Oliver kept his head down for the remainder of his teenage years, never stirring up trouble or drawing attention to himself. He focused mainly on building his artistic skills, and his mental state improved through this outlet. He would never accept the death of his parents or forget the cold stare of their killer, but he felt some comfort in his drawings. They were like pieces of the puzzle that defined his existence. Every time he sat down to draw, he was working to answer the questions that haunted him every night.
Oliver’s rigorous practice and passion did not go unnoticed. Multiple teachers from the boarding school he attended in Maine saw Oliver’s skills first hand, and encouraged him to pursue a future in illustration. Nearly halfway through his final year of boarding school, Oliver received a letter in the mail inviting him to attend a prestigious college in Massachusetts; Miskatonic University. Oliver gladly accepted the offer, and became excited to further develop his artistic talents. He would begin attending the college in a few months.
Much of Oliver’s best artwork was kept hidden from his boarding school. He did not want to share some of his more frightening depictions of monsters and demons, out of fear that others would think him insane. However, with the recently wide accessibility of the internet, Oliver began to share his more gruesome work with online forums. The response was incredible. People from across the world interested in folklore and mythology regularly contacted Oliver, praising him for his unique art.
Oliver spoke with people who claimed to have experienced similar tragedies as his, and he was happy to share his own story with many of them. The responses further supported his belief that his eyes had never deceived him; the creature he saw as a child was real. He felt great emotional and mental support from his online acquaintances. Oliver had found a home in this small digital community. They opened themselves to him. They listened to him. They saw his monster.
The time came when Oliver had to move to Massachusetts into a dorm room at Miskatonic University. His new art classes were challenging; forcing him to draw more earthly shapes and human anatomy. Adjusting to this new environment was difficult for a few weeks, but Oliver finally felt comfortable and happy. He was allowed to bring his home computer with him, so he was able to continue sharing his work on the internet.
One late evening, Oliver was scribbling away at his sketchbook in front of his computer. While drawing, he would often enter a state of thoughtlessness and rarely look up from the page. While he lacerated the paper with dark lines of ink, a familiar sound ripped him back into reality. It was a ping from his computer, more specifically, his e-mail. Upon viewing his inbox, he saw an unfamiliar name at the top; Matilda W.
Oliver opened the message and began to read under his breath:
Dear Mr. Oliver Keen,
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to you as a fan of your brilliant illustrations, and as a person of similar interest in the world of the supernatural and unexplained. I have read each of your blog posts, and I am inspired by your intense desire to uncover the truth of your tragic childhood. I have a troubled past of my own, and I firmly believe that otherworldly forces are to blame. Now please, allow me to clarify why I have reached out to you:
About two years ago, I came in contact with an object that may prove the existence of another world. I want to invite you to analyze this artifact in person. Considering your experiences as a child, and your skill in depicting horror, I thought you would be a trustworthy candidate to share this information with.
I have already reached out to many other notable names in the fields of occult research and folklore. If you wish to attend this meeting of like-minded people, please let me know and I can provide my full house address. I live in the northern Massachusetts area.
Again, I believe the artifact in my possession has the potential to verify the truth we have all been searching for. If you require proof, please see the photo I have attached to this message. (artifact.png) I would be thrilled to meet in person soon.
Thank you for your time,
Matilda Woe
Oliver clicked the attached image. The photo was a close-up of a young woman holding a decrepit book. The cover of the tome was nearly torn to shreds, with splotches of black ink thrown about. The book was certainly strange looking, but Oliver could not pull his gaze away from the girl. She was most certainly around his age, which already made him feel nervous. His interaction with young women was very limited, considering his boarding school was all male. Oliver was immediately captivated by her looks. Yet, the expression she wore seemed painfully familiar to him, especially in her eyes. The dark circles which cloaked her corneas told him that she had seen things that she could never hope to understand, just like him. Oliver leaned forward in his chair, and slid his mouse cursor towards the “Reply” button.
THOMAS MAZZAFERRO 