The Laminated Pages of the Hidden
To my idol, Charles Darwin.
The Book of the Hidden
Page 1 of 50
What are the Hidden?
The Hidden are beasts invisible to the human eye. They are everywhere, feeding on the many souls of humans. Nobody knows when they got here. Today, undesired suffering is everywhere.
Many of the Hidden have been extensively studied, including their anatomy. They are most prevalent in Third-World countries, but generally, the most long-living Hidden are only found in the First-World countries.
Tip: You can stop a Hidden temporarily by laughing.
Page 2 of 50
The couch potato, photographed in 2008 at a house in Oklahoma City.
One of the Hidden, the Couch Potato, is a beast that lies in any home of a stressed person - it feeds on the happiness of the owner. It is lazy, and always uses the couch as its own home and feeding trap.
Couch Potatoes can only be spotted with a special camera that reveals the Hidden. It can spot ectoplasm (ghost material) through an unknown process.
If you are feeling more sad than usual while on the couch, you may have a Couch Potato!
For the camera, call this phone number: 001-856-765-100
If you wish to get rid of your Couch Potato, call this Hidden exterminator: 001-858-700-100
Page 3 of 50
The roomfeeder, photographed in a house in 2009.
The roomfeeder is a Hidden that feeds on the room's structural integrity and state. Buildings infested with Roomfeeders may be more prone to structural failures and accidents. When feeding, it will extrude a reddish liquid on patches of its skin. This reddish liquid has Hidden enzymes in it that dissolve building materials slowly into food for the Roomfeeder.
If your building is prone to failures and structural accidents, you may have a Roomfeeder!
Roomfeeders can only be spotted with a special camera that reveals the Hidden. It can spot ectoplasm (ghost material) through an unknown process.
For the camera, call this phone number: 001-856-765-100
If you wish to get rid of your Roomfeeder, call this Hidden exterminator: 001-858-700-100
Page 4 of 50
This page will not be on a specific Hidden, but rather will be a written transcript of a discussion between Hiddenologists.
Without further ado, here it is.
So, what have you heard about that new finding on the link between Hidden and ectoplasm trucks in Three Portlands?
Well, the study said that over 50% of all ectoplasm trucks are nurseries for infant Hidden, where Hidden such as Roomfeeders travel and lay eggs in the truck's ectoplasm. After that, the Hidden hatch from their eggs and begin adding mass to their own bodies by feeding on the ectoplasm.
We are looking for new technologies to prevent this, of course. We don't want new Hidden popping out everywhere, right?
Yeah.
So, um. What are you working on right now?
Oh, nothing much. The University of Alexlyva wanted me to teach Hiddenology there, but I'm really undecided on it. Should I travel through a Way to a parallel universe where the Romans never collapsed? Heh…
I guess, it's really on you. You could like, do pros and cons to help you with your decision.
Mhm.
Note: After several days of consideration, he decided to teach at the University of Alexyva for a full student year. He has not died, heh.
Page 5 of 50
A dreamfeeder attached to a old senior in a nursing home. Photographed in 2017
Dreamfeeders are one of the worst, horrible and depraved Hidden. They usually prey on the senile and young, replacing potential dreams with nightmares. Dreamfeeders have two tentacles that they attach to a victim's head and extrude enzymes which extract dreams and modify them.
Dreamfeeders are also potential causes for night terrors and things related to frequent nightmares.
If you suspect you or a person is being affected by a Dreamfeeder, call this Hidden exterminator: 001-858-700-100.
For the camera, call this phone number: 001-856-765-100.
Page 6 of 50
This page will cover a dissection of a Hidden in 2016 (presumed to be a couch potato).
Dr. Devin Meyer, the head surgeon in the dissection.
Portrait of Dr. Devin Meyer
Hidden dissection surgery members:
Thaumaturge Michael Julian
Head Surgeon Dr. Devin Meyer
Surgeon Liam Wilson
Nurse Amy Parker
Hiddenologist John Fesk
Photograph of the dissected Hidden, and surgeon Liam Wilson, right after the dissection.
The dissection surgery's findings:
- Hidden only have one organ, a sac located in the center of mass.
- The inside of a Hidden is filled with a red or black sludge.
- There is a 1/20 chance of a demon being summoned if a Hidden is killed and in the presence of humans for an extended amount of time.
- Hidden do not have any brains, although there are nerve-like strings scattered across the body.
Event logs:
First incision revealed reddish sludge, which slowly oozed out of the incision.
Thaumaturge Julian reported a possibility of the summoning of a demon. He reached a conclusion a hour after, deeming it to be a 1/20 chance.
Thankfully, there was no demon.
A "nerve" was exposed after some digging was done. They examined the head and found that the eyes were connected to these "nerves".
The Hidden's sac was located in the center of mass of the Hidden. The thaumaturge reported, "a lot of emotions… mostly happiness."
The dissection was also thoroughly photographed by the Hiddenologist.
Conclusion:
The dissection was successful and answered a few questions, but it only brought up more. At least now we know Hidden are actually closely linked to demons.
Page 7 of 50
Click this button [@] to continue reading.
400,000 copies in the world. 4 in the library. 100,000 special cameras, 3 of them in the library.
License: CC BY:NC:SA 3.0
Arrival
18th of May, 2019
Journal 165
Signed, R.S., Relic Recovery Squad
Equipment: The usual, a homemade acid-thrower, which I can also use as a flamethrower. A silver dagger, and a MP412 REX revolver.
Wearing the usual, a green sweater with the standard Serpent's Hand logo printed on it, a satchel for my stuff and some pants. I don't know why you need the specifics. Oh, and a green balaclava.
So, today I was out on a mission as you know. I was getting info for more relics, and then when I walked through a Way to come back to the Library, I woke up in the middle of some town. Don't know what the town's called, but people around here call the area Skylight. I saw a guy with a club and another guy with a large sword, fighting some white-haired guy with a katana. First thing I see after waking up here. This town must be pretty violent.
I walked around for a bit, talked to some people. Afterwards, I'm in a crowd watching around and then this gray-haired with white streaks guy ran up very fast, like a speedster, or something? You know? The gust of wind knocks me aside. Annoying guy. Several minutes later, an earthquake happens and cracks open in the ground.
I looked inside of one crack, and it's very deep, like so deep you can't see anything. I heard some spooky voices from it, pretty creepy. Afterwards, the crack seals up and everything goes back to normal. I don't know if this happens a lot. Anyway, a pod came crashing from the sky and landed near the cafe. A tiny mushroom man came out, saying he had came because of the crack from earlier. I asked him what the cracks meant, and he said that something big was coming. Just as I was about to say something, the annoying speedster from earlier did his thing again but slammed against me. I got pretty angry. I tried to lure him cuz a guy didn't want us fighting near the crowd. Then suddenly, I notice this jailor infront me! I was about to cover him in acid and he was about to turn me into swiss cheese with a Five-Seven before the guy who didn't want us fighting from earlier stopped them somehow, I think it was telekinesis or something.
Then the annoying speedster ran at me and slammed down, trampling me. I was bruised heavily, but I managed to cover his legs in sulfuric acid before he could do anything further. In the heat of the fight, I didn't notice the jailor getting away, but it's not like I'm some super perfect robot. The speedster's pants basically turned into shorts, and the speedster tried to get rid of it by spinning around really fast. I heard like some booms, so I think he went supersonic. The air friction turned the acid into a cloud, that idiot. His legs basically looked like burnt chicken wings with blister sauce. The speedster was pretty injured, so he couldn't do anything against me thankfully. I went and recovered from getting trampled. Anyway a few hours later, I'm walking around and then I turn around and the next thing I see is my buddy. Relief. I'm not alone here then. We stand around, for a bit.
I go in some cafe, and it's empty except for that fight from the first paragraph. It must be a self-serve cafe, I think, but it's designed like a normal one. I go make some coffee for myself, my buddy decides mixing in all brands from the coffee machine. I finish my coffee and go outside. I and my buddy stand near the cafe, watching this white-uniformed guy with orange stripes. Sort of like an Adidas sweater, but with a military vest and helmet, talk with some medieval guy.
They were talking about a game or something. The white uniformed guy says he wants to know the other guy's secret move in exchange for giving him a device that can stun people. Sounded like a stun gun to me or something, I think. Anyway, I walk up to him and tell him my buddy has that. He's got a souped stun baton, hooked up to a car battery on his back. I tell the white uniformed guy I wanna show him my buddy's thing. He agrees, and my buddy hits him with it.
I and my buddy along with the medieval guy watched the white uniformed guy spasm. The white uniformed guy had a lady friend, who has this crazy British accent. We must've looked like the IRA to her.
Since we're part of the Relic Recovery squad, and I was interested in the relics, I ask the medieval guy if he had anything like that. He's got a sword, maybe that's a relic. He said no, but he did have a small sack of some yellow powder which made his sword have a bunch of lightning on it. My buddy as you know is interested in electricity and stuff. We make a deal, give him my buddy's MP412 REX revolver in exchange for the lightning powder. I give him some cash to buy a new one.
We hang out a bit, nothing interesting happens after a while. So, that's the end of this log. I also plan to see if there are relics here, there's a high amount of anomalies.
Relic
19th of May, 2019
Journal 166
Signed, R.S.
Equipment: The usual, a homemade acid-thrower, which I can also use as a flamethrower. A silver dagger, and a MP412 REX revolver.
Wearing the usual, a green sweater with the standard Serpent's Hand logo printed on it, a satchel for my stuff and some pants. I have the green balaclava. Honestly, this is getting annoying. Just tell me why.
Yesterday, I found an apartment. I bought it for an amazingly cheap price. I slept there then I went outside to watch people. I saw a wizard guy, so I came up to him and asked if there was a relic I could find. The wizard guy said I had to find some caves of 'woe'. From gathering information from the locals and some exploring I did yesterday, I went to the darkest cave I could find. I passed through a forest, and several goblin-like creatures jumped out of the trees. I fought them off, but in the end, they ruptured my acid thrower's fuel tank so I couldn't use it anymore for now. I was now relying on my MP-412 REX revolver. I walked further, approaching the cave. Suddenly, some boulders fell and I ran into the cave to avoid the boulders. I ended up being caved in by the boulders.
I continued to explore the cave, other exits and entrances were blocked by boulders too. On the way, I found a cave troll. He spoke some gibberish, then told me to get out of his cave. I asked him if he was gonna attack me. The troll stopped for a bit, then saying a riddle to me. The riddle was "What is brown, has a head and tails, but no legs?" I responded with a penny, and the troll turned looking at a wall. Chiseled on it was the word "penny". The troll then stepped aside and let me passage to further in the cave. The cave was already dark, so I turned on the lighter from my acid-thrower. I walked deeper and deeper until I found a strange smooth wall of rock to the side. I touched it, and it seemed to be more like a drape of fabric with the texture of rock. I walked through and found the wizard sipping a cola, next to a vending machine.
Unusual, and so I began to think this was a game. Nonetheless, I continued walking for what seemed to be a hour. Suddenly, light opened up from the ceiling. There was a hole, but there was a further part of the cave to be explored. I resumed walking, and then I heard water running. I took several steps and saw a hole opening up into an underground, small lake covered by crystals and in the middle a small peninsula. I climbed down a large stalactite and dropped into the lake. I then crawled onto the peninsula and got up. I saw the relic, it was a crystal dripping with an acid-like liquid, green in color.
Then, behind me, I heard beautiful music. I turned around and saw a lady rising from the lake. It was a siren, though I listened more to the music. It was enjoyable, yet I was somehow more focused on the relic than the siren. I told the siren that it was beautiful music but I needed to go. The siren lunged at me, biting into my shoulder with the teeth of a shark. I screamed, before firing the revolver into her head. The siren dropped onto the floor, dead. I took some cloth from my satchel and bandaged up my bite wound, performing a tourniquet. I then approached the relic, putting on some gloves while suffering from the pain from the siren's bite.
The wizard appeared before me and said that the quest was complete. Unsatisfied, I requested that the crystal be fused into me, jutting out of my back as I had plans for future use with the acid-thrower, being under the excitement from completing the quest and obtaining a relic. The wizard agreed, saying "yeah yeah, whatever." With a single flick off the top of his staff, the crystal fused into my back. It caused great pain, dropping me onto the floor, writhing. I soon then recovered from the pain, and the wizard then disappeared. I then returned back to my apartment, to rest and fix my acid-thrower.