Report From the Bridge

++Log Activated, Terminal 23T4: 10.11.2012++

Three hours to get here and three hours to get the power working. I wonder, often, what sort of an operation you think you’re running? The subject of my report - my charge, if you will - is the bridge connecting [redacted] to [redacted]. Bridge=Georgian, red brick, wide enough for one car, lit by sort of intricate looking street lamps. Foot traffic minimal so far. But who would ever want to go to [redacted]? I will attempt crossing tonight as instructed.

++11.11.2012++

Crossing only marginal success. Crossed bridge in 2 minutes the first time. Was so overjoyed with my success, tried to make the return trip over the bridge - rather than the suggested re-route past the coffee shop and the fresco of [redacted]. Second trip took 25 minutes. I suspect my stopwatch malfunctioned at the midpoint, so perhaps 35 minutes.

++12.11.2012++

Didn’t realise I was meant to record my trips with such detail. Yes - it was mostly fog. In the distance were those trees, thick trunked, looming far past the sky. No sounds beyond usual city ambience; again, unusual. Same sign repeated every hundred or so steps - the school crossing one we’ve seen in other instances.

Fine, yes, I do see how these observations are useful.

But no sign of Them. Never is initially. Don’t know why you get your hopes up.

++13.11.2012++

Foot traffic minimal again today. Most avoid the bridge. Common sentiment is that if you want to get to [redacted] you’re better off going down by the canal.

Not that I wish to be that employee but don’t think I’m paid enough for what you’re suggesting, nor is it stipulated in my contract.

++14.11.2012++

Nothing to report.

++15.11.2012++

Nothing to report.

++16.11.2012++

Yep, you guessed it. Nothing to report.

++17.11.2012++

Six boys on bikes entered from the west side of the bridge. I looked down at my crossword (I know, I know, negligent) and when I looked up they were gone. 

Entered on the east side on bike provided. No sign of them. Came out on the west side. Swore. Turned the bike around. Re-entered on west side and had a similar experience to several weeks ago. Fog everywhere, those massive trees. Some sound this time. But no end in sight. Pedalled for 20 minutes before I came on the boys. They had abandoned/dismounted their bikes and were standing looking out over the bridge’s railing. They were terrified at what they saw.

I got their attention after a while. I had the badge out as per regulation. Already they had the signs. Hard to describe really. The sharpness in the eyes. The slight gauntness to the face. One of them had lost a fingernail.

Managed to get them on their bikes with some persuading. They were desperate to keep looking. Showed them the badge again. That worked wonders. And then I think the fear kicked in, as we all went hell for leather to get out of there. 

Still pedalled for far longer than expected. Still saw that damned sign. But we got out, safe-ish. Have provided a list of boys details, addresses, names, star signs, etc, with dispatch.

++18.11.2012++

Nothing to report. Question: why have you provided a mountain bike with what feels like 18 gears and the stiffest set of pedals? Have you been to [redacted]? It’s flat. Legs are stiff from frantic pedalling. Please send whisky.

++19.11.2012++

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++20.11.2012++

Terminal is/was bust. Swear every terminal provided has some sort of malfunction. I say ‘was bust’ as previously it was writing only commas. I say ‘is bust’ as now it has no commas whatsoever. That’s okay though it’s not as if my main task is recording information on this thing. That said: nothing to report. Whisky appreciated.

++21.11.2012++

I’ve said it already. No. I don’t want to do that. You’ll have to fish about behind the sofa and see what you can find. Financially that is. I’m talking about MONEY down the back of the sofa. Not spa tickets. I have seven already. I don’t like going to the spa. 

++22.11.2012++

It’s always an old lady. She entered West side. Saw her wandering about the bridge for a while and then staring northwards for what felt like far too long (there’s only a block of vacant flats to look at). Didn’t take the bike this time. Encountered her like the others just staring out. Same procedure: badge: stop looking at that: and hooked her arm in mine. We exited but not as successful as the boys. She threw up a whole litre of that foul blue stuff then collapsed. Called evac. She was dead by the time they arrived. Eyes so black you can sort of see yourself in them. She lived in [redacted}; the family and news outlets (why were they involved!?)  have been informed the incident was a stroke.

++23.11.2012++

Woah, thanks for the shiny new terminal guys! It’s way better than my old terminal. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, - just been doing this all day. That said, nothing to report. Is dispiriting boredom considered relevant? I think not.

++24.11.2012++

Yes, I agree the terms. 

Nothing to report. Did you know that in 1793 [redacted] opened a bar beneath this very bridge?

++25.11.2012++

As extrapolated from the various reports you sent over prior to me heading out, yes, it does appear that the longer you spend in parallel, the longer it takes to get out. This is terrifying when you consider certain agents have been tasked with spending a month on stairways, in corridors and alleys. They must have been there for years.

I entered 4 days ago for what was meant to be an overnight stay. Set up a tent neatly beneath one of the signs. 

Woke to find the sign had gone. Love that. 

Began walking, realised after about an hour I hadn’t seen a sign. Noted that down. Walked for another hour: came upon my tent beneath a sign (I’d packed up my tent and had it on my back). So I noted that down as well.

Already, I believed the amount you paid me was not enough.

Already, I began to regret taking the job in the first place. 

Kept walking though. Walked for hours.

Some description for R&D: fog continued to be oppressive; bluish light near the place where we would consider the sky to be; those trees seem to move a little. 

They - the big They - don’t understand noise after you’ve been in parallel for a time. There was city ambience, but it was like a mockery of city ambience, the wrong birds, sirens and horns rather than passing cars. I heard waves, like on-a-beach-waves. I don’t know whether it was because they were tethering to me and my experience, and as I’d slept, and my subconscious had drawn other experiences to the surface, the continuity of the parallel had been fractured. Working theory. You can determine whether I’m talking shit.

I saw Them, of course. Based on rations I would say I’d been in there for around 3 days. Obviously I am an alerted denizen, so their approach was faltering and skittish.

I did look. I think They caught my eye peripherally and just by instinct I turned my head. And I Saw, of course I Saw. All of it. The Unravelling. The Promised Gifts. The Falling of the Light. The Symphony for the Slumberers. I looked away, but only just. They hounded me all the way back, sparking and flashing and trying to make me look once again.

When I arrived in my little bunker, I used the mirror to look beneath my eyelids. There’s a line of sheer black around the iris. Concerning. May need medicine.

Nothing more to report. I have not slept for 3 days, so next report will not be prompt. Sorry.

++26.11.2012++

Low and behold, nothing to report. Slept like a baby. Not that you care about that.

++27.11.2012++

Woah, what’s that? Is it….nothing to report? Why golly, yes it is!

++28.11.2012++

Blackness around the iris is ever so slightly expanding. Like a spot where you’re not sure it’s getting bigger and then actually yes it does look like it’s getting bigger and then, oh my, yes, actually that is a big spot. No itchiness yet. I don’t know whether you have the medicine to treat this, but if you do, please send it.

++29.11.2012++

Nothing to report.

++30.11.2012++

Or don’t reply I guess. If there is some person I can escalate too, please can you consider this log as the escalation so that I may get this looked at please. Thank you.

++31.11.2012++

Blackness is now about a cm thick. Sight not failing, but can’t help but not trust what i’m seeing. Please send some kind of assistance.

++01.12.2012++

Please send assistance.

++02.12.2012++

Please send assistance to [redacted]

++03.12.2012++

Please send assistance.

++04.12.2012++

The Falling of The Light. The [redacted].

++05.12.2012++

No thing to report.

++06.12.2012++

And there shall come an awakening though thou/one/THEM may not wish it. [red-LIGHT-acted] Assistance.

++07.12.2012++ 

NOTHING report

++08.12.2012++ 

[redacted] a [redacted] all eye black [redacted]

++09.12.2012++ 

[redacted] thanks

++09.12.2012++ 

Nothing to [redacted]

++Log Terminated, Terminal 23T4: 10.12.2012++