Chapter 2 – I think I'm being followed now

Saturday 5/2/2020

Sorry I haven’t written sooner, I’m currently staying up late typing this.

Was out most of the day. The wife bought some skates and we went to the park so she could break them in. It was much needed outdoors time honestly and I made sure to make the best of it despite the…troubles.

Yes, a few parks have opened nearby in case you were wondering about that.

I was nervous after I posted the first part. Wasn’t sure if anyone was going to read it or if ‘they’ would track me down and do who knows what. I’m still here though, and things are alright, for now.

I read a few more of the logs and trust me, it only gets weirder. I’ll have the continuation below if you want to skip to that. However, the logs aren’t all that’s bugging me now.

Call me paranoid still, after the thing with the black car yesterday, but today at the park I noticed something that really has me on edge. I’m not even sure how to explain it, but you best believe I’m going to try.

See, the park was full. Like full full. Bikers, skaters, joggers, random people in beach chairs just sitting and talking. Normal stuff right? Well, I thought so too. Watching my wife trying to balance herself on the skates was joyful. Her smile, her playful expressions every time I’d laugh or make fun of her, it was fulfilling.

That’s when I noticed the jogger.

I didn’t know why, but when he passed behind her something felt off. I watched him running until he disappeared behind some bushes. Young guy, dark sunglasses, navy blue tracksuit. I pushed it out of my head because I had no reason to suspect anything, not yet.

Less than ten minutes later, my wife is taking a break. I’m watching her slowly walk to the bathroom on her skates when my stomach sinks. A man is passing through the crosswalk behind her, jogging. Young, sunglasses, navy tracksuit.

Fuck.

I tried to be rational. The park loops, he could’ve just made his way back here, nothing to be concerned over, right? Except…it’s a big ass park! He was running in the same direction he had been less than ten minutes ago. Why would he loop back around here? There were plenty of other places to run through. This one actually had a lot of grass spots and my wife had only picked it because there were less people here and she felt a bit embarrassed.

I was trying to come up with an explanation when he turned around.

Yes, he turned and looked at me.

It was less than a few seconds, but it still made my stomach churn.

I wanted to tell my wife, I wanted to go, but there was no way of telling her without reveling everything else. I opted to just calm down and ignore it.

We went to the blanket we had set up in the grass and laid down. I’d get up occasionally to see if the jogger came back around, but I didn’t spot him after that. Maybe it had been a coincidence, but the longer I thought about it, the more I felt like I had been seeing him throughout the day.

I was really trying to push that idea away when I noticed a woman pushing one of those covered dog strollers. Dark sunglasses, pink long sleeve, headphones.

I tried to look inside the stroller to see what type of doggo she had, but I couldn’t see anything in there. I was about to lie back down when the woman turned around. She looked straight at me for a good three seconds, then went back to her walking.

I basically threw myself back to onto the blanket.

One thing is to casually look around. But it’s an entirely different thing to sharply turn your head and stare directly at someone.

Call me crazy, but I didn’t even bother getting up to check for the jogger again after that. I simply laid next to my wife and we talked, listened to music and some videos while I tried to ignore whatever it was that was happening around me. We did this until it was time to go.

The park was closing sooner than usual, and I was more than happy to get the hell out of there. We packed up, got in the car and drove off.

As we did though, I looked out the window and I shit you not, by the tree line was a man.

Young, sunglasses, navy blue tracksuit.

Standing still. Staring straight at me.

I nearly pissed myself when I spotted him and kept my eyes on the road after that.

There was a ranger at the front gate of the park, he was leaning on a white pick up truck as if waiting for something. I was gonna stop to warn him of a creepy guy wearing a blue tracksuit that was staring at people when I spotted a woman with the dog stroller walked out from behind the truck.

I said fuck that and floored it all the way home.

I kept checking the rear view the entire way, but saw no suspicious vehicles or anything of the sort. We got home fine and we haven’t left since.

The wife was exhausted and went to bed early. She’s sleeping now, so I took the time to write this up. I made sure to lock all the doors and windows, and close all the curtains. The last thing I want is to see some stranger staring at me through the windows at night.

I’ve thought about calling Arthur just to check up on him. You know, make sure things are alright.? See if he’s noticed anything weird. I’ll probably do that tomorrow.

For now though, here’s the next log from the box. I’ll update as soon as I’m able to.

Until then.

—————————————-

Video & Audio Log Transcript Record II

Date: July 25, 20▇

Unit: Bloodhound Unit I

Operatives: BH-01 Duke – BH-02 Dutch – BH-03 Cal – BH-04 Tiny

Location: ▇▇▇▇▇, Amazon Rainforest, Peru

Objective: Search and Recovery

—————————————-

(Bloodhound I has separated. BH-01 Duke and BH-03 Cal have ventured into the facility while BH-2 Dutch and BH-04 Tiny are keeping guard outside. Operatives are waiting for an additional unit whose main objective is the subduing and re-confinement of any foreign bodies within the facility. Log has been separated into two parts based on the two different channels that were used by the operatives

Reminder that all operatives are equipped with protective gear which includes leather-padded ballistic gloves designed to handle temperatures as low as -10° F / -23 C.)

[LOG RESUMES]

(BH-01 Duke and BH-03 Cal have been descending the stairway for approximately thirteen minutes. The temperature has been reported to be further decreasing the lower they go.

Current temperature: 42° F / 6° C.)

BH-01 Duke: Would have packed the team with thicker clothing had I known we’d be in these conditions.

BH-03 Cal: Don’t think this cold is a good sign. Even with the power on, I can’t imagine a reason why this would be a desired temperature.

BH-01 Duke: Command, you’re sure there’s nothing in their registry that would explain the temperature?

BHCommand: Nothing from what they’ve shared with us. Keep in mind there are a lot of classified files for this facility. Our hope is that they’re not hiding anything too dangerous.

BH-01 Duke: (Pauses) Maybe Tiny and Dutch had the right idea then.

(Operatives continue descending to what looks to be the bottom of the staircase. A vault-like metal door comes into view.)

BH-03 Cal: Looks like we reached the end.

(Operatives walk towards the door. A splashing sound is heard.)

BH-01 Duke: Shit.

(Both operatives look down. Feed captures a dark, blue-tinted liquid that’s covering the entire floor. BH-03 Cal lifts his foot and touches it.)

BH-03 Cal: What is this? (BH-03 Cal rubs the liquid between his fingers.) It’s cold. Freezing cold. Taking a sample for the whitecoats.

BH-01 Duke: Might explain the temperature. It’s seeping from underneath the door.

BHCommand: Are you able to open it?

BH-01 Duke: I’ll give it a try.

(BH-01 Duke walks towards the door while BH-03 Cal stands by, rifle aimed low. BH-01 Duke pulls on the door which opens with ease causing him to nearly fall.)

BH-03 Cal: Oh shit.

(A dark hallway can be seen past the door. The dark blue substance appears to cover the entire floor. It drips down from the walls and ceiling.)

BH-01 Duke: Shit, that’s even colder.

(Video feed from both operatives visibly shakes as they step inside. Temperature decreases yet again. Current temperature: 34° F / 1° C.

BH-01 Duke: This definitely explains the cold now.

BH-03 Cal: What the hell is it and where is it even coming from?

(BH-03 Cal points his flashlight around the room, capturing the oozing liquid that covers the entire hall.

BH-01 Duke: Let’s move in and maybe we’ll find out. Not sure if I want to though.

BH-03 Cal: Roger.

(Operatives head deeper into the hall, splashes can be heard with each step. The hall itself is long, with doorways spread out at both sides.)

BH-01 Duke: Check the left. I’ll take the right. Comm if you see anything.

BH-03 Cal: Got it.

(BH-01 Duke and BH-03 Cal separate to search each room. They find empty desks, overturned furniture, and files scattered among the blue liquid.)

BH-03 Cal: Found a body, boss.

BH-01 Duke: Damn. Condition?

BH-03 Cal: Surprisingly untouched.

BH-01 Duke: That makes it creepier. Hold on while I check this last-

BH-03 Cal: Duke?

(Silence)

BH-03 Cal: Duke?

(BH-03 Cal is seen running back into the hall, where BH-01 Duke appears stands still in front of a doorway. Video feed from BH-01 Duke is distorted, but a large form can be seen in front of him. Feed from BH-03 Cal becomes distorted as well as he steps into the room.)

BH-01 Duke: Command, are you getting this?

(BH-01 Duke sounds shaken. Something unusual based on his background and history.)

BHCommand: Negative. Image isn’t clear.

BH-01 Duke: Command, if there’s something we’re not being told, we need to know now. No FA Types should be able to do something this.

BH-03 Cal: The hell would do this and why?

BHCommand: We don’t have eyes, Duke. What are you seeing? Talk to us here.

BH-01 Duke: Shit. Well, it’s…people. But they’re (static).

BHCommand: Repeat that, Duke.

BH-01 Duke: They’re fucking (static).

(Audio from both operatives becomes incomprehensible, and video feed goes dark for approximately three minutes. When feed returns, operatives are standing in a different room.)

BH-01 Duke: …that way?

BH-03 Cal: It’s cleared.

BHCommand: Duke, can you hear us?

BH-01 Duke: Well shit, thought connection had been lost.

BHCommand: What’s going on? What’s the status?

BH-01 Duke: We’ve cleared this floor, found an elevator but it seems nonfunctional. No signs of anyone alive. We think-

(Faint, but continuous splashes are heard over the feed. Operatives nod at another and carefully step into the hall. The flashlights point into the far end of the hall where a figure comes into view.)

BH-01 Duke: Halt.

(BH-01 Duke holds up his rifle. Although not lethal, the rifle is armed with enough electric shock to knock out a full grown adult.)

BH-01 Duke: Identify yourself.

(The figure lifts their hands up.)

???: Doctor Alberto Achuaya, por favor tenemos que salir de aquí.

BH-01 Duke: Command, can you translate that?

BHCommand: Dr. Alberto Achuaya, Assistant Researcher in Adaptable Matter. He said, “We need to get out of here.”

(The operatives motion him closer. They check the doctor’s eyes from a safe distance before allowing him to reach them.)

BH-03 Cal: Brown eyes. He’s cleared.

BH-01 Duke: We’re here to rescue you, Doc. Is there anyone else alive?

Doctor Achuaya: Please, we need out. We need out.

BH-01 Duke: Understood, and agreed. Command, we’ll bring out the Doc first, he seems rattled. Can you send evac and a med team?

BHCommand: Already on it.

BH-01 Duke: Let’s move out then.

(Operatives begin to escort the civilian back through the hall. Dr. Achuaya can be seen turning constantly to look behind them. Approximately five minutes into their walk, the operatives suddenly halt.)

BH-01 Duke: Cal…

BH-03 Cal: I thought it was just me.

BH-01 Duke: Command, do you have our route?

BHCommand: Negative. After signal loss, we weren’t able to track your movements.

BH-01 Duke: Shit. We didn’t walk this far. The floor was only a few turns. We should have passed the door by now.

BHCommand: What do you mean, Duke?

BH-01 Duke: The hall keeps going.

BH-03 Cal: And we have to keep moving. Nothing the way we came from.

BH-01 Duke: He came from there, maybe he knows-

(A loud splash is heard from inside one of the rooms near them. Dr. Achuaya appears more shaken now as operatives move forward quietly. BH-01 Duke kicks the door open and video feed distorts again.)

BH-03 Cal: How?

(The same large form from earlier can be made out among the distorted feed. Movement is caught coming from the lower left of the large figure.)

BH-01 Duke: What the hell is that?

(Video feed goes dark as operatives raise their rifles. The buzzing of their shots is heard, followed by loud splashes and grunts. A voice rapidly speaks in Spanish in near hysterics before the audio feed is lost as well.)

—————————————-

(Outside, BH-02 Dutch and BH-04 Tiny have maintained their position at the front of the station. Location of the other unit is still unknown.)

BHCommand: Tiny, Dutch, do you copy?

BH-02 Dutch: We’re here.

BH-04 Tiny: What’s the situation below?

BHCommand: Not good. We’ve lost contact. Stay put, we’re sending evac.

BH-04 Tiny: Evac? Wait, what happened? (Silence) Command? (Silence) We’re not going to leave without them!

BH-02 Dutch: Shit, they really went and got themselves screwed down there didn’t they?

BH-04 Tiny: Where the hell is the other unit?

BH-02 Dutch: I don’t know, but I gotta take a leak.

BH-04 Tiny: Now? For fucks sake, Dutch.

BH-02 Dutch: It’ll be fast, don’t go nowhere.

(BH-02 Dutch moves into the jungle, not more than ten steps inside. There’s a second-long distortion before the feed stabilizes.)

???: Dutch.

BH-02 Dutch: Tiny?

BH-04 Tiny: Yes?

???: It’s Command. We are speaking through a private channel. An operative has been dispatched and is making their way to you now.

BH-02 Dutch: Why are you using a private channel? I’m kinda in the middle of something.

BH-04 Tiny: What are you talking about?

BHCommand: Dutch, Tiny has been compromised. Switch to a private channel. Proceed with caution and await the operative.

(BH-02 Dutch looks around when a figure emerges from the jungle. BH-02 Dutch curses, before shining his light at what we can describe as an operative. BH-02 Dutch at this point switches to a private channel cutting out audio feed. A short conversation happens between them and eventually they go back towards the station.)

BH-04 Tiny: Dutch, come in. Dutch!

(BH-04 Tiny has kept her position thus far, when BH-02 Dutch and the unknown operative appear from the jungle.)

BH-04 Tiny: There you are, did your comm go offline? Or you turned it off so I wouldn’t hear you piss?

(At this point it is assumed BH-04 Tiny notices the unknown operative and raises her rifle. BH-04 Tiny raises his rifle as well.)

BH-04 Tiny: Dutch, what the hell are you doing?

(Dutch can be seen speaking, but BH-04 Tiny’s comm doesn’t catch his audio.)

BH-04 Tiny: In the eyes? Dutch, who is that with you?

(Dutch is shouting now, rifle aimed at her.)

BH-04 Tiny: Command, do you copy? Dutch, switch to the channel! Command?

BHCommand: We’re here.

BH-04 Tiny: Just do it! Command, Dutch is here with another operative, he says you send him. Can you confirm?

BH-02 Dutch: Command, am I clear to use force against the compromised operative?

BHCommand: Negative. Stand down, Dutch. We have no record of another operative there. Stand. down.

BH-02 Dutch: Then who-

(Video feed captures as the unknown operative opens their mouth in an unnatural manner, extending beyond human capabilities. A high pitched screech is heard momentarily before the audio feed is cut, followed by distortion to the video feed. BH-02 Dutch and BH-04 Tiny appear to be affected by the screech, each falling to the ground and remaining immobile. BH-02 Dutch’s feed continues recording sideways and catches a number of small-moving critters dragging themselves out from the unknown operative’s pant sleeve. They appear slug-like and are observed making their way towards the now unconscious BH-04 Tiny as well as BH-02 Dutch’s camera. There is a flash of blue light from the jungle before the video feed goes dark.

Communication with Bloodhound I is lost entirely after this.

Bloodhound Command awaits word from the additional unit after attempts to contact them prove futile.

Addendum: See additional logs for the full transcript records relating to the further search and recovery attempts made in Sector P’s RF-4.)

[LOG ENDS]