UNBOUND

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Hi, Carol, this is Danice. Sterne says I should contact you at the end of the day.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Yes, this is our end of the day routine. Make sure you go through each room and then lock them. Also, I need a short checklist confirmed.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Okay.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Room 10, Periodicals. Status?

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Uh, there was nothing unusual, but I did find an old 1978 issue of Boys’ Life.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Yeah, that’s not ours.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: I figured.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Did you catalogue it in WAND?

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Uh, yeah…Uhhh…What does WAND stand for, or does it stand for anything?

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: It stands for Wandering Article; No Designation.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Sterne…

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: Right.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: What? I don’t understand.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: You don’t need to. You’ll occasionally come across a WAND, something that’s definitely not ours. Just catalogue it in Room 1. That’s the WAND room.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Oooooh, that’s why there were no Matocha Publishing books in 1. I was wondering about that. There were a few books in there that were from other companies. I thought that was weird. I really was wondering about that.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: You don’t need to wonder. Like I said, you will occasionally come across other companies’ printed works. We call those WANDS. Any WANDS you find will be deposited in Room 1. They’ll be shipped out from there. Old ones like that Boys’ Life magazine will find a proper home.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: I don’t understand. I thought all Matocha books were shipped right here to the distribution house. How do these other books and…and magazines get mixed in?

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: You don’t need to understand. Just follow instructions. If you can’t follow instructions, you’ll receive a write-up.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: N-No, I wasn’t trying to…I wasn’t…I was just asking…I’ll…I’ll uuuhhh…Okay.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: Oh, cut her some slack, boss lady. It’s her first day on the job.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Marvin…

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: What? She doesn’t know what goes on around here.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: You know the rule about new hires.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: Yeah, yeah. Whatever.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (Sigh). Let’s just go over the rest of the list, Costas.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Uhhh, okay.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Did you find any more WANDS in any of the other rooms?

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Uh, no, no, it was just the Boys’ Life in Periodicals.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Even in Room 7, Romance?

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Uh, no…Why?

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: We tend to get a lot more in Room 7. The next most would be in Room 5, Thrillers. Those two genres are the best sellers.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Oh, I guess that makes sense…I think.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: None of it actually makes sense, you know.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Sterne…

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: Yeah, yeah.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Marvin…

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: Yeah, I get it; I’ll shut up now.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Good, listen, Costas…uhhh…Danice…Have all rooms been searched and locked?

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Y-yes…

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: And nothing else was unusual?

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: No, not that I know of.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Excellent. You’re free to clock out.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Oh, good…Wait…Uuuhhh, we never checked Room 0. Room 0 was locked, and Sterne doesn’t have the key for it.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Marvin has never had the key for it, and neither will you. Room 0 is unused storage and is to remain locked.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Wait, but there’s a drop box 0 right next to the door. Why have a drop box if the room is unused? A drop box means that…that someone is—

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Room 0 is unused storage and is to remain locked…Am I clear?

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: I…I uuuhhh…Okay.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: You can clock out now. Just deposit the keys at the Guard Station.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Okay. Thank you.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Sterne, report to the main office.

JAN 10^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: Aww, crap.

*****

FEB 1^ST: MATOCHA INTRASYSTEM CONTACT MESSAGE (MICM): BURRELMARCUS: Hey, Carol, I’ve gone over the monthly report, and I am concerned to see that the WANDS have significantly slowed in number. Please note any inconsistencies within frequency and genre over the last quarter. I’ve not had time to do it myself. In fact, let’s expand that to the last three years.

FEB 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: I’ll get right on it, but may I ask why you’re concerned with the decrease in WANDS? I thought this was good news. Maybe it’s going to end.

FEB 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: The last STAF violation was in April, three years ago. We lost three employees during that one.

FEB 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: I don’t understand. Are we stepping up vigilance because of…? And we had a STAF violation three years ago? I wasn’t informed of that.

FEB 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: We had an extremely slow quarter until the end of April that year. I’m looking for a pattern. If there is none, so much the better.

FEB 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: If there’s a pattern, why haven’t we been on this before? Wasn’t the first BTA found in 1927? Shouldn’t we have a data set since then? What have we been doing for the last 99 years?

FEB 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: Yes, the first BTA was in 1927, but that’s from hand-me-down, word-of-mouth, old-fashioned paper record keeping. The last BTA caused a major power failure and some other serious issues. One of them was a severe data loss of company records. We have a paper backup of older records…somewhere…but I’ll be damned if the company can keep track of them. Anyway, after the incident three years ago and if I remember correctly, you were transferred to this position three months later.

FEB 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: I thought the company was hacked back then. That was the official report. It was all over the news. Are you telling me that it was actually a BTA?

FEB 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: You’re on a need-to-know basis, but considering how sharp you are, I can simply say that you may draw your own conclusions, hence why I gave you this opportunity in the first place. You’ve definitely exceeded expectations.

FEB 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: Well, I appreciate the compliment, but I find all of this highly disturbing. I have a new hire here who is…well…she just needs a job to get by.

FEB 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: Carol, I put you in charge here because I have faith in your ability to maintain a strict protocol.

FEB 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: That wasn’t what I was talking about. I don’t see why the company has to do this. I don’t see how putting people at risk like this is acceptable.

FEB 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: If we don’t do this, another company will, and they may not do it as well. They’d probably panic and turn it over to the Vatican, one of those private hunter groups, or God forbid, the Blackbirds. We’ve had 99 years to perfect this system, and no other organization has that kind of experience on their record. Publishing company or not, if we don’t contain the leakage, no one else will, and you know what will happen.

FEB 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: No, I don’t, but to be honest, I don’t really want to. I’ve had some terrible nightmares since I started this position, and they haven’t eased up.

FEB 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: Good. Those dreams should suffice as a warning. You really don’t want to know. Now, aside from all of that, I’ve been hearing whispers about Sterne again.

FEB 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: I didn’t give Marvin a formal write-up. I just gave him a talking-to. How did you know about that?

FEB 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: Nothing goes on in this company that I don’t know about. You know interoffice relationships are forbidden at Matocha.

FEB 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: I don’t know what you’re talking about.

FEB 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: I’m sure you don’t. I’m allowing this for the moment as a means of stabilization. However, loose lips sink ships. He talks too much. Some more of your “discipline” may be in order.

FEB 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: I’ll keep him under control.

FEB 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: See that you do.

*****

FEB 18^TH: EMAIL FROM NINNYWHINNY27 TO JANICESPINELLI1475: Hi, Jan. I should be more excited than I am about this new job, but things are kind of weird and sketchy around here. I’d swear management is hiding something.

FEB 19^TH: EMAIL FROM JANICESPINELLI1475 TO NINNYWHINNY27: Dani, we have Discord now. We don’t have to use email anymore. Nobody uses email anymore. I’ll even use Messenger on Facebook over email, and only middle-aged moms use Facebook anymore. You’re lucky I just decided to check my emails today.

Anyway, you said something about your new job? What’s going on?

FEB 19^TH: EMAIL FROM NINNYWHINNY27 TO JANICESPINELLI1475: There’s just some weird stuff going on around the publishing distribution center I’m working at. It’s hard to explain, but I know something’s up here; I can feel it. I don’t know if the company is involved in embezzling or what, but everything is hush-hush and top secret, and that doesn’t make any sense for a stupid publishing company that isn’t even a major publishing company. It’s not like it’s Random House.

And don’t get me started on the staff.

There’s this guy, Sterne, who doesn’t seem to give a crap about the job, but he’s also paranoid as hell. He’s a conspiracy theorist. Then there’s Hughes and Mackey. Hughes is younger than us, and he’s kind of cute, but he’s not interested in me for some reason. I can tell. Too bad, too. He’s blond with blue eyes and just has a really gorgeous smile. I saw him with his shirt off, and he is ripped. Mackey is an older woman in her 50s, and she’s always flirting with Hughes. It’s kind of gross. The only other guard I’ve met is Yakubu, and he’s here on a temporary work visa from Nigeria. He’s super, super superstitious, and I don’t really get him sometimes. He keeps talking about “evil spirits” everywhere. He’s in a tough spot. He’s terrified of his job, but he also doesn’t want to be sent back.

Also, my boss, Carol, is a real beeyatch. She’s super strict and overcautious about everything, but she doesn’t lift a finger to help. She just sits in her little office and barks at us. She’s the kind of witch who tells you to run into a burning building to grab her purse for her while she fingers herself in her own car.

What a c***, and I know she knows what’s going on. Everybody knows she knows what’s going on. And for that matter, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was f****** Hughes. That’s probably why he isn’t interested in me.

And by the way, being a security guard sucks, but I haven’t been able to find anything else that pays this well. I really want something better than this. I’ll even take a serious pay cut at this point, but you know I won’t do fast food. I have some pride.

And I’m sorry about the email. I just wanted to show you my new OCs. I don’t want to post those on Discord where they can be stolen.

FEB 20^TH: EMAIL FROM JANICESPINELLI1475 TO NINNYWHINNY27: Sorry to hear about your job. If it’s that bad, you can always quit and spend full time looking for something else. At least you didn’t get tricked into washing an old man’s balls at a nursing home like my little sister.

That sucks about the cute boy. My guess, though, is that he’s gay, Dani. All of the cute ones are.

Anyway, I love the designs of your new OCs, but you didn’t label them, and more importantly, where are their faces?

FEB 20^TH: EMAIL FROM NINNYWHINNY27 TO JANICESPINELLI1475: Their stories haven’t been written yet.

*****

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: Carol, do you copy?

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: …

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: Carol, do you copy?

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: …

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: Carol, do…you…copy? It’s an emergency.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (Out of breath). I’m…here, Wendy…I had to…run up the stairs and back from the…the third floor for the vending machine. It’s those damned energy drinks…Anyway, what’s the emergency?

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: We have a STAF sitting in Room 8, Science Fiction and Fantasy. The new girl almost picked it up.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: I-I don’t understand. What did I do wrong? What’s a STAF?

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: You didn’t do anything wrong since you didn’t know, but we need a third person down here. Hey, I know! Why don’t you send Hughes, boss?

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Hughes and Yakubu are off tonight. I’ll send Sterne.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: (Out of breath) I’m here. I was…was chasing a sound on the second floor. I thought I heard something. I had to chase it down.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: Sure, you were.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: Costas, don’t…don’t touch anything. I’ll be right there.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: I didn’t touch anything! And nobody answered my question…What’s a STAF?

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Because Marvin will tell you anyway, I’ll simply inform you first. A STAF is a Suspicious Twined Articles Found, or Suspicious Twined Articles Finding. Just wait for Marvin. Wendy is correct; company protocol is to have three security personnel present when dealing with a STAF.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: That doesn’t make any sense. Why do we need three guards for a bundle of—

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: It’s an old 9-11 thing. We’re supposed to look for homemade explosives and sprinkled anthrax and stuff like that.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: What? Why would anyone—

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Danice, this is company protocol. Don’t argue with it.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Y-yes, okay.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: All right, I’m here. What are we looking at?

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: Nice hair, Marv. I bet it’s almost as wild as Carol’s.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Wendy, stay on task.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: Hmph.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: Just show me where it is.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: What do you see?

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: It’s a STAF, but I don’t think we have anything to worry about. We should let Costas take this one. She could learn something.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: That’s a good idea. Danice, what do you see?

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: It’s just a bundle of books or magazines tied up in twine. I can’t tell which.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Why can’t you tell which?

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: It’s like a care package. The whole thing is wrapped in white paper.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Okay, is the paper normal? What about the twine?

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Y-yeah. Everything’s normal. It’s just white paper, like copier paper, and the twine looks like the kind you’d wrap around a hay bale.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Is the paper or the twine discolored in any way?

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: N-Not that I can tell…How is this supposed to help find a bomb or poison or something?

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Never mind that. What I want you to do is peel back the paper and see what’s inside the bundle.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: N-Now wait. If there’s poison, shouldn’t I be wearing gloves or something?

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: Anthrax is a disease, honey, not poison.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Wendy, you’re not helping.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: Here. I’ve got a pair of latex gloves. Use these.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Thank you. Is this why you’re carrying these?

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: No, it’s for cervical exams.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Wendy…

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Why do we have to do this? If the company is so worried, why don’t they just call in the FBI or Homeland Security?

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: It’s not feasible. We find STAFs often enough that we’d be on some kind of a list if we did that.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: Just tear back the paper, hon. If you won’t do it, I’ll do it…Oh, don’t give me that face. I’m not trying to be on your back, but this is part of the job.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Fine…I’m doing it…There is…It looks like…It’s just a bunch of old Vogue magazines.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: That’s good. What I want you to do is to gently pry through the bundle and check carefully. Slide out the magazines a little if necessary. Do NOT undo the twine.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: I…Okay. I’m looking through. It looks like a bunch of Vogue magazines from the ’80s and ’90s. There’s nothing strange about…Wait…Oh…There’s a Playgirl magazine in here. It’s from December of 1983. It’s got Han Solo on the cover. Huh…I’ve heard of this magazine, but I’ve never seen one.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: That’s Harrison Ford…Uuuhhh…I’ll take that one.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: No, you won’t. That’s company property.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: So is Sterne.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: Oh, real freakin’ funny, Wendy. You’re just jealous.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: (Bursts out laughing).

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Hey, wait. Why are you guys standing over there?…Wait, did…did you just have your guns out? Where’s my gun? I didn’t get a gun!

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: They’ve been here long enough to be issued standard firearms. You’ll receive yours after six months and after a training review and a class on firearm safety.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Okay, that’s cool, but I could have sworn…It just…It seemed like they had their guns out.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: We didn’t. I briefly took mine out to adjust it.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: Yeah, don’t worry about it.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Danice, it doesn’t look like we have an ongoing threat, so you’ll take that bundle of periodicals to Room 1 and deposit it there. Marvin and Wendy will each go through it one more time, and then you’ll cut the twine from it and fully unwrap it. We need to log each magazine.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: I…Okay, but I could have sworn they’d drawn their guns and they were putting them up when I turned around.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: It’s called “holstering,” and don’t worry about it.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: I am worried about it. I don’t like guns pointed at me.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Danice, just head to Room 1 so you can learn the rest of the procedure.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: But—

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Now, Danice.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: O-Okay.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: Hey, Costas, slip me that Playgirl. I want to take a look at it.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Your walkie’s still on, Mackey.

FEB 25^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: Oh, son of a bi—!

*****

MAR 4^TH: DATED MAILED LETTER FROM ENITAN YAKUBU TO OLAMIDE SUNMONU: Dearest sister, I know you are still angry at me for my conversion from Islam to Christianity, but I also know that you understand far better than your honorable husband of why I had to flee.

Even here, in America, the greatest land in the world, the old rivalries stand, so I avoid our people as I try to stay as long as I can.

I have well-adjusted to the holy Roman church, and I have made friends here in the land of the free, but I am writing to you now, not because I fear for my life, but because I fear for my soul and for yours.

I turned to the Holy Church after the dream, and the dream was one of plunging into darkness with a voice calling my name. It was the voice of the Son of God, so I had to answer. The darkness nearly took me that night, but the Son of Man saved me. However, that is not my concern right now.

It is my place of employment. I work as a security guard at a company that makes books, a place of the creation of reading, the very thing that has always brought you such joy. Because of my temporary status, I am not allowed to own or use a firearm, but such a weapon is not needed for me there.

No, the place itself hides some dark secret I cannot fathom, but I know it is there. I can feel it. It haunts in me in my dreams.

There is something there, something growing like a cancer within the fresh pages of the newest books, and it frightens me down to my most basic soul. I have weapons against this, but I fear going to work, though I must.

I know you do not understand, but my weapon is the holy rosary, and I keep it close to my heart at all times. The Holy Spirit has told me that I need more, so I have bought and had blessed a scapular and a candle, a special candle that will burn for three days straight, even within the blackest night.

I feel an enclosing darkness, as if all the world’s evils will soon be released, like the old tale of Pandora and her box.

Enclosed in this package is a rosary, a scapular, and a devotional candle. I would have you keep them hidden, as your honorable husband will most certainly fly into a rage upon their view and destroy them.

I know you are confused and angry with me, but I still love you deeply, so I have wired money to you, and I hope you receive this package soon.

Be wary of the darkness, and keep close these holy weapons. You will know when to use them.

Your loving brother, Enitan.

*****

MAR 1^ST: MATOCHA INTRASYSTEM CONTACT MESSAGE (MICM): BURRELMARCUS: Hey, Carol, I’ve gone over the monthly report, and the STAF incident on February 25^th has me concerned. I understand it was a mundane STAF?

MAR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: Yes, it was old periodicals. Mainly old Vogue magazines from the ’80s and ’90s, but there was one old Playgirl magazine mixed within that bundle.

MAR 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: What concerns me is that this has happened before, three years ago.

MAR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: That…doesn’t sound good. Are you sure all of this is real? Is this some kind of psychological test the government has cooked up? Maybe the CIA?

MAR 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: I wish it were. Unfortunately, this is all Matocha, and this really has been going on since 1927. The reason I’m concerned is that three years ago, we had four mundane STAF incidents before the April disaster. This is beginning to feel like the same pattern.

MAR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: What exactly happened three years ago? Are you putting us all in danger? What’s going on, Marcus?

MAR 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: The whole world is in danger if we don’t keep watch. Let’s just say it got ugly very fast. The main thing to remember is to follow protocol. Hit the emergency lockdown if a BTA does occur. Whatever you do, don’t panic. Follow the guidelines you’ve been trained to follow.

MAR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: Understood. I think we all deserve a raise, though.

MAR 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: And I’d give it to you if I could. Publishing companies are losing money anymore. Future generations don’t know how to read. We are still afloat because of the legacy of our generous benefactor, Magdelena Matocha. That money won’t run out until 2045. Once we hit that mark…I don’t know what we’re going to do.

MAR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: We’re not turning a profit?

MAR 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: We’re turning a slight profit from Romance and Thrillers. Otherwise, the only thing making money anymore is smut. We’re making some off of that.

MAR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: Well, what do we do? We can’t keep this up forever at this rate.

MAR 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: Right now, we are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. I need a rundown on the psychological health of our security. The first is Sterne. He’s naturally paranoid. I’ve seen his posts online. He’s a liability.

MAR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: I know. I have him under control.

MAR 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: Your “discipline” is effectively distracting him?

MAR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: Yes, but I actually…The feelings are real, Marcus. I’m not using him. This is just a side effect.

MAR 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: Yes, but it’s a useful one. In fact, I’ve taken the initiative on this. This “distraction” is an effective tool I intend to exploit. Now give me a rundown on the rest of the staff. I need to know where we stand before April hits.

MAR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: Mackey has been here the longest, but she’s beginning to irritate me. She’s becoming more and more unruly. I think envy or jealousy is setting in with her. She continues to harass Hughes, and she most certainly knows about Sterne and I.

MAR 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: I have her taken care of. She has no family and no real friends. She’s a lonely, burned-out, middle-aged wash who clearly had her time in the sun three decades ago. I’ve had her talking to a man of mine on the inside. She’s been contacting him through a dating site.

MAR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: You’re catfishing her? That…That’s cruel, Marcus.

MAR 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: She’ll live. We have to get past April, and Mackey is a solid employee when motivated. I need her head in the game.

MAR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: It doesn’t seem right.

MAR 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: None of this is right, but my hands are tied. For one thing, it’s part of the contract with our funding that we maintain vigilance. That was specific with Magdelena Matocha. Also, the net positive is better than failure. Now, I need your report on the rest of the staff.

MAR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: I don’t like any of this, but okay…Next up is Yakubu. He’s a little…high strung. I don’t know if he’ll stick around long enough to see this through. He’s very religious, and he doesn’t strike me as a fool.

MAR 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: I have him under control. He’ll do exactly as I say until he’s naturalized. His “distraction” is the fear of being deported.

MAR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: Okay, that’s…I don’t even know what to say about that. I guess, then, next is Hughes. He seems okay. He laughs off Mackey’s harassment like it’s nothing, and he does his job adequately enough.

MAR 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: Hughes is a Renaissance Man. I’ve studied his private life. He’s only interested in making more money, but he continuously experiments and tries new things. His girlfriend is a 6’2” slender redhead who could be a model. His “distraction” is his own life. I’m not worried about him, but I have been keeping tabs on him anyway. Like everyone else, he suspects things, but he doesn’t tend to spread that around. I’ve detected nothing unusual through his social media or phone conversations.

MAR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: Okay, then, there’s just Costas…She…She may be an actual problem.

MAR 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: The new girl? I haven’t gotten around to profiling her yet. What is the issue?

MAR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: She’s constantly pushing boundaries and wanting to know why protocol is what it is. She’s almost as bad as Sterne normally is, but as I said before, I have Sterne under control. Should I let her go?

MAR 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: No, it’s too late to hire anyone else. There must be something about her that we can use as a distraction.

MAR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: She has an obvious crush on Hughes, and if what you say is correct, she doesn’t know he has a girlfriend.

MAR 1^ST: MICM:  BURRELMARCUS: We can use this. Pair her with Hughes. That will keep her occupied…We just need to get through April.

*****

MAR 4^TH: PARTIAL INTERCEPTED PHONE TRANSMISSION FROM JACOB HUGHES: ERROR IN RECEIVING OTHER PARTICIPANT IN CONVERSATION: 1: Bro, I am so looking forward to the fights on Saturday.

2: Nah, nah, Oliveira’s my man, but the rest of the card sucks.

3: Nah, bro, I’m heading over to Zyla’s tonight after work.

4: It’s f***** up, bro. The whole place is creepy as f***, but I’m making sweet cash there, so who cares.

5: Yeah, there are a couple. You know I’ve always got someone hanging on me.

6: There’s this old chick who’s constantly hitting on me. It’s hilarious. She’s funny, though.

7: Yeah, bro, the new girl does. She’s annoying, though.

8: She’s okay. I think she’s annoying, but she’s not a dog.

9: There’s no way. You couldn’t get laid if you were an egg, bro.

10: Nah, they’re not hiring right now. You don’t want to work there anyway.

11: Dude, the place is a creep show, bro. It’s f***** up. I’m not making it up.

12: It’s just weird. I’m not talking about it, though. I’m just looking the other way and collecting a paycheck. Easy money.

13: Yeah, I don’t think on it. I got other things to worry about.

14: I guess. I’ll say something, but I don’t think you’re her type.

15: Yeah…me.

16: Nah, bro, but I’ll say something about it. A number’s going to chase her off.

17: Yeah, I gotta go anyway. Zyla’s calling.

18: Yeah, bye.

*****

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 69: Hey, Carol, do you copy?

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Go ahead, Jacob.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 69: We need Yakubu down here.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Yakubu’s here?

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 69: Of course, he’s here. Don’t you read the shift manifest?

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: I don’t even know what that is. I just come in when Carol tells me to.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: What is it, Jacob? Why do I need to send Yakubu?

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 69: We’ve got two STAFs down here. Both are in Room 3, Nonfiction.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: …

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Carol, do you copy?

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Two?

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 69: Yeah. One’s a bunch of old books. The other’s a lot smaller, but it’s wrapped up. It looks about the size of some greeting cards.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: What are the books? Can you read the titles?

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 69: Uuuhhh…I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream, The King in Yellow, The Shadow over Innsmouth, and uh, The Willows.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: …

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Carol?

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: What does the twine look like over the books?

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 69: It’s dirty.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Dirty? What do you mean “dirty”?

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 69: Like it was pulled through dirt.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: What does the dirt look like?

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 69: It looks like dirt.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: I meant, is it fresh or hard…I mean, dried out?

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 69: Huh…It’s fresh…almost like potting soil. That’s weird.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 77: I am here now. Hughes is correct. The twine looks as if it has been pulled through fresh dirt.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: …

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Carol, what do you want us to do with it?

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Yakubu, take it to Room 1 after the other STAF is fully inspected. You’ll remove the twine there.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 77: Yes, boss lady.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Yakubu, why did you call me that?

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 77: Because you are a boss and you are a lady, and Sterne told me that is what you prefer to be called.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (Sighs). Just stand by while Danice inspects the other STAF.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 77: Yes, boss lady.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Wait, why am I inspecting it? I inspected the last one.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Because you need the experience.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: But it could be a letter bomb.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 69: I’ll do it.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: No, you won’t; I need you in back as cover. Danice, you’re inspecting it. You’ll peel back the paper and see what’s inside. If there was a letter bomb, you’d have to open a card to set it off…that’s if it even contains any greeting cards. First though, describe the twine it’s in.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: It’s some painted-white twine wrapped around the middle of it. It’s not dyed. It’s painted. I can tell.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Okay, it should be safe then. This is just to check anyway.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: “Should” doesn’t mean “is.”

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Peel back the paper Danice, or you’ll receive a write up.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Then I’ll receive a write up. It’s not worth dying over.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Jacob, help me out here. I really don’t want to have to write up Danice.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 69: Just do it, Danice. You’re just peeling back the paper.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Ugh, fine…Here we go…There’s…Huh, they really are greeting cards. They’ve got little angels and stuff on them. One of the angels has a lopsided halo on her head.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Those are probably vintage “Three Little Angels” Hallmark cards. They’re safe. You can move those to Room 1.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 77: Can Jacob holster his firearm now?

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Why is your gun out, Jacob?

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 69: It’s what I’m supposed to do.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Jacob, don’t answer that.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Jacob, why did you have your gun drawn?

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Danice, I need to see you in my office right now.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Hell no; I quit.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Danice, please come to the office. You are not in trouble. You’re not being written up.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Didn’t you hear me? I quit!

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: You don’t need to quit. Come to the office, and I’ll explain some protocol.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: I…I don’t…

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 77: Go ahead and see the boss lady. We all have at one time or another.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Come up to the main office, Danice.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: I…I…

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 69: Just go up there and see her…Bro. She already said you’re not in trouble. You’re making way more out of this than it actually is. You don’t need to frikkin’ quit. That’s stupid.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: I…I don’t…I…Okay.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Good. Jacob and Yakubu, take the STAFs to Room 1 and unbind them. They need to be sorted.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 77: Yes, boss lady.

MAR 15th: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (Sighs).

*****

MAR 21^ST: CONVERSATION RECORDED FROM EMPLOYEE LOUNGE, 2^ND FLOOR, MATOCHA PUBLISHING DISTRIBUTION CENTER (ELR): W.MACK: Hey, Carol, I guess you decided to take a break.

MAR 21^ST: ELR: C.KARS: It’s that time of night. Saturdays are always slow.

MAR 21^ST: ELR: W.MACK: Don’t you take time off?

MAR 21^ST: ELR: C.KARS: Mondays and Tuesdays like everyone else.

MAR 21^ST: ELR: W.MACK: That doesn’t count. We’re closed on those days. Go take some time off. Go spend some time with Marv.

MAR 21^ST: ELR: C.KARS: Wendy, I can’t talk about that. You shouldn’t bring that up here.

MAR 21^ST: ELR: W.MACK: Oh, take that stick out of your butt. There’s no one here but us. You can tell me…or pretend to tell me. I’m not going to tell anyone. Everyone already knows anyway.

MAR 21^ST: ELR: C.KARS: (Sighs). It doesn’t matter. To answer your question, I can’t take time off right now. When I think things have settled down a little, then and only then will I take some time off.

MAR 21^ST: ELR: W.MACK: Settled down? This place is dead…Oh, that reminds me…I heard Danice almost quit on the Ides.

MAR 21^ST: ELR: C.KARS: Yeah, she almost did. She can quit any other time of the year. I just can’t afford to lose anyone right now.

MAR 21^ST: ELR: W.MACK: Did she get “the talk”? I thought this place was screwy until I got “the talk.” But after that? This place is really screwy.

MAR 21^ST: ELR: C.KARS: Yeah…I had to explain that there was no threat or danger of any kind of a terrorist attack. I had to…tell her the truth…such as it is.

MAR 21^ST: ELR: W.MACK: How did she take it?…’Cause I was like, “That’s f***** up, but okay.”

MAR 21^ST: ELR: C.KARS: Honestly? She looked at me and said, “I knew it…I knew there was more to this story.”

MAR 21^ST: ELR: W.MACK: (Laughs). That’s the understatement of the year.

MAR 21^ST: ELR: C.KARS: The whole thing bothered me. She just…She didn’t react like everyone else…It’s weird.

MAR 21^ST: ELR: W.MACK: Weirder than what’s actually going on?

MAR 21^ST: ELR: C.KARS: Everyone else—including you—just kind of nodded their heads and were like, “Okay, as long as I get paid, I don’t care.”…But Danice? The way she looked at me? It was like I’d just confirmed her deepest beliefs about the universe…I don’t like it. The only one who even came close to that reaction was Marvin, but he just gave me some half-assed theories on the CIA, the KGB, and the Mossad…none of which are even remotely true.

MAR 21^ST: ELR: W.MACK: (Laughs). That sounds like Marv…Hey, uh…now that we’re alone, and uh…don’t take this the wrong way, but…ummm…

MAR 21^ST: ELR: C.KARS: What? What is it?

MAR 21^ST: ELR: W.MACK: What is Marv like…you know…when you…mmm…mmm…mmm…

MAR 21^ST: ELR: C.KARS: First of all, that’s inappropriate workplace behavior, Wendy. Secondly, I’m your boss, and you need to watch what you say to me, and thirdly, Marvin may be crazy, but he can hammer a nail like a pro. I mean, he can drive that train through the tunnel. I’ve had some loud ones.

MAR 21^ST: ELR: W.MACK: (Laughs).

MAR 21^ST: ELR: C.KARS: (Chuckles). That reminds me. You seem happier lately…May I ask what’s going on?

MAR 21^ST: ELR: W.MACK: Oh, that’s because I have a new boyfriend.

MAR 21^ST: ELR: C.KARS: Oh…uuuhhh…oh.

MAR 21^ST: ELR: W.MACK: Yeah, we met on Match.com. He saw my profile and jumped on it.

MAR 21^ST: ELR: C.KARS: Oh…well…congratulations.

MAR 21^ST: ELR: W.MACK: We’ve been talking for a while now. We had our first date on Monday night.

MAR 21^ST: ELR: C.KARS: You…Wait, what? You went on a date? Like a physical date?

MAR 21^ST: ELR: W.MACK: Yeah, and he took me to this little restaurant downtown, and it was an expensive little place, but he covered the bill. That’s how I knew he wasn’t some scammer…So when he offered to take me to his place, I jumped on that. He has a sweet 10^th floor apartment in the Heights. He’s got some serious cash, and he doesn’t care that I’m just a security guard. Oh, we talked for a couple of hours, and then we had some awesome…mmm…mmm…mmm…The train went through the tunnel and then some.

MAR 21^ST: ELR: C.KARS: He…He slept with you?

MAR 21^ST: ELR: W.MACK: Oh, don’t give me that look of horror. I’m not some ugly b****, you know. Just because you’re in your thirties doesn’t make you the queen of sex.

MAR 21^ST: ELR: C.KARS: No, no, it’s not that; I’m just worried about you.

MAR 21^ST: ELR: W.MACK: Why in the hell are you worried about me?

MAR 21^ST: ELR: C.KARS: It…because…Because it’s the first date.

MAR 21^ST: ELR: W.MACK: Yeeeaaaah…It’s not 1856, you know. People can have sex on the first date…Besides, isn’t that hypocritical considering what you and Marv have done right here in the building?

MAR 21^ST: ELR: C.KARS: Yeah…heh…I see your point. I…I just don’t want you getting used, Wendy…I-I wasn’t being insulting. I think you deserve someone special.

MAR 21^ST: ELR: W.MACK: Oh, pffft. Don’t sweat it. I may be older, but I’m not old, so I’m not fragile, you know. Besides, I got laid. Even if this doesn’t work out, I still got my battery charged…I’ll live.

MAR 21^ST: ELR: C.KARS: Y-yeah.

*****

MAR 24^TH: PARTIAL INTERCEPTED PHONE TRANSMISSION FROM JACOB HUGHES: ERROR IN RECEIVING OTHER PARTICIPANT IN CONVERSATION:

1: Yeah, bro, I’ve been thinking about planting some herbs.

2: Nah, it’s not hard. The weather’s picking up. Spring’s knockin’.

3: I don’t know. Maybe. I think after April, they might be hiring. I heard something about it somewhere.

4: Nah, bro, that girl’s weird. You don’t want that.

5: Nah, I’m not partnered with her anymore. I’m back to my old partner.

6: Nah, nah, he’s Nigerian. He’s all religious and sh**, but at least he’s not annoying. Nah, scratch that, bro, she’s just weird now. I thought she was annoying at first, but she’s just weird.

7: After she had a one-on-one talk with our boss, she just got really weird. She kept singing some old song.

8: Just parts of it. I think it was “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.” It’s that old Tears for Fears song. She just kept singing “There’s a room where the light won’t find you,” under her breath, bro. It was f****** weird, bro.

9: No, Zyla’s pissed about that. It doesn’t matter anymore, though. That girl, Danice, knows I’ve got a girlfriend, and she got that talk from our boss. Nah, she went from annoying and having a crush on me to just being weird in like…two seconds after that.

10: Trust me, bro, she’s all kinds of wrong. If you really want me to say something about you, then I will, but it’s like handling Ebola in a bottle. I wouldn’t do it.

*****

APR 1^ST: MATOCHA INTRASYSTEM CONTACT MESSAGE (MICM): BURRELMARCUS: Carol, I’ve gone over the monthly report, and I just heard about the fourth STAF.

APR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: The last one was discovered by Hughes and Yakubu on the 29^th. It looks like your pattern speculation is becoming reality, or at least, it sure as Hell looks that way…If it is…I don’t want to think about it.

APR 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: You have to. We have to prepare. We know that STAFs only occur at night and on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. I don’t know what significance, if any, those days hold. The last BTA we had occurred on a Sunday, but without the past company records, I can’t verify if that specific day of the week will come into play again. Out of curiosity, what was the last mundane STAF?

APR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: A bundle of old wrapped Fangoria magazines from the ’80s in, ironically, Room 2, Horror. The twine around it was dirty, as if it had been dragged through fresh earth. The paper it was wrapped in was dirty as well.

APR 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: We have a serious problem then. Another BTA is almost certainly on its way. The only mundane STAFs to differ three years ago were famous horror novels and some horror magazines. The twine was as you described. This happened twice before.

APR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: That…fits a pattern.

APR 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: I know. We need all staff on board. All signs indicate that the next BTA will occur soon. Give me a rundown on our security again.

APR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: We have one potential weak link, and I’ll get to that in a moment, but we need to talk about Wendy Mackey first.

APR 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: What’s there to talk about? She’s firmly occupied without becoming dangerously nosy or disruptive. The goal was to keep her distracted. She is distracted.

APR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: Yes, but what you’re doing isn’t right. She had dinner with your inside man…She had sex with him…She thinks she’s in a new relationship. It’s not right.

APR 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: My hands are tied on the matter. If she’s distracted right now by her “boyfriend,” then she is not thinking about the strangeness of our ordeal. Ergo, she will be focused when the time comes. She’s one of my strongest links. Yakubu is the other, because he knows what will happen to him if he quits. I’ll personally ensure he is sent back to Nigeria, and considering how he left his faith, he will not live long once he gets there.

APR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: That’s cruel, Marcus. Think about what you’re saying. You’ve essentially made a native African man a slave.

APR 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: It’s necessary, Carol. Besides, you and I both know our weakest link is Sterne.

APR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: No, he’s not. As long as I give him treats, I have him under control. I unzip his pants and kneel down, and he stops thinking about anything.

APR 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: A little TMI, but effective. Who’s our weakest link, then?

APR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: It’s Danice. Danice Costas.

APR 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: What? Why? I noticed you unpaired her with Hughes? What’s going on?

APR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: Hughes may be a good employee, but he was a bad match for Costas. She nearly quit on the 15^th due to a STAF incident. I had to give her the talk.

APR 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: And? I’ve been monitoring her social media. She’s posted nothing recently. What is the issue? How did she take it?

APR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: That’s just it…She was almost…excited.

APR 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: Excited?

APR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: Yes. It seemed to confirm some deeply held belief she had. I don’t know what’s going on in her head. Plus, I’ve had dreams about her since then. In my dreams, I can see her in her uniform from behind, and I call her name, but when she turns around, she has no face.

APR 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: No face?

APR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: There was nothing there, just skin. If that wasn’t bad enough, when I looked closer, I saw…uhhh…

APR 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: You saw what?

APR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: Horror. Pure, unadulterated horror. It was so indescribably terrible that my…my conscious mind can’t even remember it.

APR 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: Hmm…We may have to enact a final solution.

APR 1^ST: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: I…You…You can’t. I know you’ve done other things, and I know I’ve enabled them, but…we can’t cross that line. I won’t cross that line.

APR 1^ST: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: We’re just having a conversation, nothing definite, but…if the time comes, you may not have a choice.

*****

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: Yo, Carol…Caaaarol…Carol!

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: I’m here, Sterne.

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: We found another one.

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Another what? Another STAF?

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: (Static)—I fooooouuund iiiiiit—(Static)

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: What was that? Danice? You’re cutting out. I couldn’t hear you.

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: Danice, quit being weird.

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Sterne, what did you find?

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: We found a STAF, but…this one’s different.

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Different? H-How is it different?

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: We found it in Room 1.

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Room 1? Room 1 is empty.

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: I know. It was empty when I last checked it an hour ago, too.

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14:  We haven’t found any WANDs lately, so Room 1 should be empty…and you say a STAF is in there?

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: Yeah, but it doesn’t look right.

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: H-How so?

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: It’s wrapped up, but the paper is…It looks old, yellow, and a little crumbly, and somewhat…uhhh…singed.

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: A-And the twine?

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: The twine looks f***** up. It’s covered in some brown and off-red paint, like brick-red paint.

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: That’s not paint. It’s blood. It’s dried blood.

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (Choked gasp)…Are…Are you sure!

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: Y-yeah…I think it is. It’s dried blood. I think she’s right.

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Jesus Christ, that’s the BTA! Don’t touch it! I’m sending down Hughes as the third!

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: The BTA? You mean that bad thing we’re supposed to watch out for? This is it?

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: I’m going into lockdown!—(Klaxon blares in background)—It’s on Easter! It came on f****** Easter!

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: (Klaxon blares in background)—(Static)—It’s all about resurrection—(Static).

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (Klaxon blares in background)—Hughes is on his way! Do not touch that G******** thing!

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: (Klaxon blares in background)—Danice, get away from there. She just said not to touch it.

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: (Klaxon blares in background)—I’m just doing my job. It’s what I’ve done before.

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (Klaxon blares in background)—Marvin, stop her! Draw your gun!

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: (Klaxon blares in background)—Whoa, my gun is drawn as per protocol. What the f***?

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (Klaxon blares in background)—Stop, Danice! Don’t touch it!

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: (Klaxon blares in background)—I’m just peeling back the paper to see what’s inside. It’s my job. It’s what I’m supposed to do.

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (Klaxon blares in background)—Marvin, do not let her read anything from that bundle! You have to stop her now!

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: (Klaxon blares in background)—What the f***? It’s just another bundle of papers. Danice is peeling back the wrapping right…Whoa…The lights just flickered in here.

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (Klaxon blares in background)—Jesus Christ! Do not let her read anything from that bundle! Get her away from it!

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: (Klaxon blares in background)—The paper at the top is old and yellowed. It’s partially charred, just like Sterne said. There’s no print at the top of these papers—(Static)—It’s beautiful—(Static).

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (Klaxon blares in background)—Danice, do not peel it back any farther! Do not read anything from that bundle! Marvin, you have to stop her! By any means necessary if you have to!

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: (Klaxon blares in background)—What the f***! What the f*** is wrong with you! What am I supposed to do? Shoot her! I’m not shooting my coworker!…Besides, Hughes is here, you crazy—

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 69: (Klaxon blares in background)—I’m here. Everything’s cool, Carol. It’s all good. Danice is just holding the bundle in her hands, ready to go. The wrapping’s a little peeled back at the top, but it’s all good. Do you want us to leave it here?

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (Klaxon blares in background)— (Heavy breathing)—Take it to the Room 0 Dropbox and dump it in!

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: (Klaxon blares in background)—I thought Room 0 was unused storage. It’s always locked.

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (Klaxon blares in background)—It is, and just do it! Drop that G******** thing in the Room 0 Dropbox!

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 69: (Klaxon blares in background)—Dude, let’s go; let’s just do it. She’s freakin’ out, bro. You can give her head later to calm her down.

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: (Klaxon blares in background)—Oh, real f****** funny, Hughes! You kiss your mother with that mouth?

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 69: (Klaxon blares in background)—I kissed your mother with this mouth. She said I was her favorite.

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: (Klaxon blares in background)—Oh, ho, ho…I see now, you little sh**. You got a smart mouth.

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (Klaxon blares in background)—JUST GET IT TO THE DROPBOX!

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 69: (Klaxon blares in background)—Jesus, we’re already there! Calm your t***. Sterne is unlocking the box now.

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (Klaxon blares in background)—Danice, drop it in!

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: (Klaxon blares in background)—…

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (Klaxon blares in background)—Danice!

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: (Klaxon blares in background)—Danice, drop the f****** thing in there. Funny boy, here, is right. The boss is freakin’ out.

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 69: (Klaxon blares in background)—It’s done. Sterne is locking the box now.

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: (Klaxon blares in background)—It’s done, Carol.

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (Klaxons stop)—A-All right. That…That’s good.

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 69: Dude, I thought this room was unused. I thought it was always locked.

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: I-It is. It’s always locked. There’s no key for it. There’s no way in. (Quiet sobbing).

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 55: Carol, are you crying? What the…? There’s nothing to cry about. It’s all done. We dropped it off. It’s all done. You know what, I’m coming up there. Now you’re freakin’ me out.

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: There’s no way in there. It’s good now. Everything’s good. There’s no key. There’s no way in. (Sniffling).

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: (Static)—There’s a way—(Soft singing)—I know what it iiiiiiiis—(Static).

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Danice? I can’t hear you. There’s something wrong with your walkie.

APR 5^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: (Static)—You can’t stop me. This is MY story—(Static).

*****

APR 8^TH: MATOCHA INTRASYSTEM CONTACT MESSAGE (MICM): KARSTONCAROL: Hey, Marcus, the BTA showed. It was disposed of per protocol. No casualties. Minimal suspicion.

APR 8^TH: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: Minimal?

APR 8^TH: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: I panicked. It was very unprofessional, but my crew got the job done. Crisis averted.

APR 8^TH: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: Your crew was conditioned for this moment thanks to our direction. We can now continue with our mission until the next BTA arrives. When did this occur? Did this happen just now?

APR 8^TH: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: No, this occurred on Sunday, on Easter.

APR 8^TH: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: Why am I just now being told of this incident?

APR 8^TH: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: I was…distraught. It took me a couple of days to get it together.

APR 8^TH: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: Understood. Are you certain it was a BTA?

APR 8^TH: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: It fit all of the parameters. Old and yellowed paper, partially charred, singed, whatever, tied together with bloodstained twine. It was a 100% Bloody Twine Article.

APR 8^TH: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: Excellent. It was disposed of by protocol?

APR 8^TH: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: Yes. It was safely dropped off in the Room 0 Dropbox.

APR 8^TH: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: Who transported it?

APR 8^TH: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: It was Costas. She managed to do it.

APR 8^TH: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: Hmm…Surprising. Well, in that case, we can now start planning for the rest of the year. We should see a squall of mundanes again, but this is normal.

APR 8^TH: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: What about the damage we did?…What about Wendy Mackey?…Plus, I don’t think Costas is right in the head.

APR 8^TH: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: I’ll have my man slowly break it off with Mackey. As for Costas, we’ll send her to a good psychologist. Her treatment will be paid for by the company.

APR 8^TH: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: Marcus, this is…It’s just so inhumane. Are you sure this is real? Is this all real? I nearly sh** my pants when they discovered that BTA. Are you sure it was worth it?

APR 8^TH: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: One billion percent. There is no doubt in my mind. As for the BTA, who else was on duty? I could look up the shift manifest, but you can save me time right now.

APR 8^TH: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: It was Hughes and Sterne. They were backup for disposal.

APR 8^TH: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: So my two weakest links were with Hughes…Hmm…Hughes deserves a raise. He’s not going to get one, but he certainly deserves it. He’s more of a stabilizing factor than I first gave him credit for…Interesting.

APR 8^TH: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: Marcus, I nearly gave the order for Sterne to fire on Costas.

APR 8^TH: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: Really?…Why?

APR 8^TH: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: She was doing what we trained her to do. She peeled back part of the wrapping on the BTA.

APR 8^TH: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: Did she read anything?

APR 8^TH: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: No.

APR 8^TH: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: Good.

APR 8^TH: MICM: KARSTONCAROL:Marvin would not have pulled the trigger anyway. He said as much over the walkie.

APR 8^TH: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: That’s a shame. You would have had to do it if necessary, and I know that would be a huge burden on you.

APR 8^TH: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: Marcus, I don’t even know how to respond to that.

APR 8^TH: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: The same way I would have. We have a duty to perform, and it’s bigger than you, I, or this company.

APR 8^TH: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: I don’t know if I could.

APR 8^TH: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: Hopefully, you’ll never find out.

*****

APR 10^TH: DATED HANDWRITTEN LETTER BY DANICE COSTAS: UNDISCOVERED UNTIL MAY 3^RD: They can see us, you know. They can see us in their minds. They know, and now I know they know, but they want more…They always want more.

They never saw me born. They never saw me play in the park. They never saw me go to daycare, or elementary school, or middle school, or high school.

They don’t see me in the shower or on the toilet.

They don’t see me when I masturbate or…or when I’m with a man.

They can’t see my art or my fantasies.

But they know who I am. They know who we all are.

They watch, they wait, and they listen. They can hear my voice in their heads, they can see my vague shape in their mind’s eye, and they can see what I do in the theater of their psyches.

They don’t know what I look like, but they’ve already made my image from their own experiences. They have their ideas, and those ideas are my reality.

Little Brittney was right.

This story never changes, and I already know the ending, and if they haven’t read it yet, they will know the ending soon enough.

Some stories are looking for a victim.

This is MY story.

*****

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: Hey, Carol, we’ve had nothing but WANDs tonight. No STAFs to report…Carol, do you copy?

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: I’m here, Wendy. That’s good news. What are some of the WANDs you’ve found?

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: Some old Highlights magazines. They’re from the ’60s. Got a couple of Playboys from the early ’70s. Let’s see, 15 Guns and Ammo mags from the early 2000s, the entire Wizard of Oz collection, and an original hardback copy of JAWS by Peter Benchley. That one has pictures. Also, there’s a really dirty book by that vampire lady, Anne Rice. It’s titled “Exit to Eden.”…And Yakubu found some really old Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys’ books. There’s still some racist language in some of them.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Okay. Well, you don’t need to flip through everything you find. Just drop them in Room 1. And make sure to drop off the Playboys and “Exit to Eden.” You can’t keep them.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: Awww.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Wait, where are you now?

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: We’re still in Room 10, Periodicals.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Have you seen Danice? She hasn’t checked in.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: I saw her earlier. She’s on patrol anyway. I’m stuck with ol’ Yakity Yak, here.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 77: That is not my name, Wendy.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: (Laughs).

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (In background)—I saw her when I came in.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: Sterne, is that you? You’re not supposed to come in tonight, you old dog, you.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (In background)—Har. Har. I came in for a legitimate reason, Mackey. I need a copy of my W-2.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: The tax deadline has already passed, dingus. That’s such a weak excuse.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: He really is here to fill out a form for a replacement W-2, Wendy.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (In background)—And I already did my taxes, Mackey. I’m not letting those government parasites take any more of my hard-earned money.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: Hard earned? How is it hard earned? The only thing hard about you is your little—

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Wendy, I’m still your boss. This is still a professional workplace. Let’s keep this professional.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: Okay, boss lady. Whatever you say.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Don’t call me that…It…It doesn’t matter. I need to find Danice…Danice, do you copy?

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: …

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Danice, do you copy? You need to confirm check in…Danice?

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: …I’m here.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Good. Are you on the third floor?

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: No.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Where are you then?

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Where do you think I am?

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Danice, this isn’t a game. Where are you?

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: I’m in front of the door.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: What door? My office door? The main entrance?

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: THE door. The only door that matters.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: And that iiiiiiis…?

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: The door to Room 0.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (Long pause)—Danice, why…? Why are you over by Room 0? You’re supposed to be patrolling the third floor.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: I’m going in, of course.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (Pause)—Danice, Room 0 is unused storage and is to remain locked.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (In background)—There’s no key to it anyway, dummy. You can’t get in there even if you tried.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: I know the way in.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Danice, there’s…there’s no way in there.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Yes, there is. Only someone who knows the story can get in…This is MY story.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (In background)—What in the hell are you talkin’ about, you little fruitcake?

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: You can’t stop me. This is my story. You’re just a side character.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Wendy…Yakubu…go fetch Danice. She doesn’t sound like she’s mentally well. I need to talk to her in the office.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: You got it, boss la—(Short gasp of surprise).

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: What is it? What’s wrong?

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 77: The lights are out down here, boss lady.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Marv, I’m gonna kill you. Listen, Yakubu, I don’t actually like to be called that.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: It doesn’t matter; I’m taking out my flashlight…Ah, the good ol’ electric torch. Let’s just flip it on here—(Pause. Short gasps of breath)—The…The light works. The flashlight works, but I can’t see anything!

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: What do you mean?…Wendy?…Are you having trouble seeing? Do I need to have Yakubu escort you to a medical station?

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: No, the flashlight is on, but it’s not penetrating the darkness! It’s like a wall of black in here!

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: I don’t understand. The lights are still on in here.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 77: You would not understand unless you were down here…Do not come down here. This darkness…It is not normal.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: What?…What is going on?

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (In background)—Yeah, quit f****** around guys.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: I’m not f****** around! I’m telling the truth! I can’t see a f****** thing in here!

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 77: She is being truthful, Sterne. Normal light cannot penetrate this darkness.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (In background)—Oh, yeah? Well, you sound awfully calm, bud.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 77: I am terrified, but I have my rosary, and my scapular, and I have brought my blessed candle. I will light it now.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: (Quavering voice)—Yakubu, we have two flashlights, both of them are on, and neither one of them is working! It’s like trying to shine a light through soup! What is a candle going to—(Sound of a match being struck)—That…That’s impossible…

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: What’s impossible? What’s going on? Wendy, talk to me!

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: Y-Yakubu’s candle works. There’s…There’s a bubble of light around us. I-I-I can see around us.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: I’m inside…I’m inside, Carol. I told you I’d get in…Room 0…is open.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: N-No. That…That’s not possible. You can’t be inside, Danice. It’s impossible to get in there.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: I told you, Carol. This story is mine…and only someone who understands the story can get into Room 0…Ingenious, isn’t it? You couldn’t have gotten in no matter how hard you tried, because you don’t know you’re not real.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (In background)—What the f*** are you talkin’ about?

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: They know you’re not real, Carol. You’re just a side character. They know you’ve been f****** Sterne, just like they know your boss set up Mackey with a fake boyfriend. His name is Hackforth, John Hackforth, isn’t it, Wendy?

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: Wait, what? How…How did you know that? How did you know my boyfriend’s name?

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: I told you, I’ve read this story, and it never changes…He’s not your boyfriend, Wendy. He’s just a paid actor hired by Marcus Burrel. John Hackforth isn’t even his real name. It’s Scott. Scott Freud. He f***** a loud squealing orgasm out of you just to shut you up. Burrel wanted your mind on the job when the BTA came. I guess that makes your “boyfriend” a prostitute, doesn’t it?

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Danice, that’s enough!

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: And you, Yakubu. Burrel knows about you. He knows you can’t go back to Nigeria. He knows everything about you. He knows you know you’ll be deported if you quit. Then what happens to you? You get beheaded with a machete.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 77: She is possessed. She speaks truth, but it is the truth of the Devil.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: D-Danice, I…I have to let you go. You’re fired. This is for your own good. Y-You’re not well. Come to the main office to turn in your equipment.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: You can’t fire me. This is my story, and only I know how it ends, and you’ll know how it ends soon too. This story never changes. Brittney knows. They know too, and if they’re reading it for the first time, they’ll know soon enough.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (In background, quietly)—You’re shaking, sweetheart…She doesn’t know anything. She’s just nuts, hon. She’s just nuts. I’ll go get her.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: He can’t reach me, Carol. Room 0 is spreading as we speak…but it’s too late to do anything. Marcus told you you might have to kill me when the time comes. Now you can’t even do that. Do you want to know why?

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (Choked reply in a quavering voice)—Wh-Why?

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Because you’re not real, silly…and this is MY story.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: Wh-What is she talking about? What is going on! This darkness isn’t normal…and why does only Yakubu’s candle work? What is going on, Carol!

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (In background)—It’s all right, hon. I’ll go get her…What’s wrong?

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: What’s going on, Carol! Answer me!

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (Choked reply in panicked voice)—O-Oh, dear God, she really is in Room 0!…I’m going into lockdown!…I…I’m going into lockdown! I’m going into lockdown! Why is it not working!

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (In background)—Calm down, hon. It’s just a system malfunction.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: You can’t stop me, Carol. I told you…This is MY story.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: No, you can’t do this, Danice!

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: I can do whatever I want. This is my story. Why can’t you understand that? You’re just a side character anyway…You know what?…Here’s some background characters for you…

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: J-John? What are you doing here?…Is…Is it true?…Were you hired to sleep with me?—(Muffled voice in background, unintelligible)—N-No…No, that can’t be true…No, it’s not true! It can’t be!—(Weeping)—How could you do this to me! We had something special!

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 77: That is not your boyfriend, Wendy. Do not speak to it.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: W-Wendy, listen to Yakubu.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: Did you know? Did you know, Carol!

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: Of course, she knew. She was complicit.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Wendy, you have to stop her. If Yakubu’s candle actually works, then you both have to get to Room 0 and stop her!

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: G****** you, Carol.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 77: We must do as she says. We must get to Room 0. Hold onto my arm, Mackey. You must stay in the light.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: John…John! Where did you go! John, please tell me there was some—

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 77: (Muffled voice in background, unintelligible)—No. You are not my sister. My sister remains in the homeland. You are a demon, and I do not believe you.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: (Sobbing).

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 77: Hold onto my arm, Mackey. Do not let go. I must pray while we walk through this darkness. You must stop Costas. We must go to Room 0.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: You can’t stop me, Yakubu. No one can. Room 0 isn’t empty. Room 0 was never empty. There are countless stories in here.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: (Roaring of wind all around)—What’s going on! Yakubu, what’s happening! What’s all this wind! Why is your candle not going out!

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 77: (Roaring of wind all around)—We are protected. We must stay in the light. We are safe within the light. Hold tightly to me, Mackey. You must not let go.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Dear God, she’s unbinding them!

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (In background)—What do you mean unbinding them? What are you talking about! Has everyone here gone nuts!

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 77: (Roaring of wind all around)—You must walk with me, Mackey. You must be the one to stop Costas. I must pray for our safety. You must stay in the light.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Just do as he says, Wendy! Please!

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: (Roaring of wind all around)—(Sobbing).

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Talk to me, Wendy! Just talk to me! You must get to Room 0!

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: (Roaring of wind all around)—The story is in the story is in the story is in the story…

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 77: (Roaring of wind all around)—We are moving now. Talk to Carol, Mackey…Wendy. I will pray. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth…

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: (Roaring of wind all around)—W-We’re m-moving now. We’re leaving Room 10. We’re…We’re starting down the hall—(Loud gasp).

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: What is it! What is it, Wendy!

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 77: (Roaring of wind all around)—Th-There’s a man walking past us…He’s dressed in black and white. He…He’s wearing makeup like a mime…He has on a…a black and white striped shirt and black pants…He’s wearing a black bowler hat…Oh, my God, his smile…His smile goes all the way across his face!…His arms are too long…He has one white glove and one black one…

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: (Roaring of wind all around)—This story never changes…

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 77: (Roaring of wind all around)—Our Father, who art in Heaven…

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Wendy! Wendy!

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (In background)—Holy sh**! There’s a blackness at the end of the hallway, babe! It’s like f****** pitch black, like the inside of a black hole! I can’t even call it darkness! I’ve never seen anything like that! What the f*** is going on!

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: (Roaring of wind all around)—Th-There’s a woman walking past us. She…She’s naked. She…She has no skin. She’s all muscle and tendons. She’s carrying a…a big rusty chain…On the end of the chain is a…is a h-huge rusty hook…Her eyes are brown…Her eyes are brown and full of hate…

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: (Roaring of wind all around)—I remember my entire life, all that I can remember. Am I not real? Am I not that which is woman? Am I not real?

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 77: (Roaring of wind all around)—Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee…

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: (Roaring of wind all around)—There…There’s a parade of them. There are…are so many. There’s a young woman, maybe a teenager. She’s wearing all pink, pink pants, a pink jacket…Her skin is like plastic…No, it is plastic. She has brown hair on her doll-like head…There’s a permanent smile on her face…There’s a tall thing behind her…It’s…It’s a werewolf. It’s a seven-foot-tall man covered in black fur with a wolf’s head. They’re…They’re walking past us…They just keep coming…

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (In background)—It’s coming up! It’s comin’ up, babe!

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: (Roaring of wind all around)—There’s a tall skeleton in a suit. It’s wearing a top hat. It…It has a cane in its left hand. In its right hand is an old-fashioned pocket watch. Behind it is a walking corpse. It’s the rotting corpse of a man…At least, I think it’s a man. It has no genitals. It…It has no head. It’s carrying a looped chain. On the end of the chain is a skull. The chain’s ends are bolted to the skull. Inside the skull is a tall, lit red candle…

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Wendy, keep walking, please! You and Yakubu have to get to Room 0! The wall of darkness is coming through the main office! It’s coming through! Hurry, please!

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 77: (Roaring of wind all around)—Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus…

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: (Roaring of wind all around)—There are so many of them! There’s a thing I can barely describe. It looks like a big man made of molten lava. It has no face. It has blazing hot spikes all over its body…It…It’s walking past us. There’s a man in a grey suit walking by who was behind it. He has on a porcelain mask. The mask is all white with a bearded chin, and there are little horns molded into the top of it. Behind him is a naked woman. She’s all grey. Her skin is completely grey. She’s b-bald. She has no hair on her body. She has a wide grinning mouth f-full of fangs. There’s a…There’s a metal plate bolted across her eyes…

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 77: (Roaring of wind all around)—Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and the Holy Spirit…

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: (Roaring of wind all around)—What am I?…What am I?…What…am…I?

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Wendy, we’re trapped against the wall! The darkness is closing in!

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: (Roaring of wind all around)—W-We’re here. We’re here at Room 0. It isn’t empty. It looks like the in-s-side of an old barn. There’s some kind of old machine in there, like…It l-looks like a cornhusker. There are those BTAs a-all over the place. She’s…She’s in the middle of the…the room. Her back is…is to us…She’s…She’s turned away from us…

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: You’ve got to shoot her, Wendy! You’ve got to stop her!

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: (Roaring of wind all around)—(Sobbing)—Wh-What am I? Why aren’t I real? Wh-Why aren’t I real!

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 77: (Roaring of wind all around)—Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us…

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: Shoot her, Wendy! You’ve got to!

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: (Roaring of wind all around)—I can’t! I can’t just murder her in cold blood! I…I can’t—(sobbing)—

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 81: (Roaring of wind all around)—This is my story. This is MY story…This is my story…This is my…delusion…Everything…is my…delusion…

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: (Roaring of wind all around)—Oh, God, she’s…she’s slowly turning around…

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 77: (Roaring of wind all around)—Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death…

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (Roaring of wind all around)—Wendy, don’t look at her face! Don’t look at her face! Whatever you do, do not look at her face!…Oh, God, we’re out of time! I can’t see anything in here! If you can’t shoot her, then you have to close the door! You’ve got to close the door, Wendy! Wendy, close it now!

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (In background, barely audible over the wind)—Oh, God! I’ve got you, babe! Don’t let go! I’ve got you!

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 37: (Roaring wind abruptly cuts to silence)—(Sobbing).

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 77: The door is shut.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (Weeping).

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 14: (In background)—I’ve got you, babe. I’ve got you. Everything’s good now. It’s over.

APR 19^TH: HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER 77: It is finished.

*****

APR 22^ND: MATOCHA INTRASYSTEM CONTACT MESSAGE (MICM): BURRELMARCUS: I’ve gone over the full report from the 19^th. I’ve waited until now to contact you in order for you to receive your downtime after this ordeal. You need to process.

APR 22^ND: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: There is no processing this. Everything you said was true. Deep down, I was hoping you were just evil and wanted to manipulate us into being better, more compliant employees.

APR 22^ND: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: There are easier ways to be evil. A normal company would simply tolerate a large turnover rate. I wish to keep my employees. I’m sure you understand why.

APR 22^ND: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: Yes, but that doesn’t make it any easier…Wendy Mackey may not recover.

APR 22^ND: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: I had a personal, one-on-one discussion with her in my office. She is taken care of.

APR 22^ND: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: Did you threaten her?

APR 22^ND: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: No. She was considerably more upset with my inside man’s deception than over the actual events of Sunday night. This, I can work with. It shows she has a particularly resilient mind.

APR 22^ND: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: And?

APR 22^ND: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: She is receiving hush money. There will be a steady, additional check deposited into a secondary bank account for her every month from now on. The thought of financial security and free healthcare for the rest of her life has brightened her attitude exponentially. She is too valuable to lose. She and Yakubu are the only two employees who have witnessed the release of Room 0.

APR 22^ND: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: What about Yakubu?

APR 22^ND: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: My discussion with him was of a different nature.

APR 22^ND: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: And what was that?

APR 22^ND: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: He will have guaranteed citizenship soon. I informed him of his nature as a “holy guardian against evil” and how our “organization” secretly works for the Vatican. That explanation, combined with his naturalization, all but ensured his loyalty. He now has a higher purpose.

APR 22^ND: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: That’s cold, Marcus. We’re just a f****** publishing company.

APR 22^ND: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: A publishing company with a monstrous burden.

APR 22^ND: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: Monstrous is one way to put it…What about Marvin? He’s been protective of me, but he refuses to speak of the incident.

APR 22^ND: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: Sterne was the easiest to convince. I simply played upon his own nature. I gave him the same excuse that I did Yakubu…We work for the Vatican. This confirmed his own beliefs about secret organizations ruling the world. He is not to speak of the incident, because he is now, whether he likes it or not, one of the “Pope’s special agents.” He’s been given the title of “Night Watchman.”

I read him a passage from the Catholic Bible, Isaiah, Chapter 21, verses 11-12. Verse 11 reads: The burden of Duma calleth to me out of Seir: “Watchman, what of the night? watchman, what of the night?”  Verse 12 reads: “The watchman said: The morning cometh, also the night: if you seek, seek: return, come”…Sterne now believes much of what Yakubu believes, but from a different angle. This ensures his story will align with Yakubu’s when they speak with each other over the matter.

APR 22^ND: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: You’re a monster, Marcus.

APR 22^ND: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: If you give a man a purpose, his life will have meaning, and he will give his life for that meaning.

APR 22^ND: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: That is…I can’t even respond to that…What about Hughes?

APR 22^ND: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: There is nothing to say about Hughes. He wasn’t there, and no one else will inform him of what actually happened. He is a valuable stabilizing agent I wish to keep. That is all there is to that.

APR 22^ND: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: Marcus, what about me?

APR 22^ND: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: What about you? You now know the stakes of what we are dealing with. Failure is not an option. I need you here, because now you have real experience dealing with this, just like those who came before you. There has never been an incident where Room 0 was opened. You handled it, and we only had one casualty. That is a decisive victory.

APR 22^ND: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: You’re a cold, cold bastard, Marcus. I’ll stay, but only because I know how important this is…Otherwise, you’d be out of luck…Now…I have one more question…I didn’t want to ask this, but…what about Danice Costas?

APR 22^ND: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: The official story is that she left work and did not return. I will request a wellness check in a few days when she does not return to work. The police will search for her, and a missing person’s report will be filed. Her disappearance will remain…unsolved.

APR 22^ND: MICM: KARSTONCAROL: Ever since Room 0 was closed…there’s been no indication that anyone was ever inside it. You’d think she would bang on the door or cry out for help, but there’s been nothing but silence…I don’t think she’s dead, Marcus. I still have nightmares. They’ve not gone away, and Danice is in them…Do you think we’ll ever see her again?

APR 22^ND: MICM: BURRELMARCUS: You’d best hope we do not. You don’t want to.

*****

DEC 19^TH: PARTIAL INTERCEPTED PHONE TRANSMISSION FROM JACOB HUGHES: ERROR IN RECEIVING OTHER PARTICIPANT IN CONVERSATION:

1: Nah, I can’t.

2: Because we’re going to a funeral.

3: That weird girl from work. She went missing back in April, remember? Her parents finally gave up looking for her.

4: It’s just me and Zyla. Everybody from work will be there, and I even heard the big boss man is coming to it. Otherwise, I don’t know anybody there. It’s her family.

5: Nah, she was annoying and weird, bro, but now I feel kind of bad. I should’ve been nicer to her.

6: Yeah, Christmas is coming up, but I still have to work. I’m getting time-and-a-half.

7: They’re not hiring. They’re only hiring from the inside, bro. I’m telling you, bro, you don’t want to work there anyway. It’s f****** creepy in there. The guy they hired after Danice went missing came from the dayshift anyway. They just pushed him into the position. I’ve actually known him longer than I ever did Danice, way longer.

8: Nobody likes funerals. Doesn’t matter, though. You do what you gotta do, bro.

9: Nah, we’re going out for Mexican afterwards. I’m getting a chimichanga. There’s nothing like the real deal, bro. It’s the way they make it.

10: I’m not supposed to talk about it. Company secrets and some sh**.

11: Yeah, bro, but I gotta go. Zyla’s calling.

*****

DEC 25^TH: RECORDED VIDEO BY MARCUS BURREL IN HIS OFFICE: A handsome Caucasian man in his early sixties adjusts his seating position within his office chair. He has short, business-cut white hair, though his face does not look as weathered as it should for his age. He has a square face, a celestial nose, and hazel eyes. He is wearing a grey business suit, a white button up, and a dark-blue tie with golden fleur-de-lys printed upon it. He adjusts his tie and stares into the camera.

“This is Marcus Burrel putting to rest the tragedy that occurred on April 19^th of this year. The evil that persists within this company has been festering for quite some time. Soon we will have endured 100 years of containment, but that does not make our losses any less bearable.

“A young woman’s life was taken that day. She was only twenty-seven. Her life was not ended in the manner of previous victims of BTAs, by nameless monsters borne from the imagination of an angry God.

“No, her life was taken by Room 0 itself, and this was something I never accounted for, an existential threat I did not know even existed. Knowing this, our vigilance must increase, as must our resilience against the faceless dark that we know all too well.”

Marcus jumps a little as a radio offscreen comes to life. The song “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears suddenly starts playing. Marcus exits his chair and walks off screen. The sound of a switch being flipped is heard. The song ends as the radio is turned off. Marcus resumes his position in his office chair across from the camera.

“The current team I have in place is excellent, and they perform their job with said excellence. I have no doubts the next BTA will be contained quickly and quietly with no loss of life.

“Over three years prior, on April 9^th, a BTA occurred. The BTA arrived on Easter of that year, just as it did this year. I can assume this will continue three years from now, and I will assume that Easter is of a particular importance with this phenomenon.

“During that time, a security employee mistakenly unbound the BTA. A large man weighing over 200 lbs. appeared within the building. This heavyset man was wearing a dark-blue janitor’s uniform with the nametag “Walsh” written upon it. He had been wearing a cheap, plastic, clear, Halloween mask with exaggerated eyelashes and red lips.

“He isolated and murdered my staff coordinator at the time via suffocation with a black plastic garbage bag. No lockdown occurred because of this. He then obtained an emergency fire axe and proceeded to isolate and kill two of my security. The last security officer, one Rudolph Erling, managed to neutralize the suspect with his firearm.”

Marcus jumps again as a radio offscreen comes to life. The song “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears suddenly starts playing. Marcus exits his chair and walks off screen. The sound of a switch being flipped is heard. More noises are heard. The song ends as the radio is turned off. Marcus resumes his position in his office chair across from the camera. He sets down a small black retro radio upon his desk. The cord for it is unplugged and wrapped around the main body of the radio. He resumes speaking.

“The police could not confirm the suspect’s identity. The man had no official records. Security Specialist Rudolph Erling was moved to the dayshift. As of April of this year, he has been moved back to Critical Nightshift. He understands the stakes of what is at hand. Failure is not an option.

“Danice Costas has officially been laid to rest. We now know the warning signs of this unique threat. As for the previous victims of the BTAs, my suspicions were confirmed long ago…Some stories are simply looking for a victim.”

Marcus rolls his chair backwards as his unplugged radio comes to life. Static erupts from the speakers. A young female voice is heard over the static.

(Static)—“What…”—(Static)—“What…”—(Static).

Marcus appears both disturbed and wary. He tentatively reaches for the radio but stops the action, his right hand hovering in midair, as the radio sparks to life again.

(Static)—“What…”—(Static)—“What…am I?”—(Static).

Marcus stands, snatches up the radio, and prepares to leave with it. He reaches down and hits a key on his keyboard. The camera goes dark.

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Unbound Copyright © 2026 bloodytwine.com Matthew L. Marlott

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Note: The image for this story was generated via artificial intelligence courtesy of OpenAI.