Creeper. Chapter One.

Present Day.

'I think it's on; the red light was flashing, now it's still. That means it's recording, right? Okay, I'm sure it's recording—oh God, where to start. You know, It's weird, sat here, talking to myself, looking into the lens of a camcorder, alone in the house. At least I think I am. I have a few minutes, that's it, no more, that's all I have, so bear with me, watch this recording and make up your own mind, but promise me you'll do something.

I look dirty; my lengthy brown hair is tossed, dishevelled, I've aged ten years overnight. Bloody hell, I have grey wisps starting to show, strands of it, pushing through. Okay, I can see the laughter lines cut deep into the skin of my face, only there's nothing to smile about. Not now, not anymore.

'You may wonder why I'm whispering, my voice low, faint. The truth is, I'm fucking terrified. I'm guessing if you're watching this, you've found the recording under the floor, at the back of a cupboard, maybe in the loft among the dust and dirt. Perhaps you've just moved in, and you're settling down, making a new life for yourself. You have a family, a partner. Children. You've decided to make a better life, peace, quiet. Well, get out. Get the fuck out before it's too late. Listen to me. Please.

'You'll hear the stories, the rumours, that's for sure. Whoever you are, I beg you, bring this recording to the police, put it on Youtube, Facebook, Instagram. All of your social media platforms. Make people aware. Tell them our story. Fucking Creeper. God, what were we thinking? Why didn't we listen? We were so keen to make the documentary. Now look.

'I don't have long; you need to understand our story, how I got here, sat in front of a camcorder, hiding in the upstairs bedroom, waiting.

Don't just watch this. Promise me if you've found it; you'll do something, you'll make people aware. You will, won't you? It can't all have been for nothing. I won't let that happen.

'Hello. Who's there? Hello. Sorry, I know my voice is low. It may be hard to hear me. I get it. I thought I heard the front door open. Hello.

'Shit. I think someone's in the house. I knew it would happen. I knew it. All I ask is that you tell people about us. About Creeper. It sounds weird, right? You're watching this, maybe months after I've made the recording, perhaps even years. I might look strange. My clothes may look peculiar, out of fashion, like an odd picture from a century ago resting on a mantlepiece. You may snigger, mock my appearance, laugh. Go on then. It doesn't matter. I don't care.

'I need to stand; I have cramp; my legs are gone to sleep. My body is aching and sore. Wait, stay with me. I'm moving towards the bedroom door. I'll keep quiet, it doesn't mean I've gone or the battery has run out. I'm keeping quiet because I want to draw it out, being found. I want to last as long as possible. That's all. Is it steady? Can you still see me? I can see my reflection in the glass of the lens, but only just. My worried expression. I have visions of the camcorder being blurry, the lens filthy and you won't make anything out. Wow, that would be a waste of time, wouldn't it? Can you imagine? How stupid would that make me look? I guess I'll never know. I'll never find out. I could say anything, couldn't I? Think about it. I'll lip-sync. I'll exaggerate my voice. You need to hear what I'm saying.

'C A L L T H E P O L I C E. P U T T H I S O N Y O U T U B E.

'There. I've made it clear. You have no excuse if the sound's gone.

'You may think I'm delusional, drugged, pissed up. Well, I'm none of these. I wish I was. What I'd do for a drink. An ice cold beer — just the one to take the pain away and place it in the distance for a short while.

'I'm stood at the bedroom door now, listening. I'm sure I heard the front door open a few minutes ago. I'm whispering.

'Yes, there's someone moving up the stairs, getting closer. They're outside. I'm backing away to the middle of the bedroom. I'm going to place the camcorder in a bolt hole; there's a cupboard behind me with a section cut out. I'll place the camcorder in there. One of you will find it, I'm certain. I'm going now. The handle of the bedroom door is slowly moving downwards. That's it. I think my time is up. Please do something. When you find this, do som___.'