The Girl That Time Forgot (2021)

Act 1 [Episode 1]: 

The scene starts out in a dimly lit room, windows closed and curtains pulled to set the serious atmosphere. Two males sit by a furnished wooden desk with two microphones and some paper ready at their hands. The first one, Matthias is setting his camera up while Josh waits excitedly, ready for their video session to begin. Matthias gives a quick countdown, and the both of them perk towards the camera.

Matthias: Hello everybody, welcome back to TOMB THEORIES and today we’re probably going to do one of the most dumbest, stupid, idiotic, and probaby illegal thing we’ve done on this channel.

Josh: Wow, going straight for it huh?

Matt: Well, judging by the video title, the viewers would probably know what they are getting into.

Josh: We’re going to explore the Cursed Church of Selene! Spooky~

Matt: Well, the church isn’t cursed itself, it’s the catacombs that lie right under it. It’s not under the eyes of the government yet so it’s all raw and untouched for the exploring.

Josh: (hiding laugh behind his hand) Why did you have to say it like that?

Matt: I just gotta be real with you, it’s probably gonna be the most unsanitary, moist and cramped catacomb that we’ll ever explore.

Josh: Jesus christ-

Matt: Ok so we’re all aware of the lore behind the Curse of Selene, right?

Josh: You’re supposed to explain it man.

Matt: Oh, I was just wondering if you knew anything about it. No one really knows about Selene and the things she did back in the old days.

Josh: No Matt. I don’t know shit about some crusty moon lady- assuming that’s why her name is Selene.

Matt: Yeah, that’s not far off. Back in the old days, somewhere around the 1000’s, a little girl by the name of Selene became really important. She was born an orphan, her parents were nowhere to be seen and so she was taken into a monastery right?

Josh: Damn.

Matt: Well, you have to understand the reason why she was orphaned in the first place. Readings and prayers affirm that Selene was born with white hair.

Josh: Oh, so she’s an albino? I think that's pretty cool to be honest.

Matt: Not necessarily, but we’ll get to that in a bit. Selene was taken into the monastery where she was raised under some religion we currently don’t know. It wasn’t Christianity or anything of that sort and we wouldn’t have the proof because the monastery was burned down a year after they took Selene in. 

Josh: (In the tune of We Didn’t Start The Fire) She didn’t start the fire~!

Matt: Well actually it was speculated that she did.

Josh: Oh.

Matt: Yeah. She was the only one who was able to walk out of it alive and unscathed while everyone else inside perished so people thought she had to be aware of it happening in order to escape it, y’know?

Josh: Why would this little girl- assuming she’s still little at this point- would ever burn down a whole freaking building?

Matt: That we don’t know of. Keep in mind this was the 1000’s. Things get lost in time. She got a lot of good and bad rep. She was like this miracle child who somehow survived this devastating catastrophe. She was also what some would say, “a witch”.

Josh: Oh god, don’t tell me they burned this little girl at the stake.

Matt. No.

Josh: Ok cool.

Matt: Imagine how fucked up you must be to call a 6 year old girl a witch and then proceed to burn her alive in front of hundreds of people? Anyways, um. Right. Since Selene wasn’t really that much of a good omen, she had to live on the streets for a while since no one wanted to take care of her.

Josh: Jeez, this girl is just mad unlucky huh.

Matt: Well, after spending a few days on the streets, people realized she isn’t all that she leads on to be. Would you like to guess why?
Josh: She’s the daughter of the moon.

Matt: Wow. I… was not expecting you to get that right. What the fuck?

Josh: (throws arms in the air) Wait. I actually got it right?! Woohoo!

Matt: According to the legends, while spending her time on the streets, the moon was at its brightest in years and it brought out mystical powers in her that nobody was even aware of. It also explains her white hair.

Matt: I’m still surprised that you got that right.

Josh: Well I mean duh. Looking back at it, Selene just seems like Yue ripoff.

Matt: Fun Fact actually, Yue from ATLA was inspired by the Curse of Selene so you can’t say that Selene is a Yue ripoff.

Josh: Fair enough, fair enough. What happened next?

Matt: At first people were really close to, uh, y’know, crucifying her for being this witch-like being. But it turns out that her powers could be used for good. Like for example, she was able to enhance the nutrients in farmers’ soils to produce rich crops and manipulate something in the ocean so that fishmongers would always come back with plenty of fish.

Josh: I don’t know how that has anything to do with the moon.

Matt: (whispering) I don’t know either but let’s roll with it.

Matt: So in short, people worshipped her as a goddess and she had a lot of followers. She could do all these nice things for them and she is no longer treated like an orphan. She even has her own religion called Selenism and she has this entire structure built for her.

Josh: The good ending.

Matt: Not quite.

Josh: Goddamnit.

Matt: So you see, there were some people who were still skeptical about her powers. They still blamed some weird outside element or claimed coincidence to her power.

Josh: So they tried to kill her?

Matt: Yep. While there was offering services- people offered her food and gifts as repayment for things she would provide them- someone offered her wine. The kicker, the wine was poisoned.

Josh: (wide-eyed) Wait, they were really giving wine to children??

Matt: They didn’t have clean water at this point in time Josh. All their waters came from dirty rivers and shit. You have to make do with what you got.

Matt: So yeah, this conspicuous follower of Selene gives her poisoned wine and she drinks it. She doesn’t die, but she loses her ability to see. 

Josh: Oh my.

Matt: The poison didn’t kill her right away so she was in a lot of pain. Approximately 7 hours of blistering pain. Her followers were in despair, and as a last minute request, she asked them to sing her a song. After that, she died.

Josh: That’s…. That's so sad holy shit.

Matt: After Selene died, the moon was enraged that the humans of the earth killed it’s only daughter. In turn, the moon plunged the world into a month long of darkness. Crops withered, people were killed, people tripped over things they shouldn’t have, lot’s of animals died and the balance of nature was offset.

Matt: Once the sun rose after a month, those who were still remaining (which weren’t a lot mind you) built The Church of Selene. The catacombs underneath were to house all those who perished during the month long darkness to serve as a reminder at what the moon and the daughter was capable of.

Josh: (excitedly) And that’s where we’re headed too...

Matt: Indeed. The place has only been discovered as of recently and the government has yet to sweep through the catacombs. That means we’re going to see real corpses, real grime, real danger. All real.

Josh: Oh god, I can’t wait!

Matt: We’ll see you guys there.

=cut=

     The two of them are in the middle of a dense forest. The only sounds they can hear are the crickets chirping and the dirt crunching beneath their feet as they make their way down a narrow path.

Matt: Ok guys. It’s currently 3 AM-

Josh: It’s really fucking dark out. We probably can’t see farther than a 6 foot radius, even with a flashlight.

Matt: Yeah. It feels like we're walking right through Slenderman's forest.

Josh: (nervously hushed) Oh god, why do you have to say it like that?

Matt: Almost there Josh. Don’t pussy out on me yet.

Josh: You know I would never do that.

Josh: Wait what is that.

Josh: Matt, what the hell is this. (points to sign perched by the road)

Matt: Looks like french to me.

Josh: Nah man. That’s one hundred percent latin. How the fuck can you mess up latin, man. 

Matt: Sorry, had to scrub my glasses. Do you know what it says?

Josh: Not a lot. Never really paid attention in my latin classes. I know this word means, road or street.

Matt: Let’s just hope it isn’t Latin for “keep the fuck out or else you’ll die”.

(a minute of them them trekking in the dark)

Matt: Ah-AHAH! There it is! Do you see it Josh? (shines light at towering stone wall)

Josh: Hot diggity damn. It’s fucking massive. And how the hell did nobody discover this?
Matt: Beats me man. (plants a foot on the marble stairs leading to the door)

Matt: The statues and the paintings couldn’t have made this any more obvious.

Josh: Hehehe. He he he. (zooms camera in on naked statue man’s penis)

Matt: Josh what are you- Real funny Josh. 

Josh: His balls are deformed man! Look at it. (pinches nutsack)

Matt: (distressly places hand on his forehead) WHAT ARE YOU DOING. This is a cursed church and you’re gripping this poor man’s schlong! 

Josh: You said the catacombs were cursed and not the church but fine whatever let’s go inside.

Matt: Please don’t sexually harass any statues that might be inside, please holy shit.

Josh: (high fives another statue) No promises.

Matt: Jesus…

(both of them silent, quietly recording statues, tapestries and walls while they make their way down the church)

Josh: I’m surprised at how well preserved this is. There’s no sign of vandalism or graffiti.

Matt: Not a good sign to be honest.

Josh: How so? I would like my abandoned churches clean and untouched, y’know?

Matt: Well, if nothing has been touched, that means no other human has really been here. We don’t know if anything here is safe.

Josh: Oh god! (points camera at looming statue, red liquid running down its eyes) Oh fuck! Nah! What the hell is that?!

Matt: What? (walks up to Josh) Oh jesus. Is that new? Is that blood?

Josh: Man! I don’t want to find out! (places a fist to his chest) My heart is beating so fast.

Matt: (silent contemplation) Still want to move along? Haven’t gotten to the most interesting part yet.

Josh: (still staring at the statue) Sure. Sure, sure, let's get out of here.

Josh explores the hallways right by the pews, taking in the details of certain tapestries. He proceeds to commentate to the camera.

Josh: Look at this. Is this Selene? Looks like her. 

Josh: And that must be the dude who poisoned her. (points at different parts of the tapestry.)

Both regroup and make their way to the back of the church.

Matt: Oh! Is that what I think it is?

Josh: (dreadfully) No… Don’t tell me…

Matt: That has to be the entrance to the catacombs.

Josh: Bro, look at those scorch marks lining the gate… (rubs a hesitant finger against the wall)

Josh: It’s solid, that has to have been there for god knows how long.

Matt: Try your best to keep the walls Josh-Free. We don’t need the government tracing some of your body oil back to you.

Josh: (rolls eyes) Is that even possible?

Matt: Let’s not find out. (unlocks the gate and pushes it open) Hmph!

Gate: *SCREEEAAAAEE*

Josh: Jesus. Now that’s unsettling.

Matt: (already walking down the steps) Scared by a gate? You snooze, you lose bro.

Josh: Hold on! Wait up!

(passing stairs and hole in the walls, meant for holding torches)

Josh: Oh god, right off the bat. (points camera as pedestal, a skull perched on top)

Matt: That’s all real Josh. A real skull. A real person.

Josh: (points camera towards a row of cells, each decorated with its own set of bones and skull)

Matt: This is fucking freaky bro.

Josh: I’m just worried where they put the rib cages. It all seems like legs and arms.

Matt: Maybe it’s in another room? (points to a cell with no remains, just a ton of spiderwebs) Fuck.

(walking down hallway)

Josh: You guys don’t understand how fucking dark it is in here. Like it feels like it’s darker than the night outside.

Matt: Yeah. (holds up flashlight) Even with this, it feels like we aren’t penetrating much.

Josh: Like, Matt, turn off the lights. Actually wait, I don’t trust you. 

Matt: It’s dark as pitch, how do you expect me to walk over to you and not trip in the process?

Josh: We are literally hundreds of feet underground in probably the scariest place on the planet. I’m more terrified of some dead girl jumping out and lunging for my neck.

Matt: Can you handle 30 seconds of darkness? I’ll time you.

Josh: What? Are you nuts?

Matt: Come on. If you can go the full 30s without pissing your pants or telling me to turn on the lights, we can get McDonalds after this.

Josh: (stares at Matt)

Matt: I’ll get you the 50pc nuggets.

Josh: God fucking- fine. Kill the lights.

Matt: Alright, turning off the lights…. Now.

(black screen)

Matt: (whispering) I’m still here.

Josh: I know that.

Josh & Matt: …….

Josh: (physically struggling to keep his panic restrained) Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.

Matt: Not a good idea to use the Lord’s name in vain while under a church catacomb.

Josh: How many more fucking seconds?

Matt: 15.

Josh and Matt: ……

Matt: … (shaky inhale)

Matt: (loud booming sneeze) *ACHOO*

Josh: AAA- FUCK! What the hell man?!

Matt: My bad, my bad. That doesn’t count towards your nuggets.

Josh: Turn the lights back on, holy fuck. Scared me to hell.

Matt: It’s really dusty in here. Triggering my allergies. We should keep moving, before I sneeze the corpsed back to life.

Josh: Ok.

Josh: (peering down well) Look at that…

Matt: (shines light down the well) Jesus, look at all those bones.

Matt: 100 nuggets if you climb down there-

Josh: Hell. No. (walks away)

Matt: Worth a shot.

Josh: Wait Matt, were you keeping track of where we were going?

Matt: Not necessarily…

Josh: WHAT.

Matt: Don’t worry about it. I have a very good sense of direction.

Josh: I swear to god Matt, if we get lost down here and starve to death because of you, I’m going to drag you down to hell with me.

Matt: Hell doesn’t seem so far from where we are. Look. (points behind Josh)

Josh: What- Oh damn. Oh god. What is that?

Matt: Looks like an entrance.

Josh: Who the fuck puts stone dogs on their doors.

Matt: You can’t deny that it looks awesome.

Josh: Okay yeah. They look so real. The teeth are so detailed.

Matt: Watch. They jump out at us.

Josh: Don’t say that holy shit.

Matt: (pulls door handles with his whole body strength) HNNGHHH!! Hoo!

Josh: Woah.

Matt: Woah woah woah. What is that?

Josh: How is there light down here?

Matt: That can’t be torch light. It’s so white.

Josh: Moonlight? No way, we’re so far down.

Matt: I don’t believe it either.

Josh: There’s a statue in the middle of the room, right where the light is pointing.

Matt: Ok, maybe it’s my turn to be nervous. This room doesn’t sit right with me.

Josh: Ok so you can sit in the dark for 30 seconds, look down wells full of bones and even open dogged-doors but can’t stand the sight of a statue?

Matt: It’s just out there in the open. For all we know it’s probably booby-trapped and shit.

Josh: (sighs) I’m going there and prove that you are a pussy.

Matt: I was kidding when I said I called you a pussy. I’m serious, I don’t like it here.

Josh: (walking towards statue in clear stride)

Matt: (whisper-yells) Josh!

Josh: See. (circles statue) Absolutely nothing.

Matt: …

Josh: The statue…. Is absolutely stunning, you need to see it.

Matt: I don’t trust it.

Josh: Look. It’s in Latin. 

Matt: Don’t fucking read it you goddamn— Please! You might summon some demons and shit.

Josh: It just says “The Girl that Time Forgot.”

Matt: …

Josh: This statue is Selene, Matt. It’s just Selene, but she looks a lot older. I thought you said she was just a kid when she died right?

Matt: People glorify gods all the time by making them a lot sexier or older than they originally are.

Josh: Are you gonna come and see Selene face to face or are you going to stand there and piss your pants?

Matt: Fine, fine.

(both of them staring at the statue)

Matt: I won’t lie, the details in this statue are extremely realistic. Too realistic to my liking.

Josh: Look at the flow of her hair. And the hands. The hands are so lean and frail.

Matt: Yeah. Her hands are cool.

Josh: The wrinkles in her clothes, the dimple of her smiles, the small fine dents in her lips.

Matt: Yeah.

Josh: And god. The eyes.

Matt: Josh… her eyes are covered.

Josh: It’s such a beautiful shade of gold. The way she smiles as she holds up the moonlight. It’s simply stunning.

Matt: Excuse me? Her eyes are not visible. Josh, what the hell are you saying.

Josh: I wouldn’t be surprised if she had lived a bit longer, she would have stolen the hearts of the men of her time. The moon had every right to be enraged about her death. The humans of that time really missed out on a goddess.

Matt: (pokes Josh in the back, and then nudges him in the arm) Josh?

Josh: Hm? What’s up?

Matt: Are you okay?? You just said a bunch of baloney.

Josh: Baloney? I meant every single word.

Matt: What do you mean eyes? How on god's green earth would you know her eye color? Her eyes are covered by that weird bandana thing.

Josh: … No they're not?

Matt: (concerned) Are you playing games? Because it’s not funny. Look. Her eyes. Are. Covered.

Josh: Maybe you’re the one hallucinating.

Matt: Are you shitting me? Like you are being for real. You can see her eyes.

Josh: And you can’t?

Josh: I- (phone alarm goes off) 

Matt: It’s 5:30. We need to head out before the sun completely rises.

Josh: Already?

Matt: What do you mean already? We’ve seen way too much shit here. I want to get out of here!

Josh: No! But we haven’t appreciated Selene enough. This is the only time we’re going to be able to see any close rendition of her and you’re just going to leave?
Matt: We got a lot of good footage! We don’t need to see any more of her.

Josh: It’s not the same!

Matt: God fucking- I knew this was a bad idea. You-You are weird.

Josh: You’re weird bro.

Matt: Josh has been possessed by something. He’s seeing things that I’m not.

Josh: Shut the hell up. You’re overreacting. I just want to look at the damn statue a bit more.

Matt: Next thing you know, you’re probably gonna fuck it. We’re leaving now.

Josh: Matt—

Matt: (walking away)

Josh: Jesus Christ. 

The duo are now inside a McDonalds, situating themselves in the farthest corner of the restaurant with all of their gear in tow.

Worker: One order for Matt!

Josh: Order up.

Matt: I still don’t know why I still bought you chicken nuggets.

Josh: Yeah. You went complete ape on me.

Matt: You have to understand that there were no eyes on the statue right?

Josh: Why are you recording this anyways?

Matt: This is content. You went cuckoo in that catacomb. That catacomb is cursed for a reason. This is some Blair Witch Project/Paranormal Activity shit right here and I’m gonna capture all of it, even if you’re a nutcase.

Josh: Even if this could get us killed?

Matt: That’s a risk I’m willing to take.

Josh: I really dont think an argument over Selene’s eyeballs is worth recording.

Matt: (grabs food and sits down at table) Ok look, I’ll even show you my footage. Give me your camera too and we’re gonna look over it.

Josh: At a McDonalds? At like 7am in the morning?

Matt: Yes. Sit your butt down.

(just them looking over at footage)

Matt: What the hell.

Josh: What do you mean?

Matt: Are you seeing this right? Look at the video when I focus on Selene’s eyes.

Josh:You’re right. It’s blurred out by the moonlight.

Matt: And it’s not this angle too. Look when I take Selene’s video from different angles, you still can’t see her eyes.

Josh: Does that mean I'm special or something? I can see her eyes, but not you or the camera? 

Matt: I don’t know Josh. There’s a lot to consider. You did have a good smoke before walking to the church. That could instantly be dismissed as a hallucination.

Josh: I didn’t smoke weed before leaving. That was vape-

Matt: Still you were under some cancerous influence. This could all be a one time thing that we just happened to catch with all the right conditions. 

Josh: What are you saying here?

Matt: I’m not exactly saying that we should experiment a bit more but-

Josh: (perking up) You want us to go back.

Matt: Yes but do I condone it? Absolutely not. 

Josh: You were the one who suggested this whole thing.

Matt: But now we know what’s done there. I don’t want to see that statue again. As pretty as it is, it makes me feel uneasy.

Josh: You’re just weak.

Matt: There has to be more to this. I think we need to go back a few more times. Try a control run.

Josh: A control run?

Matt: Yeah. No smoking, drinking, etc. Full 8 hours of sleep. Go back at the same time. See if anything has changed.

Josh: I’m down.

Matt: I swear if this video flops I’m going to be extremely upset.