December 17, 2007 3:59 PM
A MISKATONIC PHYSICS LECTURE
OK, I thought I'd have time to update you on the recent happenings in Arkham over the past week, but what happened today pretty much dwarfs all that. And because I've got an article due in three hours, I've gotta be quick, so these are my rough notes.
Today at Miskatonic, during a quantum physics lecture taught by Professor Milton Rouse, everything started off normal. Then, students report that about ten minutes in, Rouse began stuttering. This was followed by bizarre titters of laughter, and occasional lengthy pauses. When a student questioned whether Rouse was feeling OK, Rouse replied that he had had a series of nightmares the previous night, and hadn't slept enough.
It was at this point that Rouse stopped the lecture entirely, and brought out a strange device about the size of a car engine - it's hard to describe, but it looks like a crazy mishmash of parts from an electrics supply store. As students watched with confusion, Rouse explained that the idea had come to him in a dream the night before, and that he built it as soon as he woke up. One student, Clara Skinner, claims that Rouse said something to the effect that he had no idea what was about to happen.
This is where things get really weird. After pressing some buttons, the machine turned on with a hum akin to a vacuum cleaner, that began to grow louder and louder. Students report that as the sound increased, they began feeling a strange sensation, as if pressure was building up in the room. Some say there was a feeling of an electric charge.
As this was happening, Rouse was muttering unintelligible words under his breath. Then, blood began to drip from his ears, clearly visible on his white collared shirt. At the same time, all of the fluorescent lights in the room blew out. Students reacted in horror, and began rushing for the door. Several of the students sitting closest to the machine fainted, and had to be dragged out by their friends. Many were bleeding from their ears as well, and are currently being examined at Arkham Presbyterian.
School authorities were quickly notified about what was going on. A custodian turned off the power to the room, and campus security quickly moved in. Rouse was found dead in a pool of blood in front of his machine. Strange matter was discovered around his head, which doctors believe are - get this - the liquefied remains of his brain, which probably came out his ears. Early examinations of Rouse's machine suggest it somehow creates and manipulates electromagnetic fields, but the actual workings have yet to be understood.
The part that's not going in the article: according to two police officers, Rouse was found dead with a smile frozen on his face.
Posted by The Arkhamist on December 17, 2007 3:59 PM
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