The Voicemails

Sent to August's phone from phone number 333-333-3333

The sound of the rhythmic, electronic grinding noise

Voicemail 1: A rhythmic, electronic grinding noise that cycles for 50 seconds.

Voicemail 2: It sounds like the phone is in someone’s pocket and they’re walking. Off in the distance you can hear someone, maybe a woman’s voice, yelling in quick bursts, she sounds agitated but you can’t make out the words. Right before it ends, you hear a man’s voice, much closer to the phone shout, “Wait! Wait!”

Voicemail 3: Another butt dial. The woman’s voice is still in the distance but she’s frantic now. The man’s voice shouts, “Oedipa! I can’t see you!” More distant screaming. He audibly shudders, “Oh Jesus, what is that?”

Voicemail 4: A rhythmic, electronic grinding noise that cycles for 50 seconds.

]Voicemail 5: The woman’s voice is closer now, “What the fuck is this, Mooch?” There’s a flurry of movement sounds from inside the pocket. His voice: “I… I know what it looks like, but…” The recording cuts out in the middle of her reply, but it sounds like she said the word ‘pig’.

Voicemail 6: Off in the distance there’s a combination of sounds. A man screams frantically, a circular saw turns and then cuts through something. Much closer to the microphone, the woman sobs for a long time. She is cut off by the man’s voice, “Ed, we have to go. He’s dead.” There’s a long pause and the distant sound of the saw slows to a stop, “Ed!”

Voicemail 7: The woman’s voice is close, “What are they?” The man’s voice, “I don’t know” The woman, “Mooch.” He sounds like he’s at the end of his rope, “What?” There’s a long silence. The woman’s voice, “I’m dreaming right now. I’m dreaming right now! I have to wake up. I NEED TO WAKE UP!” There’s a commotion and then stillness, the man says, “I know. Hey. I know. Okay? It’s okay. We’re going to get out of here, okay?”

Voicemail 8: A rhythmic, electronic grinding noise that cycles for 50 seconds.

Voicemail 9: The man’s voice is frantic, “Hold it! Hold the door, Ed!” She’s heard in the distance, just barely over the man’s grunting, “I can’t. I can’t, Mooch! Get the fuck away from him! Don’t touch him!” There’s a commotion. His voice again, “Just hold it! Please don’t let go! No! No! Oedipa! No” She’s crying now and then a door slams and you can’t hear her anymore. There’s a commotion for thirty seconds but no voices. Just the shuffling sound of movement as the phone bounces around his pocket.

Voicemail 10: A rhythmic, electronic grinding noise that cycles for 50 seconds.

As voicemail 6 is heard, the listener must pass an unnatural check or stop listening. Repeat listenings do not incur this.