Chapter 2 – Chap 2

Between trying to find out what has happened to me and keeping up with my course load I have been keeping a journal of sorts to help me find things. Technically the journal is this reddit account. Just jotting things down so I can write about them later.

If you are just finding this for the first time allow me to link you to part 1

Monday

College is a struggle when you don’t remember things. Like I can remember math but not what happened last class. I can read the notes I took. But like it doesn’t click.

I have the knowledge of how to do math and even some Spanish words but like! What the fuck? That’s not enough to get through college courses.

I mean, I guess it’s not a really big deal because it’s only September but like I still don’t remember the first three weeks of school. That’s a different problem though.

I also got a text from apparently my aunt around lunch time. She apparently works at my college and wants to know if I want to have lunch with her at some point this week. I only didn’t realize she was my aunt because she wasn’t saved as Aunt Caroline.

I panicked. I didn’t know what to do. How was I supposed to interact with my aunt if I didn’t know her? I said I was overwhelmed with work this week and she accepted that as an answer.

So one problem on top of my other problems averted.

Tuesday

I had no classes so I asked where we went that night. The frat house I was investigating. Delta Sigma Phi. I took my camera and decided to investigate some. I was across campus from the frat houses so it took a good 10 minutes to walk there. I wish I had like an EMF thing. I don’t know if that would even help. Note to future Rylan when reading this over: look into getting an EMF or something.

I couldn’t do much poking around as I didn’t want to be looked at weirdly or asked awkward questions. I didn’t have any photos from that night. Drunk Rylan must believe that living in the moment is best.

“Hey!” A loud voice said and I tensed up. A frat brother was looking at me, looking like the white stereotypical frat boy.

“The fuck you doin’?” He had a New York accent, which almost made me laugh because he sounded like he was out of a movie.

“Sorry! I’m here taking photos for—“ Quick Rylan! Think! “The school newspaper!”

“What’s the story you’re writing about?” He asked, leaning on the railing.

“Frat parties.” I was digging myself a hole.

“Oh….” His face twisted in a way that made it look like thinking hurt him. “Weren’t ya at the party this Saturday? I’d think that’d be a damn good time to do this.”

“Well I was partying and not on the clock—“ I tried not to fumble over my words. The frat boy nodded as though that made some semblance of sense.

“So you want to interview me an’ the boys?”

“Uh maybe later…. this is just—I’m just the photographer….” I could tell he was scrutinizing me with his three braincells clinking together behind his sunglasses.

“Okay. Do you need a photo in the house itself?”

“That would be nice.”

“Come on in then.”

I walked up the staircase with a sense of anxiety but also excitement. Would this solve the mystery of why I couldn’t remember anything? No way it could be that easy…. but I could always hold out hope.

“I’m Trevor, friends call me T.” The frat boy told me holding out his hand.

“Rylan.” I shook his hand.

“So, where do you want to go first?”

“I have no memory of the layout of this house.”

Trevor chuckled.

“Yeah you were drunk when you came but like you weren’t too drunk. You got too drunk here. Alright so we’re in the main living room.” He gestured to the couches around a table and a mounted TV. I snapped a few pictures. “So we threw a pretty lit party right?” Trevor said.

“Hmm? Yeah.” I replied absentmindedly, wondering if this would stir anything in my mind. He leads me into the kitchen and there’s another frat boy.

“Ay yo T who’s the chick?” He was shirtless and I made a point to look him in the eyes because staring at his bare chest would be rude. Didn’t help that I was definitely blushing. It was a little difficult as he towered over me.

“This is Rylan, she’s here to take photos for a story for the school newspaper. Rylan this is Owen.” Trevor said and I shook Owen’s hand which was twice the size of mine.

“Well this is the kitchen. Where we cook and stuff. I know yall have kitchens in dorms sometimes. So I don’t think this needs explaining.” Owen said. I laughed.

“If you follow me. We’ll see the study room.” He said, walking into another room.

“Y’all have a study room?” I had to take two steps for every one step this man took.

“Yeah I know the frat stereotypes, but we do have brothers who study so we gotta look after them.” Trevor said.

“Alright.” I snapped a few photos.

“That’s all the main rooms. You want to take a group photo?” Owen asked.

“Uh. Sure?”

“Delta Sigma Phi!” Trevor yelled and put his fingers in his mouth and whistled. “Gather on the front steps!” I was led outside and watched as about 30 frat boys made their way.

“This is Rylan y’all, she’ll be taking our photo for the school newspaper.” They boys waved and smiled and greeted me.

“Alright boys! Get together! Shoulder to shoulder! Tallest in the back!” I said, making hand gestures to make sure they all got in the shot. “Three… two… one….” I snapped a couple of photos. “Thanks boys.” I said. “These are great, the newspaper will love this.”

I then saw something. It looked like an odd shadow coming from a tree. It looked vaguely humanoid.

“I’ve gotta go now! Peace! Let me know when y’all are partying again!” That last bit was a little forced. I couldn’t afford to party when my life was a mess like it was now.

There was a chorus of goodbyes as I rushed towards the tree and away from the house. My heart thumped in my chest. Would I be able to see what it was that was outside my window? I saw a clawed hand grip the tree. It was red and I raised my camera to take a picture of it but in the millisecond my eyes were off it, it vanished.

“Fuck!” I swore almost ready to smash the camera in the rage that filled me. In broad daylight I almost had some fucking evidence of this thing that I could solidly latch onto.

It just vanishes before I can get a good look!

Wednesday

I think I found something important. There’s a note I have with dreams I’ve had. Most of them are run of the mill dreams but sometimes I had sleep paralysis. Or at least sometimes I wrote it down.

And it seemed to be getting more frequent with every day closer to the Saturday I woke up.

Something with faintly colored skin and horns seemed to emerge from the closet and just stand there menacingly. Sometimes it hunched over and bent weirdly, it’s knees would be higher than it’s shoulders and head, and it’s eyes were glowing but like a TV that was covered in static. I think it had hooves or something because it’s feet made a noise as it crawled out.

Digging around some more in a drawer I found a drawing that was crumpled.

Thursday

Finally remembered to look into the mark on the back of my neck. I asked Parker if she could take a look.

“Looks… weird.” She said.

“Weird… how?” I said.

“Well I’ve never seen this before, granted your hair covers this part of your neck most of the time… and it’s deepest in the middle though like you almost fell back on…” She paused lips pursed, “something… I don’t know. It’s like weirdly deep in the center. Let’s see… Do you feel anything when I—“ I felt her push on the base of my neck and then nothing.

I woke up on the ground to Parker shouting my name.

“Rylan! Rylan! Oh my god, Rylan.” She said, hugging me close. “You just fucking dropped!”

“Wh—“ I rubbed my head.

“What the fuck happened? How did you get that wound?”

“I don’t remember….” I said slowly.

“You have to remember!”

“Well I don’t!” I didn’t mean to get angry, but it just flared up. The stress of this week and the entire situation just bubbled into my annoyance now. Parker looked at me for a long time.

“I’m sorry for yelling. I didn’t mean to.” I said in a much quieter voice.

“It’s fine.” Parker said, taking my hands in hers and squeezing. “You’re my best friend and yelling won’t stop me loving you.”

“I love you too.” I said. Was I leading her on? Telling her that I loved her when I didn’t remember her. Sure my heart remembers as it skips a beat and I feel good around her, but without memories it feels like lying.

Add that to my list of problems.

Friday

I’m looking into paranormal stuff. Because I know whatever the fuck that this thing is isn’t human.

I walked to the library and picked up every book on the occult and demonology and spirits I thought would be helpful. I neglected my classes for that day. I needed to find shit out. Besides, it’s only one day.

I was there all day.

The Dictionary of Demons

Nothing

A Field Guide To Demons, Fairies, Fallen Angels and Other Subversive Spirits

Nothing

The Encyclopedia Of Witchcraft and Demonology

NOTHING

Nothing matched the description!

In a last ditch effort I went on google.

Demons that steal memories

Nope!

At this point I just pressed my forehead onto my desk. I could feel the tears of frustration welling up.

I didn’t want to cry but there I was! Silently crying because I couldn’t find what the creature was that stalked me!

Eventually I had to leave because it was night and the idea of spending any more time in there made me sick. As I was walking back to my dorm I saw it again. The creature. The damned thing that haunted me.

It was across the street and I didn’t take my eyes off it as I stropped. It’s head tilted at an angle that would probably look like a broken neck. It stared at me with those static-y eyes.

I wanted to reach into my pocket to take a picture. Believe me I really did, but something held me in place. I was stuck on the other side of the street. This was surely a power and not my fear holding me in place? I really wanted to move towards it. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t even breath or blink. It tutted and in a voice that sounded like leaves rustling said, directly into my mind, “Not yet.”

I was released as it vanished. I gulped in the air as I fell to my knees. For the second time that night I started crying.

I am here again, typing to you all. Without answers.

If anyone else has any ideas one what I should do, they would be much appreciated. Also any ideas for books on the paranormal or people I could contact would be much appreciated.

I have a busy week coming up. So, hopefully I will not deal with too much shit and will be able to give an update next week.

Until then, again, if you all have any information, let me know.