“Blood on the Driver”

They found a stack of photographs on the passenger side seat, though they did little to explain why their car had been found abandoned off of route 137 in Waukegan. Days before their disappearance, a neighbor put a call in for police about a domestic disturbance at the man's residence. When officers were sent to investigate, they found the man in a state of disrepair, though they were not able to confirm the report of someone fighting.

Without any evidence to proceed with a search of the house, the officers let the man off with a warning about disturbing the peace.

About three in the morning it is estimated that the man left his house, traffic cams placing him on Highway 53 at around 3:15 am. After that, there is no further footage of his car, and the route he took to his final destination is unknown, though it is inferred that he took the most direct route.

There was a large amount of dried blood on his drivers side seat, roughly in the shape of a person. Based on medical records, it is considered fair to suggest that it fits the size and shape of the missing man.

In his glove compartment was a single piece of paper, all other items including expected items like a registry and owners manual could not be located and are assumed to have been removed by the owner at some point as there are no traces of fingerprints outside of his own.

On the paper was this account, though the clarity of the work and the details make its authenticity suspect.

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“I am leaving the stack of photographs where I had found them, sitting on the passenger seat. I have already spent too long looking for clues for where I am and where I was supposed to be going. I opened my car door to get a better view of the the dark outside of my car.

It was dark, but I could feel a wetness on the edges of my car door. I used my phone for the light.

I wish I hadn't/didn't. Wouldn't/Shouldn't.

Couldn't.

There was blood everywhere, and even the ground is coated in it.

I don't know where I am, but I can't get any cell phone service at all. There is a Wi-Fi, but whenever I try to connect to it my phone starts receiving pictures from a unlisted number.

It is more of the same, like the photos in the passenger seat.

I turned on the windshield wipers, and I turned on my headlights.

Blood as far as I can see.

I don't know where is here/there. It is everywhere/beneath.

It is scarlet.

Such a beautiful shade.

There is whispering coming in from my vents. I am trying to listen, but I can't make it quite out. I have been trying to listen for the last hour. Every time I seem to pick it up, it fades further back.

It tells me to open up the door and step outside.

It has started to rain.

Raining red.

It will be over soon.

I am already dead.”

The blood on the interior of the car matches the blood type of the missing person, but it has not be able to be confirmed as being from the person proper. DNA analysis suggests that at the very least there is enough genetic similarities to suggest that it belongs to someone related to the man, but there are too many variances to be certain.

It has not been linked to any member of his family despite extensive testing. This is mostly due to the nature of the DNA sequence, which is missing large numbers of common DNA markers, though it is unknown what caused the sequence to be incomplete or damaged. No additional agent could be found on the seat that could be the cause.

There are additional markers which have not been identified, and the case has been considered to be a homicide despite the lack of a body or motive. Though the DNA is different from the man, it is considered close enough to infer foul play.

After ten years, the case in now considered cold, and has been put aside until new evidence comes to light.

This case, and several other accounts, I am told are to be put in the file labeled “The Red”. There have been an increase in the number of instances that fall under this recently, and at least 2 of the tales I have shared with you fall under that label.

There is overlap with files in “The Gray”, though why that is is anyone’s guess. The curator says that some of these file names go back almost fifty years, and that there is a sort of inevitability that there would be some crossing over considering how much time we are dealing with.

I see what she means, but I don't know many file systems that allow for copies of something to be put in two separate places, with some cases having part of the evidence in on file and the rest in another.

There is a method to this I am sure. I will understand it in time, or just change it when no one is looking lol.

I hope you are staying safe.

People are acting oddly.