📋 INITIAL REPORT
A pair of hikers had been discovered dead in Wilkes County, North Carolina, under circumstances that local authorities could not explain.
Sheriff Karen DuBose specifically requested our assistance due to our established reputation for handling such situations without attracting media attention or causing public panic. The case involved advanced and accelerated decomposition that defied normal biological processes.
Investigator 89 conducted preliminary research into local mountain folklore, paranormal activity, and occult practices in the area, but found no significant historical precedents for such phenomena.
👁️ WITNESS TESTIMONIES
"I've been sheriff here for twelve years, and I've never seen anything like this. Edgar and Marget were alive two days ago - I have multiple witnesses who saw them hiking. But looking at those bodies... they look like they've been dead for months. The clothes are still fresh, but the bodies are nearly skeletal. Something's not right here."
"We've all been getting these terrible headaches lately. There's something in the air - like spores or something. It's not normal. The air feels thick, and some of us have been having trouble breathing. We thought it was heat stroke at first, but it's been happening even in the cooler parts of the day."
🔍 BUREAU INVESTIGATION
Upon arrival at the scene, our team immediately began systematic analysis of the area. Investigator 13 approached the bodies and was able to confirm that the deaths occurred within the last 48 hours, despite the advanced state of decomposition.
Victims: Edgar and Marget (couple from Maryland)
Time of Death: Within last 48 hours (confirmed by Investigator 13)
Decomposition State: Advanced skeletal remains
Clothing Condition: Appears relatively fresh/new
Environmental Notes: No visible tracks leading away from campsite
Investigator 51 discovered a field notebook at the campsite. The only legible text on the bookmarked page contained three ominous words: "the ground breathes".
Field Notebook: Belonging to victims
Key Phrase: "the ground breathes"
Additional Notes: Page appears to be bookmarked intentionally
Condition: Other pages appear damaged or illegible
Investigator 51 also collected samples of unusual mycelial growth that appeared out of place in the environment. Investigator 07 noted a large, suspicious knoll with ground that appeared unusually soft and squishy.
Mycelial Sample: Collected by Investigator 51
Location: Near victim campsite
Characteristics: Unusual growth pattern, appears out of place
Analysis Status: Pending laboratory examination
Further investigation near the knoll revealed a hole in the ground venting an unidentified funky smell, with visible footprints around the area.
⚠️ BIOLOGICAL ANOMALIES
The most disturbing aspect of this case is the complete disconnect between the victims' clothing condition and their bodily decomposition. This suggests a phenomenon that affects organic matter selectively, potentially indicating some form of biological or supernatural contamination.
Clothing: Minimal aging, appears recently worn
Bodies: Advanced skeletal decomposition
Time Discrepancy: Impossible under normal biological processes
Hypothesis: Targeted organic matter decomposition
The presence of unusual mycelial growth and the venting hole near the knoll suggests potential underground activity or contamination source. The phrase "the ground breathes" from the victims' notebook may be a literal description of what they observed.
🕳️ DESCENT INTO THE KNOLL
The team decided to investigate the venting hole more thoroughly. Investigators 66, 51, and 07 descended into the knoll while Investigators 89 and 13 maintained position at the surface for safety protocols.
Initial exploration revealed extensive fungal growth throughout the underground cavity. However, conditions rapidly deteriorated when structural integrity became compromised.
Team Members: Investigators 66, 51, 07 (descent) / Investigators 89, 13 (surface)
Initial Findings: Extensive fungal network
Incident: Partial tunnel collapse
Resolution: Team evacuated through alternate exit
All team members successfully evacuated and regrouped. The decision was made to return to the nearby town of Echo Hills for decontamination and evidence analysis.
🔬 EVIDENCE ANALYSIS - ECHO HILLS
Upon returning to Echo Hills, still covered in dirt and fungal spores, the team began analyzing collected samples and conducting additional research.
Microscopic examination of fungal samples revealed a disturbing perceptual anomaly. Visual inspection indicated fungal tissue, but microscopic analysis revealed the sample was actually wood. This discrepancy suggests either:
1. Advanced mimicry by unknown organism
2. Perceptual manipulation affecting human observation
3. Hallucinogenic properties of airborne spores
Review of Sheriff's Department case files revealed temporal anomalies. Files appeared to be copies of copies with altered dates. Most disturbing: discovery of an academic paper in Investigator 89's own handwriting, dated five years in the future.
At the medical examiner's office, Investigator 13 discovered his own autopsy report among the victim documentation. Cause and date of death: [REDACTED].
⚠️ MASS HALLUCINOGENIC EPISODE
All team members began experiencing severe perceptual distortions consistent with fungal spore exposure:
"Observed the same vehicle pass multiple times playing 'Achy Breaky Heart' on repeat. Witnessed gas pump morph into fungal stalk before reverting. Heard military-grade radio equipment broadcasting my name. No radio equipment was present at location."
"Strong bleach odor in motel bathroom. Walls appeared to bulge inward as if collapsing. Structural inspection showed no actual deformation."
"Experienced nausea during records review. Sheriff DuBose's face briefly appeared to melt into pale fungal flesh before resetting to normal appearance."
⚠️ CONTAMINATION CONFIRMED ⚠️
All team members exhibiting symptoms consistent with airborne hallucinogenic spore exposure. Shared delusions suggest collective psychological manipulation or telepathic fungal network influence.
🌲 THE AWAKENING
The team simultaneously "awakened" from what appeared to be a shared hallucinogenic state. Investigators 66, 51, and 07 found themselves still trapped underground in the fungal cavity, entangled in roots and dirt.
Location: Underground fungal cavity
Status: Investigators 66, 51, 07 entangled in fungal roots
Discovery: Multiple additional bodies and skeletal remains visible throughout the cavity
Implication: Previous victims - extent of casualties unknown
After freeing themselves and climbing to the surface, the team made a final disturbing discovery.
👁️ REALITY DISTORTION
Upon reaching the surface, the glade appeared completely transformed:
- The venting hole had vanished
- Sheriff's cruiser was absent
- All crime scene tape and markers were gone
- The area appeared untouched, as if abandoned for years
- No evidence remained of any recent investigative activity
⚠️ TEMPORAL/REALITY ANOMALY DETECTED ⚠️
The investigation team experienced either:
1. Temporal displacement (moved forward/backward in time)
2. Alternate reality bleeding (dimensional shift)
3. Total perceptual manipulation by unknown entity
4. Prophetic vision of future events
Faced with the impossibility of documenting or explaining these events through conventional channels, the team was forced to make a difficult decision regarding official reporting protocols.
📊 INVESTIGATION CONCLUSION
This case represents an unprecedented reality-warping phenomenon involving biological, temporal, and perceptual anomalies. The fungal organism demonstrates capabilities that defy conventional understanding:
- Accelerated Decomposition: Selective organic matter breakdown
- Hallucinogenic Spores: Shared delusions and perceptual manipulation
- Temporal Anomalies: Documents from non-existent futures
- Reality Distortion: Physical environment alteration or time displacement
- Predatory Behavior: Multiple victims trapped and consumed
OFFICIAL REPORT: Investigation suspended due to lack of physical evidence
ACTUAL STATUS: Reality-warping biological entity - containment unknown
THREAT LEVEL: CRITICAL - REALITY MANIPULATION
INVESTIGATOR NOTES: All team members experienced shared temporal/perceptual anomaly
CLEARANCE REQUIRED: LEVEL 5 - REALITY HAZARD
LOCATION STATUS: Avoid Wilkes County fungal zones -Entity may still be active
⚠️ FINAL WARNING ⚠️
The team cannot confirm whether they successfully escaped the entity's influence or remain trapped in a persistent hallucination. The disappearance of all physical evidence suggests either temporal displacement or ongoing perceptual manipulation. Return to site NOT RECOMMENDED.