Work Text:
Griffin stagg:
It's January 15, 1970. I'm scared. A tall man with a scary face put me in this basement a few weeks ago and he told me he would give this to my parents.
Hi mom! Hi dad... I don't really know what to say....
I would say I missed my friends, but I don't really have anyone besides Billy Showalter. He's my best and only friend. If this gets to him, I want him to know I said hi and that I'm thinking of him. I kind of miss the little boy who says hi every morning too. It's the little things, you know?
I'm only 11. This man has done unthinkable things to me. I hate it here. I hate him.
He lied to me. He said he wouldn't do anything I didn't like. He's a lier.
I don't have enough paper on here to write more. I love you guys and I'm sorry I was too weak to stop this.
-Griffin Stagg
Billy Showalter:
It's June 26, 1972. I'm 13.
The tall man got me. He is the man that took Griffin.
You know what's fucked up?
He gave me the same note pad he gave Griffin. I read his letter. The tall man lied. (Again.) He never gave the letter to Griffin's parents.
I miss you Griff. You were my best friend too. I love you man. There wasn't a single day I didn't think of you. I hope you know that. There's a little boy name Finney Blake that noticed you were gone. Just to let you know.
I miss my mom and dad. I miss my friends, and I miss eating. I hate it here. It's dark and rusty. It smells bad and this mattress hurts.
I've been here for 9 days.
I want to go home.
I want to see the sun again.
I'm only allowed to write on one paper, so, I guess this is goodbye. I'm guessing this is the last proof of my living.
-Billy Showalter
Vance Hopper:
It's October of 1975.
I got hit by a van and then this scrawny ass man got me in said van and took me here.
This sucks ass.
Why am I the one here? Shouldn't it be someone worse? Am I that bad that I deserved to be taken?
This is all fucked up. You know? I saw the other two's letters. I feel bad. They were younger than me.
I'm 16 and got to live longer than these two. They seem more sentimental than I am. I've been here for 2 months.
These 2 months could have been me protecting the Blake kid. I'm sorry that he already lost 2 of them.
The scrawny pedo gave me this because he said he's getting tired of me trying to scream and break things.
I'm sure he won't see this and no one else will because I've made an escape plan.
I made a hole in the wall that's big enough for me to fit through. I'm going to escape before he gets down here.
This is a goodbye forever stupid notepad. Bye Billy. Bye Griffin.
-Vance Hopper
Bruce Yamada:
March 03, 1976.
I'm 15. I don't know what to say. I got grabbed. The man in these past few notes has an official name now. The Grabber.
I'm scared and miserable. I've been here for 13 days. Reading all of these, it seems that it's a pattern to not be here too long. Besides Vance that is.
I don't sleep on the mattress. It's full of blood stains. I think it's Vance's....
Vance is, no, was my friend.
He made me feel safe and now he's gone.
The boy that has been mentioned before in these letters... He's younger than me by 2 years. He is nice and we played baseball together.
I'm assuming this will be my last time "speaking". I love and miss my family. I'm sorry to the past victims and I'm sorry for Finn. He is now going to be missing 4 of us.
I'm sorry.
-Bruce Yamada
Robin Arellano:
May. 1976. I'm 14.
It's been 2 months since Bruce had been grabbed.
I'm surprised to see my best friend be spoken of in all of these letters.
The man took my bandana. He said that I was the second worst naught boy. He's disgusting and I've thrown up more times than I can count.
I hate it here and I miss my mom. I miss my uncle and Finn. I promised that I would protect Finn and then I go and get grabbed. What luck. I'm sorry that I can't protect you anymore Finney. I'm going to fight as much as I can. I hope you know I didn't go down without a fight. I also hope you never have to see this notepad on the newspaper. I know how sensitive you are.
I'm going to go see my dad now buddy.
-Robin Arellano
Finney Blake:
September 27, 1976.
It's been a few months since Robin has been taken.
I've been here the longest out of all of us.
Al said I'm his favorite. He sure doesn't show it. I've been here sometime since June. Only a month after Robin. It seems he didn't get to be here long.....
I wish I wasn't his favorite. I don't want to be here. I want to be with my sister Gwen. Al is being nice to me lately. I've been going upstairs and get to shower every other day. He says I'm too pretty for the basement.
He said I'm allowed to keep this and write as much as I want.
I guess being his favorite has some perks, but I feel shitty.
Why do I get this while everyone else had to do all of this without getting these little perks. If it weren't for these, I would have killed myself.
I herd the phone ring, but Albert cut the wire.
I've done things I don't want to speak or think about. I do need to say one thing though. This man has touched me. I am no longer pure. I have had things done to me and have done things too.
I'm scared and tired.
If I wrote in this before, I think it would have just been me saying I was suicidal.
But now.
Now I have a purpose.
A plan.
I will live.
I am going to keep living for the others.
I read all of their letters.
They all had me in it.
I feel like it all comes back to me.
I'll see you next time.
-Finney Blake
Hey.
It's me again.
It's now April of 1977.
I've been here since June of last year.
It's almost been a year.
My plan is going to work.
I'm 14 now, I feel smarter.
I miss everyone.
I've thought about joining them, but I need to get back to Gwen and to keep their deaths as not a waste.
I've met a man named Max.
Al killed him since he saw me.
I got in trouble for that.
Al is going to let me go out and about soon.
I'm going to visit Gwenny as soon as possible.
Al has an axe.
I'm scared of him still, but he's very kind to me.
I don't think I'll need to run from him.
He's better than my dad.
I'm content with living here as long as I get to see Gwen.
I think the others would be proud of how far I've come. I'm living my life again.
I hope to see Gwen soon!
-Finney Blake
Ok. July 11 1977.
WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING?!?!?!?
Al got into my head. He's been planting stuff into my brain and make me not hate him.
I now have access to the axe.
I think you know where this is going.
I strike at midnight.
This man is disgusting and I hate him.
He'll get what's coming for him tonight.
I'm sorry guys.
I love you all.
Griffin, Billy, Vance, Bruce, and Robin.
My beloved best friend Robin.
I miss you the most.
I'll get out of here soon and take care of you mom.
Though, I heard your Uncle is doing a fine job doing that already. :)
Ok, I don't think I'll ever see this house again, so, I'm going to say bye.
Bye guys.
I'll pass these on to your families. I love you.
-Finney Blake
"......" The officers were too stunned to speak.
"These boys went through so much..." The head officer said.
It's been 3 hours since Finney Blake was found outside of the police station with blood all over.
The boy was different from what he use to look like.
He was paler, skinnier, had longer hair, and had scars on his wrists and ankles, most likely from being restrained. The cuts had been old, but deep enough to where it's still present.
The horror these kids went through is something unthinkable.
"....Are you gonna be ok kid?"
"I need to go home to Gwen. She needs me. Please let me go to my sister."
"I'll call up your father, and then you can go home. The ambulance said you're fine besides some bruises and faded scars."
".....Ok...."
"You made it Finney Blake. :)" Griffin was hugging him, even if he couldn't feel it. He needed to hug the person who remembered him. At least once.....
"You did it Finney. You made it out. I'm glad that you helped settle Griff down. He was anxious before he read about you." Billy was standing behind Griffin, walking up besides the two and holding Griffin's hand. "It's time for us to go and for the rest to see him."
"Ok... Bye Finney." Griffin reluctantly let go of Finn and vanished.
"I'm proud of you Blake. Didn't think you had it in ya..... I'm gonna miss watching your snarky ass. Thank you for killing him." Vance patted Finney's head and vanished to the other boy's.
"Wow.... We're now gonna be the same age soon. I'm glad to be able to say that. I'm so so so proud of you Finn. Robin has been waiting for you. I better not keep him waiting. Bye bye Finn." Bruce let go of Finney's shoulder and vanished with a huge smile on his face. It was clear that he was proud of Finney and his progress.
"Finn..... This is Robin. I know you can't hear me, but I really need to talk to you. I'm proud of you Finn. I mean it. You got out of here when none of us could. You are truly a mystery Finney Blake. You can kill a grown man but can't tell 3 middle schoolers to stop bullying you. ...... I love you Finn.... I wish I had told you before I went." Robin had his lips pressed to Finn's forehead and slowly stepped back, taking all of Finney in. He was breathtaking. Even now. He could wait till Finn came back to him. He'll wait however long it takes.
"Bye Finn."
"Bye Robin." Finney whispered. He doesn't know why, but he had a sudden feeling that Robjn was leaving him for the time being.