Rachel gets a creative series of ultimatums, as Blue continues to be The Worst.
*CW*
-Threats of consumption
-Glitching sound effects
-Imprisonment
Rachel Bardin and The Blue One are voiced by Sabrina Green
Cooper Boyd is voiced by Andre’ Green
Find his work here: Hellbound :: Chapter 1: Encounter | Tapas
Music by SAGITTA
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Recorder clicks on. There is silence for a long time, a deep breath followed by a sad sigh. What’s the point even? Recorder turns off.
Recorder turns on. It’s fine. This is fine. I can’t leave my house, but I’m too tired to go anywhere anyways. This is… Frustrated sounds, hitting a pillow or something else soft. Recorder turns off.
Recorder turns on. [Rachel is so tired at this point, it’s been weeks and she is angry and bored and tired all rolled up, ready to explode]
BLUE ONE
-- I’ll even turn it on for you, R. Just get this over with, read them to your little friend here and I’ll help you.
RACHEL
First, it’s a lecture recorder, not a friend. Second, it’s Rachel, not R.
BLUE ONE
It has a name and little eyes though!
RACHEL
That… doesn’t make it a friend.
BLUE ONE
Serious. R, fine. Let’s make a deal then, read the letters, and I won’t permanently reduce you to a little reading creature with out a drop of free will.
RACHEL
Is that my only bargaining chip left? I can’t even see out the windows anymore, you’ve scrambled the phone and internet- my existence is reduced to this house when I have the oomf to move, and you. An awful houseguest who despite not having a face manages to be, I don’t even know what you are. Besides the absolute worst. I’m not playing your game, and I’m not reading your letters. Rachel lays her head aggressively on the table.
BLUE ONE
Long, thoughtful pause. Hmmm, They warned me I’d have to get creative with you. So be it. There are soft, disquieting sounds of something vaguely fleshy being reshaped. Rachel audibly moves, and gasps before being flung to the floor, grabbing the recorder. BLUE ONE is much closer now, and Rachel is terrified, hurt, and shocked. BLUE ONE’s voice is in multiples now, from suddenly having several… mouths. You don’t know what I am capable of, R. You don’t know the revenge I’d love, what I sacrificed to get here, the million ways I’d be more than happy to explore in destroying you. Voice starts returning to normal, Rachel gasps as BLUE ONE moves away. But I can’t… yet. So read the letters, which, I’ve even been kind enough to bring them here to you, and once you’re done, we’ll see what is next, alright?
RACHEL
But, why--
BLUE ONE
No questions either. And no more destruction, I know you smashed the tv in the basement. Your rage is cute, and… so ineffective. Laugh. I’ll swing by again later, R, please don’t disappoint me.
Portal opens and BLUE ONE leaves. Rachel is panicking. Recorder turns off.
RACHEL
Aggressively tearing open envelopes. Fine. I will get this over with. I tired of being tired, and I don’t know what any of what that… what Blue was talking about but, if it gets me out of this then so. Be. it. I want to go outside again. I want to drink awful beer with Coop, and get to meet Zinnia and just text Jade again.
Sighs. Here goes. This one is thick, rich paper. I can almost feel the money I just tore to shreds. Addressed to Georgia, yadda yadda yadda, the actual letter is from a… looks like some kind of University but the logo and address and yikes, half the document, are pretty smudged, all I can make out is the motto- dracones scientia et… okay, not all of it. Don’t know what that means. Dragon… science… oh wait, this isn’t my job. Audible eye roll.
Dr. Brown, find here my notes and specimen collection regarding the discovery of a new species of moth observed in and around the Mount Forcola area of Graubunden, Switzerland.
The moth, affectionately called Little Mr. Eyes by members of our entomology summer program, was first observed on a group hike near Mount Forcola while collecting specimens near the Swiss border with Italy. Guidebooks had no listings for the very distinctive moth, and we also had no further luck searching abroad or with colleagues concerning correct identification.
Individuals measure between 11 and 13 centimeter from wing tip to wing tip. Forewings are primarily black, but covered in white to orange, oblong orbicular spots radiating out from theblack, haired thorax.
The hindwings are a vibrant yellow, ringed by black, with black veination. Each has a single red and black, oblong brobicular spot.
Antennae are bipectinate, and approximately half the length of the body. The abdomen is black.
Following this letter is the start of new species in proper, long-form latin, and I would appreciate if you could verify grammar and spelling. I will be contacting the board to begin looking for funding to properly document this species, whose discovery is very exciting. One of my graduate students is already starting the preliminary research on the range and habitat of this species.
If you could…. Trails off, gets to smudged to read
That’s all I can make out, the rest of it, I can see a word here or there, looks like Latin. Not gonna bother. I hope the house doesn’t get infested because of this. Snorts. Last letters I read left the television playing the same 10 second loop of an old black and white silent film. Non stop. Turning it off did nothing, unplugging it did nothing, got fed up with it after a few days and threw, well, pushed it, down the stairs into the basement where, well, it’s still playing but I can’t hear it anymore upstairs or in the living room.
Whatever Blue did to me, what…. I honestly don’t really know how long it’s been- no phone and I can’t see the sky still, it just gets dark, then light, then dark and I mean, for the longest time it didn’t matter at all because I could hardly move, time was irrelevant. And it may have been a trick of the light or exhaustion or… insanity? I don’t totally want to find out, but I could… see… through, or, it seemed like I could see straight through my hand. But then I fell asleep and was mostly fine and solid when I woke up again.
There’s four more letters, Diane. I’ll save your data space for now. Recorder turns off.
Recorder turns on as RACHEL opens a window, there are folding paper sounds.
RACHEL
The sky is back! Portal sounds. Rachel grumbles.
BLUE ONE
Was that so hard?
RACHEL
I mean, I was watching the living room turn yellow again but… no, no it wasn’t. Am I done?
BLUE ONE
Laughs. For now.
RACHEL
Great. What happens... next... then?
BLUE ONE
Well, I suppose humans need the outdoors for health or whatever. You’ve been here long enough to know communication can be tragically limited-
RACHEL
Been here long enough? I’ve only lived here since the end of the year.
BLUE ONE
Aww, they messed your head up real good, didn’t they? Oh, no matter. Your phone will turn on again, if you want. And probably even your laptop. Just, not a word of this to anyone-
RACHEL
What’s stopping me from calling the police?
BLUE ONE
Do you honestly think they’d believe you? And, if you mention this to anyone, family, friends… I will eat them. You’ve seen my teeth. Fleshy sounds again.
RACHEL
Don’t touch them!
BLUE ONE
Then don’t tell them. Fleshy sounds retreat. Tell them the power and internet was out, or better yet, that you’ve always hated them and cease all contact! I like that one.
RACHEL
Shocked and panicking. I hate this.
BLUE ONE
Good for you! The choice is still yours at the end of the day, but, oh, so are the consequences. Long pause, Rachel squirms under the scrutiny. Do you really not remember?
RACHEL
Um… I’m going to go on a limb and say… no. No, I don’t?
BLUE ONE
Hmm. I had my suspicions, but, oh well, I guess. Less satisfying for me... Althoughhhhh… the idea of you suffering for crimes you can’t remember, that is a delicious little morsel, isn’t it?
RACHEL
What crimes? What are you-
BLUE ONE
Shut up or I lay in wait under your precious godson’s bed tonight. Rachel slams her teeth shut, hard. Good move. I’ll have to remember that one. Leo, isn’t it? Well, doesn’t matter. New protocol- no questions, no telling or I tear your boy to shreds.
So nice to have this little chat, R128, it’s been a delight. Have a great rest of your night. Portal sounds again, Rachel is breathing hard.
RACHEL
Liam. Recorder clicks off.
Later, Rachel is going to sit outside on her porch, now allowed her phone and (some) free reign.
RACHEL
Oh god, fresh air… And I can hear the peepers way off in the creek, even if I can’t see past the flower beds. They’re out there and I am… someplace
Where do I even begin with this?
I found an interesting letter. It’s been shoved in my bra all day because I don’t trust that it’ll stick around, the other letters I’ve read, and haven’t thrown out myself- there were a few I kept tucked away on my desk- they’ve all vanished.
I’m going to make a recording tonight, just to have a back up- those I can still listen to it seems. Frustrated key clicking.
Got my phone back, well, working. Well, it’s in my hands, and trying to turn on. The screen is super glitchy and oh, there we go! Long pause, humming. HUmming gradually stops and turns to mortified silence.
That’s… that’s not possible. There’s no way I’ve been here for 20 days. I don’t have food for, oh! Phone drops, vibrating like mad, glitchy and overlapping. SOrry, sorry. Gabs phone again.
Oh no. That’s a lot of notifications. I can’t read half the text messages, the little cells look like shattered, rainbowy glass, even if the screen is actually fine.
Let’s try… voicemail. Here we go, I can navigate perfect, just [Voicemail recording starts, Rachel puts it on speaker, after the messages start Rachel skips through ones that are too glitchy or screeching]
COOPER
Hey Rach, whats... uh, going on with you? It's the 20th, no one's heard from you in ages and your mom's getting really worried. Told her I'd give you a call or five, and this isssss... number four. Straight. To. Voicemail.
RACHEL
Happy sigh. Good ole Coop.
COOPER
I know you hate when people worry, but... well, we’re worried. I know you mentioned Kelly was trying to contact you, did something happen? Or were you in a tragic bookshelf related accident and are bleeding out in your living room with no one to check up on you? I... You know how I felt about you moving like that, and I joke, just, please please please reach out if you need it. We love you and just want to know you’re safe. Give me a call back when you can, alright? Marcus might pick up but you two would get along like a house on fire. And call your mom back, the only reason she hasn’t gone to the police is because of Darren. Can’t wait to hear about your garden, and remember to take care of yourself too, alright? Bye.Audio quality declines and gets glitchy as the message progresses, by the end it is incomprehensible.
RACHEL
Come on. Seriously? Crap crap crapcrapcrap. Hangs up. Starts dialing Mom. And of course, no answer- hey Mom! Trying to be cheerful. Sorry for going off grid like that, um… heard a wind gust blew out the only cell tower in the valley and I haven’t been able to do anything with electronics. Audible grimace. I’ve been busy still though, just… slow realization that any and all jobs she had lined up are probably gone. Just sticking to old fashioned pen and paper, I sent out a postcard a couple of weeks ago, mail must be delayed. The tower should be back 100% soon though, so call me back when you get the chance, love you! Hangs up, collapses into fetal position on the porch.
I can do this. There’s got to be something I can do. Jade. I need to get ahold of them, hopefully they can guess I’m not big on ghosting people… hopefully they don’t assume I just vanished.
Speaking of vanishing! Fabric rustles and paper unfolding. One of the letters I read, not the one that turned the living room yellow again, it was intentionally sent to Georgia, like the couple I’ve gotten from… Gideon, that’s his name.
Georgia. It is no small victory, but I have found you, traitor. Nine years, searching. With your experiences with time I am sure you are fully aware of how very, very long that can be. On top of the six years spent in… storage. Your desire for power ruined us. Your precious B is floating in a jar, he’s nothing more than the electrical impulses of the man you knew. They took away my speech, and I spend my days sorting these damned letters. I don’t know how you managed to get off imprisoned in Hartford, but I have an idea and it paints an ugly picture. Something is happening, with the Blue Ones. There are whispers of revolution and that you are at the heart of something. They are going to hurt people, Georgia, and it sounds like you are a part of that. You were always viscous, but this would take the cake. Someday I will find you, and destroy you. Pinky swear, Quinn
Long pause, Rachel is considering her options.
Georgia seemed really sweet, although I only talked to her on the phone. This is really weird, and I… I need to try to get out of here. Although… Liam. I can’t… If he’s in danger, I can’t make it any worse for him, or any of the others.
But, still, I can’t do nothing. I won’t roll over. And I won’t let that… thing hurt anyone. I am not a criminal, I just…
First things first, since it seemed like they’re gone for the day and I doubt there are any cameras here. The house has been surrounded by fog or mist or whatever time bubble hell my life is. I haven’t dared walking into it. Or I wasn’t functional enough to think about it. Rachel stands, wincing.
Forgot how badly sciatica can hurt. It’s been years since I’ve had a flare up.
Here goes- Sound cuts out with a burst of some glitchy sound. There is silence for a moment, then Rachel hitting something.
Ughhh, where- oh… Door opens, Rachel is crawling back inside. Back door, hello. I am going to go…. Lay down. Yeah… Maybe throw up. Who knows. Recorder turns off.
SABRINA
Hello, lovely listeners, thank you for tuning in to this eighth episode of Letters to Georgia. I am Sabrina, your voice actor and audio gremlin, or SABRINA- all caps, your writer and script bequeather. If you are enjoying this show or, episode even- although I would recommend starting at the very beginning, you goose- please feel free to go nuts and share on whichever social media platform you’re partial to, or shout about us from a literal soap box on the corner, or send some cupcakes to your best friend with a “hey, I think you’d really like this,” written on the frosting. Also helpful are reviews! So if you have a moment be sure to pop down a word or two about what you think on your podcast app of choice, and I will do my best to use those words as tools and uh, not just a new way to shapeshift into a puddle of anxiety.
As always, scripts are available on the website, www dot sabrinalucille dot com where you will also find some other fun things including coloring pages and soon some, oh, well it’s still a secret BUT there will be some announcements coming up in the next few weeks so keep an eye out there or follow us on Instagram @star.room.studio, thats at star dot room dot studio.
This week, music was by SAGITTA, Rachel Bardin and Blue were voiced by Sabrina Green, and Cooper Boyd was voiced by André Green, who usually draws comics but let me borrow his voice for this project. You can read the first two chapters of his series “Hellbound” on Tapas or find more art on instagram @maxroseactual- both are linked in the description.
Lastly, from the bottom of my heart and now very cold mug of tea, thank you for listening. Toodles.
