Forty-Seventh Post.

"How are you?"

"Physically: Healing. Emotionally: Conflicted. Mentally: Corrupted. Spiritually: Bitter. You?"

"Well, I got a call from Claire."

"Oh?"

"Alan killed himself a few days ago. She wants us to attend the wake and funeral."

I snapped the neck of the fellow I had been interrogating. "I'm amazed that bitch even remembers me." I grinned. "They were, of course, your friends. If I use that term loosely, that is."

Joshua sighed on the other end. "And you're mine." I let out a laugh. "Just come, ok?"

"Can't. I got other things I need to do." I replied, glancing over to the computers that worked endlessly. "And you know me, work, work, work."

"All work and no play makes Shady a dull girl." I chuckled at his words. "This isn't playing, though, but you need fresh air. I would also appreciate it if you came with me, he was a colleague of mine."

"The moment you start caring about my needs I'll take a break. In the meantime you can take your girlfriend and go fuck each other in the closet while the priest preaches."


Joshua let out another sigh, his growing agitation all the more obvious. "They just got engaged, Shady, and he killed himself-"

"His choice, man. He could have called off marrying the little whore. But no, had to pull the dramatics."

"Claire changed."

"That's what they all say." I rolled my eyes. "No one ever really changes. Not completely. I'm always going to be this this. You're always going to be that. She'll always be a whore. Alan will always be a quitter. Simple."


I heard a lot bang and assumed he punched something. "You're heartless."

"I'm honest. Maybe a little heartless."


"Fucking socio-"

"Ah, ah, ah. Easy now, Tigger. Don't need to go bouncing off the walls just yet. We're only getting started." He breathed heavily, trying to remain calm. "You can take someone else. Provided it isn't Mr. Sunshine. I'm not going to pretend to mourn people that I dislike. Let him be dead, he brought it on himself."


Brood's voice could be heard in the background, followed by Joshua grunting. "Would it interest you to know it might have been related to the Tall One."

I glanced at the corpse on my table, "Perhaps, should you be able to prove it to me before I hang up."


"Claire mentioned strange activity involving him disappearing for extended periods of time. She found him outside a few nights just standing there, he didn't respond to her. He began spacing out a lot and seemed to be getting strange phone calls from an unknown number. They went to get a brain scan, worried about tumors or something in his head. There was a lot of unexplained activity but otherwise everything was relatively normal. He walked home a few times after disappearing with odd bruises on him, nearly identical to yours after your encounter with Slender Man."

I clicked my tongue. "Joshua, did you recently visit them or have any sort of contact with them?"

"Why?"

"Let's just assume yes by that answer. That you went and visited, had a cup of tea, ate cookies, you know... Friend stuff. You just potentially damned them. Congrats, killer. Now you're in my shoes!"

"What? How is that possible. It's not after me-"

"Think any fucks are actually given? You've been tied into this just as long as me. Indirectly until Billy happened. Spotlight is on you too, bro. Get your head in the game, killer."


"Stop calling me that!" He screamed on the other end.


"Doesn't feel that great, eh? Don't worry, Joshua. You aren't a monster, yet." I laughed at the irony and listened as he seethed on the other end of the line. "Surprised you haven't hung up yet."


Brood was speaking again and I heard Joshua mutter a small 'I'm fine'. "Are you going to come?"

"And what would you have me do, Joshua? Will you put on a jester outfit and distract those that mourn your shit friend while I examine him?" I snorted. "That would go splendidly. I'd advise you don't go, you'll just infect everyone there. Humanity is a virus, Joshua. And you, well, you're just a stronger virus that has come along. Get me?"

"No, you've fucking lost it." 

"Eh... Can't win them all." I shrugged.

There was a screech, followed by heavy footsteps as he no doubt stormed away from anyone in listening range. "So I shouldn't go out, ever?"

"Stay away from friends, killer. Stay away from family. Stay away from anyone you know personally. There's a 50/50 chance you could ruin what petty lives they have going for them. Mourn at a distance. Why the hell do you think I up and left?"

"That's comforting."

"Not meant to be, just the truth. How did Claire sound?"

"How do you think? Her fiance just killed himself."

I rolled my eyes. "Other than that, dumbass."


"Bad. Kept spacing out. She thought she saw something out the window. Mentioned a strange phone call, too."

"She's done. Causalities happen, let nature run its course. Be smarter next time, killer."


He let out a few uneven breaths, trying to stabilize himself. Completely upset, it was far too obvious. "Can't we just bring her here?"

"She's dead already. Bringing her here wouldn't change that, it would only mean you'd find her dead one morning. She'll end up just like he did. They are trying to lure us out, stay inside the wards." I ordered, "This has Executor and his boss written all over it. Back. Off."


"FINE."

"Good. Sorry for your loss, bro. Shit happens." He sighed, calming somewhat. "Now leave me alone unless it's an emergency." I said and hung up.






Hehehe. How curious. Executor, that's a low blow. You told too much about yourself in the beginning of your blog for the pieces not to fall into place. And look, you made Joshua go all boo-hoo-like on me. Great.


"Well maybe you shouldn't have been such an asshole, Shady."


Well maybe you should just shut the fuck up. ;)


Bahahaha. Now we're getting somewhere.
Sure, it does suck Joshua is upset. I know what it's like to indirectly get people killed, my track record isn't clean in the least. But maybe now he'll get the hell off my back. And maybe, just maybe, he will harden up. Haters gonna hate, dreamers gonna dream. Or whatever.
But this does provide some interesting things to ponder on. I can only wonder what is to happen next.

Whelp, I gotta finish some stuff up here before I head back to the mansion. Promised Josie I'd get back to helping her grow a backbone at super speed, heh.


Stay safe if you can,
-Shady