Diary of a Dead Man

POLICE FILES: CLASSIFIED

*audio message, recorded by Andrew Seifker, transcribed by Sheriff Michael Kerr*

Andrew: Hello, Diary. I knew this day would come. Coughing. You came to me, and I am ready to carry out my mission, a mission from God himself, to hunt the monster in these woods. My wife doesn’t understand, but I know you do, Diary. When I come back, I’ll ditch her for you, there is only you.

Woman(Presumed to be “Diary”): Andrew, this monster will kill you. You must be very careful, and whatever you do, don’t fuck the woman. She’s evil, she’s a ghost. If you do, I’ll be forced to kill you, and everyone you love. Understand?

Andrew: Yes, Diary.

*the woman has not been identified*

Entry One

Diary, I am a dead man. I know this. I crawled into these woods to die, and already I’ve lived longer than I thought possible. I’ve been here an hour. You see, I came to these woods on a rumor. Theres a |*torn out*| in these woods. At least, that’s what the rumors say. I guess I was a fool to believe I could come here, really. There’s no one alive in sight, verified by the video camera I have constantly filming. In a few days, I’ll turn back and report faliure - or I’ll be dead, stripped to the bone by whatever creature lives here. Turning in for the night - I might not be here tomorrow to write, so don’t expect more from me.

Entry Two

I’m still here, to my surprise. Nothing caught on camera last night - not even a squirrel or an owl. Just trees. Lots and lots of trees. I guess that’s why the monster hides here, because of all the trees. I shudder despite myself. This clearing gives me the chills. Maybe the monster is invisible, Diary. I never thought of that before. Diary, you are a real person. You came to me in my dreams and told me to do this, that’s why I am writing you everything that happens. Still no monster, even while I’m sitting and eating my ham and cheese on the unnaturally green grass. Still not a sound disturbs the silence, it’s getting rather eerie. I haven’t seen a single living soul. The sky seems a too-perfect shade of blue, if what they say happened here is really true. They say that there have been five victims, one for each tree in the clearing. One, a little boy who mysteriously went missing after him and his family camped out here. The family went insane and cut out their tongues, so no one really knows what they saw. The second one was a teenage girl on a dare. I bet her friends found it real funny when she was found dead with her face ripped off, almost beyong recognition. The third, another boy, this time way older, out hunting. He emptied his gun into his chest, with only one bullet to spare. That bullet was never found, so maybe it hit the monster? The third was an escaped prisoner. He died of starvation, which would be normal enough, except he was surrounded by food of all kinds. The fourth drowned in his own piss. The fifth ate herself. Literally. She was found dead with the skin of her neck in her mouth. Well, I guess I should turn in. It’s getting really late. Maybe tonight the monster will reveal itself.

Entry Three

Diary, an awful thing has happened! My camera broke! All the film was ripped out and burned! I wonder |*torn out*| Nevermind. We must be getting closer to revealing the secrets of the monster. I’ll have to be careful, because you never know when he might come get us now... How on earth will I prove my findings, Diary? Any ideas? Because I got nothing, and you sent me on this damned journey. Hello? Anything? No? Day after tomorrow, I’m leaving, and that’s that. I swear, Diary. If you sent me on this madman’s hunt for nothing, I’ll kill you, I really swear. I’ll kill you, I’ll rip up your pages and eat them, I’ll... sigh. I don’t know what I’ll do. But you won’t like it. I am |*torn out*|

Entry Four

Diary... I am not alone in these woods. I’ve met a woman, who claims she’s lost after her husband dumped her here. I’m suspicious, obviously, because what if she’s the monster? But, oh Diary, she is hot. And I mean HOT. I don’t know why her husband would dump her off like that. It just.. isn’t right. I mean, she’s really good looking... maybe I can get her to |*ripped out*| Anyway, she has black hair, and she... I don’t really know how to describe her. She looks like something above human. There’s no way she’s a monster. More like... an angel. I’ve seen her looking at me. I think she might like me. But I’m getting ahead of myself. I mean, I have you waiting at home for me, Diary, you said. So I won’t do a thing, promise. Diary, is it safe to trust this beautiful woman? Is it? Maybe she’s just as innocent as we are.

You’re right. I’m just getting a little stir-crazy from sitting around here for so long. If I wait any longer, I might go insane... ha, ha. I’m not leaving tomorrow. I have to figure out this lady... |*torn out*| See you tomorrow.

Entry Five

Sorry, Diary. I just couldn’t help it. I mean, she was so....good. I didn’t mean to, I swear. Anyway, I, uh, I guaranteed that she’s not a monster. That’s good, right? Diary, you’re not mad, are you? Oh, please don’t be mad, I couldn’t help it. Those perfect legs... You’re mad, aren’t you? Please don’t hurt me... I needed a break.... Diary, I’m so sorry. I said I’d figure her out, and I did that, sort of. So don’t be mad... I’ll come home soon. Wait for me, okay? I just... her perfect legs, her eyes, her |*torn out*| Well, I’m turning in for the night, so... I’ll see you tomorrow, okay? Right? I’ll see you tomorrow.... Love you baby.

Entry Six

theendisuponusiswearitshereitshereohdiarysavemefromitsavemesavemesaveme

wellineverthoughtitwouldendlikethisiwantedtocomehomeletmecomehome

imtrappedhereyoubitchithoughtyouweremyfriendbutyouwantedmedeaddidntyou

youretherealmonstermotherfuckeryouarethemonsterilovedyoudiarywhybetrayme

ineverdidanythingwrongisawyoulastnightithoughtidideverythingyouasked

thegirlisgoneshesaghostaghostpleasenopleaseno#!@#$%^&* |*torn out*|

DAYTON DAILY NEWS................................................................12/18/13

ANOTHER STRANGE DEATH IN SHADOW CREEK WOODS

A man was found dead in the woods this morning, time of death is estimated to be around 12:34 last night. He was found hanging from a tree, hung with strips of paper tied together. It is unclear how the paper held him up, and it is unclear why he committed suicide. Also found on the scene were bits of chewed up paper, a diary, a destroyed camera, and a tent. The camera seems to have been clawed up. The man has been identified as Andrew Siefker, The salvaged film reveals nothing but a pair of yellow eyes, probably the wild animal that clawed it up. Rumours have circulated about a “monster” living in those woods, but these reports have not been confirmed. Seifker’s wife, who wishes to remain anonymous, reports she “had no idea” her husband was depressed. She says her husband ran away after claiming he had been sent by a woman named Diary to prove the monster’s existence to the world.

His diary suggests the evidence of another woman, but her whereabouts are unknown. He refers to her only as “the woman”, and near the end calls her a ghost in a crazed ramble. Maybe she’s the culprit? So the question remains: Is this man delusional and depressed, or is there a real monster lurking in the Shadow Creek woods?

By John Smith

DAYTON DAILY NEWS.............................................................12/15/13

SEIFKER’S WIFE SUICIDE?

Andrew’s wife Diana was found dead this morning after she committed suicide by chugging a container of bleach. It is unknown whether she was doing this intentionally or if she was drunk, as traces of alcohol have been found in her blood samples. And so, the mystery of Shadow Creek woods continues... what really happened out there? Police refuse to comment. Sheriff Michael Kerr says “It’s just an ordinary suicide. The lady felt she couldn’t live without her husband. Simple.” But how simple is it? Did Andrew run into a malevolent force, out there in the woods? Was he just another victim of the monster? Was his wife merely dragged into the deal? These questions remain, and it seems that they might never be answered. Shadow Creek forest has been closed by police to investigate Andrew Seifker’s “ordinary suicide.” It must not be so ordinary after all.

By John Smith

DAYTON DAILY NEWS...................................................................12/16/13

TREE FROM THIN AIR?

Reports are circling of a tree appearing in the Shadow Creek forest, where Andrew Seifker recently committed suicide. There is now a sixth tree in the clearing which, according to reports, previously had five. These reports have not been verified, however, going back to newspapers surrounding the other strange deaths there, similar reports of spontaneously appearing trees are mentioned. Could this be the monster’s way of tallying the victim count? No one can tell for sure, but Betty Reston says “I’m positive there were five trees, absolutely positive. There is something out there.” Which leaves us all to wonder: Is Betty right? Lock your doors a little tighter tonight, folks. You never know what might be out there.

By John Smith

POLICE REPORT

John Smith, an author for the Dayton Daily News, has been arrested on charges of creating a mass panic.

*audio message, recorded by the police station cameras, transcribed by Rachel Moore*

Sheriff Michael Kerr: Eddie, what on earth is the meaning of this? I told you to keep this classified!

Eddie: I-I did sir, I did. I swear.

Sheriff: THEN HOW DID THEY GET THE DIARY, GENUIS? ANY IDEAS?

Eddie: N-no sir, I don’t know.

Sheriff: What else do they know? do they know about the--”

Eddie: SHH! It’s not safe to say his name.

Sheriff: Right. Sorry. This case is mucking up my brain, man. I mean, we’re hunting a-”

Eddie: Shut up, Sheriff.

Sheriff: Right

*UNFINISHED*