THE FOLLOWING FILE CONTAINS TRANSCRIPTS TAKING PLACE OVR THE COURSE OF THREE DAYS. THESE PARTICULAR DAYS ARE ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY CONSIDERED THE BEGINNING POINT FOR THE PHENOMENON THAT FOLLOWS. THESE WERE RECORDED FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS.
--FILE 004: THREE DAYS--
09/30/XXXX
The video starts up and immediately showcases Emma, looking tired and put out. She seems otherwise fine.
Emma: "Okay, I guess, here we go. This feels so stupid. I mean, I know Professor Guillermo said he wouldn't watch these, but it feels like I can't talk about anything serious in these, and if I can't do that, then what's the point?"
Emma waits a beat, before rolling her eyes and running a hand through her hair.
Emma: "I'm so stupid. I already forgot, Wynona's not here. I'm so used to her just being here all the time that it's impossible to remember that she's not."
Emma frowns suddenly, her expression becoming concerned.
Emma: "She said something came up, which is... unusual. Her family circle is small- it's just her, her mom, her older sister, and her younger brother. Brittany's not even in LA at the moment, last I heard, so... if something came up, I hope it's not family related. I just... I don't get why she wouldn't tell me what it was."
A look of uncertain concern passes over Emma's face, and she sits in silence for several long seconds.
Emma: "I just... I thought we were closer friends than that. We tell each other everything. I've told her everything about Keith, and I thought she'd told me everything, especially after the other day..."
Emma suddenly grows pensive, pausing again. Her eyes suddenly wide.
Emma: "What if I'm a totally terrible friend? What if she did tell me what was wrong, and I just wasn't paying attention? She's been super quiet since we talked about the- the thing in the woods, so what if- Oh, my God, what if she thinks I wanted her to keep telling me that story? What if she's upset with me? Or-"
Emma's dismay is mounting, and she is beginning to look mortified.
Emma: "What if I accidentally pressured her into sharing her childhood trauma? What if she's hurting because she had to relive that? Oh, my God, and then I went and pretended that nothing was going on, because I thought maybe she needed time to heal and talking about it would be bad, but like, what if she really wanted to talk about it after all, and that was why she brought it up in the first place, but then because I didn't bring it back up, she must have thought I didn't want to hear about it?!"
Emma moans and rubs her hands roughly over her face, looking distraught.
Emma: "I've got to text her-"
She suddenly leaps at the screen, and the video ends very abruptly. Having obtained Wynona's phone records, we can ascertain that Emma did, in fact, immediately text Wynona right after ending the video:
Emma (4:42pm): Hey Wyn
Emma (4:42pm): I hope everything's okay
Emma (4:43pm): I was thinking, and I think I didn't realize just how heavy it must have been to share all of that about your childhood
Emma (4:43pm): Just let me know that you're okay, yeah?
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Emma (4:56pm): If anything's wrong, just let me know, and I'll take the first bus out there asap, girl.
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Emma (7:02pm): Everything doing all right, Wyn?
Emma (7:02pm): I haven't heard from you in a long while, now. Like a full day
Emma (7:03pm): Just update me as soon as you can, so I can stop worrying
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Emma (12:09am): You're really freaking me out, girl. Please text me ASAP, and if I hurt your feelings, please please please let me know. I'd hate to think I maybe pressured you into something, or made you feel like you weren't important. You're one of my best friends. Just let me know you're all right
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10/01/XXXX
The following transcript takes place the very next day. It begins with Emma front and center, and her face is quite puffy, her eyes are red, and she looks both irritated and upset all at once.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Emma: "I wish I didn't have to record this stupid thing right now, but I don't foresee today getting any better, so I guess I'd better. Wynona still hasn't come back to our dorm, and she still isn't answering any of my texts. It's not like her."
Emma looks down.
Emma: "I'm sure I'm being a total nutcase. She's probably completely fine, I just... something feels wrong. I tried talking to stupid fucking Keith about it, but the dude's a total blockhead. All he cares about is his stupid fucking fraternity thing and sex, and he chose today to talk about how I'm not 'putting out' for him."
Emma makes a sound of total and utter disgust.
Emma: "I don't know why I'm still with him, except... sometimes, the stupid bastard says the sweetest, smartest things. He can make me feel so freaking special. We've only been dating for a few months, I just... I don't want to end it over something that's probably just a misunderstanding. I just... Like, right now? Of all times? When I'm obviously freaking out?"
She suddenly makes a goofy face and affects a deeper tone, apparently attempting to mockingly sound like her boyfriend, Keith [REDACTED].
Emma(as Keith): "'Everybody skips classes sometimes, Em. My buddy and his girlfriend play hooky all the time to go get to know each other, if you know what I mean. We should, too. I feel like you're just coming up with shit to get out of taking this relationship further. Stop freaking out over the quiet kid.'"
Her voice returns to normal.
Emma (as herself): "What an asshole. Totally insensitive. I told him to go get fresh with his pillow."
She rubs her face and sighs heavily. It is clear that there are other problems going on in her relationship to Keith, which will be pertinent later.
Emma: "Whatever. Wynona's still not back, she's not answering texts, and I'm beginning to think it's all my fault. I never should have let her talk about her childhood, when she was so obviously against it. And I'm just sitting here, talking into my camera, instead of going to my friend's house, even thought I know that if nothing were wrong, her mom would be devastated if I just showed up without warning on their front doorstep."
Emma looks at her hands for a moment, then frowns, looks frustrated, and snaps up toward her laptop.
Emma: "This is stupid. I'm quitting this stupid-"
The video ends abruptly once more. Emma appears to let her emotions win out quite often.
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More texts follow the tone, nature, and content of the day before. Most of this would remain unchanged, but for one little point of importance.
Emma (3:12pm): Wyn, come on, please
Emma (3:12pm): I need SOMETHING from you
Emma (3:12pm): A card, pictures, a crayon, heck, I'll take anything. Just tell me you're okay.
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Emma (4:17pm): Wyn?
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Emma (5:39pm): Wyn????????
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Wynona (11:11pm): Everything's going to be all right.
Emma (11:13pm): Oh, shit! Wynona! Thank God, you're okay! Please tell me you're okay?
Wynona (11:13pm): Beware the flies.
Emma (11:14pm): ??????? The heck does that mean
Emma (11:15pm): Wyn????
Emma (11:17pm): Hello?????????
-----
The texts end abruptly on the 1st of October. Emma's vlog the next day picks up as if nothing were out of the ordinary about doing it. She is now more concerned about Wynona than ever before. She is dressed somewhat more sharply, as if trying to 'dress for success'. Her hair is pulled out of her face, and her makeup is somewhat heavier, but dark and grim. She has shadows under her eyes again, and seems agitated.
10/02/XXXX
Emma: "Hi, yes, it's me, anyway, I tried looking up the Maggot Man today. I wanted to try to understand what Wynona might be feeling, so I wanted to learn more about him, and... I'm honestly sorry i did. This dude's an actual monster."
Emma shudders noticeably, but then fixes a sheet of paper on her desk, as if reading off of notes.
Emma: "It honestly didn't take all that long to figure out what probably caused all of this, and I feel so, so stupid for not having realized this before. That Maggot Man serial killer- Jake Grantham- he was put to death three days ago, about the day Wynona left. That's... the 29th."
Emma looks miserable and guilty all at once.
Emma: "Wynona must have thought I didn't care about her at all. I mean, now that I'm aware of it, I suddenly realize that literally everyone at school has been talking about him, and that's not even an exaggeration. I just haven't heard his name- which to be fair, is pretty freaking gross."
She laughs, but it's a dry, sad laugh.
Emma: "I cannot imagine what she and her sister are going through. I tried to contact Brittany, but she is just as impossible to get through to as Wynona. Except..."
Emma looks uneasily at a spot in front of her and just under the screen, presumably off screen.
Emma: "I got a voicemail back from her, after I tried calling like six times. It was so short, and it was so weird. There must have been something wrong with her phone, because- you know what, I bet I can play this into my microphone."
Emma suddenly picks her phone up, swipes her finger around her screen a few times, and then holds the speaker of her phone to a microphone just out of shot of the camera. Instantly, the sound of what appears to be a very loud white noise is heard over the phone. It is continuous and unceasing, almost like machinery, and nearly drowns out the voice that begins to speak.
Woman on phone, presumably Brittany [REDACTED]: "Everything is going to be okay. Beware the flies."
A click sounds over the phone. The message was incredibly short and quick.
Emma: "That doesn't seem normal. While I was in the library, too, I met up with one of her classmates from one of her cinematography classes. He actually asked me if I'd seen Wynona, because the two of them were supposed to have met literally all this week for a project they're working on, and she's totally bailed on him. I said I was planning to try to visit her house tomorrow, and he said he'd come with, so now I've got backup. He..."
Emma pauses here and looks down at her fingers, fiddling with her phone off-screen.
Emma: "He seems really concerned. The fact that someone else is able to see how strange this all is without even a hint of her normal attitude is super freaky. It's making me mega nervous. We're supposed to go tomorrow to Wynona's house- it's not that far away, really."
She suddenly shakes her head, looking miserable.
Emma: "I can't do this right now. I'm going to go prep for visiting Wynona tomorrow."
As is now customary, the video ends abruptly without a single farewell.
--END TRANSMISSION--