TWO SEATER

• Do not touch the sofa
• Do not speak, interact or move within close proximity of any person appearing on the sofa
  
• Never sit down on the sofa, even if covered
• Chamber 042 is to be kept at low lighting levels

A floral patterned vintage two-seater sofa. Freestanding on four (4) pine timber feet. Fabric is slightly weathered and sun-bleached, but appears to have originally been white, with pink flowers and green leaves. Colour and pattern has been reported by individual witnesses to change in certain lighting conditions, but experiments attempting to confirm this have been unsuccessful.

Item 042 is a two-seater sofa that is occasionally occupied by a human-shaped presence (HSP). This individual will be seated on either chair, and typically invites the watcher to take a seat next to them. Each presence is distinct in appearance and behaviour, with a total of six (6) unique figures witnessed and recorded during initial study. This number has increased to seven (7) following Incident 042-E.

The appearances are instantaneous, but are limited by direct observation. Whilst it is being watched, Two-Seater will not transition between an occupied and unoccupied state. If direct eye contact is broken, even momentarily, Two-Seater can change from occupied to unoccupied, vice versa, or in rare instances, change the presence seated. When in low-lighting, it seems to favour an unoccupied state, but experiments have shown different patterns of behaviour depending on which individual is observing. An example of results demonstrating this is shown in Experiment 54-042-X4.

None of the presences have ever tried to leave the sofa. They do not speak, or make noise of any kind. It is unknown if they can physically separate from the sofa, but they have on two (2) occasions been observed making swift ‘grabbing motions’; lurching towards the watcher and trying to grab hold of them. Such attempts have so far been unsuccessful, and it is unknown precisely what consequence a successful attempt would have, though it can be assumed following Incident 042-E.

It is worthwhile noting that, whilst in low lighting levels, all HSPs seem to operate within the boundary of human physicality. In harsh lighting, their reach and proportions can extend beyond the biologically possible. For this reason, it is recommended that Two-Seater is kept in low lighting conditions at all times.

Dr Wendall referred to the HSPs as “Grotesque human-shaped hand puppets” designed to lure an individual to sit down on Two-Seater. This was partly due to his observation that each presence never fully sits forwards, with a part of their body continuously touching the seam between cushion and backrest. He hypothesised that whatever Two-Seater is, it was lurking beneath the cushions, poking out ‘hand puppets’ in an attempt to catch prey and ‘feed’. The phrase ‘human-shaped hand puppets’ caught on, but was later modified to ‘human-shaped presences’ at the request of [MANAGEMENT].

Two-Seater has been subjected to a number of scans that show no differences to an ordinary sofa. However audio monitoring does pick up a faint scratching noise when Two-Seater is occupied. Its inability to shift state whilst being observed can (and should) be used to our advantage during any experiments, relocation or further study.

As entities were slowly discovered and identified, research staff began to give them informal nicknames. [MANAGEMENT] has permitted this, providing staff use correct identification on all official documentation.

• 54-042-HSP1 “Silent observer”

Appearance - A stern man, of middle years. Black hair, thin pencil moustache. He sits upright, hands placed on his knees, and has not yet made any movement besides tilting his head to follow any observers.

Behaviour - None. Just watches anyone watching him. Subjects have reported feeling “unsettled” at his gaze, and generally avoid making eye contact with the man.

• 54-042-HSP2 “Man in chains”

Appearance - Young man, possibly mid-twenties. Red hair, wearing iron shackles and chains around his hands.

Behavior - Gentle pleading to remove his shackles. Slightly different behavior when observed by young women - smiling, winking and nodding at the seat next to him. As with other HSPs, HSP2 does not speak, but gestures and makes facial expressions. One subject commented “It’s like he’s saying, you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.”

• 54-042-HSP3 “Grandma”

Appearance - An elderly woman wearing a green dress and green buckled shoes.

Behavior - Inviting and comforting, gently patting the seat next to her and waving the observer closer. She will often gesture with both hands, beckoning the observer only, and if she is being watched by two people in conversation, she appears to be intently listening, turning her head each time to watch the current speaker.

• 54-042-HSP4 “Little boy”

Appearance - A young boy, no older than ten. African descent, dressed in clothing that suggests a pre-WW1 period.

Behavior - Fidgeting on the sofa and flashing a cheeky smile to anyone who will watch. HSP4 is somewhat unique in that sometimes he will stand or move around the sofa, shuffling over to the adjacent seat or even trying to climb the cushions. As per Dr Wendall’s observations though, the tips of one shoe always touch the seam between backrest and seat.

• 54-042-HSP5 “Miss Temptation”

Appearance - Blonde woman, late twenties. She is wearing lingerie, possibly from the 1960s era, and has a slender, attractive figure.

Behavior - Alluring. Usually only appearing to male personnel, HSP5 will pout and beckon the observer over. She will writhe slightly, to exaggerate her body, or gently caress herself. When she smiles, it is only with the corner of her mouth.

• 54-042-HSP6 “Old sleepy”

Appearance - A tweed-suited man, approaching his sixties. He has grey, thinning hair with shocks of white running throughout, and his initial appearance will always be lying down, stretched across both seats. It appears as though he is in deep sleep.

Behavior - Wakes up, stretches, and reacts as if only just noticing the observer. Sits up and makes space, gesturing to the seat next to him. If the user does not sit, he becomes increasingly irritated and insistent.

• 54-024-HSP7 “Tom”

(See Incident 042-E)

A brief initial test to determine if Two-Seater would behave differently depending on who was observing it. Each subject was asked to observe 042 on five (5) separate occasions over four (4) days, for a total of twenty (20) observation events per subject.

Test Subject - Dr Henry Auburn

Unoccupied - 14

HSP1 - 1

HSP2 - 0

HSP3 - 0

HSP4 - 0

HSP5 - 5

HSP6 - 0

HSP7 - (not present at time of experiment)

Test Subject - Agent Robert Stone

Unoccupied - 19

HSP1 - 1

HSP2 - 0

HSP3 - 0

HSP4 - 0

HSP5 - 0

HSP6 - 0

HSP7 - (not present at time of experiment)

Test Subject - Dr Suzie Milton

Unoccupied - 9

HSP1 - 1

HSP2 - 1

HSP3 - 5

HSP4 - 3

HSP5 - 0

HSP6 - 1

HSP7 - (not present at time of experiment)

Test Subject - "Kevin"

Unoccupied - 12

HSP1 - 1

HSP2 - 2

HSP3 - 1

HSP4 - 1

HSP5 - 3

HSP6 - 0

HSP7 - (not present at time of experiment)

Conclusion of experiment - Two-Seater will favour certain HSPs depending on the observer. HSP5 is favoured when young heterosexual males are viewing, for example. Most notable was that Agent Stone had minimal occurrences of HSPs. Also worthy of note is that HSP1 appeared to all participants, and was typically the first presence to appear to a new observer (75% of subjects). It is proposed that additional experiments are performed on a larger scale to improve accuracy of results and conclusions. [Approved - low priority].

During a routine nightshift, Tom Nelly was assigned to patrol the sector housing ‘Two-Seater’. As this was a low risk sector, Tom was permitted to patrol alone. Security cameras show Tom was becoming increasingly obsessed with chamber 042, as HSP5 would repeatedly appear and slowly but persistently increase her flirtatious behavior.

After several loops of his typical patrol, Tom Nelly began to change his route, doubling back and spending most of his shift watching HSP5 through the glass. He appears to be attempting to interact non-verbally with HSP5, which further encouraged her behavior.

Approximately six (6) hours into his shift, Tom Nelly used his security clearance to gain access into Chamber 042. He stood closer than would be permitted to Two-Seater and HSP5. From the limited angle of footage available, he appeared to be pleasuring himself. HSP5 writhes and arches her back, lounging on Two-Seater and beckoning Tom Nelly closer. She caresses her own body and bites her lips, as Tom steps closer.

HSP5 reaches out, and Tom Nelly embraces her. Both bodies wrap around each other and sink into the cushions. They disappear between backrest and seat. When Tom Nelly did not attend his shift handover, head of security Paul Slater raised the alarm, and an unsuccessful search was carried out prior to security footage review. It is presumed that Tom Nelly was killed during his contact with HSP5. Subsequent x-ray scans of Two-Seater have shown no bones or human remains within its interior.

Following incident 54-042-E, security protocols regarding Two-Seater were increased. HSP7 began to appear on Two-Seater, typically self-pleasuring beneath his guard’s uniform. It is believed HSP7 appears when Two-Seater wants to mock Ministry personnel. A remote operated blind was installed within Chamber 042 at the request of Dr Henry Auburn.