text: How many different ways do you want me to say the same damn thing? You've listened to me, you've recorded me in a video, you had me speak with a psychiatrist, you even recorded me on tape for Christ's sake! I can't tell you the truth any clearer than I already have. But fine. I'll humor you. If I play along with your stupid games, will you please help me? Look, I know I'm not the best person. I know I've made mistakes. I realize that it doesn't make me look any better for me to tell you that I've been sleeping with his wife, but I need you to understand that I'm not lying to you. He doesn't know it's been me. We've been really careful so he doesn't find out. And it's not like I made the first move. *She* came on to *me*. I can't be held responsible for that! It's his fault he spends all his time at the office. Look, it's better if it's me rather than some stranger, right? She has *needs,* and it's not my fault that he can't meet those needs! I shouldn't be punished for that! I know how this sounds, okay? I really have been a good friend to him for the most part. I convinced Jeremy to go to that "exhibition" thing at Progenitor Labs so he would be out of the house for a few hours. He enjoys that science shit. I was thinking of *him*. I was his best man at his wedding! I'm the reason he even met her. I listen to his bullshit problems all the time, and maybe I deserve something for that, right? Whatever. This stormtrooper you left in here with me seems upset that I'm taking so long to write it down. I'll humor you one more time. Then I need you to protect me. I need you to put him in a cell or put me in a cell or get a goddamn SWAT team to get me out of here or put me in witness protection or something. You have to help me. It's your *job,* right? I know what my taxes go toward. I took Katy to the hospital to see him after Progenitor's meltdown three weeks ago. Jeremy seemed *fine*. A little beat up around the edges, but he *seemed* fine. He just looked happy to see her. He was there for two weeks. I visited him with her every single day. Jeremy got out of the hospital after those two weeks, and I knew right away that something was wrong. He's my best friend; it would be hard to miss if something wasn't right with him. He kept talking about how Katy had been distant for a long time. I asked him to elaborate, and he said he could tell that she was pulling away from him and he was going to find out why. I knew how upset he would be if he found out it was me, so I offered to help him. I could steer him away from any evidence of it being me. I was confident... but with hindsight... maybe I was a little too confident. His little "investigation" lasted for a week. I had told Katy that he thought something was up, and we were taking extra steps to be sure he wouldn't know. He tried every trick in the book, and I "helped" him because I'm his *best* friend. I know I am. We hired the private investigator, that skeevy guy on Blake and West if you know him. We did the stakeout. We tried checking who she was calling in their phone records. Obviously, none of that turned up anything. I'm not stupid. I know you want me to tell you why you found me standing over that... that mess. I'm getting to that. Fine. You want to know something I haven't told you yet? She went to that suburb to buy drugs. We like to smoke a little something before we "do the deed". It gives the climax this extra boost that I just can't explain. I know that admitting to a crime like this would seem like a bad idea, but that's how serious I am. It's not like weed is illegal in our state anymore. I know that it's illegal to buy on the street, but it's cheaper, and the lines are awful and... Look... it doesn't matter anymore. He was desperate for proof. He had been following her around town for a while, and I just didn't know. I realize that's stalking, but that should show you that *he's* the problem, not me. She called me... told me she saw his car behind her. She was *scared*, okay? Not the "I'm gonna be caught" scared, but the "I'm going to die" scared. I had to stop him from making a mistake he would regret. I knew where she was going. Our dealer was always, *always* on Pine when we met him. I left home, I got in my car, and I floored it. I kept her on the phone. I tried to keep her calm. She told me she lost him. She told me that she had turned without signaling, and she lost him. I knew we couldn't head straight back to her house or my place, but she was scared. I had to do something. I did the wrong thing, though. I thought it would help. A familiar face, a place she'd seen a few times, decent lighting? I told her to meet me at the gas station near where our dealer was. I was going to be there soon. I could make it. I could meet her there. I stopped in the park across the street, where you found my car. I got out and walked just that little bit farther to get to her. I should have just driven to the gas station. If I just did that, I might not be sitting here. I thought I was being smart. I'd been so careful up until then. But it just takes one goddamn mistake to ruin it all. I thought I'd built a fortress with my lies. I'd just built a house of cards. She'd seen someone with the same red jacket I wear, and she went up and hugged him from behind. That poor bastard. I was across the street when Jeremy pulled into the gas station. I swear I don't know what he said. I don't know what they were screaming at each other. I tried to listen, I really did. They just weren't loud enough. She looked horrified when she saw that the guy she had hugged wasn't me, and she started crying when Jeremy started walking toward her. Look, I've been in fights. I know what it looks like when someone is walking toward someone with intent to hit them. I couldn't let him hit her. He might have been angry, but he would have felt awful afterward. I tried to run across the street. I tried to make it, okay? I tried to do the right thing! But when I got close enough to see... I couldn't move my legs anymore. Jeremy's skin was *melting*, dripping from his body like *jelly*. His arms stretched too far. His face sagged down his body. His bones bent through his skin and *bent* like they had no structure. His eyes... I don't want to remember his eyes. His clothing slipped through his body as he turned into a brackish black. The sound that came from his throat was an unnatural, shrieking, gurgling noise. He grew larger. I... I know I had to convince myself that his bones still existed... but I couldn't see any of them. His body bent and twisted until that *thing* looked like something from a nightmare. I couldn't feel anything. My body wouldn't move. I tried to move. I tried to scream. I tried to run. I couldn't do it. I couldn't get out of there. I could only watch while his gelatinous form enveloped that poor man. I hope I forget the sound of his screams as his body dissolved. I will *never* forget the sound of that sick, muffled *pop.* Katy screamed. It was the last noise I'd ever hear her make. That thing that used to be Jeremy moved toward her. It forced what I think used to be his arm into her mouth and nose. His whole translucent form flowed down her throat. Do you know what it looks like when someone's stomach, chest, throat, and head expand like they're elastic? Have you ever seen a person *burst* like a balloon? I see it every time I close my eyes. His body compressed. His color returned to normal. He dressed himself and just walked back toward his car. He stopped when he saw me and just... *smiled*. I'm still trying to convince myself that the thing sticking out of his face wasn't Katy's jawbone. I don't think I moved until your officers arrived. Look... I get it. I saw what happened in the hospital after Progenitor's meltdown. I know what you assholes are trying to cover up. All that freaky shit that you tried to pretend didn't happen? I saw *all* of it. I saw the wings. I saw that... that *thing* in that writhing mass of "flesh". I saw that woman that lit her room on fire when she screamed. I know that Jeremy had to be one of those *things*. He's still out there. I don't know where he is. I can't help you with that. Please, though... you have to believe me. I'm on your side. I want those things exterminated. I didn't kill Katy or that guy. How would it be possible for me to do that in broad daylight? The gas station has to have CCTV. There has to be a recording of what happened. You can prove that I'm innocent! Look, I haven't told anyone, if that's what you're worried about. Put me in a polygraph, I'll prove I'm not lying about that. That's how you know I'm on your side in this. The world isn't ready for the shit that happened in that hospital. I know it started with Progenitor... that's the only thing that makes sense. That's where all of this unexplained shit started. I'm getting off-track, I know, but I just need you to know that I trust you to do the right thing. I've never heard of a police force having a "Special Operations Unit". Your uniforms don't look very official, especially not with the Progenitor logo, but I guess it would make sense for them to sponsor your efforts to clean up their mess. I would like to see a badge at some point, though. Other people have to be seeing all the weird shit that's been going on, right? I can't be the only one. I won't tell anyone. Just take me where you've taken everyone else that's come forward. It's just a matter of time before that thing that used to be Jeremy learns that I was the one sleeping with his wife. That *thing* is going to be coming for me. You have an obligation to protect me. It's your job! What have you done for the others who have come forward? It's been three weeks since your building exploded on that crowd of people. There *have* to be others. The idiot you left in here with me is checking his watch for the umpteenth time. He's working on loading his gun. I hope you have weapons that will actually work on a giant gelatinous monster. I wonder where you'll take me to be safe. What place is safe for me? I thought I saw other people telling you people about this stuff in rooms off the hallway.