Journal Entry #42 - Loutit District Library

May 24^th, 2013 - 7:53 Pm

I’m very glad I decided to visit the library today. It turned out to be quite fruitful.

The Loutit District Library has been around for quite some time, and invites everyone to wants to sit back, relax, and have a good read.

I went to the front desk and asked if they had a microfiche.

“I’m sorry sir,” she told me, “the microfiche is unavailable to the public.”

I leaned closer to her. “And why is that?”

She bit her bottom lip and replied, “I actually don’t know sir. Manager’s orders.”

“Might I speak with the manager?”

She called him in, and out came the manager, Mr. Morder VanTepp.

“Hello,” he said, with a deep voice that surprised me at first. “How can I be of assistance?”

“Well, I was wondering about your microfiche. Is there a chance I could take a look at some old newspapers?”

Mr. VanTepp looked around, then said, “What dates would you be wanting to look at?”

“January 14^th, 1996.”

“Ah yes, the dates for Glenn Eaton’s death, and the disappearance of the west gate keys. I’m sorry; we don’t have a copy of the newspapers from those dates sir. We’re not sure where we could find them.”

I leaned in towards his ear. “Or perhaps maybe you just don’t want me to look at them? Hm? Could that be why you don’t have a copy?”

Mr. VanTepp straightened his back. “Absolutely absurd! What on earth makes you think we would hide those articles? It’s history!”

“Maybe because you’re scared someone will find out how the gatekeeper died?” I was totally poking into the darkness here, seeing if what I just said actually rung some truth to it.

Morder was frozen. He didn’t know what to say. “You are no ordinary civilian, are you?”

I looked at him straight in the eye. “I am not working for the government. I am not an inspector. I do not have a badge showing proof of who I am.” I revealed my badge to him, then once again whispered in his ear, “and I do not wish to see the requested newspapers from the dates previously discussed about.”

Morder nodded rapidly. “Of course sir, of course. Right this way…”

Yes ladies and gentlemen, there are times when I find myself in a completely absurd situation, and find myself cocking my head at previous events, and what I did to cause them. Trust me, though when I say this: the insanity often leads to the sane.

Within five minutes, I was sitting down, looking at old newspaper clips, and being offered sodas, snacks, and free books. All of which I declined. He eventually left me alone, and I continued to read the “missing copies”. I would be lying if I said that I didn’t enjoy the expressions made on Mr. VanTepp’s face as he flustered about.

January 9^th, 1996, Glenn Eaton missing.

I stopped at that one. I continued to read the article. It went:

On January ninth, the Duncan Woods’ gatekeeper, Glenn Eaton, disappeared. Officials were called by the city to investigate, and upon entering his home, found out quickly that Mr. Eaton was not there. Officials searched high and low for him, but found no trace whatsoever.

I continued on with the dates for a little longer, until I reached one that sparked my entrance.

January 14^th, 1996, Glenn Eaton found dead in Duncan Woods.

I didn’t move for a moment. The woods. Duncan Woods. A place almost everyone has been, including me and Edward. I read the article.

On January 14^th, Glenn Eaton, Duncan Woods’ gatekeeper, was found dead in the woods. Officials found him on the ground with multiple holes in his body. The County Sheriff had this to say: “After a complete examination of the body, we have concluded that Mr. Eaton was stabbed by a knife multiple times, each aimed for a specific organ in his body. Once stabbed, the organs were pulled out, put in plastic bags, and placed around his body. I have never seen such a gruesome murder in my entire life.” The Sheriff then proceeded to leave.

Officials made a wide search of Duncan Woods, but found no leads to Eaton’s killer. The case was dropped one week later.

How frightening.

I walked out of the room where Mr. VanTepp was waiting for me. “So,” I asked, “why the deception?”

He looked at the ground, then looked me in the eye with fear. “We were told… no, threatened, by two men dressed in black to never show those specific dates. They had also been going around town, covering up the strange things that happened to Mr. Eaton, or so I’m told.” He leaned closer. “Sir, as far as anyone knows, Mr. Eaton wasn’t murdered.”

I nodded. “Well, thank you for your cooperation.” I gave him my card. “Call me when things start getting weird, or if you see those men in black again. Kay?”

He nodded quickly. “Yes of course.”

I left the library feeling quite… dissatisfied. I needed more answers. Obviously, Glenn Eaton was murdered, and according to research, he died almost exactly the way the Slenderman would kill someone.

A shiver went down my spine as I walked through town. I need to find someone who knows more about what happened on that fateful day in Duncan Woods.

Off for more answers…

Inspector Kornelson