Work Text:
[Click]
(A muffled sigh, the sound of a chair squeaking as someone sits in it with a grunt. The quiet clink of a coffee mug being set down on a desk. Someone clears their throat)
[XISUMA]
Er, hello?
(Clears throat again)
Um, sorry, I’m…not completely sure as to how to do this, if I’m honest. (Quiet laugh) I’m just the one who makes sure that things are running smoothly—or, well, as smoothly as we can ever get it, with the Hermits. Usually, Joe takes care of the…recordings, and transcripts, and everything. Sometimes Cleo will, or Keralis if those two are busy. But, um….
(Uncomfortable pause. Xisuma shifts in his chair)
This…isn’t really something that they can see. It’s a bit too…private, for them. I don’t want to betray Scar and Grian’s trust.
(Short pause, and Xisuma sighs)
I…probably shouldn’t listen to this. At least not without checking with Skizz or Impulse or something. But…I think that I need to know. So I can help them however I can. Especially with everything that just happened—if they ever all die again, I—I have to be able to help them. Skizz probably wouldn’t like it, but…I think that Impulse would understand. (Pause) They’re scared of me. I don’t like it. But it’s fine; it’s not like it’s the first time it happened with one of the Hermits. Mumbo was scared, too. They can take however long as they need. (Thoughtful pause) I think they’d get along well with Mumbo, if they all met. Have they met Mumbo? They actually might have, already. Once or twice. (Laugh) I should introduce them, if they haven’t. They’d be causing trouble all over the place.
(Xisuma coughs)
Well, I guess I should get started.
(Clears throat. When he speaks again, his voice is harder and more professional)
Head of the Hermitcraft Paranormal Investigations, Xisuma Void. Today is September 21. I have a set of three recordings here from the files of Grian Xelqua and Scar Thymes. The first recording is dated from March 18, two years ago. It’s labeled: ‘Xelqua and Thymes, First Investigation.’
Recording starting…now.
[Click]
[GRIAN]
Oh, I am so…I am so pumped for this, Scar, you have no idea.
[SCAR]
No, no, I get it, I get it! First job, let’s go! We’re going to crush this ghost!
[SUPERVISOR 1]
(Condescendingly) This is not a game, Thymes. In less than five minutes, we will not be here to supervise you anymore. If you treat this like a game, then you will die, and you will have to wait to be revived.
(Brief silence)
[GRIAN]
(Mumbles) We’re sorry.
[SUPERVISOR 1]
Excuse me?
(Grian is silent)
[SCAR]
(Clears throat) We’re sorry, sir.
[SUPERVISOR 1]
(Hums) Good enough. You’ll be recorded through the device on your collars. But we’re going to work on your…problems with obedience, Xelqua. Mark my words.
([Click] as the recording is paused)
[XISUMA]
I’m…really not liking that, to be honest. That’s making me real nervous. (Brief silence) I’ve met Grian a few times before, at the interview and a few times afterwards. And Scar, of course, but…Grian was the most—memorable. And I could tell that Scar was trying to be, he was trying to get in front of Grian and make himself the one—in danger, I suppose? God, I hate that so much. I really, really hate that. But I think that’s what he was doing—or, trying to do.
Grian was…quiet. Scarily so. Impulse has told me how loud he can get, but when I met him, he was silent. It…reminded me of what I heard in that part of the recording.
(Pause)
Let’s move on.
([Click] as the recording is resumed)
(The sound of a car driving away. Grian and Scar are silent until the sounds of the car have completely faded)
[SCAR]
I’m getting a really bad feeling about these guys, Grian.
[GRIAN]
(Fearfully) Shh! They’ll be listening to this later, Scar!
[SCAR]
Right, right. Sorry. (Pause) I’m just…this doesn’t feel right, does it? While we were in training, they were a bit weird, sure, but now that we’re on the job, they seem almost…controlling? I dunno. Are you getting that feeling too?
[GRIAN]
I...yes. Yes, it’s been…weird. But, Scar, you know we can’t leave. This is all we’ve got.
(Pause, and then Scar sighs tiredly)
[SCAR]
Yeah. Yeah, I know. (Swallows) But…can we be careful, please? I’m excited, of course—this is all I’ve ever wanted. This job…ever since I was young, I wanted this. But…I dunno. I dunno. I don’t like this, Grian, I don’t like this at all.
[GRIAN]
(Firmly) Well, we’re here now, aren’t we? We don’t have much of a choice but to get started and see what we can do, right?
[SCAR]
I—yeah. Yeah, okay. (Deep breath) I just wish our training was a little bit longer. I feel like it went so quickly that I barely got a chance to process.
[GRIAN]
(Quietly) Yeah. Yeah, me too.
(Both are quiet as they think about their two weeks of training)
[GRIAN]
(Whispers) We don’t have a choice.
(Clears throat. When he speaks again, it’s in his normal voice)
I don’t suppose there’s a way we can delete that part from the recording? The last thing we want is for our supervisors to be listening to us bashing their technique. Not that we’re doing that! I just… (quietly) I really don’t want to be punished for it.
[SCAR]
(Confused) Punished?
[GRIAN]
(Coughs) Don’t worry about it. It’s fine. Don’t worry.
[SCAR]
No, Grian—
[GRIAN]
Drop it, Scar.
(Silence)
How can we turn this thing off? I don’t care that they’ll get mad. Is this button—
[Click]
[Click]
[SCAR]
Do you want temperature or EMF?
[GRIAN]
(Hums thoughtfully) I’ll take temperature, I guess. Don’t forget a torch or flashlight or whatever you want to call it. We can’t turn on any lights because the breaker could bust.
[SCAR]
Why does the breaker bust when we turn on any lights at all? I understand overloading the breaker with too many lights, but—why did they tell us we can’t do any?
[GRIAN]
Dunno. Maybe the breaker’s just really old. Or it’s because the place is haunted. I don’t really care about the reason, I don’t want to disobey them. (Pause) You know, because this is our first job. It would look…bad, if we broke the rules instantly.
[SCAR]
Yeah. Yeah, okay, I guess that makes sense. (Pauses, considering) We wouldn’t want to get punished, after all.
[GRIAN]
(Deep breath, shakier than usual) No. No, we wouldn’t.
([Click] as the recording is paused)
[XISUMA]
Okay. Okay, so…that’s not great. That’s really not great. I knew that the organization was…bad. Really bad. I mean, just take one look at Scar or Grian from a year ago, and you could see that. But…I didn’t like the way Grian was talking about ‘punishments.’ And Scar didn’t seem to know what he was talking about?
The thing that strikes me as the most odd is that Scar was, apparently, the first to pick up on how off everything seemed. Or at least the first to mention it. It seemed like they had never discussed that before. But…if Grian had already been punished before by his supervisors…
I don’t know. There’s a lot that I don’t know about this, I think.
([Click] as the recording is resumed)
[GRIAN]
Found the room! Upstairs and all the way to the left, it’s the very last door in the hallway. Master bedroom.
[SCAR]
(From far away) On my way! I turned on the breaker, by the way, it’s in the basement. So at least we can get an accurate temperature.
[GRIAN]
Awesome, thank you. (Awkward pause) So, uh…what do we do? I’m kind of lost, to be honest. The temperature is at 4 degrees Celsius, so it’s not going to be freezing temps? I think? I guess the temperature could still drop….
[SCAR]
(Getting closer, footsteps can be heard as he walks up the stairs) Yeah, doesn’t it drop the longer we’re in the room? It still could be freezing, I think. (Pauses) I’ve got a book, if that helps. I can…set it out.
[GRIAN]
Did you bring in the spirit box?
[SCAR]
Er….no. Was I supposed to?
[GRIAN]
(Laughs) Don’t worry about it, Scar, I’ll just pop out to the van for a minute and then I’ll be back. Sound like a plan?
(Scar doesn’t say anything. When Grian speaks again, he sounds concerned.
[GRIAN]
Scar?
[SCAR]
Yeah, yeah, no, that’s…fine. Just—hurry, please. I don’t like the idea of being alone in here.
[GRIAN]
A’course. I wouldn’t leave you for long, you’re my partner in crime!
(Footsteps as Grian walks away. Both are silent for a few moments until Grian speaks again)
Okay, I’ll be back in a minute, Scar! Don’t go dying on me!
(The sounds of crickets and gentle wind is now audible. Grian whistles an unfamiliar tune, then is cut off by the sound of a door slamming and a muffled shout. There’s the sound of footsteps running back to the door)
Scar? Scar, can you hear me, are you in there? Scar!
(Barely audible from within the house: dragging, uneven footsteps and the occasional groan. The sound of a child giggling and singing ‘Ring Around the Rosie.’ Eventually, a scream that is cut off, and then a thump)
[GRIAN]
Scar? Scar, please, talk to me!
(Silence)
How do you turn this stupid thing off?
[Click]
[Click]
(Heavy breathing, quick footsteps. The sound of a closet door squeaking open and closed. Sounds become more muffled)
[GRIAN]
(Shaken) Okay. Okay. Scar is—incapacitated. I…I don’t know if he’s alive or not. I can’t bring myself to check his pulse. (Pauses, takes an unsteady breath) I found him on the ground just outside the master bedroom. He…must have been inside the room when the hunt started. And I just left him there.
(Suddenly aggressive) God, this is all my fault. Can’t do anything right, can I? I should’ve just quit the instant they told me I’d never amount to anything in this field. Instead, I just went and got Scar killed—not killed. He could be alive. He might be fine.
(Quieter) I don’t think he is. He…he has bruises, around his throat. Bad bruises. And—they told me that remnants of deaths went away, after revival, but…I don’t think this is going to go away. Call it a gut feeling. (Scoffs) I shouldn’t have listened to them, anyways.
(Shallow breathing, almost gasping for air. Sounds of shifting around in the closet)
I…I need to go get a picture, don’t I. Of his…body. Because otherwise we won’t get paid. That’s what they said, isn’t it? If I don’t get a picture of his body and then get him back to the van, we won’t get paid?
I think that’s what they said.
(Deep breath)
Okay. Wish me luck, then.
(Sound of a closet door opening, then closing. Footsteps that grow faster until Grian is almost running. Quiet cursing and the sound of a fumble, then the soft click of a camera lens)
[GRIAN]
I got the picture. Scar is…definitely dead. I just need to get him to the van, now. Oh, gosh. Okay. How am I going to—
(Cuts off, silent for a moment. A struggle can be heard. Grian grunts in effort, then exhales)
(Slightly out of breath) Okay, I’m holding him now. God, Scar, why are you so heavy? Literally dead weight.
Sorry. That wasn’t funny.
I just need to get out of the house before—
(Similar groan to before, but louder. Another set of footsteps can be heard)
No. No, no, no, please, no.
(Footsteps growing closer)
I can’t leave him here. I can’t leave him. I—
(Loud groan, directly in the mic)
(Grian screams)
[Click]
[Click]
[SUPERVISOR 1]
So. How did they do on our test?
[SUPERVISOR 2]
They failed. Just like we expected.
[SUPERVISOR 1]
(Hums) That Demon was particularly feisty, wasn’t it? Good. Now it’ll be easier to convince them to stay with us.
[SUPERVISOR 2]
Because they need us.
[SUPERVISOR 1]
Because they need us.
[SUPERVISOR 2]
Do we tell them that it was a Demon?
[SUPERVISOR 1]
Of course. How else will they realize just how far out of their depth they are? They need us, and this is how we show it to them.
[Click]
[XISUMA]
Recording ends.
(Audibly distressed) Oh. Oh, my. That was—that was a lot.
I don’t think I realized just how bad it was, there. They gave Scar and Grian a Demon? Knowingly? On their first job? That’s…that’s terrible. I would never do that to any of the Hermits. Never.
And—and that was a real aggressive Demon, too, wasn’t it? Like…really aggressive. I’ve never seen a Demon that hunted so quickly. They were only in there for a few minutes, weren’t they? Or, I suppose Scar stayed in the ghost room…that could’ve contributed. But still.
Goodness me, how does Joe deal with these? I don’t think he’s listened to these ones specifically, but…the deaths, in and of themselves? I don’t know how he doesn’t drive himself insane. I can’t stand hearing it, to be honest.
(Shaky breath)
They just…they sounded so scared.
(Clears throat)
Anyways. This next recording is labeled ‘Xelqua and Thymes Christmas,’ and it’s from December 25 of the same year they joined SEE.
Recording begins.
[Click]
[GRIAN]
This is stupid.
[SUPERVISOR 2]
(Warningly) Watch your tone, Xelqua.
[GRIAN]
No, no, this is stupid! This is ridiculous! We are the only group working today—it’s Christmas, for goodness sake! This can’t wait til December 26th? Or even after New Year’s?
[SUPERVISOR 2]
Listen to me, Xelqua. I won’t warn you again.
[GRIAN]
No, you listen to me. Scar’s—Scar’s not going to argue. He’ll do what he’s told. Which—fine, maybe that’s for the best. But not me. Okay? This was the one day that Scar and I were told we’d have off. Find someone else. We’re not—
(Sharp crack. Someone gasps and stumbles)
[SUPERVISOR 2]
I hope that I’ve made myself clear at this point.
[GRIAN]
You—you just—no, wait, you—you can’t do that, that’s—that’s assault!
[SUPERVISOR 2]
So go tell the cops, then.
(Silence)
[GRIAN]
Wh—what?
[SUPERVISOR 2]
Go tell the cops. Tell them that I assaulted you. Will they believe you? No. We’re…well acquainted with the police force, here. But even if they did believe you—what then? You said it yourself; this is all you’ve got.
[GRIAN]
You—you heard that? You couldn’t have, we deleted—
[SUPERVISOR 2]
We hear everything, Xelqua. We see everything.
(Silence. Unsteady breathing can be heard)
You have a choice, now. You tell the police, leave the company, whatever. You lose the one thing you’ve worked towards your entire life. You lose the only thing that’s keeping you afloat. You lose your job, your money, your best friend….
[GRIAN]
Don’t—bring Scar into this.
[SUPERVISOR 2]
Or you stay. And you deal with whatever we tell you to do.
So. What’s it going to be, Xelqua?
(Grian is silent. The only sound is his breathing, shallow and shaky. When Supervisor 2 speaks again, a smile can be heard in their voice)
[SUPERVISOR 2]
I knew that you’d make the right choice.
[Click]
[Click]
[SCAR]
You just about ready to head on in, Gri?
[GRIAN]
(Quiet, subdued) Mhm.
[SCAR]
Are you okay? You seem—
Woah. G, what happened? Are you okay?
[GRIAN]
‘M fine.
[SCAR]
No, no, no, you can’t just brush this off. When did that happen? It looks fresh….
Hold on, come here. Lemme see—
[GRIAN]
Don’t touch it!
[SCAR]
Sorry! Sorry. Is it…does it hurt?
(Silence)
Grian?
[GRIAN]
Let’s just go.
[SCAR]
…Grian—
[GRIAN]
Please.
[Click]
[Click]
[SCAR]
You want EMF today? Or would you rather have temp?
[GRIAN]
Either is fine.
[SCAR]
Grian.
[GRIAN]
Scar.
[SCAR]
Work with me here, bud, please. If we can’t rely on each other, who can we rely on?
(Silence, then a soft sob)
[GRIAN]
(Choked) I don’t know, Scar. God, I—I don’t know.
(Silence)
I’ll—I’ll take thermommie, I guess. Isn’t that what I usually have? I don’t know. I don’t really care.
[SCAR]
Thermommie it is. Here.
(Quiet shifting)
You ready to go in?
[GRIAN]
Yeah. Yeah, I’m ready.
(Silence can be heard in the house, apart from the occasional door opening and closing. Footsteps are audible)
[GRIAN]
I’ve got the room, Scar. We’re in the kitchen. Took forever to find, though, this thermometer sucks.
[SCAR]
(Far away) Oh, yeah?
(Closer) That’s nice, at least. Maybe the old owner left a few snacks in the cabinets for us. I’m starving.
[GRIAN]
Did you not eat before we left?
[SCAR]
Didn’t have time. Don’t sound so surprised, I know that you didn’t eat, either! Hypocrite!
[GRIAN]
That’s completely besides the point.
(Both laugh. Scar’s sounds more genuine, and Grian’s sounds strained. Suddenly, Scar’s laughter cuts off)
[SCAR]
Oh, gosh.
[GRIAN]
(Worried) What? What, is something wrong?
[SCAR]
No, nothing, I just realized that we forgot to bring the spirit box in. Would you mind popping out to grab it for me? I’d go, but…well. You know how sore I get sometimes after I die and get revived, and last week’s job was rough.
(Grian is quiet)
[SCAR]
Grian? Grian, is that okay?
[GRIAN]
Yeah, no, that’s…fine. Yeah.
(Silence for a moment. Scar sighs, and shifting can be heard)
[SCAR]
Hey. Hey, look at me.
Come sit with me, G. Tell me what’s up.
[GRIAN]
We’re on a job, Scar, I can’t—
[SCAR]
We’ve got time. C’mon, talk to me.
(Grian hesitates)
[GRIAN]
It’s stupid.
[SCAR]
It’s not. Now speak.
[GRIAN]
It’s just—this week has been…not great. And—and I can’t stop thinking about what happened that first day.
(Scar is quiet)
[SCAR]
I understand now, for what it’s worth. You’re scared to leave me alone in the house, aren’t you? Just in case it hunts.
[GRIAN]
See? Stupid. Especially since I know that you can handle yourself. It’s just…I hate this. I feel like there’s no safety net, no nothing. We just have to hope and pray that we don’t die, and that if we do, they’ll bring us back. And…yeah. Yeah, it really scares me to leave you alone.
[SCAR]
Okay. I’ll go with you, then. Easy as that.
[GRIAN]
What? No, no, but you said that you’re sore, I’ll be fast—
[SCAR]
I’m fine, G. Seriously. Plus, I’d much rather risk a lil bit of muscle pain so that I don’t worry you. And what if there is a hunt while you’re gone? Then you’d be sorry!
(Grian is quiet)
[GRIAN]
You’re right. I would be.
[SCAR]
That—okay, that wasn’t the right thing to say. My point is, it’ll only take a minute. We’ll go together.
[GRIAN]
…Okay. Thanks, Scar. C’mon, the door’s this way.
(Footsteps, then a sharp gasp and the sound of a door slamming)
[GRIAN]
Hunting! Scar, Scar, it’s hunting, we have to go—
[SCAR]
I can’t! I can’t, Grian, it really hurts, it really really hurts, I can’t—
(Grunt, then a pained sound and a thump. One pair of footsteps can be heard, dragging and uneven. Grian gasps)
[GRIAN]
Scar! Scar, oh God, come here, okay, put your arm around my shoulder—
[SCAR]
No, no, Grian, I’m gonna get you killed—
[GRIAN]
No, you’re not. Come here, Scar.
(Grunt, then a long exhale. Suddenly, there are two more sets of footsteps, both stumbling, but moving quickly)
[GRIAN]
Closet closet closet closet get to the closet—
[Click]
[Click]
[SCAR]
(Whispers) I…I think it’s over. I think we can get out of here now, Grian.
(No answer)
Grian? Grian, are you—
[GRIAN]
(Dully) Yeah. Yeah, I’m okay.
(Silence)
[SCAR]
Do you…want to stay here, for a minute? It’s safe in here. We can just…chill, for a bit.
[GRIAN]
No, no, we can’t, we’ve got stuff to do—
(Cuts off, sighs)
Yeah, actually. Can we just…yeah. Please.
[SCAR]
Yeah, yeah, of course. Yeah.
(Silence. Soft breathing can be heard)
[SCAR]
Grian?
[GRIAN]
Mhm?
[SCAR]
I…I know you said not to ask about it. But…I need to know. If I’m wrong, we can move on, and I’ll drop it completely. Scout’s honor.
[GRIAN]
You’re not a scout.
[SCAR]
You don’t know that! Stop distracting me!
(Sighs)
Just…Grian, I need to know. Okay? Can you promise me that you’ll answer honestly? Just yes or no, that’s all I need. Can you do that for me?
[GRIAN]
I…
Yeah. Okay, I can do that.
[SCAR]
Thank you. God, thank you Grian.
[GRIAN]
Whatever. Just…get it over with.
(Deep, shaky breath. It’s impossible to tell which man it comes from)
[SCAR]
Grian, did…did they do that to you? The Watchers? Was it part of a…a punishment?
(Grian doesn’t answer. Muffled sobs can be heard, and a tortured exhale)
[SCAR]
Oh, G. I’ve got you. We’re okay. I’ve got you.
(Sobs grow louder, and soft, comforting whispers can be heard. The recording cuts out in the middle of a desperate wail)
[Click]
[XISUMA]
I—oh, God. God. Oh, dear Lord, what—oh my—
Sorry. Recording ends. I—
I feel like I’m going to throw up.
What do I do? What can I do? It’s—it’s all in the past, now. I have to remember that. Grian’s safe, and Scar is safe, and…they’re with Skizz and Impulse now. I trust Skizz and Impulse with my life, and certainly with this job. They’re the best I have when it comes to identifying the ghosts. And I know that they’re keeping Scar and Grian safe. And obviously, Gem as well, but—(Choked laugh)—They’re so overprotective of those two. It’s sweet.
I can see why, now.
I—I don’t want to listen to this last one. I really, really don’t want to listen to it. It’s…if the others have been this bad…and they’ve only gotten worse. The last one is dated at…September 30th, one year ago? But that was…wasn’t that just a few days before they joined Hermitcraft? Which means this would’ve been—yeah, yeah, it’s labeled ‘Xelqua and Thymes, Final Investigation.’
I don’t like that. I really don’t like that.
I haven’t learned what drove Scar and Grian to leave the SEE organization, and I’m honestly not sure that I want to. If the other stuff wasn’t enough to convince them, then….
I shouldn’t be listening to this, should I. This is breaking their trust. I need to—I should put it down. It’s not my place to know what happened. I don’t want to know what happened.
I…I can’t stop, now.
Recording begins.
[Click]
[GRIAN]
Okay, listen to me, Scar. We have to be careful, today, okay? They—the Watchers aren’t happy with us. They didn’t like what we did the other day.
[SCAR]
But—wasn’t it the right thing to do? Those people were in danger. If we didn’t save them, the ghost would’ve killed them.
[GRIAN]
I—I know. But the Watchers didn’t like that. They really, really didn’t like it.
[SCAR]
Did they…did they punish you for it?
(Hesitation. Grian breathes shakily)
[GRIAN]
No. And that’s what scares me.
[Click]
[Click]
[SCAR]
I have a bad feeling about today, Grian.
[GRIAN]
Don’t you always? I can’t remember a time that you had a good feeling about a job.
[SCAR]
No, I know, but this is…worse than usual. Like—my throat is really tight. Chest hurts. It’s like—my lungs won’t expand? I feel like I can’t breathe, kind of? I don’t know. But it’s bad. It feels really bad.
[GRIAN]
(Hums softly) Rough day, then? (Footsteps) I’m here, Scar, we’re safe. I’ve got you. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.
(Deep, shaky breath)
[SCAR]
I know. But—it’s not even that. Just, like, being here feels…bad.
[GRIAN]
Yeah? (Gentle rubbing sounds) Shh, we’re okay. Just try to take deep breaths if you can.
(A few intentionally deep breaths. Grian stays quiet and waits)
[GRIAN]
Do you want to stay in the van for this one? I can take care of the stuff inside the house, and you can check for orbs?
[SCAR]
No, no. I don’t want to…leave you there. What if something goes wrong?
[GRIAN]
Scar. Listen to me, bud. (Sounds of shuffling) Nothing will go wrong. It’ll be fine, I promise. We’ve done jobs like this a million times before. We’ll be fine, I promise.
[SCAR]
I—
Yeah. Yeah, okay. I think…
(Hesitates)
I’d rather stay in the van, today. If that’s okay. (Quieter) Sorry.
[GRIAN]
Don’t apologize, I offered, didn’t I?
[SCAR]
What—what are we going to tell them? They…you know that they don’t like it when one of us stays in the van.
[GRIAN]
(Mutters) Yeah, cause there’s less of their pawns that they can endanger. (Normal volume) We can tell them that you were too sore to be able to move around and escape from hunts and stuff. You forgot the cane at home, didn’t you?
[SCAR]
Uh, no, it’s just over there—
[GRIAN]
You forgot the cane at home, didn’t you?
[SCAR]
Oh! Oh, yes, yes, you know me, always so forgetful! Especially after dying—what was that, two days ago?
[GRIAN]
Yeah, two days.
[SCAR]
Plus, that old cane is—well, it doesn’t work too well.
[GRIAN]
Wait, it doesn’t? You didn’t tell me that.
[SCAR]
Well—I mean, it works about as well as the smudge sticks work.
[GRIAN]
So…minimally to not at all. What’s wrong with it?
[SCAR]
It’s not that bad! It’s just…well, it’s a bit short for me, and my back doesn’t appreciate that, you know! And I’m pretty sure the grip was made to cause wrist cramps…but it’s fine! It’s still helpful! Kind of!
[GRIAN]
…That’s the cane they gave you, isn’t it.
[SCAR]
…Yeah. Yeah, it is.
[GRIAN]
Okay. (Claps hands together) We’ll get you a new cane.
[SCAR]
What? No, we can’t.
[GRIAN]
Try and stop me. You deserve something that actually works for you, not something that just…keeps hurting you.
[SCAR]
It’s fine! We can’t complain, remember? Last time we did, they took your earbuds.
[GRIAN]
I…I know. I remember. But we won’t be complaining, we’ll just…buy our own. It’s fine.
[SCAR]
But…Grian.
[GRIAN]
What, Scar?
[SCAR]
Grian, we…we can hardly even pay rent.
(Silence. Grian doesn’t respond for a few seconds)
[GRIAN]
Just…head out to the van, Scar.
([Click] as recording is paused)
[XISUMA]
Okay. Okay, so…they didn’t even give Scar a proper cane? He does have one now, doesn’t he? Oh, goodness, I didn’t think to check in to make sure…I’ll have to text Impulse. I’m fairly sure I talked to Skizz and Impulse about potential mobility aids that Scar might need—I think they have a wheelchair in the van, too, just in case they need it. I’ll have to check.
Also, they took away Grian’s earbuds? First of all, I doubt the integrity of any earbuds that organization may have given them. Second of all—doesn’t he need those? I think Impulse told me that he gets overwhelmed sometimes…how would he have dealt with that without his earbuds? I think he has noise-cancelling headphones, now. I can’t imagine how he must have had to deal with it before.
Okay. I’m stalling. I need to—yeah.
([Click] as recording is resumed)
[GRIAN]
Okay, I’m in the house, now. Can you see me on the camera?
[SCAR]
(Over the radio) Yeah, yes, I can see you! Hellooooo! You can’t see me, but I’m waving to you!
[GRIAN]
I’m waving back, can you see?
[SCAR]
(Over the radio) I see you! Hi!
[GRIAN]
(Laughs) Hi, Scar.
(Pauses)
Feeling any better?
[SCAR]
(Over the radio) …Yeah. A lot. Thanks.
[GRIAN]
A’course. Okay, I’m looking around, wandering around, looking, looking, looking, everything is a normal temperature, this is taking forever….
Oh, oh, here’s something! It’s colder in here, it’s—
(Cuts off, silent)
[SCAR]
(Over the radio) Grian? Griiiiian, are you still there? Is your radio working? You cut out for a second, there, are you okay?
[GRIAN]
(Voice shaking) Scar, we have to go. Now.
[SCAR]
(Over the radio) Wh—what? Is everything okay? Grian? Grian, are you safe, are you okay?
[GRIAN]
Scar. Scar.
[SCAR]
(Over the radio) (Pleadingly) Grian, please, speak to me, I need to know what’s going on. Do I need to come in there? I will, cane be damned. I don’t care.
(No response)
That’s it, I’m coming in.
[GRIAN]
No! No, don’t, seriously, do not. I’m telling you, do not come in here. It’s…it’s not pretty. It’s really, really not pretty. I—just get the van ready to leave. I don’t want to be here anymore.
[SCAR]
Grian, please, what’s going on? What do you see?
(Quiet clicks and a rumble as the van starts up)
[GRIAN]
I—Scar.
[SCAR]
Breathe, Grian, breathe.
[GRIAN]
Scar, you don’t understand, there are bodies here. There are dead bodies. There’s—oh, God, there’s a pile. It’s the—it’s the people we helped the other day, Scar, oh my God. I’m going to throw up. Scar, I’m going to throw up.
[SCAR]
Oh my—Oh my God. How did they—why are they here? Grian, get out of there, come back, we’re leaving, please, hurry. This ghost—it isn’t worth the money. Not if it killed all those people.
[GRIAN]
(Footsteps speed up) I’m hurrying, I’m hurrying—but, Scar, I haven’t told you the worst parts.
[SCAR]
How can there possibly be something worse?
[GRIAN]
Scar—the ghost didn’t kill them. Those weren’t paranormal deaths.
[SCAR]
I—What?
[GRIAN]
Scar, they’re covered in blood. There’s no—no bruises, or anything. It was done with a knife. It was a murder, not a ghost kill. And—sorry. Sorry, hold on.
[SCAR]
Grian, are you okay?
(Silence)
Grian, please speak to me.
[GRIAN]
Sorry. Sorry, I nearly—I thought I was going to throw up. I hate blood. I hate blood. Oh my God, it’s all over my hands. It’s all over me.
[SCAR]
Wh—why is it—
[GRIAN]
I had to check their pulses. I had to make sure that I couldn’t help them. They’re dead, Scar, and their blood is all over me, and— (breathing speeding up) Oh, God, no, it’s—it’s on my hands. It’s on my clothes. It’s everywhere, Scar, I can’t—I can’t breathe. I can’t do this.
[SCAR]
Grian, please, you can do it, you can, just hurry. Don’t think about it, we’ll figure it out. Just keep moving, don’t stop moving, what if the—the murderer is still there?
[GRIAN]
No—Scar, you don’t get it. You don’t get it. There was—there was a message. On the wall. It was written in blood, Scar, it was in blood.
[SCAR]
What did it say?
(Silence, except for strained, shallow breaths)
[SCAR]
Grian, what did it say?
[GRIAN]
It—It said—
It said ‘We hope you’ve learned your lesson. Signed, the Watchers.’
[Click]
[XISUMA]
Oh my—I can’t do this. I shouldn’t have ever listened. I can’t do this. I’m—I think—oh, God. Oh, dear Lord, I—
(Sudden creaking of chair and a loud crash of a mug falling off the desk as he stands up. Quick footsteps away from the recording device. Distant retching can be heard)
(Door opens. Someone enters)
[JOE HILLS]
Xisuma? Okay, okay, here we go, let it out. It’s okay, just breathe. Let it out.
[XISUMA]
(Between retches) No, Joe, you—you don’t understand. I listened to—one of the recordings. It was bad, Joe, it was so bad—and that must’ve been why Grian was acting the way he did at the interview, oh God—
[JOE HILLS]
I know, X, I know. Just breathe. Why don’t you head out, let Cleo make you a cup of tea or something? You like tea, right?
[XISUMA]
I have to—I haven’t finished it off yet. I haven’t done the conclusion—
[JOE HILLS]
It’s fine, Xisuma, this is my job. I’ll take care of it.
[XISUMA]
No, you can’t listen to it—it’s a breach of privacy—
[JOE HILLS]
Now, don’t you worry about that, Xisuma Void. I’ve got it all covered. You go ahead and rest. Sound good?
[XISUMA]
I—Yeah. Okay. I—thank you, Joe. I have to—I have to go.
(Footsteps leaving the room hurriedly, the door closing. Another pair of footsteps approaches the chair and sits down)
[Click]
[JOE HILLS]
Aaaaaaand, recording ends.
(Chair squeaks as he leans back)
I see that Xisuma has been listening to things that he probably shouldn’t be. Not that he’s not allowed—if he needs to know, he needs to know. I just wish he’d told me that he found it—I could’ve told him that I already listened to these. Saved him the trouble—and the unfortunate experience of knowing what happened.
(Sighs)
I’m going to have to delete this recording, aren’t I? And hide those other recordings better. And, maybe I can keep the transcript…just in case. And so Xisuma’s sacrifice doesn’t go to waste. Might as well store it somewhere, just in case we need it again.
For now, though, we forget about it. Hopefully, Cleo doesn’t go snooping—and I’ll know if you do, Cleo, so don’t try it.
This is Joe Hills from Nashville, Tennessee, signing off.
[Click]