#02; 20 May, evening.

[paragon]

[ It's your second audio post of the day, Wayward Pines. And Laura's was useful in more ways than one — it will save Steve time here, and he won't have a lot of it to ensure those listening will get through the whole message before it, too, is taken down. He waits with Poe until the evening, when the most people will be home and able to pick up when the phone rings.

He's already cut out his own tracker — has known about it for a long time — but if he's feeling any pain from Natasha stitching him up, it doesn't show in his voice. ]

This is Steve Rogers. There are some things you all need to know and this probably won't stay up for long, so I'll get to it.

[ And so he does. ]

The man the police are looking for isn't guilty of any crimes except seeing something he wasn't supposed to. He heard the same screams in the woods we've all heard, and when he went to help he found a body. He was scared, so he buried it. That's why so many people got sick — it got into the river, and it wasn't human. I know this because I saw the body before the Sheriff took it away. All I can say for sure is that maybe it was human once.

[ He wishes he could go into more detail here, but again, time isn't on his side. That much will have to suffice. ]

This man is one of us. [ Using Sarah's words, who told him everything the man in question told her, because they're good words. ] Woke up here the same as everyone else, and I don't mean in a hospital bed. The Sheriff is the exception. No one remembers seeing him in the hospital. He was never confused over missing memories, or memories of a life we're not supposed to talk about.

[ Poe leans in, glancing at Steve for the go-ahead before he speaks loud enough to make himself heard through the receiver. ] That's not all. This place is entirely walled off. All the way around. There are beings patrolling the walls, ones that I can't identify. No species I've ever encountered, and I've encountered a lot. Worse, the sheriff reports to someone invested in keeping us here and keeping us quiet.

[ And then Steve picks up where he left off. ]

But that's the only way we'll get answers. We have to talk to each other, even if it's against the law. Especially if it's against the law. There will be consequences, but I'm willing to face them if you are. We don't belong here, but they made us care about each other anyway. Let's make that a problem for 'em.

[ Fin. Like Laura's post, this message will also be gone after 3-4 minutes. Not a lot of time, considering how long it takes just to listen to it, but you might be able to get through to Steve or Poe for a while afterward, if you're quick. ]

Comments

voice;

[adamantiums]

You and Laura can keep each other company when you end up cell mates.

[The amused tone of his voice hints that he's kidding, because he is. He's kidding because neither of his daughters is going to go to jail again. Not if he's around to prevent it.

There's a pause, before he adds, with less amusement,] What do you mean, "they made us care about each other?" [The fact that his experiences in this town have been forced, or aren't real, hasn't even crossed his mind. He's far too used to having his memories fucked with, for one thing; and for another, not everything here is terrible.]

[paragon]

You'll find out for yourself soon enough. [ Steve's not being evasive or patronizing; there's a ring of truth to it. He just doesn't have a lot of time. ] Our memories of this place aren't real.

[adamantiums]

How? How the fuck do you know that?

[The anger creeping into his voice isn't directed at Steve. It stems from the fact that people are dicking around with his memories again and, even moreso, the implication that his girls aren't really his. Of course, Steve wouldn't realize that, since their teachers lounge banter would never have included the fact that Logan's children hadn't come into his life until Pines.]