Rebecca, here.
It has been over 24 hours since I have heard from Mel. I don’t know what to do.
Mel, if you are out there, please contact me.
More thoughts later. I cannot think now.
#20 Dating and more Goo Puddles…
Mel, here. I need to vent a little. Luke, my crush, asked me to coffee. Of course I want to go. For five minutes I actually got to feel like the world is not a endless monster parade and that I am allowed to …I don’t know…be a girl. A girl on an almost-date with a cute cute boy!
Nothing is that easy. Rebecca forbade – that’s right – forbade me to go. I am not a child. However, even though I may not be a typical teenager — I still bristle at the thought of being told what to do. I have been taking care of myself for a long time – this concern from Rebecca isn’t something I’m used to. Despite both of our best efforts to keep clear headed there is a sister-like bond that has been formed. She is my family now.
God, I don’t want to lose her too.
Back to my dating dilemma — I know that Rebecca is right. I might be blinded by Luke’s absurdly long eyelashes and therefore subject to stupidity when it comes to his possible minion-ness. Still, there has to be a middle ground.
No more personal blah blah blah — there are more important factors to consider. Goo puddles. I know I mentioned the gross goo puddle that just sat in the kitchen until I finally had someone come and clean it up the other week, well — I have seen three more in the past week. One right outside of Emery’s office. One outside Helen’s office. (Helen is the HR lady with the rapidly disappearing mind. Besides wearing a slip to the office, yesterday she had on a tuxedo jacket backwards.) Maybe her mind was in that goo. The third puddle was on the balcony — and I swear the vultures were drinking from it. Eww…
Of course, I was the one to call maintenance. Rebecca noticed them — but wanted to observe everyone’s reaction to them before calling. I let her observe for a while — but the stench was too much. I had to have them removed. However, not before Rebecca was able to get a sample. It reminded me of Bill Murray (or was it Harold Ramis…) collecting ectoplasm in Ghostbusters. Love that movie.
Anyway, I guess we will see what any of this will tell us. Rebecca is very fastidious in collecting all of these bits and pieces. I just hope they tell us something or lead us somewhere. I vote for more action. We have swords now — bring it on Emery Wise. Bring it on.
Then I can have a date like a normal girl.
#19 Pep talks and Resolutions….
Rebecca, here. Things have not been clear lately. I am afraid I am not as sharp as I need to be. I am afraid I may be infected. Mel rejects the idea, but I worry that her perception is colored by her friendship with me. I think I have taken on a mentor role for her and I worry that my guidance may be detrimental. She should be protected and cared for by someone more capable than myself. I am afraid I will get her killed. It is my greatest fear and the pain in my stomach every night when I go to bed. I suppose these are typical maternal instincts – while I am not old enough to be her mother (assuming that I did not give birth at a shockingly young age), I do feel as if I need to shelter her. I know she will cringe when she reads this. She is very self-sufficient and clever, but the monsters are out there. The monsters are with us five days a week. So many opportunities for him/them to strike.
I need to fight succumbing to the fear. I need to cling to the belief that Emery Wise and his minions will be stopped. The monsters may have taken Spencer Lively away, but they will not get Mel. I will fight the cloudiness that is creeping into my head and sapping my resolve. I am back in town and I am back on task. I do not need to fear Emery Wise, he needs to fear me.
Now, if I can just learn some basic sword-fighting techniques…
#18 Sabatoge…and Salvation
Rebecca, here. I am finally back in town. The Brookling account was in bad shape. Thankfully, I was able to get it back in shape. For now.
When the call came that our numbers were off and that our 3rd top account had been woefully mismanaged, I was devastated. My work on the Brookling account has kept me sane through some very trying times. I have always been extremely pleased with its execution and the results, from my work in particular. It was anathema to me that our reports had been so off. Then I discovered it. Sabotage. Internal, sabotage. The numbers were being pulled from the incorrect location. My work had been compromised. Brookling’s founder, Tad Brookling had already started legal action to get out of our contract. Emery, or one of his followers, is trying to destroy my credibility. However, one thing that I know about myself is that I am a problem solver.
I had the situation fixed and had talked Tad Brookling out of legal action by the second day. The extra time I spent there was implementing a new security system that will allow me to see anyone who logs on and monitor their moves. By the time I left I had not only secured the account, but had a job offer from Tad Brookling himself. I do not ordinarily like to boast, but this was one of my finer moments under pressure. I think working for an evil force like Emery Wise keeps me on my toes.
However, there was another reason for my trip. Weapons.
For some reason Seattle is home to many sword collectors and dealers. And I have found several impressive pure silver bladed swords. I am not one to approve or even condone violence, however having spent some time viewing some of these sword collections, I can see their beauty. A well crafted sword is a work of art. It is not unlike Michelangelo’s “Pieta” in St. Peter’s Basilica or Rodin’s “Kiss”. The mastery is unassailable.
I took fencing as a teenager, but the rapier is so minimal compared to the weapons I viewed this past week — there is very little comparison. Silver is our only lead. And now we are more prepared. I just hope that Mel can understand that even armed, we still do not know what we are dealing with.
But we are one step closer to destroying Emery Wise.
#17 Esme Freem is Alive! (well…sort of)
Mel, here. It finally happened! I finally ran into Esme Freem! Rebecca has been so spot on with her description. This woman…I cannot even begin to describe her. Her frame is so thin and elongated, it is almost Gargoyle-like. And her face, it is just like a skull with a thin layer of flesh on top of it. With lots and lots and lots of make up. But she is much worse than that, much worse than I was expecting.
Let me get to the story. I was on the early shift yesterday, just hanging out trying to look busy – trying not to think about Luke, when I needed to go to the little girl’s room. When I was walking down the seemingly endless corridor I felt a burst of cold air right before I got to the bathroom, almost as if there was a vent right above me, which of course there wasn’t. I stopped for a second – then I went in. Then, I saw her. I gasped — I couldn’t help it. She was so creepy! Leaning over the bathroom counter applying red-red lipstick to her thin lips. She didn’t see me — or acted as if she hadn’t. She was staring in the mirror — and the rest of the world was nowhere near her. It reminded me of the old movies where someone would be hypnotized on stage by a magician and act like a monkey or a chicken on command – all the while having that dazed look in their eye. Was she faking? Could she see me?
I was frozen. I wasn’t sure what to do. I tried to remember what the Monstropedia said about Wraith’s…could she kill me, with her stare? Did they eat people? She certainly looked like she needed to eat. I looked away from her face and focused on what was left of her hair. I saw raw patches of skin and scabs through her nearly white hair. I think I maybe even saw something move. Ewww.
I couldn’t stand there forever just staring, so I finally, said something.
“Good morning.”
She did not look up. She just kept putting on her lipstick over and over. I moved closer to her. Then I moved directly behind her so she would see me if she was looking at herself in the mirror.
Nothing.
I don’t know what was going through my mind, suddenly I just felt so much anger, I wanted to scream. Why doesn’t she see me?!
“Esme!” I said as loud as I could without screaming.
Nothing.
At this point — I should have done something clever – but instead I did something incredibly stupid. I grabbed her by her wing-like shoulders and turned her around to face me. SO DUMB! When I tried to turn her — her hand slipped and her lipstick ran across her face. Her mouth fell open and a sound – not unlike an air raid siren – came out of her mouth. I jumped back and fell to the floor. And covered my ears. She just kept screaming — the mirrors shattered and several shards embedded themselves in Esme’s hands and face. I just cowered on the floor — not feeling anywhere near as brave or strong as I like to think of myself.
The shrieking finally stopped and I slowly turned back to the horror scene of Esme staring at me with bits of glass and blood running down her face.
Lucky me. I finally had her attention.
She spoke.
“You ruined my face, you little bitch.” (her words — not mine – Rebecca)
She was so calm when she said it. I was just frozen.
Then she smiled. But, it wasn’t a happy smile. It stretched too far across her face and it just kept going. It was horrible. I turned toward the wall. When I turned back – less than a moment later – she was gone. Just gone. The mirrors were still broken – but no sign of Esme – or the blood that I know I saw on the counter and the floor.
I slowly picked myself off the floor and just stood for a moment. I felt really weak. If I cannot stand up to Esme – how can I expect to destroy Emery.
I hope Rebecca comes back soon.
Entry #16 The Wheels keep turning…
Mel, here. Rebecca has been out of town on the never-ending Brookling account. And I am here with no ally… and a quickly deteriorating staff. I promised Rebecca that I would do my best to stay away from Emery — but it isn’t always easy. Last Tuesday I was caught in the kitchen with him — and I swear — he *sniffed* me…ewwwwww….
After that I bought a silver bracelet and matching necklace. Silver is our best bet so far.
I need to be a normal girl for a minute… there is this one guy that works on the morning shift here, Luke, and he is so very crush-worthy. He is very nice to me. When his manager, creepy Kathy, had a birthday party last week — he came to the front and gave me a big piece of cake. I think he thinks I am younger than I am – he looks down at the floor a lot when he is talking to me. He cannot be more that 22…I am 19. Not too much of an age difference. He is in the mail room — so I don’t think he has too much direct contact with Emery. Otherwise I may worry.
Anyway — enough of my silly crush news. I mentioned earlier about people getting a little weirder around here (other than Luke…). The woman in HR, Helen, is totally losing it. She came in last week wearing a slip — with no skirt over it. She looks disheveled every day — like her hair hasn’t been brushed in weeks. No one is sure what to do about it — because normally they would talk to HR…and well…you see the problem. But I can see people starting to ignore the strangeness. There was a big slimy puddle in the kitchen the other day — I was working the mid-day shift — and no one had bothered to call maintenance all morning. And not to mention the smell around here. There is this stale – musty (but oddly salty) odor around the office that no one complains about or even seems to notice. When I have asked other people about it — they all tell me they haven’t noticed.
I have seen this before. This is how it starts. The gradual meltdown. I have to stop it. I mean, Rebecca and I have to stop it. Luke deserves a chance. So do a lot of these people. And who knows how far this will spread if Emery keeps moving and infecting a new area. My whole town was affected. It isn’t even a town anymore.
This all feels like too much today. I just want a piece of cake.
Entry #15: Silver in the Liver?
Mel, here. Sorry I have been so quiet lately. I have been buried in research. It is unbelievable how much lore there is on tentacles and monsters that can be killed with silver. I searched under “tentacles” on www.monstropedia.org and there were over 500 hits. What the hell? (Not sure if Rebecca will bristle over that..but come on…)
I am a little worried about Rebecca. Her dream freaks me out. It had that classic “Friday the 13th”, “Carrie” ending quality –you think everything is alright, in fact things are better than alright — they are wonderful… and then _BOOM! You’re dead! It creeps me out. I wonder if Emery is somehow invading Rebecca’s dreams – maybe because of that tentacle that touched her she is somehow infected…I probably shouldn’t think such things. Or write them…I don’t want to make Rebecca overly paranoid. She does seem to have made a full recovery and she seems to have her wits about her.
Anyway, research…Emery could be one of 500 or so monsters. And while these are as I mentioned creatures of lore (love the word “lore”, btw –I feel like Shakespeare when I write it) – they have all been passed down over time and written about in varied sources. However, I should take these things with a grain of salt — Daleks from “Doctor Who” were in the Mostropedia. And I am pretty sure those are fiction. I mean, have you seen them? Silly looking bad guys…not as silly as the Cybermen…but still. Anyway – I digress…I am playing a few things over and over in my brain – in my waking encounter with Spencer Lively he said something about stopping Emery Wise…something that sounded like “silver” or “liver”. And then if Rebecca’s dream was something prophetic and not brought on by Emery, then there was a clear indication that silver may be the key to his demise. Or, he was at least afraid of it. But I cannot help but think that he may have put that in her head to give us a false assumption or false hope. We cannot make a misstep, our futures, the future of the people at this company and the fates of many others rest with us. LOL — I am starting to sound like Rebecca. I guess she has sort of inspired me — before I just wanted to kill Emery for revenge…now I feel a bit more of a sense of purpose. Sorry…now this is getting to be an annoying emo entry.
So what is my next move? I am not sure what is the right move, but either way I am hitting some places and finding old silver to melt down. We are going to have some bullets.
Entry #14: Following up…a Dream…
Rebecca Newsworthy, here. I am afraid my follow up to the last post is belated. This past week was much more work intensive than I thought. Mel is working the early shift, so I did not get much time with her at all, and when we do see each other we have to be very discreet.
This dream I had, that I seem to keep referring to, was something that I have never experienced before. I am aware of a “New Age” movement that seems to embrace dreams as more than mere figments of meals devoured during the day and/or psychological imprints from past experiences and instead, looks to them for prophecy or even as a whole separate reality. As unintuitive and in-cohesive as “New Age” thinking might be to me, I do realize that I am dealing with a force that is not strictly human. Wraith’s are not supposed to be real, monster’s are not supposed to be real … but I have seen these things…touched them. In other words, I am ready to accept that a dream may be more than I had previously imagined.
I think Mel will chuckle a little at all of my qualifying statements.
Moving on – the other night I closed my eyes and walked to work in a dream. The streets were all empty, there was only silence as I got closer and closer to our building. The doors opened for me when I got there. Then the silence was broken, I heard the familiar Vulture screeches from above.
Inside the lobby there was no security team, this was the largest hint so far that I was in a dream, and not awake. There is always a security team. I heard the ping of the elevator reaching the lobby level. I knew where I was going, but I got in the elevator and I was suddenly not alone. Beside me appeared, Esme Freem.
She looked almost normal. She was still thin and pale and her arms hung down too low, in an almost simian way. But she smiled at me. I tentatively smiled back. Gone, were the sores visible under her thin white hair, gone was the garish lipstick. She was as she was prior to Emery Wise. Then she spoke.
“Excuse me, but you do work for _____________, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“This may be a little forward, but what is the name of the handsome new man in your office.”
I paused. The words came out.
“Emery Wise.”
Esme smiled shyly and then disappeared. The elevator doors then opened — I was on the 22nd floor. When I walked out I was overwhelmed with the most sickening smell…I am afraid there is no description that can do it justice. However — to provide some sort of picture – it was like rotting fruit and plastic burning. I was afraid I would be knocked unconscious by the fumes. I wanted to get back in the elevator, but that wasn’t possible. I was being led. When I turned to corner I was face to face with Emery Wise. His eyes were gone and in their place were shiny black marbles. The marbles stared at me, they darted around in their cavernous holes. It was hideous. I took a step back and so did he. He was frightened. I frightened him. For that brief moment I was assured that I would find the weakness that Emery Wise so skillfully concealed from the rest of the world.
After taking a step back, Emery began to retreat further. I could hear a grinding noise coming from him, as he pushed himself backwards. It looked so unnatural. Almost like he was roller-skating and had to *push* himself to move. I then became aware of what I was holding in my hand, it was a tiny silver bead. When I looked up again Emery had disappeared and so had the smell. All that was left of him was a large pool of black goop that stretched toward the end of the hall.
This is where things get fuzzy. The next thing I knew I was standing in our office, filled with my co-workers all of whom looked busy and productive, a normal pre-Emery day. And Mel was sitting at the front desk laughing at something on her computer, that she was clearly trying to conceal from me. It felt so wonderful seeing Mel look so young and carefree, her biggest concern concealing some silly web joke from me, her prissy by-the-book co-worker. I smiled as I walked to my office. Next, I was greeted by a very alive — Spencer Lively. He embraced me warmly and then(in the spirit of full disclosure) kissed me. I closed my eyes. It was lovely. Until I opened my eyes to find Spencer and everyone else gone.
I was suddenly surrounded by darkness and decay. The bodies of my co-workers were all around me. Some were skeletons, some were puddles of goo. Esme Freem stood before me. Her boney arm wrapped tightly around Emery Wise. She cackled wildly. I could onle stare dumbly as Emery Wise opened his mouth wider and wider until a thick black slimy tentacle sprouted from his mouth and grabbed me by the neck. Esme never stopped her cruel laughter.
It was indescribably awful.
I woke up in a cold sweat.
More thoughts later.
Entry 13: A Strange Sickness and a Dream…
Rebecca Newsworthy, here. I am afraid I must apologize for my absence this past week. I have been uncharacteristically ill for a little while now. In fact, I have been under the weather, since that slimy black …tentacle-like thing grazed the top of my foot.
Mel has been checking on me, almost hourly. I am afraid my young ally is prone to over-react. However, I do not yet fully understand the extent of her prior experiences with Emery Wise, so it is unfair of me to judge her behavior as mere hyperbole. She may be much wiser than myself.
This mysterious sickness has had me in bed for days now. Today will be my first day back. This sickness is like nothing I have experienced before. Intense malaise and an occasional sharp pain that circulates from one area of my body to another.
I am sorry if this description sounds inconclusive, it is. My doctor had no idea what it could be. The sharp revolving pain (head, chest,stomach, knees…and back again) was a complete mystery to her. In fact, I am quite certain that Dr. Quint was ready to suggest a psychiatric evaluation. Either way I find myself stronger now and I am anxious. Even though I have been working from home, I feel that I am slipping behind in my duties. Both, work-wise (the Brookling account) and more personal (stopping Emery Wise).
I worry about Mel, out there by herself. I was both disturbed and fascinated by her accounts of recent happenings. The re-appearance of Spencer Lively, was something I did not expect. Although, I consider myself capable of controlling my emotions, I find it difficult sometimes when thinking about poor Spencer. I must confess, that although our meeting was brief — I found myself very fond of him. He had a lightness of step, kindness and confidence…
I am sorry this is a bit ridiculous. Spencer is gone…or at least dead and I cannot change that. However, he has come back to help us stop Emery Wise and I will not let my soft feelings toward him impede my investigation into these matters. If anything I should channel that energy into a renewed sense of purpose.
Still…I hope that Spencer will come to me, as well.
In addition to the sickness, there was something else of note, a dream…a dream about Esme Freem. Let me preface this by saying, I normally do not put any stock in dreams. I consider most of them a by-product of food digested during the day. I rarely, if ever, remember my dreams and those that I do remember, I choose to forget shortly after. However, this dream was different.
Time is short. I will write more soon.
Entry 12: Spencer Lively Returns…err…sort of…
Mel, here.
So, yesterday — I was walking the halls trying to think of some way to defeat Emery… when I saw this man at the opposite end of the hall. I am not sure how I knew it was Spencer Lively, I had never met him, but I just knew it. I called out his name but he just slowly turned and walked the other way, toward the north tower. I didn’t want to scare him away… but I ran after him, as quietly as I could. When I turned the corner I saw him staring at a door. He obviously didn’t want to go inside, he just kept staring. I knew which door it was. It was the one that Esme disappeared into — the one where Rebecca found the eye. I said his name again. This time he looked up. I knew that he was dead and I knew how he died — but I still wasn’t ready for what I saw when he turned around…half of his face was …umm…liquidy. Can I use that word? I am not sure if it is the best description, but it’s the only thing I can think of now. Maybe I could say it was like Jello – before it gets quite so wiggly. Loose-wiggly Jello…
Not pleasant.
However, he smiled when he looked at me, or at least half of his face smiled. He looked kind. Now, I know you are wondering…was he corporeal, or was he see through… well, to be honest it was kind of both. I think he had some weight — he wasn’t floating — but he wasn’t all there either. But, he leaned against the door. And his face wiggled when he moved…poor guy!
Well, I tried to engage him — I knew – he knew I was there. But, could we communicate? I told him my name — and that I was working with Rebecca to help avenge him and stop Emery. I tried to see past the goo on his face to read his expression – I think it was concern. I asked him if he knew how we could stop Emery — he nodded! He opened his mouth – trying to talk, but nothing came out. I started trying to guess — as he sort of motioned — like some type of undead charades. He started looking even more gooey the harder he tried to communicate. Finally I heard something… it sounded like liver… or silver…or sliver…or slither…
Then he slowly started to disappear into the room. I reached out for him — but it was no use. It was almost like he just got pulled through the wall — I tried to open the door — but it was locked. He was gone — and the air smelled like roses.
Well… my head is spinning. I am going to try to get some research done amidst my mind numbing “Girl Friday” duties…
More later.
