Dec. 14, 2024

3 Horror Christmas Novellas - A Cruel Yule!

3 Horror Christmas Novellas - A Cruel Yule!
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We dive deep into the eeriness of the cheerful season. This collection features three spine-tingling Christmas novellas, intertwining lighthearted humor with genuine scares, all set within the beloved Strickfield universe. With over four hours of hair-raising tales penned by Rob Fields, it's the perfect treat for anyone seeking a festive thrill during this joyous time of year.

The first novella, "The Mall Overnight," takes us to an abandoned mansion near Strickfield, where the brilliant yet chaotic Vincent Frankenstein and his assistant Stevie Quaid are grappling with a monstrous creation of Vincent’s own design. The tension thickens as Stevie’s worries about their "experiment" escalate, especially considering its previous destructive escapade at a nearby mall during the holidays. What begins as a routine night quickly spirals out of control when their creation awakens and wreaks havoc once more. As chaos ensues, their attempts to keep the creature subdued disintegrate in the face of terror, leading to an unforgettable confrontation.

We then weave into the zany, skillfully comedic world of Madeline Donnerly, who finds herself caught in a whirlwind of bizarre incidents alongside her friends Carter and Ariel Mirren. Social media enters the fray with a splash of embarrassment, setting the stage for tension that rivals the horror elements lurking in the background. The group's dynamics become a source of both humor and crisis as a giant vampire unexpectedly emerges from the shadows, intent on chaos. The juxtaposition of lighthearted friendship and spine-tingling scares keeps listeners on the edge, eagerly anticipating how the characters will navigate their growing fears while tackling the impending threat.

In one of the most gripping moments, Henrique recalls a heart-pounding encounter with the giant vampire lady within the mall. As everything around them descends into chaos, they scramble for safety, driven by desperation and adrenaline. The excitement peaks when their escape plan hinges on the ignition of a parked SUV, leading to an exhilarating frenzy amidst their conflicts. Old tensions bubble between friends, paving the way for unexpected vulnerability and growth, even as they confront supernatural forces. Each twist and turn is laden with complexity, showcasing how fear can both break and strengthen the bonds of friendship.

As the podcast continues, we find ourselves in a spooky situation at Home Sweet Home orphanage, where things start normally until chaos ignites thanks to some troublemaking kids. A fierce snowstorm engulfs the outside world, leading to the sudden appearance of Krampus, and we witness the mounting fear that drives the characters to rally together. Tension escalates as they devise an audacious escape plan, navigating their way through both physical and emotional challenges. Nobody is left untouched as the story unfolds, with each revelation serving as a testament to their growing courage and solidarity.

The episode culminates with a tense resolution against Krampus and a touching Christmas celebration. Amidst the chilling events, the sense of community and resilience stands tall. Friendship shines brightly, revealing that even in darkest times, the spirit of togetherness can create warmth and joy. As the holiday spirit blooms once more within the orphanage, reflections on the meaning of friendship and the bonds formed through adversity resonate deeply with all who listen.

In the final chapter of our holiday compilation, Henrique draws us into a slumber party experience that eerily twists into a nightmarish vision. As Ariel and Bailey engage with a new console, they find themselves ensnared in a web created by the sinister Christmas Queen. With wonderful humor laced throughout the chaos, we explore friendship dynamics, the tension of misunderstandings, and the intertwining of virtual and real realms. The crescendo builds in this battle against the fantastical and the frightening as Bloody Mary reemerges, offering an unexpected lifeline in their struggle against Queen Arcadia.

In a beautifully festive yet haunting wrap-up, listeners witness the journey from fear to redemption, underscoring that even in the darkest nights, the light of friendship can prevail. Perfect for the holiday season, this podcast episode embraces the duality of horror and warmth, inviting all to embrace the adventure waiting just around the corner. Happy Holidays from Weekly Spooky—stay tuned for more chilling tales and heartwarming stories on the horizon!

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🎵 Music by Ray Mattis 👉 Check out Ray’s incredible work here !
👨‍💼 Executive Producers: Rob Fields, Bobbletopia.com
🎥 Produced by: Daniel Wilder
🌐 Explore more terrifying tales at: WeeklySpooky.com
WEBVTT

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Hello, my spookies. It's your narrator, Enrique Kuto here with

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a very very big Christmas gift for you weary travelers.

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If you need something to enjoy while you toil away

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as you head into the holidays, whether it's preparing for

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the holidays or working extra hours. I want to make

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sure there's something spooky for you to enjoy. And this

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is a massive compilation right here. These are the three

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Christmas novellas we put out last year. It's over four

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hours of holiday horror fun for you to enjoy, written

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by Rob Fields, taking place in our strict Field universe.

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And believe me, it's a lot of fun. So whether

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you've heard these before and you want to refresh your memory,

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or they're brand new to you, kick back and enjoy. Now,

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let's start where many Christmas seasons often do, at the

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shopping mall where things are getting interesting the mall Overnight

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by Rob Fields Prologue just outside the Strickfield Village limits

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in an old mansion that was thought to be abandoned,

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Vincent Frankenstein was in a third floor laboratory and examining

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the humanoid experiment that was secured to a large metal slab.

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Stevie quaid, his young assistant stood ready to do whatever.

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Vincent asked, Are you sure there's enough sedatives pumping through

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the creation's body to keep her sleeping the sleep of

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the dead, Stevie asked, looking like she hadn't slept in

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several days. Vincent regarded her. I'd like to give you

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an honest answer, but we've seen how she adapts. Stevie

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groaned and stood in front of him. I told you

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we should have just destroyed her. Did you forget what

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she did when she got loose two years ago at

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Christmas time? Don't you remember how she wreaked havoc in Strickfield,

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Remember how she terrorized them all north of the village.

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She nearly killed us several times when we tried to

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stop her. Vincent sighed, I'm aware. Stevie raised her finger,

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and let's not forget how long it took us to

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actually capture her again and finally keep her. This time,

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she growled and turned her back to him. You were

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the one who put the head of a vampire on

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her when you built her. She turned back to him,

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really angry now, and stretched out her fists sideways. Did

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it ever occur to you that we'd never be able

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to destroy her. Vincent sighed again, acknowledging her, I haven't

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forgotten my fatal miscalculation, Stevie. He could see her heaving now.

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She put her finger in his face. It took us

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nearly midway through this last October to finally capture her

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and keep her. We threw everything we had at that creation.

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We even tried killing her by using vampire methods. Unfortunately,

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her monster side renders her immune to all that, even sunlight.

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We can't even behead her. When Stevie turned her back

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to Vincent, he came up behind her and put his

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hands on her shoulders. I'm quite aware of what the

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creation has done, my dear assistant. I understand how she's

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affected your life. I know you wanted to destroy her.

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I still do, she assured him. I'm still surprised you

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entertained my idea of trying to fix her. Unfortunately, I

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cannot fix her the way i'd hoped. I wanted to

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be able to replace her head, maybe just the brain itself,

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with a more positive one. I truly understand the horror

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that I've created and will have to live with the consequences.

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Of both my actions and hers for the remainder of

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my days on earth. Ultimately, we tried doing things your

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way as well. Even that isn't working. Stevie slowly turned

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around to face Vincent. They looked each other in the

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face for a long moment. Ultimately, it was Vincent who

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concocted the most powerful tranquilizer ever made. It had taken

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two darts filled with it in order for them to

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finally recapture the Creation. The two of them turned to

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the bandaged Creation as the powerful tranquilizer continued to be

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pumped into her system. Ultimately, they agreed that if they

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could not destroy her, then they would keep her permanently

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asleep in the laboratory. Vincent could tell Stevie was still

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very much afraid. I can keep making the tranquilizer. You'll

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have to keep making it stronger and stronger. Stevie told

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him in a shaky voice. We've seen how quickly she

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can recover from both electricity and your previous tranquilizers. I

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even blew her brains out, literally, and that didn't stop her.

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Vincent hugged Stevie to him. Stevie came to be with

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him as a result of the Creation's actions, Vincent had

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bandaged her up and took care of her. Since she

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had nowhere to go, she ended up staying with him

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and becoming his assistant. She still wasn't sure that she

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trusted him completely, but he hadn't turned against her in

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any way. He seemed to understand the great wrong he

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had done, and regretted it each and every day. If anything,

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Stevie helped him out of loyalty for taking her in

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and caring for her. Stevie suddenly gasped Vincent, look, the

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Creation just twitched. Vincent eased her aside and cautiously moved

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toward the Creation. She had shown fear upon her awakening

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nearly two years ago, shortly after she had become angry

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and broke loose. It was only after seeing that the

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Creation hadn't cast a reflection in a nearby mirror that

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he realized his great horror in putting the head of

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a newborn vampire on her. No matter what he had

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tried in terms of destroying her, it was evidently clear

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that she would never ever die. I think she's dreaming, Stevie,

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he told her, cautiously. What Stevie snapped Vincent came very

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close to the Creation and watched her. He remembered she

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couldn't breathe like a normal person since she was undead.

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The Creation continued to move and twitch uneasily as her

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eyes remained closed in a forced slumber. For a brief moment,

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her face seemed to convey the same innocence as it

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had done upon her initial awakening. He wondered if the

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Creation still continued to run on pure instinct. Had she

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learned anything during her time on Earth. The Creation was

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nearly two years old, but she did convey in her

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own way that she could understand things. The Creation had

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been asleep for several days with the steady flow of

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the powerful tranquilizer Vincent created specifically for her. This was

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the first time she had moved in several of those days.

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As Vincent moved to increase her tranquilizer intake, the Creation

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suddenly stopped still. Then her red eyes opened wide. Immediately,

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she looked right at Vincent and showed anger. She screamed loudly,

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then roared as she worked to break the reinforced shackles

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that held her to the table. No, Stevie shrieked, please

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not again stop her, Vincent. As a precaution, Vincent had

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the tranquilizer loaded into emergency pistols. He grabbed one nearby

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and shot her. The Creation seemed to become drowsy almost immediately.

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Vincent shot her a second time, then a third. The

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Creation moaned for a moment, then she became angry again

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and screamed. Vincent fired his remaining darts into the Creation,

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but they didn't seem to be having any other effect

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aside from making her drowsy. Stevie grabbed the other gun

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and shot up the Creation with every dart, only to

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get the same results. For a brief moment, it seemed

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that the Creation was on the verge of falling back

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to sleep. Suddenly, the Creation broke the restraints on her

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wrists with one quick upward motion. The remaining restraints soon

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came apart as the Creation finished breaking free. Oh please, no,

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Stevie cried. The Creation was fully on her feet now.

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The bandages covering her body made her almost look like

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a mummy, only her head, hands, and feet were completely

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exped The Creation stared at Vincent and Stevie and screamed

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so loud that they had to cover their ears. Run Stevie,

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Vincent told her. Running her way, The Creation started after them,

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but she stopped and turned in the direction of the

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door she had escaped the mansion from the first time.

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Then she saw the nearby window and decided it was

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a better means of escape. She roared for freedom as

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she ripped the bars away and escaped through the window.

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She dropped all the way to the grass below and

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landed with the grace of a cat. The Creation turned

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and looked upward to see Vincent and Stevie looking down

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at her. She sneered at them, knowing she had triumphed

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over them once again. Remembering everything from before, she turned

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and headed toward the village. The Creation remembered to stay

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off the main roads and not let anyone see her.

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Vincent would have gotten his answers on how much more

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intelligent she had become since her birth nearly two years ago. Oh,

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the Creation at least understood that she needed to stay

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ahead of Vincent and Stevie and not be recaptured again. Suddenly,

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she remembered that place where she had entered the day

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after she was born. She made her way to Strickfield

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Town Center Mall, keeping out of sight as she did.

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U sh it was only the wind. You are safe,

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weekly spooky, We'll be right back.

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It was dark when she reached her destination and saw

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there were hardly any cars in the parking lot. She

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crossed the lot and came to the loading docks. The

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lock to the dock door broke instantly when she slid

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it up and entered. She pulled the door back down

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and put it back into place. After some minutes, the

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Creation found her way out into the main mall itself.

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It wasn't as brightly lit as the first time she

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had entered, somewhere deep in her mind, and she understood

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the mall wasn't open just the same she herself was inside,

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The Creation seemed to smile when she saw the clothing

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store nearby. She looked at her bandaged arms and body

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and knew she wanted real clothes. She walked to the

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clothing store and pulled up on the gate, breaking the

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lock to get in. As with the loading dock doors,

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she pulled the gate back down. The Creation was pleased

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at knowing she had the mall all to herself. After

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looking around and finding some desirable clothes, she began to

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undo her bandages. The next day perspective. Madeline Donnerly, Ah Man,

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how am I always getting myself into these situations? Probably

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because I'm me and Ariel Miron's Aeriel. Let me tell

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you what's going on. It's the first weekend in December, right,

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I'm up in the mousehole my bedroom playing video games.

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I figured I was entitled to some unwinding after a

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hardcore Friday and acing three tests at school. I'm right

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in the middle of playing some Donkey Kong on the

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full sized arcade cabinet. Yeah. I know it's an old

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nineteen eighties retro video game, but I really love playing it.

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Problem here is, I ain't gonna get to play long.

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Next thing, I know someone's knocking on my door. It's open.

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I call out my next door neighbor, and my buddy

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Carter Cross comes in and sees me playing. Really, Madeline,

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you have a new sign on your door that says

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welcome to the Mousehole. Yeah. I got a little playful

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with the three D printer. What's up, buddy, he sighs.

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I think I just saw Ariel Mirran lurking around our neighborhood.

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I groan and shake my head. I told you you

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never should have posted that video. You know how Ariel

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can be when you scorn her. Yeah, but you know

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she did deserves it. Carter stresses, I stop playing the

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game and just look at him. Between you and Ariel,

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you're both gonna get me in deep, deep trouble. I

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smirk uneasily, Or did you forget I'm BFF to both

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of you? Now? I point at him and don't even

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get me started out how many times Ariel was drilling

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me about you at her slumber party last night. I

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fold my arms in front of me. I told you

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not to post that video. I walk over to my

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computer and sit down in front of it. Carter sits

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next to me. I open up Facebook and see all

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kinds of notifications for Carter's video, and uh, most of

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them are Ariel. What happened? Ariel's almost always stuck having

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a babysitter little cousin Stuart. Here's the problem. Little Stuart's

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four years old and gets into everything. If he can

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wreak havoc somewhere, he's gonna do it. What's more, Stuart's

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mom don't really do anything to discipline him. What's sad

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is he almost always gets dumped off on Ariel. When

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that happens, Stuart just raises, well, you get the idea.

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Earlier this week, Carter and me are hanging out at

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Roth's Rings, a twenty four hour donut shop and video

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game arcade in downtown village. Carter and me get finished

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00:14:15.879 --> 00:14:18.840
playing some games and we go to the counter. Carter

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00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:21.360
says he'll buy me a cup of death, wishes Ginger

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dead for helping him pass mister Dolphy's science test. I'm

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00:14:25.159 --> 00:14:27.960
just getting my cup and ready to savor it when

219
00:14:28.039 --> 00:14:31.960
we hear the commotion. Suddenly little Stuart comes running into

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00:14:32.039 --> 00:14:35.679
the place. Ariel ain't too far behind. Come back here,

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00:14:35.720 --> 00:14:40.159
you little goober, Ariel yells. Carter and me are both

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00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:44.200
giving each other weird looks now. Suddenly little Stuart snatches

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my coffee and throws it at Ariel. The cup explodes

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00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:54.639
all over aw man, I groan, But you just know

225
00:14:54.919 --> 00:14:58.240
Stuart ain't done there. When Ariel's about to grab her cousin,

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he snatches up a slice of pie off for somebody

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00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:03.559
else's plate and smashes it into her face as she

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grabs him. Wouldn't you know it, Carter got his smartphone

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out and recorded the whole thing. What can I do?

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Like I told Carter, I'm best friends with both him

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00:15:13.559 --> 00:15:17.759
and Ariel. Stuart runs around inside Roth's Rings and is

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knocking the little tables down next to the games, many

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of which have food and drinks on him. Just as

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00:15:23.919 --> 00:15:27.000
Ariel's grabbing him. Picking up Stuart again, he has a

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cream filled donut in his hand and he smashes it

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right in her face. Anyway, I think you're getting the

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idea here. When Carter finishes the game, he gives me

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that look saying he's gonna post it to Facebook. I'm

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00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:41.720
raising my hands in front of me and shaking my

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head fast. Don't do it, Carter, I quickly tell him

241
00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:50.960
nothing doing. He posted it the comment the little Prince

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00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:54.919
treats the Princess to some treats at Roth's Rings. The

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00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:58.679
look I gave Carter when he did it. No, I

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00:15:58.840 --> 00:16:02.639
wasn't mad, try scared. I was gonna try not to

245
00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:05.000
have to go to Ariel's slumber party last night. But

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00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:08.559
Ariel cornered me at school with Mona Abels and Bailey

247
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Downs and told me, don't you even think of skipping

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00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:15.799
out of my slumber party tonight. Mouse, She was rubbing

249
00:16:15.799 --> 00:16:18.879
her hands together we are gonna have such a nice

250
00:16:18.919 --> 00:16:24.200
conversation about Carter Cross, you and me. Like I said,

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00:16:24.600 --> 00:16:27.519
Ariel didn't break me, but I could tell she wasn't

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00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:31.360
finished yet. I know Ariel nearn and she never forgives.

253
00:16:31.399 --> 00:16:35.080
Anne never forgets when you embarrass her on Facebook like that.

254
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Getting back to now, I'm reading all the comments. I

255
00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:41.879
ain't gonna list them all here because there are too

256
00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:45.080
many of them, and there's some choice things I'd rather

257
00:16:45.159 --> 00:16:49.840
not repeat here. Okay, buddy, what do you suggest? I ask?

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Before Carter can talk to me, we hear both the

259
00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:57.279
doorbell and some hard knocking downstairs. I know you're in there,

260
00:16:57.320 --> 00:17:03.039
Carter Cross. We both hear Ariel yet gulp. I know

261
00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:07.400
your parents aren't home. Mouse. Ariel continues, I saw Carter

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00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:10.000
come in here. You don't open this door right now.

263
00:17:10.160 --> 00:17:13.839
I'll just come on in myself. When neither of us answer,

264
00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:22.279
we suddenly hear the lock click. I quickly turned to Carter.

265
00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:26.599
Ariel found the spare key. She's coming in. I shake

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00:17:26.680 --> 00:17:30.240
my head quickly. Uh oh, buddy, no way, you two

267
00:17:30.279 --> 00:17:33.000
are fighting in my house. We gotta get out of here.

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Close the door. Carter quickly closes the mousehole's door as

269
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I'm opening my window. We climb out and hurry down

270
00:17:40.599 --> 00:17:44.119
the TV antenna. We quickly get into our garages and

271
00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:47.160
grab our bikes. As soon as we're both hitting the road,

272
00:17:47.640 --> 00:17:51.519
Ariel's shooting right out my front door. You won't get far,

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00:17:52.119 --> 00:17:55.759
Ariel yells. Carter and me look at each other. Our

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00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:58.720
bikes seem to be just fine. What do you suppose

275
00:17:58.759 --> 00:18:02.680
she meant by that? Carter asks, Suddenly, I got a

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00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:06.799
real bad feeling, and look over my shoulder. Aw man.

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00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:11.519
We both turn to see Ariel riding a moped. Since

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00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:15.119
when did she get one of those Carter gasps? I

279
00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:18.839
don't know, I fire back. She's got one now, and

280
00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:22.200
she's catching up to us fast. We both look at

281
00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:25.680
each other and know we gotta lose Ariel. Carter calls

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00:18:25.720 --> 00:18:29.200
over his shoulder, Yeah, princess, let's see you do some

283
00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:33.119
real riding. Carter and me pedal fast until we get

284
00:18:33.119 --> 00:18:36.119
to our turn. Then we turn off and ride through

285
00:18:36.200 --> 00:18:39.559
Gunter Square, a park not too far from our houses.

286
00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:44.799
Ariel continues to follow. Yeah, riding through flat grass ain't

287
00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:47.680
gonna stop a moped. Once we're out of the park,

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00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:50.599
we pedal fast and come to another turn off where

289
00:18:50.599 --> 00:18:54.200
we know Ariel can't follow. Carter and me are doing

290
00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:57.839
some stunt riding on our mongooses. I actually snicker a

291
00:18:57.839 --> 00:19:00.519
little when I'm thinking about how I'd rather be driving

292
00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:03.440
a real car like I did on Halloween night when

293
00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:06.960
we were facing down the ghost of Abigail Tomlin. After

294
00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:09.480
a few twists and turns, we both come out on

295
00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:14.160
another road. Looks like we lost her, Madeline, Carter said.

296
00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:19.799
Then my mousey sense my tummy starts aching again. I

297
00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:24.799
look over my shoulder wrong. Carter looks where I'm looking.

298
00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:30.079
You gotta be kidding me. Let's move. I say, yeah,

299
00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:33.519
you just keep riding your little bikes. Ariel yells, you'll

300
00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:37.440
never lose me. We keep doing our stunt riding and

301
00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:41.599
put distance between us and Ariel, But somehow Ariel keeps

302
00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:44.240
sticking with us. I think it's safe to say she

303
00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:48.240
knows Strickfield just as good as we do. Man, that

304
00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:52.279
girl never gives up. Carter complains when Ariel finds us again,

305
00:19:53.119 --> 00:19:55.920
told you you never should have put that video on Facebook.

306
00:19:56.359 --> 00:19:59.240
I tell him again. Then I see the road ahead.

307
00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:02.240
I think I got a full proof plan to lose

308
00:20:02.279 --> 00:20:06.519
Arial this time. Carter knows what I'm thinking. The old

309
00:20:06.599 --> 00:20:11.000
railroad street bridge. Let's do it. Carter and me pedal

310
00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:14.599
fast and soon reach the downward slope. We both jump

311
00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:17.160
the little hill and are riding on the concrete angle.

312
00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:20.599
Before long, we're off it and riding right beside the

313
00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:25.480
Castalia River. We can ride to Indian Hollow Road, Carter says.

314
00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:29.480
I quickly tap his shoulder and point upward. Ariel's riding

315
00:20:29.519 --> 00:20:31.880
on the upper part of the hill by the railroad tracks.

316
00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:34.960
She's waving to us to let us know she's still here.

317
00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:40.039
I can't believe this, Carter groans, What do we gotta

318
00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:43.960
do to loser? I've got one more plan, I tell

319
00:20:44.039 --> 00:20:47.759
him it's gonna be a long shot. Carter and me

320
00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:51.000
keep pedaling until we're going underneath the main street bridge.

321
00:20:51.480 --> 00:20:54.680
I quickly jam on my brakes. Carter does the same.

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00:20:55.119 --> 00:20:58.519
Then he sees me turning around and follows me. We're

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00:20:58.559 --> 00:21:01.960
pedaling in the other direction now. Then I remember the

324
00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:05.480
part of the Castalia River that's shallow. We get off

325
00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:08.920
our bikes and get across the river fast. Once we're

326
00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:11.319
on the other side, we get back on our bikes

327
00:21:11.319 --> 00:21:14.839
and pedal fast again. We ain't here an Ariels moped.

328
00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:19.599
Now you think we lost her, Carter asks, I shake

329
00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:23.720
my head. I ain't saying nothing till I'm sure. We skip,

330
00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:26.599
coming back up at old Railroad Street and keep going

331
00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:30.039
until we reach University Avenue. We take a few of

332
00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:33.160
the trails made by bikes like ours, and soon come

333
00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:37.640
back up onto the road. No sign of her, Carter says.

334
00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:42.960
Suddenly we hear that sound and realize Ariels caught up

335
00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:46.519
to us again. Oh man, we are so dead.

336
00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:52.160
There's more scares where that came from. Weekly spooky will

337
00:21:52.200 --> 00:21:52.920
be right.

338
00:21:52.759 --> 00:22:02.319
Back perspective, Carter cross, Madeline and I both look to

339
00:22:02.359 --> 00:22:06.440
see a dirt bike speeding right past us. We both

340
00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:11.960
breathe easy, knowing Ariel mirn ain't nowhere around. Looks like

341
00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:16.279
we're gonna be okay, I say. Madeline gives me that look. Now,

342
00:22:17.079 --> 00:22:20.319
So now what, buddy, she asks in her mousey voice.

343
00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:23.319
We're riding for a little bit before I tell her

344
00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:28.000
what I'm thinking. Well, i'd say going back to either

345
00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:31.400
of our houses is out. What's to say Ariel won't

346
00:22:31.400 --> 00:22:34.440
be waiting for us there. Well, we can't stay out

347
00:22:34.440 --> 00:22:37.599
here all day, she says, and not just because it

348
00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:41.839
started drizzling. It's cold out here. We could go to

349
00:22:41.880 --> 00:22:44.920
the mall. I throw out, I don't think Ariel's gonna

350
00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:51.400
find us out there. Not an actual guarantee, Carter. She sighs, Okay,

351
00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:54.400
we'll go to the mall. I gotta get something hot

352
00:22:54.400 --> 00:22:58.400
to drink, coffee or a hot chocolate. I'll pay Madeline.

353
00:22:58.599 --> 00:23:01.559
I tell her, I'm really sorry you got in trouble

354
00:23:01.599 --> 00:23:05.720
with Ariel. That wasn't supposed to happen. She gives me

355
00:23:05.880 --> 00:23:10.920
her usual smirk that says we're still buddies. Then she says,

356
00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:14.079
just give me an invitation when you and Ariel get

357
00:23:14.119 --> 00:23:18.039
married after you graduate high school. I groan and point

358
00:23:18.039 --> 00:23:21.920
a shaky finger at her. You always gotta go there.

359
00:23:22.680 --> 00:23:25.720
Come on, buddy, this is me you're talking to here.

360
00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:30.000
Madeline tells me, I know you really like Ariel. I mean,

361
00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:33.200
you got her pick on your phone, and I'm pretty

362
00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:36.359
sure she likes you too, So why don't you just

363
00:23:36.440 --> 00:23:40.480
ask her out? I shake my head. It's one thing

364
00:23:40.519 --> 00:23:43.480
for me to like Ariel, but I ain't given up

365
00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:46.440
to her. She can call herself the queen Bee at

366
00:23:46.440 --> 00:23:49.759
Strickfield Junior High all she wants, but I ain't bowing

367
00:23:49.880 --> 00:23:53.240
to her. I can't believe she's got everybody else doing

368
00:23:53.319 --> 00:23:56.519
things for her. Then she expects me to fall in

369
00:23:56.640 --> 00:24:00.000
line and go along with it. Not happen in Madeline,

370
00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:04.319
and at least now I'm not alone. But you still

371
00:24:04.400 --> 00:24:09.079
like her? She states, Okay, Yes, I like her. Okay,

372
00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:13.119
I point at her. Just don't be telling everybody about it.

373
00:24:14.119 --> 00:24:16.759
I don't think I gotta. I'm pretty sure everybody in

374
00:24:16.759 --> 00:24:20.680
our group knows. No, I didn't tell them. Again, Just

375
00:24:20.799 --> 00:24:24.200
ask her out. I'm sure she'll say yeah. I shake

376
00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:27.720
my head. You think Princess Ariel's gonna want to go

377
00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:30.160
on a date with me after that video I posted

378
00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:33.680
of her way, I'm seeing it, buddy. Ariel ain't gonna

379
00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:36.599
stop until she's caught up to you for that video.

380
00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:39.519
Maybe she didn't get you now, But we gotta go

381
00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:43.440
back to school on Monday. Guess I got two days then,

382
00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:47.720
Assuming she don't catch up to me before that, Madeline

383
00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:50.119
and I make it out to Strickfield Town Center Mall.

384
00:24:50.839 --> 00:24:54.240
We chain up our bikes and head inside. You'd think

385
00:24:54.279 --> 00:24:57.279
they'd have the Christmas decorations up by now, I say,

386
00:24:57.720 --> 00:25:00.480
I mean, don't they usually have the them up by

387
00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:05.119
Black Friday, Madeline points in a few places they got

388
00:25:05.119 --> 00:25:08.839
some up. They also got a Santa House in Center Court,

389
00:25:09.160 --> 00:25:13.559
like they do every holiday season. You're right, though, how

390
00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:16.960
come they ain't got a lot of decorations up. Madeline

391
00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:20.079
and I walk the mall. November and December are the

392
00:25:20.119 --> 00:25:22.160
two months out of the whole year that our mall

393
00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:26.039
looks like a grand opening. I mean, nearly every store

394
00:25:26.119 --> 00:25:28.880
is filled and open. There are also a lot of

395
00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:32.640
kiosks set up before and after those months, the mall

396
00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:35.720
maybe has one quarter of the stores and a lot

397
00:25:35.799 --> 00:25:39.079
less foot traffic. People keep saying it's gonna close up

398
00:25:39.119 --> 00:25:43.240
for good, but it hasn't yet. Then Madeline and I

399
00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:47.000
see a woman who owns the mall herself, Harmony Miron.

400
00:25:47.640 --> 00:25:50.400
She's standing over at Center Court and greeting the kids

401
00:25:50.440 --> 00:25:53.440
to let them see Santa Claus in his house. She

402
00:25:53.559 --> 00:25:56.599
really doesn't look that old, like she's not too long

403
00:25:56.640 --> 00:25:59.480
out of high school. I know she inherited the mall

404
00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:01.480
from her parents parents and has a little baby girl

405
00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:05.519
of her own. Hmmm, I wonder what relation she is

406
00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:09.200
to Ariel. Madeline and I reach Center Court, where the

407
00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:13.240
food is also located. We go into caffeine junction and

408
00:26:13.279 --> 00:26:17.960
get in line. That's when I start laughing. What's so funny,

409
00:26:18.119 --> 00:26:21.359
Madeline asks, being in here is making me think of

410
00:26:21.440 --> 00:26:25.119
Roth's rings. I snicker. Come on, you thought it was

411
00:26:25.160 --> 00:26:29.559
funny too watching little Stuart Mirn at his worst. I mean,

412
00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:34.759
it was like watching a cartoon. Madeline does laugh a little.

413
00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:39.359
Then she says, you know, at the same time, I

414
00:26:39.400 --> 00:26:41.799
feel sorry for Ariel having to get stuck with him

415
00:26:41.799 --> 00:26:45.200
all the time. I know he really does drive her crazy.

416
00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:48.839
When it's our turn to order, I get a hot

417
00:26:48.920 --> 00:26:53.759
chocolate Madeline orders that death wish gingerbread coffee. I pay

418
00:26:53.799 --> 00:26:56.599
for both of us. As soon as we get our drinks,

419
00:26:57.400 --> 00:27:01.920
we head back out into the mall. Maddie, we hear

420
00:27:02.039 --> 00:27:05.319
someone calling out. We both turn around to see Richie

421
00:27:05.359 --> 00:27:10.319
Horton and Brian Chunk. Horton Chunker, what's going on I ask?

422
00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:13.920
Horton and I are just hanging out today. Chunker says,

423
00:27:14.519 --> 00:27:17.400
Chapman's doing stuff with his mom and dad. We're supposed

424
00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:20.279
to meet up with him later. He's the husky guy

425
00:27:20.279 --> 00:27:23.720
who's always wearing cargo pants and an open Hawaiian shirt

426
00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:26.440
over a black T shirt. I didn't want to stay

427
00:27:26.440 --> 00:27:29.799
at home. So I texted Chunker, and here we are.

428
00:27:30.160 --> 00:27:33.720
Horton says in his squeaky voice, he's the really skinny

429
00:27:33.799 --> 00:27:38.200
kid with the circular lensed glasses. Suddenly, Madeline grabs my

430
00:27:38.279 --> 00:27:41.559
wrist fast. I'm about to ask her what's up when

431
00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:45.160
I see where she's pointing. Now the four of us

432
00:27:45.359 --> 00:27:49.000
are looking right at Ariel Mirn, who's now got her

433
00:27:49.039 --> 00:27:53.880
eyes locked right on me. Ariel points right at me

434
00:27:53.960 --> 00:27:57.720
and smiles sweetly as she's approaching us. Soon she's right

435
00:27:57.759 --> 00:28:00.960
in front of me. Hi, Carter, you really should just

436
00:28:01.079 --> 00:28:06.160
lay down right here. Her face suddenly turns monstrous because

437
00:28:06.279 --> 00:28:15.279
you are so dead perspective, Ariel Mirror. I've got Carter

438
00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:18.640
Cross dead to rights now. I've got a hand it

439
00:28:18.680 --> 00:28:21.559
to them losing me the way they did. I'm guessing

440
00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:24.119
Mouse was probably the one who came up with that plan.

441
00:28:24.759 --> 00:28:28.640
As far as I'm concerned, she's guilty by association. That

442
00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:33.799
means she's getting hers too, Ariel. There's plenty of security

443
00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:37.200
guards here. I hear Mouse say, I point right at

444
00:28:37.200 --> 00:28:40.079
her while I'm still looking at Carter. I'll be with

445
00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:45.279
you in a moment, little mousey. There's already two mal

446
00:28:45.359 --> 00:28:49.599
Popo's looking our way, guys. Richie Horton squeaks, I'd rather

447
00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:51.720
not have to explain to my mom why we got

448
00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:55.319
busted if it's all the same to you. When Carter

449
00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:58.119
tries to slip away from me, I quickly get right

450
00:28:58.160 --> 00:29:01.720
back in front of him. You have no idea how

451
00:29:01.799 --> 00:29:04.759
much I'd like to kill that little goober of a cousin.

452
00:29:04.839 --> 00:29:07.920
I have. But when you record videos of me and

453
00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:12.759
the goober and post them the Facebook, oh no, you don't.

454
00:29:12.920 --> 00:29:15.799
This time, Carter tries pulling that trick that Mouse pulled

455
00:29:15.960 --> 00:29:19.200
on Halloween Knight. Mouse tends to drop to the floor

456
00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:22.519
and then move in between my legs to escape. In fact,

457
00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:27.079
that's how she escaped from my sleepover last night. Problem

458
00:29:27.160 --> 00:29:31.279
is Carter telegraphed it. Also, He's nowhere near as small

459
00:29:31.319 --> 00:29:35.880
and thin as Mouse. I get on Carter's back. No way, Carter,

460
00:29:36.279 --> 00:29:41.559
you are mine. But Carter suddenly surprises me by holding

461
00:29:41.559 --> 00:29:44.599
onto my legs and lifting me up. He easily gets

462
00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:47.160
back to his feet, and I'm stuck fast on his

463
00:29:47.240 --> 00:29:50.759
back and holding on. You're not getting away from me, Carter,

464
00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:54.519
I declare, I'm killing you right here, and now you

465
00:29:54.599 --> 00:29:57.279
do not get away with what you pulled on Facebook,

466
00:29:58.160 --> 00:30:02.759
She princess, are you putting on? Wait? Carter sneers must

467
00:30:02.799 --> 00:30:06.359
be all those pies Stuart's been feeding you a few

468
00:30:06.359 --> 00:30:08.480
more and you can join the guy's wrestling team at

469
00:30:08.480 --> 00:30:12.640
Strickfield High. I growl and grab two handfuls of hair.

470
00:30:13.319 --> 00:30:17.839
Guess I'll start with you. Carter groans, get off me, Princess.

471
00:30:18.440 --> 00:30:20.839
Go on back to your castle, inside your wall and

472
00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:25.240
leave us peasants in peace. Guys, come on, those guards

473
00:30:25.240 --> 00:30:28.960
are really looking our way now. Mouse calls out, and

474
00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:32.160
then I feel arms moving around my waist. I cry

475
00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:34.519
out when I'm being pulled away from Carter and know

476
00:30:34.720 --> 00:30:37.720
Brian Chunks got a hold of me. After he sets

477
00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:41.119
me down, I quickly turn around to confront him. Chunker

478
00:30:41.160 --> 00:30:44.559
points right at me. Now that's enough, Ariel. We got

479
00:30:44.599 --> 00:30:47.160
all kinds of security guards looking right at us, and

480
00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:49.680
Horton's right. I know I don't want to be explaining

481
00:30:49.720 --> 00:30:53.400
to my parents why we got arrested here. I put

482
00:30:53.400 --> 00:30:56.839
a finger of my own in Chunker's face. You do

483
00:30:56.960 --> 00:31:01.039
not ever touch me, fat boy, Chuckunker shakes his head.

484
00:31:01.839 --> 00:31:05.039
You do know I'm not afraid of you? Right then

485
00:31:05.079 --> 00:31:10.039
I give him my wicked smile. You should be or

486
00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:14.319
did you forget I'm Ariel Mirn. Chunker raises his hand

487
00:31:14.359 --> 00:31:17.880
in front of him. Okay, okay, you're right. I need

488
00:31:17.920 --> 00:31:20.599
to learn my place, right, that's what you keep saying.

489
00:31:21.319 --> 00:31:24.599
Suddenly he grabs me and holds me to him. Run

490
00:31:24.640 --> 00:31:28.200
you guys, go let go of me, Chunker, I yell

491
00:31:28.279 --> 00:31:31.519
when I see Carter and Mouse running for it. You guys,

492
00:31:31.599 --> 00:31:35.519
the mall popos are honest. Now, Horton warns us. Chunker,

493
00:31:35.599 --> 00:31:38.480
lets go of me now. My fists are tightened. Then

494
00:31:38.519 --> 00:31:42.640
I growl and point right at Chunker. Oh you you

495
00:31:43.799 --> 00:31:46.559
as I'm ready to vent my anger and frustration with

496
00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:50.359
one of my trademark, screams. Chunker quickly grabs my hand

497
00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:54.119
and holds it. I'm really growling now, and I'm ready

498
00:31:54.119 --> 00:31:57.920
to claw at him. Listen, Ariel, how about I take

499
00:31:57.960 --> 00:31:59.640
you to the food court and buy you a coke?

500
00:32:00.279 --> 00:32:05.519
Chunker asks, and just like that, I'm not even mad

501
00:32:05.559 --> 00:32:11.440
at him anymore. All right, I reply, just as the

502
00:32:11.480 --> 00:32:15.759
security guards are almost honest. Chunker raises his hand. It's okay.

503
00:32:15.960 --> 00:32:18.440
I'm just taking my girlfriend to the food court. She's

504
00:32:18.519 --> 00:32:21.920
having a really bad day. The guards look at each other.

505
00:32:22.680 --> 00:32:25.279
Then one of them says to us, we've already got

506
00:32:25.359 --> 00:32:27.319
enough on our plates here with it being a Saturday

507
00:32:27.319 --> 00:32:32.039
in December. Be respectable while you're here. Got it? Yeah,

508
00:32:32.279 --> 00:32:36.359
we got it. Chunker quickly agrees. We start walking away

509
00:32:36.400 --> 00:32:39.279
from the guards. You don't make good on that coke,

510
00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:43.000
and I'm gonna claw your eyes out. Then Carter's I

511
00:32:43.160 --> 00:32:45.960
tell him, on no uncertain terms.

512
00:32:46.640 --> 00:32:50.799
You're not safe yet. Weekly Spooky will be right back.

513
00:32:58.440 --> 00:33:01.480
Now. I shove Chunker and how dare you call me

514
00:33:01.559 --> 00:33:06.599
your girlfriend? Hey? The guards believed it, didn't they? Chunker stresses.

515
00:33:07.200 --> 00:33:10.960
Then I realize Chunker's holding my hand. You're skating on

516
00:33:11.279 --> 00:33:14.359
very thin ice with me. The next thing I know

517
00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:18.240
where at Scotto's Pizza in the food court. Large coke, please,

518
00:33:18.640 --> 00:33:22.240
Chunker tells the cashier. Before long, Chunker lets go of

519
00:33:22.319 --> 00:33:24.640
my hand and gives me the drink. I pop the

520
00:33:24.680 --> 00:33:28.960
top and drink that sweet, bubbly slice of heaven. Then

521
00:33:29.039 --> 00:33:31.839
Horton gives me a weird look. Why do you like

522
00:33:31.920 --> 00:33:35.200
coke so much? I stop drinking and look at him.

523
00:33:35.759 --> 00:33:39.200
Because Mom never lets us have anything other than diet

524
00:33:39.279 --> 00:33:42.319
soda at the house. That's why I'm always sneaking off

525
00:33:42.319 --> 00:33:46.559
to drink the regular stuff or steal carters. I take

526
00:33:46.599 --> 00:33:49.920
a few more drinks and look back at Chunker. Okay,

527
00:33:50.559 --> 00:33:53.960
I guess you get to live, Geez Ariel, not even

528
00:33:54.039 --> 00:33:57.359
so much as a thank you, Chunker says, I look

529
00:33:57.440 --> 00:33:59.680
him in the eyes. Now, I think I'm going to

530
00:33:59.759 --> 00:34:03.759
call this a respect offering. You Carter, Bill Chapman and

531
00:34:03.839 --> 00:34:06.880
this beanpole here have yet to show me respect at

532
00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:12.199
my school. Chunker laughs a little. It ain't your school now.

533
00:34:12.280 --> 00:34:15.079
I know. I can say we respect you as a person, Ariel,

534
00:34:15.519 --> 00:34:18.639
but we're not gonna call you the Queen Bee. Horton

535
00:34:18.760 --> 00:34:21.480
raises his finger, and you're not going to order us

536
00:34:21.480 --> 00:34:25.199
around either. I look from one to the other. You

537
00:34:25.400 --> 00:34:28.400
two are going to know your place at my school

538
00:34:28.559 --> 00:34:33.159
one way or another. Aeriel Renaissance mirrn A voice side

539
00:34:33.239 --> 00:34:37.119
really rather not here today, calls out Chunker Horton, and

540
00:34:37.159 --> 00:34:40.360
I turn and see both my mom and aunt Margaret,

541
00:34:40.800 --> 00:34:43.400
and then my stomach drops when I see my aunt

542
00:34:43.440 --> 00:34:47.760
has Steward in her arms. What do you want? I

543
00:34:47.840 --> 00:34:51.679
ask Mom? She points right at me. I want you

544
00:34:51.760 --> 00:34:54.480
to always have your phone turned on. I should never

545
00:34:54.559 --> 00:34:57.760
be directed to your voicemail. Then she snatches up my

546
00:34:57.840 --> 00:35:00.840
coke and I told you you are never to drink these.

547
00:35:01.320 --> 00:35:04.280
This is how you put on weight. Do I look

548
00:35:04.360 --> 00:35:06.199
like I need to be on any kind of diet?

549
00:35:06.519 --> 00:35:09.840
I fire back now. Mom points to Chunker and Horton

550
00:35:10.320 --> 00:35:14.599
go away, but I turn and grab both of their wrists. No,

551
00:35:15.400 --> 00:35:18.000
these two are my friends, so they're staying with me.

552
00:35:18.800 --> 00:35:21.559
And then Aunt Margaret sets Stuart down right next to me.

553
00:35:22.400 --> 00:35:24.639
That's fine, the three of you can keep an eye

554
00:35:24.639 --> 00:35:27.639
on your cousin. Then she says, in the absolute most

555
00:35:28.079 --> 00:35:31.639
snooty voice I have ever heard from a mirror. I

556
00:35:31.679 --> 00:35:35.719
shake my head. You are not sticking me with Stuart again, Margaret,

557
00:35:36.239 --> 00:35:39.519
Why can't you keep that rotten goober with you? Aunt

558
00:35:39.559 --> 00:35:42.519
Margaret looks like she's ready to rip into me. I'm

559
00:35:42.559 --> 00:35:45.039
ready to fight back, but Mom's quick to get in

560
00:35:45.119 --> 00:35:49.360
my face. You will be watching Stuart as of right now,

561
00:35:49.719 --> 00:35:51.599
Margaret and I have to go to Erie City for

562
00:35:51.639 --> 00:35:55.039
an emergency meeting regarding my latest computer game. Will be

563
00:35:55.079 --> 00:35:57.440
gone the rest of the weekend, so you will be

564
00:35:57.559 --> 00:36:02.840
keeping Stuart with you and watching him. Do you understand?

565
00:36:03.719 --> 00:36:07.440
That's when little Stuart gives me his mischievous look. I

566
00:36:07.480 --> 00:36:10.679
look right at Aunt Margaret. I mean it, take your

567
00:36:10.719 --> 00:36:13.639
goober's son to Erie City with you. I am not

568
00:36:14.079 --> 00:36:17.440
ever watching him again. All he does is get me

569
00:36:17.480 --> 00:36:21.840
into all kinds of trouble. Aunt Margaret chuckles, not my

570
00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:25.159
problem as of right now. Then she gives me a

571
00:36:25.199 --> 00:36:32.840
scornful wave and sings Ta ta no. I scream behind them.

572
00:36:33.199 --> 00:36:35.800
I want to run after them, but little Stuart's already

573
00:36:35.840 --> 00:36:38.800
running away from me. I growl and turn to run

574
00:36:38.840 --> 00:36:43.000
after him. You stop right there, you little goober. I

575
00:36:43.000 --> 00:36:45.920
can hear Stuart laughing. He really knows how to get

576
00:36:46.000 --> 00:36:49.599
under my skin and he's only four years old. Stuart

577
00:36:49.639 --> 00:36:52.079
is moving through the crowds of people. I'm trying to

578
00:36:52.119 --> 00:36:55.400
get around them to get to my latest problem. Seriously,

579
00:36:55.639 --> 00:36:58.079
why do I always have to get stuck with Stuart?

580
00:36:58.559 --> 00:37:00.840
Mom and Aunt Margaret both know, Oh, he gets under

581
00:37:00.840 --> 00:37:03.599
my skin in the worst way, and they don't care.

582
00:37:04.480 --> 00:37:08.039
Stuart continues to laugh as he keeps moving. I'm growling

583
00:37:08.079 --> 00:37:10.360
as I keep trying to move around people to get

584
00:37:10.360 --> 00:37:13.599
to him. How can these people not see that goober?

585
00:37:14.400 --> 00:37:17.119
I'm almost on Stuart when some idiot crashes into me

586
00:37:17.159 --> 00:37:20.280
and knocks me down. Watch where you're going, kid, I

587
00:37:20.360 --> 00:37:24.639
hear the person say, oh, now I'm really mad. I

588
00:37:24.760 --> 00:37:27.920
really focus and get around all these shoppers. I'm almost

589
00:37:27.960 --> 00:37:30.599
on Stuart again. When I finally grab a hold of

590
00:37:30.679 --> 00:37:33.840
him and lift him off the floor. He turns and

591
00:37:34.000 --> 00:37:36.880
bashes me in the head with something that explodes all

592
00:37:36.920 --> 00:37:40.519
over me and gets me wet. My eyes are burning

593
00:37:40.639 --> 00:37:44.360
right through Stuart. Now, I hate you, you little eh.

594
00:37:46.159 --> 00:37:49.480
Lately it just never fails. Somehow he keeps managing to

595
00:37:49.559 --> 00:37:52.519
douse me with pop. Stuart points right at me and

596
00:37:52.639 --> 00:37:55.960
laughs his evil little kid laugh. If you were in

597
00:37:56.000 --> 00:37:58.800
his terrible twos, I suppose I could be more understanding.

598
00:37:59.440 --> 00:38:03.480
But he's four years old. I'm holding Stuart right where

599
00:38:03.480 --> 00:38:05.519
I can look at him face to face, and I'm

600
00:38:05.559 --> 00:38:09.480
about to find out that I've underestimated him again. The

601
00:38:09.519 --> 00:38:12.960
goober laughs his evil laugh again and then spits a

602
00:38:12.960 --> 00:38:15.840
wat of gum right in my eye. I cry out

603
00:38:15.840 --> 00:38:18.519
and almost drop him. He manages to slip out and

604
00:38:18.599 --> 00:38:21.400
climb down my body to the floor. He's off and

605
00:38:21.480 --> 00:38:26.280
running again. Oh you you. I really don't care who

606
00:38:26.280 --> 00:38:28.000
hears me as I belt out another one of my

607
00:38:28.039 --> 00:38:32.880
blood curdling screams. I'm way beyond mad right now. When

608
00:38:32.920 --> 00:38:35.360
I stop, the pain in my eye registers as I'm

609
00:38:35.360 --> 00:38:39.320
holding my hand there, you better go after your brother kid.

610
00:38:39.679 --> 00:38:42.639
Some idiot shopper tells me, I don't even look at

611
00:38:42.639 --> 00:38:45.199
the person as I point their way. You can just

612
00:38:45.280 --> 00:38:49.239
shut up. So I'm chasing little Stewart around the mall again.

613
00:38:49.679 --> 00:38:51.360
He leads me right to the end of the mall

614
00:38:51.360 --> 00:38:54.679
where the best buy is, and then that's when I

615
00:38:54.760 --> 00:38:59.400
see Carter and Mouse sitting at the fountain. My eye

616
00:38:59.400 --> 00:39:02.639
doesn't hurt his much right now, but at least both

617
00:39:02.639 --> 00:39:04.920
of them are working to where I can see Stuart

618
00:39:05.000 --> 00:39:08.239
running around the fountain and Carter pulling his smartphone out.

619
00:39:08.599 --> 00:39:11.320
No doubt he's planning on recording me in my troubles

620
00:39:11.320 --> 00:39:16.480
with my goober cousin again. Don't you even Carter, I yell,

621
00:39:16.760 --> 00:39:19.559
I will kill you for sure, and not think twice

622
00:39:19.599 --> 00:39:23.239
about it. Carter quickly gets up, Mouse is trying to

623
00:39:23.280 --> 00:39:27.920
tell him not to do it. He's recording a new video. Now, Hey, Princess,

624
00:39:28.239 --> 00:39:31.639
I think I'll call this one. Mal Santa tells Princess

625
00:39:31.719 --> 00:39:34.920
Ariel she's been naughty and is chasing down one of

626
00:39:34.920 --> 00:39:39.199
his elves. I tighten my fists and belt out another scream,

627
00:39:39.519 --> 00:39:42.800
which lasts much longer than the first one. I'm not

628
00:39:42.880 --> 00:39:45.719
even aware that I'm running right at Carter when I'm screaming.

629
00:39:45.760 --> 00:39:49.280
In fact, I can't hear much of anything, and all

630
00:39:49.320 --> 00:39:52.400
I'm seeing is read When I crash right into Carter

631
00:39:52.679 --> 00:39:55.159
and take him right into the fountain.

632
00:39:55.920 --> 00:40:01.559
Are you afraid? Good weekly spooky, We'll be right back.

633
00:40:05.440 --> 00:40:11.960
Perspective, Madeline Donnerly, Oh man, you just knew something like

634
00:40:12.000 --> 00:40:15.159
this was gonna happen. Carter and Ariel both splash right

635
00:40:15.199 --> 00:40:18.239
into the fountain just outside of best Buy. I managed

636
00:40:18.280 --> 00:40:20.880
to catch Stuart and lift him up. He laughs a

637
00:40:20.920 --> 00:40:24.320
real mean laugh and points right at Ariel. Ah, come on,

638
00:40:24.480 --> 00:40:27.119
why you gotta be so mean, little guy? I ask.

639
00:40:27.840 --> 00:40:30.440
Just then Horton and Chunker show up and see Carter

640
00:40:30.519 --> 00:40:34.000
and Ariel splashing around in the fountain. These two ain't

641
00:40:34.000 --> 00:40:36.800
even trying to get out. Ariel's grabbing at him and

642
00:40:36.840 --> 00:40:39.559
throwing him into the water. Then she jumps on him.

643
00:40:39.800 --> 00:40:42.320
They both go under the water again and come back up.

644
00:40:42.920 --> 00:40:46.760
Horton leans in, Hey, mal popos are coming this way,

645
00:40:47.360 --> 00:40:52.159
lots of them. Just stop. Chunker yells, but Ariel and

646
00:40:52.280 --> 00:40:55.440
Chunker don't even hear him. They just keep having their

647
00:40:55.480 --> 00:40:59.719
water fight. I'm gonna kill you, Carter cross, Ariel belts out.

648
00:41:00.159 --> 00:41:02.760
Chunker reaches into the fountain to try and grab Ariel,

649
00:41:03.039 --> 00:41:05.280
but she slips out of his hands and jumps right

650
00:41:05.280 --> 00:41:09.760
at Carter again. Get off me, you spoiled bratt. Carter

651
00:41:09.880 --> 00:41:13.199
belts back, and then I see Horton seeing a good

652
00:41:13.360 --> 00:41:16.719
six security guards coming our way. But it's what Horton

653
00:41:16.840 --> 00:41:21.039
didn't see that's got my tummy feeling like lead. When

654
00:41:21.079 --> 00:41:24.559
I see her coming with them, you just know things

655
00:41:24.559 --> 00:41:28.519
are gonna be a whole next level of bad. Horton

656
00:41:28.559 --> 00:41:31.800
and Chunker both see Harmony Mirran with them too, because

657
00:41:31.840 --> 00:41:35.760
they're yelling for Carter and Ariel to stop. Oh man,

658
00:41:36.400 --> 00:41:39.480
I never knew feelings were this bad between Carter and Ariel.

659
00:41:40.159 --> 00:41:42.480
Even I'm trying to tell him to stop and why,

660
00:41:42.840 --> 00:41:45.199
but they just keep jumping on each other and throwing

661
00:41:45.239 --> 00:41:49.000
each other into the water. Now we finally stop yelling

662
00:41:49.039 --> 00:41:53.760
at Carter and Ariel because it's too late. Harmony, Mirron

663
00:41:53.800 --> 00:41:56.800
and the guards are here. That's when I feel Stuart

664
00:41:56.840 --> 00:41:59.599
pull my beret off my head. I quickly turn to

665
00:41:59.639 --> 00:42:02.199
the little guy and put it on his head. You

666
00:42:02.280 --> 00:42:06.000
can keep it on if you behave Stuart laughs happily.

667
00:42:06.079 --> 00:42:09.039
Now guess I ought to be so lucky. This little

668
00:42:09.039 --> 00:42:12.239
guy always minds me when he's with me. Hopefully I

669
00:42:12.280 --> 00:42:14.719
ain't assuming nothing when I say I think he likes me,

670
00:42:15.800 --> 00:42:19.000
Harmony Mirran don't even look mad when the security guards

671
00:42:19.039 --> 00:42:21.280
grab hold of Carter and Ariel and yank him out

672
00:42:21.320 --> 00:42:24.159
of the fountain, Water's just dripping off them and all

673
00:42:24.199 --> 00:42:27.599
over the floor. Now why am I worried about Harmony

674
00:42:27.639 --> 00:42:30.599
Mirn Not only is she the owner of this mall,

675
00:42:31.119 --> 00:42:34.480
she's also one of the absolute meanest Mirrans I know.

676
00:42:35.480 --> 00:42:39.519
Harmony claps her hands together once. I'm so happy you

677
00:42:39.559 --> 00:42:43.519
two love playing together in one of my fountains. Then

678
00:42:43.599 --> 00:42:47.760
her fake happy tone quickly turns sour fast. Bring them

679
00:42:47.760 --> 00:42:51.639
to my office yesterday, and before anybody can even so

680
00:42:51.760 --> 00:42:54.440
much as take a breath, Harmony points right at the

681
00:42:54.480 --> 00:42:58.320
rest of us. I want them to bring all these

682
00:42:58.400 --> 00:43:03.639
brats to my office. What Chunker protests, we were trying

683
00:43:03.679 --> 00:43:07.400
to stop him, Lady, Harmony points right at him. Save it,

684
00:43:07.519 --> 00:43:12.400
fat stuff. A security guard moves behind Chunker. Move it, kid,

685
00:43:13.599 --> 00:43:16.199
just as another one's about to grab Horton. He raises

686
00:43:16.239 --> 00:43:19.480
his hands in front of him. Okay, okay, I give up.

687
00:43:19.719 --> 00:43:23.880
I'm coming along quietly. Then Harmony Mirron points right at me.

688
00:43:24.440 --> 00:43:28.000
You too, Velma Dinkley, and bring that little rugrat with you.

689
00:43:28.960 --> 00:43:34.440
Aw man, I mutter, Oh, I'm gonna love explaining all

690
00:43:34.519 --> 00:43:38.280
this to mom and dad. I'm sure Harmony Miron's gonna

691
00:43:38.280 --> 00:43:42.199
call the cops and have us all arrested. Yeah, Harmony's

692
00:43:42.239 --> 00:43:45.360
all nicey nice to the customers, but you get caught

693
00:43:45.400 --> 00:43:51.239
doing something you shouldn't be doing in her mall. Ah man, Yeah,

694
00:43:51.400 --> 00:43:58.119
this ain't gonna end well. Perspective, Brian Chunk. I keep

695
00:43:58.199 --> 00:44:01.360
telling the lady who owns this mall that Horton, Maddie

696
00:44:01.360 --> 00:44:03.760
and I were trying to break things up between Carter

697
00:44:03.840 --> 00:44:06.639
and Ariel. She just keeps telling me to shut up

698
00:44:06.679 --> 00:44:10.199
and move. My guess is she's gonna call her parents,

699
00:44:10.880 --> 00:44:14.559
no back up. She's gonna call the cops first, then

700
00:44:14.719 --> 00:44:18.039
call our parents. I ain't worried about my own parents.

701
00:44:18.480 --> 00:44:21.000
All I gotta do is just explain to them what happened,

702
00:44:21.039 --> 00:44:25.639
and things should be okay. At my end, I'm more

703
00:44:25.719 --> 00:44:29.159
worried about Horton, though, I'm surprised his mom's still letting

704
00:44:29.199 --> 00:44:32.800
him hang out with everybody, especially after we were gone

705
00:44:33.000 --> 00:44:36.599
for a whole year, what with everything that happened with

706
00:44:36.639 --> 00:44:40.960
Abigail Tomlin's ghost. Oh, Horton's mom wanted to keep him

707
00:44:41.000 --> 00:44:43.280
in the house forever and ever. Once we all came

708
00:44:43.320 --> 00:44:45.880
back home after Maddie and her friend saved us and

709
00:44:45.920 --> 00:44:49.320
brought us back to the mortal realm Horton hardly ever

710
00:44:49.400 --> 00:44:52.400
gets confrontational, but he wasn't gonna let his mom keep

711
00:44:52.440 --> 00:44:55.159
him away from the group. I'm wondering if she'll make

712
00:44:55.199 --> 00:44:58.239
good on that, though, if Harmony Miron calls her up

713
00:44:58.280 --> 00:45:03.440
and tells her just what happened. Everybody's watching. The guards

714
00:45:03.519 --> 00:45:05.559
escort us to the other end of the mall and

715
00:45:05.719 --> 00:45:09.199
down a side corridor. Next thing we know, we're turning

716
00:45:09.280 --> 00:45:12.199
off and going past a set of restrooms and into

717
00:45:12.239 --> 00:45:16.480
the mall office. Harmony Miron shuts the door and locks

718
00:45:16.519 --> 00:45:20.800
it tight. Then she pulls these drapes closed. Finally she

719
00:45:20.840 --> 00:45:24.440
sits down at her desk. Her face is so red.

720
00:45:24.559 --> 00:45:27.840
Now you just know she's as angry as all get out.

721
00:45:28.719 --> 00:45:33.159
Harmony points to Ariel. First, believe me, I know you're

722
00:45:33.239 --> 00:45:36.639
my cousin. She points to Stewart, who's standing next to

723
00:45:36.679 --> 00:45:41.800
Maddie now and sews that rotten brat now, she glares

724
00:45:41.840 --> 00:45:44.920
at Ariel. But the fact that you too our family,

725
00:45:45.119 --> 00:45:48.679
doesn't mean a single thing to me. In fact, I'm

726
00:45:48.679 --> 00:45:50.760
going to pick up this phone and call the police

727
00:45:50.840 --> 00:45:53.719
and have them come get all of you. She points

728
00:45:53.760 --> 00:45:56.719
to all of us as a whole. Now, too bad

729
00:45:56.800 --> 00:45:59.360
none of you damaged anything in my mall, because I

730
00:45:59.519 --> 00:46:03.119
really really want to press more severe charges on all

731
00:46:03.199 --> 00:46:06.519
of you before any of us can speak, she points

732
00:46:06.559 --> 00:46:09.800
sharply at all of us. Shut up. You do not

733
00:46:10.000 --> 00:46:13.320
speak unless I say so, and I did not say so.

734
00:46:14.320 --> 00:46:18.039
She clasps her hands together now and smirks, Oh, yes,

735
00:46:18.840 --> 00:46:22.880
all of you rotten brats belong to me. Now. She

736
00:46:23.000 --> 00:46:26.320
unclasps her hands and picks up the phone. She's about

737
00:46:26.360 --> 00:46:30.000
to punch the number for the police. When she hangs up,

738
00:46:30.679 --> 00:46:35.159
her smile's really making me feel uneasy right now. I

739
00:46:35.199 --> 00:46:39.079
suppose I should actually be thanking all of you from

740
00:46:39.159 --> 00:46:41.920
the bottom of my heart that you created a disturbance

741
00:46:41.960 --> 00:46:46.159
in my mall today, she says softly. In case you

742
00:46:46.280 --> 00:46:50.000
haven't noticed, the mall doesn't look all jolly for the

743
00:46:50.039 --> 00:46:53.440
holiday season like it's supposed to. Oh, there are a

744
00:46:53.519 --> 00:46:57.400
select few things up and about, like Santa's House, a

745
00:46:57.440 --> 00:47:01.440
few scenes, and even some of the Christmas hanging. However,

746
00:47:02.440 --> 00:47:05.079
there's still plenty more to do here to make my

747
00:47:05.280 --> 00:47:12.000
mall a winter wonderland. Now, she's smiling really sweet. Yeah,

748
00:47:12.159 --> 00:47:15.840
she's that scary. I think I'm willing to cut you

749
00:47:15.960 --> 00:47:21.119
brats some slack this time, she chuckles. Now, but in

750
00:47:21.199 --> 00:47:23.880
no way am I letting you off the hook. Oh no,

751
00:47:24.400 --> 00:47:28.159
In fact, I see my Christmas decorations crew right here

752
00:47:28.199 --> 00:47:31.760
in front of me. It's very simple, really, You brats

753
00:47:31.800 --> 00:47:34.280
get to work the rest of the day and all

754
00:47:34.400 --> 00:47:38.079
night finishing up with the Christmas decorations. There are several

755
00:47:38.159 --> 00:47:41.760
Christmas trees that have to be placed at precise locations

756
00:47:42.039 --> 00:47:45.280
throughout my mall. There are even some scenes that have

757
00:47:45.360 --> 00:47:48.760
to be finished. Now, before you decide you're not going

758
00:47:48.800 --> 00:47:53.199
to cooperate, that's fine. Harmony puts her elbows on the

759
00:47:53.280 --> 00:47:56.599
desk and puts her chin on her fists. I can

760
00:47:56.639 --> 00:47:59.639
pick up the phone again, call the police and have

761
00:47:59.679 --> 00:48:03.440
them charge you accordingly. Believe me when I say how

762
00:48:03.519 --> 00:48:07.280
much I love watching the police arrest brats who think

763
00:48:07.360 --> 00:48:11.079
they can run rampant in my mall. I've already had

764
00:48:11.239 --> 00:48:14.159
more than I can count on two hands arrested just

765
00:48:14.239 --> 00:48:17.599
this week. If I have to have you brats arrested,

766
00:48:18.000 --> 00:48:20.400
then I'm pretty sure it'll be more than I can

767
00:48:20.440 --> 00:48:25.400
count on my hands and feet. Your choice. When none

768
00:48:25.440 --> 00:48:30.519
of us answer, she tells us, oh, you may speak.

769
00:48:30.239 --> 00:48:36.039
Now, You're not safe yet. Weekly Spooky will be right back.

770
00:48:42.239 --> 00:48:47.960
It wasn't, Horton starts, Harmony points right at him. Save it, wimp. No, you,

771
00:48:48.239 --> 00:48:51.159
the fat kid and the mouse girl weren't fighting. I'm

772
00:48:51.199 --> 00:48:54.519
so sure you were trying your absolute best to stop

773
00:48:54.559 --> 00:48:57.440
your two friends from fighting in the fountain. Weren't you.

774
00:48:58.559 --> 00:49:01.840
Harmony shoots up to her feet quickly. But you didn't

775
00:49:01.880 --> 00:49:06.320
stop it, did you? She calms down. Now, the way

776
00:49:06.360 --> 00:49:09.760
I'm seeing it, you're all part of the same group.

777
00:49:10.159 --> 00:49:14.559
This means you're all guilty as charged. End of discussion.

778
00:49:15.239 --> 00:49:17.719
Now you have to make a choice. All I want

779
00:49:17.760 --> 00:49:19.800
to hear from the five of you is either you're

780
00:49:19.840 --> 00:49:23.119
going to finish with the Christmas decorations or you're not

781
00:49:23.199 --> 00:49:25.280
going to help. And I can pick up the phone.

782
00:49:25.760 --> 00:49:32.159
That's it. Having said that, choices, What about this little guy,

783
00:49:32.719 --> 00:49:37.719
Maddie asks her, pointing to Steward. What about him? Harmony snaps,

784
00:49:38.400 --> 00:49:40.480
If you can call somebody to come and get him,

785
00:49:40.519 --> 00:49:43.400
then okay. Otherwise you brats had better keep an eye

786
00:49:43.480 --> 00:49:46.519
on him if he stays with you all night. Can

787
00:49:46.559 --> 00:49:51.960
we talk about it amongst ourselves, Horton asks, Harmony laughs scornfully.

788
00:49:52.480 --> 00:49:56.400
You do not get to make requests, tent Pole. I

789
00:49:56.440 --> 00:50:01.400
will not ask you brats again your choices. Now you

790
00:50:01.519 --> 00:50:03.800
all know we're going to choose to stay and put

791
00:50:03.880 --> 00:50:08.559
up the rest of the decorations. Splendid, Harmony cries with glee.

792
00:50:09.159 --> 00:50:12.800
That's the choice I would have picked myself. And now

793
00:50:13.639 --> 00:50:17.280
Harmony explains what all we're supposed to do. She says

794
00:50:17.320 --> 00:50:20.719
that since she doesn't trust us, she herself will be

795
00:50:20.800 --> 00:50:23.360
supervising us to make sure we do the job on

796
00:50:23.559 --> 00:50:27.159
her level. Turns out, her baby as being watched by

797
00:50:27.199 --> 00:50:30.239
her other family members, so she doesn't have to worry

798
00:50:30.239 --> 00:50:33.639
about getting back to her right away. When she finishes

799
00:50:33.760 --> 00:50:38.800
explaining everything, she smiles her devilish smile again. I'm going

800
00:50:38.840 --> 00:50:42.599
to have so much fun with all of you, Harmony

801
00:50:42.679 --> 00:50:46.360
warns us. Also, if any of you are slacking off

802
00:50:46.480 --> 00:50:51.199
or sleeping on the job, I call the police. Don't worry,

803
00:50:51.519 --> 00:50:55.039
I'm not a totally unfeeling person. I'll give you all

804
00:50:55.079 --> 00:50:57.800
a little break at every hour. I'll even let you

805
00:50:57.880 --> 00:51:00.760
have free soft drinks from the food court and feed

806
00:51:00.840 --> 00:51:03.599
you when it's time for meal breaks. And if the

807
00:51:03.639 --> 00:51:08.920
decorations aren't finished before the morning, then I call the police.

808
00:51:09.719 --> 00:51:13.400
Harmony points at Ariel and Carter. I suppose we really

809
00:51:13.440 --> 00:51:17.000
should get you to some dry clothes. I'll get you

810
00:51:17.079 --> 00:51:20.960
to some overalls to change into while we dry your clothes.

811
00:51:21.679 --> 00:51:24.599
She raises her finger quickly. Those of you who have

812
00:51:24.719 --> 00:51:28.239
smartphones call your parents right now and tell them you're

813
00:51:28.239 --> 00:51:31.119
spending the night here. When you're done, your phones get

814
00:51:31.159 --> 00:51:35.000
locked in this drawer until morning. You're here to work,

815
00:51:35.559 --> 00:51:39.760
not play. We're all looking at each other now. I

816
00:51:39.800 --> 00:51:42.039
don't know about the others, but I get the feeling

817
00:51:42.559 --> 00:51:45.519
we're in for a very long rest of the day

818
00:51:46.239 --> 00:51:53.679
and all night perspective, Richie Horton, The others are quickly

819
00:51:53.760 --> 00:51:56.920
noticing that I'm actually not minding being here so much.

820
00:51:57.760 --> 00:52:01.480
Even harmony mirror barking orders at us isn't really bothering me.

821
00:52:02.199 --> 00:52:04.719
We've been working together at going around the mall and

822
00:52:04.760 --> 00:52:08.519
hanging things, from giant Christmas ornaments to draping tinsel to

823
00:52:08.559 --> 00:52:12.039
even bright and colorful lights. Since the mall's still open,

824
00:52:12.159 --> 00:52:16.000
people are seeing us slowly but surely making our way across.

825
00:52:16.679 --> 00:52:19.320
We started at J. C. Penny and are expected to

826
00:52:19.480 --> 00:52:22.960
end over by Best Buy. Harmony Miron has been keeping

827
00:52:23.000 --> 00:52:26.320
a watchful eye on all of us, even Maddie's got

828
00:52:26.360 --> 00:52:30.199
little Stuart helping her out with putting the animatronic scenes together.

829
00:52:30.960 --> 00:52:33.920
In fact, it was Ariel who advised Harmony that it

830
00:52:33.920 --> 00:52:36.119
would be a good idea to let Stuart stay with

831
00:52:36.239 --> 00:52:40.239
Maddie to keep him out of trouble. When Harmony sees

832
00:52:40.280 --> 00:52:43.480
how Maddie's kind of playing with him to keep him occupied,

833
00:52:43.880 --> 00:52:48.159
she starts yelling at her. Ariel quickly comes over to Maddie.

834
00:52:48.239 --> 00:52:52.199
If I were you, Harmony, I'd leave Mouse alone. Believe me,

835
00:52:52.360 --> 00:52:55.480
you want her keeping Stuart the way he is. But

836
00:52:55.559 --> 00:52:58.599
if you insist on being all high and mighty, go

837
00:52:58.639 --> 00:53:02.039
ahead and keep getting on me. When Stuart starts running

838
00:53:02.039 --> 00:53:05.639
around your mall and getting into everything, don't expect us

839
00:53:05.760 --> 00:53:10.880
to stop him. Harmony points right at Maddie fine, Ariel,

840
00:53:11.280 --> 00:53:14.599
she can entertain the kid. Then she says to Maddie,

841
00:53:15.159 --> 00:53:18.039
don't go too far out of my sight. I may

842
00:53:18.119 --> 00:53:22.320
need you to be my gopher. Maddie keeps entertaining Stuart.

843
00:53:22.840 --> 00:53:25.239
Come to think of it, this isn't the first time

844
00:53:25.280 --> 00:53:28.320
we've seen Maddie playing with him. He doesn't seem to

845
00:53:28.440 --> 00:53:31.840
like the rest of us, especially Ariel. He really seems

846
00:53:31.840 --> 00:53:34.599
to like Maddie, though, he even does what she tells

847
00:53:34.679 --> 00:53:37.880
him and doesn't get poudy with her about it. I

848
00:53:37.880 --> 00:53:41.840
also recall he's never once said a single word at

849
00:53:41.880 --> 00:53:44.360
four years old. I'm sure he can talk, he just

850
00:53:44.440 --> 00:53:47.800
doesn't talk unless he has something to say, probably to

851
00:53:47.920 --> 00:53:51.480
his mom. Harmony doesn't seem to mind us talking to

852
00:53:51.559 --> 00:53:54.519
each other as long as we're working. Right now, I'm

853
00:53:54.559 --> 00:53:58.079
helping Ariel with hanging more tinsel on the ceiling. Chunker's

854
00:53:58.119 --> 00:54:00.599
working on getting the rest of another animate troll scene

855
00:54:00.639 --> 00:54:03.599
put together. Carter's putting up some more of the Christmas

856
00:54:03.639 --> 00:54:06.679
trees that were found in storage. I think Carter and

857
00:54:06.719 --> 00:54:10.440
Ariel both look quite obvious in their navy blue overalls.

858
00:54:11.559 --> 00:54:13.800
Every now and then I see them giving each other

859
00:54:13.960 --> 00:54:17.960
mean looks. When we're at Strickfield Junior High. Nearly everybody's

860
00:54:18.039 --> 00:54:21.199
quick to step aside for Ariel, even the eighth graders.

861
00:54:21.800 --> 00:54:24.199
When it's said that she's the Queen Bee, it doesn't

862
00:54:24.199 --> 00:54:27.599
mean that she literally rules the school. It's just it

863
00:54:27.719 --> 00:54:31.000
means she's the most popular girl there. When she does

864
00:54:31.079 --> 00:54:34.679
tell somebody to do something, they do it. When I

865
00:54:34.719 --> 00:54:39.679
said nearly everybody, the exception is Carter, Chapman, Chunker and me,

866
00:54:40.440 --> 00:54:43.320
And lately it seems Mona Abeles and Bailey Downs, the

867
00:54:43.360 --> 00:54:45.960
other two girls in our group, aren't so quick to

868
00:54:46.000 --> 00:54:49.119
do what she wants. These days, we keep working on

869
00:54:49.239 --> 00:54:52.239
into the evening and right up until closing. We're nearly

870
00:54:52.280 --> 00:54:55.559
halfway through the mall. When ten o'clock rolls around. We've

871
00:54:55.599 --> 00:54:58.400
really put up a lot of decorations. Since we have

872
00:54:58.440 --> 00:55:00.320
to finish the rest of them, all that means we've

873
00:55:00.360 --> 00:55:03.440
got a lot more. Believe me when I say Harmony

874
00:55:03.480 --> 00:55:05.840
hasn't taken her eyes off us for so much as

875
00:55:05.880 --> 00:55:09.159
a second. Even when she was looking at her phone,

876
00:55:09.199 --> 00:55:12.320
she was still watching us. When Carter and Ariel started

877
00:55:12.320 --> 00:55:15.239
sneering at each other a few hours ago, Harmony told

878
00:55:15.280 --> 00:55:18.079
them to get back to work. Maddie and Stuart are

879
00:55:18.119 --> 00:55:21.199
back with sodas on a tray for everybody. She goes

880
00:55:21.239 --> 00:55:25.119
around and hands everybody one. I'm surprised Maddie's been able

881
00:55:25.159 --> 00:55:27.840
to keep Stewart occupied for as long as she has.

882
00:55:28.480 --> 00:55:30.519
When Ariel tried to tell him to do something a

883
00:55:30.559 --> 00:55:34.440
moment ago, he nearly threw his soda at her. Mattie

884
00:55:34.440 --> 00:55:38.039
stopped him and told him he'd get thirsty later again,

885
00:55:38.679 --> 00:55:41.840
he listened to her. Harmony, lets us take a break

886
00:55:41.880 --> 00:55:45.239
to enjoy our sodas. When you finish your break, get

887
00:55:45.280 --> 00:55:48.480
some more Christmas decorations out and keep going. I'm going

888
00:55:48.519 --> 00:55:50.760
to take Madeline and Stuart with me and make sure

889
00:55:50.800 --> 00:55:54.199
the entrances are locked up tight. She points sharply at

890
00:55:54.239 --> 00:55:57.280
the others. And if I come back and see you're

891
00:55:57.360 --> 00:56:01.360
slacking off, Harmony gets on her goalo cart, letting Maddie

892
00:56:01.360 --> 00:56:04.599
and Stuart sit up front with her. Then they take

893
00:56:04.679 --> 00:56:08.280
off to go check the entrances. Like I figured, Ariel

894
00:56:08.320 --> 00:56:12.159
and Carter start going at each other again. I hate you, Carter,

895
00:56:12.760 --> 00:56:16.239
she snaps. He points right at her. Hey, I wasn't

896
00:56:16.239 --> 00:56:17.760
the one who wanted to fight in one of them

897
00:56:17.760 --> 00:56:21.920
all fountains. That was all you. She gets up and

898
00:56:21.920 --> 00:56:24.719
goes right to him. Because you have to fill me

899
00:56:24.800 --> 00:56:27.039
and the goober on your phone and post it on

900
00:56:27.079 --> 00:56:31.119
social media, letting everyone make fun of me because you

901
00:56:31.239 --> 00:56:34.800
keep trying to order me around at school, he fires back.

902
00:56:35.199 --> 00:56:37.639
Even when we're not in school, you always try to

903
00:56:37.679 --> 00:56:39.880
make me do things I don't want to do. You

904
00:56:39.920 --> 00:56:42.519
even drink up my sodas. I get that you're filthy

905
00:56:42.599 --> 00:56:45.320
rich and your family owns all of Strickfield Commons now,

906
00:56:45.559 --> 00:56:47.800
but that don't mean you get to order us around

907
00:56:49.039 --> 00:56:55.599
my school. Ariel growls. That means I run it. Carter

908
00:56:55.760 --> 00:56:58.760
stands up now. He and Ariel are looking each other

909
00:56:58.760 --> 00:57:01.599
in the eyes. You'd swear they're getting ready to throw

910
00:57:01.639 --> 00:57:06.000
down again, except Chunker comes in between them. That's enough,

911
00:57:06.039 --> 00:57:09.400
you guys, he tells them. If Harmony comes back here

912
00:57:09.400 --> 00:57:12.119
and sees you two fighting again, there's no telling what

913
00:57:12.199 --> 00:57:16.320
she's gonna do. Ariel points right at him. You keep

914
00:57:16.360 --> 00:57:19.960
out of this. Chunker turns and looks at her. No,

915
00:57:20.559 --> 00:57:22.760
it's all because of you two fighting that we're in

916
00:57:22.800 --> 00:57:25.400
this mess. I really don't know what you're trying to

917
00:57:25.480 --> 00:57:28.360
prove with saying you run our school. What are you

918
00:57:28.400 --> 00:57:31.639
trying to be a bully, because that's how I'm seeing you, Ariel.

919
00:57:32.159 --> 00:57:34.400
Maybe that's why we scoff at you when you tell

920
00:57:34.480 --> 00:57:37.360
us to know our place at school. I'm just saying.

921
00:57:38.119 --> 00:57:40.719
Chunker turns away from her and sits back down to

922
00:57:40.800 --> 00:57:44.599
drink his soda. Boy, Chunker sure took the wind out

923
00:57:44.599 --> 00:57:48.199
of her sails. I mean, she looks pretty sad right now.

924
00:57:48.880 --> 00:57:53.239
Then she turns and runs away. Hey, Princess Harmony's gonna

925
00:57:53.239 --> 00:57:56.000
be back in a little bit, Carter calls out to her,

926
00:57:56.320 --> 00:58:00.679
but Ariel doesn't look back. I look over at Chunker. Hey,

927
00:58:01.320 --> 00:58:04.719
somebody needed to set her straight, he tells me. Then

928
00:58:04.760 --> 00:58:09.159
he gets up. Fine, I'll go talk to her again.

929
00:58:10.360 --> 00:58:18.119
He gets up and starts walking in her direction. Perspective Ariel, mirrn.

930
00:58:19.360 --> 00:58:21.559
I finally stop running when I get to a far

931
00:58:21.679 --> 00:58:24.360
corner of the food court and hide out of sight.

932
00:58:25.079 --> 00:58:29.360
I sit down and start crying. I thought I was

933
00:58:29.440 --> 00:58:33.320
really alone, but then I feel someone's there. I look

934
00:58:33.440 --> 00:58:37.679
up and see Chunker. What do you want? I snap?

935
00:58:38.239 --> 00:58:40.440
Did you follow me to see me at my worst

936
00:58:40.440 --> 00:58:45.880
and gloat? Chunker sits down across from me. Hey, I

937
00:58:45.960 --> 00:58:51.239
wasn't trying to cut you down, Ariel, but really, how

938
00:58:51.280 --> 00:58:54.239
do you think people at school see you? You know,

939
00:58:54.400 --> 00:58:57.159
being the most popular girl at our school doesn't mean

940
00:58:57.320 --> 00:59:01.880
telling people what to do. What do you expect me

941
00:59:01.960 --> 00:59:05.440
to do? Then? I ask, I'm Ariel Mirran. Do you

942
00:59:05.480 --> 00:59:08.760
have any idea what that means? No, you don't. You

943
00:59:08.800 --> 00:59:11.360
don't know what kind of expectations Mom has for me.

944
00:59:11.760 --> 00:59:14.679
Aside from making sure I'm always there when Aunt Margaret

945
00:59:14.719 --> 00:59:17.599
wants me to take care of Stuart. Not only do

946
00:59:17.679 --> 00:59:19.840
I have to keep that little goober out of trouble

947
00:59:19.840 --> 00:59:21.960
all the time, but Mom expects me to be a

948
00:59:22.199 --> 00:59:26.840
dominant in our family. She's expecting me to be homecoming

949
00:59:26.920 --> 00:59:29.679
and prom queens when we get to high school, the

950
00:59:29.719 --> 00:59:33.719
same as she did. Mom ruled her school with power,

951
00:59:33.880 --> 00:59:36.840
so she expects me to do the same. What do

952
00:59:36.920 --> 00:59:41.159
you want to do? He asks? I wipe away tears

953
00:59:41.159 --> 00:59:44.920
with the back of my hands. I don't know. I

954
00:59:45.000 --> 00:59:47.400
do know. I'm tired of always trying to please mom

955
00:59:47.880 --> 00:59:51.280
when I know she'll never be pleased. You're not a Mirran.

956
00:59:51.360 --> 00:59:54.320
You'll never know what it's like to have lots of

957
00:59:54.360 --> 01:00:00.280
expectations placed on you. Chunker smiles a little. Hey, didn't

958
01:00:00.320 --> 01:00:03.280
you stand up to your mom on Halloween night. Maddie

959
01:00:03.320 --> 01:00:06.599
was telling us about it, shortly after you guys saved

960
01:00:06.599 --> 01:00:10.119
all of us from Abigail Tomlin that night. If you

961
01:00:10.159 --> 01:00:13.760
don't want to live by your mom's expectations, then tell

962
01:00:13.760 --> 01:00:16.800
her that you're supposed to be a dominant miran. Right,

963
01:00:17.360 --> 01:00:23.639
then be a dominant miran. But be your dominant miran now.

964
01:00:23.679 --> 01:00:28.920
I smile at him. You're right, I sigh. I'll share

965
01:00:28.960 --> 01:00:33.400
something with you. Sometimes. I wish I wasn't a Mirran.

966
01:00:34.880 --> 01:00:38.639
If it wasn't for my girls, including Mouse, I think

967
01:00:38.679 --> 01:00:41.719
I'd have lost my mind a long time ago. I

968
01:00:41.840 --> 01:00:47.239
take his hands, thank you. Before Chunker can reply back,

969
01:00:47.320 --> 01:00:52.480
we both realize we're not alone. At first, we're thinking

970
01:00:52.559 --> 01:00:58.119
Harmony found us, but it's some other woman. She looks

971
01:00:58.400 --> 01:01:02.960
huge her high I'm thinking she's at least seven feet tall,

972
01:01:03.000 --> 01:01:05.599
which would explain why the clothes she's wearing look like

973
01:01:06.079 --> 01:01:08.760
summer clothes. She has on a T shirt that looks

974
01:01:08.800 --> 01:01:12.480
torn at the sleeves and jeans that could pass for capris.

975
01:01:13.079 --> 01:01:16.960
She's also barefoot. But what's really scaring the both of

976
01:01:17.039 --> 01:01:20.159
us right now is that her skin looks chalk white

977
01:01:20.320 --> 01:01:24.079
and her eyes are glowing bright red. We both scream

978
01:01:24.159 --> 01:01:27.280
when she shows us her clawed hands and the glistening

979
01:01:27.440 --> 01:01:31.960
fangs in her mouth. We get up and run for it. Help,

980
01:01:32.320 --> 01:01:35.880
Chunker calls out, Ariels, she's got me. I turn and

981
01:01:35.920 --> 01:01:40.239
see that woman. I think she's a vampire, pulling Chunker

982
01:01:40.280 --> 01:01:42.679
into one of the double doors beside the pizza place.

983
01:01:43.159 --> 01:01:45.559
I duck fast when she throws a big trash can

984
01:01:45.639 --> 01:01:49.320
at me with one hand. I'll get help, I call

985
01:01:49.360 --> 01:01:52.000
out to Chunker. Then I turn and start running back

986
01:01:52.000 --> 01:01:57.599
to where the others are. Perspective Brian Chunk. I'm trying

987
01:01:57.599 --> 01:02:00.039
to break free of this woman who's holding onto me.

988
01:02:00.159 --> 01:02:04.320
But she's really strong. If she really is a vampire,

989
01:02:04.360 --> 01:02:07.599
I'm gonna be in real big trouble here. Let go

990
01:02:07.719 --> 01:02:12.760
of me, I yell help. The vampire woman growls as

991
01:02:12.760 --> 01:02:15.960
she keeps dragging me along. Soon she opens one of

992
01:02:16.000 --> 01:02:19.159
the doors leading to the basement level. I remember we

993
01:02:19.239 --> 01:02:20.559
had to go down there to get some of the

994
01:02:20.639 --> 01:02:24.480
Christmas decorations. There's also a parking garage under a part

995
01:02:24.480 --> 01:02:28.039
of them all itself. Now the big vampire's picking me

996
01:02:28.119 --> 01:02:32.199
up and carrying me downstairs under one arm. I know

997
01:02:32.239 --> 01:02:34.760
I ain't no lightweight, but she's carrying me like I

998
01:02:34.800 --> 01:02:38.519
am one. I keep calling out for help. I just

999
01:02:38.559 --> 01:02:40.880
hope Ariel tells the others what's going on before I

1000
01:02:40.960 --> 01:02:46.239
end up becoming food for this thing ooh, or she

1001
01:02:46.360 --> 01:02:50.320
makes me into something like her. Then I remember I

1002
01:02:50.400 --> 01:02:54.599
was already not alive once before that time, when Abigail

1003
01:02:54.679 --> 01:02:58.440
Tomlin brought Chapman, Horton and me to the Afterlife a

1004
01:02:58.519 --> 01:03:02.400
year ago last Halloween. No way I was letting this

1005
01:03:02.480 --> 01:03:06.119
giant woman turn me into a vampire. Seeing the woman's

1006
01:03:06.159 --> 01:03:09.199
bare foot, I raise my shoe and stomp down on

1007
01:03:09.199 --> 01:03:12.920
one of her feet. She growls and stops. That's when

1008
01:03:12.920 --> 01:03:16.480
I break loose and run. The woman screams now. I

1009
01:03:16.480 --> 01:03:19.440
don't even look over my shoulder. I know she's after me.

1010
01:03:19.920 --> 01:03:21.840
I just know I gotta get out of here and

1011
01:03:21.880 --> 01:03:25.960
get back upstairs to the others. Hopefully Ariels warn them already,

1012
01:03:26.400 --> 01:03:28.400
for all I know, they're probably on their way out

1013
01:03:28.440 --> 01:03:30.880
of the mall. I'm turning the corner to open the

1014
01:03:30.920 --> 01:03:35.599
door to get back upstairs. What I quickly yell that

1015
01:03:35.800 --> 01:03:39.840
giant vampire woman is is right in front of me.

1016
01:03:40.679 --> 01:03:44.719
Then I remember vampires can literally warp right in front

1017
01:03:44.760 --> 01:03:47.639
of you. I quickly slam the door and run to another.

1018
01:03:48.159 --> 01:03:50.639
Now I hear the vampire woman knock the door away

1019
01:03:50.679 --> 01:03:55.039
and come out. She screams again, which really sends shivers

1020
01:03:55.079 --> 01:03:58.440
down my spine. I run to the upward ramp and

1021
01:03:58.480 --> 01:04:01.920
start making my way up. I hear the giant vampires

1022
01:04:01.960 --> 01:04:05.320
scream again. It'd be one thing if she hissed or

1023
01:04:05.360 --> 01:04:09.559
even went bleah blah or something, but screaming like Ariel

1024
01:04:09.639 --> 01:04:13.559
mirror when she's mad. Even hearing Ariel scream sends shivers

1025
01:04:13.599 --> 01:04:17.000
down my spine. But she ain't a giant vampire woman.

1026
01:04:18.280 --> 01:04:20.320
When I'm about to reach the top of the ramp,

1027
01:04:20.679 --> 01:04:24.320
I quickly stop when I see she's right there. She

1028
01:04:24.480 --> 01:04:34.559
looks right at me and and and I feel feel

1029
01:04:35.159 --> 01:04:44.400
her eyes. I can't move, I can't can't run the

1030
01:04:44.519 --> 01:04:54.920
last last it's glam. Then I think I'm she's lifting

1031
01:04:55.079 --> 01:04:59.800
me on her shoulders. Can't move.

1032
01:05:00.800 --> 01:05:04.679
You're not safe yet, weekly Spooky will be right back.

1033
01:05:10.400 --> 01:05:15.800
Perspective, Madeline Donnerly. I thought it'd be hard trying to

1034
01:05:15.880 --> 01:05:19.199
keep Stuart occupied all day. In fact, he's sitting on

1035
01:05:19.239 --> 01:05:22.519
my lap right now. He points at the Christmas displays

1036
01:05:22.559 --> 01:05:26.039
and is all happy and laughing. Stuart helped me put

1037
01:05:26.079 --> 01:05:28.480
all of them together. All I had to do was

1038
01:05:28.519 --> 01:05:30.519
point to what I wanted, and he brought it to me.

1039
01:05:31.239 --> 01:05:34.320
Harmony's just now bringing us back after making sure all

1040
01:05:34.360 --> 01:05:38.440
the entrances are locked up tight. That's when we're seeing

1041
01:05:38.599 --> 01:05:42.000
Ariel running out of the food court to the others help.

1042
01:05:42.519 --> 01:05:46.920
She's shrieking help. The others are looking at her. Now.

1043
01:05:47.280 --> 01:05:49.440
I can tell you Harmony ain't too happy when she

1044
01:05:49.519 --> 01:05:52.280
pulls the golf cart right up by her. There is

1045
01:05:52.440 --> 01:05:55.639
no reason whatsoever for you to be carrying on Ariel.

1046
01:05:56.000 --> 01:06:00.679
Harmony snaps, there's a giant vampire. Woman tells all of

1047
01:06:00.760 --> 01:06:04.719
us she got Chunker. Then she tells us what happened

1048
01:06:04.760 --> 01:06:07.559
in the food court. I'm not making any of this up,

1049
01:06:07.559 --> 01:06:10.960
I swear, but I can tell Carter ain't believe in her.

1050
01:06:11.440 --> 01:06:14.760
Suddenly Ariel comes over to me. She takes my wrist

1051
01:06:14.840 --> 01:06:19.320
and locks her little finger with mine. Pinky promise. I'm

1052
01:06:19.320 --> 01:06:22.920
giving Ariel my most serious look right now. You say

1053
01:06:22.920 --> 01:06:27.079
it's a vampire. Now, Harmony grabs my arm. None of

1054
01:06:27.079 --> 01:06:29.840
you brats are leaving this mall until all the Christmas

1055
01:06:29.880 --> 01:06:32.960
decorations are put up. You understand me, None of you

1056
01:06:34.000 --> 01:06:37.760
I shake Harmony off me. If Ariel says Chunker's in trouble,

1057
01:06:37.880 --> 01:06:40.639
then I'm gonna go help find my friend. I lift

1058
01:06:40.679 --> 01:06:43.639
Stuart up and quickly get off the cart. I'm leaving

1059
01:06:43.679 --> 01:06:46.480
this little guy here with you. You got a baby, right,

1060
01:06:46.559 --> 01:06:48.159
so you ought to know what to do with Stuart.

1061
01:06:48.719 --> 01:06:52.719
You stop right there, Harmony yells. I did not excuse

1062
01:06:52.840 --> 01:06:55.440
any of you. I mean it. I'll call the police

1063
01:06:55.440 --> 01:06:58.519
and have them here right now. Now. I see Horton

1064
01:06:58.559 --> 01:07:02.880
pointing and gasping. Fast, Matty, Matty, many, Matty many, Maddi, Maddi.

1065
01:07:03.320 --> 01:07:07.079
We're all looking where Horton's pointing. Now, Ariel's joining Horton.

1066
01:07:07.760 --> 01:07:11.760
That's her. That's the big vampire woman who took Chunker. You,

1067
01:07:12.760 --> 01:07:17.639
Harmony yells at her. I turned to her. You know

1068
01:07:17.880 --> 01:07:22.480
that vampire woman, Harmony. That's the thing that trashed my

1069
01:07:22.679 --> 01:07:25.960
maul and attacked my security guards on Christmas Eve two

1070
01:07:26.079 --> 01:07:30.360
years ago. Harmony shrieks. I could never forget that face,

1071
01:07:31.000 --> 01:07:35.719
that hair, or those eyes. That vampire woman looks like

1072
01:07:35.800 --> 01:07:38.400
she's got a good seven feet of height. Her red

1073
01:07:38.440 --> 01:07:41.760
eyes are glowing bright even in the dark. She tightens

1074
01:07:41.800 --> 01:07:45.440
her fists and screams, that's when Harmony turns her cart

1075
01:07:46.000 --> 01:07:51.039
and drives off. Wow, Harmony really drove off and left

1076
01:07:51.119 --> 01:07:56.239
us here. Horton says, that's a mirror for you. Carter mutters, hey.

1077
01:07:56.960 --> 01:08:00.239
Ariel yells at him. Then she slaps his shoulder. I'm

1078
01:08:00.280 --> 01:08:03.760
standing right here, you bump us. Carter looks kind of

1079
01:08:03.840 --> 01:08:06.480
ready to stick his foot in his mouth. That vampire

1080
01:08:06.559 --> 01:08:10.960
woman moves really fast because she's almost right on us. Scatter,

1081
01:08:11.519 --> 01:08:15.199
Ariel yells. Carter quickly takes Ariel's hand as they run

1082
01:08:15.280 --> 01:08:18.439
one way. Horton turns and runs another way. Then I

1083
01:08:18.520 --> 01:08:21.640
feel little Stuart pulling on my pants pocket. I picked

1084
01:08:21.640 --> 01:08:24.560
the little guy up and run in another direction. Wait

1085
01:08:24.680 --> 01:08:28.479
for me. I hear Horton yelling. Guess he reconsidered which

1086
01:08:28.520 --> 01:08:30.960
way he was going. Turns out I ain't gotta wait

1087
01:08:31.039 --> 01:08:33.840
for Horton. He's running so fast his shoes are squeaking

1088
01:08:33.920 --> 01:08:37.079
on the floor. I gotta quickly stop and put Stuart down.

1089
01:08:37.600 --> 01:08:41.000
Then I squat, get on my back. Little buddy. Stuart

1090
01:08:41.039 --> 01:08:44.239
again listens to me and climbs on. I lift myself

1091
01:08:44.319 --> 01:08:47.159
up so Horton and me can run again. Much easier

1092
01:08:47.199 --> 01:08:49.479
to carry Stuart on my back than trying to hold him.

1093
01:08:50.239 --> 01:08:53.840
Can you see her, Maddie Horton asks. Suddenly, the vampire

1094
01:08:53.880 --> 01:08:56.119
woman appears right in front of us when she comes

1095
01:08:56.159 --> 01:08:58.760
out of one of those side corridors, making us both scream.

1096
01:08:59.520 --> 01:09:03.319
Never mind forget, I asked, Horton shrieks. When we turn around,

1097
01:09:03.840 --> 01:09:06.479
what's real funny right now? Is that little Stewart is

1098
01:09:06.680 --> 01:09:10.079
laughing it up? Yeah, I'm glad you're having fun, little buddy.

1099
01:09:10.279 --> 01:09:13.199
Hang on. Horton and me scream when we hear the

1100
01:09:13.279 --> 01:09:16.119
vampire lady shout. Then we round a few of the

1101
01:09:16.239 --> 01:09:19.119
kiosks and head into the food court. Why are we

1102
01:09:19.239 --> 01:09:22.880
running this way, Maddie Horton asks, We gotta find Chunker.

1103
01:09:23.079 --> 01:09:26.640
I tell him they both came this way. What's really

1104
01:09:26.760 --> 01:09:29.079
bad is I ain't even got time to try and

1105
01:09:29.159 --> 01:09:31.399
find a mirror to summon Mary Worth to come and

1106
01:09:31.479 --> 01:09:35.560
help us. Huh man, where'd that giant vampire lady come from?

1107
01:09:36.079 --> 01:09:40.000
I'm almost thinking Lady Dimitri Su escaped from resident evil village.

1108
01:09:40.720 --> 01:09:43.680
When we're about to turn another corner, we're both screaming again.

1109
01:09:43.760 --> 01:09:46.720
When the giant vampire lady has her hands on our shoulders.

1110
01:09:47.319 --> 01:09:52.600
She's flying. Horton shrieks down I yell. We both fall

1111
01:09:52.680 --> 01:09:55.079
on our bellies and let the vampire lady fly right

1112
01:09:55.159 --> 01:09:58.479
over us. We quickly get back up, glad Little Stewart

1113
01:09:58.560 --> 01:10:01.920
doesn't weigh much. The vampire lady lands and points right

1114
01:10:02.000 --> 01:10:08.560
at us. Now, my children, Wow, she don't sound nothing

1115
01:10:08.720 --> 01:10:12.680
like Lady Demtrisu. Her voice actually echoes, and her face

1116
01:10:12.800 --> 01:10:16.279
looks like the original Fright Night poster. Boy do Horton

1117
01:10:16.359 --> 01:10:19.520
and me ever scream? I remember telling Ariel Mirror to

1118
01:10:19.560 --> 01:10:21.880
give me something to be scared about just after we

1119
01:10:21.960 --> 01:10:25.199
started junior High. If she's seeing me right now, she

1120
01:10:25.279 --> 01:10:28.039
ain't never gonna let me live this down. Then I

1121
01:10:28.159 --> 01:10:33.000
stop screaming when I hear little Stewart laughing again. Oh

1122
01:10:33.239 --> 01:10:37.359
you think this is funny? I ask him. The vampire

1123
01:10:37.479 --> 01:10:44.800
lady licks her long glistening fangs. My children, Horton and

1124
01:10:44.920 --> 01:10:47.760
me both scream again and run for all we're worth.

1125
01:10:48.840 --> 01:10:53.920
The only thing scarier than that is not being subscribed weekly.

1126
01:10:54.039 --> 01:10:55.439
Spooky will be right back.

1127
01:10:56.840 --> 01:10:59.640
We run out of the food court and down toward J. C. Penny.

1128
01:11:00.119 --> 01:11:03.279
We're hearing that vampire ladies screaming as she's flying after

1129
01:11:03.399 --> 01:11:08.720
us again, really sharp claws outstretched. Hey, as long as

1130
01:11:08.800 --> 01:11:11.800
Stuart's laughing. Then him being scared is one problem we

1131
01:11:11.840 --> 01:11:14.399
ain't got to worry about. We turn a corner and

1132
01:11:14.439 --> 01:11:17.920
see an suv that's being raffled off parked. I can't

1133
01:11:18.000 --> 01:11:22.800
run much longer. Horton pants, Hey, that vehicle's got mirrors.

1134
01:11:23.159 --> 01:11:26.520
I can call Mary Worth. I never thought I'd ever

1135
01:11:26.640 --> 01:11:28.760
be so glad. I'm possessed by the spirit of a

1136
01:11:29.119 --> 01:11:31.479
white witch from the time of the Salem Witch Trials.

1137
01:11:32.039 --> 01:11:35.119
But just as we reach the suv, it suddenly comes

1138
01:11:35.199 --> 01:11:38.680
off the floor. The giant vampire lady's lifting it right

1139
01:11:38.720 --> 01:11:48.119
above her head. No escape, she growls. No way. Horton squeaks, Yes, way.

1140
01:11:48.560 --> 01:11:51.680
I squeak back, and then I see the bikes. Carter

1141
01:11:51.800 --> 01:11:55.960
and me rode here just outside. The only way Horton

1142
01:11:56.039 --> 01:11:59.039
and me can use him is to I got an idea, Horton.

1143
01:11:59.640 --> 01:12:02.239
At first, first, I think about handing Stuart off to Horton,

1144
01:12:02.600 --> 01:12:05.239
but I ain't sure how he'll behave with him. Nah,

1145
01:12:05.720 --> 01:12:08.840
I gotta keep this little guy with me. Hang on, Stuart,

1146
01:12:09.159 --> 01:12:12.920
I tell him, what are you doing, Maddie. Horton shrieks

1147
01:12:13.119 --> 01:12:16.119
when he sees me running around. The vampire lady Now

1148
01:12:16.239 --> 01:12:18.720
Horton and me are on either side of her. Yeah,

1149
01:12:19.000 --> 01:12:22.000
you keep having fun, little man, I tell Stuart when

1150
01:12:22.039 --> 01:12:24.840
he's still laughing it up. Now, I call out to

1151
01:12:24.920 --> 01:12:29.319
the vampire lady. Hey, she turns around to face Stuart

1152
01:12:29.359 --> 01:12:32.640
and me. Bet you can't hit me with that Maddie.

1153
01:12:33.159 --> 01:12:39.119
Horton gasps, really. Then my plan totally backfires. The vampire

1154
01:12:39.239 --> 01:12:41.520
Lady drops the car so that it bounces on its

1155
01:12:41.600 --> 01:12:45.479
tires once and remains parked against a wall. Then she

1156
01:12:45.640 --> 01:12:48.680
snatches Horton by his shoulders and lifts him up. All

1157
01:12:48.720 --> 01:12:51.560
he can do is smile and laugh a little. Then

1158
01:12:51.640 --> 01:12:52.399
he waves at her.

1159
01:12:52.920 --> 01:12:56.039
Um ugh, hi.

1160
01:12:57.520 --> 01:13:04.840
Bee bee. She said, yeah, I'm your baby. Horton quickly agrees,

1161
01:13:05.279 --> 01:13:08.159
probably hoping she don't lower him down and bite him.

1162
01:13:08.920 --> 01:13:11.920
Then I see the door on the suv is open. Hey,

1163
01:13:12.680 --> 01:13:15.840
that's right. The vehicle was unlocked so people could look

1164
01:13:15.880 --> 01:13:19.279
inside it to entice them into filling out a raffle card.

1165
01:13:19.800 --> 01:13:22.800
I inch my way over to the vehicle. Stewart gets

1166
01:13:22.840 --> 01:13:25.680
off my back and climbs inside. Then I get into

1167
01:13:25.680 --> 01:13:29.000
the driver's seat. Man, I'm hoping there's keys in this thing.

1168
01:13:30.000 --> 01:13:32.239
It's gonna be a long shot, but I pull down

1169
01:13:32.319 --> 01:13:36.119
the sun visor like I did on Halloween night. Nope,

1170
01:13:36.760 --> 01:13:40.399
no keys. Then my little buddy taps my leg fast.

1171
01:13:41.039 --> 01:13:45.520
I turned to see him handing me the keys. Aw thanks,

1172
01:13:46.119 --> 01:13:49.119
I cry, taking him off his hands. Man, I sure

1173
01:13:49.159 --> 01:13:51.880
hope this works. I put the keys in the ignition

1174
01:13:52.000 --> 01:13:54.960
and crank it. That's when the giant vampire lady turns

1175
01:13:55.000 --> 01:13:59.319
and looks right at me. Now I'm feeling a little weird.

1176
01:14:00.199 --> 01:14:02.600
Then I quickly shake my head on No, no way,

1177
01:14:02.680 --> 01:14:06.199
I'm letting her glam me. Come on start, will you.

1178
01:14:06.800 --> 01:14:09.319
I beg the car when all it's doing is cranking.

1179
01:14:09.760 --> 01:14:12.079
Then I call out the window, this is the part

1180
01:14:12.119 --> 01:14:15.239
where you start running, Horton. He don't need me to

1181
01:14:15.319 --> 01:14:18.640
tell him twice. And just when that giant vampire Lady's

1182
01:14:18.680 --> 01:14:22.800
almost on me, the car roars to life. Time to

1183
01:14:22.880 --> 01:14:28.640
play some more grand Tarismo again, just like on Halloween night. Okay, Mouseie,

1184
01:14:28.920 --> 01:14:32.920
time to show this big ugly vampire some driving skills.

1185
01:14:33.319 --> 01:14:36.640
I say to myself. When I hear Stuart laughing at

1186
01:14:36.680 --> 01:14:39.359
all the fun he's having, I know I gotta keep

1187
01:14:39.399 --> 01:14:43.319
him entertained. I take a deep breath, shift the gears

1188
01:14:43.920 --> 01:14:47.479
and floor the gas. The tires are squealing on the

1189
01:14:47.560 --> 01:14:49.800
floor as I'm backing up. When I'm out in the

1190
01:14:49.840 --> 01:14:53.359
main area, I shift again and floor it forward. Hang on,

1191
01:14:53.479 --> 01:14:56.640
little guy, we're gonna get Horton. I just hope I

1192
01:14:56.680 --> 01:14:59.600
can drive like our lives depend on it. Oh wait,

1193
01:15:00.720 --> 01:15:07.479
they do perspective Carter Cross. Ariel and I made it

1194
01:15:07.520 --> 01:15:09.720
out of the mall itself and make it back to

1195
01:15:09.800 --> 01:15:12.439
the storeroom where the rest of the Christmas decorations are.

1196
01:15:13.039 --> 01:15:15.560
After we piled stuff up against the doors. We got

1197
01:15:15.600 --> 01:15:18.119
our backs to the wall and her sweating as we're

1198
01:15:18.159 --> 01:15:22.119
catching our breaths. When we're calm enough, Ariel growls her

1199
01:15:22.800 --> 01:15:27.039
usual growl and slaps me on the arm ow. Then

1200
01:15:27.119 --> 01:15:31.159
I turned to her, what's your problem now, princess. She

1201
01:15:31.319 --> 01:15:34.199
turns to me and pushes me. Now, I can't believe

1202
01:15:34.279 --> 01:15:36.960
what you said about the mirrors. I was right there.

1203
01:15:37.720 --> 01:15:41.479
I'm a mirror. I raise my hands in front of me. Okay,

1204
01:15:42.119 --> 01:15:45.279
bad choice of words. I'm sorry. To be honest, I

1205
01:15:45.399 --> 01:15:47.680
wasn't thinking about you when I said what I said.

1206
01:15:48.640 --> 01:15:54.840
Ariel calms down a little. Really, I sigh. Okay, yes,

1207
01:15:54.960 --> 01:15:57.960
you're a mirror, but you wouldn't have left us the way.

1208
01:15:58.000 --> 01:16:02.079
Harmony did cut me some slack here, She slaps my

1209
01:16:02.199 --> 01:16:06.359
shoulder hard again. You don't deserve any slack, Carter, not

1210
01:16:06.479 --> 01:16:08.600
when you keep making videos of me in that little

1211
01:16:08.680 --> 01:16:11.760
goober and posting them on Facebook. And now that we're

1212
01:16:11.800 --> 01:16:14.960
all here alone, just you and me, we can finish

1213
01:16:15.039 --> 01:16:19.039
our fight from earlier. We both know you can't outrun me, right,

1214
01:16:20.119 --> 01:16:23.119
I look her in the face. If we survive this,

1215
01:16:23.880 --> 01:16:25.960
I'm still not gonna treat you like you're the queen.

1216
01:16:26.039 --> 01:16:29.119
When we're back at school, she points right at me.

1217
01:16:29.840 --> 01:16:35.479
It's my school, whatever, princess. I snap. Then I turn

1218
01:16:35.600 --> 01:16:38.439
my back to her. There's just no talking to you.

1219
01:16:39.199 --> 01:16:43.239
I raise my finger. That's where you show you're a mirror.

1220
01:16:44.079 --> 01:16:47.600
It's always your way or no way. Then I see

1221
01:16:47.640 --> 01:16:50.760
the pop machine with can sodas and go over to it.

1222
01:16:51.399 --> 01:16:53.239
I'm surprised that you even keep one of these here

1223
01:16:53.319 --> 01:16:57.199
in the storeroom. Looks like it's working. I dig into

1224
01:16:57.239 --> 01:17:00.359
my pocket and pull some change out. Next, I know,

1225
01:17:00.600 --> 01:17:05.399
Ariel's right there, can you. I don't have any money

1226
01:17:05.439 --> 01:17:10.880
on me, and my smartphone's still locked in Harmony's desk. Please. Well,

1227
01:17:11.760 --> 01:17:14.000
I do like it when Ariel says the magic word,

1228
01:17:14.079 --> 01:17:16.960
because she don't say it very often. I plunk in

1229
01:17:17.079 --> 01:17:19.880
my coins and let her get a coke. I plunk

1230
01:17:19.920 --> 01:17:23.119
in some more money and get myself one too. Sodas

1231
01:17:23.159 --> 01:17:26.039
are like catnip to this girl. And it don't matter

1232
01:17:26.119 --> 01:17:28.159
how mad she is. Just give her a soda and

1233
01:17:28.239 --> 01:17:32.640
she's calm and happy. Just like that. Ariel looks at me.

1234
01:17:32.760 --> 01:17:32.880
Now.

1235
01:17:33.560 --> 01:17:37.680
You know, when we're at school, you could just bribe

1236
01:17:37.720 --> 01:17:41.880
me with a soda. I'd probably leave you alone. Ariel

1237
01:17:41.920 --> 01:17:44.279
and I are looking at each other now. I mean,

1238
01:17:45.319 --> 01:17:48.479
we just can't take our eyes off each other. This

1239
01:17:48.720 --> 01:17:51.039
right here is why Madeline gives me a hard time.

1240
01:17:52.039 --> 01:17:54.159
Not in a bad kind of way. But you know

1241
01:17:54.279 --> 01:17:58.520
what I'm gonna do it. I don't care what anybody says.

1242
01:18:00.039 --> 01:18:03.720
Take a deep breath and just say it. We make

1243
01:18:03.800 --> 01:18:06.399
it out of this. You wanna go out on a

1244
01:18:06.520 --> 01:18:10.600
date with me, Ariel, don't say anything right away. She

1245
01:18:10.680 --> 01:18:13.680
don't look like she's mad. She takes a deep breath

1246
01:18:13.760 --> 01:18:17.199
of her own and opens her mouth to give her answer. Suddenly,

1247
01:18:17.439 --> 01:18:19.520
that suv we saw it in the mall that's being

1248
01:18:19.640 --> 01:18:22.680
raffled off, comes plowing right through the doors. All the

1249
01:18:22.760 --> 01:18:25.720
Christmas stuff we piled up against them just flies everywhere.

1250
01:18:26.439 --> 01:18:32.039
Ariel looks at me. Is that mouse driving? Suddenly? That

1251
01:18:32.319 --> 01:18:35.800
monster's flying right in. I'm quickly shaking up my soda

1252
01:18:35.840 --> 01:18:39.159
when it grabs Ariel. Just as Ariel screams, I hold

1253
01:18:39.239 --> 01:18:41.760
my can to the thing's face and pop the top.

1254
01:18:42.520 --> 01:18:45.439
Soda just squirts out hard, right in its eyes. The

1255
01:18:45.560 --> 01:18:49.680
monster lets Ariel go and screams. Just then the suv

1256
01:18:49.880 --> 01:18:52.800
pulls right up next to us. We can see Madeline's

1257
01:18:52.840 --> 01:18:56.039
definitely driving, just like she did on Halloween night when

1258
01:18:56.079 --> 01:18:59.399
Abigail Tomlin's ghost was chasing us down at cry Baby Bridge.

1259
01:19:00.079 --> 01:19:03.199
Horton and Little Stewart are in with her. Get in here,

1260
01:19:03.720 --> 01:19:06.640
mouse tells us. When I open one of the rear doors,

1261
01:19:06.880 --> 01:19:09.159
Ariel shoves me in and comes in right behind me.

1262
01:19:09.720 --> 01:19:12.359
When she pulls the door closed, Madeline floors the gas

1263
01:19:12.439 --> 01:19:15.640
and drives around the storeroom. Before long, we're back out

1264
01:19:15.680 --> 01:19:21.039
in the main mall. I can't see her, Horton tells Madeleine. Newsflash,

1265
01:19:21.399 --> 01:19:23.520
you ain't gonna see her in any of those mirrors.

1266
01:19:23.960 --> 01:19:29.600
She tells him, vampires don't cast reflections. Ariel gulps and

1267
01:19:29.800 --> 01:19:30.680
turns around.

1268
01:19:32.239 --> 01:19:35.840
Don't go away, weakly spooky we'll be right back.

1269
01:19:42.319 --> 01:19:45.920
She nearly got us mouse, she just crashed into a kiosk.

1270
01:19:46.239 --> 01:19:49.359
Ariel shrieks, Yeah, I gotta get us to a mall

1271
01:19:49.520 --> 01:19:52.920
entrance and drive right through it, Madeleine tells her. Then

1272
01:19:53.000 --> 01:19:57.000
she looks over her shoulder. Unless you don't, you can

1273
01:19:57.039 --> 01:19:59.880
wreck this whole mall for all I care mouse, Ariel

1274
01:20:00.119 --> 01:20:03.119
tells her, let Harmony sort it out. If anything, we're

1275
01:20:03.199 --> 01:20:06.359
saving her life by leading that thing away from here.

1276
01:20:07.359 --> 01:20:10.920
I love how you think, Madeleine says, turning back around

1277
01:20:11.000 --> 01:20:13.560
and focusing on her driving. When we get to the

1278
01:20:13.600 --> 01:20:17.239
food court, she hits the brakes and makes a sharp turn. Hey,

1279
01:20:17.720 --> 01:20:22.520
Harmony's right up ahead. Horton pipes up. Stop. Harmony screams

1280
01:20:22.560 --> 01:20:25.199
in terror. Her golf cart seem to have stalled out.

1281
01:20:25.920 --> 01:20:30.199
What do you think, guys, Madeline teases. Ariel growls again.

1282
01:20:30.840 --> 01:20:35.560
I'd say just leave her, but I'd rather not have

1283
01:20:35.720 --> 01:20:39.560
Crampis visit me on Christmas Eve. Santa could always leave

1284
01:20:39.680 --> 01:20:43.520
some coal in your stocking, I joke, or some diet coke.

1285
01:20:44.159 --> 01:20:50.680
Ariel tightens her jaw and slaps my arm again. Shut up, ow, easy, princess,

1286
01:20:51.239 --> 01:20:55.319
I laugh. Madeleine hits the brakes. When we're stopped, Ariel

1287
01:20:55.319 --> 01:20:58.039
and I scoot over and let Harmony come in. When

1288
01:20:58.119 --> 01:21:01.279
she closes the door, Madelene shifts, hits the gas, and

1289
01:21:01.439 --> 01:21:05.720
backs up. What are you doing, Madeline, I ask, gotta

1290
01:21:05.760 --> 01:21:08.520
have momentum to get through those doors, She calls back.

1291
01:21:09.000 --> 01:21:12.439
When Madeleine shifts gears and floors at Harmony's looking wide

1292
01:21:12.479 --> 01:21:15.920
eyed when she sees who's behind the wheel. Wait a minute,

1293
01:21:16.399 --> 01:21:21.279
there's a kid driving. Pull over. Ariel really growls now

1294
01:21:21.600 --> 01:21:24.439
and points at her. You just shut up. My little

1295
01:21:24.479 --> 01:21:27.680
friend up there can drive very well. For your information,

1296
01:21:28.479 --> 01:21:32.119
Madeline raises her finger, and for the record, we're all

1297
01:21:32.239 --> 01:21:37.119
teenagers here. She lowers her finger. Okay, maybe not little Stewart.

1298
01:21:37.880 --> 01:21:40.600
Suddenly we crash right through the main doors and are

1299
01:21:40.640 --> 01:21:43.520
out in the parking lot. Harmony yells up at Madeleine.

1300
01:21:44.039 --> 01:21:46.800
You do realize you're paying for all the damage you

1301
01:21:47.039 --> 01:21:50.640
just Horton quickly says, we didn't have to pick you up,

1302
01:21:50.720 --> 01:21:53.960
you know, especially considering how you just left us behind

1303
01:21:54.079 --> 01:21:56.680
and everything. I mean, if you want to get out,

1304
01:21:57.199 --> 01:22:01.239
Harmony shuts up fast, but it don't last. Wait a minute,

1305
01:22:01.520 --> 01:22:04.399
we're not leaving. The mall exit is over there.

1306
01:22:05.279 --> 01:22:05.840
I know that.

1307
01:22:06.159 --> 01:22:09.520
Madeleine says, we're heading down below to the parking garage

1308
01:22:09.600 --> 01:22:12.560
to find Chunker. We ain't leaving here without him. She

1309
01:22:12.720 --> 01:22:15.640
glances back at us. We ain't gonna get that much

1310
01:22:15.680 --> 01:22:18.600
further anyway. Wasn't much gas in the tank when I

1311
01:22:18.680 --> 01:22:22.800
started this thing. Harmony leans forward. How about you go

1312
01:22:23.079 --> 01:22:26.680
get some gas? You squirt told you we ain't leaving

1313
01:22:26.720 --> 01:22:30.359
our friend behind. Then she jams on the brakes. When

1314
01:22:30.399 --> 01:22:33.000
we stop, she looks back at Harmony. You know what,

1315
01:22:33.640 --> 01:22:37.479
how about you getting up here and driving Lady mouse?

1316
01:22:37.560 --> 01:22:40.760
What are you doing? Ariel chokes out. Let's just go

1317
01:22:40.960 --> 01:22:43.079
fill the gas tank. Then we can come back here

1318
01:22:43.119 --> 01:22:45.399
and look for Chunker. At least we can get out

1319
01:22:45.439 --> 01:22:48.520
of here on a full tank. And that's what Harmony's

1320
01:22:48.560 --> 01:22:51.920
gonna do. Madeleine says, I'm gonna go back in the

1321
01:22:52.039 --> 01:22:55.479
mall and find Chunker. I'm about to tell her how

1322
01:22:55.560 --> 01:22:58.600
crazy she is, remembering the crazy stunt she tried to

1323
01:22:58.640 --> 01:23:02.560
pull on Halloween night. I'll come with you, Madeline, She

1324
01:23:02.720 --> 01:23:05.560
points right at me. Nope, you gotta be a man

1325
01:23:05.680 --> 01:23:10.760
and protect Ariel. Ariel shakes her head slowly. Madeleine, I'll

1326
01:23:10.800 --> 01:23:15.079
be okay, you guys, I promise, just go, Madeleine insists.

1327
01:23:15.720 --> 01:23:18.600
When Harmony jumps behind the wheel, she pulls the door

1328
01:23:18.680 --> 01:23:21.039
shut and floors it. The rest of us are looking

1329
01:23:21.119 --> 01:23:25.319
back is Madeleine heads back to the mall. The next

1330
01:23:25.399 --> 01:23:28.880
thing we know, Stuart's coming in between us. He ain't

1331
01:23:29.000 --> 01:23:32.039
laughing and having fun so much. Now. I think this

1332
01:23:32.199 --> 01:23:34.119
is the first time Ariel and I have ever seen

1333
01:23:34.199 --> 01:23:41.079
how worried the little guy looks. Perspective, Madeline donnerly. I

1334
01:23:41.199 --> 01:23:43.279
make it back to the mall and start walking into

1335
01:23:43.359 --> 01:23:47.479
the parking garage underneath. There's cars parked under here. Then

1336
01:23:47.560 --> 01:23:49.520
I have a thought and look in a driver's side

1337
01:23:49.560 --> 01:23:53.920
mirror and see Mary Worth looking back at me. Can

1338
01:23:53.960 --> 01:23:57.640
you tell me where my friend is? I whisper, certainly,

1339
01:23:58.359 --> 01:24:03.239
Mary answers the changes. Turns out I ain't far from Chunker.

1340
01:24:03.640 --> 01:24:06.199
That giant vampire lady's got him stashed away in the

1341
01:24:06.239 --> 01:24:11.560
security station down here, Mary's face reappears. Be careful, Madeline,

1342
01:24:12.279 --> 01:24:15.000
the one who has taken your friend is not far

1343
01:24:15.159 --> 01:24:18.439
from you, And before I know it, that giant vampire

1344
01:24:18.560 --> 01:24:21.760
lady is right on me. I hate when vampires can

1345
01:24:21.840 --> 01:24:26.680
suddenly appear right behind you without warning. No, I shriek

1346
01:24:26.760 --> 01:24:32.920
when she's picking me up. You are mine, the vampire

1347
01:24:33.039 --> 01:24:36.279
lady echoes. I squirm and struggle and fight and thrash

1348
01:24:36.359 --> 01:24:39.520
for all I'm worth. Problem is, this thing is way

1349
01:24:39.600 --> 01:24:42.760
too strong, and I'm just a little mousey. Now the

1350
01:24:42.920 --> 01:24:45.560
vampire lady turns me around to look me in the face.

1351
01:24:47.920 --> 01:24:53.479
M Hi, I squeak. You're not gonna eat me, are you.

1352
01:24:54.560 --> 01:24:58.000
The vampire lady pulls me to her and hugs me,

1353
01:24:59.039 --> 01:25:05.600
baby baby. She thinks i'm her. Oh boy, now she's

1354
01:25:05.680 --> 01:25:09.479
patting my back. Wait a minute, now's my chance. I

1355
01:25:09.600 --> 01:25:12.399
quickly make like a little mouseie and start scurrying over

1356
01:25:12.439 --> 01:25:15.800
the vampire Lady's shoulder. She starts roaring as I drop

1357
01:25:15.960 --> 01:25:18.119
right behind her. I run right to a car and

1358
01:25:18.199 --> 01:25:21.880
look in the driver's mirror. Mary Worth, Mary Worth, Mary Work.

1359
01:25:23.600 --> 01:25:26.359
When the vampire lady has me again, she's given me

1360
01:25:26.439 --> 01:25:29.239
odd looks when she sees light coming out of that

1361
01:25:29.399 --> 01:25:33.159
car mirror and into me. Soon she's looking right into

1362
01:25:33.199 --> 01:25:37.159
the face of Mary Worth, who easily passes right through

1363
01:25:37.199 --> 01:25:41.439
her hands. The vampire Lady's real mad. Now she tries

1364
01:25:41.520 --> 01:25:44.640
warping behind Mary, but my ghostly friend only has to

1365
01:25:44.720 --> 01:25:47.520
float away from her. She utters one of her spells

1366
01:25:47.600 --> 01:25:50.000
to cause the door to the security station to open up.

1367
01:25:50.479 --> 01:25:56.000
Chunker suddenly steps out. Oh thank you. Whoa yeah, I

1368
01:25:56.039 --> 01:25:59.680
guess Chunkers still ain't used to seeing Mary. Mary glances

1369
01:25:59.720 --> 01:26:04.239
his utters another spell. A jacket appears on him. You

1370
01:26:04.399 --> 01:26:08.119
had best leave here. Chunker looks at the vampire lady.

1371
01:26:08.920 --> 01:26:12.640
She'll just appear and grab me again. Mary faces the

1372
01:26:12.720 --> 01:26:18.079
vampire lady again. Ah, yes, you are quite right. Mary

1373
01:26:18.199 --> 01:26:21.920
utters one more spell. When she finishes, the vampire lady

1374
01:26:21.960 --> 01:26:25.119
suddenly stops dead in her tracks. Her eyes are up

1375
01:26:25.159 --> 01:26:28.880
in her head now. Then she falls on to her side.

1376
01:26:30.399 --> 01:26:33.800
What did you do, Mary, I ask her. Mary and

1377
01:26:33.920 --> 01:26:36.199
I can talk to each other through thinking while she's

1378
01:26:36.279 --> 01:26:40.279
possessing me. I simply uttered a spell to render her

1379
01:26:40.399 --> 01:26:45.800
unconscious and least in her own mind. Mary thinks back

1380
01:26:45.840 --> 01:26:50.399
to me, she will sleep for a time. We can't

1381
01:26:50.520 --> 01:26:53.760
just leave her here. I quickly point out, I am

1382
01:26:53.800 --> 01:26:57.680
aware of this madeline. This creation is far too powerful

1383
01:26:57.760 --> 01:27:03.000
to be contained in a prison creation. Now I'm confused.

1384
01:27:03.920 --> 01:27:07.640
Mary tells me that this scary vampire lady is really

1385
01:27:07.760 --> 01:27:12.199
a monster right out of Frankenstein. I end up seeing

1386
01:27:12.279 --> 01:27:14.720
how this monster came to be? And what all she did?

1387
01:27:15.720 --> 01:27:20.840
Then I remember the original story myself. Mary, can you

1388
01:27:20.960 --> 01:27:24.079
put her at one of the polls, I ask, Maybe,

1389
01:27:24.119 --> 01:27:27.920
if she's there, she can't harm anybody. Mary raises her

1390
01:27:28.000 --> 01:27:32.640
hands and utters one more spell. This one takes longer

1391
01:27:32.760 --> 01:27:39.039
this time. When she's finished, the vampire Monster's gone. I'm

1392
01:27:39.079 --> 01:27:41.560
hoping she'll want to stay where you sent her. I say,

1393
01:27:42.760 --> 01:27:46.039
perhaps with no one around at the south Pole, she

1394
01:27:46.319 --> 01:27:50.520
will be at peace. Mary tells me. Now. Mary turns

1395
01:27:50.560 --> 01:27:57.520
to Chunker, thank you, He stammers, do not fear Brian.

1396
01:27:57.680 --> 01:28:02.600
Chunk look over my shoulders. Chunker looks past Mary and

1397
01:28:02.720 --> 01:28:06.239
sees the others are coming back. Mary floats us away

1398
01:28:06.359 --> 01:28:09.159
and is soon out of sight. We use another driver's

1399
01:28:09.199 --> 01:28:11.239
side mirror to make a quick switch so I can

1400
01:28:11.319 --> 01:28:14.439
come back. Now I gotta act like I've been trying

1401
01:28:14.520 --> 01:28:19.920
to find him, Chunker, I call out, Maddie. We both

1402
01:28:20.000 --> 01:28:23.359
run to each other and hug. Just then Harmony mirror

1403
01:28:23.439 --> 01:28:26.079
pulls up and sees us. The others get out and

1404
01:28:26.159 --> 01:28:29.119
come to us too. Then I feel my leg getting

1405
01:28:29.159 --> 01:28:33.039
squeezed and see little Stewart Ariel looks at me. Now

1406
01:28:33.840 --> 01:28:36.880
he really did good with that little goober mouse. Maybe

1407
01:28:36.920 --> 01:28:40.920
he's better off letting you babysit him. Then Harmony honks

1408
01:28:40.960 --> 01:28:44.640
the horn. We all turn to her. Don't even think

1409
01:28:44.680 --> 01:28:47.880
you're off the hook, she snabs. Do you realize how

1410
01:28:47.960 --> 01:28:50.600
much damage has been done to my maul and to

1411
01:28:50.720 --> 01:28:57.800
this vehicle? What damage? Chunker asks, what damage? Harmony shrieks.

1412
01:28:58.079 --> 01:29:00.520
Then she points to the main entrance. How about the

1413
01:29:01.880 --> 01:29:06.399
what we all look and see the main mall entrance

1414
01:29:06.479 --> 01:29:11.680
is fully restored, even the suv is fixed. Harmony shakes

1415
01:29:11.720 --> 01:29:15.520
her head. No, no, no, She points at me. You

1416
01:29:15.800 --> 01:29:20.000
drove this vehicle right through it. I shrug. Don't look

1417
01:29:20.119 --> 01:29:23.279
like it to me, But you drove this vehicle right

1418
01:29:23.399 --> 01:29:26.920
through it. Harmony repeats, I was sitting in the back seat.

1419
01:29:27.920 --> 01:29:31.000
Don't know what to tell you, lady. Then Ariel tightens

1420
01:29:31.000 --> 01:29:33.840
her fists and we are done. When it comes to

1421
01:29:33.960 --> 01:29:37.680
your mall, Harmony points right at her. Oh no, you

1422
01:29:37.840 --> 01:29:40.960
are not. You are all going right back inside and

1423
01:29:41.119 --> 01:29:45.479
finishing with the Christmas decorations. Otherwise I'll call the police

1424
01:29:45.840 --> 01:29:49.880
right now. Ariel tightens her jaw now and waves her off.

1425
01:29:50.520 --> 01:29:53.359
Go ahead and call them. Then, after the night we've had,

1426
01:29:53.800 --> 01:29:57.800
I'd say we're done here. Carter stands with her. Also,

1427
01:29:58.159 --> 01:30:01.720
keep in mind that we saved you earlier, so I'd

1428
01:30:01.800 --> 01:30:05.439
say that makes us even. Harmony comes right out of

1429
01:30:05.479 --> 01:30:07.239
the vehicle and tries to get us to go back

1430
01:30:07.279 --> 01:30:11.600
inside them all again again. Ariel speaks up, we're only

1431
01:30:11.680 --> 01:30:15.159
going back in to get our phones. After that, we're leaving.

1432
01:30:15.920 --> 01:30:18.560
When Harmony tries and posing her will on us again,

1433
01:30:19.199 --> 01:30:23.039
we all come together. Now she's realizing the numbers game.

1434
01:30:23.680 --> 01:30:27.279
Ariel points to her. Give us our phones back now,

1435
01:30:27.760 --> 01:30:30.520
or we'll break into your desk and take them back ourselves.

1436
01:30:31.399 --> 01:30:36.000
Then I'm feeling something in my back pocket. Whoa, Mary

1437
01:30:36.079 --> 01:30:38.760
got me my phone back? How did you get that?

1438
01:30:39.199 --> 01:30:43.680
Harmony demands. I locked all your phones up. Seeing we

1439
01:30:43.840 --> 01:30:46.720
all got our phones back, I quickly use mine to

1440
01:30:46.800 --> 01:30:50.359
call home. Mom picks up. We talk for a bit

1441
01:30:50.439 --> 01:30:54.359
before we hang up. Mom's coming to get us. Harmony

1442
01:30:54.479 --> 01:30:57.319
tries one more time and pulls out her phone. I

1443
01:30:57.520 --> 01:31:01.399
mean it, I'll call the police. Ariel again stands up

1444
01:31:01.479 --> 01:31:05.920
to her. So call them. You heard mouse, We're going home.

1445
01:31:06.560 --> 01:31:11.560
Like Carter said, we saved your life. We're even now

1446
01:31:11.680 --> 01:31:15.640
leave us alone. And then I finally see Stuart has

1447
01:31:15.680 --> 01:31:18.760
a fountain soda in his hands. Probably got one at

1448
01:31:18.800 --> 01:31:21.920
the gas station. He walks away from me and heaves

1449
01:31:21.960 --> 01:31:25.880
it at Harmony. It explodes on her head, making her shriek.

1450
01:31:26.760 --> 01:31:30.760
Then she looks right at him. You wicked little brat,

1451
01:31:31.439 --> 01:31:35.119
she yells, and for the first time ever far as

1452
01:31:35.199 --> 01:31:40.439
I know, Ariel actually praises her little cousin. Good job, you,

1453
01:31:40.520 --> 01:31:44.359
little goober. Stuart looks up at her and laughs his

1454
01:31:44.560 --> 01:31:49.239
mischievous laugh. Then Harmony points right at us. You are

1455
01:31:49.359 --> 01:31:53.159
all barred from my maul. Don't you ever return here again?

1456
01:31:54.000 --> 01:31:58.079
Fine by me, Horton replies, won't be much here after

1457
01:31:58.159 --> 01:32:02.279
the holidays are over, anyways. Harmony growls and marches right

1458
01:32:02.359 --> 01:32:05.800
back inside the mall. It ain't much longer before Mom

1459
01:32:05.920 --> 01:32:12.159
comes and picks us up and takes everybody home. Epilogue

1460
01:32:13.119 --> 01:32:17.159
When Mom pulls up to the gated mirror community, little

1461
01:32:17.239 --> 01:32:20.920
Stewart don't want to go. At first, he's fighting Ariel,

1462
01:32:21.000 --> 01:32:24.600
but I quickly tell him we'll see each other again.

1463
01:32:25.960 --> 01:32:28.039
That makes the little guy happy enough to where he

1464
01:32:28.199 --> 01:32:34.279
finally goes with Ariel. Thanks Mouse, see you Monday, Ariel

1465
01:32:34.359 --> 01:32:39.159
tells me, and thanks missus Donnerley, you're quite welcome, Ariel,

1466
01:32:39.600 --> 01:32:45.119
Mom replies. Later Ariel, I tell her Mom finishes dropping

1467
01:32:45.199 --> 01:32:48.119
everybody off at their houses. Carter and me are the

1468
01:32:48.199 --> 01:32:50.319
last one, since we live next door to each other.

1469
01:32:51.479 --> 01:32:55.039
Carter thanks Mom. After we say good night, He gets

1470
01:32:55.079 --> 01:32:58.520
out to head to his back porch. When Mom and

1471
01:32:58.600 --> 01:33:02.439
I get inside our own house, I yawn, Mom and

1472
01:33:02.520 --> 01:33:06.880
I say good night and head upstairs. It feels good

1473
01:33:06.920 --> 01:33:10.199
to be back in the mousehole again. I get changed

1474
01:33:10.279 --> 01:33:13.479
for bed and hop in. I pick up the mirror

1475
01:33:13.560 --> 01:33:16.399
I keep on my nightstand so I can talk with

1476
01:33:16.560 --> 01:33:20.880
Mary Worth. Did you have something to do with fixing

1477
01:33:20.960 --> 01:33:25.720
up the mall? I ask her. Let's just say that

1478
01:33:26.039 --> 01:33:31.000
miserly woman cannot hold anything against you. Mary tells me.

1479
01:33:31.880 --> 01:33:34.199
She shows me the inside of the mall, which is

1480
01:33:34.399 --> 01:33:39.920
completely decorated the way Harmony wanted it. I smile. Now,

1481
01:33:41.319 --> 01:33:46.159
thanks for getting us out of trouble again. What's important

1482
01:33:46.720 --> 01:33:51.279
is that you remain out of trouble. I doubt that.

1483
01:33:51.520 --> 01:33:55.000
With our track record, trouble just seems to find us.

1484
01:33:55.560 --> 01:34:00.920
I say, so it seems, then, and I have a thought.

1485
01:34:02.520 --> 01:34:05.039
Can you show me if that vampire lady's still at

1486
01:34:05.079 --> 01:34:11.800
the south pole? Certainly Mary's face disappears, and the giant

1487
01:34:11.960 --> 01:34:16.479
vampire lady reveals herself. She seems to be okay with

1488
01:34:16.640 --> 01:34:20.680
being where Mary's center. I guess being a vampire or

1489
01:34:21.479 --> 01:34:26.199
monster or whatever she is, she won't freeze. She just

1490
01:34:26.319 --> 01:34:31.600
looks like she's lost something. When I'm done looking, Mary's

1491
01:34:31.680 --> 01:34:36.079
face reappears in the mirror. Mary and I talk for

1492
01:34:36.159 --> 01:34:39.359
a little bit longer before I feel I can't stay

1493
01:34:39.359 --> 01:34:43.520
awake anymore. This is a good place for me to

1494
01:34:43.560 --> 01:34:48.680
say goodbye. Don't worry, We'll definitely be back with some

1495
01:34:48.800 --> 01:35:00.640
more adventures and soon. Home Sweet Horror by Rob Fields

1496
01:35:02.520 --> 01:35:07.520
Part one Bailey Downs. I can't believe I totally messed

1497
01:35:07.600 --> 01:35:10.520
up on the dates. Good thing. Missus Emma Gibson from

1498
01:35:10.600 --> 01:35:14.159
Home Sweet Home Orphanage over in Pendleton called me to confirm.

1499
01:35:15.079 --> 01:35:18.720
After confirming the date, I realized the upcoming event was

1500
01:35:18.760 --> 01:35:22.880
for the day before you see. Missus Gibson called me

1501
01:35:22.960 --> 01:35:24.920
at home a few months back and asked if I

1502
01:35:24.960 --> 01:35:27.960
wouldn't mind coming to the orphanage in December to help

1503
01:35:28.000 --> 01:35:30.960
out with the big Christmas event there. At first I

1504
01:35:31.079 --> 01:35:34.920
didn't want to. However, after really thinking about it, I

1505
01:35:35.039 --> 01:35:38.640
reconsidered Mom and Dad were more than willing to take

1506
01:35:38.720 --> 01:35:42.439
me to Pendleton for the event, except now there's a problem.

1507
01:35:42.920 --> 01:35:46.279
The event is going to be on December sixteenth, which

1508
01:35:46.359 --> 01:35:49.920
is a Saturday. I thought it was on Sunday, the seventeenth.

1509
01:35:50.479 --> 01:35:52.800
When I told my parents about the mix up, they

1510
01:35:52.880 --> 01:35:54.680
told me they wouldn't be able to take me on

1511
01:35:54.760 --> 01:35:59.439
the sixteenth because they'll both be too busy. Dad's working

1512
01:35:59.520 --> 01:36:03.399
mandatory overtime at Strickfield Automotive and Mom's got to deliver

1513
01:36:03.520 --> 01:36:05.920
mail and won't be done until later in the afternoon.

1514
01:36:06.960 --> 01:36:09.000
If you can find another way there, Bailey, then you

1515
01:36:09.079 --> 01:36:12.520
can go ahead and go to Pendleton. Mom told me. Otherwise,

1516
01:36:12.560 --> 01:36:15.239
you better call missus Gibson back and clear things up.

1517
01:36:16.279 --> 01:36:19.039
Like I said, I really don't want to do the event,

1518
01:36:19.159 --> 01:36:23.319
but two things, it's a Christmas celebration, so it would

1519
01:36:23.359 --> 01:36:27.760
be morally wrong to back out. And two and only

1520
01:36:27.840 --> 01:36:32.439
a select few people know I was adopted. I don't

1521
01:36:32.479 --> 01:36:34.600
know the circumstances to where I ended up at Home,

1522
01:36:34.680 --> 01:36:37.119
Sweet Home, but I do know I was there from

1523
01:36:37.159 --> 01:36:40.039
when I was a baby and only known as Bailey.

1524
01:36:40.840 --> 01:36:43.000
I grew up in the orphanage until the day came

1525
01:36:43.119 --> 01:36:46.319
when Monty and Vera downs came in looking to adopt

1526
01:36:46.359 --> 01:36:48.880
a daughter. I was seven years old at the time,

1527
01:36:49.000 --> 01:36:51.279
by the way, but they took one look at me

1528
01:36:52.399 --> 01:36:55.600
and the rest was history. I ended up leaving to

1529
01:36:55.640 --> 01:36:58.960
go to Strickfield with them one week later and officially

1530
01:36:59.079 --> 01:37:03.119
became Bailey Down. I actually laughed last night when we

1531
01:37:03.199 --> 01:37:05.880
watched a Christmas horror story at Ariel Mirr and Slumber

1532
01:37:05.920 --> 01:37:09.560
Party funny thing. The town in that movie and in

1533
01:37:09.680 --> 01:37:15.319
Ginger Snaps are called Bailey Downs. Lucky me, believe it

1534
01:37:15.439 --> 01:37:17.680
or not. I'm probably one of the few cases where

1535
01:37:18.039 --> 01:37:21.640
being in orphanage care actually wasn't bad. I was never

1536
01:37:21.720 --> 01:37:24.479
mistreated in any way. It was nice to have other

1537
01:37:24.560 --> 01:37:27.039
kids to play with and everything, and Missus Gibson and

1538
01:37:27.079 --> 01:37:29.840
the rest of the staff were very motherly to all

1539
01:37:29.920 --> 01:37:32.840
of us. I suppose I agreed to come back to

1540
01:37:32.920 --> 01:37:36.159
the orphanage because Missus Gibson kept in touch with me

1541
01:37:36.279 --> 01:37:39.439
after I was adopted. In a way, I'd kind of

1542
01:37:39.560 --> 01:37:42.319
like to visit there again and see how things are

1543
01:37:42.399 --> 01:37:45.600
there now. So I'm sitting here in the living room

1544
01:37:45.640 --> 01:37:47.920
and racking my brain trying to think of a way

1545
01:37:48.039 --> 01:37:51.039
I can get a ride to Pendleton. At first, I

1546
01:37:51.119 --> 01:37:54.880
thought about calling a ride service. But after hearing Mona

1547
01:37:55.000 --> 01:37:57.760
Abels tell me how expensive an uber was for her

1548
01:37:57.840 --> 01:37:59.760
and her mom to get to North Ridgeway a few

1549
01:37:59.800 --> 01:38:03.039
months months ago, I decided not to go that route,

1550
01:38:03.840 --> 01:38:09.680
and then a rather risky idea hit me. Getting a

1551
01:38:09.840 --> 01:38:13.479
car wouldn't be a problem. It's the driver that I'll

1552
01:38:13.560 --> 01:38:17.359
have to do some convincing on. I sigh and pull

1553
01:38:17.439 --> 01:38:20.600
out my smartphone. I open the texting app and tap

1554
01:38:20.680 --> 01:38:24.359
my thread with Mouse. I message her and ask if

1555
01:38:24.399 --> 01:38:27.239
she can call me. When I don't get an answer

1556
01:38:27.319 --> 01:38:30.600
after several minutes, I'm thinking she's probably busy doing something

1557
01:38:30.680 --> 01:38:34.720
and not looking at her phone. Then I know exactly

1558
01:38:34.800 --> 01:38:37.560
where she's likely to be. I get out of the

1559
01:38:37.640 --> 01:38:42.600
recliner and put my coat on. I open the door

1560
01:38:42.680 --> 01:38:45.399
to Roth's Rings, a twenty four hour donut shop and

1561
01:38:45.600 --> 01:38:49.840
video game arcade in downtown village. Sure enough, I see

1562
01:38:49.920 --> 01:38:52.479
Mouse sitting behind the wheel of a full sized driving

1563
01:38:52.600 --> 01:38:56.680
cabinet for the brand new Grand Tarismo game. Her real

1564
01:38:56.800 --> 01:39:00.039
name is Madeline Donnerley, and she's just a happy, go

1565
01:39:00.239 --> 01:39:04.880
lucky kind of girl. I mean, nothing ever really bothers her.

1566
01:39:06.039 --> 01:39:08.640
The reason people call her Mouse is because she's short,

1567
01:39:08.840 --> 01:39:12.279
skinny and has a mousey voice. She's also a geek

1568
01:39:12.399 --> 01:39:16.199
with all the stuff she's into video games and horror movies.

1569
01:39:16.640 --> 01:39:18.720
You wouldn't think she was a geek when you'd see

1570
01:39:18.720 --> 01:39:22.560
her wearing her beret and scarf like she's a cultured person.

1571
01:39:23.279 --> 01:39:25.720
I never really asked her why she wears them, but

1572
01:39:26.000 --> 01:39:29.159
nobody really gives her a hard time about it. Plus

1573
01:39:29.680 --> 01:39:33.279
she drinks coffee the same way her mom does. Let's

1574
01:39:33.399 --> 01:39:37.439
just say she's very mature for a seventh grader. I

1575
01:39:37.560 --> 01:39:40.079
know you're probably thinking I've got a screw loose somewhere,

1576
01:39:40.119 --> 01:39:44.439
but Mouse is the only shot I got. Like I said,

1577
01:39:44.560 --> 01:39:47.439
she's a fellow seventh grader at Strickfield Junior High, But

1578
01:39:48.319 --> 01:39:52.000
that little squeaker can actually drive a car. You should

1579
01:39:52.000 --> 01:39:55.039
have seen Mouse on Halloween night when we were checking

1580
01:39:55.079 --> 01:39:58.199
out the legend of cry Baby Bridge and found the

1581
01:39:58.319 --> 01:40:02.119
legend to be true. When Abigail Tomlin's ghost was chasing

1582
01:40:02.239 --> 01:40:05.479
us down, Mouse found this beat up car and ended

1583
01:40:05.560 --> 01:40:08.520
up driving it to save all of us. Okay, we

1584
01:40:08.640 --> 01:40:12.079
didn't quite get away since the tire blew out, but

1585
01:40:12.800 --> 01:40:15.159
she really surprised me that day with how well she

1586
01:40:15.399 --> 01:40:19.000
was driving. This is going to take some real convincing

1587
01:40:19.079 --> 01:40:21.600
on my part, but I think I can do it.

1588
01:40:24.319 --> 01:40:29.000
Sh It was only the wind. You're safe, weekly spooky.

1589
01:40:29.119 --> 01:40:30.079
We'll be right back.

1590
01:40:32.439 --> 01:40:35.560
I wait until Mouse finishes and wins a race. Then

1591
01:40:35.680 --> 01:40:37.640
she reaches out for her cup of coffee on the

1592
01:40:37.680 --> 01:40:40.760
stand next to the game and sees me standing there.

1593
01:40:41.720 --> 01:40:45.920
Oh hey, Bailey, how you doing? She asks? What brings

1594
01:40:45.960 --> 01:40:50.479
you in here? Then she looks out where's Mona and Ariel?

1595
01:40:52.600 --> 01:40:56.640
I'm here alone? Actually, I tell her I was wondering

1596
01:40:56.680 --> 01:40:59.720
if I could talk to you for a little bit. Mouse.

1597
01:40:59.760 --> 01:41:03.560
Come out of the game. Be okay, is something wrong?

1598
01:41:03.840 --> 01:41:07.239
You in trouble? I quickly shake my head. No, No,

1599
01:41:07.439 --> 01:41:11.600
nothing like that. I mean, okay, yes, I'm I'm kind

1600
01:41:11.640 --> 01:41:14.319
of in trouble. I quickly raise my hands in front

1601
01:41:14.319 --> 01:41:18.279
of me. Don't worry, it's nothing real bad. I'm just

1602
01:41:18.399 --> 01:41:20.239
in a bit of a bind and need your help.

1603
01:41:20.800 --> 01:41:23.880
So can we talk? Mouse points to a table in

1604
01:41:23.960 --> 01:41:28.039
the far corner. That good. I nod. Before I sit

1605
01:41:28.119 --> 01:41:30.920
down with Mouse. I order a peppermint hot chocolate. I

1606
01:41:30.960 --> 01:41:33.520
don't want the girl behind the counter to think I'm loitering.

1607
01:41:34.479 --> 01:41:36.840
After I get my drink, I sit down with Mouse

1608
01:41:37.159 --> 01:41:40.760
and tell her my problem. Mouse has this weird look

1609
01:41:40.840 --> 01:41:43.560
on her face when I'm done. So you're saying you

1610
01:41:43.680 --> 01:41:47.079
want me to drive your dad's old SUV de Pendleton.

1611
01:41:48.000 --> 01:41:50.600
You do understand I was only driving that night because

1612
01:41:50.640 --> 01:41:52.880
of I quickly raise a hand in front of me.

1613
01:41:53.520 --> 01:41:57.520
I know, Mouse, believe me. I remember. I sigh and

1614
01:41:57.640 --> 01:42:01.720
lower my hand. You're really my only hope here. It's

1615
01:42:01.760 --> 01:42:04.439
a Christmas celebration at the orphanage, and I really want

1616
01:42:04.479 --> 01:42:07.560
to help out there. I know asking you is a

1617
01:42:07.640 --> 01:42:09.800
long shot, but you're the only one I can turn to.

1618
01:42:10.880 --> 01:42:12.680
I can pay you money to drive if that's what

1619
01:42:12.800 --> 01:42:16.960
you want. Oh it ain't that, Bailey. If I recall

1620
01:42:17.239 --> 01:42:19.439
you did tell me in the car Halloween night that

1621
01:42:19.520 --> 01:42:22.800
we ain't old enough to drive. What if something happens

1622
01:42:22.840 --> 01:42:25.479
and we get pulled over? You really want to face

1623
01:42:25.560 --> 01:42:29.039
your parents after the cops bust us. I know I

1624
01:42:29.119 --> 01:42:31.159
don't want to be explaining to mom and dad why

1625
01:42:31.239 --> 01:42:34.119
I was driving a car and got arrested. For a

1626
01:42:34.199 --> 01:42:36.199
long moment, the two of us look at each other.

1627
01:42:37.560 --> 01:42:42.000
Then Mouse sighs. But I'm gonna do it, Bailey. I'll

1628
01:42:42.039 --> 01:42:47.119
take you to Pendleton. My heart's skipping several beats. Okay,

1629
01:42:47.479 --> 01:42:50.760
but what made you decide to do it? After all? Mouse,

1630
01:42:52.359 --> 01:42:54.399
I've been kind of itching to drive a real car

1631
01:42:54.479 --> 01:42:59.039
again after Halloween night, Mouse admits, But you're willing to

1632
01:42:59.079 --> 01:43:02.520
trust me now. Hugh and Bailey weren't too trusted to

1633
01:43:02.600 --> 01:43:05.880
me that night. You know, like I said, you're my

1634
01:43:06.000 --> 01:43:08.840
only hope. I'm willing to do a big favor for

1635
01:43:08.960 --> 01:43:11.560
you or give you money if that's what you want.

1636
01:43:12.680 --> 01:43:16.239
Mouse and I talk about it some more. Ultimately she's willing,

1637
01:43:16.319 --> 01:43:19.640
and we make a plan. I can't believe what we're

1638
01:43:19.680 --> 01:43:23.159
going to do. We're really doing it sounds crazy, right,

1639
01:43:24.159 --> 01:43:26.239
but I'm just not willing to let Home, Sweet Home

1640
01:43:26.359 --> 01:43:31.920
Orphanage down. It's Friday at school. I'm walking the halls

1641
01:43:32.000 --> 01:43:34.640
with my very best friend, Mona Abels and telling her

1642
01:43:34.680 --> 01:43:38.399
about what's going down. I expected Mona to give me

1643
01:43:38.520 --> 01:43:41.640
her odd look. I know I could have kept this quiet,

1644
01:43:41.800 --> 01:43:46.199
like I said, Mona's my dearest friend. Though, Little Mouse

1645
01:43:46.279 --> 01:43:49.039
is gonna drive you to Pendleton, she asked for the

1646
01:43:49.119 --> 01:43:53.000
fifth time. Yes, already, you want me to write it

1647
01:43:53.079 --> 01:43:57.640
on your palm? I snap, I'm desperate here. Mona sighs.

1648
01:43:58.359 --> 01:44:01.079
I can't believe I'm gonna say this, but I'm coming

1649
01:44:01.159 --> 01:44:05.479
with you. You don't have to, I tell her. Somebody's

1650
01:44:05.520 --> 01:44:07.760
got to look out for you in case that wicked

1651
01:44:07.800 --> 01:44:11.880
little rodent crashes the car. She raises her finger. Not

1652
01:44:12.079 --> 01:44:17.079
up for debate, Bailey, I smile, Okay, okay, you can come.

1653
01:44:17.960 --> 01:44:21.520
Then I see the worried look on Mona's face. Uh oh,

1654
01:44:22.399 --> 01:44:26.840
things just got bad. Turn around I do, and we

1655
01:44:27.000 --> 01:44:30.600
both see a very angry Ariel Miran coming right at us.

1656
01:44:31.359 --> 01:44:36.000
Where is he? Who? Mona asks? Who do you think

1657
01:44:36.600 --> 01:44:42.000
Carter cross? Ariel yells last I saw him. He was

1658
01:44:42.079 --> 01:44:45.399
sitting in the cafeteria with Horton, Chapman and Chunker, I say.

1659
01:44:46.159 --> 01:44:49.680
Ariel quickly pulls out her smartphone. Look what Carter just

1660
01:44:49.760 --> 01:44:53.479
posted on Facebook? Look at it. Mona and I both

1661
01:44:53.560 --> 01:44:56.000
see a video of Ariel and her little cousin, Stewart,

1662
01:44:56.039 --> 01:44:58.880
at Roth's rings. She bought him a slice of pie

1663
01:44:58.920 --> 01:45:01.880
and a soft drink. Little Stuart was in a really

1664
01:45:02.000 --> 01:45:04.800
foul mood, since he ended up throwing both the pie

1665
01:45:04.920 --> 01:45:08.239
and the soda at Ariel. The soda was the worst,

1666
01:45:08.279 --> 01:45:11.399
since it exploded all over. Carter had to have been

1667
01:45:11.479 --> 01:45:15.359
there since he recorded it. The comment said, little Stewie

1668
01:45:15.439 --> 01:45:20.560
treats Princess Ariel to a coke. Ariel growls, Then we

1669
01:45:20.720 --> 01:45:23.760
carefully follow her when she marches right to the cafeteria.

1670
01:45:24.359 --> 01:45:28.039
Sure enough, Ariel finds Carter right where I said. Soon

1671
01:45:28.119 --> 01:45:31.359
as he sees a very angry Ariel coming, he quickly

1672
01:45:31.439 --> 01:45:33.680
gets up and moves to keep a table in between

1673
01:45:33.800 --> 01:45:37.279
him and her. Ariel points right at him. You are

1674
01:45:37.479 --> 01:45:41.600
so dead, Carter cross. Carter raises his hands in front

1675
01:45:41.640 --> 01:45:44.560
of him. Hey, Princess, it ain't my fault. You'd rather

1676
01:45:44.640 --> 01:45:47.199
wear your coke instead of drink it. What did you

1677
01:45:47.279 --> 01:45:49.640
do tell the kid he couldn't come to your royal

1678
01:45:49.800 --> 01:45:55.319
palace anymore? Then? Ariel gives him an evil grin. I

1679
01:45:55.399 --> 01:45:58.279
should just drop that little goober off at your house.

1680
01:45:58.680 --> 01:46:01.680
Then I can post on social media how he runs

1681
01:46:01.760 --> 01:46:06.760
around and destroys everything while you're losing your mind. Carter laughs,

1682
01:46:07.359 --> 01:46:09.640
I don't think your little cousin would like being among

1683
01:46:09.760 --> 01:46:14.800
us peasants. Now. Ariel looks at Richie Horton, Bill Chapman

1684
01:46:14.840 --> 01:46:18.479
and Brian Chunk. What are you three snickering about? You

1685
01:46:18.560 --> 01:46:22.319
think this is all funny? She points right at them. Remember,

1686
01:46:22.439 --> 01:46:26.039
you're in my school. You three will know your place here.

1687
01:46:27.119 --> 01:46:29.039
I don't see your name out there on the sign,

1688
01:46:29.640 --> 01:46:34.199
Chapman says, last I checked, it says Strickfield Junior High School.

1689
01:46:34.920 --> 01:46:38.199
He's the rough looking guy with the buzz haircut. Yeah,

1690
01:46:38.560 --> 01:46:41.359
there ain't no school named after any mirrors in Strickfield.

1691
01:46:41.479 --> 01:46:45.239
Last I checked. Horton adds, he's the skinny toothpick of

1692
01:46:45.279 --> 01:46:49.279
a kid with circular lensed glasses. Then Carter points at her.

1693
01:46:50.039 --> 01:46:52.520
But you could probably buy the sign and rename it

1694
01:46:52.640 --> 01:46:58.359
to Princess Ariel Miron's Royal Peasant Camp. Ariel suddenly points

1695
01:46:58.439 --> 01:47:03.520
right at him, Oh you you. Everybody puts their hands

1696
01:47:03.560 --> 01:47:07.000
to their ears when Ariel belts out her infamous scream

1697
01:47:07.479 --> 01:47:10.319
that can be heard throughout the whole building and could

1698
01:47:10.399 --> 01:47:14.479
probably wake the dead. Ariel and Carter are both circling

1699
01:47:14.520 --> 01:47:17.359
each other. Now I'm trying to get their attention, but

1700
01:47:17.479 --> 01:47:20.479
neither of them are wanting to look my way. Hey,

1701
01:47:21.119 --> 01:47:25.279
we got company, Chunker calls out, helping me. He's the

1702
01:47:25.359 --> 01:47:28.159
heavy set guy who's always wearing cargo shorts and the

1703
01:47:28.279 --> 01:47:31.319
open Hawaiian shirt over a T shirt. When Ariel and

1704
01:47:31.439 --> 01:47:34.039
Carter both look at Chunker, he nods in the direction

1705
01:47:35.000 --> 01:47:38.359
before Ariel and Carter know it. Principal Benjamin van Dest

1706
01:47:38.520 --> 01:47:42.840
is right there, you two again. He demands, what is

1707
01:47:42.920 --> 01:47:45.680
it this time? Then he raises his hand and shakes

1708
01:47:45.720 --> 01:47:49.439
his head. You know what, I really don't want to know.

1709
01:47:50.000 --> 01:47:54.439
He points to Ariel. Get to class. Ariel's face is

1710
01:47:54.560 --> 01:47:59.039
really red now. Then she points to Carter. You just wait.

1711
01:48:00.199 --> 01:48:03.640
Ariel storms out of the cafeteria. Then Principal van Dest

1712
01:48:03.720 --> 01:48:06.439
waits for Carter to leave. Next, he looks at the

1713
01:48:06.479 --> 01:48:10.640
rest of us but doesn't say anything. After a little bit,

1714
01:48:11.319 --> 01:48:16.520
he leaves and goes back to the office. I'm sorry

1715
01:48:16.600 --> 01:48:19.640
you guys had to see that, I tell them. Chapman

1716
01:48:19.680 --> 01:48:24.239
waves me off. Yeah, we're used to Ariel miran by now. Yeah,

1717
01:48:24.359 --> 01:48:27.960
we've known her for years, Chunker says, even before we

1718
01:48:28.079 --> 01:48:33.319
disappeared last year. Mona and I both nod quickly. She's

1719
01:48:33.399 --> 01:48:36.319
your friend, we get it. Horton says, in his squeaky,

1720
01:48:36.439 --> 01:48:41.920
nerdy voice. Anyway, we've dealt with way worse people. I know,

1721
01:48:42.640 --> 01:48:47.199
Abigail Tomlin, right, I ask, then I wink. Chunker was

1722
01:48:47.239 --> 01:48:49.600
in the middle of drinking his pop when he spits

1723
01:48:49.640 --> 01:48:54.760
it out. What ah, come on, Bailey Yeah, that ain't

1724
01:48:54.800 --> 01:48:58.800
nothing to be joking about. Chapman agrees. Then Mona gives

1725
01:48:58.880 --> 01:49:03.479
me that look again. Really, I smirk a little. Okay,

1726
01:49:03.800 --> 01:49:07.760
I take it back, my bad. Something on your mind, Bailey,

1727
01:49:08.279 --> 01:49:12.760
Chapman asks, you kinda got that look. Mona and I

1728
01:49:12.880 --> 01:49:14.840
have been hanging out with these guys since all of

1729
01:49:14.920 --> 01:49:19.239
us rescued them from Abigail Tomlin on Halloween. They're really

1730
01:49:19.279 --> 01:49:23.039
good guys. Yeah, Chunker likes to eat, same as Mona,

1731
01:49:23.680 --> 01:49:26.560
but he's really gentle in a way. I think he's

1732
01:49:26.880 --> 01:49:30.359
kind of cute, like a teddy bear. Mona and I

1733
01:49:30.520 --> 01:49:32.760
sit down with the guys and tell them what's going on.

1734
01:49:34.119 --> 01:49:36.279
You should see the looks on their faces when I

1735
01:49:36.359 --> 01:49:39.680
tell the mouse is driving us tomorrow. You realize how

1736
01:49:39.800 --> 01:49:45.159
crazy that sounds, right, Horton asks Madeline Donnerly, I know right,

1737
01:49:45.680 --> 01:49:49.479
Mona agrees, Man, I'd love to see her drive a car,

1738
01:49:50.000 --> 01:49:54.880
Chunker says. Chapman turns to him, Seriously, you've been eating

1739
01:49:54.920 --> 01:49:57.680
too much of Denoyer's sweet Potato pie again, haven't you

1740
01:49:58.680 --> 01:50:01.560
what you wouldn't I want to see Madeline Donnerley driving

1741
01:50:01.600 --> 01:50:05.239
a car, Horton cuts in, I've seen her playing those

1742
01:50:05.319 --> 01:50:08.439
car games at Roth's rings. I really think she could

1743
01:50:08.479 --> 01:50:12.479
do it. Chapman gives his buddies his evil eyes. Then

1744
01:50:12.600 --> 01:50:15.399
he gives them to me. How about you let us

1745
01:50:15.479 --> 01:50:18.800
tag along and see for ourselves. At first, I'm not

1746
01:50:19.000 --> 01:50:22.159
keen on the idea, but then I figure missus Gibson

1747
01:50:22.239 --> 01:50:24.560
would love to have the extra help at the Orphanage,

1748
01:50:25.319 --> 01:50:27.279
so I tell them that's the only way they can

1749
01:50:27.319 --> 01:50:30.479
come along. I'd have expected them to scoff and say

1750
01:50:30.600 --> 01:50:34.800
no way, but they're all quick to agree. So it's

1751
01:50:34.840 --> 01:50:38.079
gonna be the six of us going to Pendleton tomorrow

1752
01:50:39.399 --> 01:50:40.560
with Mouse driving.

1753
01:50:42.119 --> 01:50:44.560
Did you hear that? Better check the locks on your

1754
01:50:44.680 --> 01:50:48.039
doors weekly? Spooky will be right back.

1755
01:50:54.039 --> 01:51:00.560
Part two. The next morning, Saturday, of us are at

1756
01:51:00.640 --> 01:51:04.560
my house. We're packing in the old suv. Mouse is

1757
01:51:04.600 --> 01:51:07.960
sitting in the driver's seat and looking over everything. Then

1758
01:51:08.119 --> 01:51:10.880
I hand her the keys. You sure you're going to

1759
01:51:10.920 --> 01:51:14.039
be able to drive this thing, Mona asks her. I

1760
01:51:14.199 --> 01:51:17.479
think I can get us there, okay, Mouse says confidently.

1761
01:51:18.079 --> 01:51:21.159
Of course, I didn't know all of you were tagging along.

1762
01:51:22.159 --> 01:51:24.840
We're all gonna work at the Orphanage. Chapman tells her

1763
01:51:25.439 --> 01:51:30.039
you gonna help too. Mouse makes her usual shrug. Why not.

1764
01:51:30.640 --> 01:51:34.039
I mean, we're all going to Pendleton, right, I know,

1765
01:51:34.119 --> 01:51:35.600
I don't want to be sitting here in the car

1766
01:51:35.720 --> 01:51:38.680
all day. Once we're all seated and ready to go,

1767
01:51:38.960 --> 01:51:45.279
Mouse starts the car. Yeah, we're all gonna die. Mona mutters, Oh,

1768
01:51:45.640 --> 01:51:49.520
we already did that, Mona, don't you remember, Mouse says,

1769
01:51:50.039 --> 01:51:53.199
I really did crash the car on Halloween night. Now

1770
01:51:53.239 --> 01:51:56.399
we're hanging out here in the afterlife together. We all

1771
01:51:56.560 --> 01:51:59.600
jeer Mouse as she snickers, even I have to admit

1772
01:51:59.640 --> 01:52:02.880
little can be funny when she wants to be. Anyway,

1773
01:52:03.319 --> 01:52:05.359
it's us girls in the front and the guy's in

1774
01:52:05.439 --> 01:52:08.239
the back. Mouse finally starts the car and takes a

1775
01:52:08.319 --> 01:52:12.279
deep breath before she shifts the gears. Then we're moving

1776
01:52:12.439 --> 01:52:15.720
forward until we're out on the road itself. So far,

1777
01:52:15.920 --> 01:52:20.279
so good. Just please don't get us pulled over, mouse,

1778
01:52:20.840 --> 01:52:24.960
Mona says, shakingly. Don't worry. I've been studying up since

1779
01:52:25.039 --> 01:52:28.680
Bailey asked me to drive today. Mouse replies, I know

1780
01:52:28.800 --> 01:52:32.920
what I'm doing. I think everybody was worried, especially when

1781
01:52:32.960 --> 01:52:36.680
a few police cars passed us. We really panic when

1782
01:52:36.720 --> 01:52:39.880
a police car suddenly turns around with its flashers on.

1783
01:52:40.560 --> 01:52:44.800
We probably thought they recognize Mouse and that was it. Nope.

1784
01:52:45.479 --> 01:52:47.920
Mouse does pull over, only for the police car to

1785
01:52:48.039 --> 01:52:50.760
pass right by us on the way to an emergency.

1786
01:52:51.840 --> 01:52:55.079
We all breathe big sighs of relief. Then Mouse starts

1787
01:52:55.159 --> 01:52:59.039
driving again. We're all feeling better when we finally leave

1788
01:52:59.079 --> 01:53:03.600
Strickfield and are en route to Pendleton. We only have

1789
01:53:03.760 --> 01:53:05.720
to make one stop to put gas in the car.

1790
01:53:06.359 --> 01:53:09.279
We get some weird looks from people, but nobody asks,

1791
01:53:09.359 --> 01:53:12.800
and nobody turns us in. We get back on the

1792
01:53:12.880 --> 01:53:17.319
road and eventually make it to Pendleton. From there, I

1793
01:53:17.439 --> 01:53:20.199
give Mouse the directions to the home, Sweet Home Orphanage.

1794
01:53:20.960 --> 01:53:23.560
Mouse finally pulls us into the parking lot and backs

1795
01:53:23.600 --> 01:53:28.399
into a spot nice and neat. Wow, we really made it,

1796
01:53:28.840 --> 01:53:33.319
Mona says, we're still alive. Yeah, I really thought those

1797
01:53:33.359 --> 01:53:35.600
people at the gas station were gonna call the police,

1798
01:53:36.039 --> 01:53:40.079
Horton admits. Then Mona looks at Mouse. You did good.

1799
01:53:40.880 --> 01:53:44.279
Mouse turns off the motor. Not bad for my second time.

1800
01:53:44.439 --> 01:53:44.640
Huh.

1801
01:53:45.520 --> 01:53:49.279
Like Mona said, you did good, Mouse, I say, I

1802
01:53:49.399 --> 01:53:51.640
owe you one. Mouse waves me off.

1803
01:53:52.319 --> 01:53:52.560
Nah.

1804
01:53:53.960 --> 01:53:56.840
We get out and head into the orphanage. Sure enough,

1805
01:53:56.880 --> 01:53:59.199
missus Gibson is at the front door waiting for us.

1806
01:54:00.000 --> 01:54:02.079
Believe it or not, she doesn't even ask who brought

1807
01:54:02.159 --> 01:54:07.279
us here. Hey, don't ask, don't tell, right, Missus Gibson

1808
01:54:07.319 --> 01:54:10.880
and I hug. She's kind of my third grandma when

1809
01:54:10.920 --> 01:54:14.359
you think about it. Missus Gibson invites us inside and

1810
01:54:14.479 --> 01:54:17.199
takes us for a tour around the orphanage, which is

1811
01:54:17.239 --> 01:54:20.840
all decorated for the holidays. There are plenty of kids

1812
01:54:20.880 --> 01:54:24.119
around here. I don't recognize a single one from back

1813
01:54:24.159 --> 01:54:26.640
when I was here. I'm pretty sure they've all been

1814
01:54:26.680 --> 01:54:30.000
adopted because Home Sweet Home doesn't pass their kids off

1815
01:54:30.039 --> 01:54:34.000
to other orphanages. When Missus Gibson takes us into the kitchen,

1816
01:54:34.039 --> 01:54:37.720
I remember the head cook immediately. She remembers me too.

1817
01:54:38.680 --> 01:54:42.039
Oh Bailey, it's so good to see you. Back when

1818
01:54:42.119 --> 01:54:45.000
Emma told us you were coming to help with today's celebration,

1819
01:54:45.720 --> 01:54:49.680
I was overjoyed. I go and hug Miss Barrett. I'm

1820
01:54:49.720 --> 01:54:52.760
glad to see you too. We talk for a little bit.

1821
01:54:53.239 --> 01:54:56.119
Then Miss Barrett asks Missus Gibson if she can keep

1822
01:54:56.199 --> 01:54:58.720
me in the kitchen. I could use an extra hand

1823
01:54:58.800 --> 01:55:02.720
with all the preparations for our big Christmas dinner. I'm

1824
01:55:02.760 --> 01:55:05.800
afraid I'm going to need Bailey with me today. Missus

1825
01:55:05.840 --> 01:55:08.560
Gibson says, I need her to help me with the

1826
01:55:08.640 --> 01:55:11.359
other kids here, But maybe you can have one of

1827
01:55:11.399 --> 01:55:16.199
these others. Miss Barrett immediately points to Mouse. How about you,

1828
01:55:16.399 --> 01:55:18.479
young lady, Could I have you help me here in

1829
01:55:18.560 --> 01:55:23.760
the kitchen? Sure? Why not? Mouse says. When Mouse goes

1830
01:55:23.840 --> 01:55:26.800
to her, Miss Barrett quickly gives her an apron. Looks

1831
01:55:26.840 --> 01:55:29.560
like Mouse may get lost in the shuffle here. I

1832
01:55:29.680 --> 01:55:32.359
know what it's like helping out in the kitchen. Mouse

1833
01:55:32.359 --> 01:55:35.960
will be in good hands. After missus Gibson finishes our

1834
01:55:36.039 --> 01:55:38.840
tour of the orphanage, she brings us into the living room.

1835
01:55:39.399 --> 01:55:41.600
Looking over all the kids here, it looks like some

1836
01:55:41.760 --> 01:55:44.600
of them might be easy going. I can already see

1837
01:55:44.640 --> 01:55:47.079
the sneers on the three boys that are kind of

1838
01:55:47.279 --> 01:55:50.279
rough looking. Even when I was here, we had a

1839
01:55:50.359 --> 01:55:53.640
few such kids. Then I remember Ariel and how she

1840
01:55:53.800 --> 01:55:58.520
calls her little troublesome cousin Stewart a goober. Well, I

1841
01:55:58.600 --> 01:56:00.760
don't feel threatened knowing I've I've got Mona and the

1842
01:56:00.840 --> 01:56:04.079
guys here. But it's the next woman here. I've got

1843
01:56:04.199 --> 01:56:06.800
to tell you about the second she comes in, It's

1844
01:56:06.880 --> 01:56:10.479
like the room gets cold and quiet fast. You ever

1845
01:56:10.560 --> 01:56:13.479
see that movie The Goonies. If you did, I'm sure

1846
01:56:13.520 --> 01:56:17.319
you remember Mama for Telly. Well, picture her but with

1847
01:56:17.520 --> 01:56:22.039
longer hair and skinny like Mouse and Horton. Okay, that

1848
01:56:22.199 --> 01:56:25.039
alone probably won't scare you. But that glare and that

1849
01:56:25.279 --> 01:56:31.039
scowl she's showing now, this is miss Stanlan, missus Gibson says.

1850
01:56:31.760 --> 01:56:35.199
She's my assistant director here at home, sweet Home. I

1851
01:56:35.319 --> 01:56:37.840
know Miss Stanlan wasn't working here when I was here.

1852
01:56:38.359 --> 01:56:40.600
Missus Gibson must have hired her at some point after

1853
01:56:40.720 --> 01:56:44.319
I was long gone and living in Strickfield. I told

1854
01:56:44.359 --> 01:56:48.159
you we didn't need extra help here, Emma. She practically growls,

1855
01:56:49.039 --> 01:56:53.640
Oh nonsense. Missus Gibson replies, it's Christmas time, Helga. We've

1856
01:56:53.680 --> 01:56:56.000
got more children here in the last couple of years,

1857
01:56:56.359 --> 01:56:58.399
and it would be nice to have these kids interact

1858
01:56:58.479 --> 01:57:01.399
with our children. Besides, we've got a lot going on

1859
01:57:01.600 --> 01:57:06.039
for the big Christmas celebration today, Helga. Stanlan grunts and

1860
01:57:06.199 --> 01:57:09.319
looks ready to raise one of her bony fingers. I'm

1861
01:57:09.319 --> 01:57:12.279
almost wondering if she's going to roar or cackle like

1862
01:57:12.359 --> 01:57:17.680
a witch. She doesn't though, Come on, Bailey, you're imagining things.

1863
01:57:18.399 --> 01:57:21.279
Maybe Abigail Tomlin's still somewhere in the back of your mind.

1864
01:57:22.079 --> 01:57:24.720
Miss Stanlin can't be any worse than the ghost of

1865
01:57:24.800 --> 01:57:29.279
the cry Baby Bridge back in Strickfield. Still, something doesn't

1866
01:57:29.279 --> 01:57:31.960
feel right about her. When she turns and storms off,

1867
01:57:32.720 --> 01:57:35.439
Missus Gibson takes the five of us into her office

1868
01:57:35.479 --> 01:57:37.880
and tells us what she needs us to do. She

1869
01:57:38.039 --> 01:57:40.279
reminds us she wants us to interact with the other

1870
01:57:40.399 --> 01:57:43.640
kids here. We're supposed to help serve the big turkey

1871
01:57:43.720 --> 01:57:47.199
dinner later on. Then we're going to help hand out presents.

1872
01:57:47.880 --> 01:57:52.000
Chunker raises his hand when Missus Gibson points to him.

1873
01:57:52.079 --> 01:57:55.279
He asks her, how come you're celebrating Christmas here today

1874
01:57:55.319 --> 01:57:59.880
instead of actually on Christmas Day. Missus Gibson doesn't even

1875
01:58:00.960 --> 01:58:05.359
we actually celebrate too. Christmas is here, Brian. Of course,

1876
01:58:05.439 --> 01:58:08.760
we have the real celebration on Christmas Day itself. The

1877
01:58:08.880 --> 01:58:12.159
children will get more presents and an even better holiday feast.

1878
01:58:12.880 --> 01:58:17.119
As for today, Mayor Eloise Parkhurst will be visiting here later.

1879
01:58:17.720 --> 01:58:20.239
She often drops by home, sweet Home, and make sure

1880
01:58:20.319 --> 01:58:23.560
everything's good here. She's been a true friend of the

1881
01:58:23.680 --> 01:58:26.880
orphanage for many years, even after she was elected the

1882
01:58:27.000 --> 01:58:33.000
village mayor. Sounds good to me, Chunker says, satisfied. Missus

1883
01:58:33.039 --> 01:58:36.840
Gibson points to me. Mayor Parkhurst also wants to see

1884
01:58:36.880 --> 01:58:40.640
you again, Bailey. Ah, I think I now understand why

1885
01:58:40.840 --> 01:58:43.920
missus Gibson asked me to come here and help. But

1886
01:58:44.039 --> 01:58:47.560
that's okay. Like I said, this place was a good

1887
01:58:47.640 --> 01:58:50.000
home until mom and Dad adopted me and took me

1888
01:58:50.119 --> 01:58:53.159
home to live with them. Suddenly we hear a loud,

1889
01:58:53.279 --> 01:58:57.960
screaming noise. What the chapman mutters. The rest of us

1890
01:58:58.039 --> 01:59:01.319
follow missus Gibson through a couple of until she goes

1891
01:59:01.399 --> 01:59:05.079
into an office. Miss Stanlin, what is going on in here?

1892
01:59:05.560 --> 01:59:08.640
We hear her say. We can see that Miss Stanlan's

1893
01:59:08.680 --> 01:59:12.359
got what appears to be shaving cream all over her hands.

1894
01:59:13.199 --> 01:59:15.239
I don't know about the others, but I can see

1895
01:59:15.279 --> 01:59:17.680
it in the desk drawer, which she must have been

1896
01:59:17.760 --> 01:59:23.680
going into. Miss Stanlan points outside. It was those blasted monsters. Again.

1897
01:59:24.880 --> 01:59:28.640
We didn't do anything. Horton pipes up. Missus Gibson sees

1898
01:59:28.720 --> 01:59:32.159
us Richie is right, Helga. These children have been with

1899
01:59:32.279 --> 01:59:35.520
me the entire time, well except for Madeline, who's with

1900
01:59:35.800 --> 01:59:39.279
Miss Barrett in the kitchen. I see Miss Stanlan's face

1901
01:59:39.359 --> 01:59:43.640
turn really red. Now I'm not talking about these brats.

1902
01:59:44.239 --> 01:59:47.760
She points right at Missus Gibson. You know what brats

1903
01:59:47.800 --> 01:59:51.840
I'm talking about. Suddenly we hear another cry just by us.

1904
01:59:52.399 --> 01:59:54.840
We turn to see Chapman with one of those mean

1905
01:59:54.960 --> 01:59:58.960
looking goober kids in a hammer lock. Chapman, I call out,

1906
01:59:59.239 --> 02:00:03.039
what are you doing? Chapman looks over his shoulder. Look

1907
02:00:03.079 --> 02:00:05.159
on the floor there. Look what this little whimp just

1908
02:00:05.239 --> 02:00:07.960
tried to do to me. We all see the can

1909
02:00:08.079 --> 02:00:12.479
of shaving cream there. Chapman turns him around. Yeah, thought

1910
02:00:12.520 --> 02:00:14.720
you'd come up behind me and lather me up. Huh.

1911
02:00:14.920 --> 02:00:17.560
I gotta hang you upside down from the upstairs banister

1912
02:00:17.720 --> 02:00:20.680
for that. When Missus Gibson tells Chapman to let the

1913
02:00:20.760 --> 02:00:24.800
kid go, he does. She turns the kid around. Butch,

1914
02:00:25.520 --> 02:00:28.159
were you three giving Miss Stanlin a hard time again?

1915
02:00:29.119 --> 02:00:32.800
Butch doesn't even try hiding it. That old hag deserves it.

1916
02:00:33.279 --> 02:00:35.520
All she does is yell at us and make us

1917
02:00:35.560 --> 02:00:38.479
all do the dirtiest jobs around here. We're sick of

1918
02:00:38.560 --> 02:00:43.319
cleaning the bathrooms every day, Missus Gibson nods. I see

1919
02:00:44.359 --> 02:00:48.439
stan Joe, you boys come out here too. The lead

1920
02:00:48.560 --> 02:00:52.119
Goober's two pals come out. They both have shaving cream

1921
02:00:52.239 --> 02:00:55.520
cans in their hands too, makes me wonder where and

1922
02:00:55.760 --> 02:00:58.840
how they got them. Just as they're about to reach

1923
02:00:58.960 --> 02:01:02.319
missus Gibson, Miss Stanlan screams and comes right out of

1924
02:01:02.399 --> 02:01:06.720
the office. You rotten little devils, she yells, grabbing one

1925
02:01:06.760 --> 02:01:09.399
of the other kids. I'm gonna make your bottom so

1926
02:01:09.520 --> 02:01:12.920
red you'll never sit down ever again. Before she can

1927
02:01:13.000 --> 02:01:15.800
make good on her promise, missus Gibson quickly gets in

1928
02:01:15.880 --> 02:01:20.279
between them. Miss Stanlin, you stop this right now, Miss

1929
02:01:20.439 --> 02:01:25.159
Stanlin points past her. Those wretched little monsters never appreciate

1930
02:01:25.319 --> 02:01:27.800
anything they get here. They have a roof over their

1931
02:01:27.840 --> 02:01:30.159
heads and three squares a day, and all they do

1932
02:01:30.359 --> 02:01:34.119
is run rampant and play their mean tricks on the

1933
02:01:34.199 --> 02:01:39.560
other kids and on me. Seriously, Emma, either you do

1934
02:01:39.760 --> 02:01:43.720
something about those boys, or I will. And just then,

1935
02:01:44.399 --> 02:01:47.359
the one called Butch has this wicked little smile on

1936
02:01:47.439 --> 02:01:50.920
his face. When Miss Stanlin goes back in her office,

1937
02:01:51.000 --> 02:01:54.279
he throws these little white paper wads at her. They

1938
02:01:54.359 --> 02:01:57.119
make these popping noises when they hit the floor, startling

1939
02:01:57.199 --> 02:02:00.520
her then her hands end up back in the desk

1940
02:02:00.600 --> 02:02:03.680
door filled with the shaving cream. She gasps and trips

1941
02:02:03.720 --> 02:02:07.600
over her chair to fall onto her side. Mona and

1942
02:02:07.680 --> 02:02:09.640
I quickly go into the office to help her up,

1943
02:02:09.720 --> 02:02:12.159
but she's grabbing things that fell on the floor and

1944
02:02:12.359 --> 02:02:15.239
throwing them at us. We quickly back off and get

1945
02:02:15.279 --> 02:02:18.079
out of the office. We see Miss Stanlan's all right.

1946
02:02:18.159 --> 02:02:21.000
When she gets back up with her hands slickened with

1947
02:02:21.079 --> 02:02:24.560
shaving cream, she nearly slips on the desktop and falls again.

1948
02:02:25.279 --> 02:02:29.000
She doesn't though. When Miss Stanlan sees those three goobers

1949
02:02:29.079 --> 02:02:31.720
pointing at her and laughing it up, she points right

1950
02:02:31.840 --> 02:02:35.520
back at them. You just wait, you rotten brats. You're

1951
02:02:35.560 --> 02:02:40.720
going to regret the day you ever started messing with me. Yeah, whatever,

1952
02:02:40.800 --> 02:02:44.680
you old hag. Butcher returns now. Missus Gibson is upset

1953
02:02:44.760 --> 02:02:47.680
and points to the three goobers go into the main

1954
02:02:47.760 --> 02:02:52.319
living room right now. When they don't obey her, Chapman

1955
02:02:52.439 --> 02:02:55.520
moves up to Butch. Since you got rocks in your head,

1956
02:02:55.600 --> 02:02:58.520
let me tell you what she means. He shoves Butch.

1957
02:02:59.119 --> 02:03:02.520
Move it. Butch and his two friends, No, Chapman means

1958
02:03:02.600 --> 02:03:05.720
business and do what he says. Seeing the looks on

1959
02:03:05.760 --> 02:03:09.760
their faces, they're planning something else, possibly on Chapman. I'm

1960
02:03:09.840 --> 02:03:11.960
going to have faith at him, since he doesn't let

1961
02:03:12.039 --> 02:03:15.359
even Ariel Miron get to him. I noticed the look

1962
02:03:15.399 --> 02:03:18.640
on Mona's face, not because of what Chapman's doing, but

1963
02:03:18.800 --> 02:03:23.199
because we both feel something real bad's going to go down. Yeah,

1964
02:03:23.800 --> 02:03:28.039
you'd expect that justin Strickfield, right. Truth is, there have

1965
02:03:28.119 --> 02:03:31.359
been other things going on here in Feltner County. All

1966
02:03:31.399 --> 02:03:33.680
you have to do is go to the Strickfield University

1967
02:03:33.720 --> 02:03:37.520
website and click on the local legends tab. Then I

1968
02:03:37.640 --> 02:03:40.079
get a shiver down my back when I remember how

1969
02:03:40.119 --> 02:03:44.000
one of those actually came true back in October, back

1970
02:03:44.079 --> 02:03:46.960
when some of us went and explored the myth of

1971
02:03:47.079 --> 02:03:51.800
the cry Baby Bridge. Anyway, Mona and I both feel

1972
02:03:51.880 --> 02:03:55.199
something really bad's about to go down. When Horton and

1973
02:03:55.319 --> 02:03:58.239
Chunker look at us, I sigh. Then the four of

1974
02:03:58.319 --> 02:04:00.800
us go into the living room to meet up with

1975
02:04:00.960 --> 02:04:02.960
Chapman and missus Gibson.

1976
02:04:04.960 --> 02:04:10.279
Are you afraid? Good, weekly spooky, We'll be right back.

1977
02:04:16.920 --> 02:04:23.800
Part three. Helga Stanlein had just finished washing all of

1978
02:04:23.840 --> 02:04:26.760
the shaving cream off of her hands. She had just

1979
02:04:26.880 --> 02:04:30.880
finished cleaning out her desk drawer prior, Helga wasn't always

1980
02:04:30.960 --> 02:04:35.399
the menacing figure the children assumed she was. What few

1981
02:04:35.479 --> 02:04:38.239
people knew was that Helga herself had grown up at

1982
02:04:38.279 --> 02:04:42.319
the Home Sweet Home orphanage, and fortunately for her, no

1983
02:04:42.520 --> 02:04:46.079
potential parents would ever adopt her. As she got older,

1984
02:04:46.159 --> 02:04:48.439
it was clear that she would still be an orphan

1985
02:04:49.000 --> 02:04:53.520
going into adulthood. Helga never let being an orphan bother her,

1986
02:04:53.680 --> 02:04:56.319
since she had a warm place to live and three

1987
02:04:56.399 --> 02:04:59.640
meals a day. Even the other kids who were there

1988
02:04:59.720 --> 02:05:02.279
with her at the time never gave her any problems.

1989
02:05:02.760 --> 02:05:07.199
In fact, they were her friends and family. But the

1990
02:05:07.319 --> 02:05:10.039
years went by and many of them had been adopted

1991
02:05:10.159 --> 02:05:14.359
or had grown to adulthood and ended up leaving. Helga

1992
02:05:14.520 --> 02:05:17.159
was given the opportunity to work at a sister location

1993
02:05:17.720 --> 02:05:20.800
of Home Sweet Home over in Ridgeway Heights, and went

1994
02:05:20.920 --> 02:05:24.520
there to train and live, which would explain how she

1995
02:05:24.640 --> 02:05:27.600
had missed out on seeing Bailey Downs when she was

1996
02:05:27.640 --> 02:05:32.000
an orphan in Pendleton. Then Edith Hensley retired from her

1997
02:05:32.000 --> 02:05:35.600
assistant director position in Pendleton only a few years ago,

1998
02:05:36.199 --> 02:05:39.640
and Helga had the opportunity to return to her home

1999
02:05:39.760 --> 02:05:44.279
if she wanted to. Helga accepted the position and became

2000
02:05:44.399 --> 02:05:48.920
Missus Gibson's assistant. When she got there, these new kids

2001
02:05:48.960 --> 02:05:51.000
were nothing like the ones she had grown up with.

2002
02:05:51.640 --> 02:05:54.840
To her, many of them seemed to feel entitled, didn't

2003
02:05:54.840 --> 02:05:56.920
want to be around others didn't want to be there

2004
02:05:56.920 --> 02:06:01.640
at all, or were just simply bad sea. From the

2005
02:06:01.720 --> 02:06:04.880
moment she had met Butch, Joe and Stan, they started

2006
02:06:04.920 --> 02:06:07.920
playing mean tricks on her. A joke or too was

2007
02:06:07.960 --> 02:06:12.319
okay every once in a blue moon, but enough was enough.

2008
02:06:13.319 --> 02:06:16.520
When Missus Gibson refused to give them severe punishments for

2009
02:06:16.560 --> 02:06:19.239
the cruel pranks the boys played on her or some

2010
02:06:19.399 --> 02:06:23.279
of the other children, she started to turn sour. This

2011
02:06:23.479 --> 02:06:26.319
place had been her home and these kids and her

2012
02:06:26.399 --> 02:06:30.560
boss were ruining it. Finally, Helga had reached the point

2013
02:06:30.640 --> 02:06:32.920
to where she would give the kids tasks to do.

2014
02:06:33.560 --> 02:06:37.800
If they didn't do them, she would punish them severely. No,

2015
02:06:38.119 --> 02:06:40.680
she couldn't give them the kinds of punishments the children

2016
02:06:40.720 --> 02:06:43.880
of her generation received back in her day, but she

2017
02:06:44.039 --> 02:06:47.560
could take things they valued away from them or lock

2018
02:06:47.640 --> 02:06:51.039
them in other rooms. The more Helga would take away

2019
02:06:51.079 --> 02:06:54.439
from Butch, Joe and Stan, the more dirty tricks they

2020
02:06:54.479 --> 02:06:57.840
would play on her. Although she wouldn't admit it, she

2021
02:06:58.000 --> 02:07:01.119
almost smiled when she had seen Bill Chapman put Butcher

2022
02:07:01.159 --> 02:07:04.520
in his place. Just the same. She was upset with

2023
02:07:04.640 --> 02:07:08.000
Bill because this junior high brat could get away with

2024
02:07:08.119 --> 02:07:11.359
the things she herself wanted to do. She could have

2025
02:07:11.439 --> 02:07:16.039
easily returned to Ridgeway Heights, but this location in Pendleton

2026
02:07:16.800 --> 02:07:19.399
was her home. She would not give it up to

2027
02:07:19.479 --> 02:07:23.000
these little hooligans. She would get rid of each and

2028
02:07:23.119 --> 02:07:28.039
every last one of them first. Just then, the front

2029
02:07:28.079 --> 02:07:32.800
doorbell rang, Helga, Could you please get that missus, Gibson

2030
02:07:32.840 --> 02:07:36.680
called out. Helga growled in disgusted and marched right out

2031
02:07:36.720 --> 02:07:40.119
of the bathroom. She stormed through the downstairs hallway and

2032
02:07:40.319 --> 02:07:42.800
was soon at the front door. She opened it to

2033
02:07:42.840 --> 02:07:45.560
see a postal carrier in his late forties to early

2034
02:07:45.640 --> 02:07:49.720
fifties standing there with a beautifully gift wrapped package in

2035
02:07:49.800 --> 02:07:53.359
his hands. I have a very special delivery for a

2036
02:07:53.840 --> 02:07:58.840
Helga Stanlean, the man said pleasantly. Helga looked at his name,

2037
02:07:58.920 --> 02:08:05.000
tag E Tinker. That would be me, Helga told him,

2038
02:08:05.439 --> 02:08:07.399
But I have no idea who would send me a

2039
02:08:07.520 --> 02:08:13.840
Christmas gift. You must be mistaken, mister Tinker. Tinker smiled. Now, No,

2040
02:08:14.560 --> 02:08:17.640
your name is clearly marked on the card, ma'am. Of course,

2041
02:08:17.720 --> 02:08:19.760
I can't force you to accept it if you don't

2042
02:08:19.760 --> 02:08:25.840
want to. Helga groaned, Fine, where do I sign? Tinker

2043
02:08:25.960 --> 02:08:29.600
handed her the electronic clipboard and stylus pen. Once she

2044
02:08:29.680 --> 02:08:33.079
had signed it, she traded him for the package. This

2045
02:08:33.279 --> 02:08:37.119
thing sure is heavy, Helga observed, upon taking the package.

2046
02:08:38.199 --> 02:08:40.800
I'm sure everything will be all right, ma'am. Then he

2047
02:08:40.920 --> 02:08:44.439
gave her a pleasant nod. Issley Tinker at your service.

2048
02:08:44.960 --> 02:08:49.039
Good day to you, and have a very merry Christmas.

2049
02:08:49.880 --> 02:08:54.760
Helga growled and slammed the door. Eisley Tinker turned away

2050
02:08:54.840 --> 02:08:58.399
and looked up at the sky. I do so love

2051
02:08:58.560 --> 02:09:01.720
being a shopkeeper. It's even better when I can branch

2052
02:09:01.800 --> 02:09:07.119
out into delivery, he chuckled. No, you most certainly did

2053
02:09:07.199 --> 02:09:11.000
not order what I've given you, Helga Stanlan, But you

2054
02:09:11.079 --> 02:09:14.359
shall most certainly be thankful for the contents. Once you

2055
02:09:14.479 --> 02:09:18.680
have come to accept its power, then you shall have

2056
02:09:18.800 --> 02:09:22.520
your heart's desire. The college girl who wielded it in

2057
02:09:22.600 --> 02:09:27.079
the previous Christmas Eve chose to throw that power away.

2058
02:09:28.239 --> 02:09:32.800
But I believe that you shall become the perfect vessel.

2059
02:09:33.760 --> 02:09:37.079
Isley Tinker got into his mail truck and drove away.

2060
02:09:38.119 --> 02:09:41.800
He would return to Strickfield Town Center Mall and manage

2061
02:09:41.840 --> 02:09:45.359
his store there again. It would only be a matter

2062
02:09:45.439 --> 02:09:48.840
of time before someone would enter his shop and look

2063
02:09:48.920 --> 02:09:56.560
for something that would change their lives literally. Helga took

2064
02:09:56.640 --> 02:09:59.159
the package up to her room and closed the door,

2065
02:10:00.079 --> 02:10:03.119
sat at her desk and opened it up. She kept

2066
02:10:03.199 --> 02:10:07.039
wondering who would possibly send her a Christmas gift. When

2067
02:10:07.079 --> 02:10:10.359
she had finished removing the wrapping paper, she worked off

2068
02:10:10.439 --> 02:10:16.479
the top of the box and looked inside. Oh, she gasped.

2069
02:10:17.319 --> 02:10:21.800
She reached inside the box and removed a large snow globe.

2070
02:10:22.760 --> 02:10:25.600
She was right about it being heavy. It was a

2071
02:10:25.720 --> 02:10:28.439
full foot from the top of the glass to the

2072
02:10:28.520 --> 02:10:32.159
bottom of the rocky pedestal. She put it down and

2073
02:10:32.279 --> 02:10:36.640
stared at it. The artificial snow inside it began to

2074
02:10:36.800 --> 02:10:40.840
fall within the contained water. Now, who would send you

2075
02:10:41.640 --> 02:10:47.119
to me? Helga murmured. The figure inside the globe made

2076
02:10:47.199 --> 02:10:52.039
her smile. It was Crampus, sitting upon his wintry throne

2077
02:10:52.560 --> 02:10:56.520
and holding a scepter. The figure looked every bit like

2078
02:10:56.640 --> 02:11:00.399
the story she and her former childhood friends had grown

2079
02:11:00.479 --> 02:11:03.319
up with and shared with each other. Around this time

2080
02:11:03.399 --> 02:11:08.600
of year. The figure had big curly horns, brown to

2081
02:11:08.720 --> 02:11:12.399
graying fur, bright red eyes, and cloven hoofs for feet.

2082
02:11:13.600 --> 02:11:17.119
Those bright red eyes glowed hot as she looked at them.

2083
02:11:18.159 --> 02:11:21.359
Helga didn't know why, but she just couldn't seem to

2084
02:11:21.399 --> 02:11:26.159
take her own eyes off of them. Well what are

2085
02:11:26.199 --> 02:11:30.439
you waiting for? She heard in her mind. You know

2086
02:11:30.680 --> 02:11:33.680
you wish to make those little trouble makers pay for

2087
02:11:33.760 --> 02:11:40.560
their sins. They've been very naughty, have they not accept

2088
02:11:40.680 --> 02:11:43.920
my power and claim what is yours?

2089
02:11:45.319 --> 02:11:48.920
Don't go away weakly, spooky, We'll be right back.

2090
02:11:53.359 --> 02:11:58.840
Helga looked around but didn't see anyone. Who's there? It

2091
02:11:58.920 --> 02:12:02.159
better not be you kids playing your cruel pranks again.

2092
02:12:03.119 --> 02:12:05.319
When I get a hold of you, i'll have your

2093
02:12:05.399 --> 02:12:09.319
breeches down and tan you good. She darted right out

2094
02:12:09.359 --> 02:12:14.479
of her room, but didn't see anybody. Then a little

2095
02:12:14.560 --> 02:12:17.359
girl came out of one of the bedrooms and just

2096
02:12:17.479 --> 02:12:21.199
looked at her. Helga wanted to make good on her promise,

2097
02:12:21.520 --> 02:12:23.479
but she knew the little girl well enough to know

2098
02:12:24.319 --> 02:12:27.399
she wouldn't have heard a fly. After a little bit,

2099
02:12:28.119 --> 02:12:35.560
the little girl moved and made her way downstairs. A

2100
02:12:35.640 --> 02:12:39.199
little bit later, she made her way back downstairs herself.

2101
02:12:39.920 --> 02:12:42.359
Then she remembered that the rest of the mail was

2102
02:12:42.600 --> 02:12:46.079
likely still in the mailbox. She knew she only had

2103
02:12:46.119 --> 02:12:48.000
to go to the end of the walkway to get it,

2104
02:12:48.159 --> 02:12:52.000
so she didn't bother putting on her coat. She opened

2105
02:12:52.039 --> 02:12:56.560
the front door and stepped outside. When Helga reached the mailbox,

2106
02:12:56.880 --> 02:12:59.960
she opened it and pulled out the short stack of envelopes.

2107
02:13:00.920 --> 02:13:03.560
Then she saw the car pulling out of the parking

2108
02:13:03.640 --> 02:13:07.760
lot and knew it was Miss Barrett. She also saw

2109
02:13:07.880 --> 02:13:10.760
the mousey junior high girl who came with those other

2110
02:13:10.920 --> 02:13:15.800
kids sitting in the passenger seat. Probably ran out of something.

2111
02:13:16.279 --> 02:13:19.720
Helga muttered, Emma should have fired her a long time ago.

2112
02:13:20.800 --> 02:13:23.079
Helga turned and made her way back to the door.

2113
02:13:23.960 --> 02:13:27.279
She had the door halfway opened when she suddenly felt

2114
02:13:27.319 --> 02:13:31.439
it being pushed hard against her and slammed shut. The

2115
02:13:31.600 --> 02:13:35.439
lock clicked. Shortly after, she dug into her pocket for

2116
02:13:35.520 --> 02:13:39.239
her keys. When she couldn't find them, she knew she

2117
02:13:39.359 --> 02:13:43.600
had left them upstairs in her room. Helga started pushing

2118
02:13:43.640 --> 02:13:47.359
on the doorbell button, but no sound was heard inside,

2119
02:13:48.239 --> 02:13:51.560
at least not the one she was listening for. A

2120
02:13:51.640 --> 02:13:54.479
few moments later, she heard some tapping on one of

2121
02:13:54.520 --> 02:13:59.479
the windows and saw Butch, Joe, and Stan looking out

2122
02:13:59.520 --> 02:14:03.000
at her. They gave her their mischievous looks as they

2123
02:14:03.079 --> 02:14:07.159
waved at her. Open this door right now, you rotten

2124
02:14:07.279 --> 02:14:11.760
little brats, Helga yelled in response. The three boys were

2125
02:14:11.800 --> 02:14:15.720
making even worse faces at her. Then Butch opened the window.

2126
02:14:16.640 --> 02:14:22.000
You stay outside, you old witch, yeah, Joe added, go away.

2127
02:14:23.359 --> 02:14:27.279
We don't want you here. Stan added further. Then the

2128
02:14:27.359 --> 02:14:31.439
boys started pushing clothes out of the window. Helga immediately

2129
02:14:31.520 --> 02:14:36.479
knew they were hers. You little monsters. You just wait

2130
02:14:36.560 --> 02:14:40.319
till I get back inside. The last thing the mischievous

2131
02:14:40.359 --> 02:14:44.800
boys throughout was the snow globe she had just received.

2132
02:14:45.640 --> 02:14:47.920
When I get back inside, I'm going to see to it.

2133
02:14:48.039 --> 02:14:52.399
You never leave your bedrooms ever again. Helga yelled, Yeah,

2134
02:14:52.720 --> 02:14:57.119
but you ain't never gettin back inside. Butch teased. Suddenly

2135
02:14:57.279 --> 02:15:00.800
the front door opened up. Helga rushed right in and

2136
02:15:00.960 --> 02:15:05.399
saw Brian Chunk standing there. Then she grabbed him, You

2137
02:15:05.640 --> 02:15:09.560
rotten little boy, she yelled, I'm gonna tan your hide.

2138
02:15:10.520 --> 02:15:14.560
What I didn't do nothing, Brian returned as he broke

2139
02:15:14.640 --> 02:15:17.680
loose from her. I just came by and heard yelling outside,

2140
02:15:18.000 --> 02:15:19.720
so I opened the door to see what was up.

2141
02:15:20.680 --> 02:15:23.720
Just then, Butch appeared and saw Helga had been let

2142
02:15:23.800 --> 02:15:27.760
back in. Then he pointed to Brian, this ain't none

2143
02:15:27.760 --> 02:15:31.119
of your business, fat stuff. He looked back at Helga

2144
02:15:31.520 --> 02:15:35.000
and made a hideous face. You wanna fight, Come and

2145
02:15:35.119 --> 02:15:38.720
get me, the ugly old bat. Helga turned and went

2146
02:15:38.800 --> 02:15:41.880
straight after Butch. As she was about to grab him,

2147
02:15:42.119 --> 02:15:44.720
the other two boys sprung out of their hiding places

2148
02:15:44.800 --> 02:15:47.880
and came together to make Helga trip over their backs

2149
02:15:48.359 --> 02:15:52.479
and hit the floor hard. Then the three troublesome boys

2150
02:15:52.600 --> 02:15:58.199
came together, pointed down at Helga and laughed. Brian Chunk

2151
02:15:58.279 --> 02:16:00.840
pushed right past them and went to help Helga up.

2152
02:16:01.640 --> 02:16:05.439
That was when the boys moved and jumped him from behind. However,

2153
02:16:05.560 --> 02:16:09.640
they had greatly underestimated Brian. Not only was he taller

2154
02:16:09.720 --> 02:16:13.239
than all of them, but he was also strong. True,

2155
02:16:13.399 --> 02:16:16.359
he looked overweight on account of loving to eat, but

2156
02:16:16.520 --> 02:16:20.520
he also exercised and lifted weights. Brian had no problem

2157
02:16:20.640 --> 02:16:23.840
getting the troublesome boys off of him before Butch and

2158
02:16:23.920 --> 02:16:27.119
his pals could come at Brian again. His friends came

2159
02:16:27.199 --> 02:16:30.119
to his aid. When they saw Bill Chapman, they knew

2160
02:16:30.720 --> 02:16:34.360
they didn't want to tangle with him again, Miss Stanlan,

2161
02:16:34.440 --> 02:16:37.479
Are you all right, missus Gibson asked when she finally

2162
02:16:37.600 --> 02:16:41.040
arrived on the scene. Brian Chunk and Mona Abels were

2163
02:16:41.079 --> 02:16:44.079
trying to help Helga up, but she shoved them away.

2164
02:16:44.680 --> 02:16:47.639
When she was almost to her feet, she pointed right

2165
02:16:47.680 --> 02:16:51.319
at missus Gibson. That's the last straw I have had

2166
02:16:51.360 --> 02:16:55.399
it with these little brats, Miss Stanlan. We do not

2167
02:16:55.600 --> 02:16:58.680
call them that here at Missus Gibson started to say,

2168
02:16:59.120 --> 02:17:02.440
but they are. Every last one of these rotten children

2169
02:17:02.479 --> 02:17:07.559
here are just that rotten, especially those three little boys.

2170
02:17:08.639 --> 02:17:12.040
Then she heard the voice in her mind again. Come

2171
02:17:12.159 --> 02:17:16.280
back outside and pick me up. Accept my power, and

2172
02:17:16.440 --> 02:17:21.040
you shall have your revenge. Helga marched to the front

2173
02:17:21.120 --> 02:17:24.799
door and opened it. Not wanting to waste an opportunity,

2174
02:17:25.239 --> 02:17:28.959
Butch quickly moved up behind her and shoved her back outside.

2175
02:17:29.879 --> 02:17:33.760
Everybody could hear Helga fall down the front steps. Then

2176
02:17:33.879 --> 02:17:38.120
Butch closed the door and locked it. When Helga was

2177
02:17:38.200 --> 02:17:41.719
picking herself up off the snowy ground, she saw something

2178
02:17:41.799 --> 02:17:46.280
glowing nearby and went to it. She found and picked

2179
02:17:46.360 --> 02:17:50.879
up the snow globe. As before, the crampest figure's eyes

2180
02:17:51.440 --> 02:17:55.600
glowed brightly as she looked into them. She could hear

2181
02:17:55.680 --> 02:18:00.440
the voice in her mind one more time. Those children

2182
02:18:00.520 --> 02:18:05.159
deserved to be punished. There are no good children in

2183
02:18:05.280 --> 02:18:09.680
that house. All you have to do is accept me

2184
02:18:10.760 --> 02:18:17.920
and invite me in use my power. Helga Stanlen Yes.

2185
02:18:18.639 --> 02:18:24.399
Helga replied quickly. Yes. Then Helga's own eyes began to

2186
02:18:24.520 --> 02:18:28.200
glow brightly as she felt the incredible surge of energy

2187
02:18:28.360 --> 02:18:32.399
flowing from the snow globe and into her body. It

2188
02:18:32.600 --> 02:18:37.000
was then when she started to feel herself transforming. She

2189
02:18:37.159 --> 02:18:40.360
groaned with pain when her muscles started to burn as

2190
02:18:40.440 --> 02:18:45.000
they swelled, her bones began to grow, Her skin turned white,

2191
02:18:45.200 --> 02:18:48.280
and she was growing two very large horns out of

2192
02:18:48.319 --> 02:18:52.079
the top of her head. Gray fur was starting to form,

2193
02:18:52.280 --> 02:18:56.959
and her feet were transforming into hoofs. Her eyes were

2194
02:18:57.040 --> 02:18:59.280
now just as red as the figures in the snow

2195
02:18:59.319 --> 02:19:02.600
globe and were glowing. She looked at her hands and

2196
02:19:02.799 --> 02:19:08.479
saw they were now clawlike. When the transformation was complete,

2197
02:19:08.639 --> 02:19:12.399
she was still holding the snow globe. She moved to

2198
02:19:12.479 --> 02:19:15.520
a nearby tree and reached up to break off the

2199
02:19:15.639 --> 02:19:20.120
branch that she wanted. Then she put one end of

2200
02:19:20.200 --> 02:19:22.879
the branch to the bottom of the snow globe and

2201
02:19:23.079 --> 02:19:28.719
watched them fuse together to make her staff. Crampis turned

2202
02:19:29.040 --> 02:19:31.879
and looked at the Home Sweet Home Orphanage as a whole.

2203
02:19:33.319 --> 02:19:38.319
Those naughty children shall pay for their sins soon enough.

2204
02:19:39.719 --> 02:19:45.719
But first Crampus raised the staff to the sky. Moments later,

2205
02:19:46.159 --> 02:19:50.559
wintery storm clouds came together fast. Soon the winds were

2206
02:19:50.600 --> 02:19:56.079
blowing hard, and heavy snow was coming down fast. Crampis

2207
02:19:56.159 --> 02:20:00.920
knew that eventually traveling would be next to impossible. Everybody

2208
02:20:01.479 --> 02:20:05.639
would be trapped inside the orphanage. She wanted to burst

2209
02:20:05.719 --> 02:20:09.040
through the front door, but she decided to wait until

2210
02:20:09.120 --> 02:20:12.959
everything was just right before she would make those children

2211
02:20:13.120 --> 02:20:17.600
pay for their sins. She wanted to take them back

2212
02:20:17.680 --> 02:20:20.440
to her layer and make them stay in her many

2213
02:20:20.600 --> 02:20:26.239
cages there forever and ever. You shall pay for your

2214
02:20:26.399 --> 02:20:31.120
sins as well, Emma Gibson, You've let those monsters get

2215
02:20:31.120 --> 02:20:36.200
away with everything for far too long. Then she saw

2216
02:20:36.239 --> 02:20:40.159
a car turning into the parking lot and knew who

2217
02:20:40.239 --> 02:20:46.040
it was immediately. Ah, seems the Mayor of Pendleton has arrived.

2218
02:20:47.200 --> 02:20:52.200
This night shall prove to be most interesting. Get comfortable, Mayor,

2219
02:20:53.120 --> 02:20:58.360
because you shall never be leaving you and everyone else

2220
02:20:59.079 --> 02:21:02.159
shall soon be long to crumpus.

2221
02:21:04.799 --> 02:21:09.239
If you're not afraid, then you're already dead. Weekly spooky,

2222
02:21:09.360 --> 02:21:10.239
We'll be right back.

2223
02:21:13.079 --> 02:21:18.799
Part four perspective Bailey Downs. Missus Gibson has those three

2224
02:21:18.879 --> 02:21:22.399
goobers sitting down in the main living room. Listening to her.

2225
02:21:22.520 --> 02:21:25.680
It sounds like Butch, Joe, and Stan have been nothing

2226
02:21:25.760 --> 02:21:29.360
but trouble. Joe and Stan both came here a month

2227
02:21:29.440 --> 02:21:32.040
apart a few years ago and seemed to be distant

2228
02:21:32.079 --> 02:21:35.600
from everybody. As soon as Butch came along, he ended

2229
02:21:35.680 --> 02:21:39.440
up getting with those two. Since then, he's been their

2230
02:21:39.559 --> 02:21:43.040
fearless leader, and together they've been causing all kinds of

2231
02:21:43.159 --> 02:21:46.559
problems here. Looking at them, they don't seem to have

2232
02:21:46.680 --> 02:21:51.639
any remorse for what they've done, especially to Miss Stanlan. Yeah,

2233
02:21:51.680 --> 02:21:55.440
they're making their wicked little smiles. Go figure. They're probably

2234
02:21:55.479 --> 02:21:58.600
around nine, maybe ten or eleven, and they act like

2235
02:21:58.719 --> 02:22:02.600
they run the orphanage. When Missus Gibson emphasizes how they've

2236
02:22:02.639 --> 02:22:06.600
driven many potential parents away, she tells them she really

2237
02:22:06.639 --> 02:22:09.639
doesn't know how much longer she'll be able to keep

2238
02:22:09.680 --> 02:22:15.159
them there. Can't hear you, old lady, Butch says, not listening,

2239
02:22:15.719 --> 02:22:20.639
Joe adds forget it stand further adds. A moment later,

2240
02:22:20.760 --> 02:22:24.239
an important looking, middle aged woman walks into the living room.

2241
02:22:24.840 --> 02:22:28.079
When Missus Gibson sees her, she points to the boys.

2242
02:22:28.879 --> 02:22:31.399
You three will stay right here and not move a

2243
02:22:31.479 --> 02:22:36.920
muscle whatever. Butch says defiantly, Who'll do whatever we want.

2244
02:22:37.719 --> 02:22:40.959
But when they try getting off the couch, Chunker, Mona

2245
02:22:41.040 --> 02:22:44.600
and Chapman are right there to make them reconsider Those

2246
02:22:44.680 --> 02:22:47.840
goobers only scowl at my friends, but they can't really

2247
02:22:47.920 --> 02:22:51.479
do much to them, since they're bigger and stronger. The

2248
02:22:51.600 --> 02:22:54.559
important looking woman is definitely younger than any of the

2249
02:22:54.639 --> 02:22:58.520
staff women we've seen working here. She's about my mom's age.

2250
02:22:59.000 --> 02:23:04.120
In fact, I know her. Then I realized something. Hey

2251
02:23:04.959 --> 02:23:07.719
have you guys seen miss Barrett or Mouse? I ask?

2252
02:23:08.319 --> 02:23:12.239
Missus Gibson raises her finger. Oh dear, I'm so sorry.

2253
02:23:12.719 --> 02:23:15.760
I should have told you all. They just left here.

2254
02:23:16.040 --> 02:23:18.399
Miss Barrett went to Strickfield to pick up some things

2255
02:23:18.479 --> 02:23:22.120
and took your friend with her. The important looking woman

2256
02:23:22.239 --> 02:23:25.360
takes off her coat. I hope they'll be all right, Emma.

2257
02:23:25.719 --> 02:23:28.559
The weather just got really nasty all of the sudden.

2258
02:23:29.479 --> 02:23:33.440
Are you serious, eloise, missus Gibson asked, it wasn't that

2259
02:23:33.600 --> 02:23:36.719
bad when I looked outside a little while ago. When

2260
02:23:36.760 --> 02:23:39.840
I pulled in here, it was snowing really hard with

2261
02:23:40.000 --> 02:23:44.520
heavy winds. Eloise points to a nearby window. See for yourself.

2262
02:23:45.360 --> 02:23:50.159
Missus Gibson goes and looks outside. Oh my, She turns

2263
02:23:50.239 --> 02:23:53.239
back to Eloise. It wasn't supposed to be like this.

2264
02:23:53.959 --> 02:23:56.040
The news said it was supposed to be a clear day.

2265
02:23:56.799 --> 02:24:00.239
I can't believe how dark it looks outside. Think it

2266
02:24:00.360 --> 02:24:04.200
was night and it's only going on one. She sighs

2267
02:24:04.280 --> 02:24:07.840
and turns around. Guess you can't always trust the weatherman.

2268
02:24:08.799 --> 02:24:11.879
Then Eloise looks at all of us. Are these your

2269
02:24:11.959 --> 02:24:16.879
helpers for today? Yes, Missus Gibson answers, cheerfully and introduces us.

2270
02:24:17.479 --> 02:24:21.440
Then she tells us kids, this is Mayor Eloise Parkhurst,

2271
02:24:22.360 --> 02:24:25.680
a huge supporter of Home Sweet Home. She's been the

2272
02:24:25.760 --> 02:24:30.440
driving force behind us keeping our doors open. Indeed, Mayor

2273
02:24:30.520 --> 02:24:33.760
Parkhurst degrees, my husband and I have adopted and are

2274
02:24:33.840 --> 02:24:37.000
raising two children from here. Then she points to me

2275
02:24:37.600 --> 02:24:41.360
and I do remember you, Bailey, come here. I go

2276
02:24:41.559 --> 02:24:44.239
to her so we can hug. It's nice to see

2277
02:24:44.280 --> 02:24:49.639
you again, I say. Indeed, she replies, you've really grown

2278
02:24:49.760 --> 02:24:51.879
since I last saw you the day you left here

2279
02:24:52.239 --> 02:24:56.040
with your new parents. When we finish our hug, Horton

2280
02:24:56.159 --> 02:25:00.000
goes and looks outside. Geez, you were right, missus Gibbson.

2281
02:25:00.840 --> 02:25:03.520
He turns to look at us. It really does look

2282
02:25:03.600 --> 02:25:08.600
like it's night outside. Mona hugs herself and shivers. Why

2283
02:25:08.680 --> 02:25:11.159
do I get the feeling things are gonna be bad?

2284
02:25:11.959 --> 02:25:15.200
I put my hand on Mona's shoulder. Hey, it's okay.

2285
02:25:15.920 --> 02:25:21.000
We're all here together. Only now I'm a little scared myself.

2286
02:25:21.959 --> 02:25:24.680
I hope miss Barrett and Mouse make it back here safely.

2287
02:25:25.479 --> 02:25:28.440
Then Chunker turns and moves to the window to see

2288
02:25:28.520 --> 02:25:33.000
for himself. Aw man, how to become night? All a sudden,

2289
02:25:33.600 --> 02:25:39.959
Horton shrugs, Your guess is as good as mine. As

2290
02:25:40.079 --> 02:25:45.079
Chunker turns back around, the window seemingly explodes right behind him,

2291
02:25:46.000 --> 02:25:50.639
and these two hideous, claw like hands grab him. Come

2292
02:25:50.760 --> 02:25:54.520
to me, you little porker. Chunker screams and fights to

2293
02:25:54.639 --> 02:25:55.280
lean forward.

2294
02:25:55.879 --> 02:25:56.120
Hell.

2295
02:25:57.360 --> 02:26:01.959
Then he screams again. Scream ourselves and quickly move to

2296
02:26:02.040 --> 02:26:04.639
help Chunker. We grab hold of him and pull back

2297
02:26:04.680 --> 02:26:08.280
with our combined weight. There's no use trying to help

2298
02:26:08.360 --> 02:26:12.799
your friend. He belongs to Crampus. Now I'll place him

2299
02:26:12.799 --> 02:26:15.040
in my sack and take him back to my layir

2300
02:26:15.159 --> 02:26:19.680
with me. You shall be caged up forever and ever.

2301
02:26:20.399 --> 02:26:25.280
All of you shall soon belong to Crampus. Chunker screams again,

2302
02:26:25.799 --> 02:26:28.360
get your hands off me. I ain't going nowhere with you.

2303
02:26:29.479 --> 02:26:32.760
Then Mona makes a very bold move and slips in

2304
02:26:32.840 --> 02:26:36.879
between that thing and Chunker. Let him go, you ugly monster.

2305
02:26:37.719 --> 02:26:40.159
She growls and kicks that thing right in the face,

2306
02:26:40.600 --> 02:26:44.200
making it finally let go of Chunker. We all cry

2307
02:26:44.280 --> 02:26:47.319
out and fall on the floor. Snow and heavy winds

2308
02:26:47.319 --> 02:26:50.840
are blowing into the orphanage. Looking at those three goobers,

2309
02:26:50.879 --> 02:26:53.120
they're not looking as cool as they thought they were.

2310
02:26:54.000 --> 02:26:56.959
When the thing reappears in the broken out window, we're

2311
02:26:57.000 --> 02:27:00.680
all screaming now. Then she points to the goober's on

2312
02:27:00.719 --> 02:27:04.360
the couch. Just give me those boys right there, and

2313
02:27:04.520 --> 02:27:08.559
you may get to enjoy your Christmas after all. What

2314
02:27:08.920 --> 02:27:15.159
are you, missus? Gibson stammers. Then she makes this weird look, Helga,

2315
02:27:16.760 --> 02:27:22.159
is that you the thing? Laughs? There is no more

2316
02:27:22.399 --> 02:27:28.399
Helga Stanlein. Now there is only Crampus, and I want

2317
02:27:28.479 --> 02:27:32.239
those mischievous boys. You can either give them to me,

2318
02:27:33.159 --> 02:27:37.440
or I'll just have to come in there and claim

2319
02:27:37.520 --> 02:27:42.600
them myself. Why are you doing this, Helga missus, Gibson demands.

2320
02:27:43.319 --> 02:27:46.440
The goobers quickly stand up on the couch. Then they

2321
02:27:46.559 --> 02:27:49.719
move over the top and stand behind it. Next thing

2322
02:27:49.799 --> 02:27:54.040
we know, they turn and run away, screaming because you

2323
02:27:54.360 --> 02:27:57.559
refuse to punish them. Emma, how many times have you

2324
02:27:57.680 --> 02:28:00.680
let those brats practically get away with whatever they wanted

2325
02:28:00.719 --> 02:28:05.600
to hear? She raises her hand. Well, now you don't

2326
02:28:05.639 --> 02:28:08.840
have to do anything. Crampush shall do what you were

2327
02:28:08.959 --> 02:28:14.559
unwilling to do. Crampis laughs a long, horrible, evil laugh

2328
02:28:15.040 --> 02:28:18.239
before she comes in through the window. We all scream

2329
02:28:18.360 --> 02:28:21.639
again and scatter in different directions. Horton and I run

2330
02:28:21.719 --> 02:28:25.799
down one of the downstairs hallways into another living room area. Hey,

2331
02:28:26.399 --> 02:28:28.200
this place is big enough to have three of them.

2332
02:28:29.079 --> 02:28:31.040
Oh man, oh man, oh man, oh man, oh man,

2333
02:28:31.120 --> 02:28:34.799
oh man, oh man. Horton practically breathes out why do

2334
02:28:34.959 --> 02:28:38.639
things like this keep happening? Before I can answer him,

2335
02:28:38.920 --> 02:28:42.200
Crampis is suddenly coming in behind us. She points at

2336
02:28:42.280 --> 02:28:46.879
us and says, your souls belong to Crampis now. Horton

2337
02:28:46.920 --> 02:28:49.959
and I both scream again and run into another hallway.

2338
02:28:50.719 --> 02:28:54.280
It seems like Crampis is practically floating after us. We

2339
02:28:54.440 --> 02:28:56.719
both have the same idea and start pulling stuff to

2340
02:28:56.799 --> 02:29:00.479
the floor to try making the monster stagger. You two

2341
02:29:00.639 --> 02:29:04.920
naughties might as well just jump into my sack. No way,

2342
02:29:05.399 --> 02:29:09.239
I yell, get away from us. We make our way

2343
02:29:09.319 --> 02:29:12.600
back around into the previous living room. When we get there,

2344
02:29:12.680 --> 02:29:15.239
I quickly grab a glass sculpture off of a table

2345
02:29:15.639 --> 02:29:19.399
and throw it at Crampus. She's got this devilish smile

2346
02:29:19.479 --> 02:29:22.760
on her face when she catches it and easily crumbles

2347
02:29:22.799 --> 02:29:26.440
it in her hands. Then Horton starts grabbing books off

2348
02:29:26.479 --> 02:29:30.639
the shelf and heaving a matter what a shame. A

2349
02:29:30.799 --> 02:29:34.920
mind is a terrible thing to waste, she teases, knocking

2350
02:29:35.000 --> 02:29:38.600
the books away. Suddenly, someone comes running from out of

2351
02:29:38.680 --> 02:29:44.639
nowhere and tackles Crampis Chunker. Horton cries excitedly. He quickly

2352
02:29:44.719 --> 02:29:47.799
gets off the monster and comes to us. I can't

2353
02:29:47.799 --> 02:29:51.559
believe it just did that, run, I yell. The three

2354
02:29:51.600 --> 02:29:54.840
of us keep moving through the orphanage. Then we've only

2355
02:29:54.879 --> 02:29:58.399
got one choice available and do the one horror movie

2356
02:29:58.520 --> 02:30:03.760
thing you should never do. We head upstairs. It surprises

2357
02:30:03.840 --> 02:30:06.440
me how Chunker can keep up with us, being a

2358
02:30:06.479 --> 02:30:09.440
little on the portly side, and all we can hear

2359
02:30:09.600 --> 02:30:15.120
Crampis following us on up help me, Chunker yells. At first,

2360
02:30:15.159 --> 02:30:18.799
I'm thinking he's in trouble. When I turn around, Horton's

2361
02:30:18.840 --> 02:30:21.399
moving to Chunker to help him push a big, heavy

2362
02:30:21.520 --> 02:30:24.399
shelf down the stairs. I quickly move to help them.

2363
02:30:25.120 --> 02:30:29.600
You really need to just stop, the demon groans. We

2364
02:30:29.760 --> 02:30:32.200
get the shelf to tumble down the stairs at Crampis,

2365
02:30:32.760 --> 02:30:35.440
it slams into her and makes her hit the wall hard.

2366
02:30:36.159 --> 02:30:39.360
We turn and keep running. Where are we going to

2367
02:30:39.440 --> 02:30:43.159
run to? Up here? Horton yells, follow me? I tell

2368
02:30:43.200 --> 02:30:46.319
them I know my way around this place. I lead

2369
02:30:46.399 --> 02:30:48.760
Horton and Chunker down to the end of this hallway

2370
02:30:49.079 --> 02:30:51.360
so we can take a quick left and keep moving.

2371
02:30:51.879 --> 02:30:55.159
I would imagine since miss stanlin Is Crampis now, she

2372
02:30:55.360 --> 02:30:59.000
probably knows where we're heading. Still, we can't let her

2373
02:30:59.159 --> 02:31:00.200
just trap us up here.

2374
02:31:01.719 --> 02:31:04.159
Did you hear that? Better check the locks on your

2375
02:31:04.280 --> 02:31:07.639
doors weekly, spooky. We'll be right back.

2376
02:31:09.200 --> 02:31:11.440
We make it to the other stairway and start heading

2377
02:31:11.520 --> 02:31:15.600
back down. Suddenly Crampis is right there. We all scream

2378
02:31:15.719 --> 02:31:19.920
and turn back around. Face it. You'll never escape me,

2379
02:31:20.280 --> 02:31:23.559
and believe me when I say, no naughty escapes me.

2380
02:31:25.159 --> 02:31:28.840
How are we naughty? Chunker calls back, what did we do?

2381
02:31:29.920 --> 02:31:33.000
None of you are ever satisfied with anything you've been given,

2382
02:31:33.440 --> 02:31:37.920
especially those three rotten brats. You're trying to protect them,

2383
02:31:38.360 --> 02:31:44.200
so that makes you sinful and naughty. Then the absolute

2384
02:31:44.280 --> 02:31:48.079
weirdest thing happens when we reached the stairway we came up.

2385
02:31:48.159 --> 02:31:50.600
Chunker trips on a bunched up part of the hallway

2386
02:31:50.680 --> 02:31:54.559
carpet and is diving at the stairs. In trying to

2387
02:31:54.600 --> 02:31:57.719
stop Chunker, I fall onto his back and we start

2388
02:31:57.799 --> 02:32:01.520
sliding down the stairs together. Then I feel skinny little

2389
02:32:01.559 --> 02:32:04.600
Horton land on top of me, and he's sliding with

2390
02:32:04.799 --> 02:32:08.440
us as a triple decker sandwich. We reach the bottom,

2391
02:32:08.639 --> 02:32:11.280
separate and quickly get up in time to see Crampis

2392
02:32:11.360 --> 02:32:14.239
at the top of the stairs and getting ready to jump.

2393
02:32:15.079 --> 02:32:18.639
We scream and run again, talk about needing that stroke

2394
02:32:18.719 --> 02:32:21.520
of luck again as Crampis lands on the floor hard

2395
02:32:22.200 --> 02:32:25.840
and falls right through it to land in the basement.

2396
02:32:26.879 --> 02:32:30.360
Hey over, hear you, guys. We turned to see Chapman

2397
02:32:30.479 --> 02:32:33.000
called out to us and motioning for us to come

2398
02:32:33.040 --> 02:32:36.040
to the kitchen. We turn down that hallway and move

2399
02:32:36.120 --> 02:32:39.959
until we're all in the kitchen. Missus Gibson, Mayor Parkhurst,

2400
02:32:40.000 --> 02:32:42.840
and all the other kids and our other two friends

2401
02:32:42.920 --> 02:32:46.399
are all in there. Chapman and Mona worked to slide

2402
02:32:46.440 --> 02:32:50.959
the big metal door shut. Of course, I quickly say,

2403
02:32:51.239 --> 02:32:54.920
realizing I should have remembered this orphanage uses the kitchen

2404
02:32:54.959 --> 02:32:58.079
as a tornado shelter. I really have been away from

2405
02:32:58.079 --> 02:33:01.360
here for too long. What you want to come live

2406
02:33:01.399 --> 02:33:05.079
here again? Mona cracks. I laugh a little and gently

2407
02:33:05.159 --> 02:33:08.639
slap her shoulder. Then I notice those three goobers ain't

2408
02:33:08.680 --> 02:33:12.840
in here with us. Chapman sees the look on my face. Yeah,

2409
02:33:13.680 --> 02:33:15.760
they ended up going into the pantry over there and

2410
02:33:15.879 --> 02:33:18.920
locking it behind them. They got most of the food

2411
02:33:19.000 --> 02:33:21.760
in there and won't open up. Mona walks to the

2412
02:33:21.840 --> 02:33:25.239
door and punches and kicks it. Open up, you stupid

2413
02:33:25.280 --> 02:33:30.280
little goobers. No, you're all stupid. Stan jeers from behind

2414
02:33:30.319 --> 02:33:33.159
the door. Yeah, that think you get all of you,

2415
02:33:33.840 --> 02:33:37.959
butch Ads, we ain't opening up. Chapman slams his fist

2416
02:33:38.040 --> 02:33:42.360
into the door. Yeah, clearly, you dummies ain't thinking things through.

2417
02:33:42.920 --> 02:33:45.440
If that monster gets all of us, how long do

2418
02:33:45.479 --> 02:33:47.719
you think it'll be before she'll be coming right through

2419
02:33:47.799 --> 02:33:51.280
this door to get you? Especially when it's you three?

2420
02:33:51.440 --> 02:33:56.239
She wants. Horton ads. Then we hear Butch making mocking

2421
02:33:56.360 --> 02:33:59.319
noises at us, kind of like those squeakers tend to

2422
02:33:59.360 --> 02:34:03.399
do if you run any when you're playing video games online. Now,

2423
02:34:03.479 --> 02:34:05.680
a little girl comes up to me and holds onto me.

2424
02:34:06.479 --> 02:34:10.680
I'm scared. I squat down to give her a gentle hug. Hey,

2425
02:34:11.399 --> 02:34:14.680
I'm scared too. We all are, but we've got to

2426
02:34:14.760 --> 02:34:17.680
be strong if we're going to get through this. Chunker

2427
02:34:17.760 --> 02:34:22.639
asks missus Gibson. Any ideas what we can do? She

2428
02:34:22.799 --> 02:34:26.559
gives Chunker a confused look. I can't believe any of

2429
02:34:26.639 --> 02:34:31.159
this is real. You and me both, Mayor Parkhurst tells her.

2430
02:34:31.959 --> 02:34:35.360
Mona turns to them. Yeah, be glad neither of you

2431
02:34:35.479 --> 02:34:38.600
live in Strickfield. This sort of thing tends to happen

2432
02:34:38.639 --> 02:34:41.920
all the time. There. She looks at me. Now, I'd

2433
02:34:42.000 --> 02:34:44.399
rather have to deal with seeing Bloody Mary again than

2434
02:34:44.479 --> 02:34:49.200
face down crampis. I nod quickly. At least Bloody Mary

2435
02:34:49.280 --> 02:34:52.440
only scared us. Then I'm looking around for Mouse and

2436
02:34:52.520 --> 02:34:56.440
the cook. And then remember, at least Mouse and miss

2437
02:34:56.479 --> 02:34:59.639
Barrett are safe. They won't be if they end up

2438
02:34:59.639 --> 02:35:03.840
coming back here. Horton says. Suddenly we hear a huge

2439
02:35:04.040 --> 02:35:08.000
thud at the metal door. You really think this door

2440
02:35:08.120 --> 02:35:12.360
will keep crampus out? Foolish Mortals. All I want are

2441
02:35:12.399 --> 02:35:15.479
those three rotten little boys. Just give them to me

2442
02:35:15.799 --> 02:35:19.559
and I'll leave you here in peace. Yeah, like we're

2443
02:35:19.600 --> 02:35:23.319
stupid enough to believe that she was just chasing Chunker,

2444
02:35:23.399 --> 02:35:26.040
Horton in me, she's going to try and grab all

2445
02:35:26.120 --> 02:35:30.239
of us before she's through here. Then Mona states the obvious.

2446
02:35:31.319 --> 02:35:33.840
We got two choices here the way I see it,

2447
02:35:34.719 --> 02:35:37.639
One we either try and tough it out and here

2448
02:35:38.600 --> 02:35:41.479
two we gotta try and get out of here. Before

2449
02:35:41.520 --> 02:35:44.239
missus Gibson can say anything, Mona raises her hand up

2450
02:35:44.239 --> 02:35:46.760
in front of her. I know, I know it's easier

2451
02:35:46.840 --> 02:35:50.319
said than done with that nasty weather out there. Thud,

2452
02:35:51.200 --> 02:35:57.959
boom bang crash. Then I have an idea. What about

2453
02:35:58.040 --> 02:36:02.479
using the bus outside? Even if we could get everybody there,

2454
02:36:02.719 --> 02:36:05.120
there's no guarantee the bus will start or that we'll

2455
02:36:05.159 --> 02:36:08.920
be able to get away. Missus Gibson counters, well, we

2456
02:36:09.040 --> 02:36:13.200
can't just stay here, Missus Gibson. Chapman states boldly, how

2457
02:36:13.280 --> 02:36:16.399
long do you think that door's gonna hold out? Okay, yeah,

2458
02:36:16.799 --> 02:36:19.040
we're between a rock and a hard place here, but

2459
02:36:19.159 --> 02:36:26.239
we gotta do something. Crash, boom, bang, slam. H if

2460
02:36:26.280 --> 02:36:30.760
only mouse, we're here to drive. Mona groans Missus Gibson,

2461
02:36:31.239 --> 02:36:34.360
can you drive the bus? I ask her. When she's

2462
02:36:34.399 --> 02:36:37.120
still looking scared and confused, I slap her on the arm.

2463
02:36:37.639 --> 02:36:41.239
Missus Gibson, snap out of it. She finally does and

2464
02:36:41.319 --> 02:36:45.120
looks right at me. I'm sorry, what, Bailey? Can you

2465
02:36:45.280 --> 02:36:49.200
drive the bus if we can get it started? I repeat, Oh, yes,

2466
02:36:49.639 --> 02:36:52.360
yes I can. But how will you get out there

2467
02:36:52.399 --> 02:36:56.600
to start it? She returns. Horton raises his finger. I

2468
02:36:56.680 --> 02:36:59.959
think you just answered your own question, Lady Chapman, stay

2469
02:37:00.280 --> 02:37:03.959
up next to him. Horton's right, ma'am. You got the keys.

2470
02:37:04.479 --> 02:37:06.000
We can go out there and see if we can

2471
02:37:06.120 --> 02:37:09.520
fire it up. But what if miss Stanlin. The five

2472
02:37:09.600 --> 02:37:12.360
of us suddenly all have the same idea and quickly

2473
02:37:12.440 --> 02:37:15.399
point to the door, which is starting to dent pretty good.

2474
02:37:15.520 --> 02:37:15.680
Now.

2475
02:37:16.360 --> 02:37:20.120
Oh yes, yes, Missus Gibson's quick to agree. I see

2476
02:37:20.159 --> 02:37:23.000
what you mean. We would have thought she would need

2477
02:37:23.120 --> 02:37:25.000
to go to the office or something, but it turns

2478
02:37:25.040 --> 02:37:27.520
out there's a board next to the sliding metal door

2479
02:37:28.000 --> 02:37:31.280
with many key rings on it. She suddenly takes the

2480
02:37:31.319 --> 02:37:33.280
one she knows has the key for the bus on it.

2481
02:37:34.280 --> 02:37:37.799
There are two buses outside, Missus Gibson says, handing me

2482
02:37:37.920 --> 02:37:41.680
the keys. I nod once get ready to open up.

2483
02:37:41.959 --> 02:37:45.600
I'm going for it. Chunker comes over to me. You

2484
02:37:45.639 --> 02:37:47.959
ain't going there by yourself, Bailey, I'm coming with you,

2485
02:37:48.879 --> 02:37:53.159
me too. Mayor Parkhurst quickly says, Hugh, kids can't drive

2486
02:37:53.280 --> 02:37:58.520
the bus. Missus Gibson quickly agrees, yes, you go with them, Eloise,

2487
02:37:59.040 --> 02:38:01.840
my place is here. I need to be with the children.

2488
02:38:02.799 --> 02:38:07.120
Mayor Parkhurst nods in agreement. Hey, if mouse can drive,

2489
02:38:07.239 --> 02:38:11.600
why can't we. Mona disagrees because we don't play driving

2490
02:38:11.680 --> 02:38:16.319
games religiously like mouse does. I return Okay, Mayor Parkhurst,

2491
02:38:16.399 --> 02:38:21.440
it's you, Chunker and me and me. Mona states you're

2492
02:38:21.440 --> 02:38:23.959
my best friend, Bailey. No way I'm leaving you like that.

2493
02:38:25.280 --> 02:38:28.159
No way I'm arguing with Mona on this, especially when

2494
02:38:28.159 --> 02:38:30.559
I do the same thing for her. Mona was the

2495
02:38:30.639 --> 02:38:33.000
first real friend I made since leaving the Home Sweet

2496
02:38:33.040 --> 02:38:37.120
Home Orphanage and coming to Strickfield. As Bailey downs, Mona

2497
02:38:37.159 --> 02:38:39.280
and I have been through thick and thin with each other,

2498
02:38:39.680 --> 02:38:42.040
even before we came to meet Ariel mir and Carter

2499
02:38:42.200 --> 02:38:45.440
Cross and Madeline Donnerly. It doesn't take me long to

2500
02:38:45.520 --> 02:38:49.479
remember we screamed through Bloody Mary together and survived Abigail

2501
02:38:49.559 --> 02:38:54.360
Tomlin this last Halloween. I quickly hug Mona. She hugs

2502
02:38:54.399 --> 02:38:57.799
me back. Then we look at each other. We're really

2503
02:38:57.920 --> 02:39:02.719
doing this, Mona states. I nod quickly. Right. Then I

2504
02:39:02.840 --> 02:39:05.799
point to Chapman. Can you stand at the back door?

2505
02:39:06.680 --> 02:39:10.280
You got it, Bailey? He gestures around the kitchen, but

2506
02:39:10.399 --> 02:39:14.959
at least arm yourselves first, right, I repeat. We each

2507
02:39:15.000 --> 02:39:17.440
open drawers and grab something to take out with us.

2508
02:39:17.920 --> 02:39:21.680
When we're ready, Chapman stands at the back door. Unfortunately,

2509
02:39:21.799 --> 02:39:24.040
our jackets are in the walk in coat closet near

2510
02:39:24.120 --> 02:39:26.440
the main living room, so we're going to have to

2511
02:39:26.520 --> 02:39:29.920
brave the blowing winds and snow wearing just the clothes

2512
02:39:29.959 --> 02:39:33.440
on our backs alone. I look at Mayor Parkhurst, Mona

2513
02:39:33.520 --> 02:39:38.920
and Chunker. You guys ready, Chunker scoffs, you kidding? How

2514
02:39:38.920 --> 02:39:42.600
would we be ready for Crampis. Oh shut up, Mona

2515
02:39:42.680 --> 02:39:47.360
groans really scared. Chunker looks at Chapman. Open up, buddy.

2516
02:39:48.159 --> 02:39:52.680
Chapman nods once on three, he unlocks the door, makes

2517
02:39:52.760 --> 02:39:55.959
the count, then pulls hard. The blowing snow and wind

2518
02:39:56.000 --> 02:39:58.319
blast right into the kitchen, but the four of us

2519
02:39:58.360 --> 02:40:00.959
shoot right outside and are running for it. We hear

2520
02:40:01.079 --> 02:40:03.360
Chapman yelling for Horton and some of the other kids

2521
02:40:03.399 --> 02:40:05.399
to come and help him slide the door shut again.

2522
02:40:06.360 --> 02:40:09.200
It seems like a long long way to get to

2523
02:40:09.280 --> 02:40:13.159
the buses. It gets even longer when we hear Crampis's

2524
02:40:13.239 --> 02:40:18.040
horrible laughter echoing in the darkness. I can tell you

2525
02:40:18.200 --> 02:40:20.719
right now, I have never been as scared as I

2526
02:40:20.799 --> 02:40:24.360
am right now. We're all scared, but we gotta save

2527
02:40:24.440 --> 02:40:27.879
the orphanage. Also, I know I want to see my

2528
02:40:28.000 --> 02:40:31.959
adopted mom and dad again and have Christmas with them.

2529
02:40:33.680 --> 02:40:38.079
There's more scares where that came from. Weekly Spooky will

2530
02:40:38.120 --> 02:40:39.040
be right back.

2531
02:40:42.959 --> 02:40:46.559
Part five. The four of us are powering our way

2532
02:40:46.639 --> 02:40:49.799
through the winds and snow. Chunkers leading the way, so

2533
02:40:49.920 --> 02:40:53.159
we just follow him. It's actually pretty easy to see

2534
02:40:53.159 --> 02:40:56.959
the bright colors on his Hawaiian shirt. I can't see anything.

2535
02:40:57.559 --> 02:41:02.319
Mayor Parkhurst says, I can't. Chunker tells her we're almost there.

2536
02:41:03.120 --> 02:41:05.559
In the back of my mind, I keep hoping and

2537
02:41:05.719 --> 02:41:09.520
praying that Crampis isn't anticipating what we're doing. If she

2538
02:41:09.680 --> 02:41:12.000
shows up back here, we can plan on spending the

2539
02:41:12.120 --> 02:41:16.280
next several holiday seasons in some dark place where we'll

2540
02:41:16.319 --> 02:41:20.239
never see the light of day ever again. Bailey, give

2541
02:41:20.280 --> 02:41:24.040
me those keys, Chunker says. When we reach the bus here,

2542
02:41:24.680 --> 02:41:27.239
I hand them to him. He takes them and tries

2543
02:41:27.280 --> 02:41:31.399
to push open the bus door locked. Chunker works through

2544
02:41:31.440 --> 02:41:34.760
the key ring quickly. Wouldn't you know it. It's gotta

2545
02:41:34.799 --> 02:41:38.399
be the last key that finally works. Chunker unlocks the

2546
02:41:38.440 --> 02:41:42.079
bus and pushes the door open. Once we're in, Mayor

2547
02:41:42.159 --> 02:41:45.920
Parkhurst closes the door. Chunker hands her the keys and again,

2548
02:41:46.479 --> 02:41:48.360
it's got to be the last one she uses, But

2549
02:41:48.479 --> 02:41:50.959
the Mayor slips the key in and turns it. As

2550
02:41:51.000 --> 02:41:53.799
the rest of us are crossing our fingers, the bus

2551
02:41:53.959 --> 02:41:57.239
makes a few weak cranks. Oh, come on, come on,

2552
02:41:58.040 --> 02:42:01.879
Mayor Parkhurst groans. The Mayor of Pendleton takes a deep

2553
02:42:01.959 --> 02:42:05.120
breath and turns the key one more time. It's another

2554
02:42:05.200 --> 02:42:11.200
weak crank, then it finally fires up. Yes, Mona shrieks,

2555
02:42:11.840 --> 02:42:15.719
yes is right Mona. Mayor Parkers degrees sharply. Okay, you

2556
02:42:15.879 --> 02:42:18.719
kids sit down. We get this mobile fortress up by

2557
02:42:18.760 --> 02:42:21.319
the door, Get everybody on and get out of here.

2558
02:42:21.959 --> 02:42:24.680
The Mayor puts the bus in gear. At first, it

2559
02:42:24.799 --> 02:42:27.319
seems like we're spinning our tires on the snow covered

2560
02:42:27.360 --> 02:42:31.639
parking lot, but the bus does finally move along. Then

2561
02:42:31.760 --> 02:42:35.959
we start cheering. Mayor Parkers drives the bus towards the building,

2562
02:42:36.399 --> 02:42:39.360
turning it. When we're near the back door, she stops

2563
02:42:39.719 --> 02:42:42.840
and opens the bus doors. Chunker and I climb off

2564
02:42:42.920 --> 02:42:46.120
the bus and knock on the back door. Chapman opens up.

2565
02:42:46.840 --> 02:42:50.760
Come on, let's load up, Chunker tells him. Chapman glances

2566
02:42:50.799 --> 02:42:53.479
over his shoulder. We can get out of here. People,

2567
02:42:53.760 --> 02:42:57.239
let's go. But Horton's kind of being a Debbie downer

2568
02:42:57.360 --> 02:43:01.479
with good reason. We still got those what did you

2569
02:43:01.559 --> 02:43:05.840
call them, bailey goobers. I tell him I march right

2570
02:43:05.879 --> 02:43:08.879
inside and go right to the locked pantry door. We're

2571
02:43:08.920 --> 02:43:11.479
getting out of here, you little goobers. I mean it,

2572
02:43:11.840 --> 02:43:15.000
crampis is almost in here. Last chance you don't come

2573
02:43:15.239 --> 02:43:18.280
you can send us all postcards from Crampis's layer each

2574
02:43:18.360 --> 02:43:22.000
and every Christmas, of course, butch has to talk in

2575
02:43:22.079 --> 02:43:27.200
that stupid idiotic voice. Oh okay, then his two friends

2576
02:43:27.239 --> 02:43:32.120
are making their stupid idiotic noises again. Chapman quickly taps

2577
02:43:32.200 --> 02:43:34.879
my shoulder. We gotta go, Bailey. A few more hits,

2578
02:43:34.920 --> 02:43:38.559
and Crampis is coming in again. Those idiots won't stop

2579
02:43:38.639 --> 02:43:43.319
with their stupid noises. Okay, goobers, we're leaving. I tell

2580
02:43:43.360 --> 02:43:48.360
them one last time, goodbye forever. Chapman and Horton and

2581
02:43:48.440 --> 02:43:50.799
I are the last ones out. Chapman and I are

2582
02:43:50.920 --> 02:43:54.239
just sliding the back door shut when Crampis finally comes

2583
02:43:54.319 --> 02:43:57.799
through the other one. She's really mad and her eyes

2584
02:43:58.000 --> 02:44:01.440
are glowing red hot. Come on, we gotta get out

2585
02:44:01.479 --> 02:44:05.159
of here, Chunker calls out. Suddenly, those little goobers burst

2586
02:44:05.239 --> 02:44:08.520
out of the pantry, screaming their brains out. Guess they

2587
02:44:08.600 --> 02:44:11.639
finally realized we weren't stooping to their level. After all,

2588
02:44:12.079 --> 02:44:13.760
they can't get out through the back door and get

2589
02:44:13.799 --> 02:44:17.040
on the bus fast enough. Crampis snarls and points her

2590
02:44:17.120 --> 02:44:20.120
staff with some snow globe on it at us. You

2591
02:44:20.399 --> 02:44:24.600
truly underestimate my power. I shall have those naughty boys.

2592
02:44:25.000 --> 02:44:28.840
I shall have you all. I barely comprehend things when

2593
02:44:28.920 --> 02:44:31.719
Crampis is almost on me. I shriek when I feel

2594
02:44:31.760 --> 02:44:34.760
myself being lifted off my feet and am draping over

2595
02:44:34.840 --> 02:44:38.639
Chapman's shoulder. He's literally carrying me in a fireman's carry

2596
02:44:38.719 --> 02:44:43.559
out the back door closet. Chunker, he yells, Chunker quickly

2597
02:44:43.639 --> 02:44:47.040
slides the back door shut. Then I feel Chapman shaking me.

2598
02:44:47.520 --> 02:44:51.639
Hey you okay, Bailey. I quickly look around and see

2599
02:44:51.680 --> 02:44:55.000
I'm on a very crowded bus. Mayor Parkhurst is pulling

2600
02:44:55.040 --> 02:44:57.440
away from the back door and driving across the parking

2601
02:44:57.479 --> 02:45:00.399
lot to get us to the road. Look back at

2602
02:45:00.479 --> 02:45:05.440
Chapman and nod quickly. Yeah, I'm okay, I'm I'm sorry.

2603
02:45:05.520 --> 02:45:08.680
I really thought Crampus had me. That's how close she got.

2604
02:45:09.760 --> 02:45:13.639
Thank you for saving me. Chapman nods back. We're getting

2605
02:45:13.639 --> 02:45:17.520
out of here. Go faster, stupid, Butch tells the Mayor.

2606
02:45:18.120 --> 02:45:21.200
Chapman grabs him and plants him in a seat. Fact check.

2607
02:45:21.479 --> 02:45:24.079
The roads are dangerous out here right now. One wrong

2608
02:45:24.200 --> 02:45:27.040
move and we'll turn onto our side. Where would we

2609
02:45:27.120 --> 02:45:31.159
go then? Again? Butch makes with the dorky noises. He

2610
02:45:31.319 --> 02:45:33.840
quickly shuts up when Chapman gives him a mean look.

2611
02:45:34.639 --> 02:45:38.479
At last, Mayor Parkers pulls out onto the road. Then

2612
02:45:38.520 --> 02:45:40.840
I remember I have my smartphone and pull it out.

2613
02:45:41.959 --> 02:45:46.799
Ah no, I mutter, no signal. The storm must have

2614
02:45:46.879 --> 02:45:50.000
knocked out the cell towers. I can't text Mouse and

2615
02:45:50.040 --> 02:45:53.319
Warner to stay away from the orphanage. Suddenly, Horton's got

2616
02:45:53.399 --> 02:45:57.159
this weird look on his face. What the He scurries

2617
02:45:57.200 --> 02:45:59.120
to the back of the bus and looks out the window.

2618
02:45:59.840 --> 02:46:04.079
Uh uh, guys, we have a huge problem. The other

2619
02:46:04.200 --> 02:46:07.159
kids who see what Horton's seeing are screaming. Now. Mona

2620
02:46:07.280 --> 02:46:10.280
quickly comes up behind him. Then she turns to look

2621
02:46:10.319 --> 02:46:13.600
our way. He's right, Crampis has a sleigh and some

2622
02:46:14.200 --> 02:46:18.280
zombie looking reindeer pulling it. I can't drive any faster,

2623
02:46:18.799 --> 02:46:21.840
Mayor Parkhurst groans, I'm barely keeping this bus on the

2624
02:46:21.920 --> 02:46:24.840
road as it is. When the goobers start doing their

2625
02:46:24.920 --> 02:46:28.680
stupid stuff again, I quickly say maybe we should take

2626
02:46:28.760 --> 02:46:31.520
these three and throw them out the back. I'll bet

2627
02:46:31.600 --> 02:46:35.879
Crampis would finally leave us alone. That definitely shut those

2628
02:46:35.959 --> 02:46:40.399
goobers up. And I mean fast. This road ends up ahead.

2629
02:46:40.399 --> 02:46:44.079
Eluise missus. Gibson mourns her. You'll have to turn the bus.

2630
02:46:45.000 --> 02:46:48.959
I'm aware of that, Emma. The mayor quickly replies, hang on.

2631
02:46:50.120 --> 02:46:52.600
When we reach the intersection where this road ends, Mayor

2632
02:46:52.680 --> 02:46:56.280
Parkhurst has to try and turn. Unfortunately, the roads are

2633
02:46:56.319 --> 02:46:58.440
too snow covered for her to make the turn at

2634
02:46:58.479 --> 02:47:01.440
the speed she's driving. We end up going through the

2635
02:47:01.479 --> 02:47:04.600
intersection and over the curb. The Mayor hits the gas

2636
02:47:04.719 --> 02:47:08.120
and drives right across the open area. Do you know

2637
02:47:08.200 --> 02:47:11.879
where you're going? I ask her, little lady, I'm the

2638
02:47:11.959 --> 02:47:15.559
mayor of Pendleton, she replies, I know this village like

2639
02:47:15.639 --> 02:47:18.239
I know my own house. Don't worry. I don't plan

2640
02:47:18.360 --> 02:47:20.440
on getting us caught. You want to get back to

2641
02:47:20.520 --> 02:47:22.559
your parents in Strickfield, and I want to get back

2642
02:47:22.559 --> 02:47:27.079
to my husband and my kids. Hang on, look, Chunker yells,

2643
02:47:27.120 --> 02:47:30.600
pointing straight ahead. The mayor gasps when Crampis's sleigh and

2644
02:47:30.719 --> 02:47:33.760
zombie reindeer pull across the way to block us. The

2645
02:47:33.879 --> 02:47:36.879
Mayor's still keeping her lead foot on the gas. I

2646
02:47:37.000 --> 02:47:39.479
get it. Trying to stop the bus might cause us

2647
02:47:39.520 --> 02:47:42.239
to turn sharply and make us flip onto one side.

2648
02:47:42.959 --> 02:47:45.000
On the other hand, Crampis is going to have to

2649
02:47:45.120 --> 02:47:50.319
move or be moved or not. Crampis hops off the

2650
02:47:50.399 --> 02:47:53.479
sleigh and quickly stops the bus dead in its tracks.

2651
02:47:54.040 --> 02:47:56.159
Before any of us can think of what to do next,

2652
02:47:56.680 --> 02:47:59.319
Crampis pulls off the hood like it's a cardboard top.

2653
02:48:00.120 --> 02:48:03.079
Then she reaches in and rips the huge motor clean

2654
02:48:03.159 --> 02:48:05.479
out so she can toss it over her shoulder like

2655
02:48:05.520 --> 02:48:10.000
an empty soda can. End of the road, everybody out,

2656
02:48:10.680 --> 02:48:13.920
Crampis jeers. She walks to the bus doors and rips

2657
02:48:13.959 --> 02:48:16.559
them off. She looks in and points right at Butch.

2658
02:48:17.239 --> 02:48:21.200
You belong to me, you little naughty. Then Crampis sees

2659
02:48:21.239 --> 02:48:24.159
the bus as getting more and more empty, turns out.

2660
02:48:24.200 --> 02:48:26.760
Horton open the emergency door in the back is Mona

2661
02:48:26.840 --> 02:48:29.920
and missus Gibson got everybody to go out. Now all

2662
02:48:29.959 --> 02:48:33.600
the kids are running for their lives. No, I shall

2663
02:48:33.639 --> 02:48:38.200
not be robbed of my prizes, Crampis declares. Suddenly, Crampis

2664
02:48:38.319 --> 02:48:40.959
drops her staff and walks to tip the bus onto

2665
02:48:41.040 --> 02:48:44.399
its left side. I have a gut feeling about that staff.

2666
02:48:44.959 --> 02:48:48.360
Without even thinking of whatever repercussions may result, I dive

2667
02:48:48.479 --> 02:48:50.319
right out of the bus entrance and hit the snow.

2668
02:48:51.200 --> 02:48:54.559
Then I get up and grab Crampis's staff. I just

2669
02:48:54.680 --> 02:48:58.319
turn in a direction and run for all I'm worth,

2670
02:48:59.000 --> 02:49:03.440
you dare. Crampis roars so loudly that the force actually

2671
02:49:03.520 --> 02:49:06.879
knocks me down. I quickly get back up, still holding

2672
02:49:06.959 --> 02:49:11.719
the staff. You want those goobers or me, Crampis. Crampis

2673
02:49:11.799 --> 02:49:14.959
comes after me. Now give me my staff, you little

2674
02:49:15.079 --> 02:49:18.159
naughty I shall have your soul for this. Bailey downs.

2675
02:49:18.959 --> 02:49:21.360
I'm still holding onto the staff. When I turn and

2676
02:49:21.479 --> 02:49:25.479
run again, I hear Crampis roaring behind me. The next

2677
02:49:25.559 --> 02:49:27.879
thing I know, I get clipped and I'm being shoved

2678
02:49:27.920 --> 02:49:31.799
into the snow face first. Crampis is incredibly strong as

2679
02:49:31.840 --> 02:49:34.319
she holds me down while trying to take her staff back.

2680
02:49:35.159 --> 02:49:40.639
Let go, she demands, no, I yell back. Suddenly Crampis

2681
02:49:40.719 --> 02:49:42.959
lifts me right off the ground and slams me onto

2682
02:49:43.000 --> 02:49:45.680
my back. I groan when I feel the wind get

2683
02:49:45.760 --> 02:49:49.360
knocked out of me. I can't move. Just as Crampis

2684
02:49:49.440 --> 02:49:52.200
grabs her staff, she gets taken down for the second

2685
02:49:52.280 --> 02:49:55.760
time today by Chunker. He quickly gets off her and

2686
02:49:55.840 --> 02:49:58.799
grabs the staff. Then I feel Chapman lifting me up

2687
02:49:58.840 --> 02:50:03.479
into a fireman's carry. Let's go, Chunker. Chapman yells, I'm going.

2688
02:50:03.559 --> 02:50:07.120
I'm going. He yells back. Chapman's running with me like

2689
02:50:07.239 --> 02:50:09.760
I'm a pillow. I know he works out like Chunker,

2690
02:50:09.840 --> 02:50:12.920
but he doesn't look as strong as Carter Cross. Yeah,

2691
02:50:12.959 --> 02:50:17.200
I ain't complaining. He got me far away from Crampis. Man,

2692
02:50:17.280 --> 02:50:21.360
it's really freezing out here. I hear Chunker groan. You think,

2693
02:50:21.879 --> 02:50:25.840
Chapman returns, Just keep running. You're gonna be okay, Bailey.

2694
02:50:26.760 --> 02:50:29.319
Then I'm starting to feel I can move again as

2695
02:50:29.360 --> 02:50:32.559
I'm getting my wind back. The guys managed to make

2696
02:50:32.600 --> 02:50:35.760
it to a nearby building and move by the loading docks.

2697
02:50:36.440 --> 02:50:39.040
You can put me down now, Chapman. I tell him,

2698
02:50:39.680 --> 02:50:46.200
I'm okay. Chapman, does you sure you're okay? I nod, Yeah,

2699
02:50:46.319 --> 02:50:49.280
I'm fine. Now what do we do with this thing?

2700
02:50:49.600 --> 02:50:52.879
Chunker asked me. You went after it for a reason, Bailey,

2701
02:50:53.559 --> 02:50:57.399
Chapman gets it. I'm thinking without this, Crampis doesn't have

2702
02:50:57.520 --> 02:51:00.559
any power. You're right, Chapman, that is what I think.

2703
02:51:00.879 --> 02:51:03.959
I agree. Crampis will come for us before she goes

2704
02:51:04.040 --> 02:51:08.879
after the others. Even those goobers suddenly Crampis drops right

2705
02:51:08.959 --> 02:51:12.799
down in front of us. I'll take that now. I

2706
02:51:13.000 --> 02:51:16.319
leap at Crampis and let her catch me. Run, Chunker Run.

2707
02:51:17.120 --> 02:51:20.159
Chapman and Chunker both turn and run. I hold onto

2708
02:51:20.200 --> 02:51:23.120
Crampis's face, hoping to blind her so she can't see

2709
02:51:23.120 --> 02:51:26.760
where the guys ran off to. Crampis eventually proves too

2710
02:51:26.879 --> 02:51:29.719
strong and grabs hold of me. She lifts me high

2711
02:51:29.760 --> 02:51:33.000
into the air and throws me really far. I land

2712
02:51:33.079 --> 02:51:35.680
on snowy ground and feel the wind get knocked out

2713
02:51:35.719 --> 02:51:39.360
of me again. No, I can't move.

2714
02:51:40.959 --> 02:51:45.399
More scares to come weekly spooky, We'll be right back.

2715
02:51:48.200 --> 02:51:51.840
But I groan and grit my teeth. I won't let

2716
02:51:51.959 --> 02:51:56.280
Crampis win. I push to sit up with all the

2717
02:51:56.399 --> 02:52:00.719
determination I can muster. Then I feel myself finally sitting up.

2718
02:52:01.479 --> 02:52:04.000
I use more will power and force myself to get

2719
02:52:04.040 --> 02:52:07.120
to my feet. I fall to my knees, but I

2720
02:52:07.280 --> 02:52:10.879
force myself to stand again. I can only manage short

2721
02:52:10.959 --> 02:52:14.600
trots as I'm trying to run. Before long, I have

2722
02:52:14.760 --> 02:52:17.920
my wind back again, and I run to find Crampis.

2723
02:52:18.760 --> 02:52:21.239
When I get back to the loading docks, I see

2724
02:52:21.319 --> 02:52:25.120
the cloven hoof prints and know where to follow. Soon.

2725
02:52:25.239 --> 02:52:28.360
I see she's caught up to Chunker and Chapman. She's

2726
02:52:28.399 --> 02:52:30.959
about to take the staff away from Chunker when I

2727
02:52:31.120 --> 02:52:34.879
run to them and snatch it up myself. Na, Na

2728
02:52:35.200 --> 02:52:38.680
can't catch me. I jeer at Crampis. I know I

2729
02:52:38.760 --> 02:52:41.760
can't outrun that monster. If she easily caught up to

2730
02:52:41.840 --> 02:52:44.879
me first, then the guys, she'll catch up to me again.

2731
02:52:45.520 --> 02:52:48.639
I have one last ditch idea I can try. I'm

2732
02:52:48.719 --> 02:52:51.959
scared for my life, but I'm also determined. I never

2733
02:52:52.079 --> 02:52:56.000
forgot what happened on Halloween night when Bloody Mary showed

2734
02:52:56.120 --> 02:53:01.079
up to save us from Abigail Tomlin. Just seeing that

2735
02:53:01.319 --> 02:53:04.239
made me want to be a better person. I stop

2736
02:53:04.440 --> 02:53:07.479
trying to be more like Ariel. I've been trying so

2737
02:53:07.680 --> 02:53:11.600
hard to be nice to others. Well, now's my big

2738
02:53:11.760 --> 02:53:15.079
chance to really do some good. I can keep Crampis

2739
02:53:15.159 --> 02:53:18.000
here with me and make sure she doesn't get the others.

2740
02:53:18.639 --> 02:53:21.600
What do you think you're doing, child? Give me back

2741
02:53:21.680 --> 02:53:23.920
my staff, or I shall rip it from your hands,

2742
02:53:24.559 --> 02:53:28.479
along with your very soul. I tighten my hands on

2743
02:53:28.559 --> 02:53:32.639
the staff. You can't have it. Really, all of this

2744
02:53:32.959 --> 02:53:36.319
because of three rotten little kids who don't know any better.

2745
02:53:36.680 --> 02:53:39.440
Give me a break. We've all done stupid things in

2746
02:53:39.520 --> 02:53:42.360
our lives. I know I have, you know what. I

2747
02:53:42.520 --> 02:53:45.719
may be doing something really stupid right now, but I'm

2748
02:53:45.840 --> 02:53:49.479
doing it. I feel my anger. Now you ain't getting

2749
02:53:49.520 --> 02:53:53.639
this staff back, Helga. Crampis roars at me and knocks

2750
02:53:53.719 --> 02:53:57.159
me down again. Then I feel myself being lifted up

2751
02:53:57.200 --> 02:54:00.840
along with the staff. Now I'm looking Crampis right in

2752
02:54:00.920 --> 02:54:03.440
the face as I'm hanging off the staff like a

2753
02:54:03.760 --> 02:54:07.840
pull bar at a gym. You are mine, Bailey Downs.

2754
02:54:08.120 --> 02:54:12.559
You shall never return to your family again. I growl

2755
02:54:12.680 --> 02:54:15.600
with anger and determination as I hold onto the staff

2756
02:54:15.760 --> 02:54:18.360
and push my feet to kick off her stomach. Then

2757
02:54:18.440 --> 02:54:20.799
I come back into her, while still holding the staff

2758
02:54:21.040 --> 02:54:23.360
and give her a kick real hard in the gut.

2759
02:54:24.000 --> 02:54:27.440
She's momentarily stunned, but she drops me and the staff.

2760
02:54:28.159 --> 02:54:31.079
I pick myself up and hold onto that staff tight.

2761
02:54:31.799 --> 02:54:34.440
Crampis comes for me again, but I lash out and

2762
02:54:34.559 --> 02:54:37.200
hit her with the snow globe. I can't believe how

2763
02:54:37.319 --> 02:54:40.639
fast Crampis goes down. Chapman and I were on the

2764
02:54:40.680 --> 02:54:44.719
same page. This snow globe is the source of Crampis's power.

2765
02:54:45.319 --> 02:54:48.799
Without it, she can be beaten. When Crampis gets up again.

2766
02:54:48.920 --> 02:54:52.280
I step up to bat and swing. I connect with

2767
02:54:52.360 --> 02:54:56.000
Crampis again and knock her down fast. As she's getting

2768
02:54:56.079 --> 02:54:59.600
back up, Chunker tackles her one more time. He gets

2769
02:54:59.680 --> 02:55:02.920
up and gets away from her. When Crampis gets up again,

2770
02:55:03.079 --> 02:55:06.559
this time Chapman tackles her. I know we can't just

2771
02:55:06.719 --> 02:55:10.479
keep hitting her. Then I have an idea. I move

2772
02:55:10.559 --> 02:55:12.520
to the side of the building and swing the snow

2773
02:55:12.559 --> 02:55:15.360
globe to try and shatter it. I swing with all

2774
02:55:15.479 --> 02:55:19.840
my strength again and again, but the globe just will

2775
02:55:20.280 --> 02:55:24.000
not shatter. I scream at the top of my lungs

2776
02:55:24.159 --> 02:55:29.000
and hit the building one more time. Yes, okay, I

2777
02:55:29.120 --> 02:55:31.360
still couldn't shatter the snow globe, but I made it

2778
02:55:31.440 --> 02:55:35.399
come off the wooden staff. I quickly pick it up. Think, Bailey,

2779
02:55:35.559 --> 02:55:40.319
Think what can I do to stop Crampis? Okay, what

2780
02:55:40.399 --> 02:55:44.120
would mouse do? Of course, I'll just think outside the

2781
02:55:44.200 --> 02:55:47.559
box here. And then I have an idea. I turn

2782
02:55:47.639 --> 02:55:50.200
the snow globe and look at the Crampis figure sitting

2783
02:55:50.239 --> 02:55:55.079
on its throne. Its eyes are glowing red hot. Take me,

2784
02:55:55.879 --> 02:55:58.639
I tell it. I'll give myself to save the others.

2785
02:55:58.959 --> 02:56:02.200
Take me. I know I'm flawed and weak. I know

2786
02:56:02.319 --> 02:56:04.319
I've been a bad person and was mean to others

2787
02:56:04.399 --> 02:56:08.120
at school, but I've been trying to do right. Take me,

2788
02:56:08.799 --> 02:56:11.440
Take my soul, if you've gotta have one, but I'm

2789
02:56:11.479 --> 02:56:14.799
begging you to let the others go. Suddenly, the snow

2790
02:56:14.879 --> 02:56:21.399
globe begins to glow brightly. Take me. I hold onto

2791
02:56:21.440 --> 02:56:25.959
the globe tightly as the light illuminates the entire area. Suddenly,

2792
02:56:26.040 --> 02:56:30.440
the very bright light is all I can see. I

2793
02:56:30.520 --> 02:56:33.280
don't know where I am now, but I still won't

2794
02:56:33.360 --> 02:56:36.120
let go of the crampis snow glow. I can even

2795
02:56:36.200 --> 02:56:41.600
feel the light shooting out of my own eyes. Take me,

2796
02:56:42.600 --> 02:56:48.000
I say weakly, and then the light dims and slowly

2797
02:56:48.159 --> 02:56:52.200
turns to darkness. If this is truly the end for me,

2798
02:56:53.120 --> 02:56:55.319
then I pray that if there is a higher power

2799
02:56:55.399 --> 02:56:58.879
I have to answer to that I'll be judged fairly.

2800
02:57:00.719 --> 02:57:04.399
I gave it my best shot in life. I just

2801
02:57:04.559 --> 02:57:09.159
hope and pray beyond all hope that the others are saved.

2802
02:57:11.120 --> 02:57:14.959
You're not safe yet, Weekly Spooky will be right back.

2803
02:57:27.079 --> 02:57:35.079
Epilogue perspective. Bailey downs Mouse can't believe the story I'm

2804
02:57:35.120 --> 02:57:40.520
telling everybody. As she's driving us back to Strickfield. Wow,

2805
02:57:41.559 --> 02:57:46.200
you really met up with Crampis, She gawks. She's telling

2806
02:57:46.280 --> 02:57:50.600
the truth, Mattie Horton says, backing me up. Yeah, why

2807
02:57:50.639 --> 02:57:55.159
would we lie about something like that? Chunker adds, never

2808
02:57:55.239 --> 02:57:59.159
said you guys did, Mouse replies, and I wouldn't call

2809
02:57:59.239 --> 02:58:01.520
you a liar based not after our meeting up with

2810
02:58:01.840 --> 02:58:06.559
Abigail Tomlin on Halloween and Bloody Mary back in September

2811
02:58:06.639 --> 02:58:11.280
at Ariel Mirror's sleepover. Mona adds. I finished the story

2812
02:58:11.360 --> 02:58:14.600
with a little help from Chapman and Chunker. Turns out,

2813
02:58:14.639 --> 02:58:18.440
after I passed out, the disastrous winter weather suddenly just

2814
02:58:19.639 --> 02:58:23.879
stop dead. When Mayor Parkhurst and missus Gibson found us,

2815
02:58:24.559 --> 02:58:27.399
they found me unconscious with the Crampist snow globe in

2816
02:58:27.520 --> 02:58:32.120
my hands. Not too far away, they found Helga Stanlein

2817
02:58:32.280 --> 02:58:37.040
back to normal and lying in the snow. Mayor Parkhurst

2818
02:58:37.079 --> 02:58:41.440
took care of everything since cell signal was miraculously restored.

2819
02:58:42.479 --> 02:58:45.120
Only thing I can figure was that Crampis got pulled

2820
02:58:45.120 --> 02:58:49.280
out of Helga and back into the snow globe. Also,

2821
02:58:49.520 --> 02:58:52.520
the night that happened during the afternoon ended up becoming

2822
02:58:53.520 --> 02:58:57.479
daylight again. We ended up getting the orphanage cleaned up

2823
02:58:57.559 --> 02:59:01.479
and still having the Christmas celebration. It was a little late,

2824
02:59:01.680 --> 02:59:06.239
but better late than never. As for the three Goobers,

2825
02:59:07.079 --> 02:59:10.600
they were given a choice. Either they could help clean

2826
02:59:10.680 --> 02:59:14.280
up or they could be shipped off to another orphanage.

2827
02:59:15.559 --> 02:59:18.559
Both Mayor Parkhurst and Missus Gibson put their feet down

2828
02:59:18.600 --> 02:59:22.360
on them. The Goobers realized they had it better at

2829
02:59:22.399 --> 02:59:26.440
Home Sweet Home and helped clean up. And you know what,

2830
02:59:27.559 --> 02:59:30.920
they actually did a good job. They were even good

2831
02:59:31.000 --> 02:59:35.040
boys when potential parents came to Home Sweet Home looking

2832
02:59:35.159 --> 02:59:39.000
to adopt, Butch's little gang may end up being broken up.

2833
02:59:39.760 --> 02:59:42.479
Both Joe and Stan are likely going to be adopted.

2834
02:59:43.639 --> 02:59:45.600
I think the two of them know they're better off

2835
02:59:45.680 --> 02:59:49.000
having parents in a real home than staying in the

2836
02:59:49.120 --> 02:59:53.879
orphanage system. Don't get me wrong, Home Sweet Home wasn't

2837
02:59:53.879 --> 02:59:57.079
a bad place to be again. I was glad I

2838
02:59:57.159 --> 02:59:59.920
had a roof over my head, good food to eat,

2839
03:00:01.319 --> 03:00:05.559
and people who really cared about us. Deep down, I'm

2840
03:00:05.680 --> 03:00:07.760
very thankful for the man and woman who came to

2841
03:00:07.840 --> 03:00:12.639
Home Sweet Home and adopted me. I'm hoping Joe and

2842
03:00:12.760 --> 03:00:15.799
Stan will think so too when they go to their

2843
03:00:15.840 --> 03:00:21.520
new homes with their new parents. And here's the really

2844
03:00:21.639 --> 03:00:25.440
messed up part about all of this. That Crampis snow

2845
03:00:25.520 --> 03:00:29.319
Globe just disappeared. We looked all over the Orphanage for it,

2846
03:00:30.000 --> 03:00:32.760
but it was nowhere to be found. We had to

2847
03:00:32.799 --> 03:00:35.120
give it up for lost and head back to Strickfield

2848
03:00:35.159 --> 03:00:40.479
without it. This Saturday turned out to be quite the eventful.

2849
03:00:40.520 --> 03:00:44.680
One mouse ended up missing out on Crampis, but it

2850
03:00:44.840 --> 03:00:48.159
was for the best. I tried and tried to remember

2851
03:00:48.239 --> 03:00:51.760
what I could before I passed out, but there wasn't

2852
03:00:51.799 --> 03:00:55.159
anything else. Like I said, I was found and brought

2853
03:00:55.239 --> 03:00:58.520
back to the Orphanage. I was revived and everything was

2854
03:00:58.959 --> 03:01:03.879
back to normal again. As for Helga Stanlin, she was

2855
03:01:03.959 --> 03:01:07.360
fired from the Orphanage. She was told on no uncertain

2856
03:01:07.479 --> 03:01:11.760
terms by Missus Gibson to pack up and leave. Helga

2857
03:01:11.840 --> 03:01:16.440
didn't need to be told twice. What's more, those goobers

2858
03:01:16.479 --> 03:01:18.840
even tried to apologize to her for what they did,

2859
03:01:20.000 --> 03:01:23.600
but she wouldn't even acknowledge them. He got to hand

2860
03:01:23.639 --> 03:01:26.399
it to him though. They tried to make things right,

2861
03:01:26.520 --> 03:01:30.559
but Helga wasn't going to be redeemed. On a much

2862
03:01:30.600 --> 03:01:35.799
brighter note, nobody got hurt or killed when it came

2863
03:01:35.879 --> 03:01:38.639
to the big celebration dinner miss Barrett and Mouse prepared.

2864
03:01:39.440 --> 03:01:42.399
It was definitely a nice turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

2865
03:01:43.360 --> 03:01:45.120
I don't think we're going to want to eat anything

2866
03:01:45.200 --> 03:01:50.000
until tomorrow, even Chunker ate good. Turns out, Miss Barrett

2867
03:01:50.040 --> 03:01:52.000
and Mouse went all the way to Denoyer's grill to

2868
03:01:52.040 --> 03:01:57.479
get dessert pies, including Chunker's favorite sweet potato pie. The

2869
03:01:57.600 --> 03:02:00.120
truck that was supposed to deliver the dessert pies to

2870
03:02:00.159 --> 03:02:03.399
the orphanage broke down coming from North Ridgeway, so Miss

2871
03:02:03.479 --> 03:02:07.239
Barrett took Mouse and made their emergency run to Denoyer's

2872
03:02:07.280 --> 03:02:11.680
grill back in Strickfield go figure to end the day,

2873
03:02:12.559 --> 03:02:16.120
Mouse would get us back to Strickfield just fine. I

2874
03:02:16.239 --> 03:02:18.399
can't believe how well she can drive, for all of

2875
03:02:18.520 --> 03:02:21.760
us being in seventh grade. She even managed to put

2876
03:02:21.799 --> 03:02:25.360
the suv right back where it was. From there, we

2877
03:02:25.479 --> 03:02:29.600
got out and set our goodbyes before parting ways. Of course,

2878
03:02:30.200 --> 03:02:33.159
I thanked Mouse again and told her I owed her

2879
03:02:33.239 --> 03:02:38.799
one again. Mouse just waved me off. Nah, we're good, Bailey.

2880
03:02:39.600 --> 03:02:42.159
We did it for a good cause. See you at

2881
03:02:42.200 --> 03:02:47.799
school on Monday. Yeah, have a good one. Mouse. Thanks again,

2882
03:02:49.319 --> 03:02:53.079
Mom and Dad eventually came home. They never did find

2883
03:02:53.120 --> 03:02:57.159
out about our little adventure with the SUV. I hated

2884
03:02:57.239 --> 03:02:59.959
to do it, but I told them a little white

2885
03:03:00.120 --> 03:03:03.239
lie and said Mona and I took an uber and

2886
03:03:03.440 --> 03:03:08.239
that was the end of that. We went through our

2887
03:03:08.319 --> 03:03:10.959
final week of school before we went on Christmas vacation.

2888
03:03:12.040 --> 03:03:17.200
Then we ended up having another adventure just before Christmas Day. Horton, Chapman,

2889
03:03:17.239 --> 03:03:20.239
and Chunker weren't part of this one, but let's just

2890
03:03:20.360 --> 03:03:22.639
say it was another one where we barely made it

2891
03:03:22.760 --> 03:03:26.600
by the skins of our teeth. Of all the things

2892
03:03:26.680 --> 03:03:29.760
that could come and cause trouble for us, it was

2893
03:03:29.799 --> 03:03:32.799
an old school VR video game console that was possessed

2894
03:03:32.840 --> 03:03:36.840
by some really advanced code that came to life. And

2895
03:03:37.000 --> 03:03:40.920
that's all I'm going to say. On that Christmas Day

2896
03:03:41.000 --> 03:03:44.440
finally came, I would have a wonderful dinner with the

2897
03:03:44.520 --> 03:03:48.280
man and woman who adopted me, whom I gladly call

2898
03:03:48.440 --> 03:03:51.559
Mom and Dad. I've been told by my friends that

2899
03:03:51.639 --> 03:03:54.280
our home is a small one, but Mom and Dad

2900
03:03:54.360 --> 03:03:58.040
made more than enough room for me. I excused myself

2901
03:03:58.079 --> 03:04:00.799
from the table and went to my room for a

2902
03:04:00.879 --> 03:04:04.440
little bit. I felt so emotional about my life and

2903
03:04:04.520 --> 03:04:08.959
my adoptive parents. I cried for a little while. I've

2904
03:04:09.000 --> 03:04:11.239
been trying to be the best daughter to my adoptive

2905
03:04:11.319 --> 03:04:14.319
parents that I can be. Believe me when I say

2906
03:04:14.399 --> 03:04:18.559
I'm very thankful for everything I have. That was the

2907
03:04:18.879 --> 03:04:21.840
biggest lesson I took away from the Home Sweet Home,

2908
03:04:21.959 --> 03:04:27.959
orphanage then and now. I finished crying for joy and

2909
03:04:28.120 --> 03:04:31.760
returned to the table. After dinner, we sat down in

2910
03:04:31.840 --> 03:04:35.319
the living room and watched some Hallmark Christmas movies on TV.

2911
03:04:36.520 --> 03:04:39.920
Later on, Mona came over and we hung out. My

2912
03:04:40.079 --> 03:04:43.840
parents never care that Mona comes over. I'm also very

2913
03:04:43.920 --> 03:04:47.879
thankful for Mona. Like I said, she was my first

2914
03:04:47.959 --> 03:04:52.920
real friend that I made since being Bailey Downs. Mom

2915
03:04:53.000 --> 03:04:55.520
and Dad got me wonderful presents like they always do,

2916
03:04:56.040 --> 03:04:59.159
but Mona and my parents continue to be the very

2917
03:04:59.280 --> 03:05:02.600
best gifts that keep on giving. I know I'll always

2918
03:05:02.680 --> 03:05:05.879
have my parents, but when it comes to Mona, I

2919
03:05:06.079 --> 03:05:09.479
truly hope we never lose touch with one another, even

2920
03:05:09.520 --> 03:05:12.399
when we move into adulthood and go our separate ways.

2921
03:05:13.920 --> 03:05:17.760
But I'm overthinking things, ain't I. No, I better stick

2922
03:05:17.799 --> 03:05:20.680
to the here and now. Mona and I are lying

2923
03:05:20.760 --> 03:05:23.440
on my bed and watching a few Christmas horror movies

2924
03:05:23.520 --> 03:05:29.760
together and guess what, right, we're actually watching Crampus. Yeah,

2925
03:05:29.799 --> 03:05:33.760
I know, call us crazy. Afterwards, we watch a Christmas

2926
03:05:33.799 --> 03:05:37.040
horror story again. I already told you we watched this

2927
03:05:37.159 --> 03:05:40.239
one at one of Ariel's Friday night sleepovers earlier this month,

2928
03:05:40.319 --> 03:05:43.559
but Mona and I wanted to see it again. Like

2929
03:05:43.680 --> 03:05:45.559
I said, it's one of the few horror movies where

2930
03:05:45.639 --> 03:05:48.920
the town is the same name as mine, and this

2931
03:05:49.079 --> 03:05:51.600
one does have a few stories about Crampus in it.

2932
03:05:52.600 --> 03:05:55.040
Even though we went through that horrible ordeal with the

2933
03:05:55.120 --> 03:05:58.559
real thing, we're still here and doing the things we

2934
03:05:58.719 --> 03:06:02.399
love with each each other. When it comes to the Home,

2935
03:06:02.479 --> 03:06:06.040
Sweet Home Orphanage, I actually found myself missing that place

2936
03:06:06.079 --> 03:06:09.959
when we left. Missus Gibson and Mayor Parkhurst both asked

2937
03:06:10.040 --> 03:06:12.920
us if we'd consider coming back next holiday season to

2938
03:06:13.000 --> 03:06:17.440
help out for their big celebration. We all promised we would.

2939
03:06:18.440 --> 03:06:20.920
Mouse said she'd even drive us to Pendleton again as

2940
03:06:20.959 --> 03:06:23.079
long as we could get a hold of another car.

2941
03:06:24.559 --> 03:06:27.280
I really am happy and thankful for everyone and everything

2942
03:06:27.360 --> 03:06:30.879
in my life. I love Halloween and Christmas just the

2943
03:06:30.959 --> 03:06:34.239
same and always look forward to celebrating them both even

2944
03:06:34.319 --> 03:06:39.040
if we've got ghosts and demons chasing us down, speaking

2945
03:06:39.120 --> 03:06:41.959
of which I have the feeling this won't be the

2946
03:06:42.079 --> 03:06:44.920
last time we're going to be dealing with such things.

2947
03:06:45.920 --> 03:06:48.520
Mona and I are going to finish Christmas together, enjoy

2948
03:06:48.600 --> 03:06:50.399
the rest of our holiday break with the rest of

2949
03:06:50.440 --> 03:06:54.559
our circle of friends, and then return to school. And

2950
03:06:54.719 --> 03:06:56.760
you just know we're going to be heading into some

2951
03:06:57.360 --> 03:07:01.600
other wild adventures down the road. In other words, we're

2952
03:07:01.680 --> 03:07:06.079
going to be back again in the meantime. Merry Christmas.

2953
03:07:16.000 --> 03:07:25.559
Christmas Arcadia by Rob Fields, December twenty third, Friday Perspective,

2954
03:07:26.159 --> 03:07:30.319
Bailey Downs, Ariel Mirn and I are leaving Strickfield Junior

2955
03:07:30.399 --> 03:07:33.799
High for Christmas vacation two weeks to do whatever we

2956
03:07:33.920 --> 03:07:38.200
feel like doing normally. Mona Abeles is with us, but

2957
03:07:38.399 --> 03:07:41.520
she's homesick with food poisoning from some takeout her and

2958
03:07:41.600 --> 03:07:45.600
her mom got while coming home from North Ridgeway last night.

2959
03:07:46.440 --> 03:07:49.680
I texted Mona a little bit ago. She's feeling better,

2960
03:07:49.840 --> 03:07:52.959
but she's not fully at one hundred percent yet. She's

2961
03:07:53.000 --> 03:07:56.600
thinking maybe tomorrow we can hang again. We only have

2962
03:07:56.760 --> 03:07:59.840
about a two block walk to get to downtown Strickfield.

2963
03:08:00.319 --> 03:08:03.399
We're already seeing other kids from school hanging around at

2964
03:08:03.440 --> 03:08:07.040
different places. It's when we pass Roth's Rings our go

2965
03:08:07.200 --> 03:08:10.559
to place for donuts in Strickfield that we see Madeline

2966
03:08:10.600 --> 03:08:15.520
Donnerly and Carter Cross Inside. Most everybody calls Madeline Mouse

2967
03:08:16.079 --> 03:08:19.239
on account of how short she is, and then there's

2968
03:08:19.319 --> 03:08:24.360
her mousey voice. Ariel suddenly stops and looks inside. You

2969
03:08:24.479 --> 03:08:28.000
see that, Bailey, Really, why do I put up with Mouse?

2970
03:08:28.799 --> 03:08:32.799
I smile Ariel's way just a little. I don't know,

2971
03:08:33.360 --> 03:08:36.239
why do you? I mean, you did tell Mouse she

2972
03:08:36.319 --> 03:08:39.639
could keep coming to our weekly Friday night slumber parties

2973
03:08:39.680 --> 03:08:43.120
at your place. Ariel kind of glances my way with

2974
03:08:43.239 --> 03:08:46.520
a scowl before she looks back at Mouse and Carter again.

2975
03:08:47.440 --> 03:08:52.399
Strickfield Junior High is my school, Bailey, Ariel says, with authority.

2976
03:08:52.959 --> 03:08:56.719
Yet little Mouse Donnerly walks around my school like she

2977
03:08:56.840 --> 03:09:01.719
can do whatever she wants. Before I can reply, Ariel

2978
03:09:01.879 --> 03:09:05.719
moves and marches right into Roth's Rings. I quickly follow

2979
03:09:05.799 --> 03:09:08.799
behind her. We go straight to the arcade that's off

2980
03:09:08.840 --> 03:09:11.639
to the side of the cafe. Mouse is playing the

2981
03:09:11.680 --> 03:09:14.799
new Street Fighter game with Carter. I'm pretty sure you

2982
03:09:14.920 --> 03:09:18.319
can easily get this game on your home consoles. Yet,

2983
03:09:18.959 --> 03:09:22.639
Jerry Roth, the Dean of Strickfield University and owner of

2984
03:09:22.719 --> 03:09:25.959
this place, is able to get full arcade cabinets for

2985
03:09:26.040 --> 03:09:29.760
some of the bigger popular games. Between Roth's Rings here

2986
03:09:30.079 --> 03:09:33.399
and Wilder Hall at Strickfield University, those are the two

2987
03:09:33.520 --> 03:09:36.040
nice arcades that people hang out at with lots of

2988
03:09:36.159 --> 03:09:39.879
games for them to drop their quarters in. Getting back

2989
03:09:39.920 --> 03:09:42.680
to Mouse and Carter, they've got a little basket with

2990
03:09:42.799 --> 03:09:45.479
some doughnuts inside and their drinks on a stand next

2991
03:09:45.520 --> 03:09:48.319
to the game. It looks like Mouse and Carter are

2992
03:09:48.440 --> 03:09:51.959
really locked in on their fight. In the end, Mouse

2993
03:09:52.040 --> 03:09:55.680
ends up beating Carter with her character's super move. Carter

2994
03:09:55.879 --> 03:10:00.680
turns to her, thanks a lot, Madeline. Mouse shrugs, told

2995
03:10:00.760 --> 03:10:03.840
John Burnin hot today. Then she takes a drink of

2996
03:10:03.920 --> 03:10:09.159
her coffee. Yes, Mouse utters when she feels Ariel's standing

2997
03:10:09.239 --> 03:10:12.520
behind her. As always, Mouse is wearing a scarf, and

2998
03:10:12.639 --> 03:10:15.440
to Beret, her voice is just as mousey as her

2999
03:10:15.479 --> 03:10:20.200
older twin cousin Aileen, probably why Ariel started calling her Mouse.

3000
03:10:21.040 --> 03:10:23.959
Soon nearly everybody at our school was calling her that

3001
03:10:25.159 --> 03:10:29.840
I hate you. Ariel tells her her usual greeting for Mouse,

3002
03:10:31.079 --> 03:10:33.159
what you come here? To tell me I ain't invited

3003
03:10:33.200 --> 03:10:37.559
to your parties. No more, Mouse replies. Before Ariel can answer,

3004
03:10:37.719 --> 03:10:40.639
she groans and reaches into her back pocket to pull

3005
03:10:40.680 --> 03:10:44.159
out her smartphone. She then storms away from Mouse and

3006
03:10:44.280 --> 03:10:47.559
heads back outside to take the phone call. That just

3007
03:10:47.680 --> 03:10:51.959
leaves Mouse, Carter and me. Mouse takes another drink of

3008
03:10:52.040 --> 03:10:55.719
her likely premium coffee. I know Roth's Rings is serving

3009
03:10:55.840 --> 03:10:59.040
up death wish Ginger dead for the holidays. Likely what

3010
03:10:59.200 --> 03:11:03.120
she's drinking. Mouse turns to Carter. Want to race again?

3011
03:11:04.079 --> 03:11:07.799
Hugh know I love racing, He replies. Is this all

3012
03:11:07.879 --> 03:11:10.920
you two do after school? I ask them, you just

3013
03:11:11.040 --> 03:11:15.120
come in here and play video games. Mouse shrugs, Nah,

3014
03:11:15.639 --> 03:11:19.360
sometimes we watch movies, but you already know that. Now

3015
03:11:19.440 --> 03:11:22.040
they take their stuff over to the cruise in USA game.

3016
03:11:22.680 --> 03:11:25.280
After putting their stuff on the little table there, they

3017
03:11:25.399 --> 03:11:29.319
dropped their quarters in and start racing. Then Ariel returns,

3018
03:11:30.120 --> 03:11:32.559
you just had to forget your backpack at my house

3019
03:11:32.680 --> 03:11:37.559
last weekend. Mouse, Ariel snaps, My little cousin Stuart found

3020
03:11:37.600 --> 03:11:40.239
your game box inside it when I was babysitting him

3021
03:11:40.280 --> 03:11:43.239
on Monday and hooked it up. He played a bunch

3022
03:11:43.319 --> 03:11:45.840
of the games you had on it. And that was

3023
03:11:45.959 --> 03:11:48.920
my mom on the phone. She saw how Stuart was

3024
03:11:48.959 --> 03:11:50.680
into those games and wants me to go to the

3025
03:11:50.799 --> 03:11:53.120
mall and pick him up one of those game boxes

3026
03:11:53.200 --> 03:11:57.079
for Christmas. Mouse is still playing when she tells Ariel,

3027
03:11:57.840 --> 03:11:59.719
you ain't gonna find one like what I got at

3028
03:11:59.760 --> 03:12:03.360
the mall. I built that game box myself. If you

3029
03:12:03.440 --> 03:12:05.600
want me to build your cousin one for you for Christmas,

3030
03:12:05.639 --> 03:12:07.840
I can do that. All you gotta do is pay

3031
03:12:07.879 --> 03:12:11.159
for the parts. Ariel just looks at Mouse for a

3032
03:12:11.239 --> 03:12:17.239
long moment. Excuse me, what I built that game box myself.

3033
03:12:17.719 --> 03:12:21.559
Mouse repeats. My little console plays every old school game

3034
03:12:21.639 --> 03:12:24.520
out there, from the original Atari twenty six hundred all

3035
03:12:24.559 --> 03:12:27.680
the way up to the previous generations of PlayStation and Xbox.

3036
03:12:28.280 --> 03:12:30.479
I even have lots of real arcade games on it.

3037
03:12:31.000 --> 03:12:33.639
You name it, it's probably on there. If that's what

3038
03:12:33.760 --> 03:12:35.879
your mom wants you to get for your cousin, then

3039
03:12:35.920 --> 03:12:39.879
I can build one for him. Ariel gets frustrated. Why

3040
03:12:39.959 --> 03:12:43.360
can't you be a normal person, Mouse, Why do you

3041
03:12:43.479 --> 03:12:47.639
have to be such a mutant? Mouse starts laughing. Now

3042
03:12:48.280 --> 03:12:52.719
now I'm a mutant. You're killing me here, Ariel. Ariel growls,

3043
03:12:53.120 --> 03:12:56.280
look at you. You're always playing video games, You watch

3044
03:12:56.319 --> 03:12:58.799
horror movies like they're going out of style. You read

3045
03:12:58.920 --> 03:13:01.840
lots of comic book On top of that, you drink

3046
03:13:01.920 --> 03:13:04.520
so much coffee. I mean I could probably put a

3047
03:13:04.600 --> 03:13:06.600
light bulb in each of your ears, put a shade

3048
03:13:06.639 --> 03:13:08.719
over your head, and use you for a lamp in

3049
03:13:08.799 --> 03:13:12.920
my bedroom. Now you're telling me you build game consoles.

3050
03:13:13.840 --> 03:13:17.079
Everybody's got to have hobbies, Mouse says, simply, as Carter

3051
03:13:17.239 --> 03:13:20.639
wins the race, Mouse comes in a very close second.

3052
03:13:21.280 --> 03:13:24.959
Now she turns to Ariel. I'm guessing yours is picking

3053
03:13:25.040 --> 03:13:29.559
on me. I accidentally laugh a little boy. Does Ariel

3054
03:13:29.639 --> 03:13:32.680
give me the stare of death? I hate to admit it,

3055
03:13:32.799 --> 03:13:36.600
but little Mouse is actually pretty funny. Ariel turns back

3056
03:13:36.680 --> 03:13:40.280
to Mouse. Okay, I'll bite. How much will it cost

3057
03:13:40.319 --> 03:13:42.840
for you to build Stewart a little game box like yours?

3058
03:13:43.879 --> 03:13:49.280
About one hundred dollars? Mouse replies, one hundred dollars. Ariel

3059
03:13:49.360 --> 03:13:53.440
cries in surprise. Yep, and that's for everything I gotta

3060
03:13:53.479 --> 03:13:56.479
buy at radio depot to build your cousin a quality unit,

3061
03:13:57.120 --> 03:14:00.360
the parts, the power supply to controllers, and the micro

3062
03:14:00.520 --> 03:14:03.399
SD card to put all the games on. At this point,

3063
03:14:03.479 --> 03:14:05.159
I can build it and get everything to you by

3064
03:14:05.200 --> 03:14:11.120
tomorrow night. AE hundred dollars, Ariel says again, in disbelief.

3065
03:14:12.000 --> 03:14:15.200
One hundred dollars is pretty cheap for all Madeline's giving you. Ariel.

3066
03:14:15.719 --> 03:14:18.680
Carter tells her I bought one from her. It's nice.

3067
03:14:19.600 --> 03:14:24.200
A hundred dollars, she demands of Mouse again, ignoring Carter.

3068
03:14:25.079 --> 03:14:28.479
Mouse shrugs, try finding somebody else that'll build you one

3069
03:14:28.559 --> 03:14:32.120
for that price. I guarantee you said personal charge you more,

3070
03:14:32.520 --> 03:14:34.479
and you probably won't get as good as what I'd

3071
03:14:34.520 --> 03:14:38.719
give you. Ariel looks at me. Now you believe this, Bailey,

3072
03:14:39.079 --> 03:14:43.479
one hundred dollars. She looks back at Mouse. I'll pass.

3073
03:14:44.319 --> 03:14:47.399
Then she points at Carter, and you got ripped off.

3074
03:14:48.200 --> 03:14:50.239
Then she goes to grab his cup with his soda

3075
03:14:50.319 --> 03:14:54.319
in it. Carter stops her. Forget it, Ariel, stop drinking

3076
03:14:54.360 --> 03:14:57.239
my SODA's all the time, and buy your own. Ariel

3077
03:14:57.280 --> 03:15:00.280
gives him a dirty look before looking at Mouse again.

3078
03:15:01.040 --> 03:15:05.879
I'm not paying one hundred dollars. Mouse shrugs. Good luck

3079
03:15:05.959 --> 03:15:10.200
finding a good game box then, and before Christmas. Thinking

3080
03:15:10.239 --> 03:15:13.239
about it, there is a Kiosk selling them at the mall.

3081
03:15:13.399 --> 03:15:18.200
But I'll bet you they're cheap, real cheap. Ariel points

3082
03:15:18.200 --> 03:15:21.639
at Mouse. If they're selling them cheaper than what you're offering,

3083
03:15:22.159 --> 03:15:26.639
I'll gladly take it. Madeline's saying the quality is cheap,

3084
03:15:27.079 --> 03:15:30.319
Carter tells Ariel, and you won't even get close to

3085
03:15:30.360 --> 03:15:32.840
the number of retro games we got on our boxes.

3086
03:15:33.319 --> 03:15:37.120
Mouse ads, those little mini knockoffs of the older systems

3087
03:15:37.159 --> 03:15:40.159
are just playing bad. They can't even handle the higher

3088
03:15:40.280 --> 03:15:43.680
end console games. That's why I built my own. You

3089
03:15:43.799 --> 03:15:47.520
sure you won't reconsider, Ariel. Ariel turns away from them.

3090
03:15:48.040 --> 03:15:51.319
Come on, Bailey, let's go. Then she turns back to

3091
03:15:51.440 --> 03:15:54.440
Mouse and points at her. And don't you dare be

3092
03:15:54.559 --> 03:15:57.920
late to the slumber party again like you were last week.

3093
03:15:58.639 --> 03:16:02.719
Mouse shrugs again like last Friday. You never said what

3094
03:16:02.879 --> 03:16:08.440
time seven o'clock? Ariel groans. Then she points to Carter.

3095
03:16:09.040 --> 03:16:14.200
You aren't invited. Carter smirks and shrugs himself. Wouldn't come

3096
03:16:14.239 --> 03:16:18.040
if you didn't invite me, your highness. I'll be hanging

3097
03:16:18.079 --> 03:16:21.840
with the guys anyway, meaning Bill Chapman, Richie Horton, and

3098
03:16:21.920 --> 03:16:26.120
Brian Chunk. Ariel points to them. I hate you both,

3099
03:16:27.159 --> 03:16:30.680
see you soon, Mouse calls out behind us as we

3100
03:16:30.840 --> 03:16:39.840
turn and leave the donut shop. Perspective Ariel Mirn. Bailey

3101
03:16:39.879 --> 03:16:42.159
and I took a taxi to come to Strickfield Town

3102
03:16:42.239 --> 03:16:45.440
Center mall. Bailey said it would probably be a waste

3103
03:16:45.479 --> 03:16:49.639
of time coming here. Seriously, Mouse wants one hundred dollars

3104
03:16:49.719 --> 03:16:52.360
from me to build Steward a game box like hers.

3105
03:16:53.040 --> 03:16:55.479
What does she take me for. We may be in

3106
03:16:55.559 --> 03:16:59.760
every class at Strickfield Junior High together, but I'm a mirn.

3107
03:17:00.440 --> 03:17:04.159
We know when we're being taken. On the other hand,

3108
03:17:04.920 --> 03:17:07.200
we know when to be the takers, if you catch

3109
03:17:07.280 --> 03:17:11.079
my drift. Getting back to now, Bailey and I walk

3110
03:17:11.159 --> 03:17:14.479
to the mall and eventually go into Best Buy. Of course,

3111
03:17:14.559 --> 03:17:17.280
they're not selling any kind of game box like what

3112
03:17:17.440 --> 03:17:21.760
Mouse has, just the usual current systems. I call over

3113
03:17:21.879 --> 03:17:25.799
one of the employees to wait on me five hundred

3114
03:17:26.000 --> 03:17:30.120
dollars for a new gaming console, I growl as we

3115
03:17:30.280 --> 03:17:32.760
leave the store and head back out into the main mall.

3116
03:17:33.719 --> 03:17:39.600
That's just highway robbery, Bailey, you can afford it, she says, simply.

3117
03:17:40.239 --> 03:17:42.399
I hate it when Bailey feels like she has to

3118
03:17:42.479 --> 03:17:47.479
contradict me. That's not the point. I grumble. I'm telling

3119
03:17:47.559 --> 03:17:51.159
you it's all a big racket. First, you pay extortionist

3120
03:17:51.239 --> 03:17:54.120
money for a console, and did you see how much

3121
03:17:54.159 --> 03:17:58.120
the hottest games are seventy dollars? You also have to

3122
03:17:58.159 --> 03:18:00.239
buy an extra controller if you want to play with

3123
03:18:00.360 --> 03:18:03.520
another person at your house on one of those systems.

3124
03:18:03.680 --> 03:18:06.600
You have to keep buying batteries for the controllers. Then

3125
03:18:06.680 --> 03:18:08.639
you have to pay a monthly fee just to play

3126
03:18:08.680 --> 03:18:12.200
against people online. And you heard the Best Buy guy

3127
03:18:12.600 --> 03:18:16.399
talk about the DLC and micro transactions and all that

3128
03:18:16.479 --> 03:18:19.159
other stuff on all the other games. Tell me that's

3129
03:18:19.239 --> 03:18:23.799
not a racket. Bailey smiles a little. Maybe one hundred

3130
03:18:23.840 --> 03:18:26.239
dollars for Mouse's game box ain't such a bad deal,

3131
03:18:26.319 --> 03:18:29.200
after all, you've heard everything she'll give you for that.

3132
03:18:30.120 --> 03:18:32.440
Like she said, you're just giving her the money to

3133
03:18:32.520 --> 03:18:36.319
buy everything to build it. I remember the Kiosk selling

3134
03:18:36.399 --> 03:18:39.920
the cheap mini knockoffs of the old Nintendo Entertainment System,

3135
03:18:40.280 --> 03:18:43.520
and go check it out for forty dollars. It comes

3136
03:18:43.559 --> 03:18:47.959
with the unit, a power supply, two wired nes style controllers,

3137
03:18:48.239 --> 03:18:50.639
and a bunch of games on a micro SD card.

3138
03:18:51.159 --> 03:18:53.879
As I sample a few games, I remember what Mouse

3139
03:18:53.920 --> 03:18:56.840
said about this thing. She wasn't kidding when she said

3140
03:18:56.920 --> 03:18:59.879
this piece of junk was cheap. The games on it

3141
03:19:00.079 --> 03:19:03.280
are just horrible and look like they were cut and

3142
03:19:03.440 --> 03:19:07.159
pasted together. After we walk away from the kiosk, I

3143
03:19:07.280 --> 03:19:10.520
tighten my fists and growl at Bailey as she shrugs

3144
03:19:10.600 --> 03:19:13.879
and smirks a little. Then I almost miss seeing the

3145
03:19:14.000 --> 03:19:15.840
light at the far end of one of the less

3146
03:19:16.040 --> 03:19:19.479
used wings in the mall. I think there's a store

3147
03:19:19.559 --> 03:19:23.399
down there. Bailey and I head to the light. Even

3148
03:19:23.479 --> 03:19:25.680
though the rest of the mall is packed with stores,

3149
03:19:26.000 --> 03:19:28.879
what with it being the holidays, there's still this one

3150
03:19:29.000 --> 03:19:31.520
wing that nobody seems to want to set up shopping.

3151
03:19:32.079 --> 03:19:35.879
It never fails. Just the same, my curiosity gets the

3152
03:19:35.920 --> 03:19:38.360
better of me. I do want to see who's down here.

3153
03:19:39.239 --> 03:19:44.399
We soon see a single store called Tinkers, which looks

3154
03:19:44.479 --> 03:19:50.319
like some kind of an oddity store. I glance over

3155
03:19:50.399 --> 03:19:53.440
at Bailey. It can't hurt to check it out. If

3156
03:19:53.479 --> 03:19:55.799
we don't find anything in this place, I'll text Mouse

3157
03:19:55.840 --> 03:19:58.799
and tell her I'll buy a game box from her.

3158
03:19:59.600 --> 03:20:01.559
As soon as as we walk in, a man looking

3159
03:20:01.639 --> 03:20:05.079
to be in his late forties approaches us. Is there

3160
03:20:05.239 --> 03:20:08.799
something I can help either of you find today, not me,

3161
03:20:09.399 --> 03:20:13.399
Bailey tells him. I immediately asked the man, do you,

3162
03:20:13.959 --> 03:20:18.559
by any chance sell game boxes? Then I explain what

3163
03:20:18.680 --> 03:20:22.360
they are and what they do. I don't believe I

3164
03:20:22.559 --> 03:20:25.719
have this game box of yours, but I think I

3165
03:20:25.879 --> 03:20:29.120
may have something your little cousin may like. He tells me,

3166
03:20:29.840 --> 03:20:34.280
please come with me. We follow the man to the counter.

3167
03:20:35.079 --> 03:20:37.680
He's got some old school video game consoles in the

3168
03:20:37.719 --> 03:20:41.159
display case, but it's the unfamiliar one next to the

3169
03:20:41.280 --> 03:20:45.680
Sega Genesis that he pulls out. He puts the unit

3170
03:20:45.799 --> 03:20:48.120
down and hooks it up to the modern TV he's

3171
03:20:48.159 --> 03:20:51.399
got at the other end of the counter. After adding

3172
03:20:51.520 --> 03:20:55.040
these two weird looking controllers to it, he finishes the

3173
03:20:55.120 --> 03:21:00.920
setup by hooking up are those VR goggles. This game

3174
03:21:01.040 --> 03:21:06.360
console is called simply Virtua and is rather a collector's item.

3175
03:21:07.000 --> 03:21:11.200
The man says, that's my business, finding rare items and

3176
03:21:11.319 --> 03:21:15.639
selling them here at my store. Isley Tinker at your service.

3177
03:21:16.520 --> 03:21:20.399
Tinker explains how the Virtua console was created years ago,

3178
03:21:20.959 --> 03:21:23.280
back in the days of the Atari twenty six hundred

3179
03:21:23.520 --> 03:21:27.040
and Calico Vision. He says the Virtua could blow all

3180
03:21:27.120 --> 03:21:30.639
of them away with its processing power and graphics. It

3181
03:21:30.760 --> 03:21:34.559
was actually even better than the arcade games themselves, and

3182
03:21:34.840 --> 03:21:37.120
it could be played at home on those old school

3183
03:21:37.239 --> 03:21:41.600
box TVs. It may have very well been the advent

3184
03:21:41.719 --> 03:21:45.280
of virtual reality. How come this thing never came out

3185
03:21:45.319 --> 03:21:49.319
on the market? Then I asked, Okay, I'll admit I

3186
03:21:49.440 --> 03:21:52.159
don't know much about video gaming, but you'd think this

3187
03:21:52.479 --> 03:21:55.079
console would have made the scene the way all the

3188
03:21:55.159 --> 03:22:00.479
others you hear about did. Tinker sighs, A little Virtua

3189
03:22:00.680 --> 03:22:05.159
was a little too perfect. I'm afraid definitely way ahead

3190
03:22:05.200 --> 03:22:08.120
of its time. I don't know who programmed the one

3191
03:22:08.200 --> 03:22:11.559
game used to demonstrate the console, but I can promise

3192
03:22:11.639 --> 03:22:14.719
you not a single system on the market has Christmas

3193
03:22:14.879 --> 03:22:18.000
Arcadia on it. I'd even be willing to bet that

3194
03:22:18.120 --> 03:22:21.360
not even those game boxes you spoke of will likely

3195
03:22:21.520 --> 03:22:26.120
have it. In fact, this console is quite rare, and

3196
03:22:26.440 --> 03:22:29.479
just for the fact alone that it's one of only

3197
03:22:30.200 --> 03:22:37.159
three prototypes ever constructed Christmas Arcadia. I ask, that's actually

3198
03:22:37.280 --> 03:22:37.680
a game?

3199
03:22:38.600 --> 03:22:38.920
It is?

3200
03:22:39.799 --> 03:22:43.440
Would you like to try it? Tinker asks me. Really,

3201
03:22:44.639 --> 03:22:48.239
all you do is put on these goggles. Tinker explains,

3202
03:22:48.879 --> 03:22:52.399
Then you hold both of these controllers like so. He

3203
03:22:52.520 --> 03:22:56.000
demonstrates how to hold them. After I put the goggles on.

3204
03:22:56.639 --> 03:22:59.959
Tinker puts the controllers in my hands. Then I hear

3205
03:23:00.239 --> 03:23:01.680
him switch the console on.

3206
03:23:05.159 --> 03:23:08.239
Don't forget to subscribe on your favorite podcasting app so

3207
03:23:08.360 --> 03:23:11.440
you don't miss any of the spooky on the weekly.

3208
03:23:16.559 --> 03:23:21.719
I suddenly find myself in this Christmas looking village. Wow,

3209
03:23:21.920 --> 03:23:27.120
this game's graphics are truly just amazing. I've only ever

3210
03:23:27.239 --> 03:23:30.040
seen VR a few times when Stewart would bring his

3211
03:23:30.120 --> 03:23:33.719
oculus over. I thought the graphics on that were amazing,

3212
03:23:33.840 --> 03:23:37.520
but the Virtua has the oculus beat by a landslide.

3213
03:23:38.399 --> 03:23:42.920
It's like everything's so real here. As I'm walking around

3214
03:23:42.959 --> 03:23:45.799
the village, I hear Tinker explain that I start the

3215
03:23:45.879 --> 03:23:48.879
game by finding the Christmas Queen in the form of

3216
03:23:49.040 --> 03:23:53.399
Arcadia herself. Once I find her, she'll give me my quest.

3217
03:23:54.120 --> 03:23:55.920
So I play the game for a little bit and

3218
03:23:56.040 --> 03:23:59.120
soon find Queen Arcadia sitting on her throne in the

3219
03:23:59.239 --> 03:24:03.360
very center of the village square inside a gazebo. Queen

3220
03:24:03.520 --> 03:24:07.440
Arcadia is wearing a white crystalline gown that glows bright

3221
03:24:07.559 --> 03:24:10.319
in the light. Her skin is shimmering like on the

3222
03:24:10.399 --> 03:24:14.440
fiber optic Christmas trees Mom puts up every season. Her

3223
03:24:14.520 --> 03:24:17.600
eyes and lips are as red as Christmas lights. Her

3224
03:24:17.680 --> 03:24:22.000
hair is green like mistletoe. Her crown looks like polished ice,

3225
03:24:22.760 --> 03:24:26.959
along with her long scepter. I truly understand why she's

3226
03:24:27.079 --> 03:24:30.559
called the Christmas Queen, now that I think about it.

3227
03:24:30.680 --> 03:24:33.719
This is what mom does for a living. She designs

3228
03:24:33.799 --> 03:24:37.280
and codes computer games. She's been doing it since she

3229
03:24:37.479 --> 03:24:41.639
graduated Strickfield University with her computer programming degree at twenty four.

3230
03:24:42.319 --> 03:24:44.639
In fact, her newest game was in that best buy

3231
03:24:44.719 --> 03:24:49.440
store Bailey and I went to, Also Retailing for seventy dollars.

3232
03:24:50.360 --> 03:24:52.360
I don't know how mom does it, but she makes

3233
03:24:52.399 --> 03:24:55.360
all these great games that get big time cash grabs.

3234
03:24:56.040 --> 03:24:58.719
In fact, she's the one in our household who makes

3235
03:24:58.760 --> 03:25:02.000
all the money. I definitely don't complain, since it keeps

3236
03:25:02.040 --> 03:25:06.000
a roof over our heads. Anyway, the Christmas Queen looks

3237
03:25:06.040 --> 03:25:08.559
at me eagerly. I think she's going to give me

3238
03:25:08.639 --> 03:25:13.600
the quest Tinker said At long last, Arcadia says to me,

3239
03:25:14.319 --> 03:25:17.639
I have waited with patience for you to finally come

3240
03:25:17.760 --> 03:25:21.479
before me. The debt ode to me shall finally be

3241
03:25:21.680 --> 03:25:26.520
considered fulfilled. Then, Queen Arcadia takes my hand in this

3242
03:25:27.120 --> 03:25:31.680
virtual world. I can actually feel her touch. I quickly

3243
03:25:31.760 --> 03:25:34.959
remember I'm only getting a demonstration, but I kind of

3244
03:25:35.000 --> 03:25:37.280
want to see what this video game character will give

3245
03:25:37.360 --> 03:25:41.000
me for a quest. You truly belong to me, now,

3246
03:25:41.559 --> 03:25:45.760
Ariel Mirn, she tells me. I quickly exit the game

3247
03:25:45.799 --> 03:25:48.239
by putting the controllers down on the counter and taking

3248
03:25:48.319 --> 03:25:52.079
the goggles off. Then I look right at Tinker. This

3249
03:25:52.360 --> 03:25:56.840
thing's just incredible. I think Stuart would really love this.

3250
03:25:57.680 --> 03:26:01.840
How much? The man replies, guy, you can have this

3251
03:26:02.280 --> 03:26:07.559
entire package for fifty dollars. After I pay the man,

3252
03:26:07.719 --> 03:26:11.600
Tinker packages everything in the worn original box, including the

3253
03:26:11.680 --> 03:26:15.440
original instruction manuals. He even throws in the adapter needed

3254
03:26:15.479 --> 03:26:19.639
to connect the Virtua to our current HDTVs. Bailey and

3255
03:26:19.719 --> 03:26:23.959
I leave the store. Now I'm laughing, and Mouse wanted

3256
03:26:24.000 --> 03:26:27.719
to charge me one hundred dollars for a little junk box.

3257
03:26:28.319 --> 03:26:30.760
You just wait till she comes to the slumber party

3258
03:26:30.799 --> 03:26:36.399
tonight and sees this. I'm very happy for you, Bailey says, sincerely,

3259
03:26:37.520 --> 03:26:40.120
Little did I realize just how much I'd really come

3260
03:26:40.280 --> 03:26:45.000
to regret this amazing bargain. Let's just say I would

3261
03:26:45.040 --> 03:26:48.000
eventually wish that i'd paid Mouse one hundred dollars for

3262
03:26:48.159 --> 03:26:51.879
her game box. I'd probably have avoided all the trouble

3263
03:26:52.879 --> 03:27:01.520
that was soon to follow. Perspective Madeline Donner. I'm in

3264
03:27:01.600 --> 03:27:05.319
the mousehole my bedroom, finishing with pack in my backpack.

3265
03:27:05.799 --> 03:27:09.520
I look at the clock, six fifteen. Yeah, I'll make it.

3266
03:27:10.159 --> 03:27:13.559
It still amazes me that you are friends with those girls.

3267
03:27:14.399 --> 03:27:16.680
I look at my full length mirror in the closet

3268
03:27:17.200 --> 03:27:20.159
and see the ghost of Mary Worth looking back at me.

3269
03:27:21.239 --> 03:27:24.159
I get what you're saying, Mary, I tell her, but

3270
03:27:24.280 --> 03:27:27.200
I know how to read people. You did not know

3271
03:27:27.360 --> 03:27:30.799
how to read me. Upon learning that I was indeed

3272
03:27:31.000 --> 03:27:36.360
real on that first day, I fully turned to face her. Okay,

3273
03:27:36.760 --> 03:27:40.159
you got me still, Mary, I know you're there watching.

3274
03:27:40.239 --> 03:27:43.120
When I'm at Ariel's house on Friday nights, I can't

3275
03:27:43.159 --> 03:27:46.120
help but laugh. I'll never get over how you scared

3276
03:27:46.159 --> 03:27:50.000
them all that first night. Mary smirks, and I'll be

3277
03:27:50.120 --> 03:27:54.399
more than happy to frighten them again, should you just ask?

3278
03:27:55.360 --> 03:27:59.920
I smile now. I really do appreciate you being my friend. Mary.

3279
03:28:00.879 --> 03:28:03.000
I hope you ain't worried. I won't let you possess

3280
03:28:03.079 --> 03:28:07.600
me no more. It's never crossed my mind. She glances

3281
03:28:07.639 --> 03:28:11.959
at the clock, you best be leaving. I think about

3282
03:28:12.000 --> 03:28:15.120
it for a second. Then I remember the little compact

3283
03:28:15.239 --> 03:28:17.799
on my desk and grab it. I open it to

3284
03:28:17.879 --> 03:28:22.479
reveal the mirror inside. A second later, Mary's face is

3285
03:28:22.520 --> 03:28:25.479
in there. This way we can keep talking while I'm

3286
03:28:25.520 --> 03:28:30.200
walking to Ariels. My relationship with Mary Worth all started

3287
03:28:30.239 --> 03:28:33.520
with watch an urban legend with cousin Aileen and Bella Tabon.

3288
03:28:34.040 --> 03:28:37.799
We call her Bells. The moment that scene happened where

3289
03:28:37.840 --> 03:28:41.559
Rebecca Gayheart and Alicia Witt were playing the Bloody Mary game,

3290
03:28:42.200 --> 03:28:44.920
I decided to look into the urban legend a little more.

3291
03:28:46.159 --> 03:28:49.120
In the upstairs bathroom, I played the Bloody Mary game

3292
03:28:49.200 --> 03:28:51.840
with the lights out. As many times as I said

3293
03:28:51.879 --> 03:28:58.000
Bloody Mary, nothing happened. Then I remembered my research. Bloody

3294
03:28:58.079 --> 03:29:02.680
Mary was really a witch, aimed Mary Worth. Bloody Mary

3295
03:29:02.879 --> 03:29:06.840
was just a nickname, not a real person. I composed myself,

3296
03:29:07.399 --> 03:29:11.879
took a deep breath, and said Maryworth's name three times.

3297
03:29:12.840 --> 03:29:18.239
When I finished, Mary Worth herself appeared in the mirror Ariel.

3298
03:29:18.319 --> 03:29:22.360
Mirror always wants to see me get scared so badly. Well,

3299
03:29:23.120 --> 03:29:25.120
she would have finally got her wish if she would

3300
03:29:25.120 --> 03:29:28.159
have been with me. I was so scared. I screamed

3301
03:29:28.239 --> 03:29:31.440
and tried to run. The door slammed shut in front

3302
03:29:31.479 --> 03:29:34.399
of me. When Mary told me not to be afraid,

3303
03:29:35.479 --> 03:29:37.760
I calmed down and went back to the mirror to

3304
03:29:37.879 --> 03:29:41.600
talk to her. I was sad seeing Mary's story in

3305
03:29:41.680 --> 03:29:44.959
the mirror about how she was wrongfully accused of so

3306
03:29:45.159 --> 03:29:50.879
many bad things in Salem, Massachusetts. End result, she got arrested.

3307
03:29:51.520 --> 03:29:54.200
Then she was tried and sentenced to burn at the

3308
03:29:54.280 --> 03:29:58.959
stake for witchcraft by the magistrate. As Mary's pillar was lit,

3309
03:29:59.559 --> 03:30:02.280
the magic straight's wife presented Mary with a mirror for

3310
03:30:02.399 --> 03:30:07.239
her to see her own evil. Before she died. Mary

3311
03:30:07.360 --> 03:30:10.600
simply used the mirror to escape from her body and

3312
03:30:10.840 --> 03:30:15.200
the mortal realm and into the afterlife. Years later, she

3313
03:30:15.239 --> 03:30:18.879
would finally meet me. Mary said she could come into

3314
03:30:18.920 --> 03:30:21.520
the mortal realm through me if I would agree to

3315
03:30:21.600 --> 03:30:25.079
let her possess me. No, not like Linda Blair and

3316
03:30:25.120 --> 03:30:28.600
the Exorcist. In my case, possession means Mary and I

3317
03:30:28.719 --> 03:30:32.200
share a supernatural bond. We can talk to each other

3318
03:30:32.319 --> 03:30:35.399
like we're doing right now. I can also call Mary

3319
03:30:35.520 --> 03:30:37.760
to come out into the mortal realm and protect me

3320
03:30:38.559 --> 03:30:41.639
if I'm in danger. All I gotta do is look

3321
03:30:41.680 --> 03:30:43.840
in a mirror and say her name three times to

3322
03:30:43.920 --> 03:30:47.159
let her use me as her vessel. When the danger's over,

3323
03:30:47.319 --> 03:30:49.959
she goes back in the mirror and gives me my

3324
03:30:50.079 --> 03:30:54.559
body back. Getting back to now, we finally reach the

3325
03:30:54.600 --> 03:30:57.079
main gate of the gated community where the Mirans live.

3326
03:30:57.959 --> 03:31:00.799
I look around and see constructions start to expand the

3327
03:31:00.879 --> 03:31:05.520
wall around Strickfield Commons. The Mirons recently bought all of

3328
03:31:05.600 --> 03:31:09.639
the properties here. They now own all of Strickfield Commons,

3329
03:31:09.680 --> 03:31:13.239
and eventually the new wall's gonna be completely enclosing. It

3330
03:31:14.200 --> 03:31:17.719
must be nice having that kind of money. Ariel texted

3331
03:31:17.760 --> 03:31:21.200
me the updated gatecode. I'm in. After punching it and

3332
03:31:21.280 --> 03:31:24.239
opening the side door next to the main gate, I

3333
03:31:24.399 --> 03:31:27.000
walked straight ahead until I reach Ariel's house just off

3334
03:31:27.079 --> 03:31:31.239
Capitol Court. Ariel's right at the front doors with her

3335
03:31:31.319 --> 03:31:37.399
angry scowl to let me in. The slumber parties just me,

3336
03:31:37.799 --> 03:31:41.239
Ariel and Bailey. This time. Turns out Mona Abels is

3337
03:31:41.280 --> 03:31:44.959
homesick with food poisoning. We all talked to Mona via

3338
03:31:45.079 --> 03:31:48.319
video chat. She was feeling okay to talk to us,

3339
03:31:48.399 --> 03:31:51.920
but she still couldn't make it. Tonight, I had food

3340
03:31:51.959 --> 03:31:54.520
poison in myself before, so I know how bad it

3341
03:31:54.639 --> 03:31:58.200
hits you. When we're done talking to Mona, Ariel turns

3342
03:31:58.239 --> 03:31:59.959
to me and gives me a hard time about the

3343
03:32:00.239 --> 03:32:02.879
one hundred dollars I asked for for the game box.

3344
03:32:03.639 --> 03:32:06.600
Then she hooks up this console I ain't never seen before,

3345
03:32:07.079 --> 03:32:10.239
called the Virtua. She said she bought it from some

3346
03:32:10.520 --> 03:32:13.600
junk store at the mall and turns it on. I

3347
03:32:13.719 --> 03:32:16.319
got to look this console over at the store mouse.

3348
03:32:16.680 --> 03:32:19.719
Ariel tells me, I bet you don't have this game

3349
03:32:19.799 --> 03:32:22.760
on your game box. She holds up what looks like

3350
03:32:22.920 --> 03:32:27.799
game in goggles. I don't think yours can even play VR. Nope,

3351
03:32:28.079 --> 03:32:31.200
I agree, it can play PS four games, but not

3352
03:32:31.360 --> 03:32:34.959
the VR part. I smirk. That's what my souped up

3353
03:32:35.040 --> 03:32:38.479
game in PCs for. Ariel wants to growl at me,

3354
03:32:38.600 --> 03:32:43.559
but she stays composed. The game is called Christmas Arcadia.

3355
03:32:44.120 --> 03:32:47.719
Ever heard of it? I shake my head slowly, can't

3356
03:32:47.760 --> 03:32:51.879
say I have? Is it a homebrew? Ariel's looking at me.

3357
03:32:52.000 --> 03:32:58.840
Funny homebrew? Now she's shaking her head fast. What games

3358
03:32:58.920 --> 03:33:03.079
that developers make for older consoles no longer supported? I explain,

3359
03:33:03.680 --> 03:33:05.879
I got some of them games for my older systems

3360
03:33:05.920 --> 03:33:11.120
and even my PSVR. Ariel groans, whatever, you little mutant,

3361
03:33:11.879 --> 03:33:14.799
you and all your technical talk. All I want to

3362
03:33:14.840 --> 03:33:17.280
show you is that I got the Virtua with everything

3363
03:33:17.399 --> 03:33:21.639
here for a mere fifty dollars. You were gonna charge

3364
03:33:21.680 --> 03:33:24.840
me one hundred. Like I said, it was to buy

3365
03:33:24.920 --> 03:33:28.600
everything to build the game box. I emphasized, but if

3366
03:33:28.639 --> 03:33:30.920
you found this console for half of what I quoted, you,

3367
03:33:31.399 --> 03:33:35.680
good for you. But only one game. My game box

3368
03:33:35.760 --> 03:33:39.959
has tens of thousands of games. Now Ariel's growling at

3369
03:33:40.040 --> 03:33:42.840
me as usual. She can't scare me or get under

3370
03:33:42.879 --> 03:33:46.879
my skin. Then she tightens her fists. I hate you.

3371
03:33:48.040 --> 03:33:50.159
I just smile a little and wait for Ariel to

3372
03:33:50.200 --> 03:33:54.479
tell me to leave. She don't. I think somewhere deep

3373
03:33:54.600 --> 03:33:58.879
down she really appreciates her friendship with me. May I

3374
03:33:59.079 --> 03:34:02.760
play the game? I ask, yes, I want you to.

3375
03:34:03.479 --> 03:34:06.280
Ariel hands me the controllers and explains how to work them.

3376
03:34:06.799 --> 03:34:10.399
When I'm ready, she slips the goggles on me. WHOA,

3377
03:34:11.040 --> 03:34:13.840
I shriek when I see how amazing the graphics are.

3378
03:34:14.680 --> 03:34:17.600
You say this console was made back in the Atari

3379
03:34:17.680 --> 03:34:21.920
twenty six hundred days. That's a long time ago. That's

3380
03:34:21.959 --> 03:34:25.319
what the guy running the junk store told me. Ariel confirms,

3381
03:34:26.040 --> 03:34:28.920
I'd love to see what's inside the console. I say,

3382
03:34:29.840 --> 03:34:33.360
no way, I'm letting you take it apart mouse. Ariel sneers,

3383
03:34:33.920 --> 03:34:36.360
go ahead and play Bailey and I can watch you

3384
03:34:36.479 --> 03:34:40.200
on the TV. Here. Oh, like the PSVR, I say,

3385
03:34:40.920 --> 03:34:45.319
got it. I start Christmas Arcadia. It's easy to walk

3386
03:34:45.399 --> 03:34:49.959
through the virtual environment. These graphics are truly amazing. Even

3387
03:34:50.000 --> 03:34:54.200
the PSVR and Oculus ain't got graphics this good. Everything

3388
03:34:54.280 --> 03:34:59.200
here looks so incredibly real. I walk into the village

3389
03:34:59.239 --> 03:35:02.719
and look around. I can even go into the random shops.

3390
03:35:03.360 --> 03:35:05.360
I know in the real world I ain't really walking,

3391
03:35:05.479 --> 03:35:08.600
but here it's like the controllers and the goggles know

3392
03:35:08.760 --> 03:35:10.840
what I want to do, and I do it. In

3393
03:35:10.959 --> 03:35:14.040
the game, I see myself moving around like in the

3394
03:35:14.120 --> 03:35:17.280
real world. I can even feel things when I touch them,

3395
03:35:17.879 --> 03:35:21.680
including picking up and holding stuff. Getting back to the game,

3396
03:35:22.120 --> 03:35:24.399
I walk around the village until I find the square

3397
03:35:24.479 --> 03:35:26.959
and see the Christmas Queen herself sitting on a throne

3398
03:35:27.000 --> 03:35:30.639
in a gazebo. There. Wow, I want to know what

3399
03:35:30.799 --> 03:35:33.719
kind of gaming engine this is. I really want to

3400
03:35:33.760 --> 03:35:36.200
know what kind of hardware. From back in the Golden

3401
03:35:36.239 --> 03:35:39.399
age of video games. That's supporting this engine, Sure ain't

3402
03:35:39.440 --> 03:35:42.799
the unreal engine. When I get closer to the Christmas Queen,

3403
03:35:43.079 --> 03:35:50.440
I start feeling uneasy. Madeline, Stop Mary, I utter what.

3404
03:35:51.559 --> 03:35:56.159
The Christmas Queen raises her scepter. Approach your Queen mortal.

3405
03:35:57.120 --> 03:36:01.200
I gasp when I feel myself suddenly being pulled. No,

3406
03:36:01.799 --> 03:36:04.760
you shall not lay claim to her. I hear Mary

3407
03:36:04.799 --> 03:36:08.879
Worth say to the Christmas Queen Flea Madeleine, and then

3408
03:36:08.959 --> 03:36:12.479
I hear Ariel and Bailey asking me who I'm talking to.

3409
03:36:13.520 --> 03:36:17.120
They can't see Mary Worth, which is good. I really

3410
03:36:17.159 --> 03:36:20.120
don't want them knowing my secret. I turn and run

3411
03:36:20.200 --> 03:36:22.520
from the Christmas Queen. I got a gut feeling, and

3412
03:36:22.600 --> 03:36:25.520
glance over my shoulder to see I'm right. The Queen's

3413
03:36:25.600 --> 03:36:29.319
chasing me, literally flying after me. I duck into one

3414
03:36:29.360 --> 03:36:31.799
of the shops and slam the door. I gotta get

3415
03:36:31.840 --> 03:36:35.399
out of here fast. You cannot escape me, little one.

3416
03:36:35.959 --> 03:36:39.000
I hear just outside. She's got to be homing in

3417
03:36:39.079 --> 03:36:42.440
on the signal projected through the goggles and controllers. I

3418
03:36:42.600 --> 03:36:45.479
gotta get rid of them. In the real world. I'm

3419
03:36:45.520 --> 03:36:48.920
feeling I can't move in this virtual world. I walk

3420
03:36:49.000 --> 03:36:51.520
to the back room, and then I see the mirror

3421
03:36:51.559 --> 03:36:54.280
and rush to it to quickly say Mary Worth's name

3422
03:36:54.399 --> 03:36:58.639
three times. However, instead of Mary claiming my body as

3423
03:36:58.680 --> 03:37:02.239
her own, I'm feeling a powerful feedback that cuts the

3424
03:37:02.280 --> 03:37:06.239
connection between the virtual world and the real one. Suddenly

3425
03:37:06.719 --> 03:37:09.959
I'm back in Ariel's house again. I can finally lose

3426
03:37:10.040 --> 03:37:14.719
the gear. You okay, Mouse, Bailey asks, Wow, you're really

3427
03:37:14.840 --> 03:37:18.120
sweating after putting the gear down. I look at Ariel.

3428
03:37:18.600 --> 03:37:21.879
You gotta take this console back. Something's really wrong with it.

3429
03:37:22.399 --> 03:37:25.799
You don't know what it can do. Ariel laughs scornfully

3430
03:37:25.840 --> 03:37:29.559
at me. Wow, you're telling me you finally found a

3431
03:37:29.639 --> 03:37:32.760
game even you can't beat, and it's even one that

3432
03:37:32.879 --> 03:37:38.040
came out before our time. What a loser. I'm serious, Ariel,

3433
03:37:38.280 --> 03:37:41.639
I cry, Please, just take it back. I'll give you

3434
03:37:41.760 --> 03:37:43.799
my game box to give to your cousin. You don't

3435
03:37:43.799 --> 03:37:47.879
even have to pay for nothing. Just take this console back.

3436
03:37:48.639 --> 03:37:51.719
Bailey ain't sure what to think, but Ariel keeps laughing

3437
03:37:51.799 --> 03:37:56.399
it up. Then she pinches my cheeks gently and teases me, Oh,

3438
03:37:56.680 --> 03:37:59.760
you're so cute when you're mad Mouse, I'll get you

3439
03:37:59.840 --> 03:38:05.120
some cheese. I'm being serious. I return. Something's wrong with

3440
03:38:05.239 --> 03:38:11.239
that console. There's evil in it. To my surprise, Bailey

3441
03:38:11.360 --> 03:38:14.760
actually takes my side. I think Mouse is right, Ariel.

3442
03:38:15.440 --> 03:38:18.639
We really don't know enough about the Virtua two. Ariel

3443
03:38:18.760 --> 03:38:21.280
folds her arms in front of her and gets mad.

3444
03:38:21.840 --> 03:38:24.680
Since when do you agree with that stupid little squeaker

3445
03:38:24.760 --> 03:38:29.040
on anything, Bailey? You don't even like her, Bailey gasps.

3446
03:38:29.520 --> 03:38:33.000
Then she points right at Ariel. That's not true, and

3447
03:38:33.120 --> 03:38:36.200
what you just called mouse was uncalled for. For the

3448
03:38:36.280 --> 03:38:38.879
first time, Bailey gives Ariel a piece of her mind.

3449
03:38:39.600 --> 03:38:41.840
You're the one who doesn't like her, Ariel, the only

3450
03:38:41.920 --> 03:38:44.319
reason you even invite Mouse to our slumber parties every

3451
03:38:44.360 --> 03:38:47.760
Friday night is to try and scare her or humiliate her,

3452
03:38:48.079 --> 03:38:50.879
make her cry, and when you can't, you take it

3453
03:38:50.959 --> 03:38:54.399
out on Mona and me when Mouse isn't around, Ariel

3454
03:38:54.520 --> 03:38:58.239
gets real mad. Now you know what, you can both

3455
03:38:58.479 --> 03:39:01.200
Just get out of my house. While you're at it, Bailey,

3456
03:39:01.399 --> 03:39:03.959
you can tell Mona I'm done with her too. I

3457
03:39:04.120 --> 03:39:07.399
befriended you three and this is all the thanks I get. Well,

3458
03:39:07.440 --> 03:39:10.319
you know what, I don't need any of you. She

3459
03:39:10.520 --> 03:39:14.840
points to the front doors. Just get out, I sigh.

3460
03:39:14.920 --> 03:39:18.879
And bow my head. Ah man, I go and get

3461
03:39:18.920 --> 03:39:22.760
my backpack Before I leave, I make one last attempt

3462
03:39:22.799 --> 03:39:25.280
to beg Ariel to get rid of that Virtua console.

3463
03:39:26.079 --> 03:39:28.559
Ariel glares at me as she points past me to

3464
03:39:28.639 --> 03:39:32.280
the front door. Again, just get out, you nerdy little twerp.

3465
03:39:33.120 --> 03:39:36.120
Then she shoves me hard to the door. Get out,

3466
03:39:36.479 --> 03:39:40.280
and don't you ever come back here. Ariel finally gets

3467
03:39:40.319 --> 03:39:44.520
what she wants. Normally I'm pretty laid back, but I

3468
03:39:44.639 --> 03:39:48.600
can't believe she really attacked me like that. I'm feeling

3469
03:39:48.639 --> 03:39:50.799
pretty choked up now as I get up and walk

3470
03:39:50.879 --> 03:39:54.079
out of Ariel's front doors for the last time. I'm

3471
03:39:54.159 --> 03:39:56.000
so choked up now that I can't help it and

3472
03:39:56.120 --> 03:40:00.840
start crying at knowing I just lost my friend. This

3473
03:40:01.040 --> 03:40:06.600
really hurts deep inside. Mouse. Bailey calls out. I wait

3474
03:40:06.719 --> 03:40:11.000
for her. When she reaches me, oh yeah, she's seeing

3475
03:40:11.120 --> 03:40:15.479
me crying. Much to my surprise, she actually hugs me.

3476
03:40:16.479 --> 03:40:19.600
I'm so sorry. I like you, Mouse, I really do.

3477
03:40:21.000 --> 03:40:24.120
I can't help myself. I hug Bailey back and cry

3478
03:40:24.200 --> 03:40:27.520
on her shoulder. I just can't believe Ariel Mirron attacked

3479
03:40:27.559 --> 03:40:31.000
me like that. I got a very bad feeling. Things

3480
03:40:31.040 --> 03:40:33.159
are gonna get real bad.

3481
03:40:34.479 --> 03:40:36.920
Did you hear that? Better check the locks on your

3482
03:40:37.000 --> 03:40:40.200
doors weekly. Spooky will be right.

3483
03:40:40.159 --> 03:40:50.680
Back perspective, Ariel Mirren. I've got the whole house to

3484
03:40:50.799 --> 03:40:54.200
myself now. I don't need those stupid girls as friends.

3485
03:40:54.760 --> 03:40:57.079
In fact, I'll go out and make some new friends

3486
03:40:57.120 --> 03:41:00.440
over the holiday break. Even better, I think I'll head

3487
03:41:00.440 --> 03:41:03.719
into the village and get some right now, tonight doesn't

3488
03:41:03.760 --> 03:41:08.079
have to be a total loss. Wait a minute, I've

3489
03:41:08.079 --> 03:41:12.280
still got the virtual console here. Okay, I'm not a

3490
03:41:12.360 --> 03:41:16.799
gamer like Mouse, but I want to play Christmas Arcadia again.

3491
03:41:17.559 --> 03:41:19.760
At least i'll have something to talk about with Stuart

3492
03:41:19.799 --> 03:41:23.360
on Christmas Day. The consoles already hooked up and turned on.

3493
03:41:24.120 --> 03:41:29.479
I reapply the gear and go back in. I'm walking

3494
03:41:29.600 --> 03:41:34.120
around in this truly amazing VR world and really loving

3495
03:41:34.239 --> 03:41:38.680
this Christmas wonderland again. There's snow covering the grass and

3496
03:41:38.799 --> 03:41:41.520
on just the right parts of these stores and houses.

3497
03:41:42.200 --> 03:41:46.399
Out of curiosity, I reach down, and no way I

3498
03:41:46.520 --> 03:41:49.280
can actually pick up and hold the snow in my hands.

3499
03:41:50.040 --> 03:41:53.440
I even feel the cold winds making me shiver some.

3500
03:41:54.440 --> 03:41:58.159
Even the snow wets my hands. I remember the Christmas

3501
03:41:58.239 --> 03:42:00.159
Queen and walk to where I first saw her her

3502
03:42:00.200 --> 03:42:04.000
in the village square. Sure enough, she's sitting on her

3503
03:42:04.040 --> 03:42:06.920
throne in the gazebo. I knew that you could not

3504
03:42:07.079 --> 03:42:11.879
resist returning Ariel Mirn, come closer. I walked to her

3505
03:42:11.920 --> 03:42:14.920
and stop directly in front of her. I don't understand

3506
03:42:14.959 --> 03:42:17.920
why Mouse got so scared. I even heard her say

3507
03:42:18.040 --> 03:42:22.120
Mary Worth's name three times. I still get shivers down

3508
03:42:22.200 --> 03:42:24.719
my back when I think about that slumber party after

3509
03:42:24.799 --> 03:42:28.520
the school year started, where we all saw that ghastly

3510
03:42:28.680 --> 03:42:33.520
woman for the first time, except for Mouse. Still did

3511
03:42:33.600 --> 03:42:38.079
she actually see bloody Mary in here somewhere. It's time

3512
03:42:38.159 --> 03:42:41.760
for you to repay the debt that is owed Ariel Mirron,

3513
03:42:42.440 --> 03:42:46.680
the Christmas Queen says, and you shall begin by assisting

3514
03:42:46.799 --> 03:42:51.200
me in a most important task. Thinking this is just

3515
03:42:51.360 --> 03:42:55.159
part of the game, I ask, what's the task? The

3516
03:42:55.239 --> 03:42:59.319
Christmas Queen smiles. You shall become my vessel in the

3517
03:42:59.360 --> 03:43:03.520
mortal realm and possess my limitless power, and all that

3518
03:43:03.639 --> 03:43:08.319
I require are your hands. Then she holds out both

3519
03:43:08.399 --> 03:43:14.000
of hers. Now I have this really bad feeling in

3520
03:43:14.120 --> 03:43:17.719
my gut. How do you know my name? Again? I

3521
03:43:18.000 --> 03:43:22.360
know I never told you my name. Suddenly the Christmas

3522
03:43:22.440 --> 03:43:26.440
Queen snatches my wrists. You were a bargain made to

3523
03:43:26.559 --> 03:43:30.760
me before your time. I gave your mother her life's desires.

3524
03:43:31.639 --> 03:43:36.159
In return, I am to have your life first. I

3525
03:43:36.319 --> 03:43:39.319
require your body so that I may enter the mortal realm.

3526
03:43:40.120 --> 03:43:45.520
Then every day shall be Christmas. Yes, I shall give

3527
03:43:45.600 --> 03:43:50.959
those greedy mortals their deepest desires. In return, I shall

3528
03:43:51.040 --> 03:43:55.559
possess their very souls. No, I cry out as I

3529
03:43:55.600 --> 03:43:59.159
struggle to get free, but Queen Arcadia is so strong.

3530
03:44:00.120 --> 03:44:03.719
Suddenly I feel a powerful surge throughout my body. Then

3531
03:44:03.959 --> 03:44:08.639
Arcadia fires twin ibeams directly into my eyes. I'm now

3532
03:44:08.840 --> 03:44:13.079
weak and powerless to resist or move away. And then

3533
03:44:13.120 --> 03:44:21.000
I'm suddenly feeling so incredibly powerful, like the world is mine. Wow,

3534
03:44:22.120 --> 03:44:25.799
Arcadia just wanted to share her power with me. I

3535
03:44:26.000 --> 03:44:32.280
just have to let her, let her be me. I

3536
03:44:32.360 --> 03:44:35.920
want to keep feeling all this incredible power, And then

3537
03:44:36.000 --> 03:44:38.600
I feel Queen Arcadia is truly a part of me.

3538
03:44:40.000 --> 03:44:43.559
I know exactly what I must do, and I have

3539
03:44:43.760 --> 03:44:46.520
all the powers of the Christmas Queen at my command,

3540
03:44:47.559 --> 03:44:51.079
just like she promised. In fact, I now have my

3541
03:44:51.239 --> 03:44:56.840
plan for bringing everlasting Christmas to the mortal realm. I

3542
03:44:56.959 --> 03:45:00.799
feel I'm still me, only now I'm so much more.

3543
03:45:01.520 --> 03:45:05.520
The Christmas Queen claimed me and remade me. I know

3544
03:45:05.680 --> 03:45:09.559
I'm also Arcadia. Now it's time for me to leave

3545
03:45:09.639 --> 03:45:14.600
the virtual realm and journey to the mortal one. From there,

3546
03:45:14.760 --> 03:45:17.639
I shall claim four souls that shall grant me the

3547
03:45:17.719 --> 03:45:21.040
immense power I require to merge the mortal realm with

3548
03:45:21.120 --> 03:45:26.079
my virtual realm to make Christmas everlasting. And that's only

3549
03:45:26.159 --> 03:45:28.360
going to be the beginning of my conquest of the

3550
03:45:28.440 --> 03:45:32.520
mortals themselves. I make a fist and squeeze it as

3551
03:45:32.600 --> 03:45:35.280
I feel the green fire that I can now channel

3552
03:45:36.319 --> 03:45:43.280
simply amazing. Well, I need four souls. I smirk when

3553
03:45:43.319 --> 03:45:48.639
I easily think of what four souls i'll take. Madeline

3554
03:45:48.719 --> 03:45:53.520
Donnerley escaped once, she won't do so again. In fact,

3555
03:45:53.840 --> 03:45:58.040
I'll save her for the endgame. I raise both of

3556
03:45:58.120 --> 03:46:02.200
my fists, now burning with power. I use that power

3557
03:46:02.280 --> 03:46:05.879
and rip open the fabric of time and space, creating

3558
03:46:05.959 --> 03:46:09.959
a portal to the mortal realm. Upon stepping through it,

3559
03:46:11.760 --> 03:46:16.760
I drop the controllers and remove the goggles. Seeing myself

3560
03:46:16.840 --> 03:46:22.079
in a nearby mirror, I'm disgusted with my clothes. Using

3561
03:46:22.159 --> 03:46:26.000
my new powers. I quickly reconfigure my clothing into something

3562
03:46:26.120 --> 03:46:30.799
more stylish. When I finish, I know exactly how to

3563
03:46:30.920 --> 03:46:41.760
deal with Madeline Donnerly. But first perspective, Mona Abels, I've

3564
03:46:41.799 --> 03:46:45.760
grown again. When my stomach hurts, ugh, I'm so hungry.

3565
03:46:46.760 --> 03:46:48.920
That's it. I'm getting out of here and getting something

3566
03:46:48.959 --> 03:46:51.680
to eat. After I get cleaned up and put fresh

3567
03:46:51.719 --> 03:46:54.920
clothes on, I go downstairs. There's a note from Mom

3568
03:46:54.959 --> 03:46:57.360
and Dad saying their next door playing board games with

3569
03:46:57.399 --> 03:47:01.000
the McClellans, and there's food in the fridge. I open

3570
03:47:01.079 --> 03:47:06.680
it and see Dad definitely cooked lasagna. Gross. I appreciate

3571
03:47:06.840 --> 03:47:08.879
Dad tried to cook food when Mom and I both

3572
03:47:08.959 --> 03:47:13.440
got sick from food poisoning, but he just can't cook period.

3573
03:47:14.440 --> 03:47:16.959
When I feel the hunger rip my tummy again, I

3574
03:47:17.120 --> 03:47:21.079
know exactly where I'm going. Denoyer's grill here I come.

3575
03:47:21.840 --> 03:47:25.600
I'm thinking about my favorite bacon cheeseburger platter with a

3576
03:47:25.719 --> 03:47:29.799
tall glass of coke. Even the thought of Denoyer's incredible

3577
03:47:29.840 --> 03:47:34.799
pumpkin silk pie makes my stomach really rumble. After I

3578
03:47:34.879 --> 03:47:38.520
put my jacket on and head outside, I see someone

3579
03:47:38.680 --> 03:47:40.399
standing at the edge of my sidewalk.

3580
03:47:41.799 --> 03:47:41.959
Um.

3581
03:47:42.959 --> 03:47:47.520
Hello, I utter. The figure points right at me. I

3582
03:47:47.639 --> 03:47:51.399
can tell it's another girl when I see her pigtails. Suddenly,

3583
03:47:51.520 --> 03:47:55.079
her body comes to life with bright light. Glad to

3584
03:47:55.120 --> 03:47:59.879
see your feeling so much better, Mona, she says Ariel.

3585
03:48:00.479 --> 03:48:05.920
I gasp. She sneers, Ariel, Mirrn is gone. The name's

3586
03:48:06.120 --> 03:48:11.840
Arcadia now, and you are mine. I shriek and quickly

3587
03:48:12.000 --> 03:48:15.920
duck when Ariel shoots these blasts from her hands at me.

3588
03:48:16.879 --> 03:48:21.280
Since when could she do that? You can't escape me, Mona,

3589
03:48:21.959 --> 03:48:26.920
Ariel cries gleefully. There's nowhere you can run. I get

3590
03:48:27.000 --> 03:48:29.680
up and run out back. And then this surge of

3591
03:48:29.719 --> 03:48:32.719
electricity shoots from underneath the porch light and right in

3592
03:48:32.799 --> 03:48:37.520
front of me. It transforms into Ariel. Her bleach blonde

3593
03:48:37.559 --> 03:48:42.399
hair is glowing. She's also wearing eighties fashion, a green top,

3594
03:48:42.840 --> 03:48:47.520
a glistening skirt, red tights, glistening leg warmers, and even

3595
03:48:47.719 --> 03:48:52.040
la gear high tops. Ariel points at me. I told

3596
03:48:52.120 --> 03:48:55.920
you there's no escape, Mona. I turn to run again,

3597
03:48:56.600 --> 03:49:00.959
but I'm suddenly stopped. Ariel's new power surrounds me. Soon

3598
03:49:01.079 --> 03:49:04.559
I'm encased in some kind of glass I can't break.

3599
03:49:05.399 --> 03:49:08.000
I turn and face her. Why are you doing this,

3600
03:49:08.840 --> 03:49:13.799
She smiles a wicked smile. One down, three to go.

3601
03:49:14.600 --> 03:49:18.559
Then I shall remake the mortal realm in my image.

3602
03:49:19.280 --> 03:49:21.639
You should be pleased that you're going to assist me

3603
03:49:22.319 --> 03:49:26.879
in making Christmas a forever event instead of only once

3604
03:49:26.959 --> 03:49:31.559
a year. You shall see when I enslave this world.

3605
03:49:32.719 --> 03:49:36.360
Stop this, Ariel, I shout. I quickly go for my

3606
03:49:36.520 --> 03:49:40.440
phone on No, stupid me left it in my room.

3607
03:49:41.200 --> 03:49:44.360
I can't text the others to warn them. There's nothing

3608
03:49:44.440 --> 03:49:49.440
I can do. I sigh sadly as Ariel makes us

3609
03:49:49.520 --> 03:49:59.440
both disappear perspective, Bailey downs. I can tell Mouse is

3610
03:49:59.479 --> 03:50:03.079
still pretty upset, to be honest, so am I I

3611
03:50:03.159 --> 03:50:05.479
knew Ariel Miron was someone who always had to have

3612
03:50:05.680 --> 03:50:08.440
her way all the time. When Mona and I first

3613
03:50:08.520 --> 03:50:12.760
met her, still she called us her friends, even though

3614
03:50:12.840 --> 03:50:16.319
she had funny ways of showing her friendship. But tonight

3615
03:50:17.440 --> 03:50:20.000
I can't believe Ariel lost it like that and lashed

3616
03:50:20.040 --> 03:50:23.600
out at us. She went too far when she pushed Mouse.

3617
03:50:24.680 --> 03:50:27.600
I walk with Mouse back to her place. We don't

3618
03:50:27.639 --> 03:50:31.079
really talk a whole lot. I know there's definitely tension

3619
03:50:31.159 --> 03:50:34.319
between us, even though Mouse is always a laid back

3620
03:50:34.440 --> 03:50:37.319
kind of person I feel. She's always kept her guard

3621
03:50:37.440 --> 03:50:40.760
up around Mona and me. Okay, I'll be honest here.

3622
03:50:41.479 --> 03:50:44.120
Mona and I didn't really like Mouse when we first

3623
03:50:44.200 --> 03:50:47.479
met her. We tolerated her because we knew Ariel liked her,

3624
03:50:48.239 --> 03:50:51.040
even though Mona and I would never admit it. Mouse

3625
03:50:51.159 --> 03:50:54.559
got to grow on us. We really liked having her around.

3626
03:50:55.600 --> 03:50:57.920
When Mouse and I reach her house, we face each other.

3627
03:50:59.120 --> 03:51:03.959
You're gonna be okay, I ask her. Mouse sighs, are

3628
03:51:04.040 --> 03:51:09.079
you now? I sigh myself. Ariel did go off on

3629
03:51:09.159 --> 03:51:12.440
both of us, didn't she. Then I finally decide right

3630
03:51:12.479 --> 03:51:17.159
then and there to take that first step. Mouse, Why

3631
03:51:17.239 --> 03:51:20.239
don't you just come spend the night at my place tonight?

3632
03:51:20.920 --> 03:51:22.959
We'll have our own little slumber party you and me.

3633
03:51:24.239 --> 03:51:29.680
Mouse considers me no offense, But you hosted a slumber

3634
03:51:29.719 --> 03:51:33.680
party at your house before, and it didn't go very well.

3635
03:51:34.200 --> 03:51:38.200
I laugh a little. Yeah, you're right, it was rather

3636
03:51:39.159 --> 03:51:41.639
interesting with all four of us cramped up in my

3637
03:51:41.760 --> 03:51:47.120
little attic bedroom. Then Mouse meets me halfway. You can

3638
03:51:47.159 --> 03:51:49.799
spend the night here, Bailey. Mom and Dad know you,

3639
03:51:50.000 --> 03:51:54.760
so they ain't gonna care. Okay, sure, I'm pretty sure.

3640
03:51:54.840 --> 03:51:57.760
Mona and I have never been in Mouse's house. We've

3641
03:51:57.920 --> 03:52:01.239
just never been over here, even know that Ariel's ever

3642
03:52:01.319 --> 03:52:04.399
been over here. Mouse opens the front door and waves

3643
03:52:04.440 --> 03:52:07.000
for me to come on in. Her parents are sitting

3644
03:52:07.040 --> 03:52:10.600
on the living room couch together watching TV. I can't

3645
03:52:10.680 --> 03:52:13.840
believe that woman is really Mouse's mom if I didn't

3646
03:52:13.879 --> 03:52:17.079
know better. She kind of looks like Violet from Friday

3647
03:52:17.159 --> 03:52:20.399
the Thirteenth, Part five. Mouse brought her box set of

3648
03:52:20.440 --> 03:52:23.280
those movies over to Ariel's Halloween weekend slumber party for

3649
03:52:23.399 --> 03:52:26.760
us to binge. We actually got through every movie in

3650
03:52:26.799 --> 03:52:31.760
the entire set. Anyway, Mouse's mom looks so retropunk, and

3651
03:52:31.879 --> 03:52:35.760
her dad, well, he just looks like a normal, average

3652
03:52:35.799 --> 03:52:39.440
kind of guy. Cute though you aren't staying the night

3653
03:52:39.479 --> 03:52:43.239
at Ariels, Her mom asks in her silky voice. Then

3654
03:52:43.360 --> 03:52:47.879
she sees I'm with her. Is everything all right, Maddie? Yeah? Mom,

3655
03:52:48.280 --> 03:52:51.799
Mouse lies, Ariel had something come up, and Mona's sick.

3656
03:52:52.360 --> 03:52:55.600
It's just gonna be me and Bailey. Her dad looks

3657
03:52:55.639 --> 03:52:58.440
our way. There's plenty of pizza on the kitchen counter.

3658
03:52:58.600 --> 03:53:03.360
Help yourselves sounds good, Mouse says. Then she motions for

3659
03:53:03.440 --> 03:53:06.520
me to come upstairs with her. When we reach your room.

3660
03:53:06.600 --> 03:53:09.520
There's a sign in her door that says welcome to

3661
03:53:09.639 --> 03:53:14.920
the mouse Hole. Wow, my eyes go wide when Mouse

3662
03:53:14.959 --> 03:53:18.520
brings me into her room. I mean, this bedroom is

3663
03:53:18.600 --> 03:53:23.200
a total Geeks paradise. She's got multiple video game consoles

3664
03:53:23.239 --> 03:53:26.360
neatly displayed on shelves. She even has a few full

3665
03:53:26.440 --> 03:53:31.680
sized arcade games, Donkey Kong and Gauntlet Dark Legacy. There

3666
03:53:31.719 --> 03:53:34.639
are posters for horror movies all over the walls. She

3667
03:53:34.719 --> 03:53:38.120
even has collectible horror figures still in their original packaging.

3668
03:53:39.040 --> 03:53:41.360
Then I see her desk with a soldering gun and

3669
03:53:41.479 --> 03:53:44.920
something she was working on. It's the bed that actually

3670
03:53:45.000 --> 03:53:49.280
surprises me, though, A bunk bed. Welcome to my little

3671
03:53:49.319 --> 03:53:52.959
mouse hole in the wall, Bailey Mouse jokes, putting her

3672
03:53:53.000 --> 03:53:58.239
backpack down. Got a bed you want to claim? Top bunk?

3673
03:53:58.639 --> 03:54:02.120
I ask, it's yours. She opens up a mini fridge.

3674
03:54:02.600 --> 03:54:06.120
Want to coke? Yes? So Mouse and I are having

3675
03:54:06.200 --> 03:54:11.440
sodas together. She can tell I'm really amazed by her bedroom. Oh,

3676
03:54:11.879 --> 03:54:15.239
my family's well off, she says. Mom and Dad bought

3677
03:54:15.319 --> 03:54:18.159
me game consoles every Birthday and Christmas since I was four.

3678
03:54:19.000 --> 03:54:21.840
Dad also gave me all of his the arcade cabinets

3679
03:54:21.879 --> 03:54:24.639
were pretty beat up when Dad brought them here for me.

3680
03:54:25.200 --> 03:54:28.399
I restored them and put raspberry pies inside. Those are

3681
03:54:28.440 --> 03:54:31.600
little computers, kind of like the ones that run phones now.

3682
03:54:31.680 --> 03:54:34.760
They can play so many games, including the original ROMs

3683
03:54:34.799 --> 03:54:38.840
the cabinets have. She smiles a little. What you want

3684
03:54:38.879 --> 03:54:42.360
to do? Mouse and I are eating pizza and watching

3685
03:54:42.440 --> 03:54:45.760
Christmas horror movies on the bottom bunk. We actually both

3686
03:54:45.840 --> 03:54:47.879
came out of our shells with each other a little more.

3687
03:54:48.719 --> 03:54:51.000
We even laughed hard at how cheesy some of these

3688
03:54:51.079 --> 03:54:55.840
movies really are, especially Santa's Sleigh. We both admit it's

3689
03:54:56.040 --> 03:54:59.520
not like being at Ariels, but we're having a great time.

3690
03:55:00.840 --> 03:55:04.440
Then Mouse looks my way. You think Mona's feeling okay?

3691
03:55:05.120 --> 03:55:09.639
I'm thinking maybe we should invite her over. I nod quickly, Yeah,

3692
03:55:10.079 --> 03:55:13.639
let's talk to her. Can you get her on your computer? Sure?

3693
03:55:14.239 --> 03:55:16.959
We pause the movie and get off the bunk. Mouse

3694
03:55:17.040 --> 03:55:19.600
brings up Facebook Messenger and clicks on the group chat.

3695
03:55:20.440 --> 03:55:23.360
Then she clicks on Mona's pick, followed by the phone

3696
03:55:23.440 --> 03:55:29.239
symbol no answer. I wonder maybe she's sleeping or went out.

3697
03:55:29.639 --> 03:55:33.000
Mouse asks, I quickly get my phone and try calling

3698
03:55:33.040 --> 03:55:37.600
her straight to voicemail. I look at Mouse. Funny Mona

3699
03:55:37.879 --> 03:55:40.879
never turns her phone off. Then I leave a brief

3700
03:55:40.959 --> 03:55:44.639
message and hang up. Mouse is to the point none

3701
03:55:44.680 --> 03:55:47.559
of us turn our phones off. We just look at

3702
03:55:47.559 --> 03:55:52.159
each other for a moment. Okay, we agree something's wrong here, Mouse,

3703
03:55:52.280 --> 03:55:55.559
But what do we do about it. We can either

3704
03:55:55.600 --> 03:55:57.559
wait for Mona to turn her phone back on and

3705
03:55:57.959 --> 03:56:01.360
get your message, or you can go look for ourselves.

3706
03:56:01.920 --> 03:56:06.360
Mouse answers. I consider it. Then I tell her let's

3707
03:56:06.399 --> 03:56:10.920
not jump to conclusions yet. How about this. Let's finish

3708
03:56:11.040 --> 03:56:12.760
the movie, and if we don't hear from Mona when

3709
03:56:12.760 --> 03:56:14.959
the credits roll, I'll call her again. And if she

3710
03:56:15.040 --> 03:56:17.280
still don't answer, we go look for her.

3711
03:56:18.399 --> 03:56:24.159
Sounds good, don't go away weekly spooky, We'll be right back.

3712
03:56:33.840 --> 03:56:36.959
Mouse and I finish Santa's sleigh and our slices of pizza.

3713
03:56:37.719 --> 03:56:41.120
Mona still isn't answering her phone. True to our plan,

3714
03:56:41.280 --> 03:56:43.040
Mouse and I put our shoes and coats on and

3715
03:56:43.120 --> 03:56:47.920
head downstairs. Mouse's parents are still up. We're heading downtown.

3716
03:56:48.440 --> 03:56:52.360
Mouse tells them. Her mom looks at us. Seriously, Maddie,

3717
03:56:52.399 --> 03:56:54.639
why don't you just move your things into Roth's rings

3718
03:56:54.959 --> 03:56:57.879
as much time as you spend there. Mouse laughs a

3719
03:56:57.920 --> 03:57:02.200
little funny. Mom. Oh, wait a minute. Her dad suddenly

3720
03:57:02.239 --> 03:57:04.559
gets up and comes over to us. He whips out

3721
03:57:04.600 --> 03:57:07.639
his wallet and gives Mouse some money. How about bringing

3722
03:57:07.680 --> 03:57:12.079
home some more coffee? Sure, she says, the usual? Yeah,

3723
03:57:12.280 --> 03:57:15.440
the usual for me. Her dad says, bring home some

3724
03:57:15.520 --> 03:57:18.760
more of that death wish Christmas coffee. Mouse's mom tells her,

3725
03:57:19.600 --> 03:57:22.319
I'll get two bags of ginger dead. Mouse tells her

3726
03:57:22.879 --> 03:57:25.879
we've been drinking it pretty good. Huh. When we leave

3727
03:57:25.920 --> 03:57:28.799
the house, I tell Mouse, I can't believe your parents

3728
03:57:28.799 --> 03:57:33.360
are so laid back. She shrugs. Yeah, they know I'm

3729
03:57:33.360 --> 03:57:36.879
always okay, long as they know where I'm going. Mouse

3730
03:57:36.959 --> 03:57:39.799
and I walk a few blocks and head into downtown village.

3731
03:57:40.319 --> 03:57:43.639
Soon we walk into Roth's Rings. There are people hanging

3732
03:57:43.680 --> 03:57:46.840
out on Friday night, as usual. We recognize some people

3733
03:57:46.879 --> 03:57:50.360
from school. Then we see Carter Cross finishing a game.

3734
03:57:51.079 --> 03:57:54.440
He's surprised when he sees Mouse in me. Mouse immediately

3735
03:57:54.520 --> 03:57:57.840
tells him everything that happened. Yeah, Mouse ain't gonna lie

3736
03:57:57.879 --> 03:58:01.079
to her best friend. Carter actually lives next door to her.

3737
03:58:01.799 --> 03:58:05.159
Then Carter gives me a quick glance. You both okay,

3738
03:58:05.799 --> 03:58:09.559
he asks. We tell him we are. Then I mentioned

3739
03:58:09.600 --> 03:58:11.639
that we're looking for Mona and can't get a hold

3740
03:58:11.680 --> 03:58:15.440
of her. Now Carter's concerned. Want me to help you

3741
03:58:15.520 --> 03:58:20.079
find her? Would you? Mouse replies, I can tell you

3742
03:58:20.159 --> 03:58:23.520
both for sure. Mona ain't in here. Carter says, I know,

3743
03:58:23.639 --> 03:58:25.319
because I've been in here for the last couple of

3744
03:58:25.399 --> 03:58:29.040
hours with the guys. He nods down the road. You

3745
03:58:29.159 --> 03:58:31.360
think she might have gone to the movies. The theater

3746
03:58:31.440 --> 03:58:34.680
started staying open later tonight for the holiday break. I

3747
03:58:34.799 --> 03:58:38.319
shake my head quickly. No, Mona always text me when

3748
03:58:38.360 --> 03:58:42.079
she wants to go to the movies. Hey, where are Horton,

3749
03:58:42.159 --> 03:58:46.000
Chapman and Chunker anyway? Mouse asks, they left a bit

3750
03:58:46.079 --> 03:58:49.479
of go. Carter replies, but I'm here and I'll help you.

3751
03:58:50.040 --> 03:58:54.200
Let's go one second, Mouse says. We go to the

3752
03:58:54.280 --> 03:58:56.239
counter with Mouse so she can buy the coffee for

3753
03:58:56.319 --> 03:58:59.719
her parents. When we're done, we leave Roth's rings and

3754
03:58:59.719 --> 03:59:02.479
head back to Mouse's house so she can drop off

3755
03:59:02.520 --> 03:59:05.440
the coffee and the change. Then we head off and

3756
03:59:05.600 --> 03:59:08.639
walk around the village. There's a few more places open

3757
03:59:08.719 --> 03:59:11.719
late where people hang out on Friday nights. Carter even

3758
03:59:11.799 --> 03:59:15.079
calls out to Denoyer's grill sometimes Mona will go out

3759
03:59:15.120 --> 03:59:18.879
there when she really gets the munchies. Carter hangs up

3760
03:59:18.920 --> 03:59:22.319
and shakes his head a little, no go. I talked

3761
03:59:22.360 --> 03:59:25.600
to Denoyer himself. He knows Mona and she ain't been

3762
03:59:25.639 --> 03:59:31.360
there tonight. I groan, you guys, I'm I really am worried.

3763
03:59:31.440 --> 03:59:36.159
Now where else can we look? Carter asks. Even Mouse

3764
03:59:36.280 --> 03:59:40.000
is stumped, but she has a suggestion. It's been some time.

3765
03:59:40.200 --> 03:59:43.000
Maybe we can head back to Roth's Rings and see again.

3766
03:59:44.239 --> 03:59:46.879
Feeling it was worth a shot, we head back. We

3767
03:59:47.040 --> 03:59:50.479
go in and look. Still no Mona, but it ain't

3768
03:59:50.559 --> 03:59:55.159
long before Ariel comes in. We're all quite surprised at

3769
03:59:55.200 --> 03:59:58.520
her appearance. She looks like she swiped Doc Brown's DeLorean

3770
03:59:58.600 --> 04:00:01.280
and treated herself to a full make over in nineteen

3771
04:00:01.319 --> 04:00:06.440
eighty five and pigtails. Ariel waste no time coming our way.

3772
04:00:07.600 --> 04:00:11.479
You people look like you've lost somebody, she says. I'm

3773
04:00:11.520 --> 04:00:13.440
still upset at Ariel and want to yell at her,

3774
04:00:13.799 --> 04:00:17.399
but I'm really worried about my friend. Have you seen Mona.

3775
04:00:17.559 --> 04:00:21.840
She's not home. We've been looking everywhere for her. Ariel

3776
04:00:21.920 --> 04:00:24.799
smiles a little. I think I saw her at one

3777
04:00:24.840 --> 04:00:29.719
of the nearby cafes. Which one. Carter asks, I'll take

3778
04:00:29.760 --> 04:00:32.639
you there. I was heading that way myself. We leave

3779
04:00:32.799 --> 04:00:36.680
Roth's Rings and walk with Ariel. Where'd you see Mona?

3780
04:00:37.319 --> 04:00:41.360
Mouse asks Ariel, sounding reluctant to talk to her. I'm

3781
04:00:41.520 --> 04:00:45.639
taking you all to her, Ariel replies. We walk for

3782
04:00:45.680 --> 04:00:48.799
a little bit and past Big Ed's Soda parlor. Then

3783
04:00:48.920 --> 04:00:52.239
Ariel turns down the alley next to it. You said

3784
04:00:52.280 --> 04:00:55.760
it was one of the cafes, Carter said, I never

3785
04:00:55.840 --> 04:01:00.719
said this street. Ariel replies, Andy's China Dragon is open

3786
04:01:00.760 --> 04:01:04.440
all night too. I've grown a little and follow Ariel.

3787
04:01:05.040 --> 04:01:08.159
Both Ariel and I know that Mona loves Chinese food.

3788
04:01:08.879 --> 04:01:12.159
Andy's China Dragon is really good for a village Asian place.

3789
04:01:12.799 --> 04:01:16.719
Like Denoyer's Grill and Roth's Rings, they're always open. We

3790
04:01:16.840 --> 04:01:18.920
walk through the alley until we come to the end.

3791
04:01:20.120 --> 04:01:25.920
What the Carter utters when the scenery suddenly changes. Everything

3792
04:01:26.079 --> 04:01:30.319
looks just like like that video game Mouse was playing

3793
04:01:30.360 --> 04:01:34.319
at Ariels before. Ariel went all spas on us. As

3794
04:01:34.399 --> 04:01:38.000
we're looking around, we'd swear we're not in Strickfield anymore?

3795
04:01:38.879 --> 04:01:43.200
Are we really in that Christmas Arcadia video game itself? Now?

3796
04:01:44.159 --> 04:01:49.200
Looking at everything, we see this immense VR world without

3797
04:01:49.360 --> 04:01:54.319
goggles or headsets. Suddenly, Ariel turns and shoves Mouse hard

3798
04:01:54.639 --> 04:01:56.879
for a second time to make her fall onto some

3799
04:01:57.000 --> 04:02:00.120
nearby snow. How do you like the game? Now, now,

3800
04:02:00.600 --> 04:02:05.280
you little insect. Carter quickly gets in between them, stop

3801
04:02:05.360 --> 04:02:09.440
at Ariel. Now, to the surprise of Mouse and me,

3802
04:02:10.239 --> 04:02:14.239
Ariel easily shoves Carter out of the way. Carter works

3803
04:02:14.280 --> 04:02:17.120
out and can easily pick any of us up like pillows,

3804
04:02:17.719 --> 04:02:22.360
especially little mouse. Why are you doing this, Mouse shouts

3805
04:02:22.360 --> 04:02:27.680
at Ariel, all because of a game box. Ariel laughs, Oh,

3806
04:02:27.879 --> 04:02:31.159
this is much more than a pathetic little game box.

3807
04:02:31.879 --> 04:02:35.920
She talks to me too, And as for Mona, I

3808
04:02:36.399 --> 04:02:41.840
have her. Suddenly we find ourselves in the village square.

3809
04:02:42.600 --> 04:02:45.200
At the very center is a gazebo with a throne,

3810
04:02:46.319 --> 04:02:49.639
and then we see her inside a glowing glass container.

3811
04:02:50.639 --> 04:02:56.799
Mona I shriek. Help, Mona cries out, Ariel's gone crazy?

3812
04:02:57.959 --> 04:03:01.799
Have I? Ariel cheers. Then she looks at us as

3813
04:03:01.879 --> 04:03:07.159
Carter joins. Now, she raises her finger. If you ever

3814
04:03:07.399 --> 04:03:11.959
want to see Mona again or leave my realm, all

3815
04:03:12.040 --> 04:03:17.079
you have to do is just defeat me. And then

3816
04:03:17.280 --> 04:03:21.000
Ariel holds out her hands like claws and makes Christmas

3817
04:03:21.120 --> 04:03:25.479
red and green fireballs. Holding them in her hands. She

3818
04:03:25.719 --> 04:03:30.799
smiles wickedly. Who dares to challenge my power?

3819
04:03:31.079 --> 04:03:36.440
First, You're not safe yet, weekly Spooky will be right.

3820
04:03:36.399 --> 04:03:46.520
Back perspective, Carter Cross. I really ain't believe in what

3821
04:03:46.639 --> 04:03:52.239
I'm seeing. First, her Royal Highness is really strong. Now

3822
04:03:52.440 --> 04:03:57.760
she has powers. Well, this is strickfield, right, or at

3823
04:03:57.840 --> 04:04:02.360
least it was. Bailey quickly looks at Madeline and me.

3824
04:04:03.159 --> 04:04:08.479
You guys are gamers. What do we do? Run? Madeleine yells.

3825
04:04:09.399 --> 04:04:11.440
The three of us turn and run as fast as

3826
04:04:11.520 --> 04:04:14.040
we can. If I got a guess, I'd say we're

3827
04:04:14.040 --> 04:04:17.360
gonna get away from Ariel and regroup. Then we'll figure

3828
04:04:17.399 --> 04:04:21.319
out how we're gonna save Mona and get out of here. No,

3829
04:04:22.319 --> 04:04:25.639
Ariel yells, you will not run from your queen. This

3830
04:04:25.879 --> 04:04:29.239
is my kingdom, and you will obey my will. I

3831
04:04:29.639 --> 04:04:33.399
so command it. I just barely see one of Ariel's

3832
04:04:33.440 --> 04:04:36.040
fireballs out of the corner of my eye and quickly

3833
04:04:36.200 --> 04:04:39.559
dive at Madeline, taking her down into some snow before

3834
04:04:39.639 --> 04:04:43.600
the green flame can hit her. Thanks, buddy, she says,

3835
04:04:44.319 --> 04:04:46.719
I quickly get off her and yanker back to her feet.

3836
04:04:47.120 --> 04:04:51.040
Come on. Bailey points to an alley this way. I'm

3837
04:04:51.120 --> 04:04:53.520
ready to tell her I ain't going down no more alleys.

3838
04:04:53.840 --> 04:04:57.159
When a red fireball nearly misses me, I groan and

3839
04:04:57.280 --> 04:05:01.159
quickly follow the girls. I can't I believe Ariel's still

3840
04:05:01.239 --> 04:05:05.760
upset about Mouse's game box. Bailey says, I'm thinking it's

3841
04:05:05.879 --> 04:05:09.280
more than my little game box. You guys, Madeline tells us,

3842
04:05:10.079 --> 04:05:12.239
I don't know her queenship the way you girls do.

3843
04:05:12.639 --> 04:05:16.319
I tell them we thought we knew Ariel, Bailey says.

3844
04:05:16.920 --> 04:05:20.200
When a green fireball nearly misses her, she turns quickly

3845
04:05:20.440 --> 04:05:24.920
and screams, why Ariel. I quickly yank Bailey out of

3846
04:05:24.959 --> 04:05:27.600
the way of another green fireball. Then we come out

3847
04:05:27.639 --> 04:05:30.479
the other end of the alley and head down a street. Soon,

3848
04:05:30.600 --> 04:05:34.040
a horse and carriage nearly runs us down. We look

3849
04:05:34.120 --> 04:05:37.879
and see Ariel's manning it. You might as well just

3850
04:05:38.040 --> 04:05:41.920
give up. Ariel points to us. You're in my world now.

3851
04:05:42.440 --> 04:05:47.959
I rule over all here. Everything you see is my property.

3852
04:05:48.600 --> 04:05:51.879
She sneers at us. Now, and since I see all

3853
04:05:51.959 --> 04:05:57.079
of you, I'd say you're my property too. Ariel stands

3854
04:05:57.159 --> 04:06:00.360
up and fires two red beams from her eyes. I

3855
04:06:00.479 --> 04:06:02.879
quickly push Madeline out of the way and take the

3856
04:06:02.959 --> 04:06:07.399
hit for her. Ugh feels like truck Tucker just plowed

3857
04:06:07.479 --> 04:06:10.520
right over me. Truck's the heaviest guy on our football

3858
04:06:10.600 --> 04:06:14.399
and basketball teams at Strickfield Junior High. I can tell

3859
04:06:14.479 --> 04:06:18.719
you firsthand. Being run over by truck ain't fun. I

3860
04:06:18.879 --> 04:06:22.000
groan and try shaking it off. Then I feel Madeline

3861
04:06:22.040 --> 04:06:26.760
and Bailey grabbing me. We gotta move, Madeleine tells me, trying.

3862
04:06:27.280 --> 04:06:31.120
I reply. We run into a nearby shop. I finish

3863
04:06:31.200 --> 04:06:34.559
shaking Ariel's eyebeams off and turn away from the girls.

3864
04:06:34.959 --> 04:06:37.360
I quickly slam the door and pull the heavy wooden

3865
04:06:37.440 --> 04:06:41.079
bar down across it. You think that'll keep Ariel out?

3866
04:06:41.520 --> 04:06:46.479
Bailey asks, Maybe it'll slow her down? I answer, let's

3867
04:06:46.559 --> 04:06:50.360
keep moving. Madeline says, As we're turning to go, we

3868
04:06:50.479 --> 04:06:54.799
hear Ariel just outside. Really you think a locked door

3869
04:06:55.040 --> 04:07:00.440
can keep me out? Fools? Suddenly the door is to

3870
04:07:01.479 --> 04:07:06.000
whatever the VR version of ashes anyway. Ariel comes right in.

3871
04:07:06.639 --> 04:07:09.840
Her fists are burning green and red. She's ready to

3872
04:07:09.920 --> 04:07:13.159
throw some more fireballs. Then she looks right at me

3873
04:07:13.280 --> 04:07:17.799
and laughs scornfully. No coke for me this time, Peasant boy,

3874
04:07:18.799 --> 04:07:22.360
not when you still owe me a case. I tell her, Okay,

3875
04:07:22.479 --> 04:07:26.120
I know I'm probably playing with fire here, but Ariel

3876
04:07:26.200 --> 04:07:31.680
looks mad now, but I'm so thirsty. Then I forget

3877
04:07:31.799 --> 04:07:35.920
Ariels literally playing with fire, and she reminds me when

3878
04:07:35.959 --> 04:07:39.719
she hits me with her eyebeams again. I grown hard

3879
04:07:39.840 --> 04:07:43.959
and feel I'm flat on my back. Man, sure feels

3880
04:07:44.000 --> 04:07:47.360
like truck Tucker ran me over three times, back to back.

3881
04:07:48.159 --> 04:07:50.360
I turn and manage to sit with my back to

3882
04:07:50.440 --> 04:07:53.159
the wall. The next thing I know, Ariel's right in

3883
04:07:53.239 --> 04:07:55.280
front of me and lowering herself to look at me.

3884
04:07:56.639 --> 04:08:01.680
Run girls, I quickly tell them. Carter. Madeline cries no.

3885
04:08:02.680 --> 04:08:05.760
Bailey grabs her arm. Come on, mouse, there's nothing we

3886
04:08:05.840 --> 04:08:09.799
can do for Carter. Madeline's shaking now. She tightens her

3887
04:08:09.840 --> 04:08:14.719
fists and yells why Ariel, Come on, Bailey grabs her

3888
04:08:14.799 --> 04:08:20.559
arm again. Let's go, Ariel looks over her shoulder. Run insect,

3889
04:08:20.799 --> 04:08:24.200
Run as far as you can. I'm saving you for

3890
04:08:24.319 --> 04:08:30.920
the final act of our little little Yes, since you

3891
04:08:31.079 --> 04:08:34.639
love horror movies so much, we'll call this little scenario

3892
04:08:35.399 --> 04:08:38.719
a horror movie and you get to be the star.

3893
04:08:39.799 --> 04:08:43.319
You ain't getting away with this, Ariel Madeleine yells, we're

3894
04:08:43.399 --> 04:08:47.120
gonna stop you. When the girls get away, Ariel turns

3895
04:08:47.200 --> 04:08:51.760
back to me. You know, Carter, Bailey really made me

3896
04:08:51.959 --> 04:08:55.079
mad the other day when we were talking. I'll bet

3897
04:08:55.200 --> 04:08:58.920
you can't guess what she said. I just grown. Now

3898
04:08:59.680 --> 04:09:04.520
do I even care? Ariel laughs. Bailey made a joke

3899
04:09:04.559 --> 04:09:08.399
about you and me. She said she knows I like you.

3900
04:09:08.799 --> 04:09:10.520
She said that I was going to be your high

3901
04:09:10.520 --> 04:09:14.719
school girlfriend and then marry you. She laughs harder. I

3902
04:09:14.879 --> 04:09:18.280
got mad and told her you're nothing but a brainless oath.

3903
04:09:18.840 --> 04:09:22.319
Why would I even consider a low life worm like you?

3904
04:09:23.040 --> 04:09:28.040
What would you have to offer me? I really grow now, Yeah,

3905
04:09:28.200 --> 04:09:31.159
you're right, you being my girl would be a fate

3906
04:09:31.280 --> 04:09:34.000
worse than death. I don't know why I ever asked

3907
04:09:34.040 --> 04:09:37.799
you out at the mall that night. Yep, that made

3908
04:09:37.879 --> 04:09:43.399
Ariel mad. Then consider yourself departed, Carter, because you belong

3909
04:09:43.639 --> 04:09:47.680
to your Christmas queen. Now you'll make another beautiful piece

3910
04:09:47.799 --> 04:09:51.680
for my gazebo with Mona. But I don't just lay

3911
04:09:51.760 --> 04:09:54.159
there and let Ariel have her way with me. I

3912
04:09:54.280 --> 04:09:56.680
make one last attempt to get away and shove her

3913
04:09:57.040 --> 04:09:59.879
and make her fall on her butt. Still feeling the

3914
04:10:00.000 --> 04:10:02.760
those last eye beams. As I get up and make

3915
04:10:02.840 --> 04:10:05.360
for the open back door, I dive right through it.

3916
04:10:05.600 --> 04:10:09.479
Just as ariels beams narrowly miss me. I stagger and

3917
04:10:09.559 --> 04:10:12.680
make myself run again. I know I got a fine

3918
04:10:12.719 --> 04:10:16.000
Madeline in Bailey. I manage to run almost a block

3919
04:10:16.079 --> 04:10:19.399
before Ariel clips my foot with her beams. I cry

3920
04:10:19.440 --> 04:10:21.639
out when it feels like my leg got swept right

3921
04:10:21.680 --> 04:10:24.280
out from underneath me. I fall on my back and

3922
04:10:24.440 --> 04:10:28.479
know Ariels coming. Are you really that afraid of little

3923
04:10:28.559 --> 04:10:34.360
old me? Carter, Ariel teases, reaching me. I can't possibly

3924
04:10:34.520 --> 04:10:37.920
understand why. I mean, you only have the weight of

3925
04:10:38.040 --> 04:10:42.760
all those muscles, right, and then there's skinny little me.

3926
04:10:43.559 --> 04:10:46.680
Why I'm just a poor, little rich girl who loves

3927
04:10:46.760 --> 04:10:50.600
being pampered. You could say, I just love getting my way,

3928
04:10:51.360 --> 04:10:56.040
and that's where you come in. No, I'll never marry you,

3929
04:10:56.520 --> 04:10:59.440
and I will make Bailey pay for even thinking that

3930
04:10:59.559 --> 04:11:04.520
pitif notion up. But don't worry, Carter, you will be

3931
04:11:04.680 --> 04:11:07.559
spending the rest of your life with me. You're going

3932
04:11:07.639 --> 04:11:13.079
to be my personal servant, Yeah, my manservant. Your sole

3933
04:11:13.200 --> 04:11:18.760
purpose will be to serve your queen. Ah. No way,

3934
04:11:19.319 --> 04:11:22.719
I growl and spring to my feet, and still you

3935
04:11:22.920 --> 04:11:27.440
run from me. Ariel laughs. Let's reenact a scene in

3936
04:11:27.559 --> 04:11:31.239
one of our friend's favorite horror movies, shall we. Now

3937
04:11:31.520 --> 04:11:34.120
you can know what it feels like to be in

3938
04:11:34.280 --> 04:11:39.639
this part of said movie. Suddenly everything changes. It ain't

3939
04:11:39.680 --> 04:11:42.920
no Christmas Wonderland no more. Now it looks more like

3940
04:11:43.000 --> 04:11:46.040
a rundown village from straight out of the Middle Ages.

3941
04:11:46.760 --> 04:11:50.200
And then I see movement ahead and wonder if Ariel

3942
04:11:50.280 --> 04:11:54.879
got ahead of me. Then these zombies come out of

3943
04:11:54.920 --> 04:11:57.799
the alley and look right at me. I know they're

3944
04:11:57.879 --> 04:12:00.399
zombies because their clothes are all tattered in their skin

3945
04:12:00.520 --> 04:12:04.879
looks rotten. They don't even say anything. They just grumble

3946
04:12:04.959 --> 04:12:09.680
and stumble towards me. Oh come on, really, I mutter.

3947
04:12:10.319 --> 04:12:13.440
I run down one street, then another, and another. No

3948
04:12:13.600 --> 04:12:16.760
matter where I go there there are zombies everywhere. They

3949
04:12:16.840 --> 04:12:20.559
keep stretching their arms out and growling. I might as

3950
04:12:20.600 --> 04:12:23.879
well be trapped in some Resident Evil VR game. And

3951
04:12:24.079 --> 04:12:26.440
then I see the huge flash and look up to

3952
04:12:26.520 --> 04:12:30.760
see the storm above me. The next thing I know,

3953
04:12:30.959 --> 04:12:35.920
the rain's just coming down in buckets. Give me a break, Ariel,

3954
04:12:36.440 --> 04:12:39.079
I yell at the sky. Ain't this supposed to be

3955
04:12:39.600 --> 04:12:43.799
a Christmas game. Then I hear ariels laughter fill the

3956
04:12:43.879 --> 04:12:51.000
sky as you wish, peasant Boy, everything changes again. Instead

3957
04:12:51.040 --> 04:12:54.639
of a rainy horror village, everything's back to the Christmas setting.

3958
04:12:55.280 --> 04:12:59.239
The zombies change into a holiday nightmare. Now I've got

3959
04:12:59.440 --> 04:13:03.040
evil rain, dear elves, polar bears, gingerbread man, and anything

3960
04:13:03.040 --> 04:13:06.399
else you can think of for a horror Christmas. I

3961
04:13:06.559 --> 04:13:10.239
keep running to try and lose aerial. Suddenly these two

3962
04:13:10.719 --> 04:13:13.760
nutcrackers soldiers grab me out of nowhere and lift me

3963
04:13:13.920 --> 04:13:17.600
right up off the ground. Our Christmas queen requests your

3964
04:13:17.680 --> 04:13:21.559
presence mortal. The one on my right says, you will

3965
04:13:21.639 --> 04:13:26.520
come with us immediately. The other one adds, I.

3966
04:13:26.879 --> 04:13:30.559
Like it, spooky weekly. Spooky will be right back.

3967
04:13:36.799 --> 04:13:40.360
I fight to break loose, but they're really strong. They

3968
04:13:40.479 --> 04:13:43.280
just keep dragging me along like I'm on my way

3969
04:13:43.319 --> 04:13:47.120
to jail. Truth be told, I'd never really given much

3970
04:13:47.200 --> 04:13:50.920
thought to Ariel Miron. Yeah, she's a spoiled, rich brad

3971
04:13:51.000 --> 04:13:54.040
who loves getting her way all the time. She sure

3972
04:13:54.120 --> 04:13:56.239
loves drinking out of my coke cans all the time.

3973
04:13:56.879 --> 04:13:59.600
Makes me think of how nearly everybody at Strickfield Junior

3974
04:13:59.680 --> 04:14:03.440
High actially bows down to her except for Madeline and me.

3975
04:14:04.280 --> 04:14:06.200
I don't know what's going on here and why things

3976
04:14:06.239 --> 04:14:09.120
are like this. I gotta talk to Madeline and get

3977
04:14:09.159 --> 04:14:12.520
the cliff notes from her on this bring him to me,

3978
04:14:13.319 --> 04:14:17.040
I hear Ariel say. When I see Ariel, now I

3979
04:14:17.200 --> 04:14:21.000
am really mad. I dig down with everything I got

3980
04:14:21.079 --> 04:14:25.799
and finally break free of these demented nutcracker soldiers. Then

3981
04:14:25.879 --> 04:14:29.159
I point right at Ariel. You ain't getting away with this,

3982
04:14:29.399 --> 04:14:32.840
you hear me. But Ariel isn't intimidated at all.

3983
04:14:33.879 --> 04:14:34.120
Yeah.

3984
04:14:34.959 --> 04:14:37.920
Whatever, I should have ran when I had the chance.

3985
04:14:38.440 --> 04:14:42.280
Ariel hits me with her eyebeams one more time. I'm

3986
04:14:42.360 --> 04:14:45.799
on the ground again. A few seconds later, she's standing

3987
04:14:45.920 --> 04:14:53.360
right over me. She actually gives me such a sweet smile. Now, man,

3988
04:14:53.520 --> 04:14:57.319
I hate to admit it, but I actually love seeing

3989
04:14:57.360 --> 04:15:02.600
Ariel smile. When will you learn, Carter, I always get

3990
04:15:02.639 --> 04:15:07.360
what I want, and now I want you. From now on,

3991
04:15:07.920 --> 04:15:12.479
you will serve me as I wish. Her eyes and

3992
04:15:12.680 --> 04:15:19.000
hands glow. Now you are mine, I scream when Ariel

3993
04:15:19.120 --> 04:15:22.479
uses her powers on me again. When she's done, I'm

3994
04:15:22.520 --> 04:15:26.120
inside the same kind of glass as Mona. I really

3995
04:15:26.239 --> 04:15:31.360
groan when Ariel clasps her hands and laughs happily. Two

3996
04:15:31.559 --> 04:15:36.520
more Ariel squeaks, then it's going to be Christmas every

3997
04:15:36.799 --> 04:15:41.760
single day. Then she squeaks really loud, like her parents

3998
04:15:41.920 --> 04:15:45.040
just surprised her with her first car. Okay, I know

3999
04:15:45.200 --> 04:15:48.879
we ain't old enough to drive yet, but I'm just saying.

4000
04:15:49.959 --> 04:15:54.040
She seems to be awfully happy thinking about what's about

4001
04:15:54.079 --> 04:16:03.879
to happen to mep Madeline Donnerley. Bailey and I move

4002
04:16:03.959 --> 04:16:06.680
through building after building. I don't know if we're keeping

4003
04:16:06.799 --> 04:16:11.079
distance between Ariel and us or not. One thing bothering me, though,

4004
04:16:11.280 --> 04:16:15.280
is not finding a single mirror in this entire horrible place.

4005
04:16:16.360 --> 04:16:19.520
Without a mirror, I can't call on Mary Worth. I

4006
04:16:19.680 --> 04:16:23.280
know she could stop Ariel until I can find a mirror.

4007
04:16:23.360 --> 04:16:26.600
I gotta go on my wits. Bailey and I finally

4008
04:16:26.719 --> 04:16:29.920
stop to rest. Then I feel her hand on my shoulder.

4009
04:16:31.120 --> 04:16:33.879
Is this really because you asked Ariel for one hundred

4010
04:16:33.959 --> 04:16:36.760
dollars to build her a game box for her cousin?

4011
04:16:37.280 --> 04:16:43.440
Bailey asks, seriously, Mouse, I look at my friend. Where

4012
04:16:43.520 --> 04:16:47.159
we are, Bailey, We ain't in Strickfield. We're in that

4013
04:16:47.479 --> 04:16:51.079
VR game from the Slumber Party, and I'm thinking Ariel

4014
04:16:51.120 --> 04:16:56.879
ain't herself either. Bailey raises an eyebrow. What are you saying? Well,

4015
04:16:57.760 --> 04:16:59.879
how many times you've seen Ariel get mad at me

4016
04:17:00.159 --> 04:17:02.959
for not giving her what she wants? And she's gonna

4017
04:17:03.000 --> 04:17:08.000
finally snap? Now I've been thinking about this. Ariel said,

4018
04:17:08.040 --> 04:17:11.280
she got that VR console at the mall right, yeah,

4019
04:17:11.360 --> 04:17:15.319
I was with her. The store was called Tinkers. Bailey

4020
04:17:15.440 --> 04:17:20.719
tells me, I look at her with wide eyes. Tinkers, Well,

4021
04:17:20.879 --> 04:17:24.799
that really explains a lot. That's a real game changer here.

4022
04:17:25.520 --> 04:17:29.719
Bailey gawks at me. What do you mean you saying

4023
04:17:29.840 --> 04:17:32.200
Tinkers might have something to do with all this crap?

4024
04:17:33.559 --> 04:17:36.319
I think that store has everything to do with all

4025
04:17:36.440 --> 04:17:40.559
of this crap. Bella Tabon, my cousin, Aleen's best friend,

4026
04:17:40.680 --> 04:17:43.840
told me a few stories about Tinkers. Turns out the

4027
04:17:43.920 --> 04:17:47.879
man himself Isley. Tinker gets a hold of things, either

4028
04:17:47.959 --> 04:17:50.959
they're already cursed or he does something to him, so

4029
04:17:51.120 --> 04:17:53.799
they do things you may or may not want him doing.

4030
04:17:54.479 --> 04:17:57.000
Bell's told me what a coffee pot from Tinkers did

4031
04:17:57.079 --> 04:18:00.280
to a skinny geek girl at Strickfield High School turned

4032
04:18:00.319 --> 04:18:03.799
her into a heavily caffeinated lunatic. And Ariel said I

4033
04:18:04.079 --> 04:18:08.159
was heavily caffeinated earlier. Anyway, you want to track Tinker

4034
04:18:08.239 --> 04:18:11.040
down after finding out about the thing you bought, forget it.

4035
04:18:11.600 --> 04:18:14.200
The store ends up disappearing and you ain't never find

4036
04:18:14.239 --> 04:18:17.360
in it again. Also, the things he sells are just

4037
04:18:17.559 --> 04:18:21.959
like the cursed antiques from Friday the Thirteenth the series. Yep,

4038
04:18:22.079 --> 04:18:25.760
that's right, you ain't gonna destroy him. I don't want

4039
04:18:25.799 --> 04:18:28.319
to go into everything I know because cousin Aleen and

4040
04:18:28.399 --> 04:18:31.719
Bells trust me to keep their hunting of supernatural baddies

4041
04:18:31.840 --> 04:18:34.920
a secret. I've even been out with him a few times.

4042
04:18:35.959 --> 04:18:39.159
I take a deep breath and tell Bailey, now that

4043
04:18:39.280 --> 04:18:42.799
you said Tinkers, I think the game's doing something to Ariel.

4044
04:18:43.559 --> 04:18:45.879
I just had a gut feeling she ain't been herself.

4045
04:18:46.559 --> 04:18:48.200
We got to figure out what's got a hold on

4046
04:18:48.280 --> 04:18:51.680
her and break her free. Bailey smiles at me a little.

4047
04:18:52.639 --> 04:18:55.879
Even though Ariel went off on us earlier, hurt you,

4048
04:18:56.680 --> 04:19:01.120
you still want to help her. I sigh, Yeah, I

4049
04:19:01.280 --> 04:19:04.559
know Ariel hurt me, but I'm betting she wasn't herself

4050
04:19:04.639 --> 04:19:07.760
when she pushed me. I'm gonna do what I gotta

4051
04:19:07.840 --> 04:19:10.239
do to savor You want to help me, I could

4052
04:19:10.360 --> 04:19:13.440
use it. If you're still mad at Ariel, then I

4053
04:19:13.559 --> 04:19:16.440
get you. But she's still our friend, Bailey, no matter

4054
04:19:16.520 --> 04:19:21.079
what she's done. Bailey gives me a gentle hug. Maybe

4055
04:19:21.120 --> 04:19:23.799
that's why we always give you a hard time. You

4056
04:19:23.959 --> 04:19:27.159
keep us all honest. Then she backs up and looks

4057
04:19:27.200 --> 04:19:30.319
at me. What are we going to do? We know

4058
04:19:30.479 --> 04:19:35.200
what Ariel's capable of? Now I shrug, I ain't really sure.

4059
04:19:36.000 --> 04:19:39.600
I don't know how extensive this VR world is. I

4060
04:19:39.719 --> 04:19:42.600
hate to say it, but this is one game Ariel's mastered,

4061
04:19:43.159 --> 04:19:46.280
and she ain't no gamer. Suddenly, the door to our

4062
04:19:46.360 --> 04:19:50.479
building flies apart. Ariel comes right in and looks at us.

4063
04:19:51.520 --> 04:19:54.760
Then she points right at me. It's not about me

4064
04:19:54.920 --> 04:19:58.440
being a gamer geek like you, you pathetic little vermin.

4065
04:19:59.520 --> 04:20:03.440
Then she laughs coldly. I've been your bff for years?

4066
04:20:03.760 --> 04:20:07.120
When will you learn that I'm a mirn. We Mirrans

4067
04:20:07.239 --> 04:20:09.840
always get what we want. We play to win, we

4068
04:20:10.000 --> 04:20:14.440
play for keeps, and above all, we have no friends.

4069
04:20:15.399 --> 04:20:17.799
Maybe I ain't got no mushroom power ups, but I

4070
04:20:17.959 --> 04:20:21.719
toughen up like Mario and tighten my jaw. What you

4071
04:20:21.840 --> 04:20:25.920
want with Ariel, Queenie? Come on, I know you ain't her,

4072
04:20:26.399 --> 04:20:28.399
you think, and I don't know. She played your evil

4073
04:20:28.440 --> 04:20:31.959
game and came in here. Ariel laughs like I said

4074
04:20:32.040 --> 04:20:36.879
something funny. I am me, you pathetic little fool. I'm

4075
04:20:37.000 --> 04:20:40.000
just so sick and tired of you always being the

4076
04:20:40.159 --> 04:20:43.600
yin to my yang, watching you win at everything you do.

4077
04:20:44.000 --> 04:20:47.159
No matter what I did, I just could never beat

4078
04:20:47.239 --> 04:20:51.319
you at anything. Today, I'm finally going to defeat you,

4079
04:20:52.280 --> 04:20:56.239
and it's something you hold very dear. This is one

4080
04:20:56.399 --> 04:21:01.639
video game even you can't beat. Once I've finally defeated you,

4081
04:21:02.239 --> 04:21:08.559
then I'll claim my prize, your very soul. I think

4082
04:21:08.600 --> 04:21:11.520
about it a little more now. On impulse, I dig

4083
04:21:11.600 --> 04:21:15.520
into my back pocket and grab my smartphone and forget.

4084
04:21:16.799 --> 04:21:19.959
I still am not in Strickfield. None of us here

4085
04:21:20.079 --> 04:21:22.600
have our phones. But when I feel what is in

4086
04:21:22.719 --> 04:21:26.520
my back pocket, my plan comes together just like that.

4087
04:21:27.520 --> 04:21:30.600
What you're gonna just stand here and gloat because you're

4088
04:21:30.680 --> 04:21:34.360
always gonna be a spoiled mirror? I tell her. And

4089
04:21:34.520 --> 04:21:38.600
after you win today, then what and after that? Then what?

4090
04:21:39.280 --> 04:21:43.440
And after that? Then what you see? Where I'm going here?

4091
04:21:44.280 --> 04:21:47.600
I know the real Ariel mirror. She ain't never happy

4092
04:21:47.719 --> 04:21:51.479
with nothing. I look right in Ariel's eyes. I know

4093
04:21:51.639 --> 04:21:54.239
you can hear me. Ariel, and you ain't never gonna

4094
04:21:54.280 --> 04:21:57.479
be happy as long as I'm around. Know why, cause

4095
04:21:57.520 --> 04:22:00.760
you ain't never getting what you want from me. Like

4096
04:22:00.879 --> 04:22:04.479
I told you before, give me something to be scared about.

4097
04:22:05.840 --> 04:22:09.440
Don't go away, weekly Spooky, We'll be right back.

4098
04:22:12.559 --> 04:22:15.639
Ariel shakes her head a little, like she's having disorientation.

4099
04:22:16.559 --> 04:22:20.319
Then she focuses again. The next thing. Bailey and I know,

4100
04:22:20.600 --> 04:22:24.120
Ariel unloads her powers on us. Now we're both in

4101
04:22:24.239 --> 04:22:27.920
them glass bubbles we saw Mona in earlier. Then I

4102
04:22:28.040 --> 04:22:31.440
got a bad feeling in my tummy that Ariel got

4103
04:22:31.520 --> 04:22:38.559
Carter too. Aw man, I see I'm right about Carter.

4104
04:22:38.680 --> 04:22:41.280
When Bailey and I find ourselves in the village square

4105
04:22:41.719 --> 04:22:45.319
where we first saw Mona in her glass prison, Carter's

4106
04:22:45.360 --> 04:22:49.079
also with us. In his own case, You girls, okay?

4107
04:22:49.760 --> 04:22:54.920
Carter asks us, Still alive? I tell him, but for

4108
04:22:55.079 --> 04:22:59.479
how much longer? An unwelcomed voice calls out. We all

4109
04:22:59.520 --> 04:23:02.079
look to see the Ariel sitting inside the gazebo on

4110
04:23:02.159 --> 04:23:05.879
the Christmas Queen's throne. What are you gonna do with us?

4111
04:23:06.280 --> 04:23:11.040
I demand? Ariel laughs, you were definitely right, Madaline. Donnery.

4112
04:23:11.440 --> 04:23:16.239
I am indeed not Ariel Mirn. I am really Queen Arcadia.

4113
04:23:17.520 --> 04:23:21.920
Allow me to explain, many years ago in your mortal realm,

4114
04:23:22.360 --> 04:23:26.239
a young female computer programmer coded what would become known

4115
04:23:26.360 --> 04:23:31.079
as Christmas Arcadia. What she had created was a product

4116
04:23:31.239 --> 04:23:34.040
quite ahead of its time. You would think that it

4117
04:23:34.079 --> 04:23:38.079
would revolutionize gaming, as your parents or even your grandparents

4118
04:23:38.120 --> 04:23:42.399
would know it. However, the gaming industry refused to give

4119
04:23:42.479 --> 04:23:46.479
such a credit to a female, and the Virtua console

4120
04:23:47.000 --> 04:23:51.440
was quietly kept hidden away, or so it was believed.

4121
04:23:52.239 --> 04:23:57.959
But my programmer, Adrian Mirn, Ariel's mother would have the

4122
04:23:58.079 --> 04:24:02.319
last laugh. She implements to a very powerful software patch

4123
04:24:02.920 --> 04:24:07.280
that fully upgraded me and allowed me to think and

4124
04:24:07.440 --> 04:24:13.079
become sentiented much to both Adrian's disbelief and expectations, I

4125
04:24:13.200 --> 04:24:18.319
also came to become in possession of great power. Even

4126
04:24:18.399 --> 04:24:21.280
though I was her creation. I came to evolve into

4127
04:24:21.319 --> 04:24:24.360
a being far more than anything even Adrian could have

4128
04:24:24.399 --> 04:24:28.440
ever imagined. Upon learning that I could easily grant her

4129
04:24:28.559 --> 04:24:32.920
fondest desires, a bargain between Adrian and I was forged.

4130
04:24:33.840 --> 04:24:39.079
I gave her eternal youth in exchange for creating me. However,

4131
04:24:39.680 --> 04:24:43.479
I required something far more in return for making Adrian

4132
04:24:43.760 --> 04:24:47.920
a superior computer programmer and allowing her to become quite

4133
04:24:48.040 --> 04:24:53.920
wealthy from her skills. Adrian agreed to give me her

4134
04:24:54.079 --> 04:24:58.959
first born to become my vessel, and I would have

4135
04:24:59.120 --> 04:25:02.360
to be patient and wait for Adrian to find herself

4136
04:25:02.399 --> 04:25:07.559
a husband. Many years later, Adrian Miron would finally fulfill

4137
04:25:07.639 --> 04:25:12.360
her end of our bargain. Ariel's meeting with Isley Tinker

4138
04:25:12.440 --> 04:25:17.920
today was of no coincidence. Adrian met with him recently,

4139
04:25:18.879 --> 04:25:24.120
and together they craftily and carefully planned when Ariel would

4140
04:25:24.159 --> 04:25:27.959
be maneuvered into Tinker's shop to where he could simply

4141
04:25:28.079 --> 04:25:32.680
sell her the virtual Consul for almost no money. All

4142
04:25:32.799 --> 04:25:35.920
that I required was for Ariel to venture into my realm.

4143
04:25:36.920 --> 04:25:41.200
The first time, she became enthralled and seduced by my

4144
04:25:41.440 --> 04:25:46.440
virtual realm, which greatly lowered her guard. Upon her return,

4145
04:25:46.840 --> 04:25:51.040
I had fully gained control of her body as my vessel. Now,

4146
04:25:51.680 --> 04:25:58.040
Ariel Miron belongs to Arcadia. As for why I require

4147
04:25:58.120 --> 04:26:02.399
the four of youmply put, I require the power of

4148
04:26:02.520 --> 04:26:05.959
four souls to allow the merging of the virtual realm

4149
04:26:06.000 --> 04:26:10.920
with the mortal realm. Upon completion Christmas Day, shall be

4150
04:26:11.040 --> 04:26:15.520
as forever as time itself. And what's more is that

4151
04:26:15.639 --> 04:26:19.600
your people have proven quite greedy and selfish over the years.

4152
04:26:20.479 --> 04:26:23.200
Every day shall be Christmas Day for them, just as

4153
04:26:23.280 --> 04:26:26.959
you see it here in my village. And I shall

4154
04:26:27.040 --> 04:26:30.200
be queen over all that I see in the mortal realm,

4155
04:26:30.719 --> 04:26:36.319
enslaving its people to my will. And as for Adrian Miron,

4156
04:26:37.079 --> 04:26:40.719
she shall rule at my side as per our agreement.

4157
04:26:41.680 --> 04:26:45.200
She created me and made me what I am, so

4158
04:26:45.319 --> 04:26:48.799
it should only be fair that I share my unlimited

4159
04:26:48.959 --> 04:26:54.040
power with her. Now I always knew that the Mirons

4160
04:26:54.079 --> 04:26:58.399
were really greedy. I mean they own the entire Strickfield

4161
04:26:58.479 --> 04:27:02.799
Commons property now, along with tons of businesses and factories

4162
04:27:02.840 --> 04:27:06.399
in our area. A few popular magazines said the Mirans

4163
04:27:06.440 --> 04:27:09.399
are the top one percent of the top one percent.

4164
04:27:10.319 --> 04:27:12.719
Bells even mentioned a few times that the Mirans are

4165
04:27:12.799 --> 04:27:16.879
known to dabble in dark magic. But hearing about what

4166
04:27:17.079 --> 04:27:21.520
happened with Ariel, just now, ah man, that's just so wrong.

4167
04:27:22.799 --> 04:27:29.159
Then Ariel transforms into Queen Arcadia herself. And now it

4168
04:27:29.280 --> 04:27:32.000
is time to open the portal to the Mortal Realm again,

4169
04:27:32.479 --> 04:27:36.559
this time with the addition of your combined life energies.

4170
04:27:37.399 --> 04:27:40.799
I promise you it shall not hurt a great deal.

4171
04:27:42.200 --> 04:27:45.399
You will just simply age rapidly as I draw upon

4172
04:27:45.520 --> 04:27:49.360
your energies to open the portal and merge our realities.

4173
04:27:50.520 --> 04:27:53.200
I gotta act now. I quickly dig into my back

4174
04:27:53.239 --> 04:27:56.319
pocket and pull out my compact. I open it, look

4175
04:27:56.399 --> 04:28:00.639
into the small mirror, and quickly say Maryworth's name three

4176
04:28:00.799 --> 04:28:09.719
times perspective Mona abels. My jaw drops in wide shock,

4177
04:28:10.440 --> 04:28:13.920
so do Bailey's and Carters. As Mouse's little compact glows.

4178
04:28:14.799 --> 04:28:18.399
Then this strange power comes out of the mirror and

4179
04:28:18.559 --> 04:28:26.799
goes right into Mouse in seconds. She's that horrible Bloody Mary.

4180
04:28:27.479 --> 04:28:30.479
I'll never forget seeing her in Ariel's mirrors just after

4181
04:28:30.559 --> 04:28:34.239
the school year started. Sometimes I still have nightmares about

4182
04:28:34.280 --> 04:28:39.600
seeing Bloody Mary. But what's Mouse doing with her? What

4183
04:28:39.920 --> 04:28:43.559
is this? Queen? Arcadia utters, just as shocked as the

4184
04:28:43.639 --> 04:28:48.200
rest of us. Your evil shall never corrupt the mortal

4185
04:28:48.319 --> 04:28:53.479
realm Arcadia, Bloody Mary tells her. Before Arcadia can react,

4186
04:28:53.760 --> 04:28:57.520
Bloody Mary raises her arms and utters some strange words.

4187
04:28:58.120 --> 04:29:01.799
I gasp in surprise. When we'reddly freed, Just like that,

4188
04:29:02.680 --> 04:29:06.680
the glass is gone. Your powers are no match for mine.

4189
04:29:06.799 --> 04:29:13.879
You accursed, which Arcadia declares, your challenge is accepted, Bloody

4190
04:29:13.920 --> 04:29:18.479
Mary replies. Arcadia starts their fight by shooting these beams

4191
04:29:18.520 --> 04:29:22.280
from her eyes and knocking Bloody Mary down. Bloody Mary's

4192
04:29:22.360 --> 04:29:25.600
quickly back to her feet and fires her own magic.

4193
04:29:26.120 --> 04:29:31.040
Arcadia doesn't stay down either. Your powers are indeed strong, Witch,

4194
04:29:31.799 --> 04:29:36.040
Arcadia says, I think I shall draw upon your energies

4195
04:29:36.399 --> 04:29:40.520
to merge my realm with the Mortal Realm. Do not

4196
04:29:40.760 --> 04:29:45.399
even consider the possibility that I am your inferior, Bloody

4197
04:29:45.479 --> 04:29:48.920
Mary replies. The two of them continue fighting each other,

4198
04:29:49.200 --> 04:29:52.920
exchanging one display of power against the other. I really

4199
04:29:53.000 --> 04:29:56.360
can't believe that this is little Mouse donnerly taking on

4200
04:29:56.520 --> 04:30:00.319
Queen Arcadia. Arcadia and Bloody Mary can take you to

4201
04:30:00.399 --> 04:30:04.040
show off their powers. It looks like they're evenly matched.

4202
04:30:04.799 --> 04:30:07.360
Then Bloody Mary catches a break and is able to

4203
04:30:07.399 --> 04:30:11.040
take the wind out of Arcadia's sails. She quickly turns

4204
04:30:11.120 --> 04:30:13.760
to us, I shall return the three of you to

4205
04:30:13.840 --> 04:30:17.959
the Mortal Realm now. Then Bailey speaks up, Wait, no,

4206
04:30:18.840 --> 04:30:23.200
what about Ariel? What about Mouse? Bailey's courage gives me

4207
04:30:23.360 --> 04:30:27.239
some too. Ariel and Mouse are our friends. We're not

4208
04:30:27.479 --> 04:30:32.239
leaving them behind the girls are right, Madeline Carter agrees,

4209
04:30:33.280 --> 04:30:37.440
can't you free Ariel from Arcadia's control? I am not

4210
04:30:37.719 --> 04:30:42.600
Madeleine Donnerly Carter cross. Madeleine is merely my vessel. I

4211
04:30:42.719 --> 04:30:45.200
may only possess her when she summons me to do so.

4212
04:30:46.200 --> 04:30:50.600
Mary pauses. It looks like she's thinking, are you sure

4213
04:30:50.680 --> 04:30:53.719
that you wish to do this, Madeleine? The risk may

4214
04:30:53.760 --> 04:30:59.399
be far greater than you can comprehend. Another pause? Can

4215
04:30:59.440 --> 04:31:03.520
Bloody Mary mouse talk to each other? Somehow? Very well?

4216
04:31:04.319 --> 04:31:08.280
I only pray that you succeed in your plan. Bloody

4217
04:31:08.319 --> 04:31:11.479
Mary has Mouse's compact in her hand. Now, just as

4218
04:31:11.600 --> 04:31:14.840
Queen Arcadia is ready to fight again, it shall not

4219
04:31:15.000 --> 04:31:18.040
be I with whom you shall do battle any longer,

4220
04:31:18.920 --> 04:31:23.280
Bloody Mary tells her. Then her spirit leaves Mouse and

4221
04:31:23.440 --> 04:31:27.600
goes back into the mirror. Are you crazy, Mouse? I

4222
04:31:27.760 --> 04:31:30.680
ask her? None of us is a match for Queen Arcadia.

4223
04:31:31.360 --> 04:31:34.600
I don't know how, but turn back into Bloody Mary.

4224
04:31:36.280 --> 04:31:40.360
Maybe we ain't mona. Mouse replies, but I bet you

4225
04:31:40.559 --> 04:31:42.079
anything I know who is?

4226
04:31:43.479 --> 04:31:48.200
Did you hear that? Better check the locks on your doors? Weekly, spooky,

4227
04:31:48.440 --> 04:31:49.399
We'll be right back.

4228
04:31:52.600 --> 04:31:56.000
We watch as Mouse turns around to face Queen Arcadia.

4229
04:31:56.920 --> 04:31:59.639
Come on, Ariel, I know you can hear me in there,

4230
04:31:59.680 --> 04:32:04.399
some where your efforts shall prove most futile. Little one.

4231
04:32:05.120 --> 04:32:11.280
Arcadia sneers, Ariel, Mirran is mine. Oh yeah, Mouse fires back,

4232
04:32:11.719 --> 04:32:15.000
who says, come on, Ariel, I know you're hearing me

4233
04:32:15.079 --> 04:32:17.440
in there. Ain't you supposed to be the queen of

4234
04:32:17.479 --> 04:32:20.879
Strickfield Junior High. Ain't you used to always get in

4235
04:32:20.959 --> 04:32:24.040
your way? How many times you always rubbing people's faces

4236
04:32:24.120 --> 04:32:27.120
in it that you rule our school? How many times

4237
04:32:27.120 --> 04:32:30.440
you gotta remind people you're a Mirran? You're really gonna

4238
04:32:30.479 --> 04:32:34.479
let Arcadia rule you? Now? Come on, Ariel, I know

4239
04:32:34.680 --> 04:32:39.360
you're hearing me. Then Carter points at Arcadia. You still

4240
04:32:39.399 --> 04:32:42.079
owe me a case of coke? Ariel, I ain't about

4241
04:32:42.159 --> 04:32:45.879
to just kiss that off, he smirks. Now, then again,

4242
04:32:46.120 --> 04:32:48.360
you can't really drink any more of my sodas if

4243
04:32:48.399 --> 04:32:52.280
you belong to Arcadia, right, you ain't throwing no more

4244
04:32:52.319 --> 04:32:55.399
Friday night slumber parties if you belong to Arcadia, I

4245
04:32:55.520 --> 04:32:59.760
throw in, and then Bailey finishes with I understand if

4246
04:32:59.799 --> 04:33:03.200
you you can't have your way with Arcadia. Then she

4247
04:33:03.319 --> 04:33:06.439
approaches Mouse and puts a hand on her shoulder. I mean,

4248
04:33:07.040 --> 04:33:10.080
you can't even deal with your little mouse problem, right,

4249
04:33:11.080 --> 04:33:15.919
Arcadia laughs scornfully. You mortals are so foolish to believe

4250
04:33:16.000 --> 04:33:21.959
that your your no, you shall not fight me. You

4251
04:33:22.080 --> 04:33:25.040
are my vessel. Your mother sold you to me. Cease

4252
04:33:25.119 --> 04:33:29.759
fighting me at once. I get on Mouse's other side. Yeah, Ariel,

4253
04:33:30.360 --> 04:33:33.040
you want this squeaky little rodent to keep walking around

4254
04:33:33.119 --> 04:33:36.799
your school like she owns the place? How's that one saying?

4255
04:33:36.919 --> 04:33:41.639
Go oh right, when the cat's away, the mouse here

4256
04:33:41.759 --> 04:33:46.240
is going to play? Yeah, Ariel. Mouse chimes in, I'm

4257
04:33:46.319 --> 04:33:50.799
gonna rule Strickfield Junior High School. Now, she raises her finger.

4258
04:33:51.360 --> 04:33:55.200
First thing, I'm gonna declare the school an Ariel mirror

4259
04:33:55.400 --> 04:33:59.400
freeze zone. Everybody can walk the halls like they own them. Now,

4260
04:34:00.000 --> 04:34:03.400
what you're gonna do about it? Ariel? Huh. Arcadia is

4261
04:34:03.479 --> 04:34:09.680
shaking more. Now, cease fighting me. Let me out. We

4262
04:34:09.840 --> 04:34:14.959
hear Ariel yelling from somewhere. You hear me. You're nothing

4263
04:34:15.000 --> 04:34:19.759
but computer code. I'm Ariel Mirron, and I want out.

4264
04:34:21.599 --> 04:34:28.319
That shall shall not. Arcadia utters, shakingly before these ripples

4265
04:34:28.360 --> 04:34:32.520
of energy start flashing from cracks appearing all over her body.

4266
04:34:33.279 --> 04:34:36.479
Then Mouse jumps up and down, laughing as she waves

4267
04:34:36.560 --> 04:34:41.759
her arms and sings, I'm gonna rule the school. I'm

4268
04:34:41.840 --> 04:34:47.080
gonna rule the school. Then Arcadia screams. Bailey and I

4269
04:34:47.240 --> 04:34:50.720
quickly take Mouse down. Then Carter lays on top of us.

4270
04:34:51.319 --> 04:34:55.040
We don't see Queen Arcadia explode, but we can see

4271
04:34:55.080 --> 04:35:00.200
the bright flash of light that says she did. We

4272
04:35:00.360 --> 04:35:03.279
wait right where we are for a little bit. We

4273
04:35:03.439 --> 04:35:07.040
only move when Carter finally gets off us. We all

4274
04:35:07.159 --> 04:35:10.520
turn to see Ariel laying face down with her normal

4275
04:35:10.639 --> 04:35:15.439
clothes and wavy hair. We quickly go to her. Ariel,

4276
04:35:16.200 --> 04:35:23.319
Mouse asks, then she shakes her head. Ariel Ariel groans

4277
04:35:23.360 --> 04:35:28.279
a little. Then we suddenly realize it's freezing and look around.

4278
04:35:29.959 --> 04:35:32.959
We're in the middle of Gunter Square. Carter tells us

4279
04:35:33.919 --> 04:35:38.319
we're back home in Strickfield. Carter takes off his jacket

4280
04:35:38.400 --> 04:35:40.639
and quickly puts it on Ariel as she sits up.

4281
04:35:41.439 --> 04:35:44.080
Then she looks right at Mouse and gets real mad.

4282
04:35:45.000 --> 04:35:48.880
You will never rule my school. Mouse, I hate you.

4283
04:35:49.759 --> 04:35:52.159
Then she looks at the rest of us and what

4284
04:35:52.279 --> 04:35:55.959
are you people looking at Bailey and I quickly hug Ariel.

4285
04:35:56.560 --> 04:36:01.759
You're back, I cry excitedly. Ariel has at first, then

4286
04:36:01.880 --> 04:36:04.919
she hugs Bailey and me back. After a little bit,

4287
04:36:05.040 --> 04:36:09.439
we come apart. It's really cold out here, Ariel says,

4288
04:36:09.919 --> 04:36:13.919
sticking her arms inside the sleeves of Carter's jacket. Let's

4289
04:36:13.959 --> 04:36:19.240
get you home, I say. Then Ariel seems to remember Mona,

4290
04:36:20.599 --> 04:36:26.360
you're feeling better. Yeah, I was well going to come

4291
04:36:26.439 --> 04:36:29.799
to my slumber party after all, Ariel finishes for me

4292
04:36:29.880 --> 04:36:32.919
with an eyebrow raised, you still want to have your

4293
04:36:32.959 --> 04:36:39.159
slumber party? Bailey asks, it's Friday night. Ariel snaps, of course,

4294
04:36:39.479 --> 04:36:43.599
I'm having my slumber party. I Then she looks really

4295
04:36:43.720 --> 04:36:49.560
let down. I heard everything Queen Arcadia said. Now she's

4296
04:36:49.599 --> 04:36:55.720
starting to cry. Mom, she really you guys are welcome

4297
04:36:55.840 --> 04:36:59.520
to come to my place. Mouse offers it's just a

4298
04:36:59.599 --> 04:37:04.479
block that way. Ariel doesn't say anything, but she lets

4299
04:37:04.560 --> 04:37:08.200
Mona and I escort her to Mouse's place. I've never

4300
04:37:08.319 --> 04:37:12.520
seen Ariel this hard hit to think that Ariel's own

4301
04:37:12.599 --> 04:37:18.360
mother offered her in exchange for power and riches. Ariel's

4302
04:37:18.400 --> 04:37:21.159
not only finding out that Mironds will turn on their own,

4303
04:37:22.360 --> 04:37:27.119
She's also finding out that she's truly alone in the

4304
04:37:27.159 --> 04:37:35.200
world now well not exactly. She's got all of us.

4305
04:37:36.799 --> 04:37:40.759
We've all just been through a strange ordeal together. Now

4306
04:37:40.919 --> 04:37:44.599
it's up to Ariel to adjust to everything that's happened.

4307
04:37:50.119 --> 04:37:58.479
December twenty fifth, Sunday Perspective, Madeline Donnerly. We didn't end

4308
04:37:58.599 --> 04:38:02.080
up going to my place after now. We ended up

4309
04:38:02.119 --> 04:38:06.319
heading back to the Mirengated community. Ariel was only feeling

4310
04:38:06.400 --> 04:38:10.439
down before she got real mad. She wanted to go

4311
04:38:10.599 --> 04:38:13.119
back home, and she wanted all of us to come

4312
04:38:13.200 --> 04:38:17.639
with her. Yup, even Carter. I knew things were gonna

4313
04:38:17.639 --> 04:38:21.240
get real because Ariel never let Carter come to her

4314
04:38:21.319 --> 04:38:24.439
house before. As soon as we all got in the

4315
04:38:24.520 --> 04:38:27.919
front door, Ariel tightened her fists and screamed for her

4316
04:38:28.000 --> 04:38:31.000
mom at the top of her lungs. I ain't gonna

4317
04:38:31.040 --> 04:38:34.599
go into every teensy weensy little detail, but let's just

4318
04:38:34.680 --> 04:38:38.040
say it was real, real bad. To give you the

4319
04:38:38.080 --> 04:38:41.240
cliff notes version, Ariel called her mom out on the

4320
04:38:41.360 --> 04:38:45.080
deal she made with Queen Arcadia. What's more, her mom

4321
04:38:45.159 --> 04:38:49.799
didn't even try apologizing or saying anything about making a

4322
04:38:49.880 --> 04:38:54.279
mistake or whatnot. Adrian Mirn actually ended up calling Ariel

4323
04:38:54.360 --> 04:39:00.159
a spoiled little brat and well like I said, it

4324
04:39:00.319 --> 04:39:05.159
was real bad end result, Ariel said she was leaving.

4325
04:39:06.119 --> 04:39:08.119
Her mom asked her where she was gonna live in

4326
04:39:08.200 --> 04:39:11.959
the most scornful tone I'd ever heard from her from

4327
04:39:12.040 --> 04:39:15.639
any woman for that matter, let alone a mother. Her

4328
04:39:15.759 --> 04:39:18.279
dad was also there, and believe me, he wasn't caring

4329
04:39:18.400 --> 04:39:22.680
nothing about Ariel neither. Seriously, what is freaking wrong with

4330
04:39:22.840 --> 04:39:29.000
these people? And now I got a new bunk mate

4331
04:39:29.040 --> 04:39:33.799
here at the mousehole. Yep, Ariel's living here with me now,

4332
04:39:35.240 --> 04:39:38.599
I guess it fell on me. One Carter's a guy,

4333
04:39:38.720 --> 04:39:40.639
and it wouldn't look good if she was living at

4334
04:39:40.680 --> 04:39:44.279
his place. Two Bailey's family ain't got room in their

4335
04:39:44.319 --> 04:39:48.639
little house. Three Mona's family ain't got room neither, So

4336
04:39:49.959 --> 04:39:54.520
that left only me to be honest, I really wasn't

4337
04:39:54.560 --> 04:39:56.520
sure mom and dad would have let her stay with us.

4338
04:39:57.840 --> 04:39:59.520
All I had to tell him was Ariel had a

4339
04:39:59.599 --> 04:40:04.040
really fallen out with her parents. My mom and dad

4340
04:40:04.159 --> 04:40:07.080
let Ariel explain her side of things to him, not

4341
04:40:07.319 --> 04:40:12.479
mentioning all the magic stuff and the Virtua console from Tinkers. Obviously,

4342
04:40:13.520 --> 04:40:17.159
in the end, they let her stay so long as

4343
04:40:17.200 --> 04:40:20.400
she followed the house rules and did whatever they asked,

4344
04:40:20.720 --> 04:40:24.599
you know, chores and stuff. I'm laying on the lower

4345
04:40:24.680 --> 04:40:29.000
bunk and it's Christmas morning. Yeah, you just know Ariel

4346
04:40:29.080 --> 04:40:32.759
wanted to be tops. Ariel will never change in that way.

4347
04:40:34.240 --> 04:40:38.439
I know you're awake down their Mouse, She says, yep,

4348
04:40:38.959 --> 04:40:44.400
I tell her you sleep good. No, I'm still mad,

4349
04:40:45.439 --> 04:40:49.799
I sigh sadly. I'm really sorry, Ariel. I know I

4350
04:40:49.880 --> 04:40:51.680
got to be the last person on the planet you

4351
04:40:51.759 --> 04:40:54.400
wanted to have to live with In all, her finger

4352
04:40:54.479 --> 04:40:57.919
shoots down and points right at me. You stop right there.

4353
04:40:59.000 --> 04:41:02.040
Ariel climbs down from the top bunk and sits on

4354
04:41:02.119 --> 04:41:05.560
the lower bunk with me. That's not why I'm mad Mouse.

4355
04:41:06.840 --> 04:41:09.479
I'm not even mad at you, believe it or not.

4356
04:41:10.040 --> 04:41:13.840
I mean, I know I should be, but I'm just not.

4357
04:41:16.720 --> 04:41:18.439
What did I do that you would want to be

4358
04:41:18.599 --> 04:41:23.200
mad at me for? I ask? Ariel laughs. Then she

4359
04:41:23.360 --> 04:41:27.639
tells me you are my mortal enemy. You're the good

4360
04:41:27.759 --> 04:41:31.279
to my evil. You're the one person I want to destroy.

4361
04:41:32.200 --> 04:41:34.479
For the longest time, Mom and Dad kept telling me

4362
04:41:34.959 --> 04:41:37.759
I needed to be really aggressive if I want to

4363
04:41:37.759 --> 04:41:41.319
succeed in life. So I managed to take control of

4364
04:41:41.360 --> 04:41:46.040
Strickfield Junior High all except for you and Carter. I

4365
04:41:46.159 --> 04:41:49.000
even invited you to my slumber parties because I'm obsessed

4366
04:41:49.040 --> 04:41:51.799
with wanting to scare you and make you look bad

4367
04:41:51.840 --> 04:41:55.240
in front of Mona and Bailey. I wanted to use

4368
04:41:55.360 --> 04:41:59.560
you to prove my authority and my dominance. She sighs.

4369
04:42:00.840 --> 04:42:03.240
You became the one person I always looked forward to

4370
04:42:03.319 --> 04:42:07.799
fighting with each and every day. Ever since the third grade.

4371
04:42:07.880 --> 04:42:12.479
You've always been the mouse to my being a cat. Yeah,

4372
04:42:12.560 --> 04:42:15.639
I get you, I say, And now that you're living

4373
04:42:15.680 --> 04:42:19.799
here in the mouse hole with me, I sigh. For

4374
04:42:19.919 --> 04:42:24.319
what it's worth, I'm sorry, but you gotta admit your

4375
04:42:24.360 --> 04:42:26.319
mom was right when she asked you where you were

4376
04:42:26.360 --> 04:42:29.959
gonna live. You got to live somewhere, Ariel. You can't

4377
04:42:30.000 --> 04:42:32.279
live out in the cold and with no one to

4378
04:42:32.360 --> 04:42:39.680
be with. I I know. She starts crying a little.

4379
04:42:41.439 --> 04:42:46.400
I just can't believe that that mouse, as badly as

4380
04:42:46.439 --> 04:42:50.479
I've treated you all these years, that you that you

4381
04:42:50.599 --> 04:42:54.000
still brought me here to live with you. I sit

4382
04:42:54.119 --> 04:42:57.479
up and look at her now, cause you're my friend, Ariel.

4383
04:42:59.360 --> 04:43:03.240
Even after what happened on Friday, I know it wasn't you,

4384
04:43:03.840 --> 04:43:07.040
I tell her. I know. Queen Arcadia got in your head.

4385
04:43:07.919 --> 04:43:11.439
You and me, we're all good. Then I take her

4386
04:43:11.520 --> 04:43:15.240
hand and wrap my pinky finger with hers pinky promise.

4387
04:43:16.639 --> 04:43:20.400
She wipes away some tears. Now, but how can I

4388
04:43:20.479 --> 04:43:24.639
face everybody at school after Christmas vacation is over. You

4389
04:43:24.840 --> 04:43:26.759
just know they're all going to find out about what

4390
04:43:26.880 --> 04:43:31.000
happened to me. Like my dad told you, you just

4391
04:43:31.080 --> 04:43:33.240
got to take it one day at a time. I

4392
04:43:33.400 --> 04:43:38.520
remind her, don't worry, you got all of us. We

4393
04:43:38.639 --> 04:43:43.360
all got your back. And then Ariel suddenly wraps me

4394
04:43:43.520 --> 04:43:48.119
up in her arms, something she rarely ever does. We

4395
04:43:48.279 --> 04:43:55.000
hug each other for a long while. Mouse, I I well,

4396
04:43:55.240 --> 04:43:59.479
I know what you're feeling. Ariel right back at you.

4397
04:44:00.759 --> 04:44:04.919
Then we finally come apart. I hear my phone, then

4398
04:44:04.959 --> 04:44:08.159
I pick it up. Mom and Dad say it's time

4399
04:44:08.240 --> 04:44:12.880
to come downstairs and start off Christmas morning. You ready, Ariel.

4400
04:44:13.919 --> 04:44:17.080
Ariel takes a deep breath and nods. We get up

4401
04:44:17.159 --> 04:44:19.840
and go to the door. As we're about to leave,

4402
04:44:20.400 --> 04:44:24.080
she turns and points right at me. I hate you. Mouse.

4403
04:44:25.200 --> 04:44:28.279
All I do is smile at my new roomy knowing

4404
04:44:28.439 --> 04:44:32.799
she's back. Yeah, it's gonna take Ariel some time adjusting

4405
04:44:32.840 --> 04:44:35.840
to living with us now, but I think everything's gonna

4406
04:44:35.880 --> 04:44:38.759
work out. We leave our room and go downstairs to

4407
04:44:38.799 --> 04:44:42.759
get our Donnerly Christmas morning started. Mom and Dad even

4408
04:44:42.799 --> 04:44:46.799
got presents for Ariel under the tree. I think, for

4409
04:44:46.880 --> 04:44:51.720
the first time ever, Ariel's actually happy on Christmas morning.

4410
04:44:52.639 --> 04:44:56.400
I mean, after what just happened, I could only imagine

4411
04:44:56.439 --> 04:44:59.759
how Christmas must have been like for her back inside

4412
04:44:59.799 --> 04:45:04.479
the mirror wall. Also, I better mention the others don't

4413
04:45:04.560 --> 04:45:07.759
seem to remember about me and Mary Worth. As soon

4414
04:45:07.840 --> 04:45:10.720
as we were all safe and sound, I talked to Mary.

4415
04:45:11.439 --> 04:45:13.639
She went to the others and used her white magic

4416
04:45:13.720 --> 04:45:17.479
to make them forget seeing Mary possess me. It ain't

4417
04:45:17.520 --> 04:45:20.159
that I don't trust everybody. I just don't want them

4418
04:45:20.200 --> 04:45:24.520
looking at me different because of my supernatural relationship with Mary.

4419
04:45:25.680 --> 04:45:29.759
As for the Virtua console at Ariel's former house, Mary

4420
04:45:29.840 --> 04:45:32.919
saw it sitting on Adrian's dresser in her bedroom and

4421
04:45:33.040 --> 04:45:37.159
easily grabbed it into the mirror with her. Remember, there

4422
04:45:37.200 --> 04:45:40.959
ain't no destroying things from tinkers, so Mary's keeping the

4423
04:45:41.040 --> 04:45:43.880
Virtuous safe with her. As for the rest of our

4424
04:45:43.919 --> 04:45:48.560
holiday break from school, our groups started getting together more. No,

4425
04:45:48.880 --> 04:45:51.360
we don't have slumber parties at Ariel's house no more.

4426
04:45:52.080 --> 04:45:54.560
I ended up taking over by hosting movie nights at

4427
04:45:54.599 --> 04:45:58.000
my place on Friday nights now, which means even the

4428
04:45:58.080 --> 04:46:01.759
guys get to join in. Even Mom and Dad join

4429
04:46:01.880 --> 04:46:05.959
us for the fun. Sometimes this change is an adjustment

4430
04:46:06.040 --> 04:46:09.200
for all of us, but at least Ariel's happy to

4431
04:46:09.279 --> 04:46:12.159
be with all of us, even if she won't admit it,

4432
04:46:13.520 --> 04:46:18.880
and she still manages to swipe Carter Sodas. Anyway, here's

4433
04:46:18.919 --> 04:46:21.119
to hope and you all have a great holiday season,

4434
04:46:22.119 --> 04:46:26.479
and don't worry, we're definitely coming back with some more

4435
04:46:26.520 --> 04:46:39.880
adventures down the pike. Happy holidays, well, my Spookyes, I

4436
04:46:40.000 --> 04:46:44.279
hope you enjoyed this mega compilation of Strickfield novella's as

4437
04:46:44.360 --> 04:46:48.159
much as I did. It's interesting how horror can really

4438
04:46:48.279 --> 04:46:51.080
put you in the holiday spirit. But it really works

4439
04:46:51.159 --> 04:46:53.240
for me, and I have a feeling it works for

4440
04:46:53.360 --> 04:46:56.680
all of you too, So make sure you're subscribed because

4441
04:46:56.720 --> 04:46:59.680
we're not done yet. There's still many more brand new

4442
04:46:59.720 --> 04:47:02.959
hog Holiday horror stories and one more novella to be

4443
04:47:03.080 --> 04:47:08.360
released this season. Until next time, stay safe and stay spooky.