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the lake

katreena

slvrgrdn

the elevator

I'm In An Internet Cafe

I'm in an Internet Cafe in Middletown. I got here all right, but I can't hold down any food... I took a bite of a hamburger at McDonald's and had to spit it back out again. My stomach hurts. Bad.

I saw Miss Corinn's change to the time of "vudofo," so there's no need to worry. I'll be OK... I figure I'll start into the building at 8:30ish, which gives me some time to find a way into the Silver Garden. I can only hope I'll be there in time to help Katrina.

I'm Leaving Now

When I sign on to AIM later tonight, please don't all IM me at once. It's going to take up memory space on my phone and it might crash... Please, just move to BRINGINGDOWNMISSCORINN as quickly as possible, and we can start chatting. I don't want to waste time.

AND, I discovered mobile blogging. If I see anything I think you guys should see too, then I can take a picture with my new phone and text it to my blog, so you can see it.

Well, I'm on my way. Wish me luck, everyone... I'm going to need it.

I'm Leaving For The PhoenixFire Corp

Today is November 17th.

Finally.

As I'm sure you know, today is VUDOFO. Which we never did figure out, did we? Anyway, as I've promised, I'm going to do a bit of investigating tonight. I've been looking through all of the important sites to try and find some information, and I discovered a few things.

First, Miss Corinn changed the EVENT for vudofo, giving a time-- 8:30. So, that's when I've gotta be there. Second, her latest poem leads to http://www.freewebs.com/silvergarden/mountain.htm, which seems like it's going to be the place to be tonight. Which presents a bit of a problem... if they're going to kill Katrina tonight in the Silver Mountain, then that means I'm going to have to get to the Silver Garden if I want to save her.

... I'm terrified.

I don't know what secrets (wink wink, nudge nudge) I'm going to uncover, but I'm sure they're not going to be pretty.

Last night I dreamt of flames again. I dreamt the flames were all around me, and I woke up with what looked to me like a burn on my right hand. It faded in about ten minutes, but I know I saw it. I was all sweaty, like I had actually been in a fire.

I have felt strange all day, to be honest... I've been dreading this day for so long, and it's finally here.

I'll post again when I leave for Middletown. Until then, wish me luck.

Tomorrow Is The Seventeenth

The 17th of November has been approaching (one day at a time, in fact) for a while now. I've been dreading it ever since I realized something bad was going to happen, and now it's almost here.

With each hour that passes, the knot in the pit of my stomach grows ever tighter. Each tick of the clock brings me closer to the PhoenixFire Corporation's headquarters, closer to the truth, closer to vudofo.

I'm not sure how well I'm doing right now... I just keep thinking about Katrina and the ropes and the needles, and pills and four-leaf clovers and lies and secrets. (*wink wink, nudge nudge*)

I've been practicing typing on my cell all day, typing random things in text messages that I don't send. I've gotten pretty good, and I'm trusting myself that I'm gonna be able to get info to you guys tomorrow night when... well, you know.

Interesting Night...

OK, well, I signed on to AIM to talk with everyone, and we went into the bringingdownmisscorinn chatroom. Katrina signed in and gave us a little more information about her situation.

Guess what? This "Tabitha" that Katrina's been talking about? It's Miss Corinn! She's really Tabitha Plessing, who also happens to be Katrina's sister. Apparently Miss Corinn convinced Katrina to fake her own death to "save Frank..." I'm not exactly too clear on that. Katrina said Miss Corinn slipped her some pills that forced her to go along with it.

I had the idea that, just maybe, this is all a trap. It's a little far-fetched to be true, if you ask me. They lock this chick in a little room, give her a computer that can *only* get onto Blogger, and yet she mysteriously comes online, goes into our private AIM chat, and begs me to save her?

But then again, Frank did chat on her screen name the other night. And it was definitely him... no one else could have known what I said to him when I first saw him for real. UGH! I'm so confused. The only thing I know is that I have to go back to Middletown on Friday. I have to.

And then Luke confessed his love to me. I'm still not too sure what to do about that, either. I mean, he's 16, and I'm 25. I don't know about England, but that's illegal here in the US. I have some things to think over, so I'm gonna go lie down for a bit.

I'm in my new motel, by the way. I used an alias, so don't bother trying to figure out where I am.

AND, thanks Robert for reminding me in the chat. I bought this really cool thing today, at Milford's Eckerd. An Energizer cell phone charger... if my phone's batteries die during whatever winds up happening Friday, I can plug it into this charger, press a button, and I'll have full battery again. That's going to be great.

Blorp and Pooge

First of all, I wanted to say I am sorry for flipping out on you all yesterday. What you were saying really annoyed me, with Frank being alive and working with the PhoenixFire Corporation to get them their subjects for sacrifice. It was very frustrating, but I think I've calmed down at this point. (Ahem... Teri... Frank Is Alive? Miss Corinn Rocks? I don't think so!) So, yeah. Sorry I was angry, but I just really don't think you guys are right about that little aspect of this whole thing.

So...

I took some time today to walk around Milford and see the sights, as the saying goes. I saw a bunch of nice little shops, the Pike County Public Library, an Italian deli with really good sandwiches...

And I also went to the local Grand Union and bought myself a Fruit Rollup. It's strange how we need things from our childhood to stay sane... they sell single rollups these days, did you know that? Anway, this one was a "tongue tattoo" special edition. I opened it up, peeled away that plastic cellophane wrapper, and held it up to the light of the sun so I could see what the "tongue tattoos" were. To my surprise, it was basically a splat with nonsense words written in it... Blorp, Pooge, Zounds, etc. I don't know why you want to go around with your tongue tattoo'd at all, much less with the word Pooge written on it.

Oh, yeah. I almost forgot... you're not going to believe who I saw walking the streets of Milford. That kid Jason from inside the PhoenixFire Corporation building! It looked exactly like him. He saw me and he turned around and walked away REALLY fast. I don't know why he wasn't in school, but he was definitely in Milford. It's kinda creepy, if you ask me...

I'm changing motels. I don't think it's a good idea to stick in one place so long, and I can't believe I haven't realized this in the two weeks I've been at the Hattree Inn. Milford's a big tourist town, so I have quite a few motels to pick from... I think it's better if I didn't post on here which hotel I was staying at. Luckily for me, Frank's money hasn't run out yet. Every night, when I go up to my room, I tell the clerk to bill me for one more day, and the credit card hasn't bounced back yet. This guy had a lot of money, I guess.

I didn't have that horrible dream any more last night, which is a good thing. I think listening to Finger Eleven as I fell asleep had something to do with that. XD

Sorry, Cell Battery Died

I'm sorry to everyone I was chatting with a few minutes ago. The cell phone died and I lost the connection. So here's what I was going to say.

Frank was really broken up about Cal's death. I talked to him on the phone that morning, and he was crying. To suggest that he has a connection to the PhoenixFire Corp. and is supplying them with subjects is... is... an insult to him, to me, and to anyone who is trying to figure out exactly what it is this corporation is doing to people. I don't understand how you can think that Frank was bad. He could not have been working with Miss Corinn... it just doesn't make any sense whatsoever. The Frank that I knew, and that a few of you out there remember, was a good person with strong opinions who would never willingly submit another human to sacrifice by witches. Without Frank, none of the things that are happening right now could be happening. We wouldn't know ANYTHING about Katrina or red24 or vudofo if it wasn't for Frank.

Think about what it is you're suggesting. It's simply preposterous, if you ask me. I saw Frank's dead body with my own eyes. You can believe me or not, but I did. He is dead, and the Frank that started the VOAP movement is dead.

I think that's what you guys were saying.

If this all turns out to be true, and Frank is bad, then I'm simply going to be shocked.

EDITED for grammar. Sorry.

Location Of Vudofo

Well, I joined Miss Corinn's latest web creation. And guess what? On the calendar, she has Vudofo scheduled for November 17th. I thought she claimed she didn't know what that was?

Anyway, it gives a location: Middletown, NY (which I've only just realized is extraordinarily close to my last name. This just keeps getting weirder.) I'm willing to betcha cash money that this big event is gonna take place in the PhoenixFire Corp's headquarters. And you can take this to the bank: I'll be there.

I wanted to come up with some way to keep you guys updated constantly while I attempt to watch the event, and here's my solution. See what you think.

I went to the local RadioShack today and I bought a cell phone with AIM capability. I'll use it for the next month or so and then take it back, so it doesn't cost me a whole lot. That way, while I'm in the building, I can keep you all updated on what's going on. Hopefully I'm going to be able to get farther than that freakin lobby...

Nightmare and Dreamscape

Last night I had perhaps the worst nightmare of my life. I was standing in what I can only call a silver garden. There were trees around me, but they looked rather fake. Of course, they were silver. There were silver flowers around me, and silver grass, and a silver sky. Somewhere up ahead of me, someone was shrieking. It was an inhuman scream... the sound of someone being horribly tortured to death.

I had to help them. I had to find them and save them. I began to run toward the sound of the shrieking. Something came out from behind a tree and stepped in my path. It had long, scraggly hair and dull, red eyes like smoldering embers. I turned and ran the other way and was met with a wall of flames. I could feel the searing heat on my skin. I could feel it. I turned back around, hoping, praying, that the monstrous human-thing would be gone. It wasn't. It was consumed by the fire, and it stood in the middle of the crackling flames, a dark silhouette against the background of red.

And then I woke up. I was sweating profusely, as though I was still surrounded by fire. I wasn't fully awake, and everything seemed like it was happening in slow motion. I looked up and I had the crazy sensation that I could still see the dead thing's glowing red eyes above me, but I figured they had to be ceiling cat's eyes and I rolled over to go back asleep. Then I woke up and looked at the ceiling again, but they were gone.

I'm considering going back to the PhoenixFire building to see what their specialist has to say about that dream. It really freaked me out.

Wow. I need to stop spending so much time at that place... I'm starting to think like they're a legitimate business.

----------

So, I saw Miss Corinn has created a social networking site for F!PR. I can't believe she still thinks there are people out there who actually believe in her... we have to give her credit for trying. I mean, after what happened the other night, with Luke telling her about Frank and then Katrina going silent... It's pretty obvious she's the one keeping Katrina captive.

I'm gonna make a profile and see what she says about me. Talk to everyone soon.

HA! (Randomness)

I felt like I should blog... just to show y'all I'm still alive. But I don't really having anything important to say, so I'm gonna talk about entertainment news. I caught Access Hollywood last night, and I realized that I've been out of touch with news for a while now.

For example... Britney and K-Fed are getting a divorce. And she broke up with him through a text message. Wow, I'd be furious. And guess what? They're now calling him Fed-Ex. Whoever came up with that is a genius.

And... Borat. Who is this guy? He's everywhere!!! He's got a movie, he's in the papers, he's being interviewed on news shows... apparently it's, like, some kind of character-turned-actual person. That's kinda weird... he's fake, but he's showing up in real life. Wacky idea, isn't it?

And also, what happened with Faith Hill? I heard she was angry at the CMAs, and then it was supposedly a joke... That didn't look like she was just kidding to me. She seemed furious that Carrie Underwood won. :? Whatever. Celebrities.

And have you guys heard about the shirt guitar? That's freakin awesome. http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/a-shirt-that-rocks-your-socks-off/2006/11/13/1163266483990.html

Yeah, so that's all probably really old news to everyone. I just thought it was interesting... considering I've been out of the loop for a while. I'll probably be online later, but for now I'm gonna go off in a corner and read my book. "Christine" is getting good... Stephen King's a genius. (wow... I almost spelled that with a J. Long month.)

My Trip To Middletown

Well, I've had an interesting day. I went to the PFC HQ, like I said I would. I took a taxi... Milford's got this cool little taxi service called... um... Milford Taxi. I used Frank's credit card. I figured it probably wouldn't have gotten back to the credit card company that he was dead yet. If it comes back to me later, then whatever. I'll deal with it then.

So, I got to the PFC HQ at about 12:00. I thanked the cab driver and asked him to pick me up outside the building in an hour, and he said he would. So I went inside.

Almost everything was the same as when I was there the other day. The same plants, the same color walls, the same couches. I noticed two things different right away, though. First, there was someone sitting on one of the couches. I'll get to him in a minute. Next, Erik was gone, and there was a girl in his place.

I walked up to the desk and I read the girl's nametag. Other than the nametag, and the fact that her hair was longer than Erik's, I probably wouldn't have known they were two different people. They were wearing the same clothes, had the same facial features, and were reading the same book. Anyway, the girl's nametag said SHIRL AWEROOKE. (Immediately, I thought of Rook/Raven/Crow).

"Hi, Shirl, I was here the other day and I talked to someone named Erik." She nodded, without looking up from Miss Corinn's book. "He said you guys have a job opening for an event coordinator?"

Now she looked up, and I could see her trying to figure out if she recognized me. For a minute I was scared, and then I thought, insanely, "Ceiling cat will save me!" :) And then I could see her let go of the possibility. "Yes, we did have an opening."

"Did?"

"Yes. We filled it."

Uh oh. There goes my "in" at the company. "Well, that's a shame," I said. "I was looking forward to working here. I've heard so much about the PhoenixFire Corporation."

Shirl brightened up. "Have you now? Would you like to talk to a customer service representative?" I nodded, and she picked up a phone I hadn't noticed. She spoke so quietly into it that I couldn't hear, and then she hung up. "We will have someone with you shortly. Please wait on one of the couches."

And she went back to reading her book.

So, I walked back to the couch. The person sitting there was a kid, maybe fifteen or sixteen years old. I sat down next to him, but didn't say anything. Before much time had passed, he turned and looked at me. "Was he close to you?" he asked.

I was shocked. "Who?"

"Whoever died. Did you know him very well?"

Now I was beyond shocked. I was creeped out. "How did you-"

"You have bags under your eyes, I can tell you've been crying, and you aren't wearing any makeup. And... I just know. Someone died. Did you know him very well?"

I nodded, trying to keep myself from crying. This kid could see right through me. I'd thought I'd gotten myself together, but I guess not. "He was a good friend of mine."

"Well, I'm sorry he's gone," the kid said. "You look like you could use a friend or seven right now." I thought of ceiling kitty again, but said nothing. "My name is Jason," the kid said. "What's yours?"

"Luisa," I said. "Luisa Ekmel. Why are you here?"

"I've been having strange dreams lately, and I heard this place offers dream interpretations. I've been waiting for a while, though, and I don't think anyone is coming."

"What kind of dreams?"

"Oh, I don't know... like, standing on the edge of a lake... everything's foggy... and I see something moving inside the lake, and then I wake up."

My skin prickled. This kid had been dreaming about the Lake of Departed Sorrows, it sounded like. This was getting weirder by the second.

Just then, someone called out, "Hello, Miss?" I looked up and saw an older man standing there. He beckoned to me, so I stood up and walked over to him. I probably should have said goodbye to Jason, or given him my email or something, but it didn't occur to me until I heard the door shut behind him.

"Hi," I said, holding out my hand. This old guy was dressed just like Shirl and Erik, but he seemed to have more personality; his cheeks were ruddy and he had crow's feet by his eyes. His nametag read "VICTOR M. STUCERESE: Customer Service Representative. I wasn't even going to try and pronounce that, so I said, "Victor, my name is Luisa. I've heard a lot of good things about the PhoenixFire Corporation, so I wanted to come see for myself."

"Have you now?" he asked. "What in particular?"

"Well, I've heard positive things about Miss Corinn's Psychic Readings website." I kicked myself. I hadn't wanted to give any clue as to why I was there.

"Yes, Miss Corinn is a personal friend of mine. Did you ask her for a reading?"

"No," I said. "I'm not really a believer in those kinds of things. I just thought, you know, for people who do subscribe to those ideas... She's supposed to be good..."

Mr. Stucerese nodded and leaned in conspiratorially. "To tell the truth, I'm not really a believer myself. But she's a really nice lady. And, well, I have to be nice to her." He stressed the word have only ever-so-slightly, but it was enough that I noticed it.

"And why is that?" I asked before I could help myself.

"Because that's my job!" He smiled, and I couldn't help but smile with him. It crossed my mind that he might have some psychic powers of persuasion himself, but I tried not to think what would happen if he was able to read my mind.

"And, Miss Corinn's quite a talented poet."

"Yes," Victor said. "That she is."

"What other programs is the PhoenixFire Corporation involved with?" I asked.

"We give free dream interpretations to locals, and we sponsor certain projects that promote awareness of the metaphysical realm. For example, the Dial-A-Psychic Talk Show. And we give tours to local schoolchildren."

"I understand there's something happening this Friday?"

"Yes," the customer service guy said. "We at the PFC are celebrating the birthday of our founder, Jakob Plessing. We're having a variety of company activities as well as a few special events online."

"Like what?"

"Well," he said. "Nothing I'm allowed to discuss."

We stood, looking at each other for a little while. Then I said, "Well, I think I'd better be going. My taxi's waiting. It's too bad I'm not able to help coordinate your events."

"Yes," he said with a faraway look in his eyes. He seemed to have been turned off suddenly, as though someone had decided that he was done talking.

So, without saying goodbye, I turned and left. I think Shirl said something to him, but I couldn't hear, so I didn't bother.

I went outside and saw the taxi was waiting for me already. Surprised, I looked at my watch and saw that it was 1:00 already. Time inside that building had gone much quicker than I had thought; at most, it felt like 15 minutes had passed.

So, that's that. I couldn't get the job, and I didn't really find out much more about Miss Corinn, Katrina, or the Silver Garden. The mysteries just keep getting deeper, though, don't they? This kid has been dreaming about the Silver Garden, even though he doesn't know it. And that's just the one I encountered. Who knows how many more people in the area have been walking the path in their sleep?

Talk to you all soon, and remember: Ceiling cat is watching you!

((Sorry this post was so long.))