The Control a True Account of Events That Took Place in 2005

The Control
A true account of events that took place in 2005

Hollywood - an area of Los Angeles that is famous to hundreds of millions of people around the world as a magical place where movies are made, where movie stars and pop stars mingle at glamorous parties and restaurants, a place where every second car is a stretch limousine or a Ferrari, and a place where 'money is no object.'
It is a magnet for young people from all over the world who travel there to seek fame and fortune as a singer, a movie star or a model.
One hundred years ago Hollywood Boulevard was glamorous. The theatres were painted gold, spotlights lit up the Californian sky, the streets were clean of trash and the restaurants were full of movie stars.
Today it is a different place.
Many of the theatres are boarded up or derelict. Restaurants have become stores selling cheap plastic goods to tourists and you don't have to walk too far from Mann's Chinese Theatre - before being offered the opportunity to spend some time with a hooker.
There is investment along the Boulevard. Scientology. Everywhere you look it is in your face. Employees or followers stand in doorways and offer passers-by the chance to live a more enlightened and fulfilled life. They are generally ignored by the tourists, who are more interested in having their photograph taken with an out of work actor who is dressed as a famous movie character.
Despite its neglect, and the fact that there is very little to see or do along the Boulevard, it is still visited by tens of thousands of people every day.
Not one of them is aware of the dark secret that Hollywood keeps or of the tunnel that runs beneath their feet and the stars on the Walk of Fame.
Leaving Hollywood and travelling west along Sunset Boulevard in the direction of Santa Monica beach and the Pacific Ocean, you will discover the exclusive areas of Beverly Hills and Bel air.
This is where you will find the real glamour. Palm tree lined roads with no sidewalks. Perfectly manicured lawns and gardens. Huge mansions protected by high walls and security cameras. This is the real place where 'money is no object'...... and where The Control lived in complete secrecy.
Anja Olsen had moved to LA from Copenhagen, Denmark six months earlier in the hope of making a career in TV or movies.
She had read at several auditions but was still waiting for her big break.
Anja had a small apartment in Santa Monica and was working hard in two jobs while applying for various acting roles.
She worked 5 days a week at
The Sidewalk Cafe at Venice Beach, serving breakfast and lunch, then she worked 5 late shifts at Red Rock bar on Sunset Boulevard.
It was at Red Rock where Anja met Max. He was a good looking young guy. Always dressed in a smart suit. Always happy. Always left a $10 tip. But always alone. This puzzled Anja. Max appeared to be the kind of guy that would be surrounded by friends. Male and Female - but every Friday around 10pm he would come into the bar alone, pull up a stool and drink draft beer while chatting and making jokes with the girls behind the bar. Occasionally his phone would vibrate and he would tap out a quick reply before returning his focus to his fun with the bar staff.
Max was obviously an educated guy, whoever came to the bar to order drinks, if they found themselves near Max, he was able to strike up a polite and friendly conversation with them.
Friday July 8th was quieter than usual. The weather had been rainy for most of the day and evening - and Red Rock had only half the customers that it usually had.
The girls behind the bar had dusted, cleaned and polished every glass and bottle behind the bar, but still found themselves with pretty much nothing to do. At just before 10pm Danny Jacks the bar owner appeared from his office "Guys someone needs to call it a night. I can't pay for you all to be here when we have no customers". Anja and her colleagues Holly and Jana all looked at each other in silence. Danny spoke again as he turned back towards his office "I don't care who stays - but 2 of you guys get your coats and get gone by 10. You're not getting paid after". With that, he disappeared back into his office and his door slammed firmly behind him.
Holly spoke first. "I'm just so bored - I want to go" she said
Then Jana looked at Anja and said "Do you want to stay?"
Anja shrugged her shoulders and replied "I guess I could do with the money. I'll stay if you guys want to go".
The girls didn't wait for a second invitation. Within seconds they had their coats on and made their way out onto a rainy Sunset Boulevard in search of a cab.
Anja picked up a cloth and was wiping down a bar that had just been wiped, when a familiar voice said "Hey Miss, can I get a cold one?"
Anja turned to see Max. As usual he was dressed in a smart suit and was smiling. She was happy to see him. "Hey Max" she said as she took a glass from the fridge and began pouring a Budweiser. "What horrible weather"
Max took the beer and winked "No problem, It’s not raining in here" he lifted the glass and took a huge gulp.
Anja smiled as she noticed the froth moustache that the beer had left on his top lip. He looked cute.
"Are you alone?" Max asked
Anja opened her hands and her eyes looked around the bar "It's so quiet, the other guys have just left".
"Well lucky for me that you decided to stay" he smiled
Anja blushed a little, but was used to his flirting. She actually enjoyed it.
For the next 3 hours, Anja and Max chatted with each other, giggled, laughed and flirted. Occasionally she was forced to serve one of the other decreasing number of customers, but her focus predominantly was on Max.
At 1am Danny Jacks emerged from his office, wearing his coat and carrying a silver case. He walked through the bar neither acknowledging nor noticing his only customer. "Anja can you close up here? No point staying open now". Before she could reply, he was through the bar, down the steps and walking down Sunset towards Hollywood.
Anja looked at Max and shrugged her shoulders. "Now it really is just me". Her bottom lip pushed out as if she was sad - and Max said "And me" he said looking deep into her eyes.
Anja had always found Max attractive, but right now. Wow! He seemed really hot. She looked back into his eyes and for what seemed an age - they remained silent and motionless.
Anja took a deep breath and jumped from her trance. "I'm.....I'm sorry. I.....I need to get the ashtrays from outside"
She walked to the front of the bar and began tidying the tables and stools while emptying and cleaning the dirty ashtrays"
Max took a big gulp from his glass. He stared into nowhere and thought to himself - then began turning stools upside down and placing them on top of the bar tables.
Anja returned inside to find that Max had cleared the floor of all of the stools, ready for the cleaners in the morning "Omg! You really didn't need to do that" she said - so delighted. She stepped forward to kiss him on the cheek and at the last second Max turned to receive the kiss on his lips. Anja jumped back, then leant forward and kissed him again gently on the lips. Their mouths opened and they kissed passionately. Anja melted. She had never been kissed like this. Her whole body tingled. At one point, she lost control and let out a tiny groan as she breathed out.
Suddenly, breaking the silence and destroying 'the moment' the cell phone in Max's pocket vibrated and they both began to laugh.
Eventually Max flipped open his phone and his eyes opened wide. "What the Fuck?" He said - to his phone.
"You ok?" Anja asked
"I.....I'm sorry but I need to go" Max took a $100 dollar bill from his wallet and almost slapped it on the bar as he walked in a daze towards the door.
"Max?????" She called - but the door closed and he was gone.
The message he had received was clear "There is a new moon and The Control require a sacrificial offering. Arrangements as before"
6 months earlier Max had found himself in a situation where he owed some very violent people a large sum of money due to a gambling debt. He had confided in a friend, who then introduced him to a man by the name of Milton Larson. The gambling debt was wiped out on the condition that Max would "carry out favours and fulfil requests when called upon" it was made very clear to Max that failure to carry out these requests would result in serious consequences. He had no choice but do as he was told.
In March he had received the first text message instructing him when and where to deliver a beautiful girl. There were no details of what the girl would be used for (he presumed it would be yet another infamous Hollywood sex party) he was however shocked and stunned to later find that the girl had been used as a human sacrifice in ritual that had taken place very close to where he had delivered her. He was even more shocked when he heard names of the people who had carried out this sacrifice and who were part of this cult and who regularly attended these secret rituals. These were household names not only in the US but across the world.
Now, once again The Control were demanding - and Max had to deliver.
Saturday at Venice Beach was always busy but today was particularly busy. The storm from the previous night had blown away any clouds. The sky was blue and it was very hot and sunny.
Sidewalk Cafe was on the boardwalk facing the beach. The food was very good and for a tourist area - not too overpriced. There were very rarely any empty seats - especially outside on a sunny day like this.
Anja had been working since 10am. She had managed to get a cab right outside of Red Rock just after 2am and after 6 hours sleep was serving various kinds of eggs, coffee and juice to locals and tourists, while trying to take her mind off what had happened at the bar "Why did he leave like that?" It went over and over again - but there was no answer.
She was clearing an outside table when a customer approached. She froze for a second as Max stood in front of her.
He spoke first "Listen, I am really sorry I had to leave suddenly. But let me make it up to you." He handed her a folded piece of paper. "If you follow these instructions and do everything that you're asked, without questions - it will get you your big acting break that you're looking for. I can't tell you anymore than that. Just remember - no questions" Max looked serious. Then his eyes softened. "Good luck" he said sincerely. Then, as before he turned and left without speaking.
Anja didn't move for a few seconds. She watched until she lost him in the crowds of people along the boardwalk. Putting the folded note in her pocket she finished clearing the table and tried to understand what had just happened.
She finished her shift and walked back to her apartment just a short distance away. Once inside, she threw her bag onto the chair, then, falling backwards onto her sofa she closed her eyes and exhaled loudly. She took the folded note from her pocket and read:
"Roosevelt Hotel lobby 10pm - no questions"
She checked both sides of the paper for something more. There was nothing. She put the note on the low table in front of her then went to the fridge and poured herself a very large cold white wine. "Roosevelt Hotel at 10?" She said aloud "Should I go? Or should I not go?" She took a large mouthful of wine and read the brief note over and over again.
At 9:50pm Anja walked into the Roosevelt Hotel on Hollywood Boulevard. She walked past the reception and into the lobby area. There were people sat around sharing drinks and conversation. And in the far corner a smartly dressed man played a grand piano.
"What do I do now?" She thought to herself. She noticed a brown leather sofa that was unoccupied and decided to take a seat for ten minutes.
From the balcony that surrounded the lobby a man had been waiting and watching. He saw Anja come in, look around and then sit down. Slowly he made his way downstairs. At exactly 10pm the man approached Anja. He passed her a room key. "You can wait in this room, but be at the Monroe mirror at midnight." As quickly as he had appeared - he was gone. Anja looked at the key 167. She gripped it tightly then stood. She looked around once more. Just then a young waitress carrying a silver tray walked close by "Excuse me, where is the Monroe mirror?" Anja asked. The waitress smiled and pointed up towards the balcony "It's just up there Miss, just follow the stairs and on your right" Anja thanked her then made her way up to room 167.
On entering the room Anja noticed a bottle of Champagne that had recently been opened and was chilling in a silver ice bucket. Next to it was a single, long stemmed crystal glass and a bowl of huge strawberries that had all been sliced in two.
On the bed, a two piece, black satin lingerie set had been neatly laid out. The room smelt of freshly cut flowers and felt extremely comfortable and relaxing.
Anja poured a glass of Champagne and bit into a strawberry. She walked to the window and looked up and down the boulevard below. It was busy. People walking up and down, and endless cars in both directions. She could see across to the Chinese Theatre where a crowd of people had surrounded a street artist as he performed some impressive dance moves.
Anja sat on the bed and had another sip from her glass. The bed felt so comfortable, she laid back and within a second was asleep.
An hour later she opened her eyes and for a second was unsure of her surroundings. Then she sat up and looked at the clock on the table next to the bed. 11:30. "I need to hurry"

She took a quick shower, dried her long blonde hair and tied it with a black ribbon that matched the lingerie that had been set out for her. She wore her favourite extra-large hoop earrings followed by a tiny diamond in each of her double pierced ears.
When she was ready, she checked her reflection in the full length mirror "Not bad" she said to herself. She looked again at the clock 11:55. "Time to go"
Anja closed the door to 167 then made her way down the stairs and towards the direction of the mirror. She moved quickly for fear of being seen while wearing only sexy black lingerie.
A chamber maid had been waiting outside of the room with a trolley. Within minutes of Anja leaving the room - there was no evidence that she had ever been there.
A minute before midnight, Anja arrived at the mirror. It was a large, white framed mirror that hung on the wall next to a plaster cast of Marilyn Monroe. She carefully looked over the balcony and saw that there were still a number of people socializing down in the lobby.
Suddenly there was a 'click'. Anja spun round and saw that a door, (that she hadn't previously noticed) next to the mirror was now open. She stepped inside.
It was in contrast to the interior of the Roosevelt. It was tunnel like, dimly lit, cold stone walls and dusty. She took a few steps forward and the entrance door closed behind her. There was a small flight of stairs going down and then the tunnel continued further.
Anja walked along the tunnel, the sparse wall lights flickering through the cobwebs. Every now and then she stopped to check behind her. There was nothing. She kept walking.
Without knowing, she was walking directly underneath North Orange Drive. She walked for approximately 200 meters before coming to another door.
Anja took hold of the heavy wrought iron handle, turned it and with some effort pushed the door. It opened with a creak and Anja stood frozen at the site of what appeared in front of her.
The room resembled a dungeon. Stone walls and floor, open flamed torches hung from the walls - it all felt real. "It’s not real of course" she told herself "This is Hollywood" Anja smiled to herself when she noticed 2 cameras that filmed her as she entered the room "Max said this would get me my big break" she thought.
Suddenly a second door opened from across the dungeon and in the opposite direction from where Anja had entered the room.
Her eyes widened as 3 identically dressed figures slowly walked in. They all wore long, full length satin cloaks, their heads and faces bowed and obscured by large hoods. They walked slowly with their arms folded in front of them.
They came to a halt in a line facing Anja. If it wasn't for the fact that she 'knew' this was staged - she would now be feeling scared.
She was unable to work out much about who was concealed behind the gowns. They were male, she was sure of that, but age and general appearance was impossible to figure out.
They stood in silence, motionless for a few minutes that felt an uncomfortably long time. Suddenly the figure in the middle stepped forward and spoke. "Kalendae, Kalendae" He spoke a language that Anja thought was maybe Latin - but wasn't sure. The two figures behind 'the leader' repeated his words almost in a chant. "Kalendae, Kalendae" Then again the three fell silent.
Without warning, the leader shot out a hand and a pointed finger. Anja squinted her eyes as a bright flash lit up the room. When her sight became clear again, she could see a wooden chopping block, a wicker basket and a red velvet cushion that were placed in the middle of the room. The leader spoke again.