DoubleDenial:It shall kill you
Here's a random first draft of rewriting "."
This isn't meant to be good or scary, just to make the story make more sense.
Beforehand
The author of this entire journal entry, Matthew Torren, was found dead in his house at age 43 in 1902. He was passionate about history, and liked to collect old journals. He was discovered by his wife with two bullet holes running through his head, and both arms torn off. This is his final journal entry.
Entry #43
Okay. I don't know how much time I have to write this. I don't know if I can finish this. But I'll try. I need to.
No one will understand this, but that's fine with me. I just want to explain as much as I can in the time I have. A monster... it hasn't attacked me yet, but I know it's coming for me. I can tell.
About a week or two ago, one of my friends died at age 51. He was found by his son with his heart ripped out of his chest, and a missing arm. I know the beast is after me, now. The Shinger. That's what he's called. A nightmare in physical form. Stalking the unsuspecting, until the day he comes out and mauls them. He can't die over time. He's been around for as far back as 1704, at least. It's after me. I can hear it. Sometimes I think I see it. I know I'm not insane.
It's definitely it. It's still alive, and it's targeting men from ages 38-52. That's as far as I know. And I'm right in the middle of that range. I'm going to show the most compelling ones, they're proof. This is from the earliest instance I've discovered, to the latest. I don't want that monster to take me.
=June 5th, 1704, Ash Lewis=
Something terrible happened. All but two of the members from our hunting trips' bodies were discovered either on the ground or hanging from branches, with various different limbs torn off. I was the only one who saw it, the monster. Its heart was where it head was, and it was watching me. I don't think I'll be alive for much longer. I have to kill it to stay alive.
Ash Lewis was discovered dead by another member of his hunting trip on February 8th, 1704. with both arms missing.
=October 1st, 1733, Marcus Mathang=
I saw something in the woods, today. But it wasn't an animal. It was worse. I didn't know, at first, and I regret ever following it. As I was going deeper into the forest, I heard a scream. No normal scream, a scream of true terror and pain. Then, that thing came at me. I ran as fast as I could, and not even that could stop it. It got to me. It tore my right arm off. The pain is too terrible for me to describe. I ran to the nearest town in New York. I know I'm not gonna make it, but I will remember it for the rest of my life. It had gigantic eyes, two long legs, and a big, beating heart in place of a head.
Marcus Mathang was discovered dead on by his sister on January 2nd, 1733, with one arm missing. He was presumed to have died of blood loss. Around this point, the news was spread about New York, and the monster earned the nickname "The Shinger."
=July 4th, 1752, Mathew Runners=
I heard about the story of "The Shinger." I didn't think it was true, I always stuck to what we knew were facts. Now I don't know what to think. Today, I was fishing and some strange creature appeared out of the forest. Now, I don't think of mystery creatures when I'm fishing, but this sure as hell wasn't a deer. It appeared to have long legs, but I couldn't make out the rest. I started to back away, and I saw it get closer. That was it. I ran all the way back. Tomorrow, I'm going to go back and try to get a better look.
During an investigation in 1771, a body, later identified to be that of Mathew Runners, who went missing in 1752, was discovered. He had two holes in his back, and his left leg was missing.
=Jackson McArthy=
Journal entry #6, May 3rd, 1821.
I can't believe we finally made it to Oregon. We are so lucky to make it in! I hope that our new farm will do well, and that we can finish the log cabin.
Journal entry #21, May 12th, 1821.
It was a monster that killed my brother. I know it. It's coming for me, and I'm not having that. It's "The Shinger," that thing that my father always talked about. It had a heart for a head and giant eyes. I'm keeping my best gun with me from now on. I'm going to shoot that heart, that has to be how to kill it.
Jackson McArthy was discovered dead by his mother, just outside of his log cabin, on May 12th, 1821, with both feet and both arms torn off.
=John Terry=
April 9th, 1849
Today I saw something in the cave. What was that thing I saw? I don't know yet. I'll write my next entry tomorrow.
April 10th, 1849
My god, I've made a mistake. I heard a terrible scream from that cave and saw a monster with long legs. I got out of there as fast as I could. I've been doing research, and I think I know what that creature is. And it's not making me feel any better. It's "The Shinger." I don't know how I read about something like this, but I hear that The Shinger can't die over time, has giant eyes, and has a heart for a head. I'm not going near that cave. I don't think I'll be alive for much longer, if that really is The Shinger.
John Terry was discovered dead in his house by his brother on April 11th, 1849. He had one arm ripped out.
=December of 1899, Jack Adams=
I'm going to die today, I'm going to shoot myself with this gun. I don't have enough time to explain. I saw it. The Shinger. I'd rather shoot myself than be killed by that beast. If anyone is reading this, tell Lisa that I love her. Goodbye.
Jack Adams was discovered dead sometime in December of 1899 by his wife, Lisa. He had both legs torn off.
=March 5th, 1902, Matthew Torren=
Okay, this is it. I'm going to kill myself. I don't want to be killed by it. Goodbye cru