Work Text
[Recording begins.]
[Crashing noises.]
“Shit!”
“Jon! Are you okay?”
“Yes, Martin, I’m fine. I’m not made of glass.”
“If you say so. What were you doing anyways?”
“I’m sorting out some of these boxes here. They’re mostly full of junk, and it’s about time we get some sense of organisation here.”
“Do you need any help? I’m happy to lend a hand!”
“No Martin, you have your own tasks. -Wait a minute”
“What have you found there Jon?”
“I’ve found a statement inside this old box labelled ‘cleaning supplies’. Seems like Gertrude recorded it. The woman really couldn’t organise anything to save her life. -Well, maybe it’s too soon to make jokes like that.”
“God I don’t even want to think about what happened to her. Gives me the heebie-jeebies.”
“She actually bothered to label it -
#0142007,
so it was a year and a half ago. There doesn’t seem to be a written version, so I suppose I should transcribe it.”
“Do you want some tea?”
“That would be appreciated Martin. After I’ve listened to this. Wouldn’t want to damage extremely delicate materials with hot liquid.”
“Alright, just pop out once you’re done. Tim says you’ll start turning yellow if you don’t leave your office.”
“Tell Tim that I’ll fire him if he keeps spreading misinformation like that.”
[Door closes.]
“Absolutely useless. He’s an archival assistant, not an intern. I’m absolutely fine.-Right then.”
Jon placed the tape into the cassette deck and pressed start. Being met with the distinct voice of the former head archivist.
“Statement of Raven Green regarding the strange occurrences she witnessed at a convention. Statement taken direct from subject, July 20th 2014.
“Statement begins.”
“So, where should I begin? Last weekend I was in America, Illinois specifically, for a convention. I was going to meet a lot of my moots there for the first time in person.”
“‘Moots’?”
“Sorry, it’s short for mutuals. We follow each other on this social media called Tumblr. They’re all pretty cool. It’s great to get away from the basic people I normally tolerate. No offence”
“Please continue.”
“Right, well, I arrived to the convention centre on Friday evening, the 11th. I had gotten tickets for the Welcome to Night Vale panel- that’s a podcast-, but that was cancelled. Something about miscommunication. That should have been a sign to me that I shouldn’t have gone. I- Sorry, I just keep getting this feeling like someone’s watching us.”
“It’s just us in this room.”
“You’re right, I’m probably just a bit shaken from what happened. I don’t do well at flying either. Well, I was already there anyways, so I figured it would just be a waste to not at least try my best to have fun. And don’t get me wrong- I did have fun, at the start anyways. It was just- I had been in cosplay, my friends and I went as our favourite Homestuck characters.”
“Sorry to interrupt, but is this relevant? These tapes only last so long.”
“For a second there I was wondering how on Earth I would explain what Homestuck is to you, but I guess you’d see weirder things here everyday.”
“I don’t know what it is, but it frankly doesn’t seem all too important. I do understand what cosplay is though, you dress up as a character.”
“Exactly! It’s not some weird fetish like some people say.”
[Throat clears.]
“Just keep going.”
“Right. Where was I- okay yeah. We were in cosplay, so it was normal for people to ask to take photos with us. My friends had all gone to the bathroom, so I was outside waiting for them to be done, when someone in a fur-suit approached me. -That’s basically a mascot costume, I’m not too sure if a supernatural archivist would know what that is.”
“You really don’t need to keep explaining yourself. If I feel like there’s too much information missing, I’ll ask you.”
“Got it. So, furry guy comes up and asks for a photo with me, and I agreed. But- and I swear I wouldn’t freak out about this if it wasn’t for what happened later, but there were no seams, like anywhere in the suit. Not that they were hidden by the fur, I just couldn’t see any. I asked for his phone- and he just stared at me. Even though I couldn’t see his face, you could tell he wasn’t following.
“So, I asked what he was using to take photos, and you know what this furry says? ‘I’ll just take your face.’ It was so fucking creepy. This guy, in a fur-suit that looked like it was made of real fur, just said he would take my fucking face? I laughed, to avoid building further tension to be honest, but he didn’t. Just continued to savour the moments he had, staring at me.”
“You’re saying you met someone with a realistic costume who was creepy? Do you truly believe that qualifies as a supernatural event?”
“No, no, no no! Wait! That was just the start. We were stuck in limbo about what would happen next, him just continuing to look at me like some modern art piece, before two of my friends finally finished their business. I waved my hand at them to get their attention, but thankfully this seemed to scare the weird furry guy off.
“I’m telling you, I should have run the other fucking way, turned tail, gave up on that gigantic mistake I had made by going there- but I didn’t. I just dismissed it by some guy being rich and a total weirdo. I made a blog post warnings others, I gossiped about my encounter to my friends, and I thought the strangeness was over. That was just the beginning though.”
[Chair creaks.]
“Sorry, I’m feeling a bit light headed. And cold. Is there a draft in here?”
“I’ll have one of my assistants fetch you a cup of tea.”
“I could really use that right now, thanks.”
[Door opens, then shuts.]
“Why do I feel like I’m being watched? It still hasn’t gone away, even though I’m the only one here.
“Christ I’m talking to myself. Maybe I need to see a psychologist, not some supernatural librarian.”
[Door squeaks open, then slams shut.]
“Right, one of my assistants should be in here shortly. Why don’t you sit down and continue?”
“Actually, I think I might - I don’t - okay.”
“Take your time.”
“Well, that night, around nine, we were all called to the event hall. Turns out they needed more cash to keep the event going. Something about non-payment of funds owed to the hotel.
“I didn’t have any spare cash, it had already been expensive enough. But the way the organisers looked, it was as if they weren’t human. Just- their faces, it was as if they were threatening us. We’d already payed an entry fee, now they wanted us to come up with 17,000 dollars!?”
“I understand you’re emotional but please keep your voice down. People are working.”
“I just can’t shake this overwhelming sensation of being watched. I thought coming here might make it feel better, but it’s just suffocating.”
“You can leave at any time. Nobody is keeping you here.”
“I know that… just- I. Where was? Right- them wanting money from us. Have you ever been to mass, Ms. Robinson? When the collection basket comes around, you feel like everyone’s examining your every move- how much money you put in, how long you hesitate. That’s what it was. A demonic offertory. I barely had any funds in my account, but I could feel my hands moving on their own, like a marionette, and the organisers were the puppeteers.”
“So, they manipulated you into donating your the last bit of money in your bank account?”
“No you’re not listening! I didn’t want to! I could barely afford to eat! *Sniff* Let alone give away $20.”
[Crying, followed by hollow screams.]
“I am listening to you. I just need to ask these questions to ensure we get all the information we can.”
[Raven’s cries die down to sniffles.]
“Fuh- for God’s sake I told myself I would- hu- keep it to-ge-ther. I- was just, so, scared. I went back to my hotel room with my *sniff* friends. I t-tossed over and over in my bed, and didn’t get a wink of sleep.
[The sniffles fade out.]
“I just couldn’t get it out of my head. Every time I closed my eyes I could see the not quite human faces of the organisers, daring me to try disobey their directions. I saw that nightmarish furry, drooling over me, waiting for me to let my guard down so he could pounce.”
“So, I’m assuming you didn’t go back the next day?”
“No, no, I was so stupid. My friend said I must have just been suffering from bad jet lag, that I couldn’t miss out on an opportunity like this. The con wasn’t even that good! I just wanted to go with the flow, I had just met these people irl and I didn’t want to ruin my chances of finally having real friends.
“I guess that’s what peer pressure is, huh?”
“You went back. Did anything else happen?”
“Well- I still had that free extra hour in the ball-pit because of the cancelled panel. It was this measly little thing, big enough for a kid. But hell, I was bored and had already spent way too much money on getting there. So, I got in and just messed around for a while. My friend was there with me, so it wasn’t that pathetic. It’s only cringe if you let it be.
“I just want to remind you have shallow this thing was. It was just barely up to my knee. I stuck my head under so I could spring up and hit my friend in the face. But- I didn’t come up. I felt those plastic balls surround me on all sides. That pit was not deep enough to do that. So, I just tried to return to the surface, but it just felt continuous. No up, no down. I could feel my breath directly on my face. It was suffocating. Each of those brightly coloured plastic hollow balls was mocking me as I sunk deeper and deeper.
It was like something straight out of some supernatural horror novel- or podcast. I just couldn’t do anything but flail and try to scream, and there was just enough air to keep me going but at the same time I couldn’t think or even move that well and… Sorry I need to catch my breath.”
“That’s okay. You must have thought you experienced something incredibly terrifying.”
“Thought? I’m telling you, it was definitely real. I could feel each piece of plastic rubbing at my skin. I still even have some friction burns- look.”
[Fabric rustles.]
“Those look like they would have been painful. Please keep going with your statement though, I don’t have all day, and the tape only lasts so long.”
“Right, well, I just kind of gave up. Trying to rummage my way through it was just hurting me more. I couldn’t do anything that wouldn’t just make the situation worse. Besides, at least I wouldn’t have been dying in a boring way.
“While my breathing grew slower, and I could feel myself getting lightheaded, and my vision fading, I felt a hand grip me.
“I know it sounds strange, but- it wasn’t a normal hand. The fingers traced their way all the way down to my elbow, but I could feel the palm on my own fingertips.
“And all of a sudden, I was hoisted up! I could hear faint giggling through the ruckus of me gliding through the plastic balls. I don’t know how long it took, but I must have been pretty deep, since even with the high speed I was going up, it definitely took more than a couple minutes.
“I didn’t care though, I just wanted to get out of there. This- hand, or whatever it was, saved me, and I didn’t care about anything else other than living.”
“I can imagine it must have been a great relief.”
“That’s the thing! It hasn’t! I still feel that weight on my chest, making my breathing shallow. My doctor says it’s just anxiety, but she knows nothing!”
“Right, a doctor knows nothing. Just keep going. What happened after you reached the surface?”
“Well, it was dark. None of the lights were on, and as I checked my pocket, I found that my phone was completely shattered.
“I wandered around the empty event hall. No light was seeping through the windows, so I assumed it was nighttime, although, later when I managed to find the doors out to the reception of the hotel, it was actually just turning 4am.
“I asked the lady at the desk if she could call my friends for me, - I didn’t have my hotel key either.
“She called up to the room, but the person who answered wasn’t my friend, it was some elderly couple.
“It had been a two days since the convention ended. Yet the ball pit remained. All my friends had gone home.”
[Tape rattles.]
“Sorry, one moment I need to fix this.”
“Why are you using that? You have a computer right there.”
“This is just how we do it. You can leave if you wish.”
“No, no, I have to keep telling you this. I know that for sure. You need to know.”
“I need to know what? Do you believe I am in danger? I assure you there is nothing to worry about.”
“No, no, that’s not it. You are! You are the danger! I know it, I can see it. It was the same with the organisers and it’s the same with you. Why am I here!? Why am I talking to you!? Please! God, I’m such an idiot for coming to this cursed place.”
“Alright, alright, calm down ma’am. Raven.”
[Something clatters to the floor.]
“Why are you doing this!? I don’t want to be here!”
[Door crashes open.]
“Hey, Mrs. Robinson, we heard what was happening from upstairs. Are you okay?”
“Get off me!”
“Raven, Raven. You’re not well. These men are going to escort you out. You’re not to come back here again, you hear me?”
“Stop it with the act! I see you! I know what you are!”
[Tape crackles.]
“We’ll have her out of here. If she comes back, don’t hesitate to call the police. I don’t want to think of anything happening to you that could have been avoided.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you Jake, and you Séan.”
“Alright, let’s get you out of here.”
“Stop! You have to listen to me! I swear! That woman is-“
[Door slams shut and Raven’s cries turn to muffles.]
[Chair rattles and papers are tapped against the desk.]
“Christ, the poor girl has no clue what she has gotten wrapped up in. There’s no escaping the web she has walked into.
“I need to be more vigilant. It seems like they were all working together to-“
[Door opens.]
[Tape deck clicks.]
“Hey! I figured you must be done by now, so I brought you some tea!”
“Martin, I told you I’d come get you once I’m done.”
“What’s it about? Can I have a look?”Martin came closer, mug of hot tea in hand.
“Martin! Be careful!”
[Liquid splashes.]
“Shit, shit shit shit. I’ll go grab a towel.”
[Frantic footsteps.]
“Fucking useless piece of-“
“I’m so sorry Jon. Let me just-“ Martin used the dish rag to wipe off the still warm tea off Jon’s well-worn jumper.
“The tape! Not me!”
“Right!”
“Give it here.” Jon snatched the rag from Martin’s grasp and attempted to clean off the cassette tape, although he knew the chances of it working again were slim to none.
“Again, Jon, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to-“
“Just leave.”
“Wait but-“
“Leave.”
[Door clicks shut.]
[Tape deck clicks.]
[Crackling.]
“For fuck’s sake!”
Jon put his head between his hands, trying to remain calm.
[Rhythmic knocking sounds on the door.]
[Door opens.]
“Uh, Jon, I know Martin fucked up, but you didn’t need to be so harsh on him.”
Tim strode on over, taking a glance at the scene before him.
“You still got the statement transcribed, yeah? Sure the tape might be broken but it’s not like you don’t have what was on it. Besides, most of the statements here are junk.”
“Gertrude was talking about something. Said that the statement giver didn’t know what she was getting into. Plus, that outburst at the end. Ms. Green really though she was part of something. She seemed to think that the occurrences were related to something else.”
“Well, you don’t believe in all this shit, right? Why does it matter what some 100 year old woman who damn sure lost her sanity decades ago thinks?”
“I-.” Jon hesitated.
“If it’s not real, then Martin’s mistake isn’t a big deal. If it is, then you need to act like it.”
“Well- it’s not like-.”
“You should go home. I think your eye-bags have eye-bags, and you don’t need any more wrinkles. You look thirty years older than you are already! Must be the Head-Archivist curse. You start looking twice your age and wearing cardigans.”
“Then mysteriously disappear?”
“You don’t have to do that part. Just go to sleep, and apologise to Martin tomorrow.”
“You’re right Tim. It’s not like Head-Archivists have some form of power to make people tell them their stories. Ha, I wish. I can barely get Martin to give me a good reason for showing up late.”
“Obviously. I’m always right.”
[Quiet knocking on door.]
“Jon?”
“Come in Martin.”
Martin hesitantly stepped into the room so small it could be a claustrophobic’s nightmare.
“Tim said you wanted to talk to me. I’m so sorry for my carelessness. You told me to wait and I didn’t.”
“No, Martin. I shouldn’t have blown up on you like that. I had already transcribed the statement, Gertrude additions on the end were of no importance. I apologise for my behaviour.”
“I’ll call it even then.”
“Would you look into what happened to the statement giver? Uh- Raven Green. She seemed to be active on a social media site named ‘Tumblr’? Are you familiar with that?”
“I’ve heard of it. Hey, wait, did you get any more tape recorders?”
“No, we just have the one. Why? Do you think we need another?”
“No- just- there’s one on this shelf here. And it’s set to record. You didn’t put this here?”
“I haven’t- how did that get there?”
“I’ll turn it off, maybe Sasha will know where it came from.”
“You can always trust in Sasha. Okay, Martin, I’m sorry but I do need to get back to work. Remember about Raven Green.”
[Recording ends.]
[Tape recorder clicks.]
[Recording begins.]
“So, Jon told me to follow-up on the Dash-con statement, which is something I never thought I’d say in my life. *Nervous laughter*. -Hopefully he’s still not mad about the original tape being destroyed, it’s lucky this one was recording. Although- It’s strange that none of us remember getting a second one. It’s handy though, Jon’s usually holed up in his office recording statements all day, so I never get to use it.”
[Clattering of items being re-arranged.]
“So- I did just that, and it didn’t really end up showing anything. I found a couple posts from Dash-con, but the only account writing with UK English was deleted, and I only got a couple screenshots of people collecting all the complaints about the convention. The furry part of the story does seem to be true though. Someone posted about how their friend was freaked out by someone in a realistic animal costume, and to be careful. I’ve tried to message them but haven’t gotten a reply.”
[More clattering, followed by a crash.]
“Shit- Oops sorry probably shouldn’t speak like that on these. Sorry I dropped my mug of pens. Once sec-“
“Okay. There isn’t a lot from the time of the convention about the ballpit. There wasn’t much fuss about it until afterwards, so it doesn’t seem anyone else had a freaky experience.”
“Overall, I don’t really know what to think. Clearly Raven Green went through something, although it’s not clear how much she might have just imagined. Jon said she probably had some form of paranoid disorder. I hope she’s okay though.”
[Sigh.]
“Why does this have to be so complicated? I just want it to be some fake ghost story stuff.”
“She seems to just have completely disappeared. I couldn’t find her name anywhere. Don’t worry though, I’ll remember you Raven.”
[Recording ends.]