FOR THE SAKE OF BREVITY, THE PREVIOUS FILE ENDED AT THE POINT AT WHICH IT DID. DEEP STUDY INTO THE FOLLOWING EVENTS REQUIRES CAREFUL ATTENTION TO BE PAID TO THE DETAILS. THE EVENTS AT THE TOWN OF [REDACTED] ARE THE PRECURSER TO THE CHAIN REACTION OF EVENTS THAT SPIRALED, SIMULTANEOUSLY, AROUND THE COUNTRY.
--File 048: Redux, Revolt, Remobilize--
Jake Grantham has been reborn as a living, walking horde of flies. Alex and Blaine are still leaning over Emma, and all three of them are clearly too stunned to react, until the horrific shape begins to lurch forward, the flies clumsily moving together as a single hive mind unit.
Emma: "Get up, get up, get up!"
Blaine: "What in the flying fuck are you?!"
Alex: "Come on, Emma, I got you- get up- there-"
The camera swings violently as Alex assists Emma in standing. Careful analysis of the footage shows that the Maggot Man is still stepping steadily toward them. The trio manage to get up and are scrambling back; there are still screams echoing through the diner behind them. Alex swings the camera around and catches an alarming reality: the eerie, smiling townsfolk have stood up and are walking, unscathed, through the madness within the diner, coming to create a blockade behind the trio.
Alex: "HEY! Hey, back the hell up!"
Blaine: "We're surrounded. Of fucking course we are."
Alex: "Keep Emma in the middle!"
Maggot Man: "I aM sUrPrIsEd YoU aRe StIlL aLiVe, BoY. YoU dO nOt EvEr SuRvIvE tO sEe ThIs."
Emma: "Iterations..."
Maggot Man: "WiThOuT yOu My DeAr, NoNe Of ThIs WoUlD bE pOsSiBlE. AlL tHe PiEcEs FaLl InTo PlAcE."
The rise and fall of the Maggot Man's words are somewhat slurred and slow, as if still working out how to do what it's trying to do; the steps lurch, and the being isn't quite stable. With every step and every word, however, it seems that the creature stabilizes.
Blaine: "What do you want? I thought Weiss didn't want her killed!"
Maggot Man: "NoT- noT- NOt-"
There is a shudder in the form, and a visual affect like the whole shape tightens together. The being shake out its arms, scattering a few overly large maggots on the floor, which all hurriedly begin to return to the shape.
Maggot Man: "There. That is better."
The buzzing has become more like a voice... though only by imitation. There is nothing human about it. Understandable though it may be, it is still inhuman. When Emma speaks, her voice is shrill; both Blaine and Alex are sticking close to her. Blaine is looking sharply between the Maggot Man and the surrounding wall of almost lackadaisical cultists.
Emma: "The hell do you want with me?"
Maggot Man: "Right now, nothing. This is much faster than last time... each iteration, we grow stronger, and it is all thanks to you."
Emma: "I'm not doing anything!"
Maggot Man: "Not you. Him."
The horrific shape of the man indicates, visibly, toward Blaine, who freezes, hand on Emma's shoulder. None of them say anything, but the pounding of their hearts is nearly audible. Around them, the screaming continues, though there is not very much that can be done, pinned as they are between a walking, talking dead man, manifested through a hive mind of genetically altered flies and maggots... and a bunch of psychotic cultists with too-wide grins threatening to split their heads in half.
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Understandably, Blaine's voice shakes as he responds.
Blaine: "I'm not doing anything."
Maggot Man: "With each iteration, you do a better and better job. It is fascinating to remember the pieces we do, and see you grow."
Blaine: "I have no idea what the fuck you're talking about."
Maggot Man: "No, no, of course not."
There is amusement portrayed through the buzzing of the flies, as if the Maggot Man doesn't believe Blaine. Alex turns the camera toward him, and Blaine has an expression somewhere in between outrage, despair, and fear.
Blaine: "I'm not going to kill her."
Maggot Man: "Of course you will. You always do."
Emma: "He's not going to kill me!"
Maggot Man: "You get better every single time, my boy. Every single time... but she never trusts you. Even now, she will not trust you, because of who you are and what you've done."
Blaine: "That is not true!"
Maggot Man: "You know you're not like them. You run with them all over this town, but admit it: you feel at home. You feel like you belong, like you're supposed to be here. The itch in your hands disappeared when you crossed these borders."
Blaine: "I- that's not true!"
Maggot Man: "We know you, Blaine. You're like us. You know suffering. She doesn't; the boy can't remember it. Pity he's alive, but perhaps it's a sign of greater strength. Two murders on your hands before being inducted will be a sight to behold."
Blaine is enraged at the flippancy of Jake Grantham's ghost.
Blaine: "I'm not going to fucking kill anyone!"
Maggot Man: "Like you didn't kill your old man. Like you didn't kill your mother."
Emma: "He wouldn't do that!"
Maggot Man: "Oh? And why wouldn't he? She never stood up for him- isn't that right, Blaine?"
Blaine doesn't answer, but there's rage flickering in his face. The cultists are watching him almost warmly.
Emma: "Blaine... you didn't kill your mother, right?"
Maggot Man: "See? I told you. They turn on you every single time. It takes one little suggestion, and she's already uncertain. They don't understand you, Blaine. They never will."
Blaine: "Shut. The fuck. Up."
Maggot Man: "What, you think you can become a hero? Take what happened to you and work toward saving others in your shit stain of a life? Think you can stop others from having to reach the point you reached?"
Blaine: "The hell do you know?!"
Maggot Man: "You'll see. There's still so much for you to uncover... and then it'll start to become clear to you, Blaine. You're not like them. You're like us. Weiss and I- you're a kindred spirit. You're meant to be with us, a family, people who actually understand what a delight it is to kill the people who have hurt you for so, so long."
Alex: "Blaine..."
Blaine: "I didn't kill anyone! I mean- I killed my step-dad, but that was it, and it was self-defense!"
Maggot Man: "You're sounding defensive, Blaine. The walls are crumbling; the truth will be revealed. You've fooled so many. Even Anders thinks you're a Saint. I'm truly in awe of your growth with each iteration, boy. They will be so pleased."
Emma: "Who is 'they'?"
Maggot Man: "You will see. The Many Mouthed; the Always Hungry; the World Eaters. You saw but a glimpse outside my home."
Alex: "The game. You're spying on us."
Maggot Man: "You have had me with you all this time. All of you."
Blaine: "If you're not going to kill us, then get out of our fucking way."
The man of flies bends over mockingly, as if bowing.
Maggot Man: "But of course. Let all return to the way it is meant to be. You will find your rooms at the motel completely clear. Go- take your time. Relax. We are in no rush for you, Blaine."
There is a sudden burst before any of them can say anything; the flies and maggots all suddenly burst outward, the latter dropping to the floor with sickeningly loud thuds, before beginning to scuttle away at alarmingly fast speeds. The cultists all imitate the mocking bows, before moving past them and stepping out into the bright sunshine, which appears to shine as if no cloud ever passed between it and the Earth below.
There is a beat of silence; all the screaming has ceased behind them. Alex moves the camera, but blanches; there's a brief moment where some of the carnage in the diner is visible. It is unclear if there were any survivors, but the maggots are feasting, burrowing, digging, bursting.
Alex: "Blaine."
Blaine: "I didn't do it!"
Alex: "Shut up. We need to get out of here, now."
Alex's tone seems to indicate the reality of their surroundings, and Blaine starts in the camera. Emma is staring out the door, standing quite still; before she can turn and see whatever Alex saw in full, both Blaine and Alex move to hook both her arms. Alex struggles with the camera for a moment before swearing and clicking it off.
--END TRANSMISSION--