Howdy folks! Stella Zhau here! Glad to see this case is finally opened! Me and my gang have been looking into it for a long time. I hope you guys aren't getting too scared already. I know, I know, I'm a scaredy cat too, but all this is to help the world, you know? Rusty was right; we gotta do our part and make sure we don't have a lot of creepy stuff lingering about!
So below I have his next journal entry, but below that, I found a really small blurb from a newspaper from eons ago. It probably means nothing, but you know what? Some of that info sounds way too similar to what happened to Steve, so might as well share it. Don't worry, I'll be speaking more to you guys soon!
Until next time!
-Stella Zhau
May 22nd, 2022, 6:00 PM
I'm sorry I didn't write earlier. Had one of the roughest nights I think in my whole life. Oh, guess I should update on how yesterday resolved, huh? I heard my dad pull in, and as soon as his engine clicked off, so to did the sound in my room. Fearing what he would say seeing me against his own wall, I quickly got up and checked it out. TV was off, Luna was gone. Just an empty little place with nothing out of the ordinary going on.
Of course the old man wasn't too thrilled to see my face. Always got angry if I was anything but happy. Won't repeat the convo, but just know it didn't go too well. Bro came home later that day, barely said a word. He remarked I looked like a zombie, but that was it. Night fell hard on this household, and before I knew it, I was tossing and turning in bed, knowing full well getting any sleep would be an reward after what I went through.
When did I succeed? Probably an hour past midnight, but I won't doubt it took me longer than that. I was tired, but my mind kept racing through those horrific thoughts of that channel. What's funny is that, looking back, it wasn't that bad. I mean, maybe others disagree, but when I look into it, it was just the cable screwing up, and my TV going on the fritz. This ain't the first time both tried hurting me, though I have to admit it hadn't hurt me that bad together in a long time. What that Luna was, I can't say, but hey, it's a Luna episode. I shouldn't expect anything than her, right?
Now, you'd think I would've wizened up by now, after 25 freaking years, that dreams can be even worse than reality. Well, I played the fool again. I've been having that same dream over and over since 2012, and I highly doubt they're going away anytime soon. I talked to the Doc about them, but all he said was to ignore them. They're just the mind distorting and warping all my greatest fears. Yeah, I don't disagree, but that doesn't make it any easier to fight them off.
Before she left us, my mom and I got into a fight. It was pretty heated, if I remember correctly. She was a struggling alcoholic for a lot of her life, but for the last few years, it got worse. The nightmares that my family dealt with because of her drinking was staggering. Kicked out of the house, running out of money, the works. My brother was a lot more silent in showcasing his frustrations to her, but I wasn't. That was probably a mistake on my part. Maybe my anger made her drink more. I don't know. Guess I never will.
But the fight was bad, that was for sure. We screamed at one another during my summer break, and I remember her downing a whole bottle before my eyes, before calling me a "loose end." She loved those crime films, and that term was a fun one she used. She went to her room, and an hour later, I found her gone. That was the nightmare. Me crying my eyes out in an desperate attempt to wake her up, knowing full well I had no power to do so. Paramedics took their time that day. I shook her, performed cpr, did anything to save her, but it was no use.
And this lovely mind of mind just loves reminding me so much of how badly I failed her that day. Let her leave this world mad at me, probably forced her to down that bottle, and then showing the end result, a death I'll carry to my own grave when the time comes. I hate those stupid thoughts. I just want them to end, but the dream came back full force. Only, there was one little difference, and this particular thing is still following me around. I hoped when I got to work it would've gone away, but of course not. The freezer in the back had its light blown out, meaning I couldn't see crap as I moved about. Perfect for allowing my mind to create whatever it wanted, and what it wanted... was that face.
Luna was there. Just standing with that same expression that once plagued my screen. Blank expression, yet still showing enough emotion to indicate disappointment. Her arms were draped to her side, and her usual purple uniform appeared just a little darker, as if forcing me to look at her longer, allowing that image to stain my eyes for the rest of the day. As I tried yet again to resurrect my own mother, she watched within the mirrors. Not even once did she shake her head. She didn't even look pleased! She just stared.
Everywhere I looked, I saw her face. It won't leave me alone, and it's pissing me off. Well, as I write this, why not try to fix it, right? I'm turning on the TV...
… Roadie to Nowhere again? Wait, what? Why? I checked the guide (which thankfully works this time) and it says it should be "The Green House." Granted, the info of the episode says TBD, so I have no idea. Yep, it's the episode again, and I can't lie when I say my spine shivered seeing the title card again. Luckily, though, as if to soothe my mind, the episode actually began! No joke, I'm watching it right now. Everything seems normal, and Luna looks like my favorite character again. Did I just freak out yesterday and take it out on the show? Mom had her "Episodes" as she called them, where things you once love appear far more rotten than usual. Wonder when those began for her. I am getting up there in age.
Wait... Wait, something is still wrong. It's not too noticeable, but as I'm watching this, I'm hearing... static? The TV's been on for awhile, and I didn't hear it before. Cables screwed up? I don't know, this doesn't sound like that, if that makes any sense. It's more like a distorted morse code than anything else. You really have to hear it though. The characters are far louder, and turning up the volume only changes the episode, not the weird electric sounds.
Is that normal? Eh, maybe it's my head again. Now my mind knows I was scared of this episode, and it'll stop at nothing to make me go to bed frightened. Dad and I don't agree on much these days, but I can't blame him when he says the human mind just sucks.
NEWSPAPER FROM 2/5/98: THREE CHILDREN FROM "ROYAL WOODS" FOUND UNRESPONSIVE IN LIVING ROOM. COMMUNITY MOURNS
"In what has to be one of the most disturbing headlines written in this paper's history, three young children were found dead yesterday morning within their own homes. Police were baffled at the crime scene, for the results of what occurred could only be described as "grizzly and inconclusive." The three kids, all boys who will remain unnamed for now, were all within elementary school age, and seemed to be in fine health just moments before the incident, or so their own mother said (both parents are not viewed as suspects). The whole scene bothered everyone around.
"They were just joking around a minute before it happened. I really don't get it," said their grieving mother.
Royal Woods, Michigan is a quiet little town with barely a criminal record to speak of, and its mysteries result in the usual mundane solutions. Yet this whole baffling scenario has gotten the community in a frenzy, all trying to figure out in their own ways what had happened. For now, police are urging citizens to come forward if they have any relevant info, but otherwise want everyone to stand back as the investigation continues.
The only clues we have so far apparently concern a few days prior. According to the father: "They kept mentioning the TV talking back at them. It was that weird show... I'm sorry, I don't remember its name, but it starred an alien and a caveman, or something. Whatever it was, my boys were scared. I thought they were just playing, but I have no idea at this point. I just want... I just want answers..."
