She was scrolling through old messages.
[nine months ago]
Mrs. McNichol: Hi Caitlyn! Just wanted to thank you again for coming to visit.
Mrs. McNichol: Too bad Brandon wasn't here, but I'm sure he appreciates it.
Caitlyn: Thank you, Mrs. McNichol.
[nine months ago]
Michelle: OMG Caitlyn, did u know about this?!
Michelle shared a link: "Tragedy strikes as freak accident kills a couple in small Kansas town. Young son survives."
Caitlyn: Yeah... :(
Gwen: OMG, thats horrible. Did he tell u something?
Caitlyn: Only that it happened... He hasnt talked to me since then
Michelle: He broke up with u?
Caitlyn: I guess...
Gwen: Im so sorry
Caitlyn: Its fine, he's the one having a hard time I guess
Michelle: Guys, this is weird, isnt it? First, the thing they saw flying. That symbol on the grass. Now this. What do u guys think its happening?
Gwen: I dont know, maybe its aliens like that bald guy said.
[nine months ago]
Mom: Christ, Caitlyn. Did that little freak do it?
Mom shared a link: "Police in Brightburn set reward and start manhunt for possible suspects of increasing criminal activity in the town."
Caitlyn: Seriously, mom? Are u asking me now after weeks so u can get the reward?
Mom: Answer me, Caitlyn!
Caitlyn: IDK! Leave me alone!
[eight months ago]
Gwen: Guys
Gwen shared a link: "(Updated: Verified footage of creature included) Police station in Brightburn destroyed. Mysterious creature spotted during the attack."
Michelle: OMG guys, what is that!
Caitlyn: idk
Gwen: IDK, but they r saying that it was the same flying thing be4
Michelle: God! I just read that they found the same symbol of the grass in the police station!
Gwen: Thats so creepy!
Letting out a sigh, Caitlyn opened the link and hit play on the video. It was only a few seconds long, and the woman recording was pushed aside by one fleeing policeman, but Brandon was nevertheless clearly visible floating a few hundred yards above the partly demolished station. The woman gasped at the same time the video cut.
"You didn't kill them all," she whispered her mantra for this particular recording.
[eight months ago]
Michelle: My dad says that the national guard might get involved with whats happening.
Michelle: Mom is really scared
Gwen: My father lost his job, guys :(
Caitlyn: omg, Im sorry. What happened?
Gwen: His boss is moving away
Caitlyn: Heard that many people r
Gwen: Yeah. He says that maybe I should go to Texas
Gwen: U know, with my mom
Caitlyn: OMG :'(
Michelle: :'(
Gwen: IK :'(
[eight months ago]
Mom shared a link: "National Guard contingent massacred by Brightburn creature"
Caitlyn opened the link, though her finger hovered over it for quite a while before pressing down. Her eyes immediately went to the familiar quotes of the survivors' testimonies.
"It was a horror show." "The thing was attacking from everywhere, we couldn't track it." "At times, we were shooting at each other trying to hit him." "I don't know, maybe it was just playing with us. It seemed like a sick game." "Explosions were going off everywhere. First there were these lasers, then everything was covered in fire." "When there were only a few of us, no longer fighting, he dropped us all near each other and told us to tell everyone about him.""Were you trying to think about what I asked you the entire time or were you just playing with them and remembered at the last second? You didn't need to kill that many," she asked at the air for the umpteenth time. She deliberately ignored the pictures this once, though she still wiped away a tear.
[eight months ago]
Gwen: OMG, had u guys seen this one yet?
Gwen shared a video: "Brightburn takes down fighter jet"
Michelle: Urgh, hes not the whole town! Hate that they call him that
Caitlyn: Seen it
As usual, she tapped on the video and watched it: He was flying towards the jet and the pilot had responded by firing a missile at him, the smoke caused by the explosion obscuring most of the cellphone's field of vision. After it cleared, he was floating in the air but, although he was too far to really discern anything, it was obvious that his cape was gone. Evidently he noticed because he flew away immediately afterwards... right into the jet, which exploded in the distance.
"Why did you let it hit you? Well, if what you wanted was to prove that missiles were useless, they got the message," she mumbled, her breath as short as it always was whenever she saw the missile hit him.
[seven months ago]
Michelle: Guys, we're moving upstate :(
Gwen: Oh no, so now I cant even visit u 2 at the same time?!
Michelle: It sucks, I know
Caitlyn: My mom is talking about it 2
Michelle: Rly?
Caitlyn: Yeah, she says that the dinner barely has customers now
Caitlyn: And most of what they get are strangers that give her the creeps
Caitlyn: She says that they ask a lot about the thing
Gwen: Brightburn will become a ghost town :(
Michelle: Probably
[six months ago]
Caitlyn: Hello, Mrs. McNichol, just wanted to let you know that I had come visit today, but the house seemed empty
Caitlyn: Did you move?
Mrs. McNichol: Hello Caitlyn! Yes, I'm afraid we did.
Mrs. McNichol: We're staying at a hotel right now, but we're looking for something more permanent.
Caitlyn: I see
Caitlyn: Well, thank you Mrs. McNichol! Hope you find something soon!
Mrs. McNichol: Thank you Caitlyn!
Those were the last messages of that conversation, and Caitlyn, far from the first time, tapped a greeting only to delete the message without sending it. After six months, it would just be weird and besides, asking would be kind of pointless. If they left in such a hurry to go for a hotel, they were most likely in another town near Brightburn. Probably Stuckton.
[six months ago]
Mom: are you done packing?
Caitlyn: Almost
[five months ago]
Caitlyn shared a link: "Mysterious red creature punches a whole through the Wall of Lamentations."
Michelle: Holy shit! That looks like the thing!
Gwen: Brightburn?
Michelle: Urgh, yes
Caitlyn: He is, he carved the same symbol into the wall.
Michelle: Wow, so hes gonna attack everywhere now?
[four months ago]
Caitlyn shared a video: "Brightburn destroys roof of the Sistine Chapel"
Michelle: OMG, what is he doing?
Caitlyn: Seems like he doesnt like religions
[three months ago]
Caitlyn shared a link: "Red creature known as Brightburn burns down Notre-Dame to the ground."
Michelle: So hes not just evil
Michelle: He's a jerk
Gwen: xD
Caitlyn: Thats not funny
Caitlyn: xD
Caitlyn: But yes
[two months ago]
Caitlyn shared a link: "Brightburn steals the Black Stone from Mecca."
Michelle: Oh God, I hope that doesnt start a war
Caitlyn: Me 2
Caitlyn: They say its unlikely because hes attacked many religions
Caitlyn: So they see Brightburn as the enemy and not each other
Caitlyn: At least for now
Gwen: Thats good
[one month ago]
Carlos: hey good looking!
Carlos: This is Carlos, from the baseball team, u left me ur number!
Caitlyn: Hi!
Caitlyn: How u been?
Carlos: Awesome as always!
Carlos: Hey, do u wanna see a movie or something next friday?
Caitlyn: Carlos, Ive told u...
Carlos: Come on, this time u left me ur number
Carlos: That has to mean something!
Caitlyn: That I ran out of excuses not to give it?
Carlos: Ouch
Carlos: Come on, Cat, just one chance, pls?
Caitlyn: ...
Carlos: I swear Ill make it worth ur time!
Carlos: I'll even let u pick the movie!
Caitlyn: Oh, wow
Caitlyn: So tempting
Carlos: Come on, if u smiled at that, u gotta give me a chance!
Caitlyn: Alright, fine
Carlos: Awesome! I'll come pick u up
Caitlyn: u have a car?
Carlos: Its my father's, but he lets me drive it!
Caitlyn: Rly? U have a permit?
Carlos: Learners, but that part can stay between us ;)
Caitlyn: Wow
Caitlyn: Wait, what grade are u on?
Carlos: Im a sophomore :|
Carlos: How about u?
Caitlyn: Freshman =/
Caitlyn: Sorry
Carlos: For what?
Caitlyn: Oh, just thought ud change ur mind
Carlos: Haha, nice try. Its just one year ;)
Carlos: I'll pick u up!
Caitlyn: Ok :)
[one month ago]
Caitlyn shared a video: "Streaming live from Brightburn, inside the ghost town that produced the monster!"
Caitlyn: U were right, Gwen, the place is practically a ghost town now.
Michelle: Can't believe that there are still people living there
Caitlyn: Yeah, place is almost empty
Caitlyn: But there are a few families still
Gwen: :(
Gwen: That's horrible
Caitlyn: Yeah, and they say that Brightburn
Caitlyn: the thing, not the town
Caitlyn: won't let anyone of the military enter, only normal people
Michelle: Like that crazy streamer?
Caitlyn: Yeah
Gwen: U really cant stop reading about this guy
Gwen: Right, Caitlyn?
Caitlyn: U guys can? Its horrible!
Michelle: Well yes
Michelle: But I dont even need to look for news about him
Michelle: U share them all!
Caitlyn: I live much closer to Brightburn!
Caitlyn: Have to stay informed
Michelle: Thats true
Michelle: And how r things in Kingman?
[two weeks ago]
Caitlyn shared a link: "(Video) Creature from Brightburn attacks and destroys Canterbury."
Carlos: Holy shit
Carlos: Thats wild
Caitlyn: I know
She was rewatching that particular video when she received a new text.
Carlos: Hey, wanna have dinner at my place this friday? Mom's making paella
She paused the video before tapping a reply.
Caitlyn: IDK, what if ur parents dont like me?
Carlos: Y wouldnt they? U r adorable
Caitlyn: Stop it...
Carlos: Come ooooon
Caitlyn: Fineee, at seven?
Carlos: Awesome, I'll come pick u
Caitlyn: I can just walk, u know?
Caitlyn: Its only eight blocks
Carlos: Thats so much less fun than driving a Mercedes tho 8)
Caitlyn: But Im not the one driving it
Carlos: No
Carlos: Ur hot boyfriend is
Caitlyn: Whatever
She snorted at his words as she switched from the messaging application to the browser, but then she chewed on her bottom lip and switched back. She glanced at Carlos's picture; he was handsome, tall for his fifteen years and with dark hair and eyes. After only a second, though, she sighed and went back to the video.
This one was recent enough that following a chain of recommended videos, and rewatching them all, led her to The Big T's latest update, and what she saw caused her mouth to drop open. Not because The Big T's shiny bald head was reflecting the lighting better than usual nor because Brandon had done something particularly sacrilegious, but because the video wasn't about Brandon at all.
If the Big T was to be trusted, similar things or people like "Brightburn" were appearing all over the world: There was some kind of merman attacking boats near the Mariana Islands. Apparently some witch was moving in eastern Europe, making men kill themselves using ropes she'd hexed. And some kind of machine had been attacking people in South Africa. He mentioned a few others in passing, but he dismissed them as not nearly as dangerous as the three he'd featured or Brightburn, whom he reiterated as the biggest threat, and not only because he was the only one active across the whole world. As usual, he closed with his theory that they were aliens come to destroy or conquer Earth.
Not wasting any time, she clicked on other videos about these new monsters: Some other vloggers had different theories, like this being work of the lizard people finally taking over the world, others were saying that these people were secret new weapons to replace nukes and yet some others were saying that these were signs of the Apocalypse.
"Well, Brandon focusing only on religious places sure helps with that one," she said to herself, echoing the sentiment that was being repeated on quite a few comments in the videos.
With a grunt, she set her phone down on her bedside table and dropped on the bed, staring at her ceiling without really seeing anything, her mind going over all what was happening across the world. All that Brandon had caused. Her divagations were finally interrupted by her mother, who called her to dinner.
Caitlyn was perfectly alright with eating in the usual awkward silence, but she needed something that night.
"Hey mom," she said after she was done eating.
"Yes, honey?" Erica asked with a smile.
"Carlos invited me over to dinner with his parents next friday, is that ok?" She asked.
"Of course, sweetheart, have fun!" Erica said with a huge smile that Caitlyn itched to slap off her face. Erica wasn't shy about showing how much an improvement she deemed Carlos over Caitlyn's previous boyfriend. That that assertion was probably true didn't help Caitlyn with tolerating her mother's smug attitude, no matter how hard Caitlyn tried to ignore it.
Later, back in bed, Caitlyn was looking at her window, waiting like every night. And like every night for the past nine months, her eyes finally closed without having seen the pair of red orbs, but this time she nevertheless used the last of her consciousness to whisper, "happy birthday."