Larme Noire Research Journal

Entry 1 - Ground Level

I have been called upon to venture into a sinkhole here in Maine with a team of fellow researchers and helpers. We were sent on commission by a man with much wealth, or as my team member Wylie put it, "the fat cat aristocrat". I believe his name was Patrick Beauchamp? I can see why he has curiosity for the sinkhole itself, it did sink an entire town into the ground after all. 

I believe the sinkhole was dubbed "Larme Noire" or "the Black Tear" after its shape. I believe the name is French because Clear Point, the town that sunk, had a primarily French population. I wonder if we will find any survivors or remnants of the town when we descend below. It has only been two weeks since the incident, so I believe there could be some survivors remaining deep underground. 

Regardless of my vague speculations, I believe I should introduce myself and my team. My name is Michael, Michael L. Hawthorne. I am the team leader according to them. Supposedly I am "coolheaded" and "stoic" (whatever that means). The first team member I met was Naemi Carrow, our geology expert. She seems oddly optimistic and cheery over our expedition into what is to me a massive graveyard. Nevertheless, she seems to boost morale in most members. As I menitoned before, there is Wylie Fletcher, a fellow researcher. I find him problematic to say the least. He is one of those sardonic know-it-alls. He makes deeply troubling remarks to say the least. Then, there's Nija Baard, she handles most of the technical side of the equipment. Baard is an interesting person. She is fairly superstitious, often speaking to the group about some mythology or cryptid. Finally, we have our emergency medic, Amer Aziz. Amer has an odd fascination with ecosystems. Apart from that, he was a much more mellow person in comparison to the other members. 

That is everyone in the team. I believe tomorrow we will descend into the sink hole. I may not see the light of day for many weeks, months even. That being said, Mr. Beauchamp offered a hefty prize for this expedition. 

This journal I have started wasn't a necessity. Mr. Beauchamp did not ask anyone to record anything beyond the data. I believe I may just be researching something far greater than the endless void of death and misery we will venture into. Perhaps I am researching human strength in the face of adversity. Adversity here being the coldness of the unknown.

This is Michael L. Hawthorne, signing off.