Chapter Text

C&A Missing Persons Identified

June 19 2018

Updated 4 HR AGO

by Ellie Harlson

Today, the ▬▬▬▬▬ Police Department has disclosed the identities of the recently found persons who escaped from the previously-thought abandoned C&A software department. Dubbed the “C&A Escapees” by social media, the five people have captured the interest of the world due to the strange circumstances of their location. All five people had previously been reported missing, anytime ranging from several months to nearly a decade ago, with at least one previously presumed deceased. Only two of the escapees had formerly been connected to the C&A software department, which had been abandoned since its failure to resell in 2008. This building itself became a local urban legend due to the occasional disappearance around the location and strange reports of electrical functioning despite its power being cut. However, these rumors are miniscule in comparison to the recent reality of the five C&A Escapees leaving the building, all the same age they were when they had vanished, as if no time at all had passed.

The C&A Escapees were first spotted wandering aimlessly down the street, as if confused by their surroundings, covered in dirt and minor injuries. They were reported to the authorities by third parties who were concerned they may have been experiencing a medical emergency. “I thought they might be going through some kind of psychosis,” said the first video recorder, ▬▬▬▬ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬, in their interview with ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬, “Or at the very least too high to be unsupervised.” Video footage shows them staring up at the sky or into the distance for prolonged periods of time, reaching out to touch tree branches, building walls, and iron fences, or falling over when taking a step too large or too small. When approached by strangers, they would stare at them as if unsure if they were expected to respond, before retreating back to their group. After one escapee was spotted scraping their arm against a bush, only to stare at the bleeding wound rather than attempt to bandage it, police were finally called to the scene.

The group was finally located by authorities on the steps outside a local McDonald’s, eating food that they had seemingly salvaged from the trash. The latter incident and the resulting ambulance passage to the hospital prompted many images to be spread across social media; subsequently, many users now confirmed to be the friends and family of these missing people were quick to identify their loved ones and press the department for their release and the disclosure of information on the case. “#FreeTheFive” became an international trending hashtag on Twitter, prompting the ▬PD to announce to ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ that they were to be as open as possible with the public and expected to be able to deliver news soon. Today’s press conference delivered as many answers as they believe they can give at the moment.

Chief ▬▬▬▬▬▬ of the ▬PD in his statement declared that all five of the victims were currently in stable physical condition, though they all had varying levels of coordination difficulties, and minor injuries from the falls or scrapes that entailed. They are currently being supervised by several doctors and psychologists, but will be allowed family visitation now that their identities have been confirmed through genetic and fingerprint testing. As the results have returned, they could confirm that each escapee was indeed a ▬▬▬ County Missing Person. 

An official response as to what had occurred within the abandoned C&A software department had not yet been developed. The Escapees reportedly have attempted to explain what they have lived through, but as Chief ▬▬▬▬▬▬ said, “It’s a tale that stretches all levels of plausibility. And while we see no reason to doubt these victims’ perception of reality, any physical evidence of their tale is either missing or destroyed.” He then proceeded to warn the public against entering the C&A building, which was still an active crime scene and could potentially be dangerous. This warning is likely in regard to the multiple internet sleuths who have previously attempted to enter the area and been trespassed by the ▬PD. After this reminder, the Chief then proceeded to announce that they had been attempting to contact multiple former C&A employees; however, many no longer lived in the area, and he urged any viewers with contact towards former engineers and computer scientists to connect them to investigators. 

The Chief then revealed the identities of the victims, after another warning to allow them time to heal and work with investigators. 

Violet Cho was a 25-year-old accountant for ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ who vanished last October. Cho’s disappearance prompted an intense investigation resulting in the detaining of a suspect, who was eventually released on bail, and stricter curfews around Halloween festivities. Cho was the first of the escapees to be recognized on social media, with many locals drawing attention to her appearance matching the description on her missing posters, and her sister positively identifying her three hours after the McDonalds videos went viral. “That’s my sister, 100%,” Jun Cho said on Instagram, in a post that has now been viewed ▬▬ times. “I would recognize her anywhere. She’s even wearing the same clothes she was in the last time she was seen. Where has she been? Where are they taking her?” Jun would later make several posts concerned about her physicality in other uploaded videos, saying, “This isn’t normal behavior for Violet. My mother is trying to get in contact with the police department, but they won’t tell us anything.” Two days ago, she finally posted that she no longer wished to speak publicly in the situation, that she would soon be reunited with her sister, and they wished to handle the recovery process quietly. 

Okuhle Bellamy, now ▬, was 22 upon their disappearance in ▬▬. They were an artist who described themself online as “looking for their place in the world.” Their family initially believed that they may have run away, as they had been going through “an emotional period in their life.” However, it was unusual for them to not contact their loved ones, so a police investigation was opened. Few leads were found, but as the search progressed Bellamy’s art began to spread among many circles of the internet. One of these fans identified them in the viral videos, immediately posting comparisons between their appearance and the last known “art vs artist” photo of Bellamy before contacting local law enforcement. Their family is unavailable for comment at this time.

Dolores Blythe, now ▬, was 26 in ▬▬ when she vanished. Blythe was a manager at the local McDonalds where the group was found, and was first identified by former employees who recognized her. She was first reported missing after her failure to arrive on time for her shift, an unusual behavior for her. Following attempts to contact her failed, and law enforcement was called in. Blythe’s family kept the search alive over the years with multiple social media campaigns and calls to action. Her brother, Ray Blythe, had this to say to ▬▬▬▬▬ after they were made aware of his sister’s location: “We would like to thank everyone who kept searching for her after all this time. While circumstances are confusing and we still don’t know everything, we are grateful that she seems to be safe and alive.” The internet remains concerned about her physical state, though, as she seemed unable to walk on her own and was being held up by Bellamy when last seen. No statements have been made on her specific condition.

Harlan Dacre, now ▬, was declared missing around the same time as Blythe. A 22-year-old graduate at the time of his disappearance, Harlan had recently gotten his animation degree at ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬. His family has since moved towns, and were also not available for comment. 

Finally, Eudora Gruelle, now ▬, vanished on October 15 2008, the day the C&A building failed to sell. As a realtor on the project, she was reported missing by her team, who realized she had vanished during the process and was unable to be contacted. “It was like she was there one minute and gone the next,” said one witness, “We turned around for a minute to talk to a representative, and she vanished into thin air.” Rumors about her disappearance have been considered a factor in why the building was never purchased. After several years of no leads, she was declared dead by the police department, who suspected she had fallen into a hidden room or basement and died on impact. The Gruelle family, who are famously in business with many local grocery stores and restaurant chains, have not commented on her reappearance. As she is the oldest reported disappearance, her lack of visible aging is what alarmed the internet the most, as she was even still wearing her old uniform.

Following the release of the videos and the identification of several parties, theories began to spread about what may have occurred in the C&A software department. The most popular Twitter thread on the subject, with ▬ retweets and ▬▬ replies, posits that the building held a “rift in reality,” a theory the police department has steadfastly denied. However, this did not dissuage believers. Other speculation has arisen on an underground hostage ring, or secret testing on cryogenesis. As of the recent press conference, the police have still not announced what exactly occurred in the building, but plan to have an official release soon.

At the end of the conference, the Chief also added that the party had identified several other Missing Persons they were presented with, claiming to have been in contact with them. They have not yet disclosed the identities of these people to the public, as investigations are still ongoing. 

▬▬▬▬▬ ▬▬▬▬▬ will continue to report on these events as they unfold.