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man in the shelter
man in the shelter

man in the shelter

Diary of John Rock found January 10th, 1951

Entry 1 June 1st, 1950 the rumbling begins again

7 AM

Once again I awake from another nightmare, funny no matter how hard I try I can't seem to remember what I was even dreaming of, well perhaps that's for the best. Since I am likely going to be remaining down here for the seeable future. I have decided to keep a record of my time down here as well as to jot down these strange dreams I have been experiencing lately in the hopes that whoever may come across this diary will be able to make sense of it all.

The daily routine continues as normal, at the start of the day I wake up at around 7.10 am, get out of bed and head to the food cubed, I take out a tin of beans, not the tastest but it will do. Waiting for this tin to warm feels like an eternity only broken up by the ground above rumbling and making the light flicker as the room shakes a little.

Whitest eating I tend to let my imagination run wild with different scenarios and fantasy which usually consist of me being on adventures throughout space where I fight different monster and find treasures, its a little childish but it helps to relieve some of my boredom and helps to take my mind of the soul crushing silence.

8 AM

0bserving my living area it seems a little bigger than an average prison cell. My bed sits at the back south wall with a small desk and a lamp sitting on top with a small alarm clock next to it as well as a notebook with a pen and a framed picture of me and my wife Lara, to the east is a small kitchen area consisting of a small sink with a pot containing spoons and next to the sink is a small stove and a few buckets that I use as a bin, north of me is a large closet that houses tinned food and bottles of water, next top the closet is a small book shelve that is filled to help pass the time, finally to my west is a door leading to the bathroom area which includes small barley functioning toilet and a small circler bath with a mirror on the back of the door, next to the bathroom door is a staircase leading up to the door that is the only way in or out, the door has been completely sealed off just waiting to be opened up once more.

1 PM

This is when the noises from above reach their peak I referee to this as the storm, the rumbling turns into banging to the point I fear the ground above will collapses on me, everything around me shakes I can hear the tin and bottle water knocking against the door like they are trying to push their way through the door, the lights flicker rapidly and uncontrollably to the point I feel a may have a seizure, I swear there are times I can hear people screaming and the occasional banging from the upstairs exit. All I can do in these moments is lie on my bed and place the pillow over my ears until it ends and pray that whatever is happening up there does not find its way down here.

2.20 PM

The storm begins to calm around 1.45 PM and I can finally remove the pillow from my ears and rest a little but my fears and anxiety do not disappear as I keep my eyes locked at the stairs always dreading something may walk down.

3 PM

As expected the noise has come to a complete stop and I breathe a sigh of relief, three deep breaths are what it takes for me to calm myself and regain my composer. After making sure everything in the bunker is still functioning as it should and the hatch was locked I went back to my bed and laid there looking at the picture on the desk, this is the last piece of evidence I have of the life I had outside of here, its probably the most important thing in this place I don't know what happened to her, she was in a different city when the sirens went off and the storm began I had no choice but to flew down here, I can only hope for the best for her and yet, I fear the worst.

3.30 PM

I decide to go to pick up a book browsing the shelf seeing the name “what remains of the finches”, “buried” and “the mice in the walls” however, despite seeing all of these books my eye is always drawn to the same one, a book called “Echo” Its about a man named Sam who has been surviving after an apocalypse where the world has been destroyed and taken over by strange monster, the story shows how he has adapted to the new world, the story ends with him being adopted into a small group of survivors who have been mutated over time by the creatures. I always like how despite how bleak everything seems the ending still provides some hope and ambiguity for the future.

5.30 PM

Time to eat potatoes and beans despite how simple it is it tastes rather good and with the rumbling gone I can eat in peace. The silence serves as a double edge sword, on one hand, it makes me calm and allows me to think without distraction but on the other hand, it makes me remember just how alone I am and I fear it will have negative effects in the long run.

7 PM

I decided to run myself a bath to help me to relax looking at my reflection in the mirror I only just notice how long my hair is, feels like yesterday it was much shorter now it's down to my shoulder and I seem to be thinner than normal, guess being down here for so long is affecting my physical health as well as my mental health. Sitting in the bath I couldn't help but wish there was some music playing to help me relax but I can't complain there's probably a lot of different people out there that don't have it as good as me so I should be grateful.

I like to have the bathroom door shut to build the steam up in the room and rest back sometimes I even fall asleep but I always leave the bath feeling much better and calmer. As I stay leyed back in the bath I try to think back to life before this and it helps me feel a lot better about things, I remember some uneventful things like a discussion with my parents about how we're doing and when we can do the next family BBQ, it would have been august 6th which was Lara birthday it would have been my parents my sister and her kids as well as Lara parents and her nieces and nephews. Some memories of my Lara have crept back like us sitting in the garden sunbathing listening to her talk about her day at work sometimes it would be her arguing with friends and other times it would be how well she doing and how she's closer to a big discovery, it wasn't always the most interesting thing to listen to but I wanted her to know I listen and looking back on them I have learned to appreciate them more, oh how I wish she was here, being alone for so long hasn't been good for me can't remember the last time I spoke to anyone when I think about how I got in here all I can remember is that siren and the storm nothing else but the sound.

9 PM

I ley in bed and I here it “knock, knock, knock” I don't know what is causing that noise, when I first heard it I thought it was a pipe that got loose but after hearing how consistent it was with the time and the amount of knock I wondered if it was some kind of code but when I knock back I get the same response just three knocks no more no less, I have even tried talking but nothing, it was likely I was right the first time but I’m not entirely sure, I would love to know what is causing that noise maybe its a rat stuck in the wall, maybe its a loose pipe or maybe its someone hiding in the wall but for the time being the mystery continues.

7th of June

8 AM

I had a dream last night about a convocation I had with Lara a few months ago, she was telling me about how she had found some odd-looking bones and that they may have discovered a new species, it was funny I always thought we knew everything about what existed before guess that shows how ignorant I am with the subject but despite that she was practically jumping up the walls with excitement, it wasn't often I was able to see her like this but I like it.

Lara was an archaeologist, she hadn’t found anything particularly world-changing until then but she loved to explore and discover new things and I love hearing about it despite not fully understanding it but regardless I found it enjoyable to learn about the subjects and all the mini adventures she had been on. I was never really the outdoors type preferring mostly to stay in the comfort of my home, the complete opposite from her, I was primarily an author where I wrote sci-fi books that usually focused on action and some bits of comedy here and there, sometimes I would include stories based on things Lara had told me about her work what she was doing. My books sold well enough to where I was financially stable but I wasn't a best seller or anything like that. We lived together in the countryside just at the end of a small village called Hillshore with a large field and a nice view of the mountains which was about a 20-minute drive and at the back we get a wonderful view of the sunrise, no children or pets although there have been some talks about both but we agreed it was a little soon.

10th of June

7 PM

I blacked out for a while in the bath, getting lost in thought thinking back to how everything began. I can’t remember when it all started but it was early on in the year during the afternoon I was in the middle of brainstorming ideas for a new book, I was considering trying a sci-fi horror which focused on a group being stranded on a seemingly lifeless planet, I took a sip from my coffee and looked there was a storm coming in hard outside which made it difficult to work, the rain was hitting the window like stones and the thunder sounded like bombs, I felt bad for anyone who was caught up in that.

After a while I decided to call Lara to see how things were going but I couldn't get through the line sounded dead, I went to turn on the light but nothing I looked out the windows and saw smoke coming from the village, I didn't think much of it due to it being in the middle of town, I figured there would be more than enough help there. Walking around trying to find the candles I look outside of my kitchen window and stopped someone stood in the distance staring, it was hard to make out who it was I went to grab my coat and shoes and went to ask if everything was ok, when I shouted over to them I got no response, I wasn't surprised though it was difficult for me to hear myself, I went to walk over but then my attention was diverted to the village when the siren went off. The siren was a warning that everyone needed to get to shelter it was to warn of bombing threats and other disasters I panic a bit I ran back to my door but I remember the person but when I turned back to call him he had disappeared.

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I got some food, candles, a photo of me and Lara, and a notebook and headed to the bunker that was in my garden some of the village houses had their own bunkers built into them and there was a large bunker in the center of the village capable of housing most of the citizens in for a few mounts. I take a look outside the front window before heading for the bunker I notice a mountain of smoke rising to the bleak gray sky and coming from the village, After seeing that I immanently tried to call Lara but once again nothing I even tried the local police in the village but still nothing all the power was off. When I looked outside my window again I saw the same figure from earlier looking and slowly moving in my direction I couldn't see him well at first because of the distance and the rain causing the window to blur but the closer they got the better I could see them and the more anxious I became. They looked off it was obvious something wasn't right the closer they got the more horrified I became, he appear to have really long arms that were disproportionate with the rest of his body, he had no hair on the face or head nor did he seem to have a nose, he also appeared to be sliding along the flaw similar to slug. His body was dripping wet but also appeared to be covered in dirt and water, the most striking feature about him was by far his glowing blue eyes that shined through the rain, they were piratical flashlights. I stare frozen with fear and curiosity but it gets broken up by a loud siren with him getting closer I knew I had to leave I headed out through the back door straight to the bunker I opened the door and as I shut the door I could see him staring at me, we locked eyes for a moment but there was no movement from either of us until the sound of thunder hit, I panicked and fished closing the door and locked it by turning the wheel on the door, it took all my strength to do but I was safe.

I took a deep breath and I knew I just had to wait for help to come, it was pitch black in the bunker I opened the fuse box to my side and used a flashlight to see and I begin to flip the switches to get power back on once the light came on I head down to the bunker with nothing but fear and uncertainty of what's next, I didn't know when this was going to end or even what's actually happening up there, I didn't know who the blue-eyed men were and worse of all I didn't know if this was happening where Lara was… I hope she is safe.

15th of June

6.30 AM

At 11 pm last night the knocking started again but it was different this time much later than normal, 3 knocks and then it stops for a few seconds and continues, I knock back as that normally stops the sound but to my surprise not only did it continue but it changes, 1 knock stop, 3 stop, 2 knock stop I try to copy to see what happens but after a minute it stops, but I can still hear something when I came closer to the wall to listen to I deep breathing from the other side I was confused wondering if someone was on the other side. After few seconds a soft melody began to play from the other side, it sounded like it from coming from a music box. The sound had me complete entranced with an ear press against the wall, listening to it brought me back to things before I was down here when I and Lara would watch the sunset and the field while having a picnic, staring up at the big blue sky and watching her dance around it was magical while watcher Lara dances around like a child I notice someone in the distance that seem out of place, as I stared at them I begin to have a flashback and slowly start to realize that it was the same person I saw at the start of the sirens, I suddenly hear a loud noise as the man stares at me with his glowing blue eyes and I awoke. I'm not sure if I dream the knocks and the melody or if I fell asleep after. All I know is I feel like my mental state is deteriorating and If I don't get out of here soon I'm going to lose my sanity

17th of June

4.30 PM

While going through another book I notice something move with the corner of my eye, I went to investigate and couldn't find anything figured it was my imagination until I heard some scratches coming from to bin, when I went to move it there it was a small brown mouse but it had a blue tint to its fur and when it turned it had glowing blue eyes. I couldn't believe what I was seeing a mouse mutated blue eyes. I was so confused at what's I was looking at I didn't know what to do when the mouse dashed to the other side of the room into the bathroom, I made a chase but when I got in the mouse had smiley disappeared I had no explanation for this.

25th of June

6 pm

I consider leaving the bunker today once the rumbling had stopped, I had worked up the courage to leave, I grabbed what I thought I may need bottles of water, some tinned food, and a flashlight but I couldn't do it I got right to the top of the stairs but when I went to turn the wheel I froze, all I could think was all the horrible things that could go wrong and I second-guessed myself. I was there for a good 10 minutes before I came back downstairs god I feel so pathetic. I want to leave, I want my freedom and I want to see Lara, I wish she was here to break the silence and to provide me with some comfort.

8h July

4.50 PM

Well, it official I have finished every book and have gone through most of them several times, I have done complete analysis on them and now they are beginning to bore me I have resorted to playing silly games like building a tower out of the book and using tins as a ball to knock them over. To make matters worse the rumbling and banging above it is much louder now and after hearing it for so long my fear of it is slipping it now resembles a noisy neighbor who does not turn off their ridiculous

loud music at night, I swear there are times I want to head to punch whoever making that infernal sound.

22nd July

3 PM

Over the past few weeks, nothing has really changed except more strange dreams of memories I have had that have the blue-eyed people in the background, seeing them makes me feel like I'm playing a game of spot the differences, I almost think of these people as friends. Despite the odd dreams, something else strange happens today there was knocking but not on the wall as usually instead the knocking was coming from the upstairs door, I went up to investigate when I attempted to communicate no response, I had considered opening the door but since there was no answer I opted against that, the knocking continues for 5 minutes before stopping this was one of the strangest things to happen to me.

28th July

I seem to have come down with a fever which has gotten worse since the banging started I have taken some medicine to help me so hopefully, I should be fine. In other news my food supplies are beginning to run low which is a bit surprising as I thought I had more but I guess I was wrong, my renaming supplies should last me a couple more months but my time down here is running out.

30th

while laying down in bed with my eyes closed I could hear that same melody, hearing that sound once more took away all my anxiety and fear which put me into a deep state of relaxation. I dreamed last night of Lara but this wasn't a memory it was something else I was sat in my bunker and across the room where the food cuber would be was replaced by a window and on the other side was Lara, I tried to speak to her but no words would come out, I went over to the window to open it but there was no handle, I then tried to smash the window but nothing happened. Lara stared at me and gave me a gentle smile, I returned with a smile but with some degree of fear and uncertainty as to what is happening after a while she spoke she told me the noise from above would soon come to an end and that I would need to come to find her once I left, I asked her where she was but I noticed her looking be hide me, I turned my head to see the blue eyes man, I jumped back and he responded by pointing at me and opening his mouth which let out a bright blue light which blinded I herd Lara once more ask me to find her and them I awoke confused and unsure of whether it was just a dream or some sort of message

4th of August

2 PM

For the past few days, things have been quiet no more sounds from above no more knocking just silence, at first I liked I could spend my days in peace at last but now the silence is being to make me uneasy. With the silence seemly at its end, I think it is time to leave and try to find Lara.

6th August

1 PM

I have decided its time to leave, I'm all packed up and I have worked up the courage to leave, I don't know what's waiting for me on the outside but I have to face it with my supplies running out and no contact with the outside world I don't have any other option. To whoever comes across this I hope this helps tell my story and give some insight into what has happened, and if tt Lara please know that I am out there searching for you.

investigation notes

October 8th, 1951

After the disappearance of the people located in Hillshore investigators have been scouring the area searching for answers. All bunkers around and in the village remain empty with no signs of a

struggle, all food cubed still mostly full. While this is a sign that people have lived there it does not appear they were down there for very long.

John diary was found on the 4th of October, it appeared he had been down there for longer than the others as his bunker appear to be run down with cans and bottles littered everywhere and insects crawling about the place, also the clock that was referenced in the diary has been smashed to pieces and the door to the food cubed was coved in scratches. John has yet to be found but this does confirm that everyone in the village likely left their bunkers although where they have gone is unknown. John house like everyone else in the village house was desultory from inside with tables and chairs smashed and holes in the wall as well as massive floods in the house.

Lara rock has yet to be found but investigators will continue searching for her. The investigation to find out what happened here will continue however at this rate it appears the case will remain cold.

The end

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