me," Paronis growled as he rose up out of the water, now towering over me at almost nine feet tall. "The question now is can you stop yourself?"

The monster leaned over to where we were face-to-face, water dripping off its yellow reptilian skin. Its exhale blew my hair backwards, and my heart pounded as I saw my adult reflection in its shiny black eyes. Its eyelids narrowed into a glare, and my own eyes glowed blue in terror. My friend that I'd known for over three hundred years was gone forever-and replacing him was this evil creature that had killed at least a thousand of our people before it was stopped.

"I am not you, Paronis!" I shouted at the monster's face, angry at my own subconscious. "You hear me? I'm never going to be like you!"

The monster rose up, and for a moment it just looked down at me without making a sound. Then it smirked, and I realized it wasn't Paronis inside it anymore.

The monster was me.

Introduction by Matthew Verin

In my position, I've dealt with monsters before-but they were always of the human variety. Last month, I met something that was not human. It acted like one-and under other circumstances he probably would have fooled me just like he has everyone else on the planet.

I've tried to track him, but he's learned how to cover his tracks now and destroyed all the previous evidence I had of his existence. This thing is intelligent-clever-and I have no idea what it really is or what it wants. All I know is that I have to try to stop it before it kills againbut if you're reading this, it means I failed.

I hope one day you'll forgive me and understand. I love you, Ashley-and I'm sorry my obsession over this has hurt you and the boys so much. That was never my intention-I just didn't know what else to do.

Tyler and Will-I'm so proud of both of you, and I love you. Take care of your mother, and be careful who you trustI don't mean to scare you, but this thing may come back to Washington. After everything that's happened, I'm sorry I'm not going to leave you both a better legacy than what's going to seem like the rants of an insane man.

If you are someone who has the ability to do something about this, here is what I've learned over the past twenty-four days:

1) You are looking for what appears to be a human male between the ages of 17-22. He uses the same first names often-Jernard, Jerry, and Simon. The last name always matches someone in the surrounding neighborhood or community that people know and trust. This gives him credibility as most people just assume they're related.

2) Although he will act inept and vulnerable at times, he does this for a reason-so you will let your guard down. Do not trust anything he says to you.

3) Bullets will not kill him. Running him over with a truck will not kill him. At this point, I don't know if

I have to go. It's here.

Hand-written letter by Detective Matthew Verin, found in his abandoned car on October 14th, 1999just under 114 years before the official contact date with the Hannarians. Verin was never found, and no body was ever recovered.

Learn more about this author, Patricia Gilliam.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

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