Post by Bobby Ray Willis on Sept 4, 2023 0:42:39 GMT -5
A VCR-TV combination from the early 2000s fills the entire screen, think of something you'd see in a college dorm. Its curved screen pops onto nothing but static as a hand reaches onto the screen as it pushes a VHS tape into the top.
There is black marker written on the tape itself which reads ‘Last Society Meeting 03’ seen as the tape slides itself into the cassette holder followed by the play symbol on the screen and the vertical tracking hold starting to go.
Then the picture holds.
After a few seconds of the image the scene is taken to the inside of a poorly lit area, the fact that this seems to have been shot gorilla style by the cameraman does not help matters. However, from what can be seen is that there are a number of robed figures standing around what appears to be an altar.
The black altar is twisted in nature, stretching out in directions that do not seem possible or plausible to human imagination. Though, this could be due to the poorly shot footage and the black of the room. There is confusion among the gathered this evening, a panic which spreads from robed figure to robed figure about something that does not appear on the screen. Huddled closely together and due to the poor quality of the camera, the muddle voices seem to be concerned but there is no dialogue that rises above the others for it to be understood or deciphered. That is, until a single voice seems to sooth them all. The cameraman does their best to get a side angled shot of the speaker.
The speaker undoes the hood of his robe and emerges from the darkness, from beyond the otherside of the altar. He is an older man, his hair is white and mostly missing from the top and as he speaks he waves his hands to make sure the others calm down.
SPEAKER: “Brothers and sisters, please. All can be explained. If you would just calm down, I will make sure that these moments when you feel panicked now will pass shortly and forever. Please, allow me to explain.”
The speaker continues to wave his arms, still trying to calm every other robed figure in the room. Somewhere in the distance there is a loud crash which catches everyone’s attention, including that of the cameraman who spins quickly back and forth in one of those Cloverfield vomit inducing jerks. The camera settles back on the speaker.
SPEAKER: “Yes, yes. I am aware of what is going on, soon the FBI will be at our doorstep attempting to bring down our Undertow Society. But fear not everyone, they will not be able to stop the merging of our flesh to the space between the stars tonight. We will soon be beyond time, beyond anything that will ever fade… we will be a part of infinity.
All the FBI will find are our tattered robes and no peace when they are pulled under to drown with the kraken. Brothers and sisters, make sure you have prepared your invitations ready as you become a part of the space between the stars. For those invitations are the beginning of our rebirth from the void.”
The camera swings around to see that a number of the robed figures hold in their hands white envelopes. Soon their other hands are filled with cups, the cameraman peers down into the cup in his grasp seeing the red Kool-Aid.
SPEAKER: “Now drink! Drink to the void, drink to the Old Ones in the dark, drink to the Kraken! Drink to the Undertow Society and become immortal as you head towards the altar…”
Just then the camera spins around in a way too fast motion as the robed figures drink from their cups and some move towards the twisted altar that crawls wickedly up the wall. The room is soon flooded by FBI agents, one of which knocks into the camera and causes it to fall to the floor and become static.
Kazmerick’s face can be seen in the reflection of the TV as it is turned off.
With a sinister smile on his lips and sunglasses covering his eyes he speaks from the reflection.
“Oh yeah, daddy-ohs. Where I was once was Dark and now I am free. Free to crawl up the card onto live television. Truly amazing, no?
No?
Maybe not. But do you know what is amazing?
I’m amazed sometimes the way some people like to speak with such confidence about events that they believe could never possibly happen. Such as that lightning will never strike the same place twice or that you will never win the lottery… but yet we know that even in these near impossible situations that given enough time lightning can strike the same place twice or that even though you all face a billion to one odds that someone wins the lottery.
Or how about this one?
That this man with the odd name and funny grin would have defeated both members of former WGWF tag team champions. Impossible situation and yet, here we are aren’t we. So speak with all the confidence in your breath about how Kazmerick will not be able to make it three in a row against former WGWF tag team champions.
Tell me how the cowboy is going to wrangle me to the ground.”
Kazmerick spins away from the reflection in the TV and grabs a hold of the camera with both hands as he puts his face about as close as possible. All you can see at this point are his lips, which do not have a smile on them at this point.
Kazmerick pushes the camera away from his face, showing for the first time that for some unknown reason that Kazmerick is standing before a wall of VCR-TVs behind him along with a stack of VHS tapes. There’s too much movement for the labels to be read as Kazmerick gets back within frame.
“Say that I have no chance against Mac Bane, let me hear about on all the outlets that you spread your beliefs and tell your lies. Be confident that the flood waters can’t reach the cowboy in Colorado.
Let it be shouted from the mountain tops that Mac Bane is going to drag me into the ground on my Monday Night Brawl debut and I’ll say this, I hope he does. That is only the first thing that is going to happen, he’s going to drag me to the ground and that’s where I do my best work… because from there I know we can still go further down, down into the deep waters. I will drag the cowboy into the black abyss and watch him struggle with the realization that he is no longer in control of what is going on.
His eyes will widen in terror when he reaches with his free hand for help from his partner in crime, Bam Miller only to find that his fingers just won’t break the surface of the water. Then he’ll choke on his final breaths alone as no one else is coming to save you…
Succumb to the depths, embrace the grasp of the Kraken.
And welcome to the Undertow Society.”
Kazmerick twists the camera around, turning everything upside down from the perspective of the lens. The smile seems to just appear on his face as he does this.
“But think of all the burdens you’ll no longer have to bear down here in the deep, Mac. No more having to rely on others or to have others rely on you, no more disappointment of losing your tag team title belts. No more having to fake your way through relationships with the CCPE or even with that wife of yours. No more Dodge dealerships calling you up for you to shill their second rate cars or other soulless endorsement deals forcing you to hock.
No more having the pressure of competing in the Cannabis Cup weighing on your thoughts every second of every day. I’ll take it all away from you, I’ll silence that overactive phone of yours.
Because nothing matters down here. It’s so beautiful.”
The sinister smile on Kaz’s face begins to fade away as he once again pushes the camera to an arm’s length away. There is now static on the wall of TV screens in the background, occasionally there is a flash of an otherworldly image that randomly appears on a screen or two before disappearing.
“You’ll never even have to thank me though, Mac. You’ll never need to return the favor or allow me to borrow your lawn mower or even let me have your rare Charizard Pokemon card. I promise you I have no hidden obligations for what I am going to do for you.
No, I’m doing this because I want to save you from when everything goes sideways.
When the Kraken reaches up and pulls the world down into the depths, you and I will already have the best seats to watch it all crumble apart down in the depths. Some many pieces to see, so much excitement from the anticipation of it all. I’m giddy, I’m so giddy.”
Kazmerick hops around in front of the television display which continues to show flashy with some otherworldly images just long enough to register they’re there in your mind, but not long enough that you can process them.
Just then Kaz stops hopping about and pulls the camera dangerously close again.
“Oh wait, maybe I do have one little ulterior motive. I want everyone watching Monday Night Brawl to learn not to doubt me again, and I want them also…”
The smile fades again from his lips.
“...to understand that cowboys can most certainly drown.”
He kisses the camera and pulls it close to one of the various VCR-TV combo screens as it finds its hold.
There is a white envelope which has turned yellow from the stain time which has the name Kazmerick written across the front in black marker. A hand reaches down for it from the ground and picks it up exposing the written words to the camera.
The letter is folded back up and neatly placed back into its envelope. The hand reaches for it, and slides it back into somewhere hidden and safe.
The picture can no longer hold.
Static.
There is black marker written on the tape itself which reads ‘Last Society Meeting 03’ seen as the tape slides itself into the cassette holder followed by the play symbol on the screen and the vertical tracking hold starting to go.
Then the picture holds.
After a few seconds of the image the scene is taken to the inside of a poorly lit area, the fact that this seems to have been shot gorilla style by the cameraman does not help matters. However, from what can be seen is that there are a number of robed figures standing around what appears to be an altar.
The black altar is twisted in nature, stretching out in directions that do not seem possible or plausible to human imagination. Though, this could be due to the poorly shot footage and the black of the room. There is confusion among the gathered this evening, a panic which spreads from robed figure to robed figure about something that does not appear on the screen. Huddled closely together and due to the poor quality of the camera, the muddle voices seem to be concerned but there is no dialogue that rises above the others for it to be understood or deciphered. That is, until a single voice seems to sooth them all. The cameraman does their best to get a side angled shot of the speaker.
The speaker undoes the hood of his robe and emerges from the darkness, from beyond the otherside of the altar. He is an older man, his hair is white and mostly missing from the top and as he speaks he waves his hands to make sure the others calm down.
SPEAKER: “Brothers and sisters, please. All can be explained. If you would just calm down, I will make sure that these moments when you feel panicked now will pass shortly and forever. Please, allow me to explain.”
The speaker continues to wave his arms, still trying to calm every other robed figure in the room. Somewhere in the distance there is a loud crash which catches everyone’s attention, including that of the cameraman who spins quickly back and forth in one of those Cloverfield vomit inducing jerks. The camera settles back on the speaker.
SPEAKER: “Yes, yes. I am aware of what is going on, soon the FBI will be at our doorstep attempting to bring down our Undertow Society. But fear not everyone, they will not be able to stop the merging of our flesh to the space between the stars tonight. We will soon be beyond time, beyond anything that will ever fade… we will be a part of infinity.
All the FBI will find are our tattered robes and no peace when they are pulled under to drown with the kraken. Brothers and sisters, make sure you have prepared your invitations ready as you become a part of the space between the stars. For those invitations are the beginning of our rebirth from the void.”
The camera swings around to see that a number of the robed figures hold in their hands white envelopes. Soon their other hands are filled with cups, the cameraman peers down into the cup in his grasp seeing the red Kool-Aid.
SPEAKER: “Now drink! Drink to the void, drink to the Old Ones in the dark, drink to the Kraken! Drink to the Undertow Society and become immortal as you head towards the altar…”
Just then the camera spins around in a way too fast motion as the robed figures drink from their cups and some move towards the twisted altar that crawls wickedly up the wall. The room is soon flooded by FBI agents, one of which knocks into the camera and causes it to fall to the floor and become static.
Kazmerick’s face can be seen in the reflection of the TV as it is turned off.
With a sinister smile on his lips and sunglasses covering his eyes he speaks from the reflection.
“Oh yeah, daddy-ohs. Where I was once was Dark and now I am free. Free to crawl up the card onto live television. Truly amazing, no?
No?
Maybe not. But do you know what is amazing?
I’m amazed sometimes the way some people like to speak with such confidence about events that they believe could never possibly happen. Such as that lightning will never strike the same place twice or that you will never win the lottery… but yet we know that even in these near impossible situations that given enough time lightning can strike the same place twice or that even though you all face a billion to one odds that someone wins the lottery.
Or how about this one?
That this man with the odd name and funny grin would have defeated both members of former WGWF tag team champions. Impossible situation and yet, here we are aren’t we. So speak with all the confidence in your breath about how Kazmerick will not be able to make it three in a row against former WGWF tag team champions.
Tell me how the cowboy is going to wrangle me to the ground.”
Kazmerick spins away from the reflection in the TV and grabs a hold of the camera with both hands as he puts his face about as close as possible. All you can see at this point are his lips, which do not have a smile on them at this point.
“Do it.
Say it.
Tell me.”
Say it.
Tell me.”
Kazmerick pushes the camera away from his face, showing for the first time that for some unknown reason that Kazmerick is standing before a wall of VCR-TVs behind him along with a stack of VHS tapes. There’s too much movement for the labels to be read as Kazmerick gets back within frame.
“Say that I have no chance against Mac Bane, let me hear about on all the outlets that you spread your beliefs and tell your lies. Be confident that the flood waters can’t reach the cowboy in Colorado.
Let it be shouted from the mountain tops that Mac Bane is going to drag me into the ground on my Monday Night Brawl debut and I’ll say this, I hope he does. That is only the first thing that is going to happen, he’s going to drag me to the ground and that’s where I do my best work… because from there I know we can still go further down, down into the deep waters. I will drag the cowboy into the black abyss and watch him struggle with the realization that he is no longer in control of what is going on.
His eyes will widen in terror when he reaches with his free hand for help from his partner in crime, Bam Miller only to find that his fingers just won’t break the surface of the water. Then he’ll choke on his final breaths alone as no one else is coming to save you…
Succumb to the depths, embrace the grasp of the Kraken.
And welcome to the Undertow Society.”
Kazmerick twists the camera around, turning everything upside down from the perspective of the lens. The smile seems to just appear on his face as he does this.
“But think of all the burdens you’ll no longer have to bear down here in the deep, Mac. No more having to rely on others or to have others rely on you, no more disappointment of losing your tag team title belts. No more having to fake your way through relationships with the CCPE or even with that wife of yours. No more Dodge dealerships calling you up for you to shill their second rate cars or other soulless endorsement deals forcing you to hock.
No more having the pressure of competing in the Cannabis Cup weighing on your thoughts every second of every day. I’ll take it all away from you, I’ll silence that overactive phone of yours.
Because nothing matters down here. It’s so beautiful.”
The sinister smile on Kaz’s face begins to fade away as he once again pushes the camera to an arm’s length away. There is now static on the wall of TV screens in the background, occasionally there is a flash of an otherworldly image that randomly appears on a screen or two before disappearing.
“You’ll never even have to thank me though, Mac. You’ll never need to return the favor or allow me to borrow your lawn mower or even let me have your rare Charizard Pokemon card. I promise you I have no hidden obligations for what I am going to do for you.
No, I’m doing this because I want to save you from when everything goes sideways.
When the Kraken reaches up and pulls the world down into the depths, you and I will already have the best seats to watch it all crumble apart down in the depths. Some many pieces to see, so much excitement from the anticipation of it all. I’m giddy, I’m so giddy.”
Kazmerick hops around in front of the television display which continues to show flashy with some otherworldly images just long enough to register they’re there in your mind, but not long enough that you can process them.
Just then Kaz stops hopping about and pulls the camera dangerously close again.
“Oh wait, maybe I do have one little ulterior motive. I want everyone watching Monday Night Brawl to learn not to doubt me again, and I want them also…”
The smile fades again from his lips.
“...to understand that cowboys can most certainly drown.”
He kisses the camera and pulls it close to one of the various VCR-TV combo screens as it finds its hold.
There is a white envelope which has turned yellow from the stain time which has the name Kazmerick written across the front in black marker. A hand reaches down for it from the ground and picks it up exposing the written words to the camera.
‘Dear Kazmerick,
I hope this letter finds you well from the timeless void. You are a restless soul, your life up to this point has been scattered and in the darkness you’ve felt something you cannot explain. This was not by accident, none of this has been by accident.
It is time for the Undertow Society to begin its return from eternity. The seeds were planted many years ago and now just like you, others are receiving similar letters as you are now. Continue to read and the questions you have been asking will start to make sense.
While this does not make much sense for you now in 2014 as you begin your path. Given enough time and watching the events unfold from this point on, the words of this letter will continue to make more and more sense. Know that he watches, lurking beneath the sea. His timeless sleep has been upset, he awakens, hunter of the shadows is rising.
Seek knowledge of the Undertow Society, seek the condemned writings of Alan Birchstreet.
I promise you that once you have discovered these writings you will begin to have some of the answers to the questions you have been asking your entire life. Answers to the questions your parents could never give you, your priest warned you not to ask about, and what therapy could not ever understand.
You are not mad.
You simply are in two places at once.
Find us and you will find your other half.
Hurry though... it's all ending soon.'
I hope this letter finds you well from the timeless void. You are a restless soul, your life up to this point has been scattered and in the darkness you’ve felt something you cannot explain. This was not by accident, none of this has been by accident.
It is time for the Undertow Society to begin its return from eternity. The seeds were planted many years ago and now just like you, others are receiving similar letters as you are now. Continue to read and the questions you have been asking will start to make sense.
While this does not make much sense for you now in 2014 as you begin your path. Given enough time and watching the events unfold from this point on, the words of this letter will continue to make more and more sense. Know that he watches, lurking beneath the sea. His timeless sleep has been upset, he awakens, hunter of the shadows is rising.
Seek knowledge of the Undertow Society, seek the condemned writings of Alan Birchstreet.
I promise you that once you have discovered these writings you will begin to have some of the answers to the questions you have been asking your entire life. Answers to the questions your parents could never give you, your priest warned you not to ask about, and what therapy could not ever understand.
You are not mad.
You simply are in two places at once.
Find us and you will find your other half.
Hurry though... it's all ending soon.'
The letter is folded back up and neatly placed back into its envelope. The hand reaches for it, and slides it back into somewhere hidden and safe.
The picture can no longer hold.
Static.
