Sunbather

This story is placed under my authorship, though technically I did not write the following words and was merely the person who found them. On the thirteenth of August my girlfriend and I went for a day trip to Creswell Crags, a limestone gorge on the edge of Nottinghamshire that is home to a multitude of accessible caves that once housed primitive humans some 10,000 years ago. We’d decided to visit as a recent discovery of apotropaic marks, ancient markings used to “turn away” evil, was being showcased to the public. When we arrived, we noticed a car parked on a strange angle, somewhat hidden by overgrowth with smashed windows. Catherine didn’t want to inspect it further and a part of me wishes that I had listened. The car itself was completely empty, except for the notebook placed on the front passenger seat. Catherine wanted to leave it there but I’ve always been super curious and I hoped to unearth some great mystery, like in a video game or adventure film, so I took it. I have edited where appropriate but have not changed the essence of the story. The details within are as they were written in the notebook when it was found; I’ve merely added a little artistic flair to pad out what was essentially scribbled shorthand to make it a flowing narrative. The title Sunbather was written on the first page of the notebook. The only thing I can find a connection with is that Sunbather is the title of an album by an American Black Metal band named Deafheaven, and this story begins at a Black Metal concert. I have reached out to the band and they kindly replied, assuring me that the details of the notebook I found had nothing to do with them or their music. There’s that stupid cliché of curiosity killed the cat, or be careful what you wish for, but the obsession I’ve had with this notebook has become a huge detriment to my life. It has almost destroyed my social life, my work and my relationship. This is why I’m finally releasing this story; I can’t just let it go but I can’t keep tumbling down this rabbit hole alone.I’m hoping that by putting it out there someone will be able to solve what I have yet been unable to.

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