Lost_Media.exe

You open your eyes and find yourself on the floor of a dimly lit room. The room is full of cobwebs and a musty smell is impregnated on it. You cry for help, for someone that will listen, but no one answers. You get up and try to open the only door in the room.

Damn it, it’s locked! you tell yourself.

You look around, but there are no windows. The only source of light is a little candle that will probably die out in an hour or two. You keep exploring the place and soon realize you are trapped in an attic room. You don’t like being trapped, and even less in an attic room that is dimly lit. You run around, screaming at the top of your lungs for someone to come help you, your heart beating on your throat and your palms coated in sweat… but then you hear it.

Did you hear that, dear reader? Did you hear the thing crawling behind you? In the depths of your mind, did you hear that?

You quickly turn around and see that an old TV has appeared out of nowhere. There is a sticky note on it that reads, “To whoever finds this, beware be mindful of the monster cute friend. He knows where you are, and he sees you. He’ll eat you alive play with you to make you feel happy if you let the lights go out invite him over. I trust you with this mission. I have failed, so don’t do what I did was lucky to get to play with him. Look for the VHS. Your life depends on it Best of luck: Sam.”

You frantically look for the VHS while a chill runs down your spine. You search shelf after shelf to no avail. You then find a pile of old clothes. You search through it. Bingo! You scramble back to the TV and insert the strange VHS that has “Lost_Media.exe” written in red marker. The screen remains off for a moment before turning blindingly bright with a loud beep. You get startled, but manage to calm yourself down just on time before the video starts.

(Upbeat Opening News Theme Music)

News anchor announcing off camera: “Welcome to your daily news show, Global TV. I’m Jack Smith.”

JACK (on camera): “Good evening, and thank you for joining us tonight. Tonight is a special night, and for a good reason. Today, my friends, we get to enjoy a special segment led by the children of the news anchors here at Global TV. Now, take a seat, relax, and enjoy the function.”

(Children’s music starts playing)

[Glitch]

(Children’s music slowly distorts into an unsettling tune and screen turns darker)

[Glitch]

(Music and screen go back to normal)

Kid on camera: “Hi, everyone. My name is Luke, I’m 8. I wanted to show you a report on my stuffed animals and the adventures we have in our backyard.”

(Cut to live feed of LUKE’s backyard)

LUKE (on camera in his backyard): “This is where we spend most of the time after school is over. Sometimes my friends come over. I used to play with my imaginary friend, but that friend is now gone…” [glitch] “why did you leave me? I will find you and I will bring you back, dead or alive! I am always watching you!” [glitch] “Anyways, come see my favorite spot in the backyard!”

(Luke runs off camera to the spot. A few seconds later, there is a loud sound and Luke starts crying)

(Camera turns to LUKE)

CAMERAMAN: “Are you ok, kiddo?”

(LUKE goes silent)

LUKE (giggling): “Did I finally get your attention?”

(LUKE turns around, his eye sockets spilling blood out and his mouth covered in blood)

LUKE: “Why did you leave me? I thought we were friends!”

(Distorted children’s music starts playing. Screen starts glitching)

LUKE: “I can see you… You won’t be safe for much longer.”

(LUKE walks away from the camera. Camera follows him from afar. LUKE goes under a tree and stays frozen in place facing away from the camera)

(Distorted children’s music plays louder. Screen gets darker)

(Music stops abruptly)

(Screen glitches and LUKE is shown looking at you. His face looks like he’s fighting demons internally)

LUKE: “Whatever you do-” [cough, cough] 

(LUKE falls to his knees and reaches his hand to the camera)

LUKE: “Don’t let the lights go out!” [glitch] “Remember the carpet-”

The screen goes dark and you’re once again left in the dim light of the candle. The candle that will probably go out soon if you don’t find a way to keep it alive, my reader. Tick tock, time’s ticking!

“No no no!” you yell desperately. You hit the screen very hard and it turns on again. This time, there is a different kid, and the news format is gone. The girl is “presenting” a cooking show in which she’ll show everyone how to bake a chocolate cake.

(Upbeat chill music starts playing)

Girl on camera announcing: “Hello, everyone. My name is Natasha, and I’ll be the one showing you tonight how to bake a chocolate cake. My friend Max will be here today with us to help!”

(MAX appears from offstage and waves at the camera)

MAX: “Hey, y’all. I’m Max the meerkat. Today, I’ll help Natasha to bake.”

(The two of them get ready and the scene cuts to when they are about to start).

MAX: “Alright. First, kids, make sure you have an adult with you. Natasha, where is our adult?”

NATASHA: “I don’t know. I haven’t seen my parents in a month.”

(NATASHA looks at you)

NATASHA: “Will you help me find-” [glitch] “...you, so I can eat you alive?” [glitch] “-my parents so they can help us?”

[Glitch]

(MAX is the only one in the shot. He is bloody and beaten up. Looks desperate)

MAX: “She’s close!”

(MAX runs towards the camera and grabs it. MAX is looking at you)

MAX: “I know you’re in there. You’re watching me on TV or something, and you’re confused. Terrified, even. But please, I need you to trust me!”

There is a loud noise and you look around alarmed.

“Who’s there?” you yell, but there is no answer. Just the deafening sound of silence. You look at the candle. Your time is ticking.

MAX: “Please, I need you to trust me! She’s there, she’s just waiting for the lights to go out.”

You look at the TV. Should a bloody, beaten up virtual meerkat be trusted in this kind of situation?

THOOM!

There is another loud sound, this one louder and accompanied by a low growl.

“Shit! Who- who’s there?” you ask once again as you turn around.

A pair of glowing red dots appear in the darkness of the room, not close to you but close enough to feel threatened by whatever is lurking in the darkness. A chill runs down your spine as the pair of eyes slowly closer to you. You look at the candle; it is about to go out any second now.

As the light turns dimmer and dimmer, you get a better glimpse of the creature looking at you. It is the most nightmarish thing you could imagine. With each bit of darkness, the creature grows more and more. Water drips from your eyes as your heart violently tries to break out from your rib cage.

PUFF!

Darkness suddenly encircles you as the creature gives you a big, wicked smile before lunging at you with its open mouth, showing its gigantic human-eating fangs.

You close your eyes as you accept your terrifying fate. You feel a clawed hand grabbing you from behind, and all you can hear is a loud bang muted by the creature’s roars before everything goes dark.

TO BE CONTINUED…