I set up camp deep within the garden. It was a large forested area with strange and otherworldly trees. It was dark except for the distant light of a giant lantern. Likely a cloaked abyssal. I thought to myself. Another one of the void’s forgotten creatures.
The sprawling trees were accompanied by giant stalks that matched their size. The canopy above was full of the flowerings of giant plants along the tree tops. Though in the darkness they were impossible to make out. I shined my light upwards towards the top of the canopy, it barely reached. I inspected the trees and stalks around me top to bottom looking for any sign of the Blight. None yet, at least not here.
I’d seen what the Blight did to plants. Once infected they would sprout long orange tendrils out from wherever the Blight could shove through. It made for sickly looking vegetation. I figured I understood what the plants felt now. It was invasive and wreaked havoc on all your processes, including thinking.
I began to collect stones to encircle the makeshift fire pit I would build. I figured I could stay here a while, away from prying eyes, as the infection continues to spread within me. I knew I was looking more sickly by the hour, and the last thing I needed was Molly to find me like this. She trusted me to guide her. If she knew what I’d become I think that trust would be broken.
As I gathered sticks to use as kindling for my fire, I thought back to my meeting with Johnson. It was difficult to imagine Molly taking anyone’s life, but especially someone she knew. Aside from that, after our meeting the receptionist mentioned a new outpost in a void that had appeared off of Known Street. She said I had been welcome to join them for the end.
I guess we’re really that close, huh? I let out a laugh as I lit the fire, watching the flames overtake the wood and moss. The fire spreads just like the Blight does, I thought as a faint smile spread across my face.
I don’t know how long I sat there, staring at the flames as they flickered around the sticks I continued to feed them. The cloaked abyssal had wandered closer to my location, and after what felt like ages of watching both it and the fire, I heard something. A rustling, no, a scrambling resonated throughout the forest followed by silence. I couldn’t quite tell where it originated from so I stayed put for the time being.
As I continued to sit I considered how long I had left. I hadn’t been constantly consuming the Blight so I knew I had more time than most. This was a slow fade. Days? Weeks? I still wasn’t sure how long it would take for the Blight to fully take over. I looked down at my hands. The fungus had overtaken my fingernails, pushing out growths from underneath. Gnarled and twisted orange tendrils were sprouting from beneath my nails. I considered biting some off to gnaw on, but was able to push the thought from my mind for now.
As further distraction I pulled out the single cassette tape I had on me and rotated it around in my hands. I ran the tip of my finger over the label marked with Birk and Elouise’s initials. The two had been bright, but that intuition faded in the face of peer pressure. I looked to the fire once more and noticed it was beginning to burn out.
Destroy it.
I don’t know where the thought came from but it felt like it was from deep within. It took me off guard, but for a moment I considered the idea. No one could get ahold of the tape if it was destroyed. One less piece from the Record Room means it’s less likely to fall into the hands of Johnson.
Before I could finish my next thought I heard something. Specifically footsteps in the underbrush. After listening intently I noticed the footsteps were also accompanied by a voice. A familiar voice. It sounded like Molly. Still quite far off, I hurriedly began to pack up my things before I stopped for a brief moment. I could confront her now. I thought it might be a good idea. Get her side of the story on Clyde. Though that would require I show her what I’m becoming, and I couldn’t bring myself to do that.
Instead I considered leaving a note, but as I tried to do so my hands betrayed me. Nothing I could write was what I wanted to say. It all got jumbled in my head and kept coming out wrong. The damn Blight won’t let me! I crumpled up the paper and threw it into what remained of the fire. I couldn’t believe what I was becoming. I couldn’t even write I simple message anymore. I just wanted to warn Molly to not become like me. There had to be some way to do that still. I had to be cryptic.
If I can’t say it outright, maybe I can spell it out another way. I was about to draw a blank on ideas when one finally hit me. I pulled out my pocket knife, picked a tree, and got to carving.
———
As the rustling grew nearer I finally retracted my pocket knife as turned to leave. I grabbed the tape once more and began to shove it in my sack. Though as I did so, I stopped and stared for a moment before throwing it into the fire pit. I swiveled on my heels as I finally left the campsite, ducking into the darkness of the garden.