Threat Assessment: The Damascus Siren

Recommended Actions: Containment and Exile (for Madness & (May)hem: Day 28)

Image: Matt Bango via Unsplash+

***WELCOME TO THE NEXUS COLLECTIVE***

ESTABLISHING CONNECTION……….

PASSWORD?

ENTER: ********

PASSWORD INCORRECT…

ENTER: *********

…PASSWORD ACCEPTED.

WELCOME, AGENT DURWOOD…

Agent Durwood opened his email inbox, squinting at the tiny text on the CRT monitor in front of him.

“I need to get glasses,” he mumbled.

An email at the top of the list caught his eye. It was from a fellow Warden. Agent Belachew. The subject line read: URGENT - CRYPTID REPORT.

“Damn rookie thinks everything is urgent,” Durwood said, sliding a fresh cigarette between his lips.

He opened the email and skimmed the message first.

---

Hello Agent Durwood,

As per your request, I started looking into reports about strange animal sightings across the Appalachian region of Earth-11722 after that incident with the Not Deer a few months back.

I found your typical sort of pranks, hoaxes, false reports, stuff like that, but then something else came up. I didn’t see it at first because it wasn’t labeled as an animal attack.

It was listed as a homicide. And there were more of them. The local police thought it was some kind of serial killer, but I don’t think a human did this.

My full report contains all the evidence I managed to get, along with my recommended course of action. I think it’s pretty clear what’s going on, but I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

Best,

Agent Belachew

---

Durwood lit his cigarette and pulled over a yellowed ash tray from the right side of the desk. He opened the report folder. Inside was a newspaper article, two sound files, and a threat assessment.

It was going to be a long night.

Durwood took a long drag from his cigarette and shook his head. He pulled out a small notepad and his favorite pen so he could take his own notes.

“After Wilmont, I was really hoping for a vacation. No such luck” he said, opening the first asset file.

---

Asset 3-A: Newspaper Article

---

Agent Durwood finished reading the newspaper article and let out a long, exhausted sigh. He picked up his pen and started writing down notes in his notepad:

Second incident in six months…

Connected to Not Deer?

What’s with the barn owl face?!

The pieces were stil vague in Agent Durwood’s mind. In all his years as a Warden, he had never seen Exiled Ones try to anchor themselves in anything but a human form.

The rookie’s right. Something’s not right…

Agent Durwood opened the next asset in the folder.

---

Asset 3-B: Cassette Tape

Police found a damaged cassette tape at the scene of the hiker homicide. They didn’t release this information to the public, but they did manage to extract some audio from it. I had our local contacts send me the two files.

The cassette tape found at the crime scene.

Sound File 1:

Sound File 2:

---

Agent Durwood listened to both sound files multiple times. They seemed at odds with one another. He picked up his pen and wrote down several more notes:

Luring victims with music?

Why scare them away with the screams?

Is the Siren not in complete control of itself?

The behavior of the subject seemed to be erratic. In Agent Durwood’s experience, Exiled Ones were careful, methodical, but this one seemed to be at odds with itself.

That would explain the state of the victims. Surgical marks alongside cuts and tears?

He opened the threat assessment last.

---

Asset 3-C: Threat Assessment

---

Agent Durwood’s cigarette fell out of his mouth as he read the last line of the report.

“Son of a bitch! He went in by himself?”

Agent Durwood shut down the computer, grabbed his things, and rushed out of the room.

Wardens may be immortal, but they aren’t invincible. He had a feeling there was more going on here than just another strange sighting.

Agent Belachew was going to need backup.

---

Thanks for Reading! Here’s Your Musical Pairing

Listen to this after reading, like pairing a glass of wine with dinner.