Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A note found in the case file of Nathan Watts about a stranger in an alley. 

“A smart boy. 

Walking away. 

This is one of my least favorite alleys in that area. So many hollowed people whose only sin was being considerate to what they believed to be a poor, drunk bastard.

I stood by a few of them when the Strangers would drag them away. To add their skins to the collection. 

Speaking words of comfort and doing my best to make their death hurt less. 

Not an easy feat when something with an inhuman face finds sick pleasure skins you and stuffs you with whatever sand and sawdust they can use. 

Those monsters wanted them alive, archivist. 

Needed their fear to last as long as they could. 

And I can promise you that the stranger is very upset when the screams stop far sooner than they’re supposed to. And it’s very upset when there’s no one around to explain why the healthy cadaver has a sudden heart attack. 

I have two names you should look into. 

The only ones I was there to help. 

Sarah Baldwin. 

Daniel Rawlings. 

They were taken in 2006. 

If you see them wandering around, please understand that is not them. Those two were given a quick end. Their fear unusable, though their skin might be used. 

I hold little hope for the others taken. 

And I’ve no proof they truly died.

-The Witness.” 

Jon stared at the note, frowning. 

This was ridiculous. 

Obviously, some sort of joke.

No need to add it to the official report. 

Chapter Text

A note found shoved into an envelope in the case file of Joshua Gillespie concerning a coffin. 

The note was stained with various shades of brown and black, some dirt falling from it as Jon pulled it out. 

“Absolutely, desperately wish I could meet this man. Locked away the key. Ignored the song. Treated it like furniture (which I find hilarious). 

But back to the statement itself. I've seen that doorway to the center of the world eat plenty of very nice, very stupid people. That coffin is a special kind of evil. 

Never, ever, ever open it. 

Never listen. 

Never hold the key for too long. 

Run away. 

You are not braver than the pressure of the world. 

You will be crushed and crushed and squeezed in pitch darkness and dampness and loneliness. 

And those who go in do not die… 

I’ve checked…” 

-The Witness” 

Jon rolled his eyes. 

“Yep. Absolutely a joke.” 

He shoved it away into a drawer of his desk and turned to his report. 

And he definitely didn’t trust why it was returned to the file the next day. 

Chapter Text

“Isn’t it funny, Amy, how you can live so near and never notice. I’ll need to return the visit someday.”

 I moved out a week later, and I never saw him again.

Statement End-” 

Jon groaned as he looked at the last page. 

“Another note. 

‘The NotThem. Able to replace someone in their entirety.

As far as I’m aware, I’ve never been affected by the creature’s mind-altering bits. 

I’m sorry to say I was not able to be of comfort to Graham. I was there. I saw it. 

But something stopped me. 

Just held me in place. 

I think it’s the table. I think the Web wanted this to happen for some reason. 

I don’t know what. 

If you ever see that table, be very, VERY careful.

And keep track of any recordings you make. Notice voice changes. Older fashioned things are somehow more honest.’”

Statement Ends.” 

Someone took this seriously. Don’t know who did these. I asked around, and no one has any idea. Even Elias seemed mildly confused about the notes. I’ll keep these noted to the side.

Now, about the statement itself, I’d be tempted to dismiss this as a hallucination resulting from long-term head trauma complications, but Tim came through with this one and managed to get hold of Ms. Patel’s medical records.” 

Jon tried to keep the note separate from the statement. 

And he wished he could be surprised that he found it replaced the next day.