← Redwood Bureau
Redwood Bureau
"THE HOLLOW KING" - Redwood Bureau Phenomenon #9166
00:53:28
When an unsuspecting survey team uncovers a hidden cave system beneath the city, they awaken a force that demands unspeakable sacrifice.
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- [00:01]
Shopify Representative
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- [01:53]
Agent Conroy
Beware the Redwood Bureau. A secret organization which captures and researches creatures and objects that defy explanation. Their reckless procedures have led to countless innocent lives lost. I am Agent Conroy. I worked for the Redwood Bureau, but I have escaped them to leak their reports to the unsuspecting public. You have the right to know.
- [02:30]
Narrator
In the deepest recesses of the earth, where light is never touched and life is nothing but a fleeting whisper, there lies a world that predates human memory. This world is not shaped by the laws of nature as we know them. Here, ancient forces linger, their presence felt in the tremors beneath our feet and the echoes that ripple through the darkened corridors of the earth's forgotten places. Civilization has risen and fallen, often oblivious to the shadows that lurk just beneath their foundations. For centuries, humanity has drilled into the ground, searching for resources, carving tunnels, and unearthing the past. Yet every now and then, something is found that should have never been disturbed. Some things are meant to remain hidden in the depths of time. When men first began to mine the earth, they did so with reverence. They knew that they were trespassers in a world far older and more mysterious than the surface above. But as time went on, the need for progress overshadowed the fear of the unknown. What was once approached with caution became routine. And with routine came the arrogance of thinking that what is unearthed can be used and controlled. But there are forces that cannot be controlled. Forces that lie dormant in the earth. Forces that predate human civilization. These forces are not bound by our understanding of life and death, Light and dark. They exist in the spaces between, in the cracks and crevices where reality itself begins to fray. Geotechnical surveys and subterranean explorations are often overlooked as insignificant tasks in the pursuit of progress. Yet as we delve deeper into the earth's surface, what secrets and horrors do we disturb? What forgotten terrors lurk in the depths, waiting to be unearthed by our relentless pursuit of advancement? Will we find the remnants of ancient civilizations? Or will we awaken something far more sinister? In the dark, treacherous corners where the very ground trembles beneath our feet and the walls seem to suffocate us, we may discover that some things are best left forgotten. For there are ancient powers at play, older than time itself, and they do not take kindly to being disturbed. The secrets buried deep within the earth are not for the faint of heart. The earth keeps many secrets, and it's only a matter of time before one of them finds us. And when it does, we may wish we never looked. We may wish we never looked.
- [05:14]
Construction Worker
I've been working in construction for nearly 20 years. Born and raised in Chicago, I've seen this city grow from the ground up, laying the foundations of skyscrapers and carving out its underground veins. The subway systems that keep this city alive. The job has always been tough, but it's honest work. There's something satisfying about knowing that what I build will outlast me, that the tunnels and bridges I've helped construct will carry thousands of people long after I'm gone. This project was no different. Our company, Geocor, had been subcontracted by a larger firm that secured a government contract to extend the subway system beneath Chicago. The city's expanding, and with it, the need for more efficient public transportation. We specialize in geotechnical surveys, using high tech equipment to map out the underground landscape, identify potential hazards, and ensure that everything is stable before the heavy machinery comes in. It's meticulous work, but it's essential for the safety of the entire operation. We were called in to survey a pre existing subway system, one that hadn't been finished and wasn't in use. The tracks ended abruptly, leading to a dead end tunnel. My team and I were supposed to scan the area, make sure there were no surprises, and then move on to the next section. Standard procedure, really. But things didn't go as planned. As we descended into the unused section of the subway, the air grew colder, the echo of our footsteps louder. The lights from our helmets barely cut through the thick darkness, revealing only the cold, damp walls that closed in around us. It wasn't unusual for these older tunnels to feel a bit claustrophobic. We set up our equipment, positioning the ground penetrating radar against the tunnel walls. The machine hummed to life, sending waves deep into the earth and bringing back a detailed map of what lay beyond. As the screen filled with data, I noticed something odd. A section of the wall seemed hollow, like there was a void behind it. It was a large, irregular shape, and whatever was inside was obstructing our scans. I radioed in to our chief specialist, Matt. He's been with the company much longer than I have. A no nonsense kind of guy who's seen it all. Hey, Matt, we've seen something strange here, I said, trying to keep my voice steady. There's a shallow spot behind the wall, but the scan's being blocked by something. Could be a natural cave formation, but it's hard to tell. There was a brief silence on the other end, followed by the crackle of static. Finish up the scans in the rest of the area, Matt replied. We'll have to renegotiate the contract with the subcontractor. If this is going to be a bigger job, just document everything and get back to me. I acknowledged his instructions and signaled to the team to continue. We finished up our scans. But that hollow spot nod at me. It was like an itch at the back of my mind, something that didn't sit right still. I pushed it aside, chalking it up to the weirdness that often comes with working underground. The following week we were back, and this time the job had expanded. Matt had managed to secure the necessary approvals to investigate the hollow area further. The higher ups wanted to know what was back there before they could greenlight the use of deep tunnel boring equipment. If there was a massive chamber or an unstable cavern, it would spell disaster for the project. Our task was clear. Open up the Hollow section, scan it and make sure it was safe for the heavy machinery that would come later. The company brought in some lighter excavation tools, just enough to break through the wall and get a look at what was on the other side. Digging started at 6am sharp. The sound of drills and picks echoed through the tunnel, mingling with the rhythmic hum of our machines. I kept a close eye on the process, making sure we didn't go too fast. The last thing we needed was a collapse. By 12:30pm we'd made enough progress to see what lay beyond the wall. I wiped the sweat from my brow and leaned in, peering into the darkness. The air that seeped through the opening was different. Thicker, colder, carrying a musty, damp smell that clung to the back of my throat. It was like the earth itself was breathing, exhaling a gust of ancient air that hadn't been disturbed in centuries. We had to go in, take the scans and do our part. A signal to the team to gear up, and together we prepared to step into the darkness. We called it hazard pay for a reason. Whenever we had to go into uncharted territory like this, we knew the risks. These tunnels were unknown, unmapped, and completely unpredictable. I've been in more than my share of tight spots, literally and figuratively, but there's always that gnawing thought in the back of your mind that today could be the day something goes wrong. Maybe it's an unstable shaft that collapses in on you, or maybe you stumble into an ancient gas pocket and don't realize it until it's too late. You always go in prepared, but there's only so much preparation can do when you're this far under the earth. The unease was creeping in like a slow fog as we readied ourselves to enter the newly opened tunnel. One by one, we ducked through the narrow gap and entered the tunnel. The darkness was immediate and absolute, swallowing us whole. Our headlamps cut through the black, but the light felt feeble against the overwhelming void that surrounded us. The tunnel walls were close, rough hewn stones that felt like it had been forgotten by time itself. The air was thick, almost suffocating, each breath feeling like it took more effort than the last. Stay close, I whispered to the team, though my voice seemed to vanish into the dark. We moved forward cautiously, each step echoing faintly off the stone. Our scanners beeped quietly as we swept them along the walls, searching for any signs of instability or hidden dangers. So far, everything seemed stable enough, but that did little to ease the tension that had settled over us as we pressed on. The tunnel began to change. The walls seemed to close in, the ceiling lowering until we were forced to crouch and shuffle sideways through narrow gaps. The passage tapered down to a tight fit, and every step felt like we were being slowly squeezed. I could feel the cold stone pressing against my back, my shoulders brushing the rough surface as we moved forward. It was slow, exhausting work, and the further we went, the more I began to feel like we were being swallowed alive. After what felt like an eternity, I called for a halt. We needed to check our progress, make sure we hadn't missed anything, and take a breather. I pulled out the scanner, frowning as I looked at the data. The map wasn't showing anything new, despite the fact that we'd been walking for what seemed like miles. According to the scan, we hadn't moved at all. We were nearly still in the same spot we'd been in when we started. Something's not right, I muttered, more to myself than to anyone else. I radioed back to the team outside, explaining the situation. Matt's voice crackled through the speaker. Calm as ever. Disorientation is common in places like this. You're underground, it's easy to get turned around. Just keep going. You're almost done. Get those scans and get out. We'll go over everything once you're topside. His words did little to ease the growing unease in my chest, but orders were orders, and the sooner we finished, the sooner we could get the hell out of there. I signaled to the team to continue, though the reluctance in their movements was palpable. None of us wanted to be down here any longer than we had to be. We moved on, the tunnel finally beginning to widen and open up after what felt like hours of squeezing through impossibly tight spaces. The air felt different again. Colder, more oppressive, the kind of cold that seeps into your bones and makes you shiver no matter how many layers you're wearing. And then we stumbled into a larger space, a natural antechamber, its ceiling rising high above us, the walls spreading out into a space that was much larger than anything we'd expected. I looked around, my headlamp casting long shadows that danced eerily along the walls. The floor dipped low in some places, the uneven ground slick with moisture. The sound of dripping water echoed faintly, though I couldn't see where it was coming from. We spread out, careful with each step as we began to scan the chamber. The walls were smooth in places, worn by time and water, but there was something about the way the rocks were positioned that felt almost deliberate, like they hadn't been placed there by nature alone. Lets get this done and get out, I said, my voice a low murmur in the cavernous space. The team nodded in silent agreement, and we got to work, separating into smaller groups to cover more ground. The scanners hummed quietly as we moved through the chamber, gathering the data we needed, but the further we went, the more I couldn't shake the feeling that we weren't alone. It was irrational, of course. We were underground, cut off from the world above. But that feeling of being watched, of something lurking just beyond the reach of our lights, grew stronger with every passing minute. As we finished our survey of the antechamber, one of the guys called out, his voice echoing through the space. He'd found another tunnel, hidden behind a large rock that had been wedged into place as if to block the entrance. It was a tight fit, but we could squeeze through if we needed to. I radioed Matt, again, explaining the situation. He seemed unfazed, instructing us to push on a little further, just a little more. The drill impact area could extend beyond your current scans. You need to be thorough. Once you're done, you can call it a day. I sighed, signaling the team to move forward, the oppressive weight of the earth above crushing down on us. This was the part of the job that earned us our hazard pay, the part where you ignored the screaming voice in the back of your head telling you to turn around and get the hell out. We were professionals, after all. This is what we were here to do. As we squeezed through the narrow gap into the new tunnel, a sudden change in the atmosphere was almost immediate and unmistakable. It was as if the very air had thickened, growing colder, heavier, and more oppressive with each step. An indescribable sense of dread washed over us, settling in our bones like a deep, ancient fear that defied all logic. It wasn't just fear. It was something far more primal, something that clawed at the edges of our sanity. We all froze, instinctively huddling closer together, each of us feeling it, the undoubted presence of something indescribable. The tunnel felt like it was alive, pulsating with a dark energy that sent shock shivers down my spine. It wasn't visible, but it was there, pressing against us, wrapping itself around our minds like a suffocating blanket. I tried to shake off the feeling, to focus on the task at hand, but the darkness seemed to pulse and breathe around us, each step more difficult than the last. Then, as if on cue, every piece of technology we had our flashlights, the survey equipment, the radios shut off simultaneously the Sudden plunge into complete darkness was like a punch to the gut. The kind of darkness that was beyond black. It was absolute. Panic spread through the group like wildfire, our breathing becoming shallow and rapid. I heard someone curse under their breath, the sound barely audible over the hammering of my own heart. We need to get out of here, someone muttered, a shaky voice that betrayed the fear we were all trying to keep at bay. A step back echoed through the tunnel, and it was as if that single movement triggered something. Something that had been waiting for us to make the first move. Suddenly, an unnatural light blazed to life somewhere deep within the tunnel. A cold, eerie light that looked like the flame of a torch, but had no discernible source. One by one, more lights ignited along the walls, illuminating the tunnel with an otherworldly glow. The lights were too precise, too deliberate, and they moved towards us with a bewildering speed. The lights blazed past us, illuminating the room as our collective horror deepened. The walls were lined with bodies. No, not bodies, but dismembered parts ripped apart and placed together in grotesque configurations. Arms, legs, torsos and heads were arranged in an illogical, sick collage, the flesh still somehow fresh, refusing to decay. The faces were frozen in expressions of sheer terror, mouths agape in silent screams, eyes wide with fear. It was as if they had been captured in the throes of death, their final moments preserved for eternity. The sight was too much to bear. Screams of horror and disbelief erupted from the group, some of the men backing away, others frozen in place, their minds unable to process the nightmare unfolding before us. The air was strangling with the smell of blood, bile and something else, something ancient and foul that made my body twist in on itself. One of the new guys, a younger kid named Roby, not more than 25, lost it. He turned and bolted back the way we'd come, desperation in every step as he tried to escape the horror that had consumed us. Please, no. No. No. He screamed, his voice breaking as he tried to push his way through the wall of body parts blocking the tunnel, his hands pulling at the flesh and bone. He closed his eyes, muttering to himself, perhaps trying to imagine he was somewhere else, somewhere far from this hell. And then one of the heads, one of these hideous, lifeless heads moved. Its mouth snapped open, teeth sinking into the man's leg with a sickening crunch. The sound of bone breaking echoed through the tunnel, followed by his blood curdling scream. He collapsed, clutching his leg as blood poured from the gaping wound, his hands trembling as he tried to stop the bleeding. The rest of us could Only watch in horror as the head, now still and lifeless again, lay there with the look of sick satisfaction on its blood stained face. And then it came. The voice. But it wasn't a voice in the conventional sense. It was more like a whisper that reverberated inside our heads, cold and detached, devoid of any emotion. We all heard it, the words clear as day, though they seemed to come from within us rather than from the air around us. One stays behind. The meaning was clear, clear even before the words fully register. Fear and anger erupted within the group, accusations flying as we all grappled with the reality of what the voice was demanding. Someone wouldn't be leaving this chamber. It's him. One of the guys yelled, pointing at Roby. He's done anyway. We can't carry him out of here. Several others quickly, quickly agreed, the panic making them irrational and desperate. Despite his injury, Roby fought back, his survival instincts kicking in as he struggled against the hands that grabbed at him. It was chaos, screams, shouts, and the sound of fists hitting flesh. But then, in a moment of sheer terror, one of the new guys, Dom, grabbed the injured kid by his collar and dragged him towards the wall. We don't have a choice. He shouted, his voice cracking with fear and desperation. It's him or all of us. Before anyone could stop him, he shoved the man into the wall of corpses. The reaction was immediate and violent. The wall came alive, the dismembered parts writhing and twisting as they reached out, pulling the Robi into their mask. He screamed, his voice cutting off as the wall consumed him, the sound of tearing flesh and breaking bones filling the air. It was over in seconds, his body reduced to nothing more than added pieces of flesh that adorned the walls. And then the voice returned, echoing inside our heads with the same cold detachment.
- [24:56]
Narrator
Continue.
- [24:59]
Construction Worker
Somewhere ahead, we heard the grinding sound of stone moving, the unmistakable sound of a passage opening. The way forward was clear, but none of us wanted to move. The horror of what had just happened hung over us like a suffocating cloud, each of us grappling with the knowledge that we had just condemned one of our own to a fate worse than death. But what choice was there? We couldn't go back. The way was blocked. Reluctantly, we picked ourselves up, the weight of what we had done pressing down on us as we moved forward. The walls of corpses extended down the tunnel, the unseen torches lighting our way as we stepped through the stone door into the next chamber. The door slammed shut behind us, sealing us in darkness once again. The next room was different. As soon as we stepped through the air seemed to grow heavier, as if the weight of the world was falling down on top of us. The torchlight emerging from nowhere shifted to an ominous red, casting an unsettling glow over everything it touched. The color bled into the walls, the floor and our skin, amplifying the already razor sharp tension Warning Signal interruption detected.
- [26:28]
Ryan Reynolds
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- [27:00]
Mint Mobile Representative
Recently I asked Mint Mobile's legal team if big wireless companies are allowed to raise prices due to inflation. They said yes. And then when I asked if raising prices technically violates those onerous deals, your contracts, they said, what the are you talking about, you insane Hollywood. So to recap, we're cutting the price of mint unlimited from $30 a month to just 15amonth. Give it a try@mintmobile.com Switch 45 upfront.
- [27:24]
Construction Worker
Payment equivalent to 15 per month New customers on first 3 month plan only Taxes and fees, extra speed slower above.
- [27:28]
Darkness Prevails
40 gigabytes of details hey there, Darkness prevails here. Founder of Eeriecast, my little network of scary shows. I appreciate you listening to our scary content, but did you know you can support us? Get ad free feeds of your favorite shows, get a 20% discount code to the Eriecast store and unlock access to members only audiobooks all at the same time. Just go to eericast.com/ and become a member today. It's cheap and really helps us out. That's eericast.com/thank you.
- [28:04]
Agent Conroy
Signal connection restored.
- [28:07]
Construction Worker
This chamber was far more structured than the previous one. The room was circular, with walls that arched upward into a ceiling that seemed almost too perfect, too smooth for something hidden so deep underground. The floor was etched with an intricate series of grooves forming a maze like pattern that made my head spin. Scattered haphazardly across the center of the room were the weapons, if you would even call them that. They were crude, primitive things made from bone and what looked like strips of human flesh. Some had patches of hair still clinging to them. Others gleamed wetly in the red light. The voice returned, cold and cruel, echoing inside our heads. 3. Stay behind There was no ambiguity in the command. The room grew colder as we realized what it meant. Three of us were going to die in this room, and there was no way out. The words hung in the air, filling it with a dread that I had never felt before. We all froze, suspicion and fear etched into our faces. The instinct to survive took over, and we began eyeing each other with a mix of distrust and desperation. It was Dom who made the first move. His eyes darted around the room, taking in the weapons, the grooves in the floor, and the rest of us. Then, with a sudden burst of speed, he lunged for one of the grotesque weapons, grabbing it with both hands as if it were his last hope. That was all it took to shatter whatever fragile piece had been holding us together. The rest of us followed suit, scrambling for the nearest weapon, our minds clouded with panic and the instinct to survive. The weapon was cold and slick in my hands, the texture of the flesh making my stomach churn. But there was no time to think, no time to process what I was holding. I just knew I needed it to defend myself, to stay alive. The room erupted into chaos. The sounds of grunts, cries of pain, and the wet thud of bone on flesh filled the air. I could barely keep track of what was happening, my vision narrowing to the man directly in front of me. Allen was heading towards me, a bone club raised above his head. The next few seconds happened in slow motion. I swung my weapon, a long, curved bone that resembled a scythe, and connected with Allen's stomach. The impact sent him reeling back. His eyes were wide with shock, and he collapsed to the floor, his guts spilling out and blood pouring into the floor. I didn't have time to think about what I'd just done. I had to survive. Adrenaline surged through my veins as I turned to defend myself from any more attackers. The floor was slick with blood, the intricate grooves filling with the red liquid, twisting and turning like rivers of death. Three men lay dead or dying, their bodies crumpled in grotesque positions, their blood pooling and flowing toward the center of the room. Karl struggled to stand but was heavily injured, clutching his side where several deep gashes bled profusely. He was hunched over, his weapon discarded on the floor, his face pale and slick with sweat. He wasn't going to make it much longer. I could see it in his eyes, the way they were starting to glaze over, the way his body was swaying on the spot. The other survivors, apart from myself, were Dom and Nelson, an older man whom I'd worked with occasionally for several years. He was breathing heavily, his weapons still clutched Tightly in his hands, his knuckles white with the effort. He was wounded, but not as badly as Karl. He could still stand, still fight, if it came to that. We eyed each other warily, the blood covered, weapons still in our hands, none of us willing to let them go. The silence that followed the struggle was deafening, broken only by the sound of our labored breathing and the occasional drip of blood from our wounds. Carl finally collapsed, falling to his knees with a pained groan. His face was ashen, his eyes fluttering. He wasn't going to make it. We all knew it. Dom stepped forward, his eyes hollow and devoid of emotion. He raised his weapon high and in one swift motion brought it down on Carl's head. The sickening crunch of bone echoed through the chamber as his body went limp, falling into the blood soaked grooves and filling them further. For a moment, none of us moved. The horror of what we had just done, what we had been forced to do, hung in the air like a weight. But then the voice returned. Continue. The word echoed in my mind, reverberating through my skull like the tolling of a bell. The walls trembled slightly, the floor beneath us vibrating as if something was moving just below the surface. The blood in the grooves began to flow faster, drawn toward the center of the room, where it pooled and then drained. Ahead of us, the wall at the far end of the chamber began to crack and crumble, revealing a narrow hallway shrouded in darkness. The way forward had been open, opened, but none of us moved. We were too exhausted, too terrified to take that first step. Without a word, the three of us began to move, our steps slow and measured as we made our way toward the hallway and into the next room. The door slammed shut behind us with a deafening finality, plunging the room into an abyss of darkness so absolute it felt as if existence itself had vanished. Every sound we made, the ragged breaths, the shuffling of our feet, seemed swallowed by the blackness, absorbed by the overwhelming silence that had taken hold. I could feel the presence of the other two men, their fear a palpable force that matched my own. We had been reduced to our most primal selves. No longer men, but but animals trapped in a cage. Aware that death lurked in every cavern. I knew that whatever was coming, it would not be merciful. The unseen torches flared to life once again, but this time the light they emitted was wrong. It was a black light, an anti light that seemed to pull the darkness closer rather than push it away. It emanated shadows rather than banishing them, creating a surreal, nightmarish scene where the lines between Light and dark were blurred. In the center of the room, illuminated by this twisted light, was a long stone table, rough and unhewn, more a slab of rock than anything crafted by human hands. And upon that table were the bodies of the three men we had killed in the previous room. The sight of them lying there so still and lifeless should have been a relief after what we had just endured, but instead, it filled me with a sense of dread so deep it threatened to paralyze me. The voice returned, no longer a whisper, but a forceful presence that reverberated inside my skull, making my vision blur and my stomach churn to stay behind. The meaning was immediately clear. The command burned into our minds as if it had been etched there with a hot iron. There was no need for further explanation. We knew what it wanted, what it demanded of us. We were to consume the flesh of the men we had killed, to eat their organs as some grotesque act of survival, or perhaps worship. I felt the bile rise in my throat at the thought, my body rejecting the very notion of what we were being asked to do. I wasn't sure if it was the black light or the sheer horror of the situation, but the room seemed to spin around me, the walls closing in as my mind struggled to process the unimaginable. Nelson broke first, his face twisted in an expression of defiance and fury. He threw his weapon against the wall, the sound of it clattering to the floor, echoing through the room. Fuck you. He screamed, his voice cracking under the strain of his emotions. I won't do it. I don't care what you do to me. He turned and bolted toward the door we had entered through, his footsteps pounding against the stone floor as he ran. But the door was sealed shut, as impenetrable as the darkness itself. He reached it in a matter of seconds, banging his fists against the cold stone, his cries of rage and desperation filling the room. For a moment, nothing happened. The air grew still, the only sound that of his frantic pounding in our ragged breaths. But then, from the shadows, a low growling noise began to reverberate through the room, a sound that sent a chill down my spine and made my blood run cold. Nelson froze, his body stiffening as the growl grew louder, deeper, more menacing. And then, before any of us could react, the darkness itself seemed to come alive. Shadows detached themselves from the walls, coalescing into something solid, something monstrous. It moved with a speed that was impossible to track, a blur of darkness that was upon him. In an instant. His screams filled the room, high pitched and desperate as the thing tore into him with a savagery that was almost beyond comprehension. Blood sprayed out in all directions, splattering the walls, the floor. The two of us as we stood frozen in place, unable to move, unable to look away. The creature, if it could even be called that, was nothing more than a mass of shadowy limbs, teeth and claws, its form constantly shifting and changing as it ripped the man apart. It took its time, prolonging the agony, tearing chunks of flesh, flesh, from his body with a deliberate slowness that made the horror all the more unbearable. His fingers were the first to go, torn from his hands and scattered across the floor like discarded twigs. His intestines followed, pulled from his abdomen and trailing across the room. With a perverse sense of cruelty, the creature kept the man alive for longer than should have been possible, drawing out his suffering until there was nothing left of him but a bloody, mangled husk. His screams eventually gave way to gurgles, and then finally to silence. The only sound left was the slow drip of blood pooling beneath what remained of his body. The creature receded back into the shadows, its task complete leave, leaving behind nothing but the mutilated remains of the man who had defied the Voice. We stood rooted in place, too shocked, too horrified to do anything but stare at the carnage before us. The Voice had given us a command, and if we refused, the consequences were a horrible death. The two of us who remained were left with no choice. The primal fear that had taken hold of us was too strong, too overwhelming to resist. Without a word, we turned to the bodies on the table, the men we had killed with our own hands. The connection we felt to them was undeniable, as if some part of their spirits lingered in the room, watching, waiting for our suffering. I moved to Alan's body, the damage even worse than I remember inflicting. His eyes were still open, staring up at the ceiling with a vacant, glassy gaze. His stomach was a mess, spilling gore, the wound gaping like a red maw that was about to pull me in. I reached out with trembling hands, my mind numbing itself to the horror of what I was about to do. There was no room for thought, no room for hesitation, Only the desperate need to survive, to avoid the fate that had befallen the rest of my team. The flesh was still warm beneath my fingers, the blood sticky and slick. I felt the bile rise in my throat again, but I forced it down, forced myself into action. I dug my hands into the wound, feeling the resistance of muscle and bone as I tore into his chest, searching for the organs. The smell was Overwhelming. A metallic stench that filled my nostrils and made my stomach churn. I could feel the texture of the organs as I pulled them free. The heart, the lungs, the liver. Each one still warm, still slick with blood. I brought the heart to my mouth, the taste of iron filling my senses as I bit down. The texture of the flesh repulsive, the taste even worse. I gagged, retching as I forced myself to chew, to swallow, to consume the flesh of the man I had killed. Dom did the same, his face twisted into a mask of revulsion and horror that I was sure mirrored my own. We ate in silence, the only sounds the revolting squelches of flesh. Each bite was a struggle, each swallow a battle against the urge to vomit, to expel the foul, disgusting meat from our bodies. Time lost all meaning as we ate, the minutes stretching into an eternity of blood and gore. The room was filled with the sounds of chewing, of bones cracking, of flesh tearing. Finally, after what felt like hours, I'd swallowed the last bite of what organs I could find. I looked over at Dom to see him vomiting uncontrollably, only to desperately shove the bile covered chunks of chewed flesh back in his mouth and vomit again. The voice returned, its cold command, ringing out in my head.
- [43:14]
Agent Conroy
Continue.
- [43:16]
Construction Worker
The torches at the far end of the room flared to life, illuminating another stone door, another passage that led deeper into the nightmare. The voice had spoken and I had no choice but to obey. I looked at Dom one last time. His face was pale, his eyes haunted. He looked at me pleadingly, but there was nothing I could do. I won. And he lost. As I walked away, leaving the mangled remains of our victims and Dom behind, behind the shadows in the room behind me grew. His begging turned into screams of agony as the creatures descended into the darkening room. I stepped into the room, the stone door slamming behind me. My breath caught in my throat as I took in the grotesque scene. The walls were lined with dismembered hands, their fingers curled into unnatural positions, each one clutching a flickering torch that cast a wavering light over the chamber. The flames were an unnatural shade of blue, their cold light reflecting off the glistening surfaces of the gruesome throne that dominated the center of the room. The throne itself was a twisted, nightmarish creation fashioned from the bodies of countless victims. Human heads formed the armrests, their vacant eyes staring out into the dark darkness, while torsos and limbs were woven together to create the backrest. The seat was a tangle of sinew and muscle, still wet and glistening. Perched on the throne was the thing that had Been tormenting us, the presence that had driven us to murder and worse. It was a towering figure, its limbs impossibly long and spindly, its body covered in thick, matted black fur that was stained with the blood of its victims. The creature's face was a void, a mask of pure darkness, with only its eyes and mouth visible, glowing silver orbs that pierced through the shadows in a wide, toothy grin that stretched far beyond what is possible. I tried to back away, but my feet felt rooted to the spot, my body frozen with fear. It spoke not with words, but with that voice that echoed inside my skull, rattling my bones and sending tremors through my body.
- [45:42]
Agent Conroy
Let me in.
- [45:47]
Construction Worker
The command was simple, but the meaning was clear. It wanted to possess me, to take control of my body and mind. I could feel its presence pressing against the edges of my consciousness, a dark and ancient force that was far beyond my comprehension. I shook my head, instinctively, trying to resist, but the pressure only intensified, crushing my will to fight back. The creature stood, its towering form blotting out the unnatural blue torchlight as it loomed over me, its eyes glowing brighter, its smile widening with predatory glee. Let me in, it repeated, more insistent this time. My legs buckled under the weight of its demand, and I stumbled backward until my back hit the cold stone wall. The creature moved with impossible speed, closing the distance between us in a heartbeat. One moment it was across the room, and the next it was standing before me, its presence smothering me.
- [46:51]
Agent Conroy
Let me in.
- [46:55]
Construction Worker
The voice roared, the force of it tearing through my entire body. My skull felt like it was being split open, my joints groaning under the pressure, my lungs struggling to draw breath. I wanted to collapse, every fiber of my being screaming in agony, but the fear, the pure, unparalleled terror, kept me rooted in place. I couldn't resist any longer. My will had been shattered, my mind broken under the weight of the creature's power. Tears streamed down my face as I nodded, a silent acquiescence to the horror that awaited me. The creature reached out, its long, bony fingers gripping my jaw, forcing my mouth open wide. Its grin widened even further, further as it stepped into me, its spindly legs forcing their way down my throat, filling my lungs, my veins, my very soul. It was agony beyond anything I had ever imagined, a burning, searing pain that coursed through every nerve, every cell of my body. I could feel myself being hollowed out, my consciousness being pushed aside as the creature took control, its presence expanding within me until there was nothing left of who I was. And then, as quickly as it had begun, the pain stopped I was no longer in control. My body moved on its own, driven by the will of the creature that now inhabited me. I could still see, still hear, still feel. I was a prisoner within my own mind, a helpless observer as the thing wore me like a wetsuit. The creature, now fully within me, stretched out my limbs, testing its new vessel. It turned its head, looking around the chamber with my eyes, its gaze lingering on the torches, the throne, the scattered remains of the dead. And then it smiled, my lips curling into a wide, unnatural grin.
- [49:19]
Narrator
When the only survivor of that survey team, Eric, finally emerged from that tunnel, he was was alone. The others who had started this journey with him were nowhere to be seen. He walked out into the light of day, his clothes tattered, his skin pallid and his eyes hollow. Eric didn't speak a word to anyone, not even a whisper. He simply walked away, his face a mask of detachment, leaving behind a sealed cavern and confused coworkers, workers. It's clear to me, based on this report and surveillance footage of him exiting the subway, that Eric was not the man who entered that tunnel. What came out was the entity that took residence within him. The Bureau's records now contain only a brief, vague report of his emergence. But it's what's not written in those files that is most unsettling. Where did Eric go after leaving the site? What purpose did the entity have for possessing him? These questions remain unanswered, and the implications are chilling. The fact that he walked away from that place speaks of something sinister. The entity that now controls his body is out there, free to do as it pleases, and there's no telling what its next move will be. This case, like many others, reminds me that the Redwood Bureau's interests align more with control than with protection. I can only imagine what the Bureau will do if they manage to contain Eric and the force within him. It's likely, based on countless leaked reports, that the Bureau will attempt to harness this ancient power to use it as a tool or weapon, much like many other phenomena we've tracked. But with Eric on the loose, the consequences are unpredictable. And that unpredictability is equally terrifying. The entity cannot be allowed to wander freely, and it's in humanity's best interest. If the Bureau isn't the one to bring him in, we need to find him first to exorcise whatever this entity is and destroy it. Eric's fate is now entwined with that of the entity, and together, they represent a threat we haven't seen before. The nature of this being, its intentions and its capabilities are still largely unknown. But one thing is for certain. It is far from dormant. It's out there, biding its time, learning, and possibly even growing stronger. And unless something is done, given the Bureau's history, we will never fully understand the true scope of what we're dealing with until it's too late. I won't waste time speculating on what happens next. But one thing is certain. The Redwood Bureau's interest in this case is far from over. And neither is ours. Whatever follows, we will remain vigilant. For the darkness that claimed Eric is still out there planning its next move. And so is the Redwood Bureau.