
3. CASE# 1-AM-7Y: A Man of Many Names
*Click*
Statement written by Ty [No Last Name Given], on May 28th, 2015 about his local childhood scary story. Audio recording by Max LaPlume, July 28th, 2020.
Do you believe in ghost stories? The supernatural? I didn't, I still don't even though of what has happened. To be honest, they're probably based off of a smidge of true that's twisted to keep most kids in check. That smidge of true is why I'm here.
When growing up you get told of the boogeyman or Crampus or any "evil" being that would punish us for misbehaving. Now, we all have that one friend who goes up and beyond on scary stories. That one friend who told us that Santa isn't real, or the tooth fairy.
Now, I have a friend similar to this. As we got older, he started to grow more and more into the art of business. It's not even the good side of business like trying to start up a business. He was more interested in scamming and conning people. He even started up a "club" (can you even call it that??) nicknamed 'Business Bay'. Business was obviously not practiced in the "club".
The same person also introduced me to the idea a person who created the infamous 'Schlatt Coin' and it's story. The basic gist is that a Man (the name varies from tale to tale), which usually has a variation of the name 'Schlatt' in it, starts a business and creates a crypto currency called 'Schlatt Coin' and scams people.
When I first heard it, I thought it was fake like most ghost stories. What even proved my point was that when I looked it up, there was nothing about a 'Schlatt Coin' but there was a business called something similar but the business seemed like it had nothing to do with a crypto currency. I chalked it up to my friend believing in things he shouldn't.
My friend, Tom or Tommy, which ever name the person preferred, would speak about the infamous 'Schlatt' as if he were some greater being. Tommy would often refer to him in multiple names. Some were 'Big J', 'Big man' (almost as if he knew him himself), 'J Money', 'Mr. Goop', 'Latter Man' and 'Mr. Business'.
So when I was invited for a little hangout with some of my old friends (acquaintances now). Those friends included Tommy, 'Business Bay', and a few other people we all went to school with (that's how we all knew each other).
The hangout was just like whenever we would sneak out of class and go to a small area near the edge of the woods. The hangout spot was a picnic area under a gazebo that was lead up to by a brick bridge. It was a lovely little spot. I won't be going there again anytime soon though, unfortunately. Not after what I was dragged into.
Since I'm seventeen, I don't own a car yet. The walk to the meet-up spot was only a 17 minute walk from my house to the gazebo. On my way over, it was only around 5 or 5:10 when I left home to start the walk there. I wasn't the first one there, normally I was near the last people to join. The last person to join was a boy named Rudy (this is important). He was normally first but was having issues that day and was a little late as he lived a half an hour away. Near the end of the hangout, we started re-telling stories of school and memories. Somehow, the story telling turned into talking about old rumors and the scary stories surrounding our town.
Some of the rumors were just who was dating who, what embarrassing thing a person did, who was cheating on who. Oh, remember when it was rumored that William had the hots for Nikki? Didn't Scott come out in year 2? How long did Adam stay in the bathroom to avoid class since he was angry at his teacher? Remember when Business Bay beat up god?
Some of other stories shared were old ghost stories we heard. Oh, the story that somebody died and haunted the bathroom. Or the scary story about Crampus we learned in German class. Oh what about your haunted house Tubbo? Nah, It's just the seagulls dive bombing my house.
Now, remember how I said that Tommy brings things to the next level? Tommy brought up the ghost stories nobody would bring up. The sandman, you know, the man who would sneak into your house and then fill your mouth full of sand. The sand gets into your lungs and then you would drown in mud from the sand in the lungs. Or the Man with many names, how he runs a business that's worldwide. Tommy also brought up the Man in slime. Deo also told stories, though his talked about the man who lived forever. He also talked about the woman who weaved tales into truth.
The kid next to me, his nickname was Tubbo, was getting a little freaked out about the scary stories. When Tommy wasn't telling his stories, he and a few others were also getting spooked by a story or two from the others. Deo was always a good story teller as his stories were kinda gruesome. Rudy started to talk about how when he was crossing the bridge a while back, he saw something under the bridge. It looked like a fish: a giant one at the least. It was just gliding under the under, slowly making it's way towards the underside of the bridge. Everyone kinda just played it off as a joke or something but no, Rudy was being completely serious. He whipped out his phone and started scrolling through something, I believe it was his photos app.
As he was scrolling, he keep on telling us how whenever he comes around this place to meet up with us when he's alone, albeit if he's the first one here or the last, something happens. First it was the fish thing, then it was a weird dog sitting by the river under the bridge. and today, it was whispers under the bridge. At this point, Rudy had stopped scrolling through whatever he was scrolling through and had a video pulled up.
The video was unsettling to say the least.
It wasn't a very clear video as it was shot on a phone but the video showed a dark shape, seemingly a human size blob was swimming down the river. It was sunset or sunrise outside. The video was quiet, but still had audio. Whatever was down there swimming, it was moving downstream and it was moving pretty quickly. The video could have been fake. Rudy did do a lot of editing for people in the past.
At first I thought he was faking it, why wouldn't you bring up something like this for a small prank since we were just talking about ghost stories. We all thought it was fake since something like that could never be in the river. When we all had a good laugh about how fake it was, Rudy had a semi-distraught face. He kept on insisting that he wasn't faking it. Rudy kept denying it. He was very adamant about the fact that he wasn't lying.
To be completely honest, that should have been my first red flag.
But unfortunately, we did not believe him. It seems so unreal and too good to be true. Just like the video of the two guys filming the mermaid on the rock who disappears when she realizes they've seen her. So, being the friends we were, we kept on ragging on Rudy whenever the chance arose (those chances were quite often). The jokes ended up getting us off track of what we were originally doing, whatever that even was, and so the evening passed even quicker. And soon enough it was time for us to start leaving.
The first to leave was a younger kid named Luke; his parents had dropped Luke off and had to pick him up early. Rudy left soon after that, looking back on it, he seemed rather upset after all the jokes and probably left as soon as possible without being sus. Tommy and a few others left as they all lived a few minutes away from each other and hade to bike over. The last people were me and Tubbo. Tubbo lived the farthest away and since I didn't have as long as a walk I stayed behind to do a buddy system type thing.
When Tubbo's family comes to pick him up, they offer me a ride home. I should have taken the damned ride. But no. I refused because I wanted to walk home. For some goddamn reason.
Tubbo left shortly after that so I started to walk home, and my way of going home goes over the bridge. When crossing the river, I swear I heard whispers from underneath the bridge. Just like how Rudy described when he was telling his stories. Not wanting to get involved in something I shouldn't know about, I start to hurry across the bridge. I wasn't running, I was merely in-between speed-walking and walking.
I think it was then when I felt something wrong.
The whispers were louder.
Those whispers were behind me.
That's when I felt the need to turn around, and when I did, my head exploded in pain and my world went black.
When I woke up, I heard slight murmurs. Hushed tones that sounded distressed and angry.
The voices sounded male, maybe one not being male, hard to tell.
When I fully came to, or was conscious enough to lift my head up, ... or was I sitting up? Either way I saw two men..? At least one was human. One was around 6'5 or 7'0 ft. tall while the other was around 6'0, maybe shorter. The tall one seemed angry at the shorter male. They were having an argument about something, it was probably me looking back at it.
I don't know why I was so calm during our first actual interaction, maybe it was the confusion that was overriding my normal instincts.
After staring them down for about 30 seconds, trying to work out what was happening; I opened my mouth and asked for water. I dunno why I asked for water, maybe it was because I was thirsty or just dumb. Both heads snapped towards me. Then Mr. Tall Dude started shouting at the shorter one saying things like "This is why you make sure you grab the right one!" or "Great! Now he's awake!" and "Jesus fuck Connor, why did you have to mess up!".
The shorter one, Connor, turned back to the tall one and just rolled his eyes. Turning his head back to me, he asked me while his friend was still shouting at him, "So, you asked for water? Do you want water?". I nodded and he replied with "Okay, I'll grab you some water, stay here, my friend here and I are gonna talk".
When they left, I started taking in my surroundings. I was on a couch, inside of what looked like a breakroom in a rundown business. A dirty window on the right of me, the door on the left side. A coffee table in front in of me. Two chairs facing me on the couch behind the coffee table. It was still dark outside with no light so it was unlikely that it still was a new day.
Standing up and walking around the room, it was mostly empty. The fridge had barely any food in it, the window seemed almost dirty to the touch, it seemed as if the room itself wasn't the cleanest of rooms, it also seemed as if the couch and the chairs are the cleanest thing in the room.
As I was examining the window and it's cleanliness, the strange men then came back into the room. Connor was holding, presumably, my glass of water.
The tall man saw me standing over at the window and started to shout at me "Oh, are you trying to escape? You trying to leave aren't ya? Huh little man? Huh???". I shake my head, half stuttering over my explanation of what I was doing. He had a slight New Yorker accent and when those people yell at you, it's pretty scary. Connor immediately backhandedly smacked his partner in the arm and continued to walk towards me. After meeting me in the middle, he handed me my water and went to sit down in one of the seats.
Gesturing me to sit down on the couch again, tall man took the other seat. When we all were seated, the tall man crossed his leg over the other, tilted his head, gave me a creepy grin and started speaking.
The way he spoke was mesmerizing. He basically spoke like a lawyer, his words were fluffy, long, and drawn out.
He offered me a job, he offered me things in return for working for him. To be honest, I can't fully remember what he offered but I agreed. It could have been just the job offer, could have been riches, or maybe it was forced. Nonetheless, I agreed without hesitation. No demands on answers, not even an explanation of why I was kidnapped and being propositioned. No thoughts about my family, friends, nothing, I just agreed, almost as if I was in a trance. I felt numb and looking back on it, it seems as if the world is hazy, but when I agreed, I felt like I chosen something correct. Like winning the lottery, but there was no money as the prize. As if a weight was lifted off of my shoulders
After agreeing, I was suppose to be sent home by the two workers on the terms that I was to pack up my belongings and move into their own housing to work for them. This statement brought me back to my position. I then had to explain to them that couldn't just up and leave my home, my family, none of that, just for a job for working with them. Connor tilted his head, looked at his college, before suggesting how I should stay at home, but tell my parents that I got a job with flexible times since they would contact me whenever they needed me.
I nodded and agreed to do what they said. Tall man, or Schlatt, as he introduced himself, stood up, dismissed me and turned to started to walk away before I interrupted. "How am I suppose to know where to go? I don't have a car, I don't even know where I am...". Schlatt turned back to me, blinked at me, and turned to Connor, "Connor, give him the run down and get him home". Connors nods at Schlatt before he leaves and turns back to me.
He gives me a friendly smile and speaks, "So, as you know, you'll be working for us for a while. We will send you either emails or notes in order to reach out to you and since you weren't our original target, we don't know if you have the correct skills so you better learn fast." I interrupted with the question of who was the original target? "You couldn't tell? Your friend that looks like a girl, Rudy I believe. He's seen things he should not know about unless directly involved. You are now going to be in his shoes".
Connor gave me a slight sympathy smile, he stood up, "Anymore questions?". I nod and open my mouth, "How will I know what to do for my job? I don't even know what I'm doing." He smiled. It was almost becoming a grin, it wasn't a friendly one. "When we contact you, it will contain what we need from you and that specific job. It will contain information on where to meet us if need be, where to go, and specific time and dates." He paused, "This job is almost like an errand boy, but better or worse, whichever opinion you hold."
Connor then gestured for me to get up and move towards the door. He led me outside; it wasn't even a bad building, but it looked like those mattress firm buildings your sure that are being used for money laundering.
A car was waiting outside, it was an Uber small car. I don't know which car it was but it was worth a lot and you could tell with how pristine this car was. Getting into the backseat after Connor gestured to the door; Connor smiled an almost predatory, sickly sweet smile, "We'll be in touch Ty, see you soon. Please don't disappoint us, I really like you so far." He shut the door and the car started driving almost immediately.
The driver was completely hidden behind a window divider between the seats so there was no chance of talking to him about what the fuck just happened. Then everything just sunk in at one time. What was I doing? What did I just get myself into. How am I suppose to explain this to my parents? What did Connor mean by 'you weren't the original target'? Was Rudy suppose to be kidnapped and put into this position? What would happen if I decline after I receive my job? What If I quit? Would they kill me? What did they mean by "Rudy knowing something he shouldn't know"? Were they talking about the stupid stories and video Rudy was talking about?
Blinking back tears, I spent the rest of the car ride home pondering my life and my decisions. I want to say it took thirty minutes to get home but when your mind is skewed with panic and confusion, time can be a bit wonky. The driver pulled up to my house, which, I don't even know how they knew where I lived and I don't want to. The sun wasn't rising yet but I could tell it was going to soon.
Sneaking into my house isn't a big deal for me, again, I'm seventeen, I've done this before and will do it soon enough. Sneaking out and lying was going to be the new norm that I would have to get use to apparently. According to the two people who roped me into this, lying is the backbone of my new 'career'.
I got my first job two weeks later. I was honestly starting to get worried that something was either going to happen in the wrong or that I missed something they sent me. My dad found the job letter in the mail, it was addressed to me by Schlatt & Co. He handed me the letter, asking me what it was about since this was a new revelation. I basically told him what I was told to say, that I had gotten a job without them knowing and work hours are based off of when they needed me to come in since I was one of many interns. My dad, thankfully, was convinced and congratulated me. My mother later came in and said her congratulations.
The job from the mail was to deliver a message to somebody named Ryan in order to get stock for something. The letter wasn't specific about what they were trading but I had to go to specific area to pick up a suit case and go trade it with this man, then hold onto it until Connor shows up. The weird part was the mask I was given to wear when going to trade. It was a white, smiley face. The eyes were vertically longer though. I was also told to wear something that couldn't be traced back to me.
The job went smoothly, I had taken the mask, worn clothing that I typically wouldn't wear; which was a bright pink hoodie, skinny jeans, and the new mask. Now, obviously, I didn't wear the mask or the hoodie until I got close to the site. Then, once the job was done, I took those off, hid them in my wardrobe and waited for Connor to show up.
The next job was something similar, so I suited up, completed the job, went home, and waited for my next job. This routine keep on happening for the next two years. Nobody who worked with Schlatt & Co. knew who I was, none of my family members or friends suspected anything. Even though nobody knew who I personally was, the police knew.
Schlatt & Co. is a company with it's name above water, but it's actual purpose is very much not legal. So, I was very well known among police, just like Schlatt and Connor. We were never caught before because of reasons I don't know and probably shouldn't know.
Then, my jobs turned more, dark. I have killed people while working for Schlatt & Co. Though, killing during the job was either self-defense or part of the job (which was very rare). I've seen the "supernatural" during the job. In fact, my first "kill" was something of this sort.
This job, when I first received it, was obviously not of the normal sort. I had to suit up, go out to a certain area, meet up with Schlatt and Connor, go to a different meet up area, wait for a person to hand you what you need, and head back to base and deliver it. These type of jobs are rare and most of the time don't need all of us. It's usually just me who moves things around, Schlatt making deals, and Connor either in the shadows of the background ready to strike or playing mediator (Connor doesn't do a lot in these situations).
The job was obviously not of the norm and was to be taken more seriously than normal.
I met up with the Boss and Connor, and we made our way to our new meet-up location. The man we were trading with was referred to as AntVenom (HankVenom, as Schlatt loving referred as). The place we were meeting up looked, pristine, to say the least. There was something off putting though, as Connor told me before "Watch your legs, watch the ground, do not get bit". I nodded and went along with it even though I have no idea what the hell he was talking about. I would soon.
The deal started to go south very quickly. Schlatt was becoming more and more pissed at Mr. Venom and Mr. Venom wasn't happy with the deals. So it was going poorly. Then there was a noise that started emerging from the ground. Looking around I noticed something crawling towards me, it was big. Then I noticed, It wasn't one thing that was crawling towards me, it was multiple things stacked on top of each other crawling towards me.
A ton of ants were crawling towards me. Or I think they were ants, they could have been some other insect coming after me.
Connor shouts, there's movement between where Schlatt is sitting, a gunshot goes off, something is thrown by my feet, Connor is yelling and running forward, fists are being thrown.
Something is crawling on my leg, the noise of hundreds of thousand of ant climbing the walls became loud, the light dimming and changing from the creatures that clung onto the bulb.
I stomp on the ground, killing the ants now surround me on the ground and shaking those on that were on my leg onto the ground. Looking around the ants, I tried to find what flew by me. A bite on my hand. I slapped my hand, killing the thing on my hand; my eyes caught on something on the ground, in the midst of the ants. I stumble forward, trying to grasp the revolver under the sea of ants that started to crawl from the ground onto my arm. It hurt, my arm hurt. The pain of hundred of bites on my arm started to go slightly numb.
The revolver in my hand felt heavy. Whether that be from the ants that crawled along the gun onto my arm, or the weight of the gun itself. I held up the gun, shifting my arm in order. The bites on my arms became worse. Finding my target I fire. I fired again, and again.
I'm surprised I even hit my mark. It was becoming darker in the room, the light dimming as the swarm of ants on the bulb started to thicken. Then it stopped.
Everything stopped. The ants on the ceiling dropped, the ants on the walls dropped, the angry bites on my arm stopped. The light returned to the room.
Dead ants were all over the floor. Schlatt and Connor stood in the middle of the room, next to a dead man laying in the middle of the room. The dead man was shot in the jaw, the throat, and shoulder.
Schlatt looked at the dead man, before complementing me, "Nice shot kid, kinda surprising since you've rarely shot before". Connor dryly laughed, "killed the queen ant, nice thinking Ty. Kill the queen and the whole colony breaks down". I don't think that's how ant colony works but okay.
We left, I don't know if we left with what we wanted but something happened that day. Similar situations are bound to happen, and I'm curious to see what future encounters entail.
I'm sorry but I must go now, Boss and Connor will come looking for me soon. I haven't gone home since the most recent job. It went poor and now I'm known in the public as the person behind the mask. My parents now know of my "career", but I don't think their too mad, just disappointed. I keep sending them small amounts of money, just as I did when I first got my job so I hope when I try to reach out to them in the future they will still talk to me.
Thank you for allowing me to get this off my chest since I doubt Schlatt and Connor wouldn't understand as much. The reason I say this is because they themselves are part of this other world. They think I don't know, but I've gotten better at seeing the truth about the other world. The one behind close doors.
I know Connor isn't from that world but was dragged in by Schlatt. Schlatt is from that world, he lives and breathes it. I know he isn't human, he doesn't give up his secrets easily though so I don't know who knows about him and who doesn't. And, do you remember Schlatt coin? Yeah, that is a real thing that is owned and created by Schlatt, my boss. I still don't know how Tommy knew about it. I wonder if he's in on this too.
I might be back, probably not though. I liked talking to your secretary (?) Kwite? He was chill. If you need me, look out for the signs, I might be around. I'll reach out if I catch wind of you needing me, my only request is for you to not contact my parents if you figure out who I actually am since I've come in with a fake identity.
Statement ends.
If I'm being completely honest, I'm disappointed. Why would a man bring in a child to do his bidding? That's very unethical and I do not stand by that. Yes, child soldiers are a thing but they are highly unethical in my eyes.
I feel sympathetic to Ty since he genuinely seems to be dragged into something he doesn't want to and has gotten use to it. He adapted, just like kids are able to do so easily.
The strange thing is that Ty isn't even suppose to be brought into this, his friend was suppose to be brought into this "other world". What were they hoping with bringing Ty's friend in? What does his friend know that would cause the two to try and drag him in. Was it the video, or did he see something else by that river that he wasn't suppose to.
And, if what Ty said was true, that Schlatt isn't human, then what is he? My notes don't say anything specific about Mr. Schlatt but an underworld of crime that goes on. The notes talk about various crime lords that are famous, some have indentations or scribbles that suggest that these may have some sort of weird behind the scenes spooky shit.
If that is truly the case, then the questi-
*Door slams open*
Hey Max-oh- your busy?
Yes Ross, I am busy... what do you need my dude?
I was dropping off the case file and a few extra papers for the statement of our running John Doe.
You mean case #001817-B?
I dunno man, I can't even count that high...
Shut the fuck up Ross.
*light laughter from both*
Anyway man, I'll get out of your hair, here-
*shuffle of papers*
Bye dude, let me know when your done so we can head out a bit earlier today.
Kk dude, again thank you for the documents.
No problem!
*foot steps can be heard leaving*
*Door shuts quieter than when first opened*
Anyway what was I saying? Uh- oh right.
If these crimelords have "Mystical Powers" and all of that bs then what powers do they posses and how? If Schlatt is truly not human than what is he? Notes on AntVenom, it seems as if the ants lived with him. Not in the house but more of the life span term, and the name AntVenom is very fitting.
Also, Deo makes a weird appearance in this case-file which is strange. Deo goes missing two years later after this statement was made, due to his "animal attack". It seems like they are interconnected but very different.
Another strange thing is Tommy. He seems to know information that he shouldn't but isn't being dragged in like Rudy or Ty. This is strange and we need to keep an eye on any names of Tommy.
I'm also confused on what Kwite and Ty were talking about. To be honest, they probably did have a connection due to staying hidden in their true identity. Probably not; its probably the fact that they both wear a weird unusual hoodie color.
Speaking of Ty, he was outed when "job" he was doing was the three colleagues trading with a man. Something happened, gunshots went off, the three were caught. They broke free from the police, Ty's mask came off, they recognized the three. Then they disappeared. Ty's parents claim that their son would never do something like this- oh how they were correct- and that this isn't their son.
His parents want him back and the three haven't turned up in the spotlight since. He's been gone since 2015 and now it's 2020. Going by what he said, he was 17 during that time, now he's 22 and his parents still don't have an answer.
*sigh*
I have a suspicion that this is not the last time we'll be hearing about the infamous Schlatt and his coin.I'll have to let everyone know to keep an eye out for him and Ty. Ty, If you somehow find out about this, I would like to have a talk with you and on more of this other world. I also want your input on certain topics. I would like you to visit your parents, let them know your okay because your still missing and your childhood ended before it should have. No, I haven't talked to your parents per your request.
*deep breath*
...Conclusion ends.
*click*
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