Transcripts From That Evening
✷
2:42 AM, Rawson, OH
“911, what’s your emergency?”
“Hi, I’m on I-75 right now, and there was some kind of vehicle driving without headlights. I don’t think any lights were on. We barely saw it. I don’t think it had any lights.”
“So the vehicle’s headlights weren’t on? Which direction on I-75 are you going?”
“No, it’s not that the headlights were off. It didn’t—”
“Sorry, they were on?”
“It didn’t have headlights. There weren’t any.”
“Sir, could you clarify, was this vehicle’s headlights turned on or off?”
“I don’t even know if it was a vehicle. It was totally black, and it was next to us for about two minutes.”
“It sounds like you are describing a black vehicle with its headlights turned off.”
“No, no, I thought I could maybe see the front of it once we were under some streetlights, but it didn’t have anything. There was nothing on the front. It wasn’t a black car.”
“Could you tell what model it was? Was it a truck?”
“I don’t think it was anything. It was completely black.”
“Sir, was it speeding or driving recklessly?”
“I don’t think. It was next to us for a minute, then it wasn’t.”
“I’m sorry, could you clarify what you are trying to report?”
“I just think someone needs to see what’s up with this thing.”
“Alright, we’ll be sending a car out. Thank you.”
2:42 AM, Claysville, PA
“At mile marker… I’m sorry, give me a second, waiting for the next one… okay, it’s showing mile marker 62, so that would mean it was about—”
“—away just two minutes ago… going about seventy—”
“I got it, I got it, I know. Okay, so that woulda put it at mile marker 64 or 65—”
“—remember to say we’re going—”
“I got it! You still there? We’re on South 65 right now.”
“Okay, ma’am, can you still see the vehicle?”
“No, it’s gone now. I don’t know what it was.”
“Did it turn off on an exit?”
“I don’t think it did. It was just this shape next to us—”
“—couldn’t have been—”
“Right, it just blocked out everything. This shape.”
“Ma’am, did they drive ahead of you or behind you?”
“—just two minutes ago, we’d still be able to—”
“No idea, it blocked out everything, it was alongside us in—”
“—came up on the—”
“We were in the left lane around mile marker 65, so that would put it in the right lane. I know it’s late and no one else is on the road, but we were—”
“—couple semis back in—”
“But we just happened to be in the left lane, you know?”
“Okay, ma’am, and you said it didn’t have any of its lights on?”
“No, and it was right next to us, scared us to death.”
“And you don’t know where it is now?”
“We don’t know where it could have gone, hasn’t been an exit in about five—”
“—have turned off toward—”
“We’d have heard that, it’s a ditch next to the highway about, I wanna say it’s a four, five foot drop before—”
“Ma’am? Ma’am, we’ll notify one of the patrolmen to check out the area, okay?”
2:42 AM, Point Pleasant, WV
“I spent an evening turning off lamps.”
“Sir, could you repeat that?”
2:43 AM, Adrian, MI
“Knew it was there when someone coming the other way, their headlights were gone as it went by.”
“Say that again?”
“Right, so I’m going northbound, and there stopped being lights back in, streetlights I mean, back in Tecumseh, right? So it’s just my headlights, and then if a car is going southbound on 41, it’s their headlights too.”
“So you want to report a vehicle driving northbound State Route 41 with their headlights off?”
“Listen, I don’t know what this was. Now, it’s dark, but I’m still seeing the median, and I’m seeing the grass and the guardrails and all that, right? What I’m saying is, car’s coming toward me in the southbound lane and I can see its headlights, then they disappear because there’s this black thing driving next to me. Their headlights are gone because I’m seeing the outline of this shape right next to me.”
“Sir, we need to keep this line open for emergencies.”
2:44 AM, Hamden, OH
“This is something my son would say.”
“Please, ma’am, what is the nature of your emergency?”
“This is something my son would say.”
2:44 AM, New Paris, OH
“No, like it was moving funny.”
“Do you believe the driver was intoxicated?”
“We never saw a driver. But no, it wasn’t like that. It wasn’t moving like a car. There was something off about it.”
“Do you still see the vehicle now?”
“No, that’s what we were saying, that’s the whole reason we—my wife was asking if maybe it was military, but nothing about it seemed right, and then it was gone. It’s just us on the road now, and we were the only car even before the thing showed up, too.”
“And you didn’t see where it drove off to?”
“Yes, that is what we are saying. And like I said, something was off about this thing. Like it was sort of fixed on us, except it wasn’t moving like a car. It must have had wheels though. Remember when we hit—”
“Could you repeat that? What do you mean you think it had wheels?”
“Something was off about it, like it was fixed on us, but there was this rough part of the highway around the I-70 exits where they just did repairs, and we started bouncing around a bit, and we think we maybe saw it kind of bouncing around too, so that’s how we figured it must be some kind of vehicle.”
“Sir, I am sorry, but I am having a hard time understanding you.”
2:44 AM, Battle Creek, MI
“911, what is your emergency?”
“Yes, I want to report an intruder. Someone—yes, yes… I’ve… what? Hi, sorry, someone was in our home.”
“There was an intruder in your home. Were you able to see or identify the intruder?”
“He was in our bed! He got in bed with me and my wife!”
“Were you able to see the intruder’s face for possible identification?”
“No, it was dark, there was just this small reading light my wife left on. I never saw—okay, just a minute… one second, one second. I never saw his face.”
“Are you and your wife okay? Were you attacked at all?”
“We’re alright, my wife is… we’re fine, she’s fine. I don’t think we were attacked. We’re both rattled. Christ. Look, can you please send someone out immediately. Everything is locked. I think this guy might still be here.”
“Yes sir, we will be sending a patrolman out now.”
2:44 AM, Butler, PA
“You know when someone is trying to tell you something on the road? Like, they match your speed and roll their window down or something?”
“Yes, I—”
“Okay, it was like that, but we’re going goddamn seventy-five and the guy never rolls his windows down. Was just neck and neck with me for a minute or two.”
“Were you able to see the make and model of the vehicle?”
“No, and I know cars. I want to say it was some kind of… I’m driving a Pathfinder and it was about that size. In black or something. I couldn’t see it at all.”
“You couldn’t see the vehicle?”
“It was this black that—okay, so we’re driving under street lamps, but they weren’t reflecting off of this car. I know cars, and there’s guys who get these matte paint jobs, and maybe it was a kind of matte paint, but you’d still be able to see the windshield and the windows under the street lamps.”
“Where are you now? Are you still near the vehicle?”
“I’m still on 72 East, and no, I have no idea where this thing went. Like I said, its lights were off, but we were neck and neck. I don’t know what happened at all.”
“Thanks, we’ll be sending someone that way to check it out.”
2:45 AM, Logan, WV
“Several.”
“Ma’am, are you okay? Is someone with you?”
“It is several. Again.”
“Ma’am, are you feeling okay? Ma’am? Is someone—”
“No.”
2:46 AM, Mt. Washington, KY
“Hi, you’ve reached the warmline crisis hotline. My name is Ryan. Could you state your name for me?”
“Carrie.”
“Hi, Carrie. Thank you for calling, I’m here to help however I can. Is there something specific you’d like to talk about?”
“Yeah, I am not doing well, I think I am having a panic attack. I’m sorry, I’m not sure how this works. Are you able to, like, I’m sorry. I don’t know what the options are. I’m sorry.”
“That’s okay. That’s okay, Carrie. Anxiety attacks and panic attacks are something I am able to help with. There are a few methods we can try to help relieve some of that anxiety. First of all, are you in a safe environment at the moment?”
“Yes, I’m at home. At my mother’s home. I’m in her living room. I think I was hallucinating. I’m freaking out, and it isn’t getting better. Like, I’ve had anxiety problems before, and I’m usually able to handle them, and they’ll slowly go away. And I don’t know, this feels different. It isn’t getting better. I just want to go back to sleep, and I can’t.”
“I understand, that is extremely frustrating. Well, let’s see what we can do to relieve some of that so you can get some sleep. You said you were hallucinating, are you still experiencing that now?”
“I don’t think so. I thought I saw someone outside. Like, about to attack my mom in her yard.”
“Wow, that is scary. I can understand how seeing something like that could cause anxiety. Absolutely, yeah. So you thought you saw this person. Were there any other instances where you felt like you were hallucinating?”
“I don’t think so. And that’s the thing, I don’t think I’ve ever hallucinated before. This isn’t a normal thing. I really saw someone, but maybe it wasn’t like that. Sorry, I’m not doing okay right now.”
“I understand. Yeah, I understand why that would be distressing.”
“Like, my mom didn’t hear or see anything. But then, okay sorry, I’m not sure how much information you need for this.”
“That’s okay, that’s okay. You can tell me as much or as little as you’d like. If it’s helpful for you to just talk through your feelings and your thoughts, I’m happy to listen.”
“Thanks. Okay, thanks. Okay, so I’m over at my mom’s house, and I heard her walking around, which woke me up, I think. I found her outside with a flashlight and wearing her nightgown, and I think she’s looking for her cat, because she gets outside sometimes. And when I see her outside with the flashlight, I am… I’m sorry… I’m sorry, I need a second.”
“That’s okay, that’s absolutely okay. Take your time.”
“Thanks, thanks, sorry. I was certain that someone was standing behind her. And I screamed and opened the porch door, and there wasn’t anyone. But I absolutely saw it. And it’s dark. I know that it’s dark, and I had just woken up, and I was trying to think that maybe there was some kind of glare in the porch door before I opened it, but I really… My mom was holding a flashlight and moving it around the yard looking for the cat, and there was this very distinct outline of someone standing behind her that I could see because of the flashlight. It looked more like a woman, I think. Someone with longer hair and a dress or something. I only saw an outline.”
“Yes, that sounds extremely frightening, I can understand how that would be distressing.”
“And that’s the thing, part of me thinks it was still real. I don’t hallucinate. It’s not something that’s ever happened. And like, my mom didn’t see anything, but there’s all these dead cicadas, sorry not dead ones, but in that part of her yard where I saw her, there’s a bunch of cicada shells. And I don’t know, I wonder if while she was walking on them, she might not have been able to hear if someone was behind her. And so I keep going back to thinking it was real, but no one else was outside, and I ran around the house like a crazy person and never saw anyone. And my mom said… she didn’t… I don’t think she saw or heard anyone. I don’t know, I’m sorry, I’m freaking out, and I’m not sure what even happened.”
“I understand, that sounds like a very distressing thing to witness.”
“I’m sorry, I’m not sure what to do, and it isn’t going away. I’m exhausted, but I can’t fall asleep. It just isn’t getting better. I’m not sure what… I’m sorry.”
“No, no, that’s okay. I understand. Would it be okay if we tried some breathing exercises? There’s a specific breathing pattern that has been shown to have calming effects. That is something we’d be able to try if you’d like.”
“Sure, yeah. Yeah, that’s fine.”
“Great, great. Now, I’m able to stay on the line while you do the exercise, or I am able to guide you through it myself if you’d prefer. It’s a very simple exercise. You would be breathing in slowly for five seconds, and then breathing out for three seconds. Then you would repeat that several times. Is that something you would like to try?”
“Yes, yes, that’s okay.”
“Would you like me to stay on the line while you try it? I’m also happy to count and guide you through it if you’d like.”
“Yeah, if that’s okay, would you be able to count? I think that might be good.”
“Yes, yes, absolutely. Okay, let me know when you are comfortable, and we can start. Again, you’ll be taking slow, deep breaths in for five, then breathing out for three. Let me know when you’re comfortable.”
“Okay. Okay.”
“Great. Ready? Now breathe in, one… two… three… four… five. Hold. Out, one… two… three. In for one… two…”
2:46 AM, Coldwater, MI
“It didn’t look like any kind of car. It was just this totally black shape that was, I mean it had to be some kind of car because it was moving on the road next to me. But like, it’s pitch black outside, and I could still see this thing clearly because it was somehow blacker than that. Like it wasn’t anything, but it was driving next to me.”
“And you were saying it drove away somewhere?”
“No, it was there, and then I just stopped seeing it.”
“Sir, are you presently driving under the influence of any substances?”
“No, holy shit, seriously? I am calling because I am concerned. This seems like the kind of thing you should be worried about, and you are asking if I am on something?”
“How long have you been driving? Have you been on the road a while?”
“Jesus, I know it sounds weird, and that is literally why I am calling. There is some kind of dangerous vehicle on the road, and you need to be checking it out. Again, I’m on 44 West just past Sleeper.
“Sir, I recommend finding a rest stop or a gas station and taking a moment to collect yourself. It looks like there should be something coming up in a few miles for you.”
2:47 AM, Meadville, PA
“We’re off of 64 East, I’m not sure where. I was asleep when we went off the road. I’m not sure what exits we’re close to.”
“Are you able to see any landmarks? Any highway signs or billboards?”
“Nothing, sorry. We’re surrounded by corn. We got pretty deep into this field before I could stop the car.”
“Got it, that’s okay ma’am. We’re sending some folks out and they’ll be on the lookout.”
“Thank you, thank you. Our hazards are on so it should hopefully be easy to find us. I don’t know if I’m able to get the car back on the highway, but I might be able to back it up through the path we made to get it closer to the road. Would that be helpful for the ambulance?”
“I’m not sure. Is that something you think you’d be able to do safely? I think that once the paramedics find you, they shouldn’t have a problem getting to you.”
“I’m just really worried about him. He wasn’t controlling the car when I woke up, and he seems really disoriented right now. I’m worried he’s had a stroke or something, so I’m just thinking of ways to get him to a hospital faster.”
“I understand. Have you noticed any slurred speech? Are you able to see if part of his face is drooping?”
“Not slurred, no. Just very disoriented. I need to get a better look at his face. I couldn’t see it when we went off the road. There was this, I don’t know, I probably need to get checked out too. It looked like there was someone sitting between us somehow. I was able to see everything else in the car, but I couldn’t see him.”
“Okay. Have you tried moving him at all?”
“Not yet, but I think I’d be able to manage getting the car in reverse if I need to.”
“No, I think it might be best to stay put. An ambulance is on its way now.”
“Okay, okay. Do you think it would be possible to stay on the line until they find us?”
“Yes, ma’am, that would be okay.”
2:47 AM, Springboro, OH
“He’s a teen or maybe younger. I didn’t see his face.”
“And you believe he is still in the house?”
“He has to be! I just went through every closet and threw on all the lights. I’ve got all the cabinets open, my whole family is up now, my wife is crying. This kid broke in somehow, but we’ve got alarms on all the windows and doors, and they’re all still locked.”
“I understand. Have you noticed anything damaged or stolen?”
“Not yet, my wife is going through her jewelry. I just checked the, uh, we’ve still got the TV and the video game stuff. All the obvious stuff is still here. Laptops and everything. And again, I just went through all the closets. I saw this creep standing behind my son in the kitchen. My son’s just standing there with the fridge door open and this fucking creep is standing right behind him.”
“And you didn’t see where he went?”
“Right, but he—”
[Unintelligible]
[Clattering noise]
“I’m born across.”
“Ry, get off the line! Ry, get—”
“When is it bad.”
“Ry, goddamnit, I’m on the phone with the police. Get the hell—”
[Clattering noise]
“Sir, is everything alright?”
“My son just picked up the other phone. Yeah, I don’t know how I missed where this kid went. I’m about to go through all the rooms again. If I find this kid before you guys do, I’m going to kill him.”
“Someone is on their way now, sir.”
2:47 AM, Waverly, IN
“Is this a new thing? Have you been seeing this lately?”
“I don’t think so, ma’am. I’m not sure I understood you.”
“I think it’s kids.”
“You think what is kids?”
“I think it’s kids doing a prank. Driving around crazy like that to scare people.”
“Oh, I see. Ma’am, where did you say they went?”
“I don’t know. I think it must be teenagers driving like that to scare people. You haven’t heard of them doing this before?”
“No, ma’am, I haven’t. Is there anything we are able to help you with?”
“That’s all, I guess.”
2:48 AM, Berne, IN
“Sir, we need to keep this line open for emergencies.”
“Dragged apart an appliance. Held apart.”
“Sir, I am hanging up now.”
“I stood from the kitchen, and I got louder. I got quiet.”
2:48 AM, Imlay City, MI
“911, what is your emergency?”
“There’s a man who was standing next to my brother’s bed. He’s gone now, but I turned on the light, and I saw him in my room next to my brother’s bed.”
“Okay, are you and your brother safe? Are you hurt at all?”
“We’re okay. I don’t know where he went. And my brother isn’t making sense.”
“Is your mom or dad awake? Are you safe with an adult?”
“Yes. I think they’re both still sleeping.”
“Okay. And you said you don’t know where the man went? Did you see what he looked like?”
“Yes, he was in all black clothes. I woke up to get water, and I thought I saw someone in my room, and when I turned on the lights, I saw him next to my brother’s bed. He wasn’t very tall and he was wearing clothes that were so black it was like you couldn’t see anything.”
“So you weren’t able to see the man’s face?”
“No, he was wearing clothes that were so black that you couldn’t even see wrinkles in them, like it was nothing, and he was standing in my room, and he’s not there anymore.”
“Swimming out of it.”
“That’s my brother Patrick.”
“Would you be able to wake up your mom or dad for me to talk to?”
“Yeah.”
[Unintelligible]
“You’ve… Who?... Who?... Hello? Hello?”
“Hi sir, this is a 911 operator. Your son called saying he thinks he saw someone in his room.”
“Oh my God, Matthew, what… Oh my God. Matthew, what the hell. It is… Jesus, it is way too late for this. Hi, hello? This is Matthew’s father. I apologize for my son, there is no reason for him to have called.”
“It’s alright, sir. Can you confirm for me that everyone is okay?”
“Yeah, yeah, they’re fine. Jesus, you two. What the hell. God, you both have school in the morning. Absolutely unacceptable for—yeah, we’re fine. Jesus.”
“Your son said he saw a man in his room, would you like us to send someone out to check if you are all okay?”
“No, no, no, God. No. No, he didn’t see anything. We’re all okay. I apologize for my son. There is no need to send anyone. I am really sorry we bothered you.”
“Broke against.”
“Both of you need to be in bed right now. It is way too late for this, you both need to be up for school in four hours. Jesus. I apologize for my son. There isn’t going to be some kind of follow-up, is there? Like a false report filing or anything? He’s just a kid, he doesn’t know what he’s doing.”
“No, it’s okay, sir. We just want to make sure all of you are alright.”
“Yeah, we’re fine. I am really sorry we bothered you. Thanks.”
✷
"Transcripts From That Evening" was first published by Mays Publishing.
Michael Latella is a writer and musician from Cincinnati, OH. His work gravitates toward the liminal and the unknown, fluctuating between science fiction, horror, and the fantastic.
