like Neptune, too.
Pluto Pluto is the ninth planet from the Sun and is the farthest from it. It is also very, vrry small compared to the other planets. It has a thin atmosphere composed mostly of nitrogen, methane, and carbon dioxide. Despite it being the farthest, Pluto is not going anywhere!
Thank you for watching our brief overview of the solar system! This video was realized through the collaboration of the Optica Foundation. We hope to see you next t-t-t-tim-im-im-im——
TAPE 6 – STARFALL CAMP INTRODUCTION – 03/24/90 Tired of having no place to go during the weekends? Or are you just tired of visiting the same places over and over again? Well do not fret! We here at Starfall Camp have got you covered. Because you can do a lot of activities in Starfall Camp! This video aims to show you ALL the fun activities to do!
HISTORY Starfall Camp was created in the early 1930s, founded by brothers Andrew and Matthew Hart. Starfall Camp was doing spectacular. But rumors of monsters in the camp ruined our spotlight. That and the USA joining World War II later in the 1940s. But we have reopened stronger than ever, and these days people just want to embrace nature more.
ACTIVITIES There are a lot of fun activities to do in Starfall Camp. Feel free to start your own activities. These are just examples of what you can do!
Hiking The mountains near the campsite is a great spot for hiking or trekking. This would not only be a healthy activity, but you and your familu could see the beauty of the forests and the large river, from a higher view. However, before you start hiking, it is best to talk to one of our staff first. Wild animals still roam the environment, so you will probably encounter mountain goats or even bears during your journey. Make sure to read our Survival Hand Book to know how to avoid each animal discovered in the camp.
Kayaking Ah, kayaking. Lots of young teens would head straight to the boat and row along the river. Kayaking invokes teamwork and coordination. It is a great activity to better socialize with friends or family! Make sure to wear protective gear. The river has rocks, and you better avoid them.
Fishing If kayaking is not your thing, what about something much more peaceful? Fishing is a slow and calming activity, just waiting for a fish to bite your bait. You can probably read a book or talk with others, but don’t ignore your fishing rod too long! We also have our special mechanics on fishing. You can bring your catch to us, and we will fillet them and give you special Tokens, the form of currency here in Starfall Camp.
Archery Archery is a classic sport, passed on from generations to generations. You can practice your aim and precision with archery, although we would replace the arrows with fake ones if your kids want to try it. Practice on stationary targets, then practice on moving targets.
Harvest Day An event called Harvest Day happens every year, specifically on August, on a random day. In Harvest Day, you will hear knocking on your windows, your door, and all around your cabin. They’re trying to lure you out, but do not listen to it! It is of utmost importance that you cover all holes or crevaces in your cabin. Even a slightest hole is enough for them to get you! If you hear cries of help, do not answer! It is their other method to lure you out. For those lucky enough, you’ll see them roaming the forests, with you safe and sound and not infected! They will leave once at least fifteen people have been taken.
Those people are blessed.
They have become one of us.
ACCOMODATIONS Starfall Camp has lots of places for you and your family to rest your head. Regular cabins are the most common choice, due to their relatively cheap price. Do note that regular cabins are more susceptible to them, so only purchase it if it is not August. Sleep in luxury within the Family Cabin, with no holes or crevaces and is considered as the Noah’s Ark during Harvest Day. There are only five Family Cabins, so buy fast before campers do the same in August! Or, if you want a more classic style, our old cabins from the early days are still around! Don’t worry; we have renovated them and fixed them. But they are most susceptible to them.
Each cabin has its own comfortable environment. A fire place with nice chairs where you can read books. We also have Cabin Service, where you can order pre-cooked food, if you’re tired of fishing or hunting. Our camp also has up-to-date technology to ensure the safety of our campers.
MYTHS With a popular place, comes mythos that have been told amongst campers. Rumors of screams coming from the forests and lights hovering above the sky have unsettled many in the camp. There are also rumors of Skinwalkers and strange people acting as zombies nowadays. Rest assure, these are just legends. They do not exist. They have never existed. Those are rumors. Rest assure, these are just legends. Theu do not exist. They have never existed. Those are rumors. Rest assure. Rest assure. Rest assu—
Give yourself to us.
You will be blessed by God.
You will see the truth.
The disgusting truth.
We are your friends.
We just wanted to show you the truth.
We meant no harm.
Now answer the door.
Please answer the knocks.
ANSWER THEM NOW!
LET US IN!
LET US CHANGE YOU!
LET US TELL YOU THE TRUTH!
YOU WILL NOT RESIST!
ANSWER. THE. KNOCKS.
COVERING HOLES WON’T PROTECT YOU!
LET. US. IN—-
MISSING CONVERTED PEOPLE:
Mary Lawson Answered the knocks
Johnathan Williams Answered the knocks
Michael Smith Answered the knocks
Lauren Dean Answered the screams
Martin Anderson Answered the knocks
Thomas Barlowe Didn’t cover the holes
Emily Madden Didn’t cover the holes
Samuel Hayes Answered the knocks
Ashley Madison Answered the screams
Cassidy West Answered the knocks
Brandon Ledger Attacked
Hadrian Gray Attacked
Sarah Marley Attacked
Jack Verlice Attacked
Sophia Harrington Attacked
And so many more…
That’s all for Starfall Camp! Hopefully you enjoy your stay in this lush paradise!
TAPE 7 – SURVIVAL TIPS – 03/18/97
Survival Tips: In the Forest A short documentary by Anthony Meyer and Minerva Research Institute
Camping sounds fun at a first glance, but you do realise that you are essentially in the wilderness, all by yourself? Fear not! This video will show you the most useful tips to survive in the wild.
TIP 1 – MASTER YOUR ATTITUDE Survival is no easy task, which is why you must stay focused. Panic won’t solve anything and insted makes the situation more difficult than it has to be. The following steps are necessary beforehand:
Develop a plan.
List the resources you have.
Identify the critical tasks required for survival (food, water, shelter, warmth).
Determination and grit.
Feelings are not facts. When you start in the first day, you may seem hopeless, but you must focus on accomplishing the task at hand.
TIP 2 – MAKE A SHELTER Building a shelter is important to protect you from hypothermia and nature itself. Follow these steps to create a safe, stable shelter:
Think Small: Your body heat will be your primary warmth during the night, so you must make the shelter just big enough to fit your body.
Construct the Framework: To create temporary shelters, find available resources, such as a fallen tree or large rock.
Add Sides: Stack sticks close together on one side, and use progressively smaller sticks to fill the gaps.
Add Insulation: Cover the sides with bark, leaves, or pines. The thicker the material, the better, as you will be more protected.
TIP 3 – FINDING CLEAN WATER Finding clean, uncontaminated water is the holy grail for survival. Be sure to boil water for a minute to kill off any pathogens.
Body of Water: Bodies of water such as lakes and rivers is heaven for survival. Not only will you be able to find water, you will also gain easy access to fish.
Digging: If you can’t find a body of water, then you can identify plants to dig a seep hole, until you reach moisture. Then, wait for water to collect in the hole.
Rain: When rain occurs, you can collect the raindrops and store them in a container.
TIP 4 – FAMILIARIZE SOUNDS You’re in the wild, so animals will also be a problem. Make sure to study and familiarize the sounds they make, so you can get away before harm:
AUDIO CORRUPTED – Bear roars AUDIO CORRUPTED – Caracal screams AUDIO CORRUPTED – Their lure
TIP 5 – LIGHT A FIRE The easiest way to light a fire is to use a lighter or waterproof matches. Keep your matches dry in a waterproof container.
Fire is very important in survival, as it can keep you warm and ward them off—-
“Proceed with your story, Mr. Harrington.”
“So, it was late at night, and I had to survive in the woods for at least a night. When I started lighting the fire, I heard its lure.”
“You said the Stalkers were incapable of speech?”
“Yes, but sometimes there are these versions that can talk. With grammar and full sentences, screaming for help. But I knew that trick already. I grabbed a larhe stick and hid. I saw it walk past me, and that’s when I bashed it with my stick repeatedly, until it died. That’s when you took the body here.”
“This is… hard to believe, Mr. Harrington. You have the entire Tangipahoa Parish on your tail for the murder of this man. Are you sure you weren’t hallucinating the initial attack?”
“I swear it was real. I did not make it up. I gave you the recording, and-“
“It is highly likely that the family was completely normal and they were just talking, and you were chased down rightfully by one of them.”
“They did not talk, doctor. Please! Review the footage! See their own behavior! It’s real! Please! I lost my wife to them! You have to believe me!”
“Guards, escort Mr. Harrington to the waiting room. In the meantime, I’ll review the footage to check your claims. If it is true, then by the law, you won’t suffer punishments.”
Smart, Lewis.
But don’t think I lost my cards.
Even if they believe you, something bad’s going to happen to you.
It is not safe there.
So please, join us. Join me. It’s much safer.
God is with us.
TAPE 8 – MINING OPERATION – 10/11/97
In this tape, you will see our our new invention: the MT-17. The MT-17 is a specialized robot controllable by the user. Minerva Research Institute has made this invention possible with insight from Trent Mining Co and Occulium Technologies.
Thanks to this invention, miners won’t take the risk of going into the depths to explore. Miners would simply stay in the surface or mine in caves near the surface.
The MT-17 is the future of technology for the next generation. It is more efficient and does not risk lives. It can also be used for underground study, which was actually what the MT-17 was originally designed for.
We ourselves are using it to study it.
“Log 1: 10/12/97 We have just dropped the MT-17 down to what we believe is a corrupted area near the Tangipahoa River. The MT-17 is also fueled up for a total of two weeks. The cave in question seemed to have been burrowed by something big, the exact clue for a nest. The MT-17 did not see anything unusual. It was just starting to look around the cave. More updates soon.”
“Log 2: 10/14/97 We have found some unusual discoveries down the cave, thanks to the MT-17. We have spotted the Red Crown on the cave’s walls. The amount of the Red Crown spotted is minimum, meaning that we have just reached the start of the true journey. Spores must be everywhere in that cave. More updates soon.”
“Log 3: 10/17/97 More weird things are seen. The deeper the MT-17 goes, the more Red Crown is spotted. We have yet to see any entities that might be lurking. The cave also seems to narrow the deeper it is. I suspect a large nest of those… things is just waiting down there. More updates soon.”
“Log 4: 10/20/97 For three days, MT-17 has been offline. The last footage we saw from it was a glimpse of a large cavern. Hopes were down, but just now we’ve reconnected with it. The MT-17 was finally online, but Red Crown covered most of the screen. As we saw the area, we found that the MT-17 has been caught in a ‘web’ of Red Crown. Then we saw it: the nest. Our theories were proven true. It was lined with flesh, which is gruesome. And then we saw the creatures our provider talked about. The Gardeners. They were unlike humanity has ever seen. We drew sketches of them. They looked like a mix of a squid and a beetle. Its head was dome-like with a giant, bioluminescent eye shining down. It had three legs, but some had nine. Maybe they’ll grow later on, and the amount of legs determine what each Gardener’s age is? There’s so much to learn. For all this time, these creatures have been beneath our feet. I’m personally feeling both excited and afraid for discovering these creatures.”
“Log 5: 10/21/97 I’m afraid the expedition met an abrupt end. The MT-17 was destroyed by a new species of these aliens. They’re not Gardeners; they’re more like a mix of ants and spiders, with a scorpion’s tail. It impaled the MT-17. But the footage didn’t end after seven hours of being impaled. There, I saw a spectacular view: a Gardener was emerging from the flesh wall. It was birthed from the wall. This proves that they are grown through the flesh wall, and do not reproduce. That is the end of these logs. I am worried, though. There are clearly more than Gardeners down there. If anything, it might just be a large interconnected ecosystem, right under our feet. I fear that they might be able to strike us when we—
REMAINING AUDIO CORRUPTED
TAPE 9 – RED CROWN – 05/23/98
AN INFORMATIONAL TAPE BY MINERVA RESEARCH INSTITUTE
An epidemic has spread across the Tangipahoa Parish, LA, and we at Minerva Research Institute would like to inform all residents of the Tangipahoa Parish and the areas around it about the fungal infection that threatens the area.
The fungus – aptly known as the Red Crown for its crown-like shape by the CDC – is a parasitic fungus that grows within the host’s body and slowly take over the brain of the host and control the motoric functions of the host.
Means of infection are primarily through spores, which can also be released in liquid substances such as sweat, saliva, urine, or blood. As such, it is recommended to patch your wounds to avoid further infection.
The Red Crown targets both animals and humans, but it would only use animals as a way to spread the infection to humans. Infected animals would not progress past stage four.
Symptoms of infection include irritation, severe fever, and the growth of Hives, which will be explained later. The Red Crown also grows much more in the larynx of a host, making them more difficult to speak and breathe.
HIVES Hives are odd bumps that appear on your body, starting on the very first stage of infection. During its initial growth, Hives are easy to press, and are hollow. Initial growth ranges from 3 – 11 centimeters, which would make it difficult to notice.
Nearing the end of the first stage, inflammation will occur around the area of the Hive along with small sores. It would begin to harden, and pain would be felt if the affected area is to move. Inflammation would then abruptly halt nearing the fourth stage, and spores would erupt from the Hives, with adult and mature Red Crown fungus growing from it.
STAGES OF INFECTION The average time taken by the Red Crown to take over the host is twelve minutes, an extraordinarily short time for complete infection. A cure is being developed by the CDC and Optica Laboratories, but as of now, there is no known cure for the Red Crown fungal infection.
Stage 1 Duration: 2 minutes Initial infection. Hosts would feel itchy, scratching rapidly at their skin. At this point, they are considered lost, and should be quarantined effective immediately. Hosts at this stage are no longer considered human, and thus should not be treated as humans. Hives would begin to appear.
Stage 2 Duration: 2 minutes Hives would begin to harden, and salivation levels would increase rapidly. There have also been reports of extreme hunger and thirst.
Stage 3 Duration: 1 minute Spontaneously, Hives on the body would erupt, causing minor bleeding, and releasing spores to the air. The Red Crown would target the larynx, making it much more difficult for hosts to breathe. The host’s blood would also begin to boil rapidly, far past the normal blood temperature. Hosts will endure a severe fever onwards.
Stage 4 Duration: 7 minutes and 20 seconds During this phase, the host is completely lost. The Red Crown fungus would grow from the erupted Hives and hosts would start being extremely agressive to all forms of life, attempting to spread the Red Crown. The fungus would begin spreading internally and within the brain, taking control of the brain stem. Eyes become bloodshot, and blood temperature boils at a temperature of up to 150°C, far than any usual humans’ resistance to high temperatures, but still function due to the Red Crown’s resistance.
Stage 5 The host would receive a sensory increase, having heightened levels of smell and hearing capability. The Red Crown has full control over the host, and will self-regulate their bodies to maintain a suitable host.
There is a different path that infection could take, however. Instead of being zombified, the fungus may perform physical changes to the body, eating away at most parts of the host’s skin and flesh. At this point, the host is too mangled to notice any human qualities apart from their heads. The host is still kept alive during the whole process and the aftermath, and will forever feel the pain of their existence. In such cases, the host transforms into a Red Crown Organism, spreading the spores everywhere.
COMBAT It is easy to combat the infected. Fire is most effective against them, or a nice bullet to the head. Red Crown Organisms are effectively killed using fire.
It is required to wear a gas mask to filter spores, and report or kill any infected to the parish government.
To avoid further infection, the Tangipahoa Parish and areas around it will be quarantined. We hope you stay safe. The parish government and the Minerva Research Institute wish you a good luck.
TAPE 10 – DREAMSCAPE – 04/09/94
Created by Occulium Technologies.
Occulium Technologies has partnered with Optica Laboratories to create one of our finest inventions.
Dreams are a bit of a scientific wonder. Your brain mixes both familiar and strange scenarios to create the weirdest movie. But what does it all mean? And why do dreams happen? Dreaming occurs during REM sleep, or rapid eye movement, which cycle every night. Studies shows that our brainwaves are almost as active during REM sleep as they are when we’re awake.
The bizarre and surreal feeling of dreams may have something to do with neurotransmitters, which is a fancy word for brain chemicals. Some are more pronounced, while some are supressed, during REM sleep. Acetylcholine, which maintains brain activation, is more prominent, as is dopamine. Dopamine may help to give dreams their surreal quality.
Now that you have learned much about dreams, it is time that we show you our latest invention: the Dream Visualizer. In help to study more about dreams, we have created this fantastic device to see what one is dreaming about.
How does the Dream Visualizer work? Simple. First, connect the plug between your computer and the DV. However, you must get our DV Computer Software to properly connect it. Once you insert the disk, you can now access the app and is ready to receive a subject. The subject must wear a helmet connected to the DV and, of course, sleep. Their dream would be visualized on the screen. Do note that this is still in its beta stage, and slight mistakes may occur.
Here are interesting results from many different subjects:
SUBJECT #1: BRIAN MYERS Entered Sleep: 9:04 PM Exited Sleep: 08:24 AM Dream Visualization:
The dream consists of an empty mall space. Lights are blue, and it’s almost enpty. An area with yellow light is seen in the background.
The dream then shifts to other areas of the mall. It may represent a somewhat nostalgic feeling for this subject, for it might have been a place he remembered dearly during childhood.
SUBJECT #2: SARAH CARSON Entered Sleep: 08:15 PM Exited Sleep: 07:09 AM Dream Visualization:
The dream tells of a lush, green environment with country houses alligned. It then shifts into an empty observatory. This clearly is a childhood memory, although the observatory had some bizarre objects.
SUBJECT #3: WILLIAM DEAN Entered Sleep: 08:27 PM Exited Sleep: 09:55 AM Dream Visualization:
The dream shows a restaurant or indoor playground, with the floor being a black and white tile pattern. It seems to be from somewhere in the mid 80s. It cannot be a childhood memory, but it could be a place of work, or may be some of his memories mixed together, as some strange things have been seen, though this might be the beta DV acting up.
SUBJECT #4: LEWIS HARRINGTON Entered Sleep: 08:54 PM Exited Sleep: 09.04 PM Dream Visualization:
The subject is interesting. He seems to be experiencing a nightmare, for he woke up just minutes later. The nightmare itself was… unusually realistic. It depicted a forest, with the subject running through his point of view. Otherworldly screeches were heard as well. The most surprising scene was when the subject stopped in front of a river flowing with what appears to be blood. More running, and the nightmare was finished. A woman’s voice was also heard behind him. When questioned, the subject did not answer, though it may be a traumatic effect. Worried, we sent him to Minerva Research Institute for help.
That concludes our trials for the DV. Though minor errors were found, it was 96% correct most of the time. Soon, other scientific organizations would be able to use the Dream Visualizer for more study on the brain of humans. This is Occulium Technologies, continuing to innovate the technological and scientific progress of the human race.
Thank you to Minerva Research Institute for helping us in the development of the Dream Visualizer.
TAPE 11 – SFNFNCFS UIF OJHIU – 10/30/97 “Breaking News. Here for a shocking news, dissapearances of people in America have drastically increased. Many people are rioting for the loved ones that have dissapeared. The US government have sent a full-scale search party for these people. Riots were calmed down momentarily, but none of the missing people were found yet, all while more people have gone missing. A current investigation on the Tangipahoa River is deployed, for it is the area with the most missing people in the area. So far, no progress has been made. As such, we hope that you and your family stay safe. May God watch from above.”
Finally. The last tape. I’ve spent all this time trying to convince you, Lewis. I was granted permission from them to infiltrate these tapes. Just to talk to you. They are impressed of me, Lewis. They made me a messenger. An angel. But something… something deep inside me… begs me to spare you. A part of me says that… I am not myself anymore. A part of me says that I have changed. It strikes me like a stab through the chest. Lewis…
Lewis, I still love you. I still care about you. We can be together again. Please, I want you to remember that night.
If you want to see me, I’m in Starfall Camp. The choice is yours: join me and be together forever, or live like a mortal without THEIR help. They’re our benefactors, Lewis.
This is a message from your beloved Sophia.
08/19/94 – THE NIGHT IN AUGUST The car drove through the country road, blowing the leaves away. Lewis kept his eyes on the empty road, while Sophia looked at the environment through the window. The environment was misty in the morning. “Where are we going?” Sophia asked, turning her head to Lewis. “Oh, you’ll see,” he smiled, still keeping his eyes on the road.
Sophia grew impatient. What did Lewis mean? Deep down she knew that it would be a surprise. She admired the tall mountains encompassing them. The car drove past the giant billboard, reading “Vacation at Starfall Camp!” Lewis turned the car to a road leading down. It was made mostly of gravel, causing a bunpy journey.
Finally, the road went flat and a campsite was right in front of them. Multiple other cars were parked. Lewis parked his near the exit. Lewis and Sophia exited the car and saw the quaint little campsite.
“Welcome to Starfall Camp!” Lewis shouted. “This is where we’ll spend our anniversary.” Sophia put her hands over her mouth. “Oh my God. You did this for me?” She said in disbelief. Lewis simply nodded, smiling slightly. She hugged him, and the couple entered the camp. Lewis approached one of the staff.
They looked up from the desk, and asked, “Mr. Harrington, right?” Lewis replied with yes, and the staff gave them a tour. Lewis and Sophia followed the staff member, escorting them to the Family Cabin.
The staff member gave them a handbook full of activities that could be done. Many people were sitting by the river, while some are taking a delicious picnic in the fields. They were lead deep in the woods, following the rough dirt path. They stopped at a clearing full of wide cabins. “Your assigned Family Cabin is the last one in the edge,” the staff member said. As they made their way to the front of their cabin, the staff member pulled out a sheet of paper in a clipboard.
“So, Mr. Harrington and Mrs. Harrington,” they said. Sophia turned around, glancing at the paper The staff member wrote something down on the paper. “I’m sure you are well aware what month this is?” they asked. Lewis and Sophia exchanged a confused look. “It’s August. What’s wrong in August?” Lewis asked.
The staff member gave a worried look, almost standing in fear. “Uhm, you haven’t heard?” They asked, visibly gulping. The couple was curious to know why the staff member was worried.
“How long are you planning to stay here?” the staff member asked. “Four days,” Lewis gave a direct reply. “If you hear knocking on the walls, ceilings, or door tonight, then do not go outside. Lock your windows and cover all the holes in your cabin,” the staff member said, his eyes dead serious. “You are lucky that you bought the last Family Cabin, Mr. Harrington.” The couple was given the key, and the staff member left.
Lewis unlocked the door to reveal a comfortable living space. Bookshelves were in the corners, with a fireplace and two chairs near each other. It even has its own dining room and kitchen, with two bedrooms and bathrooms. It was like an entire house. “Wow! I’m going to have the nicest sleep tonight!” Sophia laughed. Lewis put his backpack on the table, and pulled out the Starfall Camp Introduction tape.
Sophia looked at him, and asked, “What do you think the staff member meant about the ‘knocking around the cabin’ and those creepy things?” Lewis approached the TV, and inserted the tape into it. “We’re about to find out,” he said. The tape was fairly normal, until they reached the infographic about Harvest Day. The tape ended shortly after, disturbing the couple. “What the Hell?” Sophia said. Lewis pulled the tape out, and threw it in the trash.
“It’s probably a mythos that they use to scare campers,” he said. He opened his backpack and pulled out a fishing rod and some hiking gear. “Anyways, let’s have some fun!” He said as he gave them to Sophia. She put on her boots, and Lewis grabbed his backpack. The couple then exited their cabin to do some fun activities.
The couple started by kayaking. Sophia was not skilled at it, nor having any experience on it. Lewis aimed to teach her about kayaking. The couple joined a random group kayaking down the river. They wore their protective helmets and kneecaps, and rowed the kayak in unison. “So, really, just use those paddles to move the kayak,” Lewis said.
“You just need to focus on being in unison with your team.” Sophia gave an assuring nod, and nothing interesting happened. Suddenly, the couple felt a sudden change in the water. It was moving faster, in contrast with the slow, calming pace they had near the camp. “Uhm, where are you guys going?” Lewis asked.
One of the other people briefly turned around, before replying with his eyes set on his hands. “We’re going to an area with faster current! And more rocks!” They shouted. Lewis felt embarassed for not asking the group about their destination. He turned to Sophia, who was busy rowing the kayak. “Hey, Sophie! You’ll need to row faster for our destination!” Lewis shouted. Sophia looked at him, and narrowly dodged a collision with a rock. “I was about to tell you to manouver away from the rocks!” Lewis shouted.
The current was wild, and the kayak barely seemed to hold. Sophia was not able to keep up with the group’s manouvers, and hit some rocks in the process. “Oi mate, your girlfriend’s trash!” One member of the group shouted. “Don’t judge her, she’s a newbie!” Lewis replied. “Well, you should’ve given more detail when you joined us! We could’ve changed our route!” another member shouted. Some water spilled to the kayak, and the group were having some difficulties moving the kayak. Sophia couldn’t focus due to the nerve-wracking experience.
“COORDINATE, YOU IDIOTS!” a member of the group shouted. As the kayak rowed faster, the current steadied, and the rocks decreased. Everyone sighed a relief. Lewis and Sophia were both left scared from the experience, but laughed to the adrenaline and excitement it gave. The kayak docked safely back to camp, and the couple were kicked out from the group. “F**k you inexperienced people!” A member shouted, but the couple ignored them.
“What else should we do?” Sophia asked. Lewis sat down and pulled out hiking gear. “Hiking! Or more like, trekking. This bag could only ever carry so much,” he said. The couple wore the gear, and headed towards the edges of the camp. However, multiple staff members were seen guarding the entrance. Lewis looked in confusion, and approached one of the staff. “Sorry sir, you can’t enter the woods today,” one of the staff said.
Sophia came from behind, and asked why. “Under strict company policy, we are not obliged to tell you,” the staff member replied. The couple was forcefully kicked out from the area. “Rude,” Lewis said. “They’re probably trying to freak us out again.” the couple re-entered the busy area of the camp.
Then, they saw that the archery shooting range is still operational. “Hey! Let’s do some archery!” Sophia said. Lewis looked at her, and into the shooting range. “Uhm, I don’t know anything about archery. Which is why I avoided that-” his words were cut when Sophia pulled him into the shooting range. “I’ve learnt it since I was in third grade. I can teach you about the basics,” she said enthusiastically.
The couple bought two bows and a couple of arrows, practicing on stationary targets. Sophia was teaching Lewis about the basics of archery. “Alright, you want to maintain the ideal stance: stand upright with feet shoulder width apart and feet at 90 degrees to the target,” Sophia said. She demonstrated it by doing the stance to show to Lewis. Sophia continued to teach Lewis the proper ways to shoot a bow. First few tries were a failure, but the more Lewis tried, the better his aim was improving.
“Alright. My arms are feeling a bit tired,” Lewis said. Sophia laughed, and the couple exited the archery range. It was almost dusk, and Lewis had one more activity in mind. He sat down and pulled out fishing rods. “Fishing. I figured our activities today are already very tiring. We could get dinner from this, too,” Lewis said.
Sophia grabbed a fishing rod, and the couple sat by the river. The sunset was beautiful in the view of the river. Sophia leaned her head towards Lewis’ shoulder, and said, “This is the best anniversary ever.” The couple reeled up some good catch, including salmon. They brought the fish to their Family Cabin to be cooked and eaten.
The couple put their bags on the table, and Sophia went to cook the fish in the kitchen. Lewis readied the dining room, setting it up with candles and flowers on pots. The fresh smell of cooked salmon filled the air, and Lewis sat on the dining chair. Sophia arrived and was surprised by the nice setting of the dining room. The couple sat on their chairs, and ate the salmon. “I really can’t thank you enough for this,” Sophia said. “Geez, it’s not a problem. I barely spent a grand for this,” Lewis said.
He sliced the salmon and ate the pieces with his fork. “Mmh. You are amazing for this cooking, though. You really know about taste with the supplies I have,” Lewis commented. The couple held each other’s hands tightly, and continued with their romantic dining.
The couple watched some movies on the TV, picking through VHS tapes of their favourite movies. The couple enjoyed their time, but was interrupted by a knocking on the door. They looked at the door with confusion. “Who would visit us this late at night?” Lewis said.
The knocking grew louder and faster, like somebody really wanted to get in. Then, knocking was heard from the roof. And then the walls. The couple were freaked out. The knocking on the door eventually became banging, growing more violent. Lewis was quick to push a couch against the door, barricading the door. The banging stopped, but the knocks intensified across the whole cabin. Sophia was starting to get scared. “What if this is what that guy meant?” she said.
The knocking was getting faster, and it encompassed the cabin. “Calm down. It’s probably a jo-” Lewis’ words were cut as screams are heard outside. “Holy s**t,” Lewis said. It startled him, and sounded like it came from just outside the house. Footsteps are heard on the roof, and sounded like it came from something large. Multiple footsteps were heard at once, almost like an arachnid. Then the true horror came.
As the couple are growing scared from the noises, a tentacle emerged from one of the corners of the wall. It was long and thin, with gray skin. It gradually grew bigger and longer. Sophia screamed in terror, and the tentacle dripped of slime. Lewis ran and grabbed a cleaver, as the tentacle grabbed onto Sophia’s leg, dragging her to the corner of the wall. Lewis came and sliced the tentacle, and an otherworldly screech was heard just outside the cabin.
The tentacle tried retreating, but Lewis cut most parts of it. The blood was dark red, and splattered the floor. “What the f**k was that?!” Sophia screamed. “I don’t know,” Lewis stuttered. Then, the door was banging louder and louder, until the lights went off. “Calm down, Sophie,” Lewis said. He saw the still-lit candle on the dining table. He grabbed it and shined it through the dark. Sophia held on his hands, trying to not get lost in the dark.
As the couple approached the hallway leading to the bedroom, the candle’s light showed a tentacle right in front of them. It reacted to the heat and retreated back into the darkness. Sophia screamed at the sudden encounter, and Lewis heard the windows shatter. “They’re scared of the light. Or the heat. Or- I can’t even think,” Lewis said. The couple saw glimpses of the tentacles circling them, and Lewis held the cleaver in his hand.
One of the tentacles slithered through Sophia’s neck, startling her. Another came and took Lewis’ cleaver. “Look, we need to get out of here. We just have to use the moonlight as a sign,” Lewis said. Sophia nodded, and luckily, the safest window to escape through is in the kitchen. Windows near the entrance was a death sentence. The couple tiptoed their way to the kitchen, and they safely made it there. Suddenly, a tentacle came and blew the candle. Sophia turned around and saw three tentacles slithering towards them.
Lewis put no second thought and jumped from the window, with Sophia following right behind. The couple then saw it: the soirce of the tentacles. It was a tall creature with squid-like tentacles coming from its underside and a bioluminescent eye shining down on them. The head was dome-like, and its four tall legs were insect-like. It shined on them, and extended its tentacles towards them. The couple ran as fast as they could, ignoring the screeches and screaming of people. As they entered the hub of Starfall Camp, they find it overrun with those creatures. From afar, the couple could see some people chasing and biting each other. “Dear God,” Lewis simply said.
Lewis grabbed Sophia’s hand and ran into the woods, safe with the canopy of the forest. The tall alien creatures tried finding them, and almost a dozen people chased after them. Lewis and Sophia kept looking straight, but Lewis could tell that those people didn’t seem normal.
Sophia cried and wiped away her tears, with the footsteps behind them growing closer and closer. Suddenly, Sophia tripped and fell on the forest floor. “Lewis! Help!” She screamed. Lewis stopped in his tracks and looked at her, but the people chasing them caught up to her. More of those people chased after Lewis, so he quickly hid. Sophia screamed and Lewis held his mouth. He started to cry as Sophia continued screaming. He saw the people chasing him go pass him, and Sophia’s screams stopped.
Lewis could only imagine the worst. He sobbed quietly in the hiding spot, hitting his head repeatedly with his hand. “I’m so sorry… I’m..” Lewis couldn’t handle the guilt. But he had to survive still. He exited his hiding spot and started to brisk walk. Screams of other people filled the forest. He wiped his tears away, and stopped at an opening. It was a river, but what disturbed Lewis was because the river flowed with blood. “Holy s**t. Oh my God,” Lewis said.
He tried to find away to get across, and did not dare to swim through the “blood river”. He tried finding his way around, but heard Sophia’s voice behind. “Lewis!” She screamed. “Come out! I just tripped and it hurts! Please come help me!” Lewis wanted to go there, overjoyed, but he noticed something off about her voice. He turned around, and saw a figure moving in the darkness, arms flailing.
“That’s not Sophia,” Lewis told himself. Be kept running, and survived by hiding in the forest, and finally morning came. Lewis approached the parking lot of Starfall Camp. His foice was exhausted and sorrowful, burdened with guilt. Most cars were gone, some stayed. Silence filled the camp. He entered his car and drove away, hoping anyone would believe him.
That became Lewis’ turning point. He was determined to find those alien creatures. Everyone in the camp dissapeared, and Starfall Camp was shut down. Through all these years, Lewis Harrington became a provider for Minerva Research Institute to explain about his findings on these creatures. This alien threat, which was highly classified. He took the alias of Anthony Meyer, and created VHS tapes as a means to explain the survival against these crea————-
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TAPE 11 PART 2: HPPECZF, NZ MPWFE POF – 02/10/98 Lewis drove to Starfall Camp tonight. Tonight was the night that he would finish his problems. Tonight, he will meet Sophia.
He parked the car in the parking lot, and saw the yellow police tape and barricades blocking the entrance. He opened the back of his car and pulled out a ladder. He planned to climb over the wall. Just seeing the place sent a shiver down his spine. He placed the ladder and climbed it, taking a peek at what remained of the camp. It was silent in the night. And no lights were on. He landed safely on the ground, and initiated his plan.
Lewis saw a blood trail leading deep into the forests. He was not afraid of these creatures anymore. He took a deep breath, and hid the most pivotal item in his plan within his jacket’s pocket. He followed the trail, leading to a pitch black canopy of the forest. The blood trail stopped, and he stopped, too, awaiting them.
Suddenly, there was movement within the bushes. A raspy voice came. “Lewis. You haven’t changed,” it said. Lewis’ heart was beating. Who knew if it was a trap? Lewis gulped, and said, “Sophia. You were the one communicating through the tapes I made?” the voice chuckled, and Lewis could see the figure slowly walking towards him.
“Do I look beautiful, Lewis? They made me this way,” Sophia said. “I’m not mad that you left me. I am grateful. For I share the vision of God. I could see His plans for the universe, and I am a part of it.” Lewis approached the figure, but the figure showed itself first. It was a horrible, rotting body. Lewis almost threw up. It had the features of Sophia: her long, black hair and the same clothes she wore that fateful night. But most have changed.
Her eyes were bloodshot, her fingernails were long and sharp, and the Red Crown fungus grew everywhere. What stood out was the fleshy tendrils growing on her back. “See, Lewis? I am an angel,” Sophia said. Lewis was about to cry, but held it in. “Sophie. This isn’t you. This isn’t the Sophie I used to know,” he said. Sophia seemed to back away from his words. “My looks have changed. My voice has changed. My visions have changed. But my love for you is the only thing that didn’t,” she said.
Just after she said that, groups of Stalkers emerged from the forest. They were standing idly behind Sophia, almost as if she’s their alpha. “Don’t you miss me, Lewis? I was tasked to kill you, but I don’t want that. If you join us, we will be together again. And you will understand me,” she said. Lewis was overwhelmed. He was given the choice. He believed that the real Sophia is somewhere deep inside the rotting husk. But he also wanted to put a stop to the Stalkers. “I’ll give you as much time as possible, sweetheart,” Sophia said.
This is the part where YOU, the reader, makes the choice.
JOIN or BURN?