To my family
To my family.
I know I just got back, and I am grateful to be home safely, but the others are still out there. I signed an NDA, which means this will be the only record I keep. I am going back, and this will be my only attempt, but I need one document hidden away in case I do not return.
The place I am returning to is dangerous. That is one of the many reasons the government does not want me talking about it. Please know that I love all of you. That is why I did not involve you in what comes next.
Thirty of us went to that campground. Only three of us made it out.
The other two refuse to speak about it. I understand why. Some silences are enforced, others are chosen. I am the only one willing to go back and try to save the rest. I will keep this account as chronological as I can, in case it matters.
Do you remember the event I talked about for so long? The gaming event with the bees? Well every year there is a held, camp event. I was one of those who wanted to go camping. This year we wanted to go further into the mountains far away from the Portland city lights to get a clear view from the stars. We went an hour away, and don’t get me wrong I don’t want you going there. Whether from the creature or the government men in black. You would not be safe going.
Two weeks before the trip, we planned everything through our Discord forum. Organizing thirty people was chaotic, but everyone contributed food, drinks, and equipment. The plan was simple. Seventeen of us would arrive the first day. Seven more would join on the second day. The remaining six were scheduled to show up on the final day of camping. None of us realized that by then, we would already be trapped.
We were told the entrance would be clearly marked. Instead, all we found was a dirt road and a wooden totem standing just off the trail. It had red tape wrapped around it, loose and weathered. We assumed it was meant for us, some kind of marker. It was not until much later that I learned the tape had nothing to do with our group. It belonged to the government.
We messaged our Discord chat to confirm our location, joking about the creepy marker, until our signal disappeared completely. By then, it felt too late to question anything. We were driving in a convoy, following the lead car. No one wanted to be the one to slow everyone down or suggest turning around. I remember thinking that if something was wrong, we could just leave the same way we came.
Passing that totem was the mistake
