The following is the entire contents of a flash drive marked ‘23’, discovered in a warehouse that was seemingly the target of arson in the American southeast. Sources claim that this warehouse was briefly used for a few weeks by an unidentified but highly organized group exhibiting a martial authority, just several months before urban explorers discovered the device among charred remains of several unsalvageable drives.
April 4th 2021
[REDACTED] National Forest – 1.089 square miles
A text message exchange between Dawaun Robinson [DECEASED] and Abigail Bayer [STATUS UNKNOWN], morning.
Dawaun: U working today?
Abigail: yes im here now
D: Can u check the sched for me -an emoji of hands clasped in prayer was included-
D: PLEASE -an emoji of a face crying was included-
A: an image containing the entire week’s employee schedule for a gas station was sent
D: oh fuck no I quit -an emoji of a woman flipping her hair with her hand was included-
A: lmao same
D: Have you talked to J today
A: yeah he said you guys were going to the hills tomorrow. I have to work
D: Call in sick bro -an emoji of a shrugging man was included-
A: i cant i literally JUST paid rent and id like to eat this week
D: More loud for us then -an emoji of a face laughing to the point of tears was included-
April 5th 2021
[REDACTED] National Forest – 1.243 square miles
A relevant social media post by Dawaun Robinson [DECEASED], mid morning.
Dawaun: J and me are going to the hiiiiiilllllllllls if anyone wants to kick it, u know what we’re doin -an emoji of three leaves blowing in the wind was included-
A phone call from Roman Julienne [DECEASED] to Abigail Bayer [STATUS UNKNOWN] was placed that lasted for two minutes and thirty-four seconds, mid morning. Topics discussed, unknown.
A text message exchange between Abigail Bayer [STATUS UNKNOWN] and Roman Julienne [DECEASED], mid afternoon.
Abigail: hey, Dom just closed the store because the diesel guy didnt show up again. can i still go with yall
A: ??
A: do yall want to meet up when your back
Roman: Sorry, we just got back in the area. I didn’t have service in the hills
R: You can meet us at the mall if you want?
April 6th 2021
[REDACTED] National Forest – 1.601 square miles
A text message exchange between Abigail Bayer [STATUS UNKNOWN] and Roman Julienne [DECEASED], early morning.
Roman: Hey what’s up
R: Abs I’m sorry come on. I feel like shit, I’m serious
R: Come onnnnn
R: Abs
R: Did you get home okay?
Abigail: im fine
R: Okay, good
R: Idk why I feel so sick all of a sudden. I’m sorry
A: ok
A: ill see you at work
April 7th 2021
[REDACTED] National Forest – 1.668 square miles
A possibly relevant social media post by Abigail Bayer [STATUS UNKNOWN], afternoon.
Abigail: sometimes you can be addicted to things that arent drugs. sometimes you try something bad for you over and over again even tho it always lets you down
April 8th 2021, [REDACTED] National Forest – Approaching 2 square miles
A text message correspondence was sent from Abigail Bayer [STATUS UNKNOWN] to Dawaun Robinson [DECEASED], after several phone calls went unanswered, afternoon.
Abigail: dude are you fuckin kidding me? its 4
A: your really gonna make me work a double so you can ‘call in sick’ and smoke weed? be fr right now dude
A: dont ever ask me for a fucking favor again i am so done with being used
A: yall are probly together right now huh?
A: is he really that fuckin mad at me
A: your a bitch FUCK YOU
A text message exchange between Abigail Bayer [STATUS UNKNOWN] and Roman Julienne [DECEASED], evening.
Abigail: tell your little friend i said fuck you
A: im so over this shit. you coulda just said no
Roman: Wdym
A: i know yall are trying to fuck me over. because of the other night
R: Who?
A: are you seriouslt that faded dude YOU AND D
R: Abs I’m at home alone rn. I think I’m really sick
A: then where is D im half into his shift and he didnt show up or even call
R: Idk I haven’t seen him since he dropped me off. I tried calling him a bunch of times but he wont pick up
R: I need a ride to the hospital or somethin and he won’t answer. I’m really sick
A: whats wrong?
R: It’s hard to breathe and it hurts to bend my arms and legs. I keep coughing up little white things
A: do you have a fever
R: Idk
A: i dont have the car sorry. my mom took it to go to her bfs cabin yesterday and i havent heard from her. i dont think she has service
R: That’s okay. Sorry. Tell D to hit me if he shows up
A: ok.
April 9th 2021
[REDACTED] National Forest – 3.009 square miles
A relevant social media post by Dawaun Robinson [DECEASED], early morning.
Dawaun: I am going hiking today I think friends should come with me as many friends as possible so we can reconnect with nature the forest is so beautiful and growing
A text message exchange between Dawaun Robinson [DECEASED] and Abigail Bayer [STATUS UNKNOWN], morning.
Dawaun: Abigail Bayer you should go with me today to the forest and the hills it will be so much fun and you will like it so much
D: Abigail do you hear the sound of the forest calling to you like it calls to me it will feel so good if you answer it I promise
Abigail: dude wtf?
A: you fuckin ghost me at work and then wake me up for this shit wtf is wrong w you
D: I just want you to go to the woods with me Abigail so much I know you will like it
D: I can pick you up in my car soon
A: bro where tf were you yesterday? why are you being so fucking weird
D: I was sick but I feel so good now and you will too if you come with me I promise
A: wdym make me feel good??? why are you talking to me like that
A: you know i like J.
D: Yes Roman Julienne will come with us we will all go together he is sick now but soon he will feel good
A: dude stop calling me. you are being so fucking weird. and after what you did yesterday you can fuck off
D: Please come with me
D: Please come with me
D: Please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please Abigail please Abigail please Abigail please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me it is so hungry please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me it is so hungry please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me please come with me
A text message correspondence was sent from Roman Julienne [DECEASED] to Dawaun Robinson [DECEASED], after several phone calls went unanswered, morning.
Roman: Bro D where are you?
R: I got my sister’s car bro idk where she is
R: Yo pick up man I think I need help
R: I just saw your tweet. Wtf are you doing
R: Your location is still on mf I’m getting you then we’re going to the doctor
An attempt was made following this interaction to send several photographs from Dawaun Robinson [DECEASED] to both Abigail Bayer [STATUS UNKNOWN] and Roman Julienne [DECEASED]. The photographs were all varying degrees of blurriness and most of them were incomprehensible. However, several of the photographs appeared to be what can only be described as ‘fields’ of humanoids laying on their backs. Tall, slender saplings were seen rising out of the mouths and/or chests of the individuals, some with their faces and/or torso completely split apart into scraps to accommodate the width of the trunk coming forth from the body. The lower half of most of the bodies can be described as ‘deflated’ in appearance. One close-up image depicted the ‘roots system’ of the saplings, a network of thousands of white threads emerging from the trunk base and either winding down into the exit puncture or reaching out errant strands to anchor into the nearby surface flesh. A final photograph was taken by Dawaun Robinson [DECEASED], wherein he pointed the camera towards his own face. Hundreds, if not thousands, of tiny white threads appeared to be protruding from his mouth and curling around his lips. Dawaun Robinson [DECEASED] was smiling in his final photograph. Due to the lack of cellphone service in [REDACTED] National Forest, the images were not transmitted to the intended recipients.
A text message exchange between Roman Julienne [DECEASED] and Abigail Bayer [STATUS UNKNOWN], morning.
Roman: Abigail I am going to Dawaun you should go with me
R: Abigail I want you with me
Abigail: you want me?
R: Yes I want you to go with me so much
A: you didnt want me before
R: I am sorry that I rushed away after you kissed me it is because I was not feeling well and now I am better but it is very important that you join me I need you to be here with me
A: ok
A: where are you
R: I am going to Dawaun in the hills I can not turn back now you have to come to me I need you
A: i saw a bunch of trucks going that way that said DUMC what is going on
A: hello?
A: okay someone just stopped for gas and said hes going to [REDACTED] and i asked for a ride. im coming
A: will you meet me at the map sign?
A: J?
No further correspondence took place between the individuals in Exhibit 23. Shortly after communication ceased, Abigail Bayer [STATUS UNKNOWN] attempted to place several calls to 911, which were rerouted to the Department of Unidentified Crisis Management. These recorded calls have been expunged, per instruction. The remains of Unit 1 in Exhibit 23 have yet to be located.