Peripherals

by electreXcessive

Peripherals

If you’re viewing this... I... I’ve been trapped in here for nearly a week. It’s been nearly a week since I’ve seen the outside, and I can’t take it anymore! They’re everywhere; they’re everywhere, and now they’re coming for me. I... I have to leave a warning, for you; a warning for whatever God-forsaken soul is unlucky enough to see this. I suppose that I should probably start at the beginning, so that you know what happened and such.

*Snap*

Have to hurry... Have to hurry. They’re trying to find a way into my home, and I can’t hold them off forever. They’re coming to kill me. They know, that I know; I know what they are. I know why they’re here. They are predators, and if I know what they are... If I can warn everybody, they won’t be able to get food anymore. You have to prepare yourself though. You have to be ready to warn everypony, because once they know that you know, they’ll come for you too.

Well... I... I suppose I should get started. I’m a... Well I used to be a normal mare up until a few days ago. Just a normal pony, living a normal life, with normal friends. I live quite a ways outside of town, so I don’t really have a lot of contact with other ponies unless they come to visit me. I... I guess that’s why they chose me. Name’s Screw Loose, by the way. Just thought I’d throw that out there... At least somepony will remember my name.

Like I said, it all started last week. On my birthday in fact. Heh. Isn’t that ironic? That my life gets ruined on the one day of the year that I’m supposed to have a good time? The one day that I’m surrounded by my friends and loved ones is the last that I’ll ever see of them... It was a great day if you’re wondering actually. Guess that sort of makes me happy... That their last memories will be of a happy me. Not of this terrified pony that I am now; this defeated being that I call myself.

It all started after the party. We’d all had a great time together, average party stuff. You know, drinks, games, dancing and all that jazz. Pinkie Pie knows her stuff. Everybody was headed home after all of that intense partying, and it was pretty late at night. One of my best friends had gotten me a new video recording device for my birthday. You know, those new things that use magic to capture videos so that you can watch them later?

I mean, don’t get me wrong, I was grateful for all of the other presents, but this one? This one was something else. I’ll tell you, I had never been more excited for anything in my life. I just wanted to test it out... Oh Celestia, all I wanted was to test it out, to have a little fun.

*Tap*

Hah! You’re not getting in that way you monsters! I boarded up the windows! How stupid do you think I am? Right, the story. I have to hurry... They’ll be finding a way in any minute. Where did I leave off? No, no. Just skip that part. Skip ahead to the important details. We can’t be rambling right now; there’s not enough time...

It all started when I walked out into the forest to test out my new camera, and just to get a bit of fresh air. It can get a bit stuffy in here sometimes, and it was the perfect time for me to go check out how my new toy worked. Celestia... I wished I had never gone out on that damn walk!

Everything started off normal enough, just the normal stuff. A few birds here and there, and a squirrel or two running around and gathering up nuts for their homes. I was just waving my camera around, checking everything that I could find. I was like a foal in a candy store; every single thing that I saw through that lens filled me with a sense of wonder. And then I saw something.

It was subtle; just a different coloration in the trees on the very edge of the screen. It wasn’t moving, and there was nothing really special about it. Somehow though, I felt that feeling... That damn, dreaded feeling. You know the one that you get when you feel like someone’s watching you? You feel it sometimes, even though you know that you are completely alone.

I just felt like I had to get out of there, like I was in some kind of danger. I know what you’re thinking... How crazy right? That I was just being paranoid? It was completely real; I should have never gone home that night... I should have just stayed out there and let them get me. Would have saved me a lot of trouble.

After that everything was normal for about... Oh, I’d say a day. Then, all of a sudden one night, I heard a... slithering sound and a loud crunch. Like someone was walking around outside my house. I made my way out of my house and began to look around. It was just a dark night in the forest like normal; I just thought that somepony was trespassing or coming to pay me an unexpected visit, which I really wouldn’t have minded.

*Crack*

No no no no no! What was that? I know that I boarded everything up as tight as I could. They can’t be breaking in already! No, I have to hurry. I have to let you know!

I saw... I saw one. Outside, in the corner of my vision, I saw one of them. I turned quickly to see what it was, but no matter where I turned, it always stayed at the very edge of my vision. It just stood there watching me... Watching me turn and try to catch it... Like it was mocking me. It probably was for all I know.

I got the distinct feeling, that I shouldn’t turn my back on it; that if I did, something terrible would happen to me. I spent that whole night awake... Just trying to get some rest with all of those noises outside. I haven’t gotten any sleep since that first day you know... Not a wink. I can’t, or I’m afraid that they’ll get me.

The... The next day I decided that I would try to see what it was. I placed the camera in the corner of my house, and just sat out on my porch and waited. Just waited for it to show itself again. Sure enough, after a few hours, it showed up again. Thinking quickly, I grabbed my camera and ran back inside to take a look. I wish... I wish so badly that I hadn’t done that.

There was... something, at the very edge of the camera. I... I can’t describe the horror that I saw in that frame. That ghastly abomination... After that... After that I knew that I couldn’t go outside again. It wasn’t safe! Maybe... Maybe I should have gone to get help. Should have just taken my chances and bolted as fast as I could. Maybe I could have gotten out of this whole mess.

I boarded up my house with everything I could find and blockaded all of the doors. It’s taking it’s toll on me; I can’t eat, I haven’t been able to sleep. For three days I’ve been backed up against this wall, just watching the door for them. We’ve seen each other a few time since that first encounter. I know that they’re waiting for something... But they’re making their move soon, I can sense it.

I know what they are now though. That’s why I’m recording this; to tell you. You know that feeling? That damn feeling that you get when you’re alone, the one where you feel that somepony is watching you, even though nopony else is around? That’s because something is there. Waiting on the edge of your vision, watching you to see if you would make a good meal. To see if you would make an easy meal.

You never notice them; they know how to avoid your sight. But I have seen them... That is why they are coming for me. They know that I’m alone, and that nopony is coming to save me. I’m trapped. You though... You can warn everypony.

*knock*

They’re trying to get into the front door! It’s time! I have to finish this; to tell you everything. As long as the front door is still closed, then I still have time. I still have time... But I’m so tired...

*knock*

No! NO! The truth is that they’re everywhere. You are never safe when you are alone; in fact, you are never truly alone. They are always on the outskirts, in your peripherals, watching and waiting. Waiting for you to slip up like I did. They wait for you to trap yourself and make it easy for them. You can’t let them do that to you. You can’t let them.

*knock*

Oh... That sound is so nice... So tired... I can’t... I can’t keep this up anymore. I can’t stay awake any longer; it’s too hard... Maybe if I just close my eyes for a second. If I just take a quick rest, then I can gather enough energy to get out of here. To try and make my escape! Yes... A quick rest. Just a little wink. Just close my eyes for a few moments, and everything will be fine. I’ll find a way out of this...

*Crash*

Comments

[Flint Sparks]

the incredible Flint Sparks.

the incredible

Oh you.

[Bad_Seed_72]

We’ve seen each other a few time

*few times

Hm... this one is interesting. Considering what happened to Screw Loose in the canon--at least from what we can infer--I'd say this is more of a psychological trip than a horror story. Good nonetheless.

[ya5la]

Wow!

[Twi-Guy]

A few things here. You made it clear that we were going to be told what they were and why they were in the beginning but you never got around to telling
us. I could see what you were trying to do and while this would probably be a good first time horror story... let's just say I've been desensitized. Yep, shooting zombies two hours a day everyday for months on end tend to do that to you. Well, maybe not that extreme but you get my point. Won't dislike, but it the things up there needed to be explained a little more for me and for that I can't "like" this which isn't to say that I didn't enjoy it. Sorry sugar cube.

[Rinnaul]

Hm. Very nice concept, lacking in execution. I think that has less to do with your actual writing than it does the way you presented it. I get you were going for the H.P. Lovecraft "author is narrating his own demise" trope, and that generally requires a first-person narrative, but in this case we're supposedly seeing a video recording. It probably would have had more impact had you gone with third-person and just described exactly what is seen on the tape - Screw Loose huddled in a corner; exhausted, frightened, and desperately trying to explain what's happening to her. As it is, her manic, disjointed voice disrupts the atmosphere more than establishes it.

Which is unfortunate, as the things that are after her are wonderful paranoia fuel for us naturally-paranoid loner types.

Also, have a Doctor Who quote that you reminded me of: "Exactly where you don't want to look, where you never want to look. The corner of your eye. Look behind you."

[Rinnaul]

And now that idea is stuck in my head. Would either you or 3376514 object at all to me doing my own take on this particular setup?

[electreXcessive]

3561886
Not at all, my friend! I'm always up for somebody doing their own interpretation of one of my ideas! You'll probably do it much better as well. To be honest, this story was written long ago, but I sort of wanted to keep it in the state it was at while I was inexperienced still to kind of allow me to keep perspective/stay humble. If that makes any sense (>_>)

[electreXcessive]

3561886
I will ask you, however, to link me when you've finished the story so that I can read it.

[nerdysweaters]

I love the idea of this story so very much >v< You and Flint Sparks make a good team.
If you don't mind, I'd really love to write a horror story based off of this story. I intend to ask Rinnaul if I have their permission as well since my story is also very much based off their version of this story. You see, one of my friends wants me to write a horror story for them to read in front of their class for some sort of assignment and I just so happened to stumble across this story and it gave me an idea for a plot involving the creatures in this story and video recordings as well haha. I can tell you the plot I have if you can drop me a message or something since it would probably take up too much space on this comment. ^^ What I'm trying to say is, do I have you or Flint Sparks' permission to write my own horror story based off of the creatures in this one? (It won't be an mlp fiction for your information) I'd love it if you could give me a reply asap!

[Thomasfactoryuntold]

What creatures was screwloose chased by, and what mythology or legend are thoes creatures from?

[lochbessie]

9404523
Its not based off of but it is super similar to both these SCPs
SCP-372 - SCP Foundation (scpwiki.com)
SCP-303 - SCP Foundation (scpwiki.com)

[TheOneAJ]