AIR Update #6: Creature

I’ll be honest – this is not where I thought this was going to go.

This letter took a ton of time to read and transcribe due mostly to the waxy substance that covers its pages. Niklaus’ handwriting is very shaky and difficult to parse, but eventually I got through it. He opens abruptly with “I saw it, I saw the creature,” then goes on to describe the traumatic event.

I was jolted out of my stupor by the sound of a pot rustling and falling in the kitchen. As I gazed upon the doorframe, that familiar glow began to pulse. This time, instead of enveloping me, it was leaking out of the kitchen through the door into the den. It must have manifested at the wall, just out of sight, until it reached its wretched pink claw around the door. As if it were a drunkard stabilizing himself using architecture, the thing gracelessly shifted its weight from left to right and I could see its entirety. This rotund figure at first appeared to be a naked hirsute man silhouetted in a blushed halo, but as it made its way into the den I began to see what it truly was. Much like a freshly born deer covered in placenta learning to walk it quickly grasped how to keep itself upright as it shuffled across my desk leaving its visceral residue in its wake. I could not discern if it had flesh or fur or scales but imprinted on its body were primitive geometric designs that somehow resembled the complexities of a carnation. It was at that moment I remembered Miss Carter and her slate.  

I then saw its mouth. A fur covered maw that smiled and gnashed and drooled with a perverse intensity that was as grotesque as it was compelling. I could not determine where it aimed its gaze as it was covered in a multitude of false eyes not unlike a moth. I felt I knew this beast somehow. That it was a part of me, a part of us, a part of people like us. It reached for me, opened its mouth, and sang. I do not know whether it was any discernible language either modern or of antiquity, but the sound that came out of its throat can only be described as a fervent singing. A voice that better resembled a slurred ostinato rather than the fluidity of a tenor. In spite of this it seemed to harmonize with the hum that surrounds it. It began to create hauntingly beautiful melodies, jumping from phrase to phrase, occasionally returning to a particular leitmotif that it seemed to take pleasure in repeating.

At this point in the letter, Niklaus takes a beat to assure Cyrus he doesn’t feel like he’s in danger, and that this creature does not seem to intend harm. Niklaus feels instead this is a warning of some sort, that the beast is trying to caution or protect him for some reason. He ends up waking up thinking it was a terrible dream, only to find the remaining evidence.

I must have blacked out at this point, as the next thing I remember is waking up in my bed. Your scent lingers on the pillows and I thought it all a terrible dream. I embraced the empty pillow next to me imagining it was your face and made my way downstairs. I was content to rule this out a terrible nightmare after a wonderful week, had it not been for the dried pink stains upon my stationary you are holding now.

I don’t want to jump to any conclusions, but looking at the letters themselves and what is in front of me, I believe Niklaus had a terrifying walking nightmare, making a mess of his home, then spilled some wax sealant on his paper. The most telling aspect is that looking closely at the letters themselves, it appears the pink substance is on top of the writing rather than soaked into the paper before its writing. I think with everything going on in Niklaus’ life – including his romance with Cyrus and the general taboo of queerness in the 19th century, he’s having some kind of breakdown. But the good news is he ends the letter stating he will be leaving Cincinnati at once, forgoing his fellowship and reuniting with Cyrus. 

This is an exciting update for sure, and gives me plenty to work with. I have some new information to update the sound piece I’ve been working on, as well as visual descriptions of a cryptid I’ve never heard of. I did some research on regional cryptids, starting with the infamous Mothman, then moving on to the Loveland Frog and Dogmen of Defiance. Ultimately, I think what Niklaus is describing is most closely related to the Ohio Grassmen, who are effectively our form of Bigfoot. Perhaps this pink hued version is an albino of the species? The fales eyes throw me – that’s typically a trait of prey animals, not predators, and this thing sounds like it would have to be a predator, right?

I haven’t been sleeping well lately, I have my annual performance review coming up and it’s been incredibly stressful this go around. I worry I don’t have enough work done from this particular residency to prove to my supervisors that it’s been a worthwhile endeavor, but I guess that’s a “me” problem.

I took a moment to sketch out a few possible creatures based on Niklaus’ descriptions – by no means am I a concept artist or illustrator but I think I managed to capture some of what he describes. I also plan on working back into the sound with some kind of melodic synthesizer to give it the “slurred ostinato leitmotif”. I’m pretty excited about diving back into this project and updating my animation with some more drawing or other things. 

There are only a handful of letters left but I need to get some rest. 

Neil Daigle Orians • Archivist in Residence

Sketches of Niklaus’ monster by Neil Daigle Orians

honestly, you’re not too far off. good job, friend.