From Tara, Again

Hey guys, this is Tara, again. Things are looking good on the illicit medical care front. Should be able to have her see someone tomorrow.

One of the comments asked "what the hell" I was thinking when making Smiley. Honestly...I don't think any of us thought it would work. Mostly we were just writing stories and doing terrible jobs doctoring images. Only one of us took it super seriously And I think she was doing...something else.

She was never terribly upfront about what she was doing, though. I don't know her real name, but she went by CarrionPrincess. We called her Cari for short. She kept talking about rituals and secrets. I wasn't too close with her. Will, WTRainbow was, but I can't get a hold of any of the old gang. I guess Jack's dead now, but, as for the others I have no idea where they are.

Cari was also one of the first ones to drop off the map. The last thing she said to anyone was that she had "seen something awful".

As for who Penny Balisong is, I'm not sure. Though I'm pretty sure it's a pseudonym (given that her last name is essentially butterfly knife). My best guess, actually, would be that she's Cari. She always kind of had a trolling streak, after all.

That's all I can really think of for now. I should probably get going because Jeanette is looking super annoyed at me.

Tara, out.

Hey Guys

This is Tara. Jeanette's asleep in my bunk bed at the moment.

As I'm not quite comfortable sleeping in my roommate's bunk while she's out getting plastered, I'm failing to sleep in my computer chair. I don't think Jeanette'll mind me posting on her blog.

Well, scratch that, she'll definitely mind, but forgiveness is easier than permission. Also there are some thing Miss Stoic hasn't told you that I think you should know.

When she got here, she was running a pretty high fever. I think something in her arm is infected. She refuses to go to a hospital, though. I might be able to get her some treatment on the down-low through the student network, but even if that does work, there's a chance she's pretty seriously ill, not to mention injured.

I'd say I'm not sure how she's been walking and stabbing and typing lucidly the past few days, but this is Jeanette I'm talking about. Basically, everything she's told you about herself? She's much more awesome than that.

It really is good seeing her. I was worried. She hasn't really said it, but she didn't even leave a note when she left. She just kind of vanished off the face of the earth a few days after she got out of the hospital.

I think she thinks it's "safer for everyone" that way. Pro tip: when Jeanette says something is "safer for everyone", she means "safer for Tara". She has it in her head that I'm a delicate flower who needs coddled. While I'm not the strongest person I know (I bet you can guess who is), I'm stronger than she gives me credit for. Especially after I almost literally stared death in His face.

And I think she needs me. I've read her posts. I know the stuff she's going through, and I'd be willing to quit school to go with her. Me and my blood sister against the world. But I know she'd outpace me, sneak off without me noticing, Just to keep me safe.

Oh well. I guess she's not the only one who can ramble. Anyway, if responses from her are slow for the next few days, it's because I've managed to get her under-the-table medical care. Possibly against her will.

Tara, out.

No Luck

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 5:13, 45, 6:12, AND 6:30 AM

PART THE FIRST

I can't get ahold of Tara.

She's in police protection. Heavy protection. It won't work. They won't let me see her. My only friend. My doomed friend.

I need to talk to her.

I can forgive her, for helping make the Smiling Man. She couldn't have known it would work.

But I need to protect her. Maybe...I can have it come after me instead. Distract it. Piss it off somehow.

I'd do anything to save her. She's the sister I never had. She's the only person who's ever given a damn about me.

PART THE SECOND

Maybe I should try to find Him.

Go looking for it. Go looking for trouble.

He has to take his victims somewhere. While they're being tortured. For whatever reason He tortures them.

I don't think even He knows. He just does it. I don't think He even cares that He doesn't know. I don't think He can care.

I don't know what He does with the hearts. I don't think I want to know.

Sometimes I tell myself He eats them. It's a nice, clean, simple answer.

But I know that's not the truth. I'm pretty sure the truth is a Whole Lot Worse.

PART THE THIRD

I found my Dad's Colt Anaconda.

I don't think he'll miss it.

PART THE FOURTH

Assuming He has to be somewhere in town...there aren't too many places Smiley can hide.

Town isn't too big.

I still have time before Tara is taken.

I still have time to stop the Smiling Man.

If He can be stopped.

I Will Stop Him.

And He Will Fear Me.

So long as I Am Alive.

URRRG

"You should tape your chest down. People will think you're a slut."

"I just have your best interests in mind."

"If you keep wearing pants and t-shirts like that people will think you're a lesbian."

"Don't slouch."

"I just don't want you to end up like your mother, pregnant, married to a drunken lowlife and living in a sty before you finish highschool."

"Don't you roll your eyes at me, missy. You can just forget about dinner and maybe if you're lucky I won't return all your presents in the morning."

Gee Gran, I love you too.

Please save me from this nightmare.

~~ Transcribed over the phone by Tara at Jeanette's request