The tape begins with a disclaimer: “The following footage was recovered from a cave in Malibu Creek State Park. The families of those involved have requested their names be withheld.”

LUCAS (23, cameraman, silent) pans the lens to the canyon walls. The limestone bleeds shadows. It’s beautiful, in that predatory way Malibu pretends not to be. Mansions cling to the ridges like white teeth, but down here, in the creek bed, it’s Jurassic. Feral.

The GoPro was found three weeks later, buried in a dry creek bed forty miles south. The battery was at 4%. The memory card was full. Of this. And only this.

JENNA (Forced laugh) It’s a refraction. The flare is—