December 27th

Hypothesis:

Wrapped some wires from the voltaic around an iron nail. This should allow it to generate a small magnetic charge; I’m not certain on the science here but Victor’s pretty certain it will work. A lead bullet isn’t magnetic, and the fragments I was able to find certainly look like lead, but if it’s some kind of special bullet, maybe I can pick it out

Testing:

Tested magnet on horseshoe. It works. Tested on nine fragments taken from Victor. Most had no appreciable movement but three did. By using the magnet, and cross-referencing with Victor’s discomfort, I was able to find a sliver of magnetic material embedded in sternum.

Conclusion:

The bullets were made of at least two materials, one of which is magnetic. It’s not behaving like the horseshoe though. The horseshoe was able to act like a magnet for a few minutes after we removed the magnetized nail, while the bullet fragments couldn’t. What kind of metal is this?

Note:

Victor seemed to improve for a few hours after removing the sliver, but then the vomit again.

December 29th

Hypothesis:

Victor’s still trying to fix Matilda’s vocal chords whenever he’s well enough to stand. I know he’s sick, but it shouldn’t take this long, and her bullet didn’t shatter like his did. I’ve been too busy with him and helping Mattie with the supplies to take a look myself, but maybe whatever’s wrong with her has some implications for what’s wrong with him.

Testing:

Tried the magnet again, found nothing. Opened up her throat myself to take a look. It’s awful. The inside of her neck doesn’t feel like muscle anymore; it’s like moss or meat after it’s been minced. There’s not enough stability to even attempt to remake her vocal chords.

Peer Review:

Argued with Victor after Matilda went to sleep. He agrees that her throat can’t be fixed; what he’s been doing for the past two weeks is repairing it just enough to keep her windpipe from collapsing in on itself. He told me not to tell Matilda because he doesn’t know how she’ll react. I haven’t decided if I’ll listen to him or not. Better we tell her before she figures it out on her own.

Conclusion:

Something about the bullets is extra-lethal to everybody, which raises the question of why Victor’s torso hasn’t turned to fuzzy meat. Also, keeping the fragments outside and only handling them with gloves for now. If I get sick, we’re done for.

January 1st

Theory:

Lilith said that these were likely bullets to kill her specifically. The only thing I could come up with is sulfur, known also as brimstone and associated with hell, but nobody remembers smelling rotten eggs. I’ve asked Victor and Matilda to think this over. Victor suggested yesterday that mankind could only die after ‘partaking of the tree of knowledge of good and evil’. Theologically, it makes sense, but I have no idea what to do with that. Go through Victor’s chest again looking for wooden splinters?

Testing:

I looked for wooden splinters. I didn’t find any.

Conclusion:

Victor spent the last two days too nauseous to stand. Matilda’s throat is hurting again because Victor can’t do maintenance. I’m useless. The two most beautiful, mad people I know are slowly dying and all I can do is tear them apart looking for the killer. I’m not even sure if surrendering to the Marshals will save them; the Marshals are powerful but this doesn’t look like wizard magic and that’s their specialty.

January 11th

Theory:

We have a working theory. The tree of knowledge is supposed to be an apple; Victor said Birch always thought it’d be a fig tree, but I don’t think Pastor Bean would know that. Matilda vaguely recalled that you can make a kind of poison out of a the seeds of certain plants, like almonds, peaches and, yes, apples (she would like me to note that she learned this from a chemist she was seeing and has not used poison herself). None of us know exactly how you’d poison a bullet, but it’s probable.

Hypothesis:

Victor has been poisoned, and a full flush of his system will cure him. This doesn’t explain what’s happening with Matilda’s throat, but any progress…any progress I’ll take.

Testing:

Boiled more snow than usual for the past three days to get the necessary clean water. I’m so tired of finding a new place for the fire every few days so the trackers don’t find us. Didn’t bring Victor’s piping with us; had to reuse some piping from the extractor. Could only run it for half an hour.

Conclusion:

I’m not sure if it worked yet. But I think it has to. After we finished, Victor asked me to pray with him. It’s been a while since I’ve really prayed outside of church. He thinks God is and isn’t real, just like every other religious figure, even though his parents don’t make sense without him existing. And yet he prays. This is applied theology more than science. I have to have faith. Damnit. Goddamnit.