Diary Transcript
FRONT COVER
Bright red in hue. Single ribbon of the same color attached to the book is unbound. Lower right corner is bent. Wrinkles are prominent all over the cover, but especially focused on top right corner.
Near the top of the cover, “Super-Secret Diary” is written in silver Sharpie marker. Handwriting is messy.
PAGE 1
Five assorted guitar picks appear taped to the slightly crinkled back of the journal’s front cover, all of which vary seemingly randomly in brand, color and design, and location on the paper.
PAGE 2
Graphite full-body self portrait is front and center on the page, picturing a young person in shaded overalls and a long sleeve sweater with dark bob cut hair and a closed-eye grin, as well as a duffel bag.
Pine tree is drawn to the left, accompanied by Bob Ross quote, “How about we add a happy little tree?” written above the head of the character. Handwriting does not match that of the entries.
Phrase, “Property of this idiot”— supposedly the author— is written below the character, “idiot” being X’d out. “Stop being mean to yourself!” is written below in that same handwriting.
PAGE 3
Clear.
PAGE 4
Entry:
24.7.08 I got a journal. My friends would’ve thought it to be weird of me. I guess I don’t strike them as the journal type. I don’t strike myself as the journal type either. In fact, I Seldom use pen on paper or anything of the like. These are unique circumstances though. I think
PAGE 5
Entry:
I’m being followed. I can swear that I’ve seen this thing out of the corner of my view and slipping behind doorways and ducking under ledges as if it were watching me just a moment before. I found that being within my own thoughts helps. That’s why I’m taking this trip and documenting things here.
PAGE 6
Entry:
I probably won’t use this much, just whenever I need to do something to pass the time or when something worth writing about happens.
Sketch of a train car labelled “COMPANY INC.” appears as well as a simple sun and the phrase, “going in here” which is directed by an arrow towards the car.
PAGE 7
Entry:
27.7.08
I did a bit of camping not too far from home while I decided where to go. Landed on Northeast to Colorado. I know it’s not too bad this time of year. I’ll hope to be somewhere on the East Coast by the time winter rolls around.
PAGE 8
Entry:
I found a train line I can use courtesy of a friend’s pamphlet. I think I’m gonna hang onto it.
Several geometric shapes are drawn near the lower left of the page, one with block shading, another with question marks, and another with nondescript lines. “Cool shape” is written nearby.
PAGE 9
Entry:
29.7.08
I’ve made my way over to the station. All that’s left to do is wait for the train.
Illustration of tree trunks in a forest is below, small self-portrait nestoed between the undergrowth, and “Hiding amongst the brush… this is taking very long”
PAGE 10
Entry:
I got on. It’s very, very loud. If my judgement is correct, this should be about a 30-35 hour trip. Not going to be fun, but I’ve always wanted to try this.
Sketch of the interior of a train car is drawn, as well as a handful of eyes on the ceiling of the room well. Upon investigation, this detail has been shown to be entirely inaccurate. Phrase, “View from the inside roughly” is written at bottom of the page.
PAGE 11
Entry:
Oh man, the view right now is beautiful. I didn’t know Arizona had a landscape worth admiring until now. Shame I can’t stay here. I’d take a picture if I had a camera. Closest thing I have is an MP3 held together by my shoddy soldering and peeling tape. Still plays Blink though, so what does it matter.
PAGE 12
Illustration of a battered MP3 player at the top of the page appears, lower left corner cut off the page. Supposed aux or headphone cord is also shown. Phrase “Hopelessly out of frame” is on the upper right of the page.
PAGE 13
Map of state lines along (right to left, up to down) Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New México is drawn, which includes Monty’s starting point, their estimated location at the time of drawing this, and their final destination. Phrase, “Here’s to hoping I don’t get arrested!” is also pictured.
PAGE 14
Entry:
30.7.08
I fell asleep immediately after I drew that map and I must’ve crossed the state border since then. I can already see the mountains. It’s certainly been a while.
Drawing of mountains that stretch out to the horizon is shown.
PAGE 15
Entry:
I’m almost at Telluride if my landmark recognition skills served me right.
Entry:
We stopped. I think they’re just letting another train pass. Or who knows, I could’ve been seen.
Entry:
It feels like it’s been half an hour. Jeez
PAGE 16
Entry:
Oh Christ. I just saw it. It slipped down one of the sides of the car the second I did. It’s starting to freak me out less and less, but it isn’t something that I want to accept as normalcy, either. I hpe we get moving soon. I don’t like sticking around the contact sites for too long and it’s getting dark.
PAGE 17
Entry:
Okay. Just heard the breaks release. And we’re moving again. I don’t think it can find me while I’m moving. One of the pros to this mode of transportation.
Another illustration of the interior of the train car Monty stayed in is shown, this time including the oblique silhouette of a creature with two arrows pointing to it, as well as a small depiction of a notebook and writing utensil. To the right of the drawing is written, “This is sort of what seems it was like. It moves too fast to pick up details.”
PAGE 18
Entry:
31.7.08
I’m in Telluride. Man. The trip from Canyon to here sure took a lot out of me. It feels weird seeing other people out and about. Also feels weird not having my ears assaultive all day. My music can fix that. Kind of feel like listening to Kate Bush. Her songs have a way right through
PAGE 19
Entry:
me. Almost puts me in a trance, and a trance wouldn’t be too bad right now.
Entry:
I’m sitting in the café where I took my first job. Waiting for a large hot chocolate and a sourdough sandwich. I think it’s a well-deserved meal. It’s changed a lot since 2003. These tables
PAGE 20
Entry:
are different, the lights are brighter, the two pillars in the middle are the same, but the coathangers on them were taken off. I wonder why. I know a forest I can set up camp for tonight well enough. It feels good to come back here after so long. I think I might stay a while.
PAGE 21
Entry:
I shouldn’t have spent so much time on my food. I just finished up hanging my hammock and I’m behind in my planned sleep schedule. I don’t know what I should do tomorrow.
Self-portrait of a sleeping Monty appears, accompanied by a long string of “z”s, followed by a “hopefully”.
PAGE 22
Clear.
PAGE 23
Entry: (Written abnormally large, several scribbles over the writing itself)
I saw it again in the trees. Why didn’t it run??
PAGE 24
Very messy scribbles all across the page, an ominous, looming silhouette centered in the page. The phrase “I hate it” is repeated over and over again throughout the entire page.
PAGE 25
Entry:
Why did I think that I could stay here? I know I can’t stay anywhere anymore.
Entry:
I have to keep moving. I’m on a train right now. I didn’t bother checking where it’s going. This was never just going to be some sort of vacation. My goal is to stay away from it at all costs. I think I know how it works now:
PAGE 26
Entry:
It can’t find me when I’m moving at train speeds. If I do stop moving that fast, I have time before it finds me. The more I ignore it. the more confident it becomes. It is definitely hostile.
PAGE 27
Entry:
I’m at a station. I don’t know what day it is. I think I am still in Colorado.
Entry:
Another person is here. He says his name is Angus. I was zoning out when he climbed aboard my car coincidentally. The look on his face when he saw me blankly staring at him was funny in retrospect.
PAGE 28
Entry:
I like talking to him. I realize now how long it’s been since a full conversation with someone. I forgot that it was nice. He’s giving me this dumb smile while he watches me write
A small “Hey!” is written just below the word “dumb”; this is the same secondary handwriting as on the second page. Supposedly Angus.
Entry:
He took the book from me and drew a tree on the inside cover. He’s a Bob Ross quoting machine; “everyone needs a friend”, he said while he drew it.
PAGE 29
Entry:
1.8.08
It’s apparently the first of August. I could swear up that it’s been longer since I got to Telluride though. Strange. I suppose it could make sense though, given that I’ve been a bit happier as of late and all. Angus is a great friend, I wouldn’t really mind spending twice that amount of time with him going forward. Sure hope that doesn’t entail what I
PAGE 30
Entry:
think it does.
Entry:
8.8.08
He’s told me he’ll be leaving soon, off in a different direction than whatever mine is. Not that this entirely bothers me or anything, I just know I’ll miss him for a while.
PAGE 31
Entry:
I asked him about the gun he carries. He didn’t want me to see it at first, but it’s no secret now that it slipped out of his bag a few days ago. I want it. He said I. couldn’t have it. Was very calm about why he thought so. I’m tired of being told what I can and can’t do because of my conditions. Maybe I can steal it from him.
PAGE 32
Entry:
I saw him off today. It became difficult to stay bitter about the gun once it set in that I’ll probably never see him again. I wish I could go with him. I hope he’s doing alright.
Entry:
It’s been a long few hours. I already miss him.
PAGE 33
Entry:
9.8.08
The train’s stopped. It hasn’t moved in a while now. I might have to leave if it stays like this.
Entry:
I’ve got to move. Got to move. Can’t let it find me. I’m not risking it. It doesn’t matter how dark it is, I have to keep moving if I don’t want to
PAGE 34
Entry:
die.
Entry:
The moonlight’s barely enough to get words down, I’m lucky there’s a small hole in the wall at my back in this closet. I can finally see it clearly now that it’s looking for me. I hear it them?? calling for me, it knows my name. Oh God. There’s so many faces. faces all over it.
PAGE 35
Entry:
Like they were all dumped onto where it’s head would be and spilled onto the torso. It moves just like a human, the way its limbs move remind me of Mom. Mom. Is there. It’s voices are fammillor (familiar) but speak if something unthinkable motivation. Mom is there, that lady in an alley, the doctor Desmond AJ that cashier Laura Angus Angus Ang
Final lettering trails downward, nearly off the page.
PAGE 36
From here and onwards, the journal is completely void of any other traces of Monty or anyone involved with them, including all names mentioned within the entries.
