Puzzlebox

Puzzlebox

Day I:

The artefact arrived today. Truly a fascinating find. What we have here appears to be a puzzlebox around 10" high, perfectly cubic and carved with intricate ornate cravings. Some of the lines do not match however. I have named this object a puzzlebox because it has moving parts and despite it's age they all move with ease, at least most of the time. I wonder if I can manage to solve it, of course after it has been properly dated and examined.

Day II:

Couldn't help myself and started tinkering with the artefact. I could have sworn it was only for a few minutes but as I turned one of the elements the lights flashed and I looked up at the clock. Seems I've been playing around with it for over two hours. I feel tired. I'm overworking myself.

Day III:

My current object of study leaves me absolutely bewildered. By God I can't seem to pin it to any exact culture or historical period. All I've managed to discern is that the outer layer is made of electrum, but the cube is too light to be solid. I've decided to stop this research for now and once again try to realign the patterns.

Aha! Success, though insignificant. I managed to complete part of the pattern on one of the faces and I swear I heard a loud click inside.

Day VI:

I have been spending too much time with that cursed thing instead of research and paperwork. My in-box is starting to pile up and I don't feel like doing anything about it. I'm tired. Can't get any sleep due to that blasted wind. Yesterday I could have sworn I heard whispers at night and I couldn't get a good sleep because of it.

Day VIII:

I heard strange noises in the bathroom today. Noted the janitor about it. Hope it's not rats. I hate the filthy vermin. Decided to work at home for some time until I can get a decent rest. It has been windy lately and the weather is slowly driving me insane. As if the constant wind wasn't enough now there's also fog. And it feels so damp and cold outside. I'll try to spend some time at home and read up on a few clues as to what this item is. Maybe contact someone with a different field of expertise.

Day: XI:

I'm still hearing whispers at night. Thought to say they are whispers would be incorrect. It's just incoherent noise and I'm getting worried about my hearing. I seem to have a bad case of ringing in my ears which is either causing my lack of sleep or is caused by it. Either way I should see a doctor about this.

Day: XII:

I've seen a friend of my who also happens to be a doctor. He says I'm fine and it's most probable that I'm simply imagining things due to lack of sleep. Suggested I get some sleeping pills and just dream it off. Got the pills on my way back. Might as well knock myself out as I'm not doing any progress at all, the puzzle itself still remains interesting.

Day XIV:

Gad damn those pills. I've had a waking dream last night. I dreamt that I was in my bed and there was someone sitting besides me, but I couldn't turn my head. Of course that's just normal for this sort of dream. Now that I know this feeling first hand I must admit it is quite horrible and I'd prefer to never experience it again. It must have been those pills, as it was both the first time I've taken them and the first time I've had this sort of dream.

I returned to tinkering with the puzzle for a moment and I've managed to make it tick once more. I wonder if it's a sign of progress or a sign there's something broken inside. Would be a shame to have it fall apart in my hands. A acquaintance suggests it might be of Sumerian origins. I need to remember to pick up some books from out library as I'm not quite sure I agree with him.

Day XVII:

I'm starting to get worried about my sanity. There's no more wind but I still hear that noise. If I'm not already mad I'm quite sure it will manage to change that if given enough time. I'm starting to get paranoid about it even. Seems that every time the noises get louder I start feeling uneasy and just can't concentrate on anything.

Oh. I have come to a conclusion that the artefact can't be Sumerian. By God it was obvious, I don't know what he was thinking suggesting that.

Day XIX:

Today I laughed heartily at myself. Having decided to go out in the evening I found myself unable to enter a dark corridor as chills ran down my spine. I quickly slammed the door and spent a few minutes listening before bursting into laughter. It's the noise. The damn noise. I feel as if I can't stand it any more. Though I feel ashamed I think I'll leave the lights on for tonight.

Day XX:

Well now, today I slept much better. I think I shall return to that curious little puzzle and rest for at least another day before getting work done.

I managed to make it click two more times today and I think the patterns on the outside finally nearly match. I'm sure it will be easier to discern it's origin if I have a full look at the decorations. However for now I'm hearing that noise again and I've caught a shadow with at the edge of my sight several times. Time to rest or else I will really start to see things.

Day XXI:

Did not sleep as well today. There must have been some branch hitting the window frame at night. Though I'd swear there was neither enough wind nor is any of the trees close enought to do this. I'm such an old fool getting scared like a little child.

I've finally finished aligning the puzzlebox only to have it fall apart in my hands. Maybe not fully fall appart but a large segment fell off. This is both good and bad as I can now see the inside of the blasted thing. There's a very intricate mechanism inside and something that seems to be a large glass marble, though it is broken. I guess that clicking noise was the sound of glass getting into the gears.

I still do not know what are the origins of this object...

Day XXII:

The noise got worse. It's driving me insane. Now I swear I can hear the noise repeating a giberish sentence. Maybe I should see someone about this... but what if they think I've gone mad? That would ruin my reputation. No. I can't afford that.

I must say my "madness" is becoming more and more intricate. I have been seeing shadows move about fleeing from my sight and I've been hearing that voice.

A shameful thing but I've taken into sleeping with all the lights on. The voice goes away when it's bright.

Day XXIII:

Voice? What have I been writing about. I'm tired, too tired. The noises and the shadows are just a figment of my imagination. There is most certainly nothing moving around in empty rooms. That's just preposterous and impossible. The wind is acting up again. I can hear a branch knocking on the window. Of course I can't see anything there. Because there is nothing there.

Bah. Tired of not back to work.

Day XXIV:

The last nighdcthuakiasha thu ctha iaghuftnuanua nnua c

I must have dazed of just now.

The last night was even worse than before. I still hear it... now I am sure. It's a voice. It speaks to me. It's trying to say something. I know this sounds like nonsense but this is what I think it happening. Dear God, I am boing insane. Theis can't possibly be hapening. I swear I even see it in the darknessalways in the darkness. It sits there and whispers. I'm raving like a mad man. I know this. Think. Think. You're a well educated man and you know there is nothing such as taking shadows. How absurd. How absurd indeed. And yet... Im afraied to put the lights out. I'm afraid to go out.

It's that box.
There must have been something in the box.

Day XXV:

Storm tonight.
I heard knocking and shrieks. Moving about outside the window. The lights went out for a moment and I felt it. I felt it next to me. I'm going insane. I am insane. God help me. I'm a lunatic. I have to buy candles. Electicity is not to be trusted.

Day XXVI:

Another sotorm. Why must there be stroms like this. The power went out again. I was in my chair feeling it stand behind me, just stand and breath and breath. I never felt such horror. I wanted to turn around but I was too afraid of what I might see... feel. I was afraid that I will die. No worse then die. I felt

Lunacy.
Utter lunacy.

Day XXVII:

p'utctha ghxftathcth nan afta lus'cthaftiashanx sghushagu thuafta p'utctha gash nan tghusha thuaftu p'utctha
dcthuakiasha thu ctha iagh

I fell asleep by my journal. Seems I've been sleep wirting. Cant read it.

I SAW it. I SAW.
What if I'm not mad. What if there is something in the darknes waiting for me?
I feel it. It wants something.

I see it moving around. I know I see it.
Just beyond where I can see and where the light doesn't reach.
More light. I'll fend it of with light.

Day XXVIII:

There's no power. The sotrm again. I have only so much candles. They can't keep it away. I feel it behind me. Creeping swaying with the light it wants me.
Dear God. I'll pray. I have never prayed but today I will.

The candles are dying out one by one I have only seven left six why is there still no power I cant fiht it witout lighfu'gu'a iat