ESPER - The Thirty-First

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<> <<set $audio1 to false>> <<set $audio2 to false>> <<set $key to false>> <<set $symbol to false>> <<set $locker to false>> <<set $sign to false>> <<set $sawplant to false>> <<set $sawtree to false>> <<set $sawclearing to false>> <<set $tookpath to false>> <<set $playground to false>> <<set $clearing to false>> <<set $turns to 0>> <<set $date to false>> <<set $box to false>> <<set $sawman to false>> <<set $meditation to false>> <<set $meditated to false>> <> ''E.S.P.E.R.'' //Extraordinary Supernatural Phenomena Explored and Revealed// __Case Investigation Log__ ''Case Number:'' X32-039-O ''Date Opened:'' 10/30/1984 ''Case Location:'' Clifton, Virginia ''Initial Contact:'' 10/18/1984 ''Contact Name:'' [[Diana L. Russell]] ''Case Designation:'' The Thirty-First [[OPEN CASE FILE]]

Please enter your last name to verify ESPER agent status. <<textbox "$name" "">> Please click [[HERE|Begin Case]] when ready to view file. ''--PLEASE NOTE:'' //This file contains highly confidential case data relating to the personal information of agents, clients, and the victims and perpetrators of violent crimes. Furthermore, there may be information classified to ordinary citizens regarding the supernatural, paranormal, and occult which, beside being confidential due to their involvement in the case have also been known to cause depression, madness, and suicidal tendencies in those who read them.// ''You have been warned.--''

''Case Initial Contact:'' Mrs. Diana L. Russell Mrs. Russell's first contact was made nearly two weeks before ESPER opened the case, to local police in Clifton, Virginia after her son, Dennis Anthony "Denny" Russell, aged 12, had gone missing. Police initially told her the child had not been missing long enough to warrant investigation. However, after another call-in and several visits to the police station, Mrs. Russell asserts she was ignored completely and told to stop being "bothersome." Mrs. Russell claims to have tried to contact the FBI directly. Her initial contact seemed hopeful, with the investigator on the phone showing interest in the case, but within twenty-four hours, she received a response indicating the chances her son had merely run away were too high to warrant investigation, and her case was summarily closed. An ESPER contact within the office of the Assistant Director contacted Dr. McDermott on October 29th, 1984, and after reviewing the case, an investigator has been dispatched. [[BACK|Introduction]]

''October 30, 1984 - 0813'' Agent $name arrives at location and is greeted at the door by Donald "Donnie" Russell, aged 8. He calls his mother, who comes to the door a moment later. She appears to have been crying, although her smile and invitation to come in and have coffee seem genuine. ''October 30, 1984 - 0820'' While sitting at the dinner table with a cup of coffee, Mrs. Russell explains the story so far, as recorded in [[Audio Log 1-A]]. ''October 30, 1984 - 0846'' Mrs. Russell calls her son Donnie to the table, and he gives his statement as recorded in [[Audio Log 1-B]]. ''October 30, 1984 - 0858'' After taking statements from both Mrs. Russell and her son, Agent $name decides to carry the investigation to a new location. Investigate [[Denny's Bedroom]] <<if $audio1 eq true>>Investigate [[the Park]] <</if>> <<if $audio2 eq true>>Investigate [[the Bridge]] <</if>>

''AUDIO LOG 1-A'' Subject: Mrs. Russell Agent $name: "So, Mrs. Russell, if you could explain to me the events leading up to the disappearance of your son." Mrs. Russell: "It was around a month ago that the boys began to mention seeing a strange man in the area. He would come around the little park down the street where all the neighborhood children play." Agent $name: "Did anyoneever describe him to you, or did you get his description?" Mrs. Russell: "No, I'm sorry. But I did hear quite a bit about what he //could do//." Agent $name: "How do you mean?" Mrs. Russell: "He showed the kids little magic tricks at first, like lighting a small fire with his fingertips or changing his eye color. After a while, they said he started taking them to a place in the woods where he showed them more, like levitating and turning invisible." Agent $name: "Did you ever see this happen?" Mrs. Russell: "Well, no, but my boys have always been so truthful with me..." (Sobs can be heard after a moment of silence...) Agent $name: "It's all right. Can you tell me about when you first suspected Denny was missing?" Mrs. Russell: "The day he went missing, my other son, Donnie, came home and told me Denny had been able to make the fire in his fingertips too, and so the man brought him to the woods alone. No one has heard from him since." Agent $name: "All right, I think that's all I need to know. Thank you, Mrs. Russell." Mrs. Russell: "You will bring him home, won't you? Ever since his father ran off, the boys are all I have left, and Donnie has a hard time making friends... His older brother is everything to him." The tape is silent for a moment before it clicks off. \<<set $audio1 to true>> [[BACK|Begin Case]]

''AUDIO LOG 1-B'' Subject: Donnie Russell Agent $name: "Hey, Donnie, I need to know a bit about the day your brother went missing." Donnie: "Well, the man showed all the kids how to make a fire, and Donnie was the only one who could do it, and so he took Denny to the special place, and they flew up the wall together, and I ran straight home to tell mom." Agent $name: "What man?" Donnie: "The Bunny Man." Agent $name: "The Bunny Man?" Donnie: "Yeah. He doesn't dress like a bunny like in the stories, but I did see him eat one in the woods. He has a gun hole in his head, and one in his chest. His skin is grey, and he has a pointy beard." Agent $name: "A goatee?" Donnie: "Yeah. He takes kids out to the woods and shows them magic tricks." Agent $name: "Where in the woods, Donnie? Where is the Special Place?" Donnie: "The Bridge. He tells us when we go it's important not to touch the water there." Agent $name: "What bridge, Donnie?" Donnie: "The... the Bunnyman Bridge." Footsteps can be heard running off, and the tape ends abruptly. \<<set $audio2 to true>> [[BACK|Begin Case]]

''October 30, 1984 - 0906'' Agent $name is let into the bedroom by Mrs. Russell. Donnie enters the room as well, although Mrs. Russell waits at the door. The boy stays out of the way, so he is permitted to remain in the room during the investigation. The room is around 12 feet by 15 feet, with a single [[door|Begin Case]] leading back into the house and a single window on the opposite wall. It contains a [[bed]], a [[dresser]], and a [[bookshelf]]. It is very fastidiously-kept and cleaned.

''October 30, 1984 - 1014'' Agent $name walks to the park mentioned by Mrs. Russell. There are no children currently present. The park is small and contains a few pieces of [[playground equipment]]. A small [[public restroom]] stands near the parking lot, and [[signs]] mark the [[weathered trail]] leading off into the woods. <<if $sign == true>> Take the [[bike path]]. Take the [[walking path|weathered trail]]. Go toward the [[water reclamation area]]. <</if>>

\<<if $tookpath == false>>Mrs. Russell couldn't identify which of the several bridges in the area children referred to as the Bunnyman Bridge, and when I pressed him further on it, Donnie became uncharacteristically quiet and seemed frightened to talk any further. Unfortunately, it took several hours of cold-questioning locals before discovering a potential location. <</if>> ''October 30, 1984 - 1321'' The bridge known by locals as the "Bunnyman Bridge" is a stone bridge crossing over a riverbed which is currently completely dry. There are several areas of it where graffiti has been obviously whitewashed, but there are several fresh tags and gang signs, among several curse words and a large "HE IS COMING" spraypainted in green above a yellow pair of eyes. There seemed to be no activity here at the time, and no evidence of previous activity outside a [[crumpled blanket]] and some scorch marks low on the wall likely due to a small campfire. A path leads to the nearby [[park|re-entering the park]].

The bed is a standard twin with a simple wooden headboard/footboard combination and Masters of the Universe-themed sheet and comforter set. Looking under the bed revealed nothing but a skateboard and some forgotten socks, and nothing was to be found between the mattress and boxspring. On closer investigation, a small slit was found in the lining under the boxspring, but whatever was being kept there has been removed. [[BACK|Denny's Bedroom]]

On searching the dresser, it is found to contain clothing of a variety of types as was expected. It contains three drawers: The top drawer contains socks and undergarments, the middle contains t-shirts and polos neatly folded, and the bottom drawer contains several pairs of shorts, sweatpants, and jeans. On searching the individual garments, one pair of jeans was found to contain a small key, an antique-style brass key unlike modern house or vehicle keys. It has been added to the evidence. \<<set $key to true>> [[BACK|Denny's Bedroom]]

The bookshelf is one single shelf hung on the wall above the headboard of the bed by two standard aluminum L-brackets. On inventorying the books on the shelf, it was discovered to contain some Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein books, an assortment of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis fantasy, one [[King James Version of the Bible]], and a stack of comics from both Marvel and DC. [[BACK|Begin Case]]

The Bible, upon closer inspection, is a family-style Bible containing detailed maps of the Holy Land and the first-century missionary journeys, a concordance, and a section at the beginning for recording family history. The family tree given only lists Denny, Donny, their mother Diana, and a sister named Deborah with an added note of "We never got to meet you, but you will be missed 10/27/1982." It seems odd that the father is not listed. The dedication page at the front reads "To my darling Dennis, let the words of the LORD give you strength always - You Are Never Alone! Love Mommy, Christmas 1983." [[BACK|Begin Case]]

\<<set $playground to true>> The playground equipment includes a tall slide, a swingset with three regular swings and one baby cradle swing, one see-saw, and one merry-go-round. There are four instances of gang markings, seven personal tags, and two crudely-drawn penises drawn on them, mainly with magic marker. Beside the tagging, the equipment seems relatively new and in good repair. A sandbox was also found nearby, and scooping through it revealed nothing of note. [[BACK|the Park]]

The public restroom at the park was a small brick structure 20 by 45 feet, separated into a men's and women's area. Both bathrooms were common to bathrooms of this kind found at parks and rest areas, containing toilet stalls and sinks, urinals in the men's bathroom, a large amount of [[graffiti]] in both, and a row of <<if $key == true>> [[personal lockers]]<<else>> personal lockers<</if>> stand near the [[entrance|the Park]].

\<<set $sign to true>> There are several signs posted around the park. Two of them include requests to clean up after pets, 3 "No Littering" signs, a trail sign indicating a [[bike path]] and a [[walking path|weathered trail]], and a sign pointing toward a [[water reclamation area]]. [[BACK|the Park]]

''October 30, 1984 - 1112'' After some investigation of the park itself, agent $name follows the footpath into the woods. \<<if $sawclearing == true>>Near the entrance to the path is a smaller trail that leads off to a small [[clearing|clearing daytime]]/<</if>> The path continues on for quite some time to the [[north|main path daytime]], or heads [[back to the park|re-entering the park]].

After looking through the graffiti, I took stock of over 200 separate items found across both rooms, including 64 instances of sexual phrases or propositions, 19 giving phone numbers and proclaiming a good time, 15 personal tags, 2 dirty limericks, 10 poems of either a dirty or [[joking]] nature, 84 instances of gang markings, 31 verbal attacks on named or initialized individuals, and 13 instances of occult symbology. Of these, only two were found to be [[non]]-[[fictional]]. [[BACK|public restroom]]

\<<set $locker to true>> Using the key found in Denny's bedroom, I was able to open one of the lockers. Inside, I found a blue children's baseball cap with 'D.R.' written in magic marker on the inside, corroborating that this was indeed Denny's locker. Also inside were the following: *One open pack of bubble gum with three pieces remaining. *A standard deck of playing cards which look well-worn. *A crumpled-up piece of paper which says "103184" written in ballpoint pen. *A small cross pendant, the clasp broken. [[BACK|public restroom]]

"He who writes upon these walls rolls his shit into itty bitty balls. He who reads these words of wit, eats shose itty bitty balls of shit." -found graffitied on the far stall of the men's [[bathroom|public restroom]].

One symbol found was the sigil of Lucifuge Rofocale, a triangle with the two side lines curling together up above the top point of the triangle with an X across the base, the inversion of one of the symbols used to represent Lucifer. Lucifuge is considered one of eleven lords of Hell, ruling over the qliphoth of Sathariel. The symbol is the less-common one used by occult orders, not the more complicated-looking circular sigil found in the //ars Goetia//. This may be indicative of the symbol having been placed there by actual occultists and not by angsty Satan-obsessed teenagers. However, there is not enough to go on. [[BACK|public restroom]]

\<<set $symbol to true>> There was a small voodoo symbol in the corner of the room. It was a composite of symbols seemingly put together as a ritualistic focus. I was unfamiliar with the individual symbols, but based on Dr. McDermott's classes on syncretic traditional beliefs I can at least assume it is some kind of protective working. Since the symbol is not immediately identifiable, and incorporating my assumption that it was designed from scratch for protective purposes, this is the only symbol I found that I can positively identify as having any bearing on the case. To assert a connection would be folly, but given the fact that there is a small Brazilian population in the area it seems likely that there is a practitioner or practitioners of Candomble in the area who is aware of what has been going on here and is attempting to protet the children. [[BACK|public restroom]]

The bike path leads into the woods and circles around the entire park, arriving back on the opposite side. It doesn't lead anywhere in particular, but follows along the ridge of a hill which overlooks most of the woods. It could take about two hours to follow it. Will you [[take the path]], or [[return to the park|the Park]]?

''October 30, 1984, sunset'' Something interesting has happened. As I tried to find my way to the water reclamation plant, I became unusually lost, and my watch stopped working at exactly 1530 hours. The sun has gone down, which means it has been five to six hours since I left, even though the entire wooded area should only take around one hour total to have crossed. I am attempting to [[find my way back to the park|Park at Night]].

\<<set $tookpath to true>> ''October 30, 1145'' Agent $name begins to navigate the path after investigating the park. The process takes two and a half hours, during which time the path rises up the side of a hill bordering a residential area of Clifton and circles around the outside of the park. It eventually comes back around to re-enter on the other side of the park. During the uneventful trip, the following sights are made visible: *[[A cylindrical concrete structure.]] *[[A very large tree]] much taller and thicker than any other tree in the woods. *[[A clearing close to the entrance to the woods.]] *[[A large, stone bridge]] by the street right before [[re-entering the park]].

\<<set $sawplant to true>> The cylinder appears to belong to a water reclamation plant in the northeast corner of the woods. There are no signs that it is currently in service, and it serves as the tallest walled structure visible in the area. [[BACK|take the path]]

\<<set $sawtree to true>> There is a very large tree visible off the path in the northern section of the woods. It is at least three times thicker than any other tree visible in the woods and much taller. It is in the middle of the wood. [[BACK|take the path]]

The bridge is a stone drainage bridge going over a wooded backroad heading out of Clifton. This bridge has come to be referred to locally as the "Bunnyman Bridge," after local folklore surrounding an escaped mental patient who allegedly survived under the bridge for years while eating rabbits raw and murdering anyone who found him. Some legends have him hanging his victims in the branches around the bridge to keep others out, although no bodies have ever been recovered. \<<if $audio2 == true>>[[Investigate the bridge.|the Bridge]]<</if>> [[BACK|take the path]]

''October 30, 1984, sunset'' Something interesting has happened. As I tried to find my way back to the park, I became unusually lost, and my watch stopped working at exactly 1530 hours. The sun has gone down, which means it has been five to six hours since I left, even though the entire wooded area should only take around one hour total to have crossed. I am attempting to [[find my way back to the park|Park at Night]].

A faded and threadbare blue blanket, stiff with an assortment of dried liquids. On further investigation, it seems as though the middle of the blanket is clumped together with a large quantity of dried blood. [[BACK|the Bridge]]

''October 30, 1984 - Night'' Agent $name finds himself at this point in the park, although the record indicates that the time it took to traverse the area in no way should have [[taken that long]]. It is very dark in the area, as the street lights meant to light the park are not on. [[The playground]] and [[signage]] visible in the area are completely unlit. The park is closed at this time, and the public restroom has been locked since 1800 hours (according to the time listed on the main park sign). The [[walking path|weathered trail night]] into the woods leads off to the north. <<if $sign == true>> The bike path would be too dangerous to take in this darkness. Go toward the [[water reclamation area|wra night]]. <</if>>

Upon entering the clearing and looking around for a while, it seems as though there is nothing here worth investigating. [[BACK|re-entering the park]]

The main path leads close to a hill face walling off the northern edge of the forest from a residential area within the Clifton town limits. <<if $sawtree == true>>The [[large tree]] that was visible from before stands about fifty yards off the trail to the north.<<else>>The area can be landmarked by a large tree visible just off the path to the north.<</if>> The main path heads [[east|near the plant]] and back [[south|weathered trail]] from this point. Nothing unusual discovered in this area.

\<<set $sawclearing to true>> Not very deep into the woods is a clearing not seemingly connected to any path, even though it is relatively close to the entrance to the walking path. [[BACK|take the path]]

After a short hike through underbrush roughly 45 yards north-northwest of the trail, I came upon a very large tree that appears considerably older than any of the trees around it. There seem to be fragments of rope tied around and dangling from several of the thicker horizontal branches. There also seems to be some [[rubble]] out in the brush. [[BACK|main path daytime]]

The northeast corner of the woods, roughly a half-hour walk from the entrance at the park, passes near the [[water reclamation area]]. <<if $sawplant == true>>The plant visible from the upper path<<else>>A large concrete reclamation plant<</if>> stands in the brush just off the path. The path continues to the [[west|main path daytime]] and [[south|near the bridge daytime]] at this point.

There is rubble surrounding the tree which was inaccessible due to being deeply buried in the underbrush. It seems from here to be from the foundations of buildings laid out in a radial pattern from the tree, indicating (along with the ropes in the branches) that this was the central point of a town at one point, and the tree itself had been used for public hangings. Interestingly, the age of the surrounding trees indicate this town would have been much older than Old Clifton. However, indigenous peoples of this area didn't use stone in their buildings, settling primarily on wood or leather huts. [[BACK|large tree]]

The path at this point leads [[north|near the plant]] toward the water reclamation area and southeast toward [[a stone bridge]] over the road. There is nothing unusual to be found along this stretch.

The path leads to the bridge known by locals as the "Bunnyman Bridge." It is a stone bridge crossing over a riverbed which is currently completely dry. There are several areas of it where graffiti has been obviously whitewashed, but there are several fresh tags and gang signs, among several curse words and a large "HE IS COMING" spraypainted in green above a yellow pair of eyes. There seemed to be no activity here at the time, and no evidence of previous activity outside some scorch marks low on the wall likely due to a small campfire. A path leads to the nearby [[park|re-entering the park]].

Current suspicions regarding this phenomena lean heavily toward Agent $name having encountered some kind of temporal distortion, as has been encountered by ESPER agents on many occassions when nearing the epicenter of supernatural activity. Future investigations of this area must be done, although it is recommended that we do this without the knowledge of the local community. [[BACK|Park at Night]]

{ <<if $playground == false>>The playground equipment includes a tall slide, a swingset with three regular swings and one baby cradle swing, one see-saw, and one merry-go-round. There are four instances of gang markings, seven personal tags, and two crudely-drawn penises drawn on them, mainly with magic marker. There is a [[sandbox|The sandbox appears different as well.]] nearby as well.<<else>>''Agent $name Personal Note:'' A dimensional inversion has been detected. During the day, I recorded this playground as appearing "new and in good repair." However, with the sun having gone down, it now appears very old, rusted, and dilapidated. There is considerably more graffiti on it than before, so much so and so corroded by rust that I can no longer identify exactly how much. [[The sandbox appears different as well.]]<</if> } [[BACK|Park at Night]]

<<if $sign == true>>''Agent $name Personal Note:'' A dimensional inversion has been detected. During the day, I recorded the signage here as being legible and only covered in a few pieces of graffiti. However, it now appears as though the paint is flaking off, the wood is splintered and rotting, and the amount of graffiti has increased drastically. The signs are no longer legible. <<else>>The signage here is much too old and decrepit to be legible.<</if>> [[BACK|Park at Night]]

\<<if $sawclearing == true>>Near the entrance to the path is a smaller trail that leads off to a small [[clearing|clearing night]]/<</if>> The path continues on for quite some time to the [[north|main path night]]. [[Continue investigating this area.]] <><<set $turns to turns +1>><<if $turns == 2>>The shadows on the edges of the woods seem to be taking on a life of their own in this location. Cannot determine whether this is natural visual matrixing from the dark or the beginning of visual hallucinatory effects.<<else if $turns == 4>>The shadows are now definitely taking on the appearance of hanging/swinging bodies beyond the treeline. Attempts to approach them or shine my flashlight on them result in the image fading into the shadows.<<else if $turns == 6>>Auditory hallucination effects now beginning. A moment ago I believed I was hearing the creaking of the ropes, but passed it off as branches. I now hear moaning coming from the bodies.<<else if $turns == 8>>The auditory hallucinations are getting worse. I've identified two distinct whispered phrases, out of hundreds of different voices, saying "Kill yourself" and "He's coming for you." Will Meditation #13 emloyed for ten minutes. Will continue...<<else if $turns == 10>>The eyes of the bodies have begun to glow a clear red color, and leave trails as the swing back and forth. Nothing more to report, yet.<<else if $turns == 15>>Things are getting bad. Meditations not working. They keep coming back. I understand I'm panicking, but the kid may be in danger... I can't afford to follow protocol on this one. Pressing on.<<else if $turns == 20>>Jesus, they're getting to me now. I need to get out of here, and I'm sorry if I don't because I didn't follow the protocols. Time to fly.<<else if $turns == 25>>God, why is it so hard to think. I see the eyes moving away from the trees, but at least my flashlight still keeps them back.<<else if $turns == 30>>Agent $name reporting, think I'm going mad, not sure yet. Dying?<<else if $turns == 35>>''COMMAND NOTE:''// At this point the text written by Agent $name becomes garbled, with a few curse words scattered throughout. At this time we have not been able to establish why just this one paragraph was like this, but it is likely due to the effects that had been taking place up to this point.//<<else if $turns == 40>>Things are getting bad now. I want to go home.<<else if $turns gte 45>>I can't keep going...<</if>><>

As I began walking toward the water reclamation area, I began to feel a deepening knot in my stomach, and believe I am beginning to have mild hallucinations, although these may be just matrixing from the darkness. The branches seem as though they have [[bodies hanging]] from them. This coincides with the local legends and conforms to the shapes and movement of the branches, so it seems likely that I am just imagining things. [[I believe continuing on would be an acceptable risk|Dead End]] [[It is probably better if I turn back|Park at Night]]

The paint on the sandbox is flaked off heavily, but appears once to have been a dark red color. The sand appears clumped by liquids of unknown origin. Digging in the sand revealed several rib bones from an animal the size of a dog. [[BACK|The playground]]

''NOTE FROM COMMAND:'' //On October 31, 1984, at 0915, the body of Special Investigative Agent $name was found by a jogger passing by the old stone bridge in Clifton, VA. The preceding case files have been compiled based on the notes found with the body. Cause of death remains unknown, and the case Agent $name was investigating remains open. Dennis Russel remains missing. -Rev. Dr. Ian James McDermott Chief Investigator, ESPER [[Start Again|Introduction]]

<<if $clearing == false>>Entering the clearing visible from the path, I first noticed that there was what appeared to be firelight glowing in the clearing as I approached. Once I arrived in the clearing, it became obvious there had never been a fire there at all. It is my current supposition that this location, and possibly this entire section of forest, is operating under supernatural conditions.<<set $clearing to true>> <</if>> The clearing is dark now, and can barely be illuminated by my flashlight. It is dark enough that the [[area beyond the trees]] is completely black, and the darkness refuses any attempt by my flashflight to penetrate it. Outside of this phenomena, there seems nothing of interest here. It seems likely this may be a location of some significance, but there is currently no activity here. <><<set $turns to turns +1>> <<if $turns == 2>>The shadows on the edges of the woods seem to be taking on a life of their own in this location. Cannot determine whether this is natural visual matrixing from the dark or the beginning of visual hallucinatory effects.<<else if $turns == 4>>The shadows are now definitely taking on the appearance of hanging/swinging bodies beyond the treeline. Attempts to approach them or shine my flashlight on them result in the image fading into the shadows. <<else if $turns == 6>>Auditory hallucination effects now beginning. A moment ago I believed I was hearing the creaking of the ropes, but passed it off as branches. I now hear moaning coming from the bodies.<<else if $turns == 8>>The auditory hallucinations are getting worse. I've identified two distinct whispered phrases, out of hundreds of different voices, saying "Kill yourself" and "He's coming for you." Will Meditation #13 emloyed for ten minutes. Will continue...<<else if $turns == 10>>The eyes of the bodies have begun to glow a clear red color, and leave trails as the swing back and forth. Nothing more to report, yet.<<else if $turns == 15>>Things are getting bad. Meditations not working. They keep coming back. I understand I'm panicking, but the kid may be in danger... I can't afford to follow protocol on this one. Pressing on.<<else if $turns == 20>>Jesus, they're getting to me now. I need to get out of here, and I'm sorry if I don't because I didn't follow the protocols. Time to fly.<<else if $turns == 25>>God, why is it so hard to think. I see the eyes moving away from the trees, but at least my flashlight still keeps them back.<<else if $turns == 30>>Agent $name reporting, think I'm going mad, not sure yet. Dying?<<else if $turns == 35>>''COMMAND NOTE:''// At this point the text written by Agent $name becomes garbled, with a few curse words scattered throughout. At this time we have not been able to establish why just this one paragraph was like this, but it is likely due to the effects that had been taking place up to this point.//<<else if $turns == 40>>Things are getting bad now. I want to go home.<<else if $turns gte 45>>I can't keep going...<</if>><> [[Back to the trail|weathered trail night]].

The main path leads close to a hill face walling off the northern edge of the forest from a residential area within the Clifton town limits. <<if $sawtree == true>>The [[large tree night]] that was visible from before stands about fifty yards off the trail to the north.<<else>>The area can be landmarked by a large tree visible just off the path to the north.<</if>> <><<set $turns to turns +1>> <<if $turns == 2>>The shadows on the edges of the woods seem to be taking on a life of their own in this location. Cannot determine whether this is natural visual matrixing from the dark or the beginning of visual hallucinatory effects.<<else if $turns == 4>>The shadows are now definitely taking on the appearance of hanging/swinging bodies beyond the treeline. Attempts to approach them or shine my flashlight on them result in the image fading into the shadows. <<else if $turns == 6>>Auditory hallucination effects now beginning. A moment ago I believed I was hearing the creaking of the ropes, but passed it off as branches. I now hear moaning coming from the bodies.<<else if $turns == 8>>The auditory hallucinations are getting worse. I've identified two distinct whispered phrases, out of hundreds of different voices, saying "Kill yourself" and "He's coming for you." Will Meditation #13 emloyed for ten minutes. Will continue...<<else if $turns == 10>>The eyes of the bodies have begun to glow a clear red color, and leave trails as the swing back and forth. Nothing more to report, yet.<<else if $turns == 15>>Things are getting bad. Meditations not working. They keep coming back. I understand I'm panicking, but the kid may be in danger... I can't afford to follow protocol on this one. Pressing on.<<else if $turns == 20>>Jesus, they're getting to me now. I need to get out of here, and I'm sorry if I don't because I didn't follow the protocols. Time to fly.<<else if $turns == 25>>God, why is it so hard to think. I see the eyes moving away from the trees, but at least my flashlight still keeps them back.<<else if $turns == 30>>Agent $name reporting, think I'm going mad, not sure yet. Dying?<<else if $turns == 35>>''COMMAND NOTE:''// At this point the text written by Agent $name becomes garbled, with a few curse words scattered throughout. At this time we have not been able to establish why just this one paragraph was like this, but it is likely due to the effects that had been taking place up to this point.//<<else if $turns == 40>>Things are getting bad now. I want to go home.<<else if $turns gte 45>>I can't keep going...<</if>><> The main path heads [[east|near the plant night]] and back [[south|weathered trail night]] from this point.

After some investigation of the area, it becomes apparent that the entrance to the park has shifted locations. Although I had only just left the park, I started walking back in that direction and walked for around a half hour. Hypotheses: *[[Temporal Loop]] *[[Plane Shift]] *[[Alteration of the Material Plane]] <><<set $turns to turns +1>> <<if $turns == 2>>The shadows on the edges of the woods seem to be taking on a life of their own in this location. Cannot determine whether this is natural visual matrixing from the dark or the beginning of visual hallucinatory effects.<<else if $turns == 4>>The shadows are now definitely taking on the appearance of hanging/swinging bodies beyond the treeline. Attempts to approach them or shine my flashlight on them result in the image fading into the shadows. <<else if $turns == 6>>Auditory hallucination effects now beginning. A moment ago I believed I was hearing the creaking of the ropes, but passed it off as branches. I now hear moaning coming from the bodies.<<else if $turns == 8>>The auditory hallucinations are getting worse. I've identified two distinct whispered phrases, out of hundreds of different voices, saying "Kill yourself" and "He's coming for you." Will Meditation #13 emloyed for ten minutes. Will continue...<<else if $turns == 10>>The eyes of the bodies have begun to glow a clear red color, and leave trails as the swing back and forth. Nothing more to report, yet.<<else if $turns == 15>>Things are getting bad. Meditations not working. They keep coming back. I understand I'm panicking, but the kid may be in danger... I can't afford to follow protocol on this one. Pressing on.<<else if $turns == 20>>Jesus, they're getting to me now. I need to get out of here, and I'm sorry if I don't because I didn't follow the protocols. Time to fly.<<else if $turns == 25>>God, why is it so hard to think. I see the eyes moving away from the trees, but at least my flashlight still keeps them back.<<else if $turns == 30>>Agent $name reporting, think I'm going mad, not sure yet. Dying?<<else if $turns == 35>>''COMMAND NOTE:''// At this point the text written by Agent $name becomes garbled, with a few curse words scattered throughout. At this time we have not been able to establish why just this one paragraph was like this, but it is likely due to the effects that had been taking place up to this point.//<<else if $turns == 40>>Things are getting bad now. I want to go home.<<else if $turns gte 45>>I can't keep going...<</if>><> The only way to go now is [[back to the trail|weathered trail night]].

''Hypothesis: Temporal Loop'' It is possible that I've been locked into an area which alters time in such a way that time is either looped, slowed, or stopped around me in such a way that progress back down the path is perpetually hindered. In this case, it seems likely a southward time dilation or loop effecting only the area, which causes my velocity in that direction to be slowed or stopped without my ability to perceive it. Because it seems to be a local phenomena which doesn't occur during the day, I believe that I should be able to make it back this way if I can outlast the night. Temperatures are supposed to drop to 14F tonight. [[Continue investigating this area.]]

''Hypothesis: Plane Shift'' There is the possibility that I have transferred into a different plane of existence. The mechanism for this transferral is unknown, although the most common explanation is a time-based phenomena (often these things only happen during certain times, in this case being between dusk and dawn) which occurs around areas of powerful supernatural occurences. In many such cases, the alternate plane of reality is a pocket-dimension created by the occurence, and is not connected to any other known planes. The best possibility of escape in this case will be to find the source of the disturbance and destroy or otherwise disable it. [[Continue investigating this area.]]

''Hypothesis: Alteration of the Material Plane'' There is a likelihood, as I have not yet encountered any other unusual visual disturbances, that I am still existing on the material plane, but that there has been some alteration to it. In this case, I would posit the existence of a hyperloop of space made to look like the woods that goes on indefinitely in this direction which has been placed here specifically to hold me hostage. These are often produced by means of magick or hyper-advanced technology. In both cases, certain objects or markings would have to be placed at certain points in the woods around me. The only way to continue in the direction I wish to go would be to find these objects or markings, which could be located on trees, up in them, buried in the ground, or even circling the planet on some kind of satellite. The best option in this instance seems to be going in a different direction. [[Continue investigating this area.]]

I'm walking down a path toward the water reclamation plant I dont think its there I dont think ill ever find it i have been walking for hours there are shadows in the wood people hanging children crying [[i see Him coming|The End]] ... .. .

On closer inspection, I can say with all readiness of mind that I am, in fact, hallucinating bodies hanging from the trees. This investigation has become dangerous, and I believe now that the path that leads directly from the park to the water reclaation area may not even really exist. It is probably a good idea to turn [[back|wra night]].

Approaching the edge of the clearing and looking out, I become immediately aware that the beam of my flashlight has stopped making any kind of light whatsoever past the border of the woods. This has, in times past, been indicative of an area of supernatural influence (ref: [[NOATH]]), and it would seem unlikely that entering the woods here would be a good idea. I would suggest that ESPER agents be sent to investigate the phenomena here further, as a thorough exploration of the events taking place here would be outside the scope of the investigation into Denny's disappearance. If this is the reason he's missing, I am not prepared to deal with it alone. <><<set $turns to turns +1>> <<if $turns == 2>>The shadows on the edges of the woods seem to be taking on a life of their own in this location. Cannot determine whether this is natural visual matrixing from the dark or the beginning of visual hallucinatory effects.<<else if $turns == 4>>The shadows are now definitely taking on the appearance of hanging/swinging bodies beyond the treeline. Attempts to approach them or shine my flashlight on them result in the image fading into the shadows. <<else if $turns == 6>>Auditory hallucination effects now beginning. A moment ago I believed I was hearing the creaking of the ropes, but passed it off as branches. I now hear moaning coming from the bodies.<<else if $turns == 8>>The auditory hallucinations are getting worse. I've identified two distinct whispered phrases, out of hundreds of different voices, saying "Kill yourself" and "He's coming for you." Will Meditation #13 emloyed for ten minutes. Will continue...<<else if $turns == 10>>The eyes of the bodies have begun to glow a clear red color, and leave trails as the swing back and forth. Nothing more to report, yet.<<else if $turns == 15>>Things are getting bad. Meditations not working. They keep coming back. I understand I'm panicking, but the kid may be in danger... I can't afford to follow protocol on this one. Pressing on.<<else if $turns == 20>>Jesus, they're getting to me now. I need to get out of here, and I'm sorry if I don't because I didn't follow the protocols. Time to fly.<<else if $turns == 25>>God, why is it so hard to think. I see the eyes moving away from the trees, but at least my flashlight still keeps them back.<<else if $turns == 30>>Agent $name reporting, think I'm going mad, not sure yet. Dying?<<else if $turns == 35>>''COMMAND NOTE:''// At this point the text written by Agent $name becomes garbled, with a few curse words scattered throughout. At this time we have not been able to establish why just this one paragraph was like this, but it is likely due to the effects that had been taking place up to this point.//<<else if $turns == 40>>Things are getting bad now. I want to go home.<<else if $turns gte 45>>I can't keep going...<</if>><> [[BACK|clearing night]]

''ESPER FILES ARCHIVED CASE INFORMATION'' //Case Designation: The Night of a Thousand Hells// NOATH is the designation for the case that initiated the Funk Club (predecessor to ESPER). Taking place at a Baptist seminary in 1963 where Ian James McDermott (currently Rev. Dr. Ian James McDermott, D.Div., co-founder of ESPER and Chief Investigative Lead) was enrolled in his second year, the case involved a month-long haunting of the men's dormitory. This haunting became a series of demonic possessions, and on May 31, 1963 culminated into the full-body manifestation of the entity designated Smiley (The Tall Man, AKA ABOULLABOUSH ABOMINAHERE). The casualties of the night included Daniel Redmond (unnatural immolation), Steven Locane (self-inflicted gunshot wound), Michael Danrubis (asphyxiation by choking), four cats and a number of mice and insects living under the dormitory (boiled to death despite an external temperature of 48 F). In the years since, 31 total individuals (only 6 of which were present on the original NOATH) have committed suicide simply due to secondhand knowledge of the event. [[BACK|area beyond the trees]]

After a short hike through underbrush roughly 45 yards north-northwest of the trail, I came upon a [[very large tree]] that appears considerably older than any of the trees around it. There seem to be [[fragments of rope]] tied around and dangling from several of the thicker horizontal branches. Outside of the treeline can be seen nothing but [[darkness]]. <><<set $turns to turns +1>> <<if $turns == 2>>The shadows on the edges of the woods seem to be taking on a life of their own in this location. Cannot determine whether this is natural visual matrixing from the dark or the beginning of visual hallucinatory effects.<<else if $turns == 4>>The shadows are now definitely taking on the appearance of hanging/swinging bodies beyond the treeline. Attempts to approach them or shine my flashlight on them result in the image fading into the shadows. <<else if $turns == 6>>Auditory hallucination effects now beginning. A moment ago I believed I was hearing the creaking of the ropes, but passed it off as branches. I now hear moaning coming from the bodies.<<else if $turns == 8>>The auditory hallucinations are getting worse. I've identified two distinct whispered phrases, out of hundreds of different voices, saying "Kill yourself" and "He's coming for you." Will Meditation #13 emloyed for ten minutes. Will continue...<<else if $turns == 10>>The eyes of the bodies have begun to glow a clear red color, and leave trails as the swing back and forth. Nothing more to report, yet.<<else if $turns == 15>>Things are getting bad. Meditations not working. They keep coming back. I understand I'm panicking, but the kid may be in danger... I can't afford to follow protocol on this one. Pressing on.<<else if $turns == 20>>Jesus, they're getting to me now. I need to get out of here, and I'm sorry if I don't because I didn't follow the protocols. Time to fly.<<else if $turns == 25>>God, why is it so hard to think. I see the eyes moving away from the trees, but at least my flashlight still keeps them back.<<else if $turns == 30>>Agent $name reporting, think I'm going mad, not sure yet. Dying?<<else if $turns == 35>>''COMMAND NOTE:''// At this point the text written by Agent $name becomes garbled, with a few curse words scattered throughout. At this time we have not been able to establish why just this one paragraph was like this, but it is likely due to the effects that had been taking place up to this point.//<<else if $turns == 40>>Things are getting bad now. I want to go home.<<else if $turns gte 45>>I can't keep going...<</if>><> [[BACK|main path night]]

The northeast corner of the woods passes near the [[water reclamation area|water reclamation area night]]. <<if $sawplant == true>>The [[plant|plant night]] visible from the upper path<<else>>A large concrete reclamation plant<</if>> stands in the brush just off the path. <><<set $turns to turns +1>> <<if $turns == 2>>The shadows on the edges of the woods seem to be taking on a life of their own in this location. Cannot determine whether this is natural visual matrixing from the dark or the beginning of visual hallucinatory effects.<<else if $turns == 4>>The shadows are now definitely taking on the appearance of hanging/swinging bodies beyond the treeline. Attempts to approach them or shine my flashlight on them result in the image fading into the shadows. <<else if $turns == 6>>Auditory hallucination effects now beginning. A moment ago I believed I was hearing the creaking of the ropes, but passed it off as branches. I now hear moaning coming from the bodies.<<else if $turns == 8>>The auditory hallucinations are getting worse. I've identified two distinct whispered phrases, out of hundreds of different voices, saying "Kill yourself" and "He's coming for you." Will Meditation #13 emloyed for ten minutes. Will continue...<<else if $turns == 10>>The eyes of the bodies have begun to glow a clear red color, and leave trails as the swing back and forth. Nothing more to report, yet.<<else if $turns == 15>>Things are getting bad. Meditations not working. They keep coming back. I understand I'm panicking, but the kid may be in danger... I can't afford to follow protocol on this one. Pressing on.<<else if $turns == 20>>Jesus, they're getting to me now. I need to get out of here, and I'm sorry if I don't because I didn't follow the protocols. Time to fly.<<else if $turns == 25>>God, why is it so hard to think. I see the eyes moving away from the trees, but at least my flashlight still keeps them back.<<else if $turns == 30>>Agent $name reporting, think I'm going mad, not sure yet. Dying?<<else if $turns == 35>>''COMMAND NOTE:''// At this point the text written by Agent $name becomes garbled, with a few curse words scattered throughout. At this time we have not been able to establish why just this one paragraph was like this, but it is likely due to the effects that had been taking place up to this point.//<<else if $turns == 40>>Things are getting bad now. I want to go home.<<else if $turns gte 45>>I can't keep going...<</if>><> The path continues to the [[west|main path night]] and [[south|near the bridge night]] at this point.

<<if $box == true>>The tree seems to have only contained the box.<<else>>The tree has a rather large hole toward the bottom, hidden by overgrowth. Inside, I discovered a [[small lockbox]].<</if>> <><<set $turns to turns +1>> <<if $turns == 2>>The shadows on the edges of the woods seem to be taking on a life of their own in this location. Cannot determine whether this is natural visual matrixing from the dark or the beginning of visual hallucinatory effects.<<else if $turns == 4>>The shadows are now definitely taking on the appearance of hanging/swinging bodies beyond the treeline. Attempts to approach them or shine my flashlight on them result in the image fading into the shadows. <<else if $turns == 6>>Auditory hallucination effects now beginning. A moment ago I believed I was hearing the creaking of the ropes, but passed it off as branches. I now hear moaning coming from the bodies.<<else if $turns == 8>>The auditory hallucinations are getting worse. I've identified two distinct whispered phrases, out of hundreds of different voices, saying "Kill yourself" and "He's coming for you." Will Meditation #13 emloyed for ten minutes. Will continue...<<else if $turns == 10>>The eyes of the bodies have begun to glow a clear red color, and leave trails as the swing back and forth. Nothing more to report, yet.<<else if $turns == 15>>Things are getting bad. Meditations not working. They keep coming back. I understand I'm panicking, but the kid may be in danger... I can't afford to follow protocol on this one. Pressing on.<<else if $turns == 20>>Jesus, they're getting to me now. I need to get out of here, and I'm sorry if I don't because I didn't follow the protocols. Time to fly.<<else if $turns == 25>>God, why is it so hard to think. I see the eyes moving away from the trees, but at least my flashlight still keeps them back.<<else if $turns == 30>>Agent $name reporting, think I'm going mad, not sure yet. Dying?<<else if $turns == 35>>''COMMAND NOTE:''// At this point the text written by Agent $name becomes garbled, with a few curse words scattered throughout. At this time we have not been able to establish why just this one paragraph was like this, but it is likely due to the effects that had been taking place up to this point.//<<else if $turns == 40>>Things are getting bad now. I want to go home.<<else if $turns gte 45>>I can't keep going...<</if>><> [[BACK|large tree night]]

Fragments of rope hang up in the tree, some of which are definitely real and some of which disappear as I pass the beam of my flashlight over them. The latter seem to have bodies formed of shadow hanging from them when my light is not directly on them. <><<set $turns to turns +1>> <<if $turns == 2>>The shadows on the edges of the woods seem to be taking on a life of their own in this location. Cannot determine whether this is natural visual matrixing from the dark or the beginning of visual hallucinatory effects.<<else if $turns == 4>>The shadows are now definitely taking on the appearance of hanging/swinging bodies beyond the treeline. Attempts to approach them or shine my flashlight on them result in the image fading into the shadows. <<else if $turns == 6>>Auditory hallucination effects now beginning. A moment ago I believed I was hearing the creaking of the ropes, but passed it off as branches. I now hear moaning coming from the bodies.<<else if $turns == 8>>The auditory hallucinations are getting worse. I've identified two distinct whispered phrases, out of hundreds of different voices, saying "Kill yourself" and "He's coming for you." Will Meditation #13 emloyed for ten minutes. Will continue...<<else if $turns == 10>>The eyes of the bodies have begun to glow a clear red color, and leave trails as the swing back and forth. Nothing more to report, yet.<<else if $turns == 15>>Things are getting bad. Meditations not working. They keep coming back. I understand I'm panicking, but the kid may be in danger... I can't afford to follow protocol on this one. Pressing on.<<else if $turns == 20>>Jesus, they're getting to me now. I need to get out of here, and I'm sorry if I don't because I didn't follow the protocols. Time to fly.<<else if $turns == 25>>God, why is it so hard to think. I see the eyes moving away from the trees, but at least my flashlight still keeps them back.<<else if $turns == 30>>Agent $name reporting, think I'm going mad, not sure yet. Dying?<<else if $turns == 35>>''COMMAND NOTE:''// At this point the text written by Agent $name becomes garbled, with a few curse words scattered throughout. At this time we have not been able to establish why just this one paragraph was like this, but it is likely due to the effects that had been taking place up to this point.//<<else if $turns == 40>>Things are getting bad now. I want to go home.<<else if $turns gte 45>>I can't keep going...<</if>><> [[BACK|large tree night]]

The darkness seems to be supernatural in nature. There is clearly a [[full moon]] out tonight, but no light is penetrating the trees, including my flashlight. I expended one emergency flare, and it seemed to disappear completely once it passed the treeline. <><<set $turns to turns +1>> <<if $turns == 2>>The shadows on the edges of the woods seem to be taking on a life of their own in this location. Cannot determine whether this is natural visual matrixing from the dark or the beginning of visual hallucinatory effects.<<else if $turns == 4>>The shadows are now definitely taking on the appearance of hanging/swinging bodies beyond the treeline. Attempts to approach them or shine my flashlight on them result in the image fading into the shadows. <<else if $turns == 6>>Auditory hallucination effects now beginning. A moment ago I believed I was hearing the creaking of the ropes, but passed it off as branches. I now hear moaning coming from the bodies.<<else if $turns == 8>>The auditory hallucinations are getting worse. I've identified two distinct whispered phrases, out of hundreds of different voices, saying "Kill yourself" and "He's coming for you." Will Meditation #13 emloyed for ten minutes. Will continue...<<else if $turns == 10>>The eyes of the bodies have begun to glow a clear red color, and leave trails as the swing back and forth. Nothing more to report, yet.<<else if $turns == 15>>Things are getting bad. Meditations not working. They keep coming back. I understand I'm panicking, but the kid may be in danger... I can't afford to follow protocol on this one. Pressing on.<<else if $turns == 20>>Jesus, they're getting to me now. I need to get out of here, and I'm sorry if I don't because I didn't follow the protocols. Time to fly.<<else if $turns == 25>>God, why is it so hard to think. I see the eyes moving away from the trees, but at least my flashlight still keeps them back.<<else if $turns == 30>>Agent $name reporting, think I'm going mad, not sure yet. Dying?<<else if $turns == 35>>''COMMAND NOTE:''// At this point the text written by Agent $name becomes garbled, with a few curse words scattered throughout. At this time we have not been able to establish why just this one paragraph was like this, but it is likely due to the effects that had been taking place up to this point.//<<else if $turns == 40>>Things are getting bad now. I want to go home.<<else if $turns gte 45>>I can't keep going...<</if>><> [[BACK|large tree night]]

\<<set $date == true>> ''HYPOTHESIS:'' Tonight is no longer October 30th. The moon is completely full. I believe the time distortion I experienced earlier forwarded time a full day, not just several hours as I had believed. It is currently October 31st, Samhain, the Eve of All Hallows, and if I am not mistaken, this missing child case just became a possible cult sacrifice. <><<set $turns to turns +1>> <<if $turns == 2>>The shadows on the edges of the woods seem to be taking on a life of their own in this location. Cannot determine whether this is natural visual matrixing from the dark or the beginning of visual hallucinatory effects.<<else if $turns == 4>>The shadows are now definitely taking on the appearance of hanging/swinging bodies beyond the treeline. Attempts to approach them or shine my flashlight on them result in the image fading into the shadows. <<else if $turns == 6>>Auditory hallucination effects now beginning. A moment ago I believed I was hearing the creaking of the ropes, but passed it off as branches. I now hear moaning coming from the bodies.<<else if $turns == 8>>The auditory hallucinations are getting worse. I've identified two distinct whispered phrases, out of hundreds of different voices, saying "Kill yourself" and "He's coming for you." Will Meditation #13 emloyed for ten minutes. Will continue...<<else if $turns == 10>>The eyes of the bodies have begun to glow a clear red color, and leave trails as the swing back and forth. Nothing more to report, yet.<<else if $turns == 15>>Things are getting bad. Meditations not working. They keep coming back. I understand I'm panicking, but the kid may be in danger... I can't afford to follow protocol on this one. Pressing on.<<else if $turns == 20>>Jesus, they're getting to me now. I need to get out of here, and I'm sorry if I don't because I didn't follow the protocols. Time to fly.<<else if $turns == 25>>God, why is it so hard to think. I see the eyes moving away from the trees, but at least my flashlight still keeps them back.<<else if $turns == 30>>Agent $name reporting, think I'm going mad, not sure yet. Dying?<<else if $turns == 35>>''COMMAND NOTE:''// At this point the text written by Agent $name becomes garbled, with a few curse words scattered throughout. At this time we have not been able to establish why just this one paragraph was like this, but it is likely due to the effects that had been taking place up to this point.//<<else if $turns == 40>>Things are getting bad now. I want to go home.<<else if $turns gte 45>>I can't keep going...<</if>><> [[BACK|large tree night]]

Inside the tree was a small box. It is 12 inches cubed, and made of titanium with a 6-digit combination code. <<if $locker == true>>I had found the passcode ''[[103184]]'' in the locker and was able to open the box.<<else>>I did not have the combination, and so carried the box with me.>> <><<set $turns to turns +1>> <<if $turns == 2>>The shadows on the edges of the woods seem to be taking on a life of their own in this location. Cannot determine whether this is natural visual matrixing from the dark or the beginning of visual hallucinatory effects.<<else if $turns == 4>>The shadows are now definitely taking on the appearance of hanging/swinging bodies beyond the treeline. Attempts to approach them or shine my flashlight on them result in the image fading into the shadows. <<else if $turns == 6>>Auditory hallucination effects now beginning. A moment ago I believed I was hearing the creaking of the ropes, but passed it off as branches. I now hear moaning coming from the bodies.<<else if $turns == 8>>The auditory hallucinations are getting worse. I've identified two distinct whispered phrases, out of hundreds of different voices, saying "Kill yourself" and "He's coming for you." Will Meditation #13 emloyed for ten minutes. Will continue...<<else if $turns == 10>>The eyes of the bodies have begun to glow a clear red color, and leave trails as the swing back and forth. Nothing more to report, yet.<<else if $turns == 15>>Things are getting bad. Meditations not working. They keep coming back. I understand I'm panicking, but the kid may be in danger... I can't afford to follow protocol on this one. Pressing on.<<else if $turns == 20>>Jesus, they're getting to me now. I need to get out of here, and I'm sorry if I don't because I didn't follow the protocols. Time to fly.<<else if $turns == 25>>God, why is it so hard to think. I see the eyes moving away from the trees, but at least my flashlight still keeps them back.<<else if $turns == 30>>Agent $name reporting, think I'm going mad, not sure yet. Dying?<<else if $turns == 35>>''COMMAND NOTE:''// At this point the text written by Agent $name becomes garbled, with a few curse words scattered throughout. At this time we have not been able to establish why just this one paragraph was like this, but it is likely due to the effects that had been taking place up to this point.//<<else if $turns == 40>>Things are getting bad now. I want to go home.<<else if $turns gte 45>>I can't keep going...<</if>><> [[BACK|large tree night]]

Opening the box, I discovered a small collection of objects that look like they might belong to a young child, although somewhat younger than Dennis Russell. Included inside the box was: *One small green plastic army man *Three rubber jacks (red, blue, and green) *One multi-colored rubber ball *One sock, decorated with illustrations of Batman, sized for younger children *A blue plastic children's watch, stopped at 1533 <><<set $turns to turns +1>> <<if $turns == 2>>The shadows on the edges of the woods seem to be taking on a life of their own in this location. Cannot determine whether this is natural visual matrixing from the dark or the beginning of visual hallucinatory effects.<<else if $turns == 4>>The shadows are now definitely taking on the appearance of hanging/swinging bodies beyond the treeline. Attempts to approach them or shine my flashlight on them result in the image fading into the shadows. <<else if $turns == 6>>Auditory hallucination effects now beginning. A moment ago I believed I was hearing the creaking of the ropes, but passed it off as branches. I now hear moaning coming from the bodies.<<else if $turns == 8>>The auditory hallucinations are getting worse. I've identified two distinct whispered phrases, out of hundreds of different voices, saying "Kill yourself" and "He's coming for you." Will Meditation #13 emloyed for ten minutes. Will continue...<<else if $turns == 10>>The eyes of the bodies have begun to glow a clear red color, and leave trails as the swing back and forth. Nothing more to report, yet.<<else if $turns == 15>>Things are getting bad. Meditations not working. They keep coming back. I understand I'm panicking, but the kid may be in danger... I can't afford to follow protocol on this one. Pressing on.<<else if $turns == 20>>Jesus, they're getting to me now. I need to get out of here, and I'm sorry if I don't because I didn't follow the protocols. Time to fly.<<else if $turns == 25>>God, why is it so hard to think. I see the eyes moving away from the trees, but at least my flashlight still keeps them back.<<else if $turns == 30>>Agent $name reporting, think I'm going mad, not sure yet. Dying?<<else if $turns == 35>>''COMMAND NOTE:''// At this point the text written by Agent $name becomes garbled, with a few curse words scattered throughout. At this time we have not been able to establish why just this one paragraph was like this, but it is likely due to the effects that had been taking place up to this point.//<<else if $turns == 40>>Things are getting bad now. I want to go home.<<else if $turns gte 45>>I can't keep going...<</if>><> [[BACK|large tree night]]

As I began walking toward the water reclamation area, I began to feel extremely sick. The strange things I've been seeing and hearing become magnified, and I begin to feel as though I'm either drunk or experiencing severe vertigo (or some combination thereof). <><<set $turns to turns +1>> <<if $turns == 2>>The shadows on the edges of the woods seem to be taking on a life of their own in this location. Cannot determine whether this is natural visual matrixing from the dark or the beginning of visual hallucinatory effects.<<else if $turns == 4>>The shadows are now definitely taking on the appearance of hanging/swinging bodies beyond the treeline. Attempts to approach them or shine my flashlight on them result in the image fading into the shadows. <<else if $turns == 6>>Auditory hallucination effects now beginning. A moment ago I believed I was hearing the creaking of the ropes, but passed it off as branches. I now hear moaning coming from the bodies.<<else if $turns == 8>>The auditory hallucinations are getting worse. I've identified two distinct whispered phrases, out of hundreds of different voices, saying "Kill yourself" and "He's coming for you." Will Meditation #13 emloyed for ten minutes. Will continue...<<else if $turns == 10>>The eyes of the bodies have begun to glow a clear red color, and leave trails as the swing back and forth. Nothing more to report, yet.<<else if $turns == 15>>Things are getting bad. Meditations not working. They keep coming back. I understand I'm panicking, but the kid may be in danger... I can't afford to follow protocol on this one. Pressing on.<<else if $turns == 20>>Jesus, they're getting to me now. I need to get out of here, and I'm sorry if I don't because I didn't follow the protocols. Time to fly.<<else if $turns == 25>>God, why is it so hard to think. I see the eyes moving away from the trees, but at least my flashlight still keeps them back.<<else if $turns == 30>>Agent $name reporting, think I'm going mad, not sure yet. Dying?<<else if $turns == 35>>''COMMAND NOTE:''// At this point the text written by Agent $name becomes garbled, with a few curse words scattered throughout. At this time we have not been able to establish why just this one paragraph was like this, but it is likely due to the effects that had been taking place up to this point.//<<else if $turns == 40>>Things are getting bad now. I want to go home.<<else if $turns gte 45>>I can't keep going...<</if>><> [[I believe continuing on would be an acceptable risk|Dead End]] [[It is probably better if I turn back|near the plant night]]

<<if $date == false>>''October 30, 1984 - time unknown''<<else>>''October 31, 1984 - time unknown''<</if>> Agent $name arrived at the Clifton Water Reclamation plant sometime likely around 0300. Records show that the plant has not been in operation since 1981, and that Dennis Russell's father, David Harnock, was on their employee roster from 1976 until the plant closed. ''Investigator's Log:'' I arrived at a large, cylindrical concrete structure connected to the water reclamation area, likely a treatment facility. The one method of ingress was a heavy steel door, locked, barred, and chained with double padlocks. However, there does seem to be a [[small shack]] near the structure. <><<set $turns to turns +1>> <<if $turns == 2>>The shadows on the edges of the woods seem to be taking on a life of their own in this location. Cannot determine whether this is natural visual matrixing from the dark or the beginning of visual hallucinatory effects.<<else if $turns == 4>>The shadows are now definitely taking on the appearance of hanging/swinging bodies beyond the treeline. Attempts to approach them or shine my flashlight on them result in the image fading into the shadows. <<else if $turns == 6>>Auditory hallucination effects now beginning. A moment ago I believed I was hearing the creaking of the ropes, but passed it off as branches. I now hear moaning coming from the bodies.<<else if $turns == 8>>The auditory hallucinations are getting worse. I've identified two distinct whispered phrases, out of hundreds of different voices, saying "Kill yourself" and "He's coming for you." Will Meditation #13 emloyed for ten minutes. Will continue...<<else if $turns == 10>>The eyes of the bodies have begun to glow a clear red color, and leave trails as the swing back and forth. Nothing more to report, yet.<<else if $turns == 15>>Things are getting bad. Meditations not working. They keep coming back. I understand I'm panicking, but the kid may be in danger... I can't afford to follow protocol on this one. Pressing on.<<else if $turns == 20>>Jesus, they're getting to me now. I need to get out of here, and I'm sorry if I don't because I didn't follow the protocols. Time to fly.<<else if $turns == 25>>God, why is it so hard to think. I see the eyes moving away from the trees, but at least my flashlight still keeps them back.<<else if $turns == 30>>Agent $name reporting, think I'm going mad, not sure yet. Dying?<<else if $turns == 35>>''COMMAND NOTE:''// At this point the text written by Agent $name becomes garbled, with a few curse words scattered throughout. At this time we have not been able to establish why just this one paragraph was like this, but it is likely due to the effects that had been taking place up to this point.//<<else if $turns == 40>>Things are getting bad now. I want to go home.<<else if $turns gte 45>>I can't keep going...<</if>><> [[BACK|near the plant night]]

<<if $date == false>>''October 30, 1984 - time unknown''<<else>>''October 31, 1984 - time unknown''<</if>> Agent $name arrived at the Old Clifton Bridge, also known locally as the "Bunnyman Bridge," at roughly 0300, although there is no way to tell for certain. At this point in time, the text of his log entries begins to become erratic and less formal. ''Investigative Log:'' I've stumbled on the bridge. It's a big stone fucker with a hole up the middle. Perfectly clean, like it was just built yesterday. There is a stream running under it, fast... I've got to see if Denny is here. My head is pounding. <><<set $turns to turns +1>> <<if $turns == 2>>The shadows on the edges of the woods seem to be taking on a life of their own in this location. Cannot determine whether this is natural visual matrixing from the dark or the beginning of visual hallucinatory effects.<<else if $turns == 4>>The shadows are now definitely taking on the appearance of hanging/swinging bodies beyond the treeline. Attempts to approach them or shine my flashlight on them result in the image fading into the shadows. <<else if $turns == 6>>Auditory hallucination effects now beginning. A moment ago I believed I was hearing the creaking of the ropes, but passed it off as branches. I now hear moaning coming from the bodies.<<else if $turns == 8>>The auditory hallucinations are getting worse. I've identified two distinct whispered phrases, out of hundreds of different voices, saying "Kill yourself" and "He's coming for you." Will Meditation #13 emloyed for ten minutes. Will continue...<<else if $turns == 10>>The eyes of the bodies have begun to glow a clear red color, and leave trails as the swing back and forth. Nothing more to report, yet.<<else if $turns == 15>>Things are getting bad. Meditations not working. They keep coming back. I understand I'm panicking, but the kid may be in danger... I can't afford to follow protocol on this one. Pressing on.<<else if $turns == 20>>Jesus, they're getting to me now. I need to get out of here, and I'm sorry if I don't because I didn't follow the protocols. Time to fly.<<else if $turns == 25>>God, why is it so hard to think. I see the eyes moving away from the trees, but at least my flashlight still keeps them back.<<else if $turns == 30>>Agent $name reporting, think I'm going mad, not sure yet. Dying?<<else if $turns == 35>>''COMMAND NOTE:''// At this point the text written by Agent $name becomes garbled, with a few curse words scattered throughout. At this time we have not been able to establish why just this one paragraph was like this, but it is likely due to the effects that had been taking place up to this point.//<<else if $turns == 40>>Things are getting bad now. I want to go home.<<else if $turns gte 45>>I can't keep going...<</if>><> I decided to... [[...go down to the water.]] [[...get up on top of the bridge.]] [[...look through the woods a bit more.]] [[...attempt to leave the woods.]]

Directly behind the treatment plant stands a small wooden shack, likely the home of a caretaker. <><<set $turns to turns +1>> <<if $turns == 2>>The shadows on the edges of the woods seem to be taking on a life of their own in this location. Cannot determine whether this is natural visual matrixing from the dark or the beginning of visual hallucinatory effects.<<else if $turns == 4>>The shadows are now definitely taking on the appearance of hanging/swinging bodies beyond the treeline. Attempts to approach them or shine my flashlight on them result in the image fading into the shadows. <<else if $turns == 6>>Auditory hallucination effects now beginning. A moment ago I believed I was hearing the creaking of the ropes, but passed it off as branches. I now hear moaning coming from the bodies.<<else if $turns == 8>>The auditory hallucinations are getting worse. I've identified two distinct whispered phrases, out of hundreds of different voices, saying "Kill yourself" and "He's coming for you." Will Meditation #13 emloyed for ten minutes. Will continue...<<else if $turns == 10>>The eyes of the bodies have begun to glow a clear red color, and leave trails as the swing back and forth. Nothing more to report, yet.<<else if $turns == 15>>Things are getting bad. Meditations not working. They keep coming back. I understand I'm panicking, but the kid may be in danger... I can't afford to follow protocol on this one. Pressing on.<<else if $turns == 20>>Jesus, they're getting to me now. I need to get out of here, and I'm sorry if I don't because I didn't follow the protocols. Time to fly.<<else if $turns == 25>>God, why is it so hard to think. I see the eyes moving away from the trees, but at least my flashlight still keeps them back.<<else if $turns == 30>>Agent $name reporting, think I'm going mad, not sure yet. Dying?<<else if $turns == 35>>''COMMAND NOTE:''// At this point the text written by Agent $name becomes garbled, with a few curse words scattered throughout. At this time we have not been able to establish why just this one paragraph was like this, but it is likely due to the effects that had been taking place up to this point.//<<else if $turns == 40>>Things are getting bad now. I want to go home.<<else if $turns gte 45>>I can't keep going...<</if>><> The [[door to the shack]] seems ajar, although there are no lights or other signs of life. The path only heads [[back toward the plant|near the plant night]] from here.

The door to the shack is [[slightly ajar]]. I cannot penetrate the darkness on the other side with my flashlight, even from a few inches away. <><<set $turns to turns +1>> <<if $turns == 20>>I'm getting hot, sweaty, and my vision is becoming unusually blurry<<else if $turns == 25>>The shadows here barely run away from my flashlight beam. I'm not even sure if light works properly here.<<else if $turns == 30>>The time for turning back is well behind me. I'm in too deep here, and now I can barely feel parts of my body. They were hot and sweaty before, but now I'm freezing cold. I've got to get out of here.<<else if $turns == 35>>If someone finds these notes please tell my parents why I haven't been home for twelve years.<<else if $turns == 40>>Ian, thank you for teaching me to help people the way you do. I don't regret anything.<<else if $turns gte 45>>I can't keep going...<</if>><> [[BACK|near the plant night]]

The door to the shack has slammed shut behind me. My flashlight is only working on my own person, which is the only way I can write this log. <><<set $turns to turns +1>> <<if $turns == 20>>I'm getting hot, sweaty, and my vision is becoming unusually blurry<<else if $turns == 25>>The shadows here barely run away from my flashlight beam. I'm not even sure if light works properly here.<<else if $turns == 30>>The time for turning back is well behind me. I'm in too deep here, and now I can barely feel parts of my body. They were hot and sweaty before, but now I'm freezing cold. I've got to get out of here.<<else if $turns == 35>>If someone finds these notes please tell my parents why I haven't been home for twelve years.<<else if $turns == 40>>Ian, thank you for teaching me to help people the way you do. I don't regret anything.<<else if $turns gte 45>>I can't keep going...<</if>><> [[Once this log is complete, I will attempt to make my way further into the building.]] [[Once this log is complete, I will attempt to escape.]]

Pushing my way through the darkness, which felt as though there were object moving around in it pushing against me (even though they were not visible to my flashlight), I was finally able to make my way to [[another door.]] There seems to be a flickering light on the other side. <><<set $turns to turns +1>> <<if $turns == 20>>I'm getting hot, sweaty, and my vision is becoming unusually blurry<<else if $turns == 25>>The shadows here barely run away from my flashlight beam. I'm not even sure if light works properly here.<<else if $turns == 30>>The time for turning back is well behind me. I'm in too deep here, and now I can barely feel parts of my body. They were hot and sweaty before, but now I'm freezing cold. I've got to get out of here.<<else if $turns == 35>>If someone finds these notes please tell my parents why I haven't been home for twelve years.<<else if $turns == 40>>Ian, thank you for teaching me to help people the way you do. I don't regret anything.<<else if $turns gte 45>>I can't keep going...<</if>><>

<<set $turns to $turns + 1>><<if $turns gte 30>>''ESPER Administrative Note:'' [[This was the last entry of Agent $name 's log.|The End]]<<else>>I was able to gather my wits about me long enough to escape the shack. I apologize, both to my superiors at ESPER and to Denny and his family, but I cannot bring myself to re-enter that shack. There were horrible things in the darkness there. Their murmuring was maddening. I could feel them touching me, grabbing at me. I could see their eyes burning in the darkness, and then they pushed in on me, and they were screaming. Screaming terrible things at me in the dark. At the last moment, I kicked the door down and fell out into the night, which if I'm being perfectly honest is not where I thought I was going to turn up. I apologize for the tone of this entry. That was quite a hectic experience. [[Escape to the road|near the plant night]]

The door I found entereed a small room, heavily lit by candlelight, which appeared to be an altar room. On the main altar, a small table with a black cloth is covered in [[photographs]] and other ritualistic objects such as flowers, stones, a black-handled dagger, and a copper cup filled with a viscous reddish-brown fluid of an unknown nature. Turning around, the candlelight in the room revealed the straight path to the [[outside door.]]

The photographs in the room appear not to be of Dennis Russell, as I had expected to see at first. Looking closer, the photos are of his younger brother [[Donald.]] [[BACK|another door.]]

\<<set $turns to $turns +1>><<if $turns gte 35>>I'm going to make a run for it... ''ESPER Administrative Note:'' This was the last entry in the investigtive log of Agent $name. [[Debriefing|The End]] \<<else>>It's been roughly three hours. I'm not exactly sure how it took that long, or how I was able to get out pst the horrific things I saw in that hallway... things I can't even described hidden in the forms of people hanging from the roof like they were on meathooks. I don't know how I can continue on right now, but [[I'm going to have to|near the plant night]].<</if>>

The photographs of Donnie, along with the setup of the altar, seems to indicate to me that Dennis was not the intended tar... ''ESPER Administrative Note:'' This was the last entry found in the investigative log of Agent $name. [[Debriefing|The End]]

I walked down to the [[water]]. The bridge is very pretty now that I look at it from this angle. The [[water]] is beautiful. I wish I could bring Susan here. My Susan. I'd give her to HIM so he stops following me. I'd cut her and let her bleed into the water so he leaves me be. I just want to [[Go Home|near the bridge night]]. But the [[water]] is so lovely.

On top of the bridge, my senses began to clear a bit. From the top of the bridge, I had a better vantage point, and was able to notice [[someone moving through the woods]] in the direction of [[the water reclamation plant.]]

I wandered through the wood for a little while before I made my way back to the bridge. It seems [[a little different now.]]

I should have known. Fuck. FUCK!!!!! I don't think I'll ever leave these woods [[alive|The End]].

I need to [[touch the water]]. It's so beautiful.

''ESPER Administrative Note:'' This was the last entry found in Agent $name 's investigative log. [[Debriefing|The End]]

I've stumbled on the bridge once again. It's gigantic, made of rocks as big as rhinos. There are eyes painted on it. He is coming. The flood bursting through the hole in the middle looks like it could blow my body to pieces if I fell into it. I think I want to tear myself apart without it. I start with my eyes. I rip them out and.... ''ESPER Administrative Note:'' The next four pages of Agent $name 's investigative log are filled with indecipherable scribblings. A common theme throughout is eyes and the phrase "HE IS COMING." After this, much of which was meticulously scratched out by Agent $name, the log [[goes back to the normal|bridge night]], albeit informal tone it had been in before.

The bridge seems a lot larger than it did to me before, now appearing as though I was considerably smaller. There are almost no markings on the bridge, outside some eyes staring at me (they seem to be following my movements, but I can't notice it if I stare directly at them or if my flashlight is on them) and the repeated phrase "HE IS HERE." The water is no longer flowing through the [[middle of the bridge]]. There is also a way to [[climb to the top of the bridge|...get up on top of the bridge.]] from here.

Down underneath the bridge, I begin to notice some of the graffiti becoming more noticeable. It looked relatively clean only a moment ago, but as I get closer, and shine my flashlight on the wall, I can see more and more of what's drawn there. The [[eyes]] are still a big part of the graffiti, along with a [[repeated phrase.]] I feel very uncomfortable under this bridge, like my lungs are slowly losing capacity. I need to [[get out of here|bridge night]].

The eyes follow me. Even if I look straight at them now, even with the flashlight, they keep looking at me, staring into me, eating up my existence like an acid. I [[have to stop looking|bridge night]].

I can't tell anymore. It's hard to read when the amount of light shining on a word changes the word itself. It says either... [[...HE IS COMING!]] [[...HE IS HERE!!]] [[...GET OUT!!!]]

I run. I try to get away. I hear him walking through the woods. I run as fast as I can. The branches tear at me. They cut me. I bleed. When I look, there is no flesh left on my arms. I am stuck here. In pain, with him chasing me forever. How can I get out??? Please, mommy. Please let me in the house. ''ESPER Administrative Note:'' This was the last entry in Agent $name 's investigative log. [[Debriefing|The End]]

I stop and take stock of my situation. There have been some temporal rifts here. I know what the graffiti is supposed to say in this time period. I feel as if there is some kind of force attempting to alter the normal temporal flow. I utilize [[Will Meditation #8F]], and after a moment I am able to regain my composure and re-focus my own internal clock with the real world. When I opened my eyes, I found myself [[back in the park.]]

I try. I need to try. I need to get out of here... [[Please God...|bridge night]]

\<<set $meditation to true>> ''ESPER Archival Information:'' //Will Meditations// The Will Meditations are a system of exercises designed by professor Phillip Gregory (AKA The Wizard Chasm) and taught in ESPER training classes to assist agents in maintaining mental and psychic cohesion during events which are capable of crippling the human mind otherwise. After a large number of suicides resulting from the mere knowledge of certain investigations, professor Gregory used his training in the occult arts and various practices in eastern mysticism to create a series of meditations for the purpose of minimizing harm. Will Meditation #8F is a combination of Visspassana meditation with a breathing strategy meant to coil the kundalini into a protective fetal position. It involves the user visualizing themselves walking down a dark path on which the only light is their own bodies. The glow is to be made into a bright golden-white ball of energy which surrounds the user with a shield of protection from harm. [[DONE|bridge night]]

''November 1, 1984 - 0615'' My watch is now working properly, and despite only seeming to have been a few hours' worth of wandering around I have lost an entire day... the day in qustion being October 31st. Given this information, and the information gathered so far during this case, it is my belief that Dennis Russell has been abducted by a cult or occultist utilizing the date and full moon for black magick. I do not believe Denny will be found alive, unfortunately, and suggest local authorities comb the woods (during the day) for the body. [[Debriefing]]

''ESPER Administrative Note:'' The body of Dennis Anthony "Denny" Russell was never found. His brother, Donald, also went missing during the night of October 30th, 1984, and neither of them have been seen since. [[The End|Introduction]]

Having noticed a humanoid shape moving through the woods, I decided to begin... [[...following it.]] [[...trying to get ahead of it.]]

I have reached the water reclamation plant. <<if $sawman == true>>The man I was following here spends a moment working on the locks keeping the plant secured, a full keyring in his hands. The hump on his back seemed to be moving at first, but he removes his coat to show he has a small child on his shoulders, seemingly unconscious. It is too small to be Denny. Once he gets it open, he lifts up the child in the coat and carries him inside, leaving the [[door ajar.]]<<else>>The [[door is ajar.]]<</if>>

Been following figure for about ten minutes. Suspected it was an entity of some sort, maybe the Bunny Man. [[It's not.]]

/<<set $sawman to true>> I got ahead of the figure a short ways. I thought at first it may have been some kind of entity, possibly the Bunnyman. However, having gotten a bit ahead of it, I now see that it's a man, just under six feet tall, slightly heavy-set, with salt-and-pepper hair and a full beard. He seems to be wearing a heavily-stained orange jumpsuit underneath a black trenchcoat. He does seem to have a hunchback, but is otherwise a normal human being. He passes me, and doesn't seem to notice me. He's moving in the direction of [[the water reclamation plant.]]

''ESPER Administrative Note:'' This was the last entry found in Agent $name 's investigative log. [[Debriefing|The End]]

Listening at the door for a minute... ...Oh God, I can barely write... My head is pounding, and even though it's brisk out tonight my skin is on fire. It's okay... I need to keep going. I listened at the door, and didn't hear anything after a minute, so I pushed it open and looked around inside. [[The room]] was empty.

As I get closer, I notice someone open the door and look out. Luckily he doesn't seem to notice me as he surveys the woods. Moments before he closes the door, I notice a child lying on the floor just behind him. It looks too small to be Dennis. Luckily, I don't hear the [[door lock.|door ajar.]]

The entrance room is an office of some sort. Desks covered in [[paperwork]] and control panels I can't quite make out are everywhere. There are an [[array of security monitors]] over one wall. The glowing is making it hard to [[think]], and I've been in the darkness for so long it seems as though they're going to burn my eyes out. I can barely fill out my log. I'm almost there. I can't stop now. There is a metal staircase going up the outermost wall, terminating at a [[steel door]].

I didn't have much time to look over the paperwork on the table, and most of it seemed to be old and faded pressure logs. However, among the paperwork, I noticed two photographs... One was Dennis Russell. The other was his younger brother, Donnie. [[BACK|The room]]

Looking at the security monitors, I see the man carrying the child in his arms. Another older child seems to be following him willingly, but the footage is too grainy to positively identify as Denny. [[BACK|The room]]

<<if $meditation == true>>I relax myself for a second... I'm coming close to losing it. I utilize professor Gregory's Will Meditation #8F to push out the darkness. I feel prepared to [[follow this investigation|The room]] to its conclusion, no matter what the result.<<set $meditated to true>><<else>>I stop and try to collect my thoughts. I'm falling apart here, but clearing my head should give me the boost I need to [[press on|The room]].<</if>>

I made my way up the stairs and through the door. On the other side was a large room full of massive metal tanks, some closed, others open and filled with dirty water. A metal walkway runs from the door to a control panel on the other side. The man is carrying the little boy, and an older boy is following them. The older boy looks at me, and tugs on the older man's sleeve. The boy is Denny. The man turns. The boy in his arms is Donnie, Denny's older brother. I was also able to identify the man. I had seen photographs of him just hours before. It was [[the boys' father]].

The [[pipes]] running through the room seem to be running, as the sound in this room is causing me physical pain. <<if $meditated == false>>[[Denny]]<<else>>[[Dennis]]<</if>> is staring at me with a blank expression, like he's been hypnotized. <<if $symbol == true>>I could [[utilize the sigils]] I found in the park to offset this effect.<</if>> The [[man]] seems to have turned away from me. Maybe I can take advantage of that, but I'll have to be careful about the [[boy]] in his arms. ''ESPER Administrative Note:'' //This was the final entry found in the log of Agent $name.//

''ESPER Debriefing:'' //case designate "The Thirty-First"// //November 1, 1984// The security footage at this point shows Agent $name attempting to strike a lever attached to the pipes running along the walls. When the man, now positively identified as David Harnock, the father of the children, hears this, he turns and fires his gun at Agent $name, striking him in the shoulder. $name attempts to strike the lever again, this time opening the valve. He is then shot in the head and dies immediately. The pipes on the other end of the room billow hot steam at the father, who, still holding Donald, staggers back and topples into one of the vats lining the room. Neither are seen to resurface. Dennis Russell is then seen to stand there blankly. He does this for several hours according to the timestamp on the video. At 0500 exactly, he turns to face the camera, and again stands there motionlessly. At 0606, the exact moment of sunrise on November 1st, both Denny and Agent $name are seen to vanish. [[The End]]

''ESPER Debriefing:'' //case designate "The Thirty-First"// //November 1, 1984// The security footage at this point shows Agent $name reaching out his hand to Dennis Russell. The man, now positively identified as David Harnock, father of the boys, appears distracted by the controls he is manipulating. Dennis is then seen releasing his father's sleeve and slowly approaching Agent $name. $name grabs his hand and turns to run with him, but the footage becomes staticky for eighteen seconds. At the end of this time, Denny is seen on top of Agent $name 's prostrated body, stabbing at him with an unidentified implement. The video statics out several times, each time showing Denny hacking at the body. An hour in, at 0443, Mr. Harnock finishes what he's doing. The telemetry from the equipment shows the water in the vats was raised to over 818 degrees Fahrenheit. The video flashes out again, coming back in to Denny smiling directly at the camera. At 0459, it begins flashing in and out to images of Denny walking toward his father, Donnie waking up and holding his father's hand, then all three leaping to their death. Once the three are off camera, at exactly 0500, the video stops flashing, leaving only Agent $name. At exactly 0606, the moment of the snrise that day, there is one more flash, and the body of Agent $name is no longer visible. [[The End]]

''ESPER Debriefing:'' //case designate "The Thirty-First"// //November 1, 1984// The security footage at this point shows Agent $name stop in his tracks for a moment. He begins to move his hands in front of his face, doing this for a full minute before he begins to walk toward the man. The man has now been identified as David Harnock, father of the Russel boys and estranged husband of Diana Russell. The two boys in the video have also been positively identified as Dennis and Donald. As Agent $name gets closer to the man, Dennis first collapses (indicating he may have been under the influence of supernatural forces), and then Mr. Harnock grabs at his head as though in intense cranial pain (indicating he may have been possessed by an entity). He nearly drops Donnie, but Agent $name reaches him in time and wrestles him from the man's arms before he falls over the railing into one of the vats below. Agent $name spends a moment recovering, then picks up the boys and flees the scene. The father is not seen to emerge from the vats, although the video goes to static for three minutes and 33 seconds at exactly 0500. [[Conclusion]]

''ESPER Debriefing:'' //case designate "The Thirty-First"// //November 1, 1984// The security footage at this point shows Agent $name rushing the man, now positively identified as David Harnock, father of the boys. The man seems unaware of this until Dennis is seen to step out and stab Agent $name in the ribs with an unidentified implement. The footage becomes staticky for eighteen seconds. At the end of this time, Denny is seen on top of Agent $name 's prostrated body, stabbing at him with the unknown weapon. The video statics out several times, each time showing Denny hacking at the body. An hour in, at 0443, Mr. Harnock finishes what he's doing. The telemetry from the equipment shows the water in the vats was raised to over 818 degrees Fahrenheit. The video flashes out again, coming back in to Denny smiling directly at the camera. At 0459, it begins flashing in and out to images of Denny walking toward his father, Donnie waking up and holding his father's hand, then all three leaping to their death. Once the three are off camera, at exactly 0500, the video stops flashing, leaving only Agent $name. At exactly 0606, the moment of the snrise that day, there is one more flash, and the body of Agent $name is no longer visible. [[The End]]

''ESPER Debriefing:'' //case designate "The Thirty-First"// //November 1, 1984// The security footage at this point shows Agent $name slowly approach the man from behind. The man now has been positively identified as David Harnock, father of the Russell boys and estranged husband of Diana Russell. The boys were also identified as being Dennis and Donald Russell. Dennis seems to approach Agent $name in a suspicious manner, which $name recognizes and grabs an unidentified weapon out of his hand. The father turns, and Agent $name grabs the boy out of his hands. Dennis has fallen to the floor unconscious at this point despite having been unharmed (a sure sign the boy was acting under supernatural control). A struggle ensues, and Agent $name grabs Donnie out of the man's arms and is seen to kick him over the railing. He then throws Donnie over one shoulder and lifts Denny into his arms, escaping with the children in tow. The father is not seen to emerge from the vat into which he fell, but the video cuts out for three minutes and thirty-three seconds at exactly 0500. [[Conclusion]]

''ESPER Debriefing:'' //case designate "The Thirty-First"// //November 1, 1984// The security footage at this point shows Agent $name reaching out for the boy. Dennis is seen to approach him, but at one point draws an unidentified weapon. However, something stops him, and Agent $name grabs the boy's hand. The man turns, his face distorted on camera, but he slips and falls over the railing holding the younger child. Agent $name grabs his leg, and Dennis helps drag the unconscious body up onto the platform. He is seen to say something to Denny before he picks the unconscious boy up, and all three run from the room. [[Conclusion]]

//Agent's closing notes:// Mission successful, although the temporary madness that began to overtake me in the woods has had a lasting effect, and I will be taking a leave of absence to recover. Theory: It is my belief there is some kind of supernatural water-based entity in the woods of Clifton which once was centered around the bridge but had moved its way to the treatment plant after the stream dried up. Mr. Harnock, the father of the boys, was an employee of the plant at the time it closed, at which point he abandoned his family to live in the woods. During this time, the entity possessed him and gained power until it was capable of granting Harnock supernatural ability to manipulate the minds of his children. He started with Dennis, then used Dennis to abduct Donald. The intention of the abductions were likely to use all three as a sacrifice, in the water of the treatment plant that once was the Bunnyman's stream, to give it power enough to resume its once-nightly activities. I suggest the following post-investigation actions: *Dennis and Donald should be sent to a deprogramming session in order to make sure there is no remnant of the supernatural forces they were exposed to. *The woods of Clifton should be thoroughly investigated to make sure there are no more object linked to the Bunnyman which could lead to the future manipulation of innocents. *The water treatment plant and attached building should be destroyed. *Funds should be allocated to move the Russell family out of the area. *If a body is not found, a search should be conducted for David Harnock. [[CASE CLOSED|Introduction]]