Sent: 26/1, 04:32
From: Frank
To: Mike
Subject: STOP
JUST STOP MIKE I CAN HEAR YOU GURGLING STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT
Sent: 26/1, 12:14
From: Frank
To: Mike
Subject: They Want My Bones
They want my bones. They’re pressing themselves up against the glass but they can’t stay upright for long. They’re making noises. It’s the sound of someone breathing out except they never stop. It’s not the same as the noise you make. It sounds like scheming. I know they need a fresh skeleton to wrap around because all of theirs are dissolved. What else could they want? I took your arm to them to see what they would do and there was a little movement. For the first time (outside of you) I’ve seen them move. They want to move some more. I don’t have any food left as long as they’re still inside that room. I won’t do it I wont go in there they’ll take my bones. They’ll take your arm and I’ll never get it back. My food will eat me if I go in there.
Sent: 26/1, 15:11
From: Frank
To: Mike
Subject: I don’t know what to do
I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do.
Sent: 27/1, 09:05
From: Frank
To: Mike
Subject: (no subject)
After all of that I’m going to die. After everything I’ve done to stay alive, I’m still going to die here. Alone. After all that. I’m alone. I’m alone with myself, with what I’ve done. Oh my god I killed all my friends and now they’re coming to kill me. I ate them and now they’re coming to eat me. They’re going to take my bones from me and I can’t let them because I need my bones and if they take them then I won’t have any bones and I can’t live without my bones I need my bones I NEED MY BONES MIKE WHY WON’T YOU HELP ME I GOT YOU THAT WATCH FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY AND NOW YOU’VE LEFT ME ALONE WITH THEM DON’T LET THEM TAKE MY BONES MIKE
I need you to answer me, Mike. Please. Just answer me once. Let me know I’m not alone with them. I need you to answer me. Please. I can’t do this anymore. I can’t do this anymore.
Sent: 28/1, 08:57
From: Frank
To: Mike
Subject: (no subject)
I watched you all die die die died you all died you’re all dead because of me one little spill is all it took and now no one is left to tell me I was wrongright I was right to do it but they didn’t care and now they’re dead and I’m trapped alone and nobody is coming hahahaha I’m not dead yet the dead can’t laugh hahahahahaha can you hear me laugh mike laugh with me mike laugh like this hahaha please mike please don’t eat me like I ate the others im sorry please please stop gurgling im sorry
Sent: 29/1, 17:10
From: Frank
To: Mike
Subject: no more
I have to open the door
Sent: 29/1, 17:32
From: Frank
To: Mike
Subject: (no subject)
I did it. I managed to take one of them out of the room without getting caught but it was a close call. I’ve already eaten all of it so I should be fine for a few more days at least. God I was so hungry. But I think that might be my last meal, actually. I stole one of them, yes, but I was in such a rush I didn’t close the door behind me. There’s no chance I’m going to be headed back out there with them on the loose. They are terrifying creatures of rippling flesh and mucus. They drag themselves across the floor on reconstituted limbs; the one I took was thankfully without limbs which made it much easier to capture and devour. They groan the same as you do Mike. All of them in unison. Just hearing them makes me feel sick. They’re moving towards the door and the windows. They leave smears of blood and gunk behind them. Did I really just eat one of them? I can’t believe it. I actually put one in my mouth and swallowed it. I don’t think I even paid attention to the taste. I was so hungry I actually ate the reconstituted remains of my colleagues and didn’t even think twice. This is a new kind of hunger I’ve never experienced. Eating dead meat is one thing, but dead meat that screams is altogether a different experience.
I can’t fight them. I can’t kill what’s already dead. I can barely keep my food down. I’m going to be sick.
Sent: 30/1, 01:03
From: Mike
To: Frank
Dear Mike,
Has it really only been around a month since we were locked in here? I can hardly believe it; it feels so much longer already. Despite that, I think it’s fair to say we’ve both evolved as individuals in that time. It sounds hollow to say this now, as you’re about to break in and kill me, but of all my colleagues you were by far my favourite. I could never really put my finger on it at the time. Perhaps it was instinct to begin with, but now I can finally identify why: adaptability and tenacity. In these past few weeks, you have shown how quickly you are able to overcome exceptional circumstances, and indeed thrive where others cannot. You don’t give up when things get tough in the lab. You’ve given yourself over fully to the team and our research, and I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve sacrificed for us. I’ve learnt a lot from working with you.
I believe this will be my final correspondence (unless present circumstances take a drastic shift in direction), and as such I would like to take this time to reflect on my own experience. I was locked in here on the 4th January along with several of my colleagues. I’ve been in almost total darkness since I turned off the emergency lights on the 18th, and have been alone just as long (looming company notwithstanding). I’ve been a cannibal for 13 days. I wonder if anyone else would have done anything different, done a better job. Faced with what looks to be my final doom has made me realise just how fickle concepts like morality and ethics are. Ethics are for the privileged, or the dead, and I have had the dubious pleasure of running the entire gambit between the two.
I coughed up blood about an hour ago. It started twitching on the ground like the others, so I put a cup over it. The cup has been steadily nudging its way towards me since then. It’s almost farcical at this point. Instead of a rock and a hard place I’m between a malicious cup and Mike the limbless wonder. Wasn’t really expecting such a difficult start to the new year.
I think I should wrap this up though. You’re so impatient that the glass is starting to crack under your weight, and by the sounds of it you’ve roused the others as well. I can’t imagine this is going to be painless. But I can at least die with the dignity I tried to live with. I’ve got your arm right here Mike. I’ll just bring it out to you now.
So long world!
Sincerely, eternally,
Dr. Frank Stoller
END OF CORRESPONDANCE.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
· THE BODY OF DR. STOLLER WAS RECOVERED FROM A CAVITY IN THE PIPE SYSTEM OF FACILITY 4 (COMPROMISED). AUTPOSY REPORT DEFINED CAUSE OF DEATH AS SEVERE BODY TRAUMA CAUSED BY PERSISTENT AND CONSECUTIVE BLOWS. 30 (THIRTY) VERTEBRAE MISSING FROM SPINAL COLUMN. 17 (SEVENTEEN) RIBS MISSING, INCLUDING STERNUM. ARMS MISSING. TOUNGE BITTEN IN HALF; EXTREME PAIN BEFORE DEATH. STOMACH CONTENTS TAKEN FOR TESTING.
· ON INITIAL INVESTIGATION OF FACILITY 4, SALVAGE TEAM 1 WAS ATTACKED. DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSAILANT CORRESPONDS TO THE “RECONSTITUTION” OF THE CORPSES DR. STOLLER WITNESSED. BONE SAMPLE FROM THE ASSAILANT CONFIRMED THEY WERE DR. STOLLER’S. HIS ARMS HAVE NOT BEEN LOCATED.
· DR. STEVENSON MISSING, PRESUMED DEAD.
END OF DOCUMENT. SUBMIT FORM F.49 FOR RELEASE OF ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION.