Ыоуве Been Warned   ::   Patterson James

If only I could cook like I develop film.

Now comes my usual moment of trepidation, when my heart flutters for a beat or two. It happens with every roll, and it’s certainly happening with these.

As the negatives begin to harden, this is my first chance to see what I’ve got.

If anything, right?

I lean forward a bit and try to harness all seven watts of visibility in the room. The thought of having to relive that terrible scene at the hotel frame by frame makes me more than a little uneasy. But it’s nothing compared to the thought of the shots’ not being there at all.

In this case, I’ll gladly take the lesser of two evils. Scary reality beats no reality.

Through my squinting eyes, the images begin to appear. Shot after shot of the scene, just as I saw it. Just as it happened!

I straighten up and exhale. I didn’t expect to feel this crazily relieved and yet I do. So much so, I almost don’t see it.

There’s something strange about these pictures.

The day’s mystery continues, only it’s getting worse.

And I think that burning smell is back too.



Chapter 13



I IMMEDIATELY PLUNGE the negatives into a holding bath of cold water. My nose practically takes a dip as I lean in for a closer look.

It’s hard to tell exactly what’s wrong with the shots, but something is. That burning smell has definitely returned. I look at my hands… no hives yet.

Amid the stark whites and recessed blacks of the film, there’s something going on – some type of effect taking place.

What, though?

I yank the negatives from the water and grab my magnifying loupe, pressing my eye tight against it.

I study one shot and then slide the loupe to the next. I do this quickly, anxiously, over and over. Study…slide… study…slide.

Finally, I think I see what’s happening. Or at least where it’s happening.

It’s the four body bags.

They look almost…transparent. Is that possible? It’s like I can both see the bags and almost see through them – not to what’s inside, but to what’s beyond.

Of course, the film itself is transparent, but this is different. Each body bag has this kind of lucent quality, not quite see-through while at the same time not entirely filled in.

Somewhere in between.

Weird.

Though explainable, right? My mind spins with the possible causes. Double exposure, sun glare off the metal frames of the gurneys, the body bag material itself.