Recorded April 19, 2017, 12:52 a.m.
The view is chaotic as the phone sweeps around the room, catching only shadows before stabilizing to the front-facing camera, showing Melanie Whittaker, eyes wide with panic.
MEL: What the fuck. What the fuck is—everyone just vanished. We were all standing here and then it was just me. Okay, Mel, stay calm. Stay calm. I’m going to—I don’t know what I’m going to do.
She looks around, breathing fast.
MEL: Okay. I need to figure out—find the others. There’s nothing here except a creepy-ass chandelier. And I’m talking to myself. Or my phone. Whatever, makes me feel less like I’m about to get ax-murdered. Okay. Let’s look around.
She flips the camera around, focusing it on the room.
MEL: Nothing too spooky around—What the FUCK?!
Someone walks into frame. Sara Donoghue, turning as she takes in the room.
MEL: Sara?
Sara doesn’t respond or seem to react in any way. A second person walks into her path. Anthony Beck. They step around each other neatly, not seeming to notice their own movements.
MEL: Oh my God. Okay, so I can see them on the camera, but I can’t see them or hear them myself. So where’s—
She swings the camera around, locating the others. Jeremy is stalking around the room, head swiveling to and fro. Kyle stands near double doors, hand hovering hesitantly over the nearest handle. Trina, her phone out and the book clamped between her elbow and ribs, stands behind him, yelling soundlessly and waving an arm.
MEL: Oh, thank God. Hold on.
She runs across the floor and moves around until she’s partly in front of Trina. She waves. Trina jerks around to face her, eyes fixed on the phone in her hand. She looks up, then back at the screen.
MEL: I see you. Can you see me?
The flickers of movement at the edge of the screen suggest she’s signing, though clumsily. Trina signs back.
TRINA: I see you, but I can’t hear you.
MEL: Me neither. What do we do? Ah, can’t remember half this stuff but you know what I mean.
TRINA: The others are splitting up. Hold on, can you—
She reaches out. Mel hesitates, then seems to get it. She puts her hand out, and their palms press against each other.
MEL: I can feel that. Okay, so we can perceive touch?
TRINA: Get the others. Make them stop. Stick together.
MEL: I’ll go to the—out there, you get these guys.
Trina nods sharply and turns to grab Kyle’s wrist as he finally takes hold of the knob. His reaction is cut off as Mel sprints for the foyer. Jeremy and Sara stand facing each other, awkwardly close and utterly unaware of each other.
MEL: Ew, you look like you’re going to kiss. Of all the injustices this place has flung at us . . .
She strides forward and grabs Sara’s hand. Sara jerks out of her grasp and runs.
MEL: Damn it!
Mel chases, dodging around Jeremy, who stands oblivious to the chaos. Sara bolts up a staircase. Mel follows, but her foot catches. The phone flies out of her hand. The screen goes dark for two full seconds, then the view springs back as Mel grabs it.
Sara’s shoulder flashes into view, then out again. Mel swings the camera as Sara dives through a door. The door slams shut behind her.
MEL: No, don’t!
She’s steps behind. She yanks open the door, but there’s nothing beyond but an empty hallway.
MEL: Do I follow? I don’t—Okay. No. Don’t go running down a creepy empty hallway by yourself. Get the others. Then go after her. That’s the smart thing. Do the smart thing for once in your life, Mel.
She pulls herself away from the door. Without her hand holding it open, it swings shut with a click. She trudges back down the stairs. The others are clustered in the foyer. Kyle’s hand grips Trina’s upper arm, and he stares blindly into the room, but the others all have phones out, cameras on.
TRINA: Where’s Sara?
MEL: She ran off. Ran—how are you not getting this. She’s gone.
JEREMY: She says Sara ran off.
MEL: Man, I knew I should have taken ASL instead of Latin. Probably better if you read my lips and translate.
JEREMY: Yeah, I can get like 80 percent of what you’re saying instead of 20 percent and a bunch of nonsense.
MEL: And I got enough of that to know the proper response is my favorite sign.
Jeremy laughs; it isn’t difficult to guess what gesture Mel is making.
TRINA: Can you guys not fight right now?
ANTHONY: Seriously. Focus.
Mel at least understands his exasperated expression.
MEL: Sorry. Punchy. Imminent death. Sara disappeared. I mean really disappeared. Couldn’t see her in the phone anymore.
ANTHONY: It was trying to separate us.
TRINA: Seems likely.
Kyle tugs on Trina’s arm, mouths, “What’s going on?”
TRINA: We have to find a way to see each other properly. My phone’s dying.
ANTHONY: Mine’s not much better. Ideas?
He finger-spells the last word for Mel.
MEL: A dumb one.
Everyone but Kyle looks at her expectantly.
MEL: If it’s trying to separate us . . . There are a bunch of doors. If we could see each other, we’d all pick the same one. The only way we’d go through different doors is if we weren’t together. So let’s all go through the same door, and maybe that’ll be enough.
JEREMY: I think I got most of that.
ANTHONY: I get what you’re saying. We should try it.
TRINA: Same door as Sara?
MEL: We should use the same door as Sara.
JEREMY: Yup, she’s got the same idea. Let’s move. Mel, grab . . .
He offers her his arm. Mel grabs hold. He grips Anthony’s other hand with his, leaving each of them one hand free for a phone. Trina puts a hand on Anthony’s shoulder, bringing up the rear with Kyle as Mel twists to train the camera on them briefly.
They trudge up the steps at an uneven, jerky gait, Mel nominally leading the way as she takes them to the door Sara disappeared through. She opens it with the hand holding the phone, takes a breath, and guides them all through.
The door slams shut behind them, leaving them in near darkness.
MEL: I can see you all again. It worked.
TRINA: Sara’s not here.
ANTHONY: Maybe she’s farther ahead.
JEREMY: Maybe—
??: Quiet.*