THIS IS A TRANSCRIPT OF SEVERAL VIDEOS RECORDED OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BETWEEN EMMA AND BLAINE. THE FIRST IS RECORDED FROM EMMA'S PHONE, WHILE STAYING AT HER PARENTS' HOUSE.

--File 020: False Alarm--

10/14/XXXX

Emma is sitting in a chair in a room much more brightly and extravagantly decorated. The walls are painted a teal blue, and someone seems to have taken the time to paint a scene of an ocean along all visible walls. There are kelp forests, fish, mermaids, sharks, whales, and coral reefs, all painstakingly painted on the walls, where visible. A bookshelf is very lovingly populated with books and very old-looking mermaid dolls. The blankets on her bed are a very normal, bland-looking blue.

Emma: "Well. Here I am."

Emma seems very nervous and frayed, which would make sense, given what she has encountered in so short a period of time.

Emma: "Detective Anders said we would know if we'd been pulled into all of this. He said we would know. I still don't know, so by assumption, we... must not be... in this."

Emma runs a hand through her hair, frustrated.

Emma: "Blaine is staying here. My mom seems to think this is because he means something to me, and I tried to explain to her that he was the one who went with me to Wynona's, but she... doesn't understand. She can't understand."

This seems to depress Emma for a moment, but after a second of deliberation, she starts talking again.

Emma: "I don't know what I want out of all of this. Do I want to be involved, or not? I want answers, but Anders doesn't exactly scream 'all there'. I guess... having seen what I have seen, I can't blame him."

She falls silent again, and then reaches over to pick up a book. It's Brigette Alois's memoir.

Emma: "I just don't think we've got this choice that Anders thinks we have. I read a lot of Alois's book- especially the end. Especially after reading Bartosz's work. According to them, there is no going back. Their lives ended, totally ruined, after coming in contact with the Maggot man- and Anders isn't acting like this is some accident, or some copy cat. I genuinely think he believes we're dealing with Jake Grantham himself."

She becomes frustrated once more.

Emma: "What am I supposed to do with that, though? How does that prove anything? I mean, all that proves is just that... that Alois is right. Grantham took something from all of them: their sanity. Anders isn't sane, he just didn't quit his job. He hid his insanity better than everyone else."

She looks directly at the camera.

Emma: "So what does that say for me?"

After a long moment, Emma shakes her head in disgust, seemingly, and then shuts off the camera.

--END TRANSMISSION--

10/15/XXXX

The next video appears to be one filmed in passing, while Blaine is testing his handheld camera. It begins in the middle of a conversation.

Emma: "-never read it? Seriously?"

Blaine: "Do I look like I go around reading fantasy novels for fun?"

Emma: "I mean... do I?"

Blaine: "Touché. My answer remains the same: I have not read Lord of the Rings."

Emma: "Dude. At least tell me you've seen the movies."

Blaine: "No, but that's not for lack of want. I've seen some scenes in some of my classes, when we were dissecting some of the cuts and shots Jackson decided to make, and despite its age, they seem genuinely amazing."

Emma: "That is because they are, and if we're going to be forced to wait for answers, we might as well marathon a twelve-hour long odyssey."

Blaine: "Twelve- are they not nine hours?"

Emma: "Extended editions, baby. We are watching these in style. I cannot believe you never watched them."

Blaine: "My stepdad spent all of his money on booze and drugs."

Emma: "...I'm sorry."

Blaine: "No, that was not supposed- I was trying to make a joke. Sorry, it came out too tense. I feel like I haven't relaxed in two weeks."

Emma: "Neither have I. If they would just let me into the hospital to see Keith..."

Blaine: "They're not letting anyone within fifty feet of him if they can help it. Not that I'm surprised- I read up on the attributes of the flies, and if they're the same breed from 15 years ago, people must be absolutely freaking out somewhere right now."

Emma: "These books have me losing my mind in general. How are they explaining away this whole situation? Surely they can't think this is normal in any way."

Blaine: "Copycat, probably. It makes the most sense. What are they going to do, admit that he's killing people from beyond the grave with ghost-powered demon flies?"

Emma: "You're right. That sounds certifiably insane."

Blaine: "Camera's still working. I don't know why I bothered checking- it's never dunked out on me before, and I don't know why it suddenly would. It just makes me feel better, knowing it's working fine, and I know all of its settings are fine, and everything about it is... fine."

Emma: "Cameras are a comfort zone for you. I get that."

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Blaine does not respond, instead ending the recording. From this video, we are aware that Keith is still alive, he is unable to receive visitors, and neither Emma or Blaine appear to have received this "sign" that Detective Anders has warned them about.

--END TRANSMISSION--

10/17/XXXX

Emma and Blaine have been staying at her house now for four days. It appears that the evacuation of the college is no longer under effect, and they are now walking back on campus together, heading toward Emma's dorm room. People around campus appear to be very nervous, anxious, and openly aware that the entire incident started in Emma's dorm, if their stares are anything to go off of. Blaine has begun recording, but he is not holding the camera up in a way that suggests he is recording to any passersby.

Blaine: "Seems like we're quite popular these days."

Emma: "This is a nightmare. People won't stop staring at me."

Blaine: "I guess we shouldn't be surprised- Keith did die in your dorm room. From anyone not aware of what's going on, this would seem, at bare minimum, super suspicious."

Emma: "Yes, because I can totally control an entire swarm of crazy demon flies, that's absolutely something I could do."

Blaine: "Not to play devil's advocate, but I'm sure anyone remotely interested is probably super aware of there being issues between you and Keith. On top of Wynona..."

Emma: "Whose side are you on, again?"

Blaine: "Just saying. I can see why people are a little edgy toward us."

Emma: "I'm pretty sure it's less 'us' and more 'me'."

Blaine: "Seeing as how you and I have suddenly been connected at the hip, I'm sure it extends to me."

Emma seems amused by this, but the humor is short lived. A brief shot of her face is shown on screen, and she is drawn and tired, deep shadows under eyes that are dim with fear and guilt. Her shoulders are hunched, and she appears to be trying to fold in on herself.

Emma: "I don't suppose your Detective friend has given you an update on Keith, by chance?"

Blaine: "None. He likes me, but I don't think he'd risk his job for me."

Blaine pauses, seeming to reconsider this.

Blaine: "Maybe he would. I'll try calling him later."

Emma: "I'd really appreciate that. None of his friends are messaging me back."

There is fear and guilt in her voice as she says this, and it's obvious that Emma is just trying to keep one foot in front of the other.

Blaine: "At least we can say that we're not involved, right? Whatever sign Anders told us to look for, it hasn't come."

Emma: "I don't know how I feel that. Disappointed? Frustrated? We're expected to just sit back and let other people try to fumble around with this mystery, when we have more answers than them."

Blaine: "I don't think we have more answers. I think it's just a miracle we're alive, after what happened to Keith."

Emma doesn't say anything, and Blaine swears quietly.

Blaine: "I'm so sorry."

Emma: "I was so pissed at him. I was so angry. I wanted to get away from him... but I didn't want this. I just wanted some space to think about what had happened between us."

Blaine: "I know."

They fall silent, and as they get closer to Emma's dorm room, Blaine makes a concerted effort to raise up the hand camera, utilizing it more for its intended purpose. It's obvious that both of them are partly expecting something to happen, or perhaps fearing it; they walk into the building, but everything seems completely fine. There is absolutely no trace of the horrific fly infestation from almost five days prior.

Neither of them says anything as they walk up the stairs in the dorm, which is unusually and unnaturally quiet. No one is walking about, and the place feels almost preternaturally clean. The carpets are brighter than they have been in years, the walls almost bleached, the shelves emptied of any trace of dust. Any plants, fake or otherwise, have been replaced entirely, and it's also possible that the lights have all been replaced.

Emma: "This is so eerie."

Blaine: "I guess that's it. I feel both underwhelmed and extremely tense."

They make their way toward Emma's room, and her tension and anxiety visibly increases, her eyes widening in obvious fear as they approach. She stops outside her door, unable to touch the doorknob, her hands shaking. Wordlessly, Blaine steps in front of her, pops open the door, and steps inside. Emma is hot on his heels, by the sounds of her footsteps.

The room is entirely clean. Squeaky clean. Things have been moved around, and Emma's bedsheets have been very noticeably exchanged, but where things have had to have been replaced, they are in better shape. Blaine moves over to a note that is sitting on Emma's desk, picking it up and directing the camera to it before reading it aloud.

Blaine: "'We apologize in advance for your things having been moved around, however it was the aim of the cleanup crews to ensure absolute perfection in the removal of all pests from the premises. Where any articles of personal belonging have been removed, please know it is with the intention to clean and repair said items where possible, and to reimburse where not. An itemized report shall be sent to you within the next week.'"

Blaine shifts to look around at Emma, seemingly bewildered.

Blaine: "Talk about thorough."

It would appear Emma is not paying attention to him, however. Her expression has gone completely slack, and she is standing where he left her in the center of the first room, which was originally Wynona's. Blaine turns fully to her, letting the letter fall back down to the desk.

Blaine: "Emma?"

Emma: "What is that?"

Blaine slowly turns around to follow Emma's line of sight. The camera pans across the nearly sparkling room and lands on Emma's bed, through an arch that splits the dorm room into two separate spaces.

Sitting on the pristine bedsheets is a very clean, very untouched, very precisely placed gray handheld console.

Emma: "Detective Anders took the one I had."

Blaine: "Yes."

They are both speaking with deceptive calmness, but Blaine's hands are shaking perceptibly, even with the camera's gentle attempts to auto-correct the movements.

Emma: "If he'd brought it back..."

Blaine: "I don't think that's possible. From his reaction, he didn't seem to want to leave it anywhere near us."

Emma: "I wouldn't think he would, considering what he said about the one guy who cracked it, and then what happened to Keith."

They both continue to just stare at the handheld console. At long last, Emma takes a step toward it, and, almost reactively, Blaine takes a step toward her. He moves to her side as she advances on the console, stopping at the edge of her bed with Blaine one step behind her.

Blaine: "Anything different?"

Emma: "I don't know. It's off."

Blaine: "Should we...?"

Emma: "I think we should probably shoot Anders a text first."

Blaine: "You think this is the sign he was talking about."

Emma: "I know it is."

Emma reaches toward the device, but at the last second, seems to think better of it. She halts, withdraws her hand, and continues to stare at it for several long seconds. It's possible Blaine is looking at her, as the camera drifts slightly in her direction.

Emma finally shakes herself and gives Blaine a grim look.

Emma: "Give Anders a call. We need to know what this means, even if we already do know. Confirmations and all that."

Blaine: "Roger."

Blaine shifts around for a moment, until there's a very audible ringback tone. It appears he has the Detective's phone number set as a favorite.

The ringback tone continues only for a short period of time before Anders picks up.

Anders: "Hello?"

Blaine: "Jim. I think we got that. sign."

Anders: "...Tell me what it is."

Emma: "I've got a nice, clean, brand new game console sitting on my bed, Detective. If I don't touch it, are we fine?"

Anders: "I'm sorry, kid. You're fucked."

Several long moments pass following Anders's very blunt, very grim admittance. Emma finally lifts a hand up to her face, kneels down by the bed, and bursts into tears.

Blaine: "I'll call you back."

Anders: "Of course. Take your time."

The video stops recording a moment later as Blaine presumably sits down to comfort Emma on the realization that her feelings have been made up for her before she could ultimately decide what she really wanted.

--END TRANSMISSION--