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Well, my spookys, it's your good buddy and narrator Enrique
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Kuto here with one more special malicious marathon of holiday
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horror to make sure you're having a very scary Christmas.
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I hope you've been enjoying these marathons as well as
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all the new content dropping all through the holiday season.
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We love a good scare, but especially during the holidays,
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something to take your mind off the hustle and bustle,
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the stress of preparing meals, or buying gifts, or missing
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a loved one. That's why we do this show, to
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bring you a little escape from whatever it is that
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ails you. So get comfortable, relax, have something nice and
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warm to drink as we enjoy these six terror tales.
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And it all starts at the psych Ward. Xmas at
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the psych Ward by Bruce Haney. It was snowing that
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Christmas Eve, but this didn't bring joy to Caleb because
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he had been sitting in the psych Ward for the
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last couple of weeks after a failed suicide attempt. He
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had expected to see his parents that night, but the
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recent snowstorm had kept them away. He had been surprised
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that the facility did celebrate the holidays. There was a
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tree decorated in the common area, as well as other
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non Christian themed holiday decorations. There were even gifts that
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had been delivered a few days earlier for the guests
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who were stuck there with no family visiting them. Guests
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is the term this particular hospital likes to use to
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refer to their pains. Being a guest was supposed to
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indicate that you were there temporarily. This was true for most,
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but not for all, the people at Sumpter Behavioral Health Center.
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Caleb was scheduled to be released in a few days,
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but he wasn't planning on making it through the night.
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He had pleaded his case to be let out before Christmas.
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He didn't want to end his life in a hospital.
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I'm not like the other crazy people in here. I'm normal,
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he had pleaded. The term crazy is not accepted around here,
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and I am pressed to remind you that attempting to
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take one's life is not the act of a normal mind.
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His psychiatrist had responded, it is when you've had the
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year that I have, Caleb told her. Caleb had always
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been a bit dramatic, but he was not exaggerating. His
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year had been truly awful. The first bad thing to
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happen was that he lost what he considered to be
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the love of his life. His name was Kyle, and
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he was a bit out of Caleb's league. While Caleb
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worked part time at a failing video game store, Kyle
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was moving up the ranks at his job and heading
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toward management. Kyle was also a real looker. Caleb wasn't
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a slob or ugly, but he was nowhere near as
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attractive as Kyle. This difference in prospects and his low
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self esteem made Caleb resent Kyle, and this resentment led
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to negativity and jealousy, which created a wedge in their friendship,
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a wedge that was just big enough for a man
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named Jacob to squeeze into. Caleb understood this in a
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way that only a person with poor self esteem can.
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Jacob was a ten and owned a condo before the
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age of five. Of course, I couldn't compete with that.
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Who could, Caleb had told his friend Sarah over coffee.
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You'll find someone else, she said, trying to console him. Sure,
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but he was the one. He was the love of
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my life, and I'll never ever be that happy again.
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Caleb whind. It was hard for Sarah to not roll
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her eyes at him. Sarah was a little older than
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he was and a bit wiser. It's going to be hard,
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she said. There will be other guys out there, not
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like Kyle. But think of it this way. You could
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get to fall in love again. How exciting is that,
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Sarah finished, I don't want to, Caleb told her, of
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course you do. You've always been a romantic. You're going
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to have more first dates. You get to experience that
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awkward moment of holding hands for the first time, kisses
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good night, and strange bedfellows, she told him, and gave
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him an exaggerated wink. Are you talking about my prospects
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or yours? Caleb asked, then laughed. Sarah could always make
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him feel better. They had been best friends since he
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was a junior and she was a sophomore. Her death
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two months later by a drunk driver was harder on
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him than losing Kyle. Those events happened before summer, and
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by the time Christmas came around, he had lost his job,
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had his car stolen and totaled by his insurance company,
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not because it was wrecked, but because two people were
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found smoking meth and fentanyl inside of it. He didn't
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have full coverage, so he was out of a vehicle
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to cap it off. Like a lyric from a sad
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country song. Even his damn dog ran away, the one
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Kyle had brought home for their second anniversary. Even before
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this awful year, Caleb had been depressed. He was a cutter,
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but still everyone was shocked when he tried to take
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his life by slashing his wrists at the health center.
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He didn't have access to razor blades, so he was
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going to make a noose out of the sheet from
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his bed. Before attempting to take his life, he decided
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to see what the other guests were doing in the
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common room. This decision to be social possibly saved his
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unwonted life. Less than an hour later, the killings would begin.
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Some of the other guests suffered from depression like Caleb,
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and some others had other mental challenges that they were
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going through. But one guest, unbeknownst to the others, was
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a full blown homicidal maniac. It was getting late, but
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a couple of other guests were sitting in the common
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room watching an old black and white Christmas movie. Hey Caleb,
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John said passively. Caleb liked him, okay enough, as long
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as John didn't start talking about politics. Merry Christmas, Caleb,
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Ethan said to him. Caleb thought Ethan was a good kid. Sadly,
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he too was a cutter, and a failed suicide attempt
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is what landed him in the hospital as well. Though
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Ethan did admit in group that he didn't want to die.
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I just I don't know. I couldn't stand it. I
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was so invisible to them. I thought if I died,
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they would care. They couldn't ignore me if they were
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planning my funeral, Ethan was saying, but was interrupted by
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you pussy, another guest, Tim had said and then laughed.
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John had been there too and laughed. Caleb felt for
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the kid, and that was why he kicked Tim's chair over,
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which also didn't help his case for being released before Christmas.
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When Tim fell to the ground, Mark, another patient who
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never spoke, started laughing and continued to do so while
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Tim and Caleb were separated and escorted out. This annoyed Tim,
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and he screamed at him shut the fuck up. Mark.
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Mark continued to laugh to the point that everyone felt
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unnerved by it. He was laughing because he knew when
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he started his massacre, Tim would be first Merry Christmas. Ethan,
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how are you doing tonight, Caleb asked, before sitting down
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in the common area. I'm doing okay. I wish I
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was at home. This would have been my last Christmas
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to spend living at my parents parent's house. Ethan said, yeah.
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Where do you expect to be next year? Caleb asked,
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University of Oregon. Ethan said, you're going to college. Caleb asked, well,
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my parents are paying for it, and I have the grades,
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and since the whole killing myself thing didn't work out,
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I should build myself a future. Ethan told Caleb, you
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are much smarter at your age than I was or am. Now.
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If I thought like you, I might not be spending
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my Christmas here with the likes of you two. No offense,
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Caleb said, and then laughed. John and Ethan laughed too.
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During their conversation, a nurse named Rob walked into the room.
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They thought they were going to be told to get
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to their own rooms, but he made a note of
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how many guests were in the common area. A few
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minutes later, Rob walked in with a tray with four mugs,
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the usual suspects, he said, while he handed them each
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a cup of hot chocolate. The three looked up at
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him with a questioning look. Merry Christmas. I wanted to
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do something nice. It's Christmas Eve, after all. Some of
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you guests don't deserve a treat. Some of you are
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a pain in my ass, Rob said, and then took
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a drink from his cup. John, you borderline don't deserve
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a treat, but you're with good company, so you can
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reap their reward. It is Christmas and all. Rob said,
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it's just hot chocolate. You're not sucking our dicks. Don't
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feel so high and mighty. Giving us a fifty cent
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cup of cocoa. John said, I can take it back.
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Rob said, calmly, not letting John get to him. No, no, sorry,
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thank you. Merry Christmas, John said. They all sat quietly
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after that, drinking their hot chocolate and watching the old
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Christmas movie. Then they heard the screaming.
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More scares to come weekly, spooky, We'll be right back.
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Rob was the first up and the first to run
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down the hall to find out what was going on. Billy,
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the other nighttime nurse, came out from the office and
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beat him to the room. Inside was an older gentleman
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named Ed, who had been in and out of places
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like this his whole life. He had a bit of
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a violent past, always attacking the people close to him,
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but never enough to do actual jail time. Ed was
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screaming because his roommate Tim was lying in his bed
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with his throat slit and his face slashed all up.
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Rob was the senior nurse there and quickly took charge
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of the situation. What happened here? Who did this? Rob asked,
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I don't know. He was like this when I came
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back from the bathroom, Ed said John. Caleb ethan, back
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to your rooms. Caleb, take Ed with you, and none
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of you let anyone except for the two of us in.
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Billy go back to the office and call nine one one.
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I'll look for the for the killer, Rob ordered, What
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if he tries to attack you? Billy asked, I've been
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taking self defense classes for years. Do you think I
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would work here around these crazies without some way of
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protecting myself? Rob asked, right, Billy said, you haven't been
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taking classes like I told you? Have you? Rob asked, well, I,
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Billy stammered, you fucking rookie just get to the damn phone, Billy,
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Rob shouted. Billy ran off, and John ethan ed and
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Caleb stared at Rob. Get to your rooms now, Rob said.
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They all turned and left. Rob yelled after them, sorry
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for saying crazies. Don't tell my boss please. Rob then
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went on down the hall to look for signs of
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the killer. John went to his room. The doors could
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only be locked with a key, so he decided that
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he would push his bed up against the door. He
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didn't know that the killer was hiding under his bed,
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and as soon as he got close enough, he heard snickering,
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and then before he could react, a hand with a
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stolen kitchen knife stabbed through his left shoe. The cheap
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hospital issued shoes did nothing to hinder the blade, though
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it did keep his now severed middle two toes close
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to where they had once belonged. John then fell to
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the floor, and the killer took the opportunity to slash
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his throat. As the blood sprayed, Mark laughed harder and harder.
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Billy heard the laughter, but before he could make it
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out of his office, the killer was there. Happy holidays,
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Mark said. Once Billy was taken care of, Mark went
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to the next phase of his plan. He knew that
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the landline phone was dead. He had severed it hours ago.
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He knew which line it was because he had severed
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it months earlier. When he first came up with the plan.
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Everyone had made a big stink about it. A technician
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had to come out and fix it, and they lost
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dessert for two days since no one would admit to
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cutting the line. Once in the office, the killer found
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what he hoped he would find In there, both nurses
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cell phones charging. He had made a mental note after
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weeks of watching their patterns that it was around this
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time each night that they plugged their phones in to charge.
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After a shifts worth of tik tok watching and instagramming,
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he acted quickly and methodically. He took each phone and
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shoved his knife through the screens. He then took the
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useless land line phone and smashed against the server equipment
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that provided internet to the building. With that done, he
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looked around the room for other opportunities to add to
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his chaos. He didn't find much, but hanging on the
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coat rack he saw something that he hoped he would find.
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He laughed the whole time as he grabbed the Santa
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Claus costume off the rack and put it on. The
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plan was going better than he had imagined. Luck was
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on his side. Caleb had dragged Ethan and Ed to
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his room. Caleb's roommate was sitting up in bed. What
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the fuck is going on out here? Steve yelled. Steve
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was at the health center because he attempted to light
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his former workplace on fire because he didn't receive a
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Christmas bonus. He didn't quite understand that former employees don't
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typically get Chris Miss bonuses. Steve was a bit of
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a hothead and was fired after he threw his boss's
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world's Best Boss mug at his own boss's head. People
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are getting killed, Steve, that is what the fuck is
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going on, Caleb explained for real. Steve asked Ed. Ed
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was older, and Steve trusted him. Ed shook his head
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up and down. This calmed Steve down. Who Steve asked
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Tim at least his throat was slashed. Ed said, I've
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heard two other screams since, I think possibly Billy too.
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Caleb added, fuck Tim got out in a couple of days,
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not that he wanted to. Billy was kind of a prick, though,
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Steve finished, don't speak ill of the dead? Ethan whispered,
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is Rob okay? Steve asked, Rob was a good guy.
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He had to make everyone follow the rules, but he
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did it in a respectful way, and he was respected
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for it as far as we know, Caleb said. At
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that moment, Rob had returned to the main corridor, not
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finding any signs of the killer. Rob wished there was
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more staff there. Billy and himself were it. Usually there
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were another too, but the holidays were always light. The
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staff wanted to be home with their families, and each
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year many guests were released early to make that possible.
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As soon as Rob made it back to the guest wing,
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he heard the laughter, and then the killer in the
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stolen Santa Claus outfit stepped out of the office. What
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are you doing? Rob asked. The killer just laughed. Are
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you Are you wearing my Santa Claus outfit? Rob asked?
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For the last four years, Rob had worn that costume
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every Christmas morning at the facility. Every year the guests
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would make fun of him for it, but he could
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tell from some that they did appreciate the effort. The
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killer didn't respond to his first question, so he asked another,
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what's going on in here, Rob asked, no response. Did
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you kill Tim? Rob asked? The killer shook his head yes,
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then made a cross with his two index fingers. Rob
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was confused until the killer then held up two fingers.
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You killed two others, Rob asked. The killer laughed, then
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decided to sprint towards Rob while pulling out the knife
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that he had tucked into the waistband of the Santa suit.
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Get away from me, Rob yelled back in Caleb's room,
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they had been listening to the exchange and when they
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heard the killer go after Rob. Without even thinking, Ethan
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pushed open the door. Caleb followed, stopping just long enough
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to grab a chair. Without knowing it, they were directly
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in the killer's path, who immediately adjusted his aim and
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went to stab Ethan. Caleb pushed Ethan out of the way.
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Ethan fell to the floor and rolled away unscathed. Caleb
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wasn't as lucky. The killer slashed the knife at him,
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cutting his wrist. Caleb watched as the blood from his
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arm hit the polished floor, and for a moment was
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taken back to a few weeks ago, when he was
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the one spilling his blood. It was a weird sensation.
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Caleb didn't feel scared. He felt violated. Cutting his wrist
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was something he did not something that was done to him.
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Caleb was filled with anger and swung the chair at
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the pseudo Santa as hard as he could. Then again,
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the killer held his arms up to protect himself from
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the blows, and then ran away. Once the killer was gone,
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Caleb looked over to Rob. You okay, he asked. Rob
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and Ethan looked him up and down. He was bleeding heavily,
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and they just witnessed him going primal while beating on
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the killer. Are you okay, Rob asked, I'm fine, Caleb said,
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while taking his hand and rubbing his hair back. Blood
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dripped onto his face. Caleb then held out his arm
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and looked at the cut again. Maybe not, Caleb said.
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Rob ran off, and moments later was back with a
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full first aid kit. If you're going to get attacked,
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let it be in a hospital type situation. Their first
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aid kits are usually well stocked. A moment after Rob
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finished fixing him up, the lights went out. He must
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have gotten to the breaker box, Rob said, cheerfully. Why
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is that good? Ethan asked. The box is located in
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the stairwell at the end of the West hallway, Rob said,
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while he got up and started walking, and Caleb asked,
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He's far enough away that it should be safe to
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go to my office and grab a flashlight and call
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the police if Billy hasn't already, Rob said. In the office,
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the three of them felt around for anything that could
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be a weapon. Rob eventually found a flashlight in a drawer.
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When he turned it on, it revealed that the stuff
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they were walking in was blood. The flashlight also helped
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them see where the blood had come from. Some was
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from Billy's lifeless body, while the rest came from Billy's head,
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which had been cut off and thrown onto the desk
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with little to no regard.
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You're not safe yet, Weekly Spooky will be right back.
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With the flashlight, it was also easy to find the
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useless phone. Rob then went for his own, which he
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found next to Billie's, both destroyed. Okay, okay, don't panic,
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Rob said to himself. If we can get to the
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breaker and turn it back on, we can use a
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computer to reach out to the police. There has to
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be a way to do that, right, Rob asked the two.
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Caleb frowned and pointed to the modem and the internet
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equipment that had been destroyed. What are we going to do?
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Ethan asked, I don't know. We could try to go
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the others and then run outside, but we're two miles
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from anything, and it's snowing pretty heavily outside. Rob said
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maybe we could just hide, Ethan suggested, or we could
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all come out into the open. Caleb said, you think,
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Rob asked, I think our strength is in our numbers,
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which we won't have if we don't act quickly. It's
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easy for him to take us out one by one.
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But when he attacked and there were three of us there,
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we walked away scathed, but we did walk away, Caleb explained.
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The three of them walked back to Caleb's room to
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grab Steve and ed, you have to come with us.
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Caleb told them I ain't going nowhere. We're safe in
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this room. Ed said, do you think so? How do
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you think Tim was killed in one of these rooms.
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We need to band together, and we need a spot
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where we have room to fight, Caleb explained. Caleb was persuasive,
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and as a group they went to each room looking
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for other survivors. They found John's dead body In one room,
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they found two other dead guests, each with a pillow
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over their head so they couldn't scream. He was going
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room to room. Rob said, maybe he's back in one
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snuck back to them when we were in the office,
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and now he's just waiting to jump out and stab
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one of us in the throat. Ed said, so we
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stay away from the rooms. Ethan said no. Caleb replied,
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then what Ed asked? We locked them, Rob explained, understanding
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what Caleb was getting at every one of them. Caleb finished.
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They went methodically down the corridor, locking the doors with
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Rob's keys. After each door was locked, one of them
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would put their ear and listen for any sign of life.
355
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Nothing was heard until they locked the second to last door.
356
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Ethan then put his ear to the door and heard
357
00:25:04.680 --> 00:25:08.680
a noise inside that he couldn't make out. Someone's in
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this room. Ethan whispered to the rest of them, whose
359
00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:17.440
room is that? Steve asked, It's been empty, has been
360
00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:20.720
for a week. Rob said, then it has to be
361
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the killer. Caleb replied, let's get him. Then Ed said
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it's safer to just lock him up. There's no exit
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from that room. Rob explained. Then the last door that
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00:25:32.839 --> 00:25:36.039
they were about to check flung open. Ed was the
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closest to the door, so he was the one to
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be stabbed by the killer in the Santa Claus suit.
367
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To the common room, Rob yelled when the killer pulled
368
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out his knife, Caleb grabbed Ed and dragged him. Ed
369
00:25:49.720 --> 00:25:53.759
was screaming, don't leave me. The killer followed and continued
370
00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:58.160
to stab poor Ed with every step they made. Eventually,
371
00:25:59.200 --> 00:26:02.799
Ed's body went limp and there was nothing for Caleb
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00:26:02.839 --> 00:26:07.160
to do but drop it. The killer then swung his
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00:26:07.240 --> 00:26:11.200
knife at Caleb, just barely missing his throat. Why are
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00:26:11.240 --> 00:26:17.880
you doing this, Caleb yelled. The killer laughed, Mark Caleb asked.
375
00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:21.680
The killer swung his knife at Caleb again. He had
376
00:26:21.720 --> 00:26:23.960
to run to the common room after that, and by
377
00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:26.400
the time he got there, the others had gathered what
378
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weapons they could find, which wasn't very much. Ethan was
379
00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:33.839
smart and grabbed the nutcracker that was out as a
380
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Christmas decoration. Rob was practical and grabbed a chair, while
381
00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:41.799
Steve yielded the heaviest Christmas package he could find under
382
00:26:41.799 --> 00:26:45.640
the tree, which wasn't all that heavy. To get away
383
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from the attack, Caleb ran behind the tree. Rob swung
384
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the chair, which the killer grabbed with his free hand.
385
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Rob looked at the killer, shocked that his knife wielding
386
00:26:55.359 --> 00:26:58.279
Santa Claus was able to stop the chair's momentum with
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only one hand. Rob thought, that's not just strength, that
388
00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:08.000
is the power of being truly crazy. The killer then
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00:27:08.039 --> 00:27:10.839
put the knife in his pocket and grabbed the chair
390
00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:14.279
with his other hand and made moves to fling Rob
391
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Steve made his way over to hit the killer Santa
392
00:27:17.480 --> 00:27:21.519
with the package, but this had little effect. Ethan had
393
00:27:21.559 --> 00:27:24.279
better luck, smacking him on the shoulder with the heavy
394
00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:28.279
wood nutcracker. The killer screamed out in pain and dropped
395
00:27:28.279 --> 00:27:31.240
his hold on the chair. While this was going on,
396
00:27:31.359 --> 00:27:33.519
Caleb was trying to figure out what he could do
397
00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:38.839
to help the situation, and finally he found his weapon
398
00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:43.559
of choice. It was unconventional, to say the least. Caleb
399
00:27:43.640 --> 00:27:46.119
grabbed the wreath that hung on the wall and waited
400
00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:49.960
for an opportunity, which came suddenly after Ethan hit the
401
00:27:50.039 --> 00:27:53.920
killer another time in the head. The killer responded by
402
00:27:53.920 --> 00:27:57.799
pulling his knife back out and slashing Ethan across the chest.
403
00:27:58.759 --> 00:28:04.960
He then turned around and ran. Caleb was furious as
404
00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:07.319
he thought about the future that young Ethan could have.
405
00:28:07.880 --> 00:28:10.799
Once he was out of there, Caleb ran after him
406
00:28:10.839 --> 00:28:13.480
and put the wreath over the killer's head and then
407
00:28:13.640 --> 00:28:17.599
used it to swing him into the wall repeatedly. During
408
00:28:17.640 --> 00:28:20.400
the struggle, the killer stabbed Caleb in the thigh, but
409
00:28:20.559 --> 00:28:24.799
Caleb hardly noticed. Eventually, the killer went limp from his head,
410
00:28:24.839 --> 00:28:28.720
repeatedly hitting the wall. Caleb then grabbed a knife from
411
00:28:28.759 --> 00:28:33.279
the killer's lifeless body. He was still furious and made
412
00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:36.519
moves to turn the killer over to slash his throat.
413
00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:40.680
Rob was taking care of Ethan's wounds during this, and
414
00:28:40.759 --> 00:28:46.400
Steve walked over to watch. But Caleb was no killer
415
00:28:47.279 --> 00:28:50.759
and had a change of heart. I can't do it,
416
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Caleb said, and then he stood up to check on Ethan.
417
00:28:56.880 --> 00:29:00.400
He's gonna make it. He just barely nicked him. Rob
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00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:05.519
told him, give me your keys, Caleb said. Rob unhooked
419
00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:08.160
them from the loop on his pants and threw them
420
00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:13.240
to Caleb. I think he's dead, but just in case,
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00:29:13.319 --> 00:29:17.519
we should lock him up, Caleb explained to Steve. Steve
422
00:29:17.599 --> 00:29:20.079
and Caleb then each grabbed a side of the wreath
423
00:29:20.400 --> 00:29:23.000
that was around his neck and dragged him to the
424
00:29:23.079 --> 00:29:26.279
room where they had heard the sound. Caleb handed the
425
00:29:26.359 --> 00:29:29.559
keys over to Steve to unlock it, and Caleb held
426
00:29:29.559 --> 00:29:34.480
the knife out just in case. When they opened the door,
427
00:29:35.359 --> 00:29:42.640
they heard what had been making the sound. Inside. The
428
00:29:42.759 --> 00:29:48.720
music came from a radio. Caleb and Steve laughed, then
429
00:29:48.880 --> 00:29:55.039
dragged the killer into the room. Momentarily, they were distracted
430
00:29:55.680 --> 00:30:01.200
as the song faded down and the radio DJ came on. Well,
431
00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:04.960
here we are. It's twelve oh one and it's officially Christmas.
432
00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:09.880
Merry Christmas to all of you KWHG listeners. Hope you
433
00:30:09.920 --> 00:30:12.400
were good and didn't make it onto Santa's naughty list.
434
00:30:12.799 --> 00:30:15.759
This is your pal Big Bobby, and the Christmas classics
435
00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:19.400
are going to keep on a coming. Here's deck the halls,
436
00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:31.319
he said, and the song began. That was the moment
437
00:30:31.720 --> 00:30:34.319
that the killer tried to leap up and grab the
438
00:30:34.359 --> 00:30:38.599
knife back from Caleb. Without thinking, Caleb stabbed him in
439
00:30:38.640 --> 00:30:42.960
the throat. The killer stared at him with hatred in
440
00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:48.480
his eyes. Caleb then twisted the blade, and a moment later,
441
00:30:49.680 --> 00:30:54.599
all life left the killer. Steve reached down and pulled
442
00:30:54.640 --> 00:30:58.440
off the beard and hat to reveal what Caleb had
443
00:30:58.480 --> 00:31:03.240
already figured out. It was Mark who would never laugh
444
00:31:03.319 --> 00:31:09.039
his crazy laugh again. With that done, Caleb got up,
445
00:31:09.960 --> 00:31:13.440
walked over to the radio and turned up the volume.
446
00:31:14.640 --> 00:31:18.119
As they walked back to Ethan and Rob the song
447
00:31:18.359 --> 00:31:34.079
continued during the struggle of the night. Caleb couldn't wait
448
00:31:34.119 --> 00:31:36.599
for it to be over, for everybody to be safe,
449
00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:40.799
so he could go back to his room and kill himself.
450
00:31:41.960 --> 00:31:45.759
And now that he had the killer's knife, he was
451
00:31:45.839 --> 00:31:49.920
more prepared than before. He was originally going to hang
452
00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:53.519
himself with his sheet, but now that it was over,
453
00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:58.400
he just wanted to check on his friends. He had
454
00:31:58.440 --> 00:32:03.359
seen enough death. It had been a terrible year, but
455
00:32:03.559 --> 00:32:07.319
fighting for his and other people's lives made Caleb finally
456
00:32:07.400 --> 00:32:12.000
see value in life. So he let go of the
457
00:32:12.079 --> 00:32:25.480
knife and it fell to the floor. Christmas at Pendleton
458
00:32:25.599 --> 00:32:31.640
Station by Rob Fields. I have had much time to
459
00:32:31.759 --> 00:32:35.880
ponder things since my birth on October thirty first, two
460
00:32:35.920 --> 00:32:39.319
thousand and ninety nine. First, I would awaken in a
461
00:32:39.359 --> 00:32:42.039
crypt and leave it to find my way to what
462
00:32:42.200 --> 00:32:46.279
was once the village of Strickfield. I would only get
463
00:32:46.319 --> 00:32:49.359
to learn very little there, since I was attacked and
464
00:32:49.480 --> 00:32:54.319
captured by a cowardly despot named Sarathos, who would prove
465
00:32:54.440 --> 00:32:59.599
to be my first challenge. After defeating him and freeing
466
00:32:59.680 --> 00:33:03.440
several organic women whom he captured for an offering to
467
00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:08.799
hell Weaver, I received new mission files. Currently, I am
468
00:33:08.920 --> 00:33:12.480
en route to the Pendleton way Station. Bear in mind
469
00:33:12.480 --> 00:33:15.319
that this destination is not part of the village of
470
00:33:15.359 --> 00:33:19.559
Pendleton itself. There is a vital component that I must
471
00:33:19.599 --> 00:33:22.920
acquire for when I reach my destination in Shore City.
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00:33:23.519 --> 00:33:28.039
Upon completion of my other mission objectives, I should have
473
00:33:28.160 --> 00:33:32.559
arrived at Pendleton way Station many days ago. Shortly after
474
00:33:32.599 --> 00:33:35.039
I began my journey, I was forced to engage a
475
00:33:35.119 --> 00:33:39.480
pack of werewolves in battle. After defeating them, I continued
476
00:33:39.519 --> 00:33:42.680
on with my journey. Nearly a week later, I determined
477
00:33:42.720 --> 00:33:46.119
that the sun would rise again and needed to seek shelter.
478
00:33:46.759 --> 00:33:50.519
I found an abandoned dwelling and waited the seemingly endless
479
00:33:50.599 --> 00:33:53.599
day out. I would have to be with patient, since
480
00:33:53.599 --> 00:33:57.359
I recalled in a former life that sunlight was deadly
481
00:33:57.400 --> 00:34:00.359
to me. The day began on the second week of
482
00:34:00.400 --> 00:34:04.480
November and lasted nearly a month. Fortunately, I do not
483
00:34:04.519 --> 00:34:09.320
require sustenance the way organic beings do. However, I would
484
00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:13.000
require plant based nutrition in order to maintain my skin base.
485
00:34:13.840 --> 00:34:18.360
Descending the basement, I discovered many bottles of vintage wine.
486
00:34:18.400 --> 00:34:21.400
Scanning the bottles, I determined the wine to be quite
487
00:34:21.440 --> 00:34:26.199
suitable and gradually consumed it. When Earth had finally moved
488
00:34:26.199 --> 00:34:28.840
to where the sun would finally set, I was able
489
00:34:28.840 --> 00:34:31.800
to finally leave the dwelling and continue on my journey.
490
00:34:32.440 --> 00:34:35.760
I walked many desolate roads and through dense forests until
491
00:34:35.800 --> 00:34:40.760
I would reach the railroad tracks that I required. I
492
00:34:40.800 --> 00:34:43.679
had not walked a mile upon the tracks when a
493
00:34:43.679 --> 00:34:47.320
snowstorm began. The winds would remind me of my berth
494
00:34:47.360 --> 00:34:51.840
in that crypt on Halloween night. According to my internal clock,
495
00:34:52.440 --> 00:34:58.760
the day is December twenty first, two thousand and ninety nine. Unfortunately,
496
00:34:58.840 --> 00:35:01.719
these random weather p patterns and long days and nights
497
00:35:01.800 --> 00:35:04.840
happened as a result of the hell Weaver Holocaust of
498
00:35:04.880 --> 00:35:09.039
October thirty one, two thousand and thirty. Hell Weaver was
499
00:35:09.159 --> 00:35:13.000
victorious against the Battleguard who opposed her and conquered the
500
00:35:13.039 --> 00:35:17.480
multiverse using the reality sphere. She only proved victorious because
501
00:35:17.559 --> 00:35:21.480
one of the Battleguard turned against her allies and joined
502
00:35:21.480 --> 00:35:25.159
hell Weaver. With the epicenter of the hell Weaver Holocaust
503
00:35:25.280 --> 00:35:28.840
being upon this world, the Goddess herself unleashed the power
504
00:35:29.199 --> 00:35:32.679
of the reality sphere. It was this event that forever
505
00:35:32.760 --> 00:35:37.039
altered Earth's axis. Thanks to my advanced software, I am
506
00:35:37.079 --> 00:35:40.360
able to determine how long the days, nights, and weather
507
00:35:40.400 --> 00:35:44.000
patterns will last. The nights shall last until the first
508
00:35:44.079 --> 00:35:48.559
hours of December twenty fifth, two thousand ninety nine. That
509
00:35:48.639 --> 00:35:51.880
shall be sufficient time for me to reach the Pendleton
510
00:35:51.920 --> 00:35:55.519
way Station. This is the first time that I have
511
00:35:55.559 --> 00:35:59.360
experienced winter weather since my birth. I can feel the cold,
512
00:35:59.400 --> 00:36:02.559
in the wind, in the snow. No organic being of51300:36:02.599 --> 00:36:07.320
this world could endure these conditions without suitable clothing. Organics51400:36:07.360 --> 00:36:09.960
would look upon me and determine that I am not51500:36:10.119 --> 00:36:16.760
adequately dressed for these conditions. Myself, however, I am a machine.51600:36:16.800 --> 00:36:21.039
My skin base retains its softness and composition in spite51700:36:21.079 --> 00:36:24.920
of the negative temperatures. Even my long metallic blonde hair51800:36:25.000 --> 00:36:30.199
remains dry and shiny. My clothing is quite wet. However, nevertheless,51900:36:30.400 --> 00:36:33.800
I continue my journey and enjoy this change in the weather.52000:36:34.400 --> 00:36:38.280
Before the weather was rainy. With the onset of the winter,52100:36:38.920 --> 00:36:42.400
the rain has become snow. Just as I do not52200:36:42.440 --> 00:36:46.599
require sustenance, I do not require rest my power core52300:36:46.719 --> 00:36:50.840
provides me with limitless energy. Again, I find myself wondering52400:36:50.880 --> 00:36:53.880
why the life I feel was placed into this metallic body.52500:36:55.320 --> 00:36:57.639
I have had many days to ponder the meaning of52600:36:57.639 --> 00:37:00.960
my very existence. When I was in that dwelling awaiting52700:37:01.000 --> 00:37:04.599
for the sun to descend, I was given the memories, appearance,52800:37:04.599 --> 00:37:10.159
and powers of a vampire Treylander hybrid named Cassilia Tabon. However,52900:37:10.920 --> 00:37:15.960
the memories are currently incomplete. By my calculations, I have53000:37:16.079 --> 00:37:19.880
eighty seven percent of her total memories. The remaining memories53100:37:19.880 --> 00:37:22.719
were likely lost when her body was left to decompose53200:37:22.800 --> 00:37:26.280
in that crypt for two hundred and twelve years. Upon53300:37:26.360 --> 00:37:29.239
analyzing the memories used to give me data to feed53400:37:29.239 --> 00:37:33.199
my limitless intelligence capacity, I am unable to quickly reconstruct53500:37:33.239 --> 00:37:37.400
the necessary algorithms to fill the gaps. When it comes53600:37:37.400 --> 00:37:40.480
to the vampire half of Cassilia Tabon, I do not53700:37:40.519 --> 00:37:43.559
possess many of the powers that she once had, such53800:37:43.559 --> 00:37:47.000
as the ability to transmorph. I believe this is because53900:37:47.039 --> 00:37:50.960
of the composition of my indestructible metallic form that my54000:37:51.039 --> 00:37:55.039
skin based conceals. I regard the wintry sky and see54100:37:55.079 --> 00:37:58.079
only the barrier that is the clouds which produce the54200:37:58.079 --> 00:38:02.039
great winds and the seemingly endless snow across the lands.54300:38:02.880 --> 00:38:06.519
Why am I alive? I ask? I know that my54400:38:06.639 --> 00:38:09.519
mission is in my data banks, but yet I do54500:38:09.599 --> 00:38:12.400
not understand why I was born as a single machine54600:38:12.559 --> 00:38:16.920
who must live among a multitude of organics. Only the54700:38:17.000 --> 00:38:20.280
harsh winds respond, though they do not give me the54800:38:20.360 --> 00:38:24.599
answers that I seek. All I have is my mission.54900:38:25.119 --> 00:38:28.719
I must accomplish several side objectives before reaching Shore City55000:38:28.960 --> 00:38:33.400
and fulfilling the final objective there. My ultimate objective will55100:38:33.440 --> 00:38:36.199
be to engage in battle with hell Weaver and use55200:38:36.239 --> 00:38:38.639
all the power at my disposal to prevent her from55300:38:38.639 --> 00:38:43.000
creating this multi universal hell, even at the cost of55400:38:43.039 --> 00:38:47.639
my own brief existence. I maintain my present course. When55500:38:47.639 --> 00:38:49.760
the snow becomes too high for me to be able55600:38:49.760 --> 00:38:54.280
to continue walking, I must make calculated jumps. This weather55700:38:54.360 --> 00:38:57.559
shall not prevent me from reaching my first objective. The55800:38:57.679 --> 00:39:00.960
days and hours mean nothing to me. It is into55900:39:00.960 --> 00:39:03.960
December twenty fifth, two thousand and ninety nine, when I56000:39:04.000 --> 00:39:09.159
finally reach the outskirts of the Pendleton Way Station. Scanning it,56100:39:09.159 --> 00:39:12.239
it has the appearance of a fortress, a high wall56200:39:12.320 --> 00:39:16.519
protects the dwellings and the few inhabitants within. The main56300:39:16.559 --> 00:39:19.679
gate is just ahead. As I am ready to jump56400:39:19.719 --> 00:39:23.800
over the wall, the main gate unlocks and begins to open.56500:39:25.000 --> 00:39:28.360
It does not open all the way, however, two organic56600:39:28.400 --> 00:39:32.079
males come through the opening and approach me. Both are56700:39:32.199 --> 00:39:35.280
armed with weapons. You need to go away from here56800:39:35.320 --> 00:39:38.960
at once. The left one says, if you stay, you'll56900:39:39.000 --> 00:39:42.519
only endanger yourself and all of us. The right one adds,57000:39:43.039 --> 00:39:45.280
I scan both of them to determine that they are57100:39:45.320 --> 00:39:49.400
no match for me. My empathic abilities tell me they57200:39:49.440 --> 00:39:53.000
are with great fear. How would there be an endangerment57300:39:53.440 --> 00:39:57.760
to either myself or you? I inquire. Now the two57400:39:57.760 --> 00:40:02.000
of them regard me with confusion. Don't you know what57500:40:02.079 --> 00:40:06.760
Christmas Day brings? The left man asks, If I knew,57600:40:07.280 --> 00:40:11.360
I would not need to inquire. I return. The men57700:40:11.440 --> 00:40:14.800
regard one another for a moment. Then the left man57800:40:14.920 --> 00:40:18.000
gently says, we will bring you inside so you may57900:40:18.039 --> 00:40:20.920
warm yourself, but we fear none of us shall be58000:40:21.000 --> 00:40:27.599
safe once he comes. Once who comes? I inquire? Please58100:40:27.679 --> 00:40:33.119
tell me once we're inside. The right man insists, very well,58200:40:33.440 --> 00:40:36.960
lead the way. I shall follow you. The men turn58300:40:37.039 --> 00:40:40.880
back to the way station entrance and go inside. I58400:40:41.000 --> 00:40:44.960
follow close behind. Seeing the inside it looks very much58500:40:45.039 --> 00:40:49.239
like a colony, with basic places for commerce, lodging, a restaurant,58600:40:49.280 --> 00:40:53.760
a general store, and a communications office. My objective for58700:40:53.800 --> 00:40:57.440
the Pendleton way Station highlights I am required to obtain58800:40:57.480 --> 00:41:00.800
a vital component here and cannot can tinue my mission58900:41:00.840 --> 00:41:04.440
without it. Once the main gate is sealed again, I59000:41:04.559 --> 00:41:06.719
follow the men until I am brought to their leader's59100:41:06.719 --> 00:41:09.519
building at the center of this colony. We ascend the59200:41:09.519 --> 00:41:12.719
stairway and enter through the two doors in front. The59300:41:12.800 --> 00:41:16.639
men take me to their leader himself. The organic man59400:41:16.719 --> 00:41:19.920
looks up from his desk and sees me. What is59500:41:19.960 --> 00:41:23.159
the meaning of this? The men who brought me before59600:41:23.239 --> 00:41:25.760
him explain that they found me outside of their gates.59700:41:26.559 --> 00:41:29.559
The leader quickly stands to his feet, and you brought59800:41:29.559 --> 00:41:33.519
her inside, He moves out from behind his desk. It's59900:41:33.559 --> 00:41:35.519
bad enough we had to send the women and children60000:41:35.519 --> 00:41:38.960
into hiding. Now you've brought a single female before me.60100:41:40.119 --> 00:41:43.360
Now the leader turns and regards me. Don't you have60200:41:43.440 --> 00:41:47.960
suitable clothing? Women? Do not worry about me. I tell him,60300:41:48.599 --> 00:41:53.519
I wish to know with whom you fear he sneers. Now, truly, woman,60400:41:53.599 --> 00:41:56.519
you are foolish if you do not know I have60500:41:56.639 --> 00:42:00.480
not been in existence for very long. I say, would60600:42:00.519 --> 00:42:04.159
there be any harm in telling me? He looks me over.60700:42:05.159 --> 00:42:07.639
You are a most unusual woman if you've been out60800:42:07.639 --> 00:42:10.400
in that blizzard and are not affected by it, especially60900:42:10.400 --> 00:42:14.480
when your clothing is both inadequate and wet. I am61000:42:14.519 --> 00:42:18.960
not so easily overcome, I assure him. He makes the61100:42:19.000 --> 00:42:22.440
mistake of glancing to his two men. Suddenly they come61200:42:22.480 --> 00:42:25.000
at me. Though they are well trained to fight, they61300:42:25.000 --> 00:42:27.559
are not prepared for one such as I. The men61400:42:27.599 --> 00:42:30.760
fall before me easily. I do not harm them in61500:42:30.800 --> 00:42:34.159
any way, since I understand this was merely an exercise61600:42:34.639 --> 00:42:40.239
to test me. The leader nods, a most unusual woman. Indeed,61700:42:40.920 --> 00:42:46.000
he regards as men leave us only stand outside the doors.61800:42:46.440 --> 00:42:50.039
The men nod and obey him. Now he regards me again.61900:42:51.280 --> 00:42:55.480
Tell me you've at least heard of Santa Claus, I62000:42:55.519 --> 00:42:59.679
nod once. I have memories from long ago. Mostly they62100:42:59.679 --> 00:43:03.519
are fohotographs, songs and tales. He has never been in62200:43:03.559 --> 00:43:07.679
my presence. He is quite real. The leader tells me,62300:43:08.360 --> 00:43:13.039
May I have your name? I am Cassilia, tabon and yours.62400:43:13.840 --> 00:43:18.519
I'm General Rhineboldt Larst. He returns, I've only been in62500:43:18.559 --> 00:43:21.920
this highest office for a year tonight. I assumed this62600:43:22.119 --> 00:43:25.360
rank and office when our last general was struck down62700:43:25.400 --> 00:43:29.239
by Santa Claus last Christmas. I point to a short62800:43:29.280 --> 00:43:34.480
stack of blank white paper. May I you may I62900:43:34.559 --> 00:43:37.760
pick up a colored pen and astonish Larst with how63000:43:37.880 --> 00:43:41.039
quickly I can draw. When I finish, I present him63100:43:41.039 --> 00:43:43.960
with the rendering of Santa Claus, as the woman who63200:43:44.079 --> 00:43:48.360
was Graham's in a former life had shown me. This63300:43:48.519 --> 00:43:53.760
man struck your general down. He growls in frustration. Our63400:43:53.880 --> 00:43:56.840
people may only wish Santa Claus was the jolly old63500:43:56.880 --> 00:44:00.599
soul of the olden days. Given your picture, say, given63600:44:00.639 --> 00:44:03.519
your apparent age, you do not know what has become63700:44:03.920 --> 00:44:07.920
of Santa Claus again. Will you please tell me that63800:44:08.000 --> 00:44:12.639
I may understand? I inquire. Larst goes behind his desk63900:44:12.719 --> 00:44:15.719
and sits. Then he gestures for me to be seated.64000:44:16.400 --> 00:44:19.960
I obey and await his story. He tells me that64100:44:20.000 --> 00:44:24.440
Santa Claus was indeed the warm and jolly persona of Christmas.64200:44:24.519 --> 00:44:27.920
Listening to him and recalling the memories I have of Grams,64300:44:28.199 --> 00:44:33.159
the stories have few discrepancies. Are you familiar with the64400:44:33.199 --> 00:44:37.000
hell Weaver Holocaust? He asks, You must at least know64500:44:37.119 --> 00:44:41.840
that I do. Does your story begin on October thirty first,64600:44:41.920 --> 00:44:47.119
two thousand and thirty? I return, Indeed, it does a64700:44:47.199 --> 00:44:51.280
heavy sad sigh. When hell Weaver laid waste to our64800:44:51.320 --> 00:44:54.320
world and altered it for the worst, there were many64900:44:54.360 --> 00:44:56.800
on this world who couldn't handle the reality of how65000:44:56.880 --> 00:45:00.320
things would be. It was believed that Santa Claus was65100:45:00.360 --> 00:45:02.880
one of them. Even though he lived up at the65200:45:02.920 --> 00:45:06.000
North Pole. The blast wave from the reality sphere even65300:45:06.039 --> 00:45:09.199
reached his part of Earth. No reason it wouldn't, since65400:45:09.239 --> 00:45:14.800
she conquered the entire multiverse. He leans forward, Exactly what65500:45:14.920 --> 00:45:18.360
creatures have you seen for yourself? I tell him that65600:45:18.440 --> 00:45:22.119
I have regarded many, ranging from werewolves to vampires in65700:45:22.239 --> 00:45:28.079
zombified organics. Well, well, you shall soon see Santa Claus65800:45:28.119 --> 00:45:33.159
for yourself this very night, he states. Every Christmas Eve65900:45:33.519 --> 00:45:36.559
he takes to the skies with his monstrous reindeer and66000:45:36.679 --> 00:45:42.239
mercilessly attacks and kills those unfortunate enough to be seen66100:45:42.320 --> 00:45:46.360
by him and his reindeer. He's even taken some of66200:45:46.400 --> 00:45:48.519
the people back to the North pole to use as66300:45:48.519 --> 00:45:54.199
his slaves. He mainly attacks in pillages, cities, villages, and66400:45:54.280 --> 00:45:58.760
way stations such as ours. He lifts my rendering of66500:45:58.800 --> 00:46:02.679
Santa Claus. This is what we wish he could be. Again.66600:46:03.599 --> 00:46:06.559
He puts the rendering down and reaches to a control panel.66700:46:07.719 --> 00:46:11.440
View the monitor behind me. Tabon, I regard what appears66800:46:11.440 --> 00:46:15.079
to be footage captured by one or more cameras or scanners.66900:46:16.000 --> 00:46:20.840
That is Santa Claus. Now, he tells me. The man67000:46:20.920 --> 00:46:23.599
wears a red and white suit with a stocking cap,67100:46:24.320 --> 00:46:27.800
just the same as in my drawing. However, his skin67200:46:27.920 --> 00:46:31.960
is quite black and his eyes glow hot. If anything,67300:46:32.000 --> 00:46:35.400
he appears to be greatly zombified. I will not know67400:46:35.559 --> 00:46:39.079
for certain until I can scan him. He no longer67500:46:39.159 --> 00:46:43.079
leaves presents for good little boys and girls, Larst says,67600:46:43.880 --> 00:46:46.920
he doesn't even leave coal for the bad ones. No,67700:46:48.320 --> 00:46:51.599
I told you what he does. He turns the monitor off.67800:46:52.719 --> 00:46:56.880
Now the question is what do you do. I'm not67900:46:56.960 --> 00:47:00.280
a fool, Tabon. You were somehow able to survive out68000:47:00.280 --> 00:47:02.960
in that harshest of blizzards. Yet you have come all68100:47:03.000 --> 00:47:05.880
the way out here to Pendleton way Station. You are68200:47:05.880 --> 00:47:08.559
not whom you appear to be, or perhaps you're here68300:47:08.639 --> 00:47:12.840
because you want something. Sensing the man is not malevolent,68400:47:13.320 --> 00:47:16.119
I take another piece of paper in a pen, I68500:47:16.239 --> 00:47:18.679
draw what I am here to obtain and present that68600:47:18.800 --> 00:47:22.360
rendering to him. He regards it for a long moment68700:47:23.119 --> 00:47:28.079
before he responds to me again. He is with great distrust.68800:47:28.159 --> 00:47:32.639
Now how do you even know about the psionic warp displacer?68900:47:33.119 --> 00:47:36.440
He asks? Our scientists worked on that in secret for69000:47:36.480 --> 00:47:40.559
the last several years. Now that we've perfected it, you69100:47:40.639 --> 00:47:43.559
want to take it from us. I would rather not69200:47:43.760 --> 00:47:46.719
just take it from you. I would offer you something69300:47:46.760 --> 00:47:50.679
in trade for it. Perhaps. Larst stands and comes around69400:47:50.679 --> 00:47:53.519
his desk to stand before me. How do you know69500:47:53.559 --> 00:47:57.000
about our device Tabon? We know you were nowhere around69600:47:57.000 --> 00:48:01.440
here when it was first conceived, you would be I agree.69700:48:02.079 --> 00:48:05.559
Then I stand to face him. What is the psionic69800:48:05.599 --> 00:48:09.480
warped displacer worth to you? Larst points to his doors.69900:48:10.199 --> 00:48:15.320
Leave here immediately. Suddenly, his two men stationed outside the70000:48:15.360 --> 00:48:19.599
doors enter his office. Sir, the man on the left gasps,70100:48:20.199 --> 00:48:24.400
we're hearing the bells in the distance. Santa Claus is coming.70200:48:25.880 --> 00:48:30.159
More scarce to come weekly, spooky. We'll be right back.70300:48:36.719 --> 00:48:39.639
Are you and your men ready for battle? Larst demands70400:48:40.400 --> 00:48:43.840
what few we are, sir? The man on the right answers,70500:48:45.159 --> 00:48:49.039
we fear we shall not survive this conflict. I increase70600:48:49.119 --> 00:48:52.280
my audio sensors and hear the very jingling bells that70700:48:52.320 --> 00:48:55.400
the two men have heard themselves. I scan through the70800:48:55.400 --> 00:48:59.360
walls and see a vessel in the unforgiving skies. It70900:48:59.400 --> 00:49:02.719
appears to be a large sleigh with what appears to71000:49:02.760 --> 00:49:07.440
be nine zombiefied reindeer pulling it. The single reindeer in71100:49:07.480 --> 00:49:11.760
the very front has a glowing red nose. I point71200:49:12.639 --> 00:49:16.599
this Santa Claus comes from that direction. Larst growls at me.71300:49:17.039 --> 00:49:20.880
How would you know I regard him? Now? How will71400:49:20.920 --> 00:49:23.199
you hope to defeat this being? If he is as71500:49:23.280 --> 00:49:26.679
powerful as you and your men claim? Larst points at me.71600:49:27.360 --> 00:49:30.119
I am through talking to you. Woman. Leave here now.71700:49:30.800 --> 00:49:34.639
I raise my finger. I offered you a trade. I71800:49:34.679 --> 00:49:38.159
shall return outside and engage your Santa Claus in battle.71900:49:38.440 --> 00:49:41.719
I shall defeat him in exchange for the psionic warped displacer.72000:49:42.760 --> 00:49:45.920
Larst and his men laugh. Now, of course, they do72100:49:46.000 --> 00:49:49.079
not know that I am a powerful machine. I wait72200:49:49.119 --> 00:49:53.960
for them to finish Santa Claus descends. I warn he72300:49:54.039 --> 00:49:58.400
shall be within your boundaries very shortly, General Larst, do72400:49:58.559 --> 00:50:02.280
we have a bargain? He laughs again. If you can72500:50:02.320 --> 00:50:06.559
do what you claim, then it shall be agreed very well.72600:50:07.119 --> 00:50:10.480
I turn and exit Larst's office. I return to the72700:50:10.599 --> 00:50:15.000
entrance doors and step outside. The being known as Santa72800:50:15.000 --> 00:50:19.079
Claus is maneuvering his reindeer over Pendleton way station. Then72900:50:19.159 --> 00:50:22.880
I hear Santa's laughter. I have memories from a former73000:50:22.960 --> 00:50:27.039
life of gramps laughing with joy and warmth as Santa would.73100:50:27.400 --> 00:50:30.760
The laughter I hear now is a menacing, evil one.73200:50:31.400 --> 00:50:33.960
The laughter is loud enough to be heard even through73300:50:34.000 --> 00:50:38.480
the harsh winds and snow. You are a fool tabon,73400:50:39.119 --> 00:50:42.800
General Larsk calls out from behind me. I glance over73500:50:42.840 --> 00:50:46.800
my shoulder. Call your men back, General, they need not73600:50:46.960 --> 00:50:51.000
risk their lives tonight. I alone shall battle Santa Claus73700:50:51.000 --> 00:50:55.199
and defeat him. As per our bargain, he shall never73800:50:55.239 --> 00:50:59.000
be a threat to you again. The General sees that73900:50:59.039 --> 00:51:01.679
I am serious and issues the order for his men74000:51:01.760 --> 00:51:07.960
to retreat again. Tabon, you are foolish, Larsk chastises me.74100:51:08.840 --> 00:51:12.760
Die well. Then he slams the doors behind me and74200:51:12.840 --> 00:51:16.400
secures them. I stand and watch Santa Claus as he74300:51:16.440 --> 00:51:20.880
flies around in time. His sleigh and zombified reindeer are74400:51:20.920 --> 00:51:24.679
hovering near the General's building. I scan him and determine74500:51:24.800 --> 00:51:28.639
that he is perhaps a demon. He is not undead74600:51:28.679 --> 00:51:32.360
as his reindeer. He looks very much as General Larsk74700:51:32.440 --> 00:51:35.800
has shown me in his office regarding how menacing his74800:51:35.920 --> 00:51:40.239
glowing eyes are. Santa Claus regards me from above and74900:51:40.320 --> 00:51:45.320
laughs again. His menacing scornful laughter echoes throughout the blizzard.75000:51:46.679 --> 00:51:49.960
Time to utilize some of my hardware. I raise my75100:51:50.119 --> 00:51:53.039
voice in response to his laughter, to where he can75200:51:53.079 --> 00:51:57.679
hear me. I offer you one chance, demon, turn away75300:51:57.760 --> 00:52:00.840
and leave these people in peace. If you do not leave,75400:52:01.239 --> 00:52:03.719
and you choose to engage in battle with me, you75500:52:03.800 --> 00:52:08.639
shall fall in defeat. This is my promise to you.75600:52:10.000 --> 00:52:12.360
Santa Claus and I regard each other for a moment,75700:52:13.159 --> 00:52:17.880
a long moment. Then he breaks the silence by laughing75800:52:17.960 --> 00:52:21.920
scornfully at me again. Suddenly my senses are alerting me75900:52:22.000 --> 00:52:25.320
to danger. I turn and see many little figures coming76000:52:25.360 --> 00:52:28.639
over the wall. They laugh and sneer as they scurry76100:52:28.679 --> 00:52:32.440
towards me. This already reminds me of my first battle76200:52:32.440 --> 00:52:36.800
against Sarathos. He used his underlings to engage me because76300:52:36.840 --> 00:52:40.000
he believed me to be too insignificant for him to76400:52:40.079 --> 00:52:44.280
engage himself. If this demonic entity wishes to see what76500:52:44.320 --> 00:52:49.760
I'm capable of scanning these smaller life forms, they are zombified.76600:52:49.800 --> 00:52:53.800
As the reindeer pulling santa sleigh, I'm ready to engage these.76700:52:54.800 --> 00:53:00.280
I believe Grahams referred to these creatures as elves. When76800:53:00.280 --> 00:53:02.880
the first elf leaps at me, I send it away76900:53:02.920 --> 00:53:06.360
with a swift blow. With my mechanical accuracy and speed,77000:53:06.400 --> 00:53:09.599
I send these undead abominations away from me as many77100:53:09.679 --> 00:53:11.960
of them as there are. Not a single one lays77200:53:12.000 --> 00:53:14.960
so much as a finger upon me, and no sooner77300:53:15.000 --> 00:53:17.559
do I dispatch the last one. I feel the demon77400:53:17.639 --> 00:53:21.519
himself dropping from his sleigh with the intention of landing77500:53:21.599 --> 00:53:26.440
upon me. When I step aside, Santa Claus lashes out77600:53:26.480 --> 00:53:30.199
and shoves me upon my back. The demon immediately picks77700:53:30.239 --> 00:53:33.079
me up and hurls me over the wall. I land77800:53:33.119 --> 00:53:35.920
hard against a large tree and fall onto my side.77900:53:36.360 --> 00:53:39.119
I quickly rise again and move to the wall. I78000:53:39.239 --> 00:53:42.199
leap right over it and see Santa Claus still standing there.78100:53:42.760 --> 00:53:45.280
I believe he was wondering if I would truly return.78200:53:45.960 --> 00:53:48.960
I land on my feet and face him. You shall78300:53:49.000 --> 00:53:52.119
require much more than that if you hope to overcome me.78400:53:52.679 --> 00:53:56.639
Demon Santa Claus sneers and launches himself right at me.78500:53:57.039 --> 00:53:59.639
I await him and catch him. This time, as he78600:53:59.639 --> 00:54:02.159
did to me, I throw him over the wall. I78700:54:02.199 --> 00:54:04.840
do not await his return. However, I leap over the78800:54:04.840 --> 00:54:08.239
wall again myself in pursuit of him. I land outside78900:54:08.280 --> 00:54:11.239
the Pendleton way station. As Santa Claus rises to his79000:54:11.280 --> 00:54:14.480
feet again, he roars and comes at me. I move79100:54:14.559 --> 00:54:16.880
and go to him. The two of us engage in79200:54:16.880 --> 00:54:20.760
a most personal conflict. We throw blow after blow at79300:54:20.760 --> 00:54:24.519
one another. Truly, Santa Claus is a more formidable foe79400:54:24.920 --> 00:54:29.239
when compared to Sarathos. Suddenly, Santa Claus grabs me, lifts79500:54:29.239 --> 00:54:31.360
me off my feet, and drives me into the ground.79600:54:32.079 --> 00:54:35.679
He lowers himself and throws more deadly blows directly into79700:54:35.679 --> 00:54:39.480
my face. I throttle his throat and remove him from me.79800:54:39.559 --> 00:54:42.639
As I ascend to my feet, it becomes my turn79900:54:42.719 --> 00:54:46.320
to throw him into the trees. When Santa Claus hits them,80000:54:46.360 --> 00:54:49.719
he falls forward. He rises to his feet. Immediately, he80100:54:49.880 --> 00:54:54.079
roars and his eyes glow brighter. I know not what80200:54:54.280 --> 00:54:57.599
you are, but I shall claim you this night. You80300:54:57.800 --> 00:55:01.719
shall become the centerpiece of my trophy. Or perhaps I80400:55:01.760 --> 00:55:06.519
shall make a rug out of your hide. Such empty promises,80500:55:06.880 --> 00:55:10.400
I mutter. Santa Claus roars and comes at me again.80600:55:10.760 --> 00:55:13.559
I leap at him in return. We both connect with80700:55:13.639 --> 00:55:16.920
our blows and find ourselves upon our backs. We both80800:55:17.039 --> 00:55:20.920
rise and engage one another again. What has become of you,80900:55:21.440 --> 00:55:25.320
I asked the demon. According to old fables, you used81000:55:25.360 --> 00:55:28.400
to bring joy to all the good people of this world.81100:55:28.920 --> 00:55:34.039
Things change, girl. The world changed the day Hell Weaver81200:55:34.639 --> 00:55:40.000
changed everything on Halloween night of twenty thirty, when the81300:55:40.039 --> 00:55:44.320
world became the very essence of Hell itself. My wife,81400:55:44.519 --> 00:55:49.360
my elves, and even my reindeer were slain that night. However,81500:55:49.440 --> 00:55:53.199
they would not stay dead. You have seen some of81600:55:53.239 --> 00:55:56.199
my elves and all of my reindeer as they are now,81700:55:57.679 --> 00:56:02.559
and you seeing how the world became and how worse81800:56:02.599 --> 00:56:05.719
it continues to become. There was only so much I81900:56:05.760 --> 00:56:09.519
could do. When the blast wave hit, it drove me mad.82000:56:10.960 --> 00:56:14.239
At the same time, I became this powerful form before you,82100:56:14.559 --> 00:56:19.840
and now who really gives a fuck? He laughs his82200:56:20.000 --> 00:56:24.960
menacing laughter again. Christmas is my holiday, and on this82300:56:25.039 --> 00:56:27.039
one night out of the year, I go out and82400:56:27.079 --> 00:56:30.920
collect that that is due to me. But what should82500:56:30.920 --> 00:56:36.119
concern you now is your doom. My senses alert me82600:56:36.159 --> 00:56:40.079
to attacks coming from different directions. Santa Claus backs away82700:56:40.079 --> 00:56:42.760
to watch me engage in battle with all nine of82800:56:42.800 --> 00:56:46.239
his reindeer. They all make their undead battle cries as82900:56:46.239 --> 00:56:49.400
they come at me. These creatures are nearly double the83000:56:49.480 --> 00:56:53.559
size of normal deer. From the memories I possess, either83100:56:53.639 --> 00:56:57.239
reindeer or normally the size or they were affected and83200:56:57.360 --> 00:57:01.239
altered by the hell weaver holocaust, just as Santa Claus83300:57:01.280 --> 00:57:04.239
himself was. When they come at me, I strike and83400:57:04.320 --> 00:57:07.800
attacked with the same mechanical speed and reflexes as when83500:57:07.840 --> 00:57:11.480
I earlier repelled the elves. The reindeer are not alone.83600:57:11.559 --> 00:57:14.400
Is more of the elves come at me? How many83700:57:14.440 --> 00:57:18.960
of these small creatures does Santa Claus have? I've had83800:57:19.000 --> 00:57:21.360
time to experiment and see what I am capable of83900:57:21.400 --> 00:57:23.880
doing with my new body. I may not know all84000:57:23.960 --> 00:57:27.800
of my capabilities, but I shall in good time. When84100:57:27.840 --> 00:57:30.000
I first came to know life. The life force that84200:57:30.039 --> 00:57:32.800
I was given needed to become fully integrated with my84300:57:32.880 --> 00:57:37.760
new body. To my understanding, the futuristic alien technology used84400:57:37.760 --> 00:57:41.639
to create me had to be crafted, configured, and fully84500:57:41.679 --> 00:57:44.639
optimized to be able to house my spark that is84600:57:44.719 --> 00:57:47.840
my life. Comparing my own life force to the one84700:57:47.880 --> 00:57:51.239
that was once Cassilia Tabon, I strive to be all84800:57:51.320 --> 00:57:54.559
that she never was. I can feel how active my84900:57:54.679 --> 00:57:59.320
secondary programming is within me. It is this guiding force,85000:57:59.400 --> 00:58:02.719
when working in unison with my emotions, that compels me85100:58:02.840 --> 00:58:06.320
to want to do good. The memories I have that85200:58:06.360 --> 00:58:10.360
are of the original Cassilia Tabon are not heroic. The85300:58:10.440 --> 00:58:13.920
Tabon family who took her in as a newborn were heroic,85400:58:14.719 --> 00:58:18.360
but Cassilia would never strive to become as they were.85500:58:19.639 --> 00:58:22.039
My software is working to bridge the gaps and the85600:58:22.079 --> 00:58:26.639
memories with greatly complicated algorithms. This will take a great85700:58:26.679 --> 00:58:29.360
deal of time and patience for the memories to be85800:58:29.400 --> 00:58:33.800
fully reconstructed. But knowing that the original Cassilia Tabon was85900:58:33.880 --> 00:58:38.559
not heroic and feeling my secondary programming working, I know86000:58:38.679 --> 00:58:41.079
that I must use what I have been given and86100:58:41.159 --> 00:58:45.519
become heroic. My ultimate objective is that I must stop86200:58:45.599 --> 00:58:48.440
hell Weaver, even if it means the end of my86300:58:48.679 --> 00:58:53.280
brief existence. That means I must not fail against Santa86400:58:53.320 --> 00:58:56.679
Claus again. I am keeping my enemies away from me.86500:58:57.239 --> 00:58:59.840
Seeing Santa Claus approaching the main gate to the pendleton,86600:59:01.159 --> 00:59:04.000
I know that he means to breach it and accomplish86700:59:04.000 --> 00:59:07.880
his insane objective. His reindeer and elves are a distraction86800:59:08.079 --> 00:59:13.280
for me. This must end now. When I have an opening,86900:59:13.559 --> 00:59:16.639
I lean into the air and towards Santa Claus. You87000:59:16.760 --> 00:59:20.920
shall not be successful in your madness. Demon. As I87100:59:20.960 --> 00:59:24.239
reach Santa Claus, he turns and suddenly plucks me right87200:59:24.280 --> 00:59:27.719
out of the air. Then he sneers and throws me87300:59:27.800 --> 00:59:31.280
out into the open, whereas elves and reindeer suddenly converge87400:59:31.559 --> 00:59:35.639
and pounce on me. He laughs his horrible evil laughter87500:59:35.760 --> 00:59:40.239
again and turns his attention back to the gates. The87600:59:40.320 --> 00:59:43.000
reindeer and elves are making their noises as they try87700:59:43.039 --> 00:59:47.239
to keep me down and attack. The elves have weapons87800:59:47.239 --> 00:59:50.400
from blades to picks. The reindeer are stomping on me87900:59:50.679 --> 00:59:53.360
or trying to bite me. My skin base does not88000:59:53.519 --> 00:59:57.079
easily yield under the pressure of their teeth. These creatures88100:59:57.079 --> 00:59:59.639
are doing anything and everything to keep me here while88200:59:59.679 --> 01:00:02.440
they're me. Master uses mighty blows to break open the88301:00:02.480 --> 01:00:06.679
main gates. He could easily leap over, but he wants88401:00:06.719 --> 01:00:10.480
to break in to show the organics inside that the88501:00:10.519 --> 01:00:14.840
gates are futile. It takes him three blows to both88601:00:14.880 --> 01:00:18.960
force open the gates and make both halves fall. There88701:00:19.000 --> 01:00:22.599
shall be no mortals remaining before this night is over.88801:00:23.119 --> 01:00:27.199
This shall be your last Christmas. Next year I shall88901:00:27.320 --> 01:00:31.519
ravage a new destination. In time, I shall decimate all89001:00:31.599 --> 01:00:35.599
of you remaining mortals. You were foolish to send a89101:00:35.639 --> 01:00:39.519
weak female to fight your battles for you most foolish,89201:00:39.519 --> 01:00:44.920
indeed and cowardly. Your very existence makes you naughty in89301:00:45.039 --> 01:00:49.480
my eyes. But I am not finished. It shall take89401:00:49.599 --> 01:00:53.880
far more than these undead abominations to overcome me. The89501:00:54.000 --> 01:00:57.280
elves are with distress now as I raise myself to stand.89601:00:58.480 --> 01:01:02.360
You shall never defeat one such as I I declare.89701:01:03.079 --> 01:01:08.119
Even with your vast numbers, you shall never overcome a machine.89801:01:08.159 --> 01:01:10.679
I stand once more and knock them away from me.89901:01:10.800 --> 01:01:14.239
Both the elves and the reindeer alike. Killing them will90001:01:14.280 --> 01:01:17.599
mean nothing, since they do not have life within their bodies.90101:01:18.239 --> 01:01:21.519
Upon repelling enough of them, I turn my attention back90201:01:22.000 --> 01:01:27.599
to Santa Claus. He is the one I must ultimately defeat.90301:01:28.119 --> 01:01:30.519
I leap forward and reach him again, as he has90401:01:30.639 --> 01:01:34.920
ripped the main doors away from General Larsk's station. Will90501:01:34.960 --> 01:01:40.159
you ever cease your struggle, you worthless mortal female, he growls,90601:01:41.239 --> 01:01:45.599
Not until you're defeated. I return. Then I shall grant90701:01:45.639 --> 01:01:50.840
you your death as your final Christmas gift. You shall try.90801:01:51.599 --> 01:01:54.480
The two of us engage in battle once more. We90901:01:54.559 --> 01:01:58.679
trade many powerful blows, looking to end each other. Each91001:01:58.760 --> 01:02:01.920
time that Santa Claus repels me and returns his attention91101:02:02.159 --> 01:02:05.199
to entering the General Larsk's building, I leap back to91201:02:05.280 --> 01:02:08.960
him to continue our battle. At times I am forced91301:02:09.000 --> 01:02:12.960
to repel elves or reindeer. It is then when I91401:02:13.039 --> 01:02:16.920
feel something hit my back that I was not expecting.91501:02:17.760 --> 01:02:21.880
I see many variables flashing upon my interface, especially when91601:02:21.920 --> 01:02:24.559
I am hit again. I regard the reindeer with the91701:02:24.559 --> 01:02:28.280
bright red nose. From the memories I have with Grams,91801:02:28.639 --> 01:02:33.280
I believe his name to be Rudolph. He fires his91901:02:33.400 --> 01:02:36.400
laser beam from his nose and hits my face. I92001:02:36.480 --> 01:02:39.840
sense injuries and damage to my skin base now. At92101:02:39.880 --> 01:02:42.719
the same time, I feel my healing factor working to92201:02:42.760 --> 01:02:46.159
repair the damage. Rudolph fires his laser nose at my92301:02:46.280 --> 01:02:47.760
face once again.92401:02:49.639 --> 01:02:53.280
Don't go away weakly, Spooky will be right back.92501:03:00.920 --> 01:03:04.639
You are unlike anything I have ever seen, Santa Claus92601:03:04.679 --> 01:03:08.920
says with disbelief, upon seeing half of my true face.92701:03:09.920 --> 01:03:12.239
Then the demon strikes me hard on the back of92801:03:12.239 --> 01:03:16.239
my head to send my face into the snow. Nonetheless,92901:03:16.280 --> 01:03:19.760
I shall claim you as my prize on this Christmas Day.93001:03:20.719 --> 01:03:24.239
Suddenly I am on my knees. Santa Claus roars and93101:03:24.320 --> 01:03:26.440
kicks me hard in the chin to make me fly93201:03:26.519 --> 01:03:29.199
away from him and slam into the wall. I make93301:03:29.239 --> 01:03:33.400
an indentation and fall forward. Santa Claus is upon me93401:03:33.480 --> 01:03:36.599
almost at once. He lifts me up, slams me against93501:03:36.599 --> 01:03:40.320
the wall, and unleashes many powerful blows into me. You93601:03:40.400 --> 01:03:43.679
are clearly not immortal. I know not what you are,93701:03:43.960 --> 01:03:46.079
but know that you were foolish to think you could93801:03:46.119 --> 01:03:51.199
best Santa Claus. No matter how powerful he is, he93901:03:51.360 --> 01:03:55.320
still cannot damage or blemish my mechanical body. I can94001:03:55.360 --> 01:03:58.960
feel my skin base repairing itself as the gelatinous substance94101:03:59.000 --> 01:04:03.159
spreads itself on the exposed areas that Rudolph created. I94201:04:03.199 --> 01:04:06.719
can literally feel my skin base solidifying and becoming my94301:04:06.880 --> 01:04:11.639
flesh once more. Even my metallic hair is flawlessly regenerated.94401:04:12.239 --> 01:04:15.639
I technically do not require this exterior skin base and94501:04:15.719 --> 01:04:19.119
am capable of functioning just as a mechanical being. But94601:04:19.360 --> 01:04:22.400
my programming maintains my skin and keeps it as a94701:04:22.440 --> 01:04:24.840
part of me. My creators wish for me to have94801:04:24.920 --> 01:04:28.599
my exterior covering for specific reasons. Of this, I am94901:04:28.679 --> 01:04:32.159
certain I am through letting Santa Claus dominate me in95001:04:32.199 --> 01:04:35.199
this conflict, and know I must end it. When I95101:04:35.239 --> 01:04:38.039
sense Rudolph firing his red nose at me again, I95201:04:38.119 --> 01:04:41.440
turn and suddenly feel my own red beams emitting from95301:04:41.440 --> 01:04:45.519
my very optics and passing through my humanoid eyes. My95401:04:45.679 --> 01:04:49.239
twin beams conflict with the Reindeers one. I can feel95501:04:49.280 --> 01:04:52.519
the very power coursing through my body. To supplement this95601:04:53.079 --> 01:04:57.039
power I now utilize, I turn in vampire warped from95701:04:57.039 --> 01:05:00.400
Santa Claus toward Rudolph. When I land in front of him,95801:05:00.400 --> 01:05:04.039
I take hold of his unique nose and render it useless.95901:05:04.559 --> 01:05:07.159
Being undead, The Reindeer does not cry out in pain,96001:05:07.519 --> 01:05:10.239
but he does step away, knowing that he can no96101:05:10.280 --> 01:05:13.840
longer engage in battle with me. And then when I96201:05:13.960 --> 01:05:17.519
vampire warp back to Santa Claus again, I can see96301:05:17.559 --> 01:05:21.079
past him and regard the sun that shall rise again soon.96401:05:21.760 --> 01:05:24.159
At this point, I do not believe that I shall96501:05:24.199 --> 01:05:27.679
be able to defeat this monster before the sun fully rises.96601:05:28.280 --> 01:05:31.480
My life shall come to a very abrupt end once96701:05:31.519 --> 01:05:35.599
it does. I feel how strong my emotions and my96801:05:35.679 --> 01:05:39.679
secondary programming are becoming now. If I am to die shortly,96901:05:40.079 --> 01:05:42.639
then I shall do so knowing that I was successful97001:05:42.840 --> 01:05:45.840
in keeping Santa Claus from claiming the lives of these97101:05:45.920 --> 01:05:51.079
and other organics. Santa Claus engages me again. I understand97201:05:51.119 --> 01:05:53.519
his way of fighting now and am able to counter him.97301:05:53.760 --> 01:05:57.880
I strike one harsh blow right after another. He staggers backward,97401:05:57.920 --> 01:06:00.440
but still manages to get in a few more tax97501:06:00.480 --> 01:06:03.719
on me. Refusing to allow him any more leverage against me,97601:06:04.000 --> 01:06:07.519
I continue my onslaught and make him stagger. I must97701:06:07.559 --> 01:06:11.199
defeat Santa Claus before the sun fully rises and destroys me.97801:06:11.880 --> 01:06:15.480
The sun continues, my emotions continue to rise within me.97901:06:15.960 --> 01:06:21.800
The demon continues to stagger. Not possible, I continue to98001:06:21.840 --> 01:06:26.159
show Santa Claus that it is indeed possible. He falls98101:06:26.199 --> 01:06:28.480
to his knees from me to kick him under his98201:06:28.599 --> 01:06:31.559
chin and send him upward, make him do a backflip98301:06:31.599 --> 01:06:35.159
and then land hard on his face and chest. He98401:06:35.199 --> 01:06:38.760
puts his hands down and raises himself. I step in98501:06:38.840 --> 01:06:42.440
and keep pummeling him. I am seeing the first rays98601:06:42.519 --> 01:06:45.000
of the Christmas morning sun as they begin to bring98701:06:45.119 --> 01:06:50.119
lights to this wintry land. The snow has finally ceased,98801:06:50.679 --> 01:06:54.719
but the winds continue their vicious onslaught. Then I see98901:06:54.719 --> 01:06:57.599
what is becoming of the elves and the reindeer, at99001:06:57.679 --> 01:07:01.400
least the ones that still bear animation. The reindeer walk99101:07:01.440 --> 01:07:05.639
around fast and make a strange noise. The elves are99201:07:05.679 --> 01:07:08.880
trying to flee, even Santa Claus is showing signs of99301:07:08.960 --> 01:07:12.800
slowing down. The sun is lighting the new morning more. Now,99401:07:13.360 --> 01:07:16.159
a strange vapor begins to emit from the reindeer in99501:07:16.199 --> 01:07:18.679
the elves. I look at Santa Claus and see the99601:07:18.760 --> 01:07:22.800
vapor rising from him as well. I could run for safety,99701:07:22.840 --> 01:07:27.079
but this demon's reign of terror must end here. Santa99801:07:27.079 --> 01:07:30.039
Claus makes one last feudal effort to fight me. His99901:07:30.159 --> 01:07:32.920
blows are at their weakest. Now they feel like those100001:07:32.920 --> 01:07:38.760
of an organic child. I understand immediately these abominations cannot100101:07:38.800 --> 01:07:43.920
endure the sunlight and are nocturnal creatures. Now I am100201:07:44.000 --> 01:07:47.400
with surprise. I gaze upon my skin basin see that100301:07:48.599 --> 01:07:51.960
nothing is happening to me. I search my memories and100401:07:52.039 --> 01:07:55.079
recall that the original life form could not exist in100501:07:55.119 --> 01:07:57.840
the sunlight. She had tried putting her hand in a100601:07:57.840 --> 01:08:00.960
sunbeam once, only for it to burn her and nearly100701:08:01.000 --> 01:08:04.400
make her hand burst into flames. No such thing as100801:08:04.440 --> 01:08:08.000
happening to me now, however, I stand and watch as100901:08:08.039 --> 01:08:11.880
Santa Claus and his underlings burn in the sunlight. I101001:08:12.000 --> 01:08:15.519
move away and let them. My optics are primarily on101101:08:15.559 --> 01:08:18.880
the demon himself. Within my visual scope, I can see101201:08:18.920 --> 01:08:23.159
the underlings bursting into flames and turning into ash. Santa101301:08:23.199 --> 01:08:26.720
Claus now bursts into flames himself. He roars as his101401:08:26.800 --> 01:08:29.720
black flesh flies away from his body to reveal his101501:08:29.920 --> 01:08:35.399
large organic skeleton, which is also charred. Perhaps that blast101601:08:35.439 --> 01:08:38.720
wave from October thirty first, two thousand and thirty may101701:08:38.760 --> 01:08:42.239
have been the reason for this. Santa Claus falls flat101801:08:42.319 --> 01:08:46.319
now as his skeleton is now burning until nothing remains101901:08:47.199 --> 01:08:50.279
but ash I look upon the skin base of my102001:08:50.359 --> 01:08:55.560
own hands and arms to see I'm still intact. Then102101:08:55.640 --> 01:08:58.520
I remember back in the village of Strickfield, when those102201:08:58.640 --> 01:09:02.960
zombified organics can after me. I also encountered such creatures102301:09:02.960 --> 01:09:06.119
along the way to this way station. I activate my102401:09:06.199 --> 01:09:09.920
diagnostics program to see that I have vital signs. I102501:09:09.960 --> 01:09:14.960
have truly misunderstood the concept of my having life. No,102601:09:15.279 --> 01:09:18.079
I am not the undead creature that the life form102701:09:18.119 --> 01:09:21.760
before me was. When it comes to the vampire aspect,102801:09:22.399 --> 01:09:25.880
I do possess limited powers. I believe that I was102901:09:26.000 --> 01:09:29.359
undead based upon the memories I have been supplemented with103001:09:29.520 --> 01:09:34.399
to give me data to feed my intelligence capacity. Cassilia Tabon,103101:09:34.880 --> 01:09:40.439
being undead was a former life. In my new life, Yes,103201:09:41.079 --> 01:09:44.319
that is indeed what I truly possess within this mechanical body,103301:09:44.880 --> 01:09:49.000
I have the very essence of true life, the same103401:09:49.039 --> 01:09:53.279
as these organic beings. Truly, this shall be a Christmas103501:09:53.319 --> 01:09:57.880
morning to be remembered. I cannot help myself and begin103601:09:58.000 --> 01:10:02.640
to cry. Wait, how am I capable of tears? I103701:10:02.720 --> 01:10:07.600
only have a skin base, yet I produce tears of happiness.103801:10:08.319 --> 01:10:12.000
It is fully mourning Now I never need to fear103901:10:12.079 --> 01:10:18.199
this beautiful sunlight ever again, I feel I am unworthy104001:10:18.239 --> 01:10:22.319
of life and having a mechanical body. I reason it104101:10:22.399 --> 01:10:25.760
is my conflicting memories from the past and the new104201:10:25.800 --> 01:10:30.760
memories I make in the present. After I conclude my crying,104301:10:30.840 --> 01:10:32.840
I know that it is time for me to see104401:10:32.880 --> 01:10:37.439
General Larsk and to claim my prize. I walk into104501:10:37.479 --> 01:10:40.640
his building and soon find him in his office. His104601:10:40.720 --> 01:10:44.119
two men are with him and are armed. Larsk himself104701:10:44.159 --> 01:10:48.159
regards me Santa Claus is no more. I tell him.104801:10:49.000 --> 01:10:51.800
The three men regard me for the longest time. Then104901:10:51.880 --> 01:10:55.600
Larsk finally speaks, I cannot allow you to remove the105001:10:55.640 --> 01:11:00.800
psionic warp displacer from here. He tells me we had arrangement.105101:11:01.199 --> 01:11:05.760
I remind him. Larsk shakes his head. Don't care. We105201:11:05.840 --> 01:11:09.760
are not relinquishing anything to a woman. I do not105301:11:09.880 --> 01:11:12.960
recommend forcing me to take it from you, I say.105401:11:13.840 --> 01:11:17.359
His men raise their weapons. I emit the laser beams105501:11:17.359 --> 01:11:19.760
from my optics that I used a short time ago105601:11:20.600 --> 01:11:24.560
and melt their weapons. I also melt General Larsk's weapon105701:11:24.600 --> 01:11:27.640
after he draws it. The men are with fear and105801:11:27.760 --> 01:11:31.960
do not know how to react. General. Lars quickly points105901:11:32.000 --> 01:11:36.239
to a room off to the side. In there you'll106001:11:36.279 --> 01:11:39.640
find the psionic warp displacer in a display case. My106101:11:39.760 --> 01:11:42.720
empathic powers tell me that he does not speak with truth.106201:11:43.159 --> 01:11:46.960
I utilize my vampire warping power and appear behind Larsk.106301:11:47.560 --> 01:11:50.640
I lift him off his feet. Remembering the design of106401:11:50.680 --> 01:11:55.520
the psionic warp displacer. I scan Larsk's office. My optics106501:11:55.520 --> 01:11:59.680
stop upon his monitor. I lower Larsk and shatter the screen.106601:12:00.439 --> 01:12:03.760
The component that I require is now before me. I106701:12:03.840 --> 01:12:07.399
turn to Larsk. Santa Claus sought to end you and106801:12:07.479 --> 01:12:10.840
your people of this way station. You and your men106901:12:10.880 --> 01:12:13.640
should be grateful that you will continue to live, even107001:12:13.680 --> 01:12:17.560
in knowing that he shall never return. Live your lives107101:12:17.600 --> 01:12:22.439
well while you still have them. Larsk does not listen.107201:12:23.600 --> 01:12:26.960
Why do you want the psionic warp displacer, woman, I107301:12:27.039 --> 01:12:30.439
require it for my mission to find and defeat hell Weaver.107401:12:31.039 --> 01:12:33.880
I answer, it is my mission to make sure this107501:12:34.000 --> 01:12:37.159
reality never happens, and that as few lives are lost107601:12:37.199 --> 01:12:40.039
as possible. The men are not certain as to what107701:12:40.119 --> 01:12:42.920
to make of me, but they question me no longer.107801:12:43.520 --> 01:12:46.159
Larsk steps aside to allow me to take the psionic107901:12:46.239 --> 01:12:50.399
warp displacer. I scan it to determine that it is genuine.108001:12:50.439 --> 01:12:55.279
The side objective is now changed to complete. I realize108101:12:55.279 --> 01:12:58.000
that I cannot just keep this component out in the open.108201:12:58.600 --> 01:13:03.199
Then I understand and will a small portal to open108301:13:03.279 --> 01:13:07.119
before me. I place the warped displacer within the field108401:13:07.640 --> 01:13:13.560
and remove my hand. Shortly after the portal closes. As108501:13:13.560 --> 01:13:16.840
I leave Larsk's office, he weakly calls out behind me.108601:13:17.880 --> 01:13:21.800
You will fail against hell Weaver Tabon. He shakes his108701:13:21.800 --> 01:13:25.560
head slowly. I fail to understand how you could defeat108801:13:25.600 --> 01:13:31.039
Santa Claus. I glance over my shoulder. Beings such as108901:13:31.079 --> 01:13:35.520
Santa Claus cannot defeat the machine. The men are baffled109001:13:35.560 --> 01:13:39.319
as I turn and finally take my leave. I walk109101:13:39.399 --> 01:13:41.640
until I cross through what is left of the gates109201:13:42.159 --> 01:13:45.840
of Pendleton Way Station. It is time for me to109301:13:45.960 --> 01:13:49.439
venture to the second side objective, a place where many109401:13:49.479 --> 01:13:53.159
of the original Life Forces memories were forged. I must109501:13:53.279 --> 01:13:58.359
venture to the Tabon homeland known as Ravenhurst. There, I109601:13:58.479 --> 01:14:01.800
must acquire one of the most power and ancient artifacts109701:14:01.800 --> 01:14:05.760
in the vast Tabon arsenal of weapons to use in109801:14:05.840 --> 01:14:10.640
my battle against hell Weaver. In the meantime, do have109901:14:10.760 --> 01:14:22.920
yourself a very merry Christmas. Santa's Little Helper by Charles Campbell.110001:14:24.439 --> 01:14:27.920
Holiday season in the Valley is something different, to say110101:14:28.000 --> 01:14:31.199
the least. It doesn't exactly drop to freezing. In this110201:14:31.239 --> 01:14:35.319
part of South Carolina. There is what locals call cold110301:14:35.399 --> 01:14:38.720
spells from time to time, but nothing like the bone110401:14:38.800 --> 01:14:42.319
chilling freeze that other parts of the country routinely experience.110501:14:42.880 --> 01:14:49.359
And today, well, today was Christmas Eve. Ronnie Baxley hated110601:14:49.399 --> 01:14:53.600
everything about it. Unfortunately, for the last ten years, he110701:14:53.760 --> 01:14:57.520
and his rotund body were tapped to be Santa Claus110801:14:57.800 --> 01:15:01.760
for the Christmas tree lighting in downtown Burn. When he110901:15:01.800 --> 01:15:04.640
first started donning the red and white suit, the town111001:15:04.680 --> 01:15:07.760
would pay him fifty bucks for about five or six111101:15:07.800 --> 01:15:11.640
hours of work. Now he makes almost two hundred bucks111201:15:11.680 --> 01:15:14.359
for begging little valley rats to sit on his lap.111301:15:15.159 --> 01:15:18.880
His once white beard was now something between baby shit111401:15:19.000 --> 01:15:23.239
yellow and turd brown. Ronnie had maybe seventeeth left in111501:15:23.319 --> 01:15:26.640
his head. His breath smelled of dog shit chased down111601:15:26.680 --> 01:15:30.479
with sewer water. Ronnie sucked in his gut and eased111701:15:30.520 --> 01:15:33.319
into the driver's seat of his beat up Chevy pickup.111801:15:33.840 --> 01:15:36.359
He gave the key a turn, and the engine coughed111901:15:36.399 --> 01:15:39.279
and gagged like it had been smoking those Marlboroughs right112001:15:39.319 --> 01:15:42.960
along with Ronnie for the last thirty plus years. Ronnie112101:15:42.960 --> 01:15:45.119
turned the dial on the radio and was met with112201:15:45.159 --> 01:15:49.600
the sound of jingle bells. He immediately turned off the radio.112301:15:49.760 --> 01:15:52.760
The bald tire spun in the muddy driveway of his112401:15:52.800 --> 01:15:57.079
decrepit trailer. As he backed out, Ronnie began to sing112501:15:57.159 --> 01:16:00.600
in the tune of the freshly in mind Jane Bells.112601:16:01.359 --> 01:16:05.399
Driving through the mud in my fucked up Chevrolet, off112701:16:05.479 --> 01:16:09.319
to the valley, I go broke as fuck today. The112801:16:09.359 --> 01:16:12.720
words trailed off into a da da da da da da,112901:16:12.760 --> 01:16:15.520
as his mind had run out of wit for freestyling.113001:16:16.399 --> 01:16:19.239
He didn't want to go to Burnettown. Ronnie was sick113101:16:19.279 --> 01:16:22.279
of listening to the little and some not so little113201:16:22.359 --> 01:16:25.960
Valley rats drown on about wanting a PlayStation machine or113301:16:26.000 --> 01:16:30.359
an Xbox or some kind of modern gadget. The kids113401:16:30.399 --> 01:16:33.880
weren't normal anymore. Face is always stuck in some kind113501:16:33.920 --> 01:16:38.399
of screen. Few and far between were the requests for footballs,113601:16:38.520 --> 01:16:42.439
basketball hoops, barbie dolls or bicycles. As a matter of fact,113701:16:43.000 --> 01:16:46.119
Ronnie was just as tired of the parents, especially the113801:16:46.119 --> 01:16:49.399
ones he knew from school with their pity filled eyes.113901:16:50.199 --> 01:16:52.880
Look at what has become of Ronnie. Poor guy had114001:16:52.880 --> 01:16:55.960
a great arm in high school. He could have gone pro,114101:16:56.760 --> 01:16:59.560
should have had a career in the majors, but the114201:16:59.640 --> 01:17:03.920
valley got him like it got so many kids. If114301:17:03.920 --> 01:17:06.439
he saw one more tear filled eye from a mother114401:17:06.560 --> 01:17:09.000
looking as if she were doing the world a service114501:17:09.039 --> 01:17:12.600
by feeding astray, he was going to lose his shit.114601:17:13.439 --> 01:17:16.359
The sun was already setting when he arrived at town Hall.114701:17:17.000 --> 01:17:20.119
He cursed daylight Savings time. Every year. When the clock114801:17:20.239 --> 01:17:23.000
rolled back, it meant that six pm was going to114901:17:23.039 --> 01:17:26.039
look the same as midnight, and that always made Ronnie115001:17:26.079 --> 01:17:29.359
tired his shit. Tonight was the one night he couldn't115101:17:29.359 --> 01:17:32.239
be tired. He'd have to sit on the big wooden chair,115201:17:32.520 --> 01:17:34.840
hoping there was still enough material in the seat of115301:17:34.840 --> 01:17:37.439
his pants to keep the splinters out of his ass,115401:17:37.600 --> 01:17:40.880
while pretending to listen as Betty Sue or Molly May115501:17:41.039 --> 01:17:45.000
tells him what kind of iPhone she wants. Because you know,115601:17:45.600 --> 01:17:51.279
the elves are fucking masters at cutting edge technology. Ronnie115701:17:51.359 --> 01:17:54.159
stood by his truck for a moment or two. Taking115801:17:54.199 --> 01:17:57.560
a long drag on his last Marlborough. He'd have to115901:17:57.600 --> 01:17:59.520
wait until he got paid before he could pick up116001:17:59.560 --> 01:18:02.399
another pat from the minute shop. He'd have to bum116101:18:02.560 --> 01:18:04.560
a couple from Eddie the Elf to get him through116201:18:04.560 --> 01:18:09.079
the evening. Eddie was a tall, skinny man, definitely not116301:18:09.239 --> 01:18:12.439
built like an elf, and he was willing to take116401:18:12.479 --> 01:18:15.279
seventy five bucks to usher kids to the lap of116501:18:15.359 --> 01:18:20.039
this sad excuse of a Santa. Ronnie was wishing for116601:18:20.079 --> 01:18:25.319
one more drag when a tiny voice startled him. Merry Christmas, Santa,116701:18:26.039 --> 01:18:29.319
said the little girl, suddenly standing next to him. Where116801:18:29.359 --> 01:18:34.960
the I mean, Hey, little girl, where's your mama? Ronnie asked,116901:18:35.239 --> 01:18:38.680
forcing a smile. He had never seen this child before,117001:18:39.039 --> 01:18:40.880
and she didn't look like she had an ounce of117101:18:40.960 --> 01:18:45.159
valley in her I don't have one, the little girl said,117201:18:45.239 --> 01:18:49.399
just above a whisper. Ronnie looked her over. She couldn't117301:18:49.399 --> 01:18:52.079
have been more than seven years old, and she was117401:18:52.199 --> 01:18:56.279
dressed like a tiny elf. She had long black hair117501:18:56.359 --> 01:18:59.319
and the darkest pools for eyes Ronnie had ever seen.117601:19:00.159 --> 01:19:02.880
He thought maybe the darkness was playing tricks on him,117701:19:03.119 --> 01:19:06.399
but the parking lot was well lit. He knelt to117801:19:06.439 --> 01:19:10.319
meet her gaze, keeping his plastic smile. So if you117901:19:10.359 --> 01:19:14.199
don't have a mama, is your daddy around? I don't118001:19:14.239 --> 01:19:18.439
have one of those either, she whispered. Who's here with you?118101:19:19.000 --> 01:19:23.520
Ronnie asked. You are Sannah, the little girl said, as118201:19:23.560 --> 01:19:27.800
a grin spread under her nose. Ronnie was taken aback118301:19:27.840 --> 01:19:32.000
at the rows of razor sharp teeth that clicked in118401:19:32.000 --> 01:19:37.079
front of him. What the fuck are you? Ronnie asked.118501:19:37.680 --> 01:19:40.840
He hadn't taken any strong shit and resisted the urge118601:19:40.920 --> 01:19:43.960
to reach out and touch her. If she wasn't real,118701:19:44.439 --> 01:19:48.000
he just looked like he was talking to himself. But118801:19:48.119 --> 01:19:51.840
if she was real, she might just bite his fucking118901:19:51.960 --> 01:20:00.359
fingers off. I'm Santa's little helper, she whispered. What's your name?119001:20:00.960 --> 01:20:04.960
Ronnie asked. He knew he should be scared, but it119101:20:05.039 --> 01:20:09.439
was just the opposite. He couldn't explain it, but he119201:20:09.560 --> 01:20:17.520
was feeling giddy. Sarah, she replied, Well, Sarah, I already119301:20:17.600 --> 01:20:20.960
have a helper. His name is Eddie, the Elf. Ronnie119401:20:21.039 --> 01:20:25.760
said he could now hear people mulling around Sassafras Park,119501:20:26.640 --> 01:20:31.079
sight of the tree lighting and lapsitting. Eddie's not going119601:20:31.119 --> 01:20:34.079
to make it tonight, the little girl said, with a119701:20:34.159 --> 01:20:40.680
certainty that Ronnie instantly believed. Oh really, how do you119801:20:40.800 --> 01:20:48.159
know that, Ronnie asked? He's dead, she replied, And how119901:20:48.199 --> 01:20:53.279
do you know that Ronnie found himself asking he wasn't120001:20:53.319 --> 01:20:56.039
going to help you, Sannah, he was going to hurt you,120101:20:56.199 --> 01:21:01.399
like all the rest, she replied. Ronnie smiled with an120201:21:01.479 --> 01:21:08.239
understanding that made the girl grin back. Okay, then let's120301:21:08.239 --> 01:21:13.479
go see the valley rats, Ronnie said.120401:21:16.279 --> 01:21:19.920
Don't go away weakly, Spooky will be right back.120501:21:22.960 --> 01:21:26.560
The front doors of town hall were wide open. There120601:21:26.640 --> 01:21:29.640
was a small line of husbands receiving cups of hot120701:21:29.680 --> 01:21:34.199
cocoa for their wives and tots. Sarah stuck by Ronnie's120801:21:34.199 --> 01:21:37.439
side as he strode past the line of kids hooping120901:21:37.479 --> 01:21:42.039
and hollering for their tortured Santa. He waved a stained121001:21:42.079 --> 01:21:45.000
glove in the air for their approval. As he sat121101:21:45.079 --> 01:21:49.920
on the big wooden chair. Elma Trudeau, an office administrator121201:21:49.960 --> 01:21:52.800
for the town of Burnett Town, leaned in and whispered121301:21:52.840 --> 01:21:56.800
in his ear. Where's Eddie, she asked, while staring a121401:21:56.840 --> 01:22:02.239
hole through Sarah. He's Sickroanie replied, which elicited a closed121501:22:02.239 --> 01:22:05.840
mouthed smile from Sarah. It was a smile that sent121601:22:05.880 --> 01:22:11.880
a feeling of despair through Elma. Who's going to control121701:22:11.920 --> 01:22:15.760
the line? Elma asked, with a tone that clarified she121801:22:16.000 --> 01:22:20.199
was not willing to assume the role. I'm Santa's little helper,121901:22:20.760 --> 01:22:25.720
Sarah replied, surely, you can't suggest that a child. Oh122001:22:25.760 --> 01:22:28.760
and by the way, whose child is this anyway? She's122101:22:28.800 --> 01:22:33.119
not from around here, Alma said, she's my niece. Her122201:22:33.199 --> 01:22:36.800
name is Sarah, and she's visiting from Atlanta. Ronnie replied,122301:22:37.680 --> 01:22:41.279
I call bullshit, Ronnie. You don't have any family, Alma said,122401:22:41.760 --> 01:22:45.279
I would suggest you go back to your office, Elma.122501:22:45.560 --> 01:22:51.760
Sarah intervened, revealing her teeth. What the fuck, Alma whispered122601:22:52.039 --> 01:22:55.159
as she backed away. You should listen to her and122701:22:55.199 --> 01:22:59.319
go back to your office, Ronnie echoed, and stood. Elma's122801:22:59.359 --> 01:23:03.159
hands trem and eyes widened as she slowly backed away.122901:23:04.520 --> 01:23:09.159
Ho ho ho, Eddie, the elf is not feeling well.123001:23:09.239 --> 01:23:13.720
So Santa has a new helper today, Ronnie announced to123101:23:13.760 --> 01:23:17.640
the expanding line of children. There were cheers and shouts123201:23:17.680 --> 01:23:21.159
from the boys and girls. Sarah moved quickly to the123301:23:21.159 --> 01:23:23.840
front of the line and lifted the retractable belt from123401:23:23.880 --> 01:23:27.840
the stanction. Mary Jenkins and her little boy Sam were123501:23:27.840 --> 01:23:31.039
the first in line. Sarah giggled as she reached for123601:23:31.119 --> 01:23:35.880
Sam's hand. He took it without hesitation. As Mary stepped through,123701:23:36.600 --> 01:23:39.159
Sarah looked back as if to tell the next kid123801:23:39.479 --> 01:23:42.520
she would have to wait her turn before taking Sam123901:23:42.560 --> 01:23:46.039
to Santa. Ronnie resisted the urge to roll his eyes124001:23:46.079 --> 01:23:49.880
at Mary Jenkins, who is now Mary Utly, she was124101:23:49.920 --> 01:23:52.640
a cheerleader in high school and he actually had clumsy124201:23:52.680 --> 01:23:55.680
sex with her once in the boy's locker room. It124301:23:55.760 --> 01:23:59.439
was definitely nothing memorable for her, because, as he recalled,124401:24:00.079 --> 01:24:03.199
he was almost done before they got started. The kid124501:24:03.279 --> 01:24:05.119
sat on his lap and he could feel the look124601:24:05.159 --> 01:24:08.000
of pity for Mary boring into the side of his skull.124701:24:09.079 --> 01:24:13.159
Poor Ronnie, I can't believe we actually fucked once. Look124801:24:13.159 --> 01:24:18.159
at him now, Poor poor Ronnie. Sam was blabbing to124901:24:18.239 --> 01:24:21.319
Ronnie about a video game and Sarah tapped Mary on125001:24:21.399 --> 01:24:25.600
her arm with a sharp, pointy fingernail. What is it,125101:24:26.039 --> 01:24:29.199
Mary asked, taken out of her pitiful thoughts of Ronnie.125201:24:30.039 --> 01:24:34.880
Santa doesn't like you, and neither do I, Sarah said.125301:24:35.560 --> 01:24:39.359
Mary's eyes widened in surprise as Sarah smiled at her125401:24:39.760 --> 01:24:44.520
with clicking teeth. Sam. Let's go, Mary shouted as she125501:24:44.560 --> 01:24:46.840
grabbed Sam by the arm as he was still in125601:24:46.880 --> 01:24:51.439
the midst of explaining why this particular PlayStation game was125701:24:51.479 --> 01:24:54.680
a must to have under the tree, Mary pulled him125801:24:54.720 --> 01:24:58.079
so violently Sam's arm almost came clean out of its socket.125901:24:58.760 --> 01:25:03.479
Mom oh, Sam screamed as she began dragging him away.126001:25:04.239 --> 01:25:09.199
Let's go, Mary shouted. Sarah moved quickly, grabbing Mary by126101:25:09.199 --> 01:25:12.760
her not so dainty wrist. Mary's mouth drew back in126201:25:12.840 --> 01:25:16.439
disdain as the little girl's skin to skin touch was126301:25:16.760 --> 01:25:21.319
icy cold. You're not nice. You deserve what's coming to you,126401:25:22.039 --> 01:25:26.359
Sarah said, and then released her grip. Mary dragged a126501:25:26.399 --> 01:25:30.039
screaming Sam behind her. While all this was going on,126601:25:30.279 --> 01:25:32.880
nobody in the line of kids sensed what kind of126701:25:33.000 --> 01:25:37.560
craziness was happening. Crazy shit was par for the course126801:25:38.000 --> 01:25:43.159
on Highway four twenty one, even on Christmas Eve. Ronnie126901:25:43.159 --> 01:25:47.039
watched in joy and amazement. This shit was making him127001:25:47.079 --> 01:25:50.279
so happy. Sarah clicked her teeth at him as she127101:25:50.359 --> 01:25:54.840
went to get the next kid. Barbara Spradley was next127201:25:54.880 --> 01:25:57.960
with her kid, Lisa Ronnie wasn't a fan of the127301:25:57.960 --> 01:26:03.000
Spradley clan. They were pretty much Valley Royalty, owning several127401:26:03.039 --> 01:26:06.560
businesses on this stretch of road. The six year old127501:26:06.600 --> 01:26:11.000
scampered up to Santa, holding Sarah's cold hand. She had127601:26:11.000 --> 01:26:14.720
the distinct Spradley dimple in her chin, with eyes so127701:26:14.880 --> 01:26:17.880
big she almost looked like a character from a Doctor127801:26:17.920 --> 01:26:23.079
Seuss book. Hey, Thanta, Lisa said, with a lisp, Hey,127901:26:23.159 --> 01:26:26.039
little one, what do you want for Christmas? This year?128001:26:26.960 --> 01:26:30.000
I want a Barbie dreamhouse and a couple of new128101:26:30.039 --> 01:26:33.000
barbiees because I cut the hair off the other ones.128201:26:33.199 --> 01:26:38.760
And uh Ethie bake oven, Lisa finished. Ronnie was taken128301:26:38.760 --> 01:26:42.159
aback with Lisa. She was a little girl that actually128401:26:42.199 --> 01:26:46.359
wanted little girl gifts. It was nothing that needed the128501:26:46.399 --> 01:26:50.439
smart descriptor or required the timed mashing of buttons on128601:26:50.479 --> 01:26:54.800
a video game controller. Again, these requests were few and128701:26:55.000 --> 01:26:58.399
far between, but when they came, it made Ronnie feel128801:26:58.479 --> 01:27:03.279
somewhat normal for a few seconds. Sarah noted the genuine128901:27:03.319 --> 01:27:06.399
smile on Ronnie's face and felt his approval, so she129001:27:06.479 --> 01:27:10.159
stayed quiet and gave Barbara a closed mouthed smile, which129101:27:10.199 --> 01:27:14.800
Barbara politely returned. The next kid was big, and so129201:27:15.119 --> 01:27:18.479
was his father. It was Travis Cheatham and his son,129301:27:18.960 --> 01:27:22.720
Little Travis. Sarah reached for Little Travis's hand and he129401:27:22.840 --> 01:27:26.640
jerked away, giving her the finger in the process. Big129501:27:26.680 --> 01:27:31.319
Travis chuckled as if to say, that's my boy. Sarah smiled.129601:27:32.279 --> 01:27:36.119
Hey fuck nut, Big Travis shouted as Little Travis pulled129701:27:36.199 --> 01:27:39.960
himself up onto Ronnie's lap. Ronnie groaned at the weight129801:27:40.039 --> 01:27:43.600
of almost two hundred pounds of this. Eleven year old129901:27:44.479 --> 01:27:48.800
Ronnie remembered Big Travis. They were once teammates, but never friends.130001:27:49.560 --> 01:27:53.439
Big Travis always had a jealous streak, and he loved130101:27:53.479 --> 01:27:58.079
seeing Ronnie like this. Big Travis ran a shady lawn130201:27:58.079 --> 01:28:02.880
care company in the valley, ghostly cash transactions. He liked130301:28:02.880 --> 01:28:06.800
tossing his weight around figuratively and literally. His kid was130401:28:06.840 --> 01:28:10.000
two hundred pounds and Big Travis was over three bills130501:28:10.319 --> 01:28:14.560
almost four. Hey fuck nut, my dad is talking to you,130601:28:15.279 --> 01:28:20.600
Little Travis repeated. That's not very nice. Sarah intervened before130701:28:20.720 --> 01:28:25.159
Ronnie could speak. Who asked you, you little bitch, Little130801:28:25.199 --> 01:28:28.760
Travis replied, while looking back at the approving smile of130901:28:28.800 --> 01:28:32.560
his pops. Listen, here, you will be getting coal in131001:28:32.600 --> 01:28:35.079
your stocking. You can't talk to my little Shut the131101:28:35.079 --> 01:28:38.800
fuck up, Ronnie. You are a fucking loser. Nobody loves131201:28:38.800 --> 01:28:41.079
you if you stink like ass, and you're the sorriest131301:28:41.079 --> 01:28:44.359
sack of shit Sannah I've ever seen. Little Travis didn't131401:28:44.359 --> 01:28:47.840
get the last word out. Sarah moved with catlike quickness.131501:28:48.199 --> 01:28:51.000
She jerked Little Travis from Ronnie's knee and sank her131601:28:51.079 --> 01:28:53.560
teeth into the side of his neck, ripping out his131701:28:53.680 --> 01:28:57.640
trachea and one fell swoop. Blood spewed like a geyser131801:28:57.680 --> 01:29:00.720
from the dying kid's neck. Big t t was still131901:29:00.760 --> 01:29:04.039
trying to register what he was seeing. The color had132001:29:04.079 --> 01:29:08.439
flushed from his face. Kids were now screaming. Sarah leaped132101:29:08.439 --> 01:29:12.239
from Little Travis and lunged at Big Travis, her claws132201:29:12.279 --> 01:29:16.479
digging into his soft, flabby flesh. She scaled up and132301:29:16.560 --> 01:29:18.880
around his back like a lizard on a brick wall.132401:29:19.600 --> 01:29:27.159
Ronnie was smiling. Ronnie was laughing. Ho ho ho fuck nut,132501:29:27.840 --> 01:29:32.479
Ronnie shouted as Sarah raked her claws across Big Travis's face,132601:29:32.720 --> 01:29:36.880
opening gouges in his fat cheeks. Big Travis grabbed Sarah132701:29:36.880 --> 01:29:39.560
by the hair with his huge hands and pulled with132801:29:39.640 --> 01:29:43.920
all his strength. Sarah didn't budge. She was now clicking132901:29:43.920 --> 01:29:47.239
her teeth in front of his frightened eyes. You aren't133001:29:47.279 --> 01:29:50.479
a nice man. You can't treat Santah like that and live.133101:29:51.199 --> 01:29:54.199
Sarah pressed the sharp claws of her thumbs right into133201:29:54.199 --> 01:29:57.840
Big Travis's eyes. They went so deep she could feel133301:29:57.840 --> 01:30:02.079
the soft tissue beneath them. Big Travis fell face first133401:30:02.479 --> 01:30:06.720
as Sarah leaped from his chest. Her movements were fluid133501:30:06.760 --> 01:30:11.800
and fast. Now this shit had everyone's attention. Children were screaming,133601:30:11.880 --> 01:30:15.119
mothers were calling for fathers, and gunshots began to fill133701:30:15.159 --> 01:30:18.800
the air. This had gone well beyond regular four to133801:30:18.840 --> 01:30:22.439
twenty one crazy shit. Ronnie was smiling as he watched133901:30:22.479 --> 01:30:26.039
Santa's little helper go to work. She was blindingly fast.134001:30:26.359 --> 01:30:30.119
She was eviscerating every man with a gun. Ronnie felt134101:30:30.119 --> 01:30:33.399
the pain in his chest he was hit, but he134201:30:33.520 --> 01:30:36.399
was still grinning. The blue lights of the Burnet Town134301:30:36.479 --> 01:30:40.000
police were now everywhere. There would be no tree lighting134401:30:40.039 --> 01:30:43.159
this year, and Sarah was still moving through the crowd.134501:30:43.560 --> 01:30:46.560
She was in a blood frenzy of death and destruction.134601:30:47.239 --> 01:30:50.319
Ronnie felt the warmth of blood flowing from his wound.134701:30:51.119 --> 01:30:54.319
Shots were still ringing out, but there were less of them.134801:30:55.000 --> 01:30:57.640
Ronnie stood in front of the wooden chair, watching the134901:30:57.680 --> 01:31:01.319
mayhem in front of him. Not five minutes ago, the135001:31:01.439 --> 01:31:04.960
kids were in line with their pity filled mothers, waiting135101:31:05.000 --> 01:31:07.920
to beg him for shit he could never afford himself.135201:31:08.640 --> 01:31:11.880
The way these people treated Ronnie over the years was shameful.135301:31:12.560 --> 01:31:16.640
No words of encouragement from any of them, just fucking pity.135401:31:17.479 --> 01:31:23.079
That's why Ronnie hated Christmas. But not this year, No, sir.135501:31:24.000 --> 01:31:29.000
The girl was his vengeance. She knew she could sense135601:31:29.079 --> 01:31:31.840
the ones that had been cruel to Ronnie and the135701:31:31.880 --> 01:31:36.640
ones that didn't offer help only pity. Sarah could smell135801:31:36.680 --> 01:31:41.039
it on them as she literally cut through town. Merry135901:31:41.119 --> 01:31:46.600
Christmas to all and to all a good night, Ronnie shouted.136001:31:46.600 --> 01:31:50.600
As one more shot rang out. It found its mark,136101:31:51.600 --> 01:31:56.920
hitting him in the forehead. The last thing he saw136201:31:57.920 --> 01:32:03.560
was Sarah's face and her clicking teeth. As everything went dark.136301:32:05.159 --> 01:32:09.800
Ronnie died right there, but he died with the solace136401:32:10.319 --> 01:32:15.920
that he'd experienced the best Christmas ever. It was finally136501:32:16.319 --> 01:32:21.159
his happy ending. Sarah was his elf of vengeance, and136601:32:21.239 --> 01:32:32.800
he loved her for it The Day that Santa Died136701:32:33.479 --> 01:32:40.359
by Keith Tomlin. Excerpts from Santa's Bodyguard, My Journey from136801:32:40.439 --> 01:32:45.399
Vietnam to the North Pole, an autobiography by Jonathan L. Copeland,136901:32:45.760 --> 01:32:49.119
as featured in the December twenty eleven issue of The137001:32:49.159 --> 01:32:53.840
weather Be Monthly True Crime journal. Writer's note, I hate137101:32:53.880 --> 01:32:56.840
to start the story off with exposition, but I need137201:32:56.840 --> 01:32:59.159
to make sure that the realities of the situation are137301:32:59.239 --> 01:33:02.720
understood by the reader. These are explained in detail in137401:33:02.760 --> 01:33:06.399
the book version, but readers of this excerpt may benefit137501:33:06.439 --> 01:33:10.680
from knowing the following one. There are around two thousand137601:33:10.720 --> 01:33:14.239
elves in existence. The vast majority of these elves are137701:33:14.279 --> 01:33:18.279
living a happy life working for Santa. There are, however,137801:33:18.359 --> 01:33:22.760
a few that, in their terms, escaped from the North Pole.137901:33:23.640 --> 01:33:28.199
These elves, called renegades, vowed to release their fellow elves138001:33:28.279 --> 01:33:32.560
from their enslavement of their oppressor. For the record, I138101:33:32.600 --> 01:33:35.720
have not seen any indication that Santa was anything but138201:33:35.920 --> 01:33:39.520
kind and generous to those who worked for him. Two138301:33:40.239 --> 01:33:44.800
many supernatural phenomena surround Santa Claus and Christmas. Many of138401:33:44.800 --> 01:33:48.359
these are well documented in popular culture, such as flying138501:33:48.399 --> 01:33:51.880
reindeer and circumventing the entire Earth in one night while138601:33:51.880 --> 01:33:56.479
delivering presence. However, two lesser known ones affect this story.138701:33:57.039 --> 01:34:02.279
The first is that explosives, including gunpower and by extension, firearms,138801:34:02.279 --> 01:34:05.560
do not work around Santa Claus. The same goes for138901:34:05.640 --> 01:34:09.960
internal combustion engines. Santa cannot ride in a car, plane,139001:34:10.319 --> 01:34:13.840
or helicopter. When I asked him about these and other139101:34:13.960 --> 01:34:18.920
unusual occurrences, he would simply shrug and say it's Christmas magic.139201:34:19.920 --> 01:34:24.800
I could get no further explanations. John Copeland twenty eleven,139301:34:26.000 --> 01:34:31.880
December eighteenth, nineteen eighty nine, Cooper's Department Store, Brickton, New Jersey.139401:34:33.159 --> 01:34:35.279
The hair on the back of my neck stood up.139501:34:35.640 --> 01:34:39.319
I could feel that something was wrong. This sixth sense139601:34:39.399 --> 01:34:42.800
saved my life many times in Vietnam, and I've learned139701:34:42.840 --> 01:34:46.760
to trust it. I triggered the radio, Steve, how are139801:34:46.800 --> 01:34:52.159
things looking? The reply came back, everything looks good here, Boss, Alan,139901:34:52.520 --> 01:34:56.600
everything good on your end. YEP, no issues, just kids everywhere.140001:34:56.800 --> 01:35:02.000
Alan replied, Dave, how are you doing? No reply? Dave140101:35:02.960 --> 01:35:09.720
still no reply. Jeff again, no reply, Damn, I sighed.140201:35:10.199 --> 01:35:13.760
I triggered the radio again. Okay, Alan, I want you140301:35:13.800 --> 01:35:16.119
to stop letting people in. Tell them that Santa has140401:35:16.159 --> 01:35:18.920
to feed his reindeer or whatever. Steve, make your way140501:35:18.960 --> 01:35:21.800
towards Dave's sector, but be careful. Head on a swivel.140601:35:22.239 --> 01:35:26.039
I'll head to where Jeff was. After Alan and Steve confirmed,140701:35:26.079 --> 01:35:28.560
I head off down an aisle stacked with boxes of140801:35:28.560 --> 01:35:32.039
board games. A look to my right confirmed that Santa140901:35:32.199 --> 01:35:35.279
was still in the winter Wonderland village that Cooper's Department141001:35:35.319 --> 01:35:38.119
store set up for him. Kids were lined up across141101:35:38.119 --> 01:35:41.880
the sales room floor and down the unpowered escalator. I141201:35:41.960 --> 01:35:45.600
heard tiny footsteps running behind me. I turned and walked141301:35:45.640 --> 01:35:49.159
back towards sporting goods. A blur of motion turned down141401:35:49.159 --> 01:35:52.000
an aisle in the baseball section. I quickly covered the141501:35:52.000 --> 01:35:54.920
ground between me and the mouth of the aisle. Peering141601:35:54.960 --> 01:35:57.800
around the corner, I saw a child no older than141701:35:57.840 --> 01:36:02.359
six standing there, giggling, his mouth covered in chocolate. I141801:36:02.479 --> 01:36:06.680
cautiously made my way towards him. Hi, there are you lost?141901:36:07.119 --> 01:36:11.560
Where are your parents? I asked? They over there, he said,142001:36:11.680 --> 01:36:15.319
pointing somewhat in the direction of Santa's village. I approached142101:36:15.319 --> 01:36:19.960
closer every nerve, screaming, what are you doing here? Don't142201:36:19.960 --> 01:36:22.880
you want to meet Santa. The little man gave me142301:36:23.000 --> 01:36:25.560
candy and said that you wanted to play hide and seek,142401:36:26.039 --> 01:36:29.640
the child said, grinning. I began to answer when my142501:36:29.720 --> 01:36:33.079
instincts told me to duck. A long blade whipped across142601:36:33.119 --> 01:36:36.600
the aisle, barely missing my head. Out of habit and training,142701:36:36.800 --> 01:36:39.319
my hand reached for a pistol at my waist. I142801:36:39.399 --> 01:36:42.680
then remembered I was not carrying a firearm and instead142901:36:43.000 --> 01:36:45.920
grabbed a wooden baseball bat, just in time to block143001:36:45.960 --> 01:36:49.399
another strike from the short sword. The sword dug into143101:36:49.399 --> 01:36:51.479
the wood deep enough to catch, and I was able143201:36:51.520 --> 01:36:53.520
to twist the bat to the side and rip that143301:36:53.600 --> 01:36:56.279
sword out of the grip of a short creature standing143401:36:56.319 --> 01:36:59.039
on the top shelf. I dropped the bat and grabbed143501:36:59.079 --> 01:37:02.199
its legs, turned and swung it across the aisle, hitting143601:37:02.279 --> 01:37:04.800
its head on a metal bin full of baseball bats.143701:37:05.359 --> 01:37:07.880
I let go and it landed on the floor, its143801:37:08.000 --> 01:37:11.359
neck twisted at an impossible angle. I heard the kid143901:37:11.399 --> 01:37:15.079
behind me running away, yelling for his mother. I got144001:37:15.079 --> 01:37:17.920
my first look at the creature and cursed. It was144101:37:17.960 --> 01:37:21.199
around three feet tall, with a thin, narrow face, long144201:37:21.239 --> 01:37:26.239
gray beard, and pointy ears. Guys, I said into the radio.144301:37:26.399 --> 01:37:29.239
We got elves time to shut it down. Alan, they144401:37:29.239 --> 01:37:32.319
don't usually attack civilians. Make sure everybody makes it safely144501:37:32.399 --> 01:37:35.399
off the property. Steve, make your way to me. I'll144601:37:35.399 --> 01:37:39.119
be with the big guy immediately. The guys acknowledged I144701:37:39.279 --> 01:37:42.000
changed channels in radio to have the reindeer sleigh sent144801:37:42.079 --> 01:37:45.159
for a roof extraction. As I begin to quickly walk144901:37:45.199 --> 01:37:47.920
toward the Winter Wonderland set up, I tripped a fire145001:37:47.960 --> 01:37:51.600
alarm mounted on a wall. Sirens and flashing lights filled145101:37:51.600 --> 01:37:53.840
the store as a pre recorded voice played over the145201:37:53.880 --> 01:37:57.159
sound system asking all guests to leave the building in145301:37:57.199 --> 01:38:00.479
an orderly fashion via the nearest exit in the Winter145401:38:00.560 --> 01:38:04.439
Wonderland set store employees began helping crying children and worried145501:38:04.479 --> 01:38:08.880
parents exit the roped off que. Santa, looking majestic in145601:38:08.920 --> 01:38:12.119
his classic red robes with white trim, was reassuring everyone145701:38:12.439 --> 01:38:14.560
and asking them to be careful on the way out.145801:38:15.119 --> 01:38:17.840
I walked up to Santa, my eyes trying to scan145901:38:17.960 --> 01:38:22.359
everyone and everything at once, my nerves screaming. Santa noticed146001:38:22.359 --> 01:38:25.560
my approach and turned to me, concern etched into his146101:38:25.600 --> 01:38:30.000
ageless face. John, my boy, what is going on? Is146201:38:30.039 --> 01:38:33.920
everyone okay? He asked, his deep voice, rising above the146301:38:33.960 --> 01:38:38.760
surrounding chaos. I shook my head. No, sir, the renegades146401:38:38.760 --> 01:38:41.119
are here. I have a few people missing, but I146501:38:41.119 --> 01:38:46.000
haven't heard any issues with the civilians. Oh my, he said, pausing,146601:38:46.439 --> 01:38:50.119
how did they find me? Unclear? At this point, I replied,146701:38:50.560 --> 01:38:53.880
around Christmas, there are thousands of actors posing as Santa146801:38:54.000 --> 01:38:57.520
around the world, meeting children, leading parades, and doing other146901:38:57.600 --> 01:39:00.720
Christmasy duties. For years, I tried in vain to get147001:39:00.760 --> 01:39:04.760
the real Santa to cancel his personal appearances, but he refused,147101:39:05.159 --> 01:39:07.359
saying that the only way to know what children really147201:39:07.399 --> 01:39:09.520
want is to get out there and talk to them.147301:39:09.960 --> 01:39:12.479
I was able to stop him from announcing his appearances,147401:39:12.880 --> 01:39:15.319
hoping that the sheer number of other Santas would act147501:39:15.319 --> 01:39:19.159
as decoys and serve as a form of Christmas camouflage.147601:39:19.319 --> 01:39:22.119
We can worry about that later, sir. Now, we need147701:39:22.159 --> 01:39:24.239
to get you to the roof for pickup. I told147801:39:24.319 --> 01:39:27.239
him I'll go once I know the children are safe.147901:39:27.560 --> 01:39:30.680
He replied, sir, we need to get you out of148001:39:30.680 --> 01:39:34.560
here when the children are safe. Santa said, with a148101:39:34.560 --> 01:39:38.079
bit of an edge in his voice, Roger that I148201:39:38.159 --> 01:39:40.159
knew that once he made up his mind. There was148301:39:40.239 --> 01:39:43.359
no changing it. I turned to face the dwindling crowd,148401:39:43.439 --> 01:39:47.720
scanning for dangers. I spoke into the radio, Alan, what's148501:39:47.760 --> 01:39:51.880
the situation, Alan answered, a bit breathless. The crowd streaming148601:39:51.880 --> 01:39:54.000
out of the building is thinning out a bit. I148701:39:54.039 --> 01:39:57.319
saw some short figures, non children entering through the loading dock.148801:39:57.720 --> 01:40:00.800
Steve went after them. Stay with the crowd, make sure148901:40:00.840 --> 01:40:04.319
nothing happens to them, I said, Steve. Head up to me.149001:40:05.359 --> 01:40:11.439
No answer, Steve. Still nothing, Damn, I thought, as I149101:40:11.479 --> 01:40:14.359
put the radio into a holster on my belt. After149201:40:14.439 --> 01:40:17.279
a few tense minutes, some of the longest of my life,149301:40:17.520 --> 01:40:21.640
Alan's voice came over the radio. Boss employees are saying149401:40:21.640 --> 01:40:25.600
the store should be empty. Roger that heading to the roof,149501:40:25.960 --> 01:40:30.520
I replied, that's when the lights went out. The world149601:40:30.600 --> 01:40:33.600
went black except for the flashing lights of the fire alarm.149701:40:34.520 --> 01:40:38.239
Moments later, the emergency lights came on, their dim pale149801:40:38.319 --> 01:40:42.359
lights combined with the fire lights, casting an eerie shadow.149901:40:43.479 --> 01:40:48.000
Sir I said, we need to go now. A somber150001:40:48.039 --> 01:40:53.520
looking Santa nodded, Yes, John, I believe you're right. Weaving150101:40:53.560 --> 01:40:56.640
through the aisles and holiday displays, I led Santa toward150201:40:56.720 --> 01:41:00.439
the back stairway. As we entered Housewares three days, miniative150301:41:00.520 --> 01:41:02.720
figures emerged out of the darkness at the end of150401:41:02.800 --> 01:41:06.119
the aisle, the amber alarm lights shining off of the150501:41:06.159 --> 01:41:10.279
short steel swords they were wielding. I pulled Santa behind150601:41:10.359 --> 01:41:13.640
me and turned to face the attackers. Out of the150701:41:13.680 --> 01:41:16.439
corner of my vision, I saw a dark shape launch150801:41:16.479 --> 01:41:20.479
itself from the top shelf towards Santa. I sidestepped to intercept,150901:41:20.520 --> 01:41:24.359
putting my body between Santa and the threat. I raised151001:41:24.359 --> 01:41:26.479
my left arm to block the assault, and a long,151101:41:26.880 --> 01:41:30.640
thin blade pierced my forearm. The weight of the small151201:41:30.640 --> 01:41:32.920
body forced my arm back, and the tip of the151301:41:33.000 --> 01:41:37.079
knife cut a long, cruel gash in my cheek. I151401:41:37.119 --> 01:41:40.159
grabbed the attacker, an older, gray haired elf, with my151501:41:40.279 --> 01:41:43.439
right hand, and awkwardly chucked the flailing body at the151601:41:43.479 --> 01:41:48.359
other three, who were now running down the aisle. Swords raised.151701:41:49.600 --> 01:41:53.239
Don't go away, weakly, Spooky will be right back.151801:42:01.479 --> 01:42:04.000
One of the attackers tripped over the thrown Elf, while151901:42:04.039 --> 01:42:06.880
the other two slowed down now that I had turned152001:42:06.880 --> 01:42:10.840
my attention to them. As they cautiously walked forward, I152101:42:10.920 --> 01:42:13.600
pulled the knife from my forearm causing a fresh wave152201:42:13.680 --> 01:42:16.680
of blood to flow. I held the knife at the ready.152301:42:17.319 --> 01:42:19.960
As a Green Beret in Vietnam, my unit was often152401:42:20.000 --> 01:42:23.800
at a numeric disadvantage when we encountered the enemy. In152501:42:23.880 --> 01:42:26.239
those situations, I found that it was best to cause152601:42:26.279 --> 01:42:30.720
confusion in the enemy by doing the unexpected, which usually152701:42:30.760 --> 01:42:34.720
came down to a quick and bloody display of extreme violence.152801:42:35.319 --> 01:42:38.359
I whispered to Santa, keep an eye out behind you.152901:42:38.760 --> 01:42:42.640
I'll be right back. I didn't wait for an answer. Instead,153001:42:42.680 --> 01:42:44.800
I roared at the top of my lungs and began153101:42:44.840 --> 01:42:47.239
to run towards the elves as fast as I could.153201:42:47.840 --> 01:42:50.439
This startled them, and they raised their swords in a153301:42:50.479 --> 01:42:53.399
defensive posture. As I got within a few feet of153401:42:53.439 --> 01:42:56.000
the elf on the right side, I went into a153501:42:56.039 --> 01:43:00.000
feet first baseball slide. The polished and waxed floor assisted153601:43:00.319 --> 01:43:03.600
me with a surprising lack of resistance. I hit him153701:43:03.640 --> 01:43:06.239
just under his right knee. The crack of the bones153801:43:06.319 --> 01:43:09.239
was louder than the fire alarm. As he fell. He153901:43:09.319 --> 01:43:11.680
tried to strike me, but only took out a small154001:43:11.760 --> 01:43:14.760
slice of my left arm. Most of the damage was154101:43:14.800 --> 01:43:18.680
absorbed by my suit jacket. At this time, I realized154201:43:18.720 --> 01:43:20.680
that I had slid too close to the bottom of154301:43:20.720 --> 01:43:24.319
the shelf and it was restricting my movements. My initial154401:43:24.359 --> 01:43:26.159
hope was to take out the right elf with the154501:43:26.199 --> 01:43:29.399
baseball slide, then spin to face away from the upright154601:43:29.439 --> 01:43:32.079
attacker and use my feet to keep him at bay154701:43:32.520 --> 01:43:35.680
until I can find an opportunity to stand up. Not154801:43:35.840 --> 01:43:38.439
the best plan I've ever come up with, but better154901:43:38.520 --> 01:43:42.119
than none. The middle attacker approached and batted away my155001:43:42.199 --> 01:43:45.279
ineffectual attempts to fend him off with my injured arm.155101:43:45.880 --> 01:43:48.119
He raised his sword and plunged it down at me.155201:43:48.640 --> 01:43:51.039
At the last moment, I was able to turn and155301:43:51.119 --> 01:43:54.279
took the strike on my left side. Using what little155401:43:54.279 --> 01:43:57.079
strength I had in my left arm, I tried to155501:43:57.119 --> 01:43:59.439
push him away as he grabbed the sword with both155601:43:59.479 --> 01:44:03.279
hands and leaned into it. That's when I stopped pushing155701:44:03.680 --> 01:44:06.600
and pulled him toward me, his sword passing through me155801:44:06.680 --> 01:44:10.199
and striking the floor. Shock showed on his face as155901:44:10.199 --> 01:44:13.399
he fell forward. Unable to compensate for the lack of resistance.156001:44:14.199 --> 01:44:17.239
I stared into his face inches from mine as I156101:44:17.279 --> 01:44:19.880
brought my right hand up and plunged the dagger into156201:44:19.920 --> 01:44:23.000
his side over and over again. I felt the front156301:44:23.039 --> 01:44:25.479
of my shirt grow wet with his blood, and the156401:44:25.560 --> 01:44:29.000
light in his eye slowly dimmed. I let go, and156501:44:29.079 --> 01:44:32.640
he slumped over his eyes, staring sightlessly at the ceiling.156601:44:33.479 --> 01:44:36.319
Using the shelves to pull myself up, I grasped the156701:44:36.399 --> 01:44:39.439
hilt of the small sword and pulled it free. Wincing156801:44:39.560 --> 01:44:43.319
from the pane, rolling my left shoulder, I deduced that156901:44:43.399 --> 01:44:45.760
the wound on my side was less serious than I157001:44:45.800 --> 01:44:49.960
originally thought. No vital organs were hit. I look at157101:44:50.000 --> 01:44:53.279
the three living elves lying on the ground. The one157201:44:53.279 --> 01:44:55.880
with the broken leg was still clutching it and rolling157301:44:55.920 --> 01:44:59.760
around moaning. The one I threw was still lying dazed157401:44:59.800 --> 01:45:02.199
on the tile floor, while the one that tripped over157501:45:02.279 --> 01:45:05.439
him was just rising to his feet, his cold eyes157601:45:06.119 --> 01:45:09.760
boring into me. I took a step and kicked him157701:45:09.960 --> 01:45:13.600
hard in the face. A wet crunch could be heard157801:45:13.640 --> 01:45:15.960
as a shelf split the back of his skull open157901:45:16.319 --> 01:45:19.800
and wedged into his brain. I then struck the elf158001:45:19.840 --> 01:45:22.520
he tripped over with the sword until he stopped moving.158101:45:23.279 --> 01:45:25.720
I verified that the elf with the broken leg wasn't158201:45:25.720 --> 01:45:31.039
a threat, before looking over at Santa Santa Claus stood there, speechless,158301:45:31.399 --> 01:45:35.399
his ashen white face, registering both shock and disgust. He158401:45:35.479 --> 01:45:39.399
opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Sir,158501:45:40.000 --> 01:45:43.680
we should be going, I said, looking around for additional threats.158601:45:44.600 --> 01:45:46.680
Santa shook his head like he was coming out of158701:45:46.720 --> 01:45:49.199
a trance. He looked at the carnage in front of158801:45:49.279 --> 01:45:55.399
him and asked, was that necessary, Sir, Let's go, I replied.158901:45:56.159 --> 01:45:59.159
Santa took one last look at the bodies before him159001:45:59.439 --> 01:46:02.880
and slow nodded. We made our way past the jewelry159101:46:02.920 --> 01:46:05.479
counter and into women's wear. I grabbed a couple of159201:46:05.520 --> 01:46:07.840
scarves from a bin and bound my wounds as best159301:46:07.880 --> 01:46:11.359
I could. Santa gave me a disapproving look, but softened159401:46:11.359 --> 01:46:13.560
when I told him that I would pay for them later.159501:46:14.079 --> 01:46:17.079
I almost added if we live, but chose to keep159601:46:17.119 --> 01:46:21.520
that part to myself. We heard movement behind us, at159701:46:21.600 --> 01:46:25.079
least four sets of footsteps heading our way. I began159801:46:25.199 --> 01:46:28.600
pushing Santa to move faster, hoping to reach the stairway159901:46:28.640 --> 01:46:32.079
to the roof before the renegades caught us. My sixth160001:46:32.119 --> 01:46:34.680
sense was screaming that there was something I was missing,160101:46:35.079 --> 01:46:38.000
but years of an action had blunted the tactical sense160201:46:38.319 --> 01:46:43.239
that had been honed into a razor's edge in Foreign Wars. Finally,160301:46:43.279 --> 01:46:45.439
I saw the gap in the shelves along the back160401:46:45.479 --> 01:46:49.119
wall with a bright red sign that read emergency exit.160501:46:49.720 --> 01:46:53.079
As we neared it, something flew by and smacked into160601:46:53.079 --> 01:46:55.720
the wall ahead of us. I looked back and a160701:46:55.760 --> 01:46:59.560
small figure was frantically trying to reload a crossbow. I160801:46:59.640 --> 01:47:02.840
pushed Santa faster, almost knocking him off his feet, and160901:47:02.920 --> 01:47:06.159
we slammed into a metal exit door. A shrill alarm161001:47:06.239 --> 01:47:09.319
began going off, further adding to the chaos of the situation.161101:47:10.119 --> 01:47:13.000
I slammed the door shut and looked around. Stairs were161201:47:13.000 --> 01:47:14.920
going up on the left and down on the right.161301:47:15.560 --> 01:47:18.239
Also on the right was a mop and bucket. I161401:47:18.319 --> 01:47:20.880
grabbed the mop and wedged it between the bottom step161501:47:20.960 --> 01:47:23.840
and the door. It wouldn't last long, but it should161601:47:23.880 --> 01:47:27.159
slow them down. Santa was trying to catch his breath,161701:47:27.199 --> 01:47:30.119
and as much as I hated to do it, I161801:47:30.159 --> 01:47:33.800
couldn't give him time to rest. Sir, the roof is161901:47:33.800 --> 01:47:37.319
one flight up. We're almost there, I said, as reassuringly162001:47:37.359 --> 01:47:41.039
as I could. He nodded and began climbing. I did162101:47:41.039 --> 01:47:43.840
my best to keep watch both ahead and behind us.162201:47:44.279 --> 01:47:46.520
When we made the turn to the final set of stairs,162301:47:46.920 --> 01:47:50.439
I began hearing yells and pounding from below. I readied162401:47:50.479 --> 01:47:52.960
the sword that I still carried and prompted Santa to162501:47:53.000 --> 01:47:56.000
climb even faster. When we finally made it to the162601:47:56.079 --> 01:47:59.960
roof access door, we paused. I pushed Santa against the162701:48:00.199 --> 01:48:02.279
wall and stood in front of him, sword at the ready.162801:48:02.760 --> 01:48:06.880
I radioed the reindeer team. What's the status of the sleigh,162901:48:07.079 --> 01:48:10.239
I asked, We're landing now, the roof is clear. Where163001:48:10.239 --> 01:48:15.119
it go was the reply? I sighed. Finally something was163101:48:15.159 --> 01:48:19.880
going our way. Ready, Sir, I asked Santa. He chuckled,163201:48:20.439 --> 01:48:23.920
I can almost taste the hot chocolate now. As I163301:48:23.960 --> 01:48:26.520
nodded to him, I heard a crash from below us163401:48:26.560 --> 01:48:29.840
and yells of triumph. Santa opened the roof door and163501:48:29.920 --> 01:48:33.520
I followed close behind him, facing the stairway. As soon163601:48:33.520 --> 01:48:36.600
as I backed onto the roof, I knew something was wrong.163701:48:37.520 --> 01:48:41.039
It wasn't until later that I realized that it was163801:48:41.119 --> 01:48:44.840
the lack of noise. Nine reindeer make a ton of163901:48:44.880 --> 01:48:48.680
noise even when they're just standing still, and the roof164001:48:49.560 --> 01:48:53.680
was eerily quiet. As I heard Santa say, oh my,164101:48:54.640 --> 01:48:57.640
I turned and noticed an odd contraption set off to164201:48:57.720 --> 01:49:00.359
the left. It had a four inch two tube and164301:49:00.399 --> 01:49:04.439
two large tanks behind it. Three elves were standing around it,164401:49:04.720 --> 01:49:08.399
two holding long daggers, while the third carried a short spear.164501:49:09.159 --> 01:49:13.119
One elf yelled now, and the one with the spear164601:49:13.239 --> 01:49:16.439
brought it down on a lever and the machine roared.164701:49:17.279 --> 01:49:20.680
I suddenly realized that this was a huge air cannon.164801:49:21.279 --> 01:49:25.079
A metal ball shot out, flying towards Santa's chest. I164901:49:25.159 --> 01:49:27.560
tried to leap in front of him to intercept the threat,165001:49:27.560 --> 01:49:29.880
but it seemed like I was moving in slow motion.165101:49:30.640 --> 01:49:32.439
I was able to get my left arm up in165201:49:32.479 --> 01:49:35.600
front of the cannon ball. It ricocheted off of my arm,165301:49:35.720 --> 01:49:39.840
shattering bone and struck Santa in the stomach. I fell165401:49:39.880 --> 01:49:42.279
to the ground and must have blacked out for a165501:49:42.279 --> 01:49:45.239
few seconds. When I came to, I saw that Santa165601:49:45.359 --> 01:49:48.640
was lying on the roof about six feet away, flanked165701:49:48.640 --> 01:49:51.720
by the three elves from the cannon. Another three elves165801:49:51.720 --> 01:49:53.680
were approaching from the other side of the roof, and165901:49:53.760 --> 01:49:57.359
four more had emerged from the stairway. Still dazed, I166001:49:57.439 --> 01:50:01.960
watched the elves surround Santa, who lay there gasping for breath.166101:50:02.720 --> 01:50:05.319
The elf with the spear stepped forward and jammed it166201:50:05.359 --> 01:50:09.520
into Santa's chest. That broke the dam, and the others166301:50:09.600 --> 01:50:13.239
rushed ahead, plunging their knives into the large man, over166401:50:13.560 --> 01:50:17.319
and over again. Blood began to pull on the roof,166501:50:17.359 --> 01:50:20.880
and the elves handmade boots made red footprints as they166601:50:20.920 --> 01:50:23.960
splashed through the puddle, eagerly elbowing their way through the166701:50:23.960 --> 01:50:28.880
frenzied mob to take another stab. I gave up trying166801:50:28.920 --> 01:50:31.800
to stand and slumped back to the ground. All of166901:50:31.840 --> 01:50:35.199
my will to fight drained out of me. I screamed,167001:50:35.239 --> 01:50:37.840
but the only thing I could hear was the pounding167101:50:37.880 --> 01:50:41.640
of my heart and the soft, wet thud of the167201:50:41.760 --> 01:50:46.159
knives hitting their mark. I hung my head and wept,167301:50:46.359 --> 01:50:51.199
but soon the sounds of the slaughter stopped. I thought167401:50:51.199 --> 01:50:54.000
that I would look up to find myself surrounded by167501:50:54.039 --> 01:50:59.119
bloodthirsty heathens. However, when I opened my eyes, I saw167601:50:59.159 --> 01:51:02.239
that the elves had been staring at the body on167701:51:02.279 --> 01:51:02.800
the ground.167801:51:04.319 --> 01:51:09.079
Did you hear that? Better check the locks on your doors? Weakly, spooky,167901:51:09.279 --> 01:51:10.279
We'll be right back.168001:51:12.199 --> 01:51:15.880
Lights began pulsing from each of the dozens of Santa's wounds.168101:51:16.600 --> 01:51:19.600
The light became brighter, and the elves stumbled back further,168201:51:20.119 --> 01:51:22.920
one falling down, but none of them took their eyes168301:51:23.000 --> 01:51:26.560
off of the corpse in front of them. Santa's body168401:51:26.640 --> 01:51:29.000
began to shake and rose in the air like some168501:51:29.439 --> 01:51:32.800
rag doll held up by an invisible hand. The light168601:51:32.880 --> 01:51:35.199
became blinding, and I had to turn away from the168701:51:35.199 --> 01:51:38.960
blazing nova that the fat man had become. There was168801:51:39.000 --> 01:51:42.159
a loud crackle and then a deafening thump, followed by168901:51:42.199 --> 01:51:46.159
a light so bright that it rivaled the sun. After169001:51:46.239 --> 01:51:48.560
a few minutes, I opened my eyes and tried to169101:51:48.600 --> 01:51:51.279
blink away the spots that danced in front of them.169201:51:52.079 --> 01:51:54.600
Santa's body still hung in the air, but the light169301:51:55.279 --> 01:52:00.520
was beginning to dim as his wounds slowly closed. I169401:52:00.640 --> 01:52:02.680
was struck by the thought that he looked like a169501:52:02.760 --> 01:52:08.199
white bearded Jesus crucified on an invisible cross. I felt169601:52:08.199 --> 01:52:11.399
like I was going mad and began to laugh. That169701:52:11.640 --> 01:52:14.720
stopped when I noticed the charred and smoking bodies of169801:52:14.720 --> 01:52:19.640
the renegade elves scattered around the roof. Hearing a scraping sound,169901:52:19.720 --> 01:52:22.720
I turned to see that one of the elves survived.170001:52:23.039 --> 01:52:25.239
Most of its body was charred, and it was using170101:52:25.239 --> 01:52:28.800
its one good arm to pull itself along. I stumbled170201:52:28.800 --> 01:52:31.600
to my feet, the pain in my arm inside beginning170301:52:31.640 --> 01:52:35.439
to throb as the adrenaline wore off. I shuffled over170401:52:35.479 --> 01:52:38.439
to the remaining elf and flipped it over onto its back.170501:52:39.000 --> 01:52:41.720
The majority of its face was burnt black, except for170601:52:41.760 --> 01:52:44.920
the area around its right eye. I could feel the170701:52:45.039 --> 01:52:48.880
hate radiating from it as it looked past me, focused170801:52:48.920 --> 01:52:54.560
on something behind me. Oh, Clarence, Santa said, walking up170901:52:54.600 --> 01:52:58.399
to look down at the elf. My poor boy. I171001:52:58.479 --> 01:53:04.520
wish I could help. You help, Clarence croaked between charred lips.171101:53:05.039 --> 01:53:12.039
Let us go, Santa shook his head. If I could,171201:53:12.920 --> 01:53:18.479
I would, but it's out of my control. Liar, set171301:53:19.159 --> 01:53:25.399
us free, Clarence said, his anger giving strength to his voice.171401:53:25.439 --> 01:53:29.039
Santa got down on one knee and grabbed Clarence's good hand.171501:53:30.439 --> 01:53:34.119
You don't think I've tried to leave. It affects me171601:53:34.960 --> 01:53:38.439
just like it affects you. After two days away from171701:53:38.439 --> 01:53:41.079
the North Pole, I start feeling the tug of the171801:53:41.119 --> 01:53:45.600
place trying to pull me back. After a week away,171901:53:46.039 --> 01:53:50.079
I can't sleep, I can barely eat, and that's just172001:53:50.199 --> 01:53:53.600
the start of the struggle. All I can think of172101:53:53.760 --> 01:53:56.760
is my workshop and my overwhelming need to get back172201:53:56.800 --> 01:54:02.159
to it. I finally just accepted my fate and embraced172301:54:02.159 --> 01:54:08.000
my role in life. I we bring joy to the172401:54:08.079 --> 01:54:12.039
children of the world, and that's a worthy way to172501:54:12.159 --> 01:54:18.039
spend one's life. Doubt showed in Clarence's face, and he172601:54:18.119 --> 01:54:27.159
whispered a final word, ooh. Santa patted his hand. It's172701:54:27.199 --> 01:54:30.760
the spirit of Christmas that calls to us, that pulls172801:54:30.840 --> 01:54:33.800
us back. Its magic is fueled by the hopes and172901:54:33.880 --> 01:54:37.680
dreams of children all over the world. As long as173001:54:37.680 --> 01:54:41.279
there are children who believe in Christmas, the Christmas Spirit173101:54:41.359 --> 01:54:46.319
will be there to guide us. We Santa stopped talking173201:54:46.359 --> 01:54:50.039
as a groan escaped from Clarence's mouth and the light173301:54:50.159 --> 01:54:55.319
in his eyes went out. Santa bowed his head and wept.173401:54:56.760 --> 01:54:59.840
After a few minutes, he gently placed the ELF's hand173501:54:59.840 --> 01:55:04.600
on the ground and stood wiping his face. I radioed173601:55:04.600 --> 01:55:08.520
the sleigh team, and, after verifying their identification, found that173701:55:08.560 --> 01:55:11.640
they never received the original request for a rooftop pickup.173801:55:12.399 --> 01:55:15.880
After scheduling the pickup, I turned to Santa and noticed173901:55:15.920 --> 01:55:18.000
that he was poking a finger through one of the174001:55:18.479 --> 01:55:23.239
dozens of cuts in his jacket. John, he said, confused,174101:55:24.359 --> 01:55:32.920
what happened? Well, sir, you died, I replied, did I know? So?174201:55:33.279 --> 01:55:39.119
How did I undie? He asked, unclear. You started floating174301:55:39.119 --> 01:55:41.960
in the air and burst into a bright light, and174401:55:42.039 --> 01:55:51.159
now you're alive. Really hmm strange? Santa shrugged. Christmas Magic,174501:55:51.680 --> 01:55:59.760
he said, yes, sir, Christmas Magic epilogue in the dark174601:56:00.399 --> 01:56:04.920
between two air units, Frederick the Elf lowered the crossbow174701:56:05.520 --> 01:56:08.199
and placed it next to the backpack of the electronic174801:56:08.239 --> 01:56:12.920
equipment he used to intercept the radio transmissions. He tore174901:56:13.039 --> 01:56:16.600
his gaze off Santa and closed his eyes to quell175001:56:16.680 --> 01:56:20.920
his rage. With that rage subsiding, the pull of the175101:56:21.000 --> 01:56:25.319
North returned. He spent a few minutes conquering that urge,175201:56:25.560 --> 01:56:30.680
his shaking hands finally growing still. Calm descended and he175301:56:30.720 --> 01:56:35.800
began to review what he learned. Santa can't be killed,175401:56:36.159 --> 01:56:39.840
at least not in traditional ways. Santa is not the175501:56:39.880 --> 01:56:43.279
source of the pull, but he is a willing participant175601:56:43.760 --> 01:56:47.399
in the oppression of the elves. The Spirit of Christmas175701:56:47.439 --> 01:56:49.439
is the force that tries to pull them back to175801:56:49.479 --> 01:56:53.119
the North Pole. Human children all over the world give175901:56:53.239 --> 01:56:57.239
power to the Spirit of Christmas to lessen the pull176001:56:57.319 --> 01:57:00.640
of the spirit of Christmas. We need to crease what176101:57:00.800 --> 01:57:07.439
gives it power, namely human children. Frederick opened his eyes.176201:57:08.399 --> 01:57:11.479
He knew what he had to do. Now is the176301:57:11.479 --> 01:57:14.960
time for planning. He cocked his head and seemed to176401:57:14.960 --> 01:57:19.000
hear sleigh belts off in the distance. He took one176501:57:19.079 --> 01:57:23.600
last look at Santa and his bodyguard before slinking off176601:57:24.399 --> 01:57:28.199
into the darkness. Thank you for reading The weather Be176701:57:28.319 --> 01:57:32.039
monthly True Crime Journal. Please check out next month's issue,176801:57:32.199 --> 01:57:34.920
where we will have the next installment of excerpts from176901:57:35.000 --> 01:57:41.159
John Copeland's autobiography. In that article, titled Infanticide, Generation Blood,177001:57:41.560 --> 01:57:51.840
he explores one of the bloodiest terror campaigns in human history.177101:57:53.800 --> 01:58:00.039
Scary Christmas to All by David o'hanley. Santa paced the177201:58:00.079 --> 01:58:04.640
ancient floorboards of his study. The world had changed, Toys177301:58:04.640 --> 01:58:08.039
were bought in stores, and fewer children believed in the177401:58:08.079 --> 01:58:11.800
magic of Santa. There were many tasked with keeping the177501:58:11.880 --> 01:58:16.039
balance of good and evil, but technology was quickly pushing177601:58:16.079 --> 01:58:20.359
them all into the realm of mythology. The Fat Man177701:58:20.399 --> 01:58:23.760
had gone to extremes to keep his operation relevant long177801:58:23.840 --> 01:58:27.640
past its expiration date, but it wouldn't matter much longer.177901:58:28.520 --> 01:58:31.920
Santa chewed the end of his cigar and stopped pacing178001:58:31.960 --> 01:58:35.680
in front of the wooden chest. The lock laid broken178101:58:35.800 --> 01:58:38.720
next to the splinters of wood where the thieves had178201:58:38.760 --> 01:58:44.319
carelessly chopped open the ancient ornate chest. The contents had178301:58:44.319 --> 01:58:48.560
been replaced with a manifesto scrawled into Mittean script. In178401:58:48.680 --> 01:58:52.000
one night, they would undo centuries of legend and tip178501:58:52.039 --> 01:58:57.600
the scales forever unless they could be stopped. Santa struck178601:58:57.640 --> 01:58:59.720
a match and held it to the tip of the cigar,178701:59:00.399 --> 01:59:04.399
knowing there was only one solution, only one operative elf178801:59:04.479 --> 01:59:10.319
enough for the task. I'm freezing my fucking ornaments off Peppermint,178901:59:10.399 --> 01:59:13.359
Ray declared as he stepped into the study and kicked179001:59:13.359 --> 01:59:16.279
the door shut behind him. This is one hell of179101:59:16.319 --> 01:59:21.560
a storm, nothing compared to what is coming, Santa said somberly.179201:59:22.159 --> 01:59:24.960
I called you in for a very important assignment. Ray,179301:59:25.920 --> 01:59:30.000
I finally get to kill Jeff Bezos. Ray perked up. No,179401:59:31.399 --> 01:59:34.720
it worked with toys r us, Ray argued. If we179501:59:34.840 --> 01:59:37.640
take out Amazon and Walmart, they'll have to come to179601:59:37.760 --> 01:59:42.359
us for toys. We'll be back in business full tilt Buggie,179701:59:42.399 --> 01:59:46.279
maybe next year. Ray. Santa stepped away from the Pilford179801:59:46.359 --> 01:59:51.199
chest if there is one, fuck me with a nutcracker,179901:59:51.840 --> 01:59:55.680
Ray gasped. The elf went to the box. His face180001:59:55.720 --> 01:59:58.960
twitched with conflicting emotions as he knelt to retrieve the180101:59:59.000 --> 02:00:01.840
manifesto from the spot that should have held one of180202:00:01.840 --> 02:00:06.640
the North Pole's three sacred documents. He skimmed the pages180302:00:06.680 --> 02:00:10.479
of lunatic ramblings. He's going to give out toys to180402:00:10.520 --> 02:00:14.279
the entire naughty list, Ray said, who would do this?180502:00:15.479 --> 02:00:27.560
He calls himself candy pain sugarplum. Gary flicked a frozen180602:00:27.600 --> 02:00:31.720
booger from his finger. His bulbous nose almost glowed from180702:00:31.720 --> 02:00:35.399
the bite of the winter storm blowing across the Great Lakes.180802:00:35.960 --> 02:00:39.199
Elves didn't chill easily, but the storm made him pull180902:00:39.239 --> 02:00:42.960
the parka tighter around him. Gary liked to eat paint,181002:00:43.520 --> 02:00:47.520
specifically orange, and had lost his job making toys long181102:00:47.600 --> 02:00:51.560
before the bubble burst. For everyone else, he'd been cleaning181202:00:51.560 --> 02:00:55.159
the stables for the past two centuries, which he didn't mind.181302:00:55.319 --> 02:00:58.239
The reindeer never made fun of him, at least they181402:00:58.279 --> 02:01:00.720
would have if they could talk, but they couldn't, so181502:01:00.960 --> 02:01:05.439
Gary was content with his new occupation. He stabbed his181602:01:05.479 --> 02:01:09.159
finger back into his nostril to mine another frozen snot nugget.181702:01:09.800 --> 02:01:12.560
As dumb as Gary was, even he knew the storm181802:01:13.239 --> 02:01:17.119
was their fault. It had started moments after they pilfered181902:01:17.159 --> 02:01:21.640
the Naughtylist and intensified with every toy they delivered along182002:01:21.720 --> 02:01:26.239
their path. Candy Andy knew it too. Gary watched the182102:01:26.279 --> 02:01:29.680
Elvin David koresh saw through the security guard's neck with182202:01:29.720 --> 02:01:34.159
a serrated silver blade. Gary always wanted to be one182302:01:34.199 --> 02:01:37.720
of the Black Mittens, sant as elite core of assassins182402:01:37.720 --> 02:01:42.439
that purged the evilest names from the Naughtilist with absolute ruthlessness.182502:01:43.039 --> 02:01:45.800
Gary had never even gotten to issue a coal citation182602:01:45.960 --> 02:01:49.119
to a bad kid, let alone gotten to bump one off.182702:01:49.840 --> 02:01:53.359
Andy told him he was lucky for that war changes182802:01:53.359 --> 02:01:56.640
in elf and the Naughtilist had become the North Pole's182902:01:56.760 --> 02:02:01.279
version of Vietnam. The Black Mittens were so backlogged that183002:02:01.359 --> 02:02:04.319
they'd started working during Christmas in July, just to keep183102:02:04.319 --> 02:02:07.560
from drowning in the swelling sea of evil caused by183202:02:07.560 --> 02:02:11.960
the influx of department store toys. Andy wiped the blade183302:02:12.000 --> 02:02:15.640
clean and sheathed it. His short, powerful arms cast the183402:02:15.680 --> 02:02:18.000
line of his grappling hook all the way to the183502:02:18.039 --> 02:02:21.359
top of the watch tower. Gary stared in awe as183602:02:21.359 --> 02:02:24.640
the elf scurried up the structure despite the brutal onslaught183702:02:24.640 --> 02:02:28.279
of wind. Gary darted from the bushes and waited inside183802:02:28.359 --> 02:02:31.600
the guard shack for his signal. Andy hadn't told him183902:02:31.600 --> 02:02:34.119
what the signal would be, just that he'd know it184002:02:34.159 --> 02:02:37.520
when he saw it. A moment later, the sniper's corpse184102:02:37.600 --> 02:02:41.439
crashed to the icy pavement, his intestine stretched up from184202:02:41.479 --> 02:02:44.199
his torn abdomen all the way back to the top184302:02:44.239 --> 02:02:47.760
of the tower. Gary giggled and stepped out of the shack,184402:02:48.199 --> 02:02:52.079
looking up at the meaty garland glistening with already frozen blood.184502:02:52.760 --> 02:02:55.760
He plucked it, fascinated by the wet twang it made,184602:02:56.239 --> 02:03:00.800
and waited another moment for Andy's signal. Nothing happened, and184702:03:00.840 --> 02:03:05.720
Gary looked down at the body and gasped, Oh, you're184802:03:05.760 --> 02:03:09.640
the signal. He darted back inside and pulled the lever.184902:03:10.279 --> 02:03:13.359
Ice cracked from the hinges as the gates forced themselves185002:03:13.359 --> 02:03:19.039
open despite the accumulating snow. The vibration rattled loose icicles185102:03:19.039 --> 02:03:23.000
from the bronze lettering overhead. The elf looked up and185202:03:23.159 --> 02:03:27.840
sounded out the letters. It was easy enough even for him.185302:03:28.399 --> 02:03:32.800
Kill you. Gary squinted through the snowflakes to make sure185402:03:32.840 --> 02:03:36.880
he read it correctly. There it was, in big, blocky185502:03:36.960 --> 02:03:42.920
font kill you. Andy repelled down the tower and gracefully185602:03:43.000 --> 02:03:45.960
hit the ground. He waved for Gary to come through.185702:03:46.680 --> 02:03:50.039
The ditzy elf waddled between the still opening gates and185802:03:50.159 --> 02:03:55.000
pointed at the letters. Say Andy, what ah Andy had185902:03:55.039 --> 02:03:57.159
him by the throat. Before he could say another word.186002:03:57.560 --> 02:04:03.600
I won't tell you again, he snarled. It's Pain, Candy Pain.186102:04:04.840 --> 02:04:07.640
The name wasn't the only thing he'd changed about himself.186202:04:08.119 --> 02:04:11.319
His uniform had been replaced with leather and spikes, and186302:04:11.399 --> 02:04:13.960
around his neck he wore a heavy chain of sterling186402:04:14.039 --> 02:04:17.399
candy canes. For every elf that died under his command.186502:04:18.119 --> 02:04:21.359
Each ornament was spaced out with the withering, rotten ear186602:04:21.840 --> 02:04:27.600
of a naughty child. Sorry, Candy Pain, Gary gult I186702:04:27.720 --> 02:04:30.800
was just wondering about the sign, is all. It's a186802:04:30.840 --> 02:04:36.920
strange name for an orphanage. Orphanage, Candy Pain, laughed. Krieger186902:04:37.000 --> 02:04:41.319
Illinois Youth, a fender unit better known as kill You Island.187002:04:42.199 --> 02:04:45.680
Candy Pain swept an arm at the structure. The former187102:04:45.760 --> 02:04:49.119
mental asylum was little more than a shadow through the snowfall.187202:04:49.920 --> 02:04:52.800
The tiny island had always been a place of evil187302:04:53.039 --> 02:04:57.920
and violence. It attracted it the way rot attracts flies.187402:04:58.800 --> 02:05:01.800
Krieger sat far in enough on Lake Michigan to make187502:05:01.840 --> 02:05:04.479
it the perfect place to lock away the most dangerous187602:05:04.560 --> 02:05:08.760
juvenile delinquents in the state. Many of the residents had187702:05:08.760 --> 02:05:12.159
received their lump of coal, while others had skipped straight187802:05:12.199 --> 02:05:14.960
to the top of the naughty list. Somewhere in the187902:05:15.000 --> 02:05:20.279
pint sized penal colony was the mission objective. The Kinder Cannibal,188002:05:20.960 --> 02:05:32.319
Little Robbie Mocker, Christmas Dies Tonight candy pain snarled. Santa's188102:05:32.319 --> 02:05:36.560
glare was hard and cold as gun metal. Missus Claws188202:05:36.560 --> 02:05:39.159
sat the tray of sugar cookies next to the scales.188302:05:39.920 --> 02:05:43.239
On one side a glittery glass ornament, and on the188402:05:43.279 --> 02:05:47.680
other a lump of coal mined by Crampis himself. The188502:05:47.720 --> 02:05:51.359
two pans had never been level, but they never teetered188602:05:51.399 --> 02:05:56.079
too far in one direction either. Now the coal moved188702:05:56.199 --> 02:05:59.960
lower by the minute. No point in watching it, dear,188802:06:00.560 --> 02:06:04.399
the missus said, offering up one of the cookies. Santa188902:06:04.479 --> 02:06:07.680
took the snowman shaped cookie and chomped the head off.189002:06:08.920 --> 02:06:13.520
If he fails, Santa started, then do something about it.189102:06:14.079 --> 02:06:17.199
She slid into his lap. The sleigh is packed and189202:06:17.319 --> 02:06:21.119
ready hand out as many toys as possible by Ray189302:06:21.159 --> 02:06:25.399
the time he needs to destroy candy pain Rai's no189402:06:25.640 --> 02:06:29.880
match for him, Santa admitted, I should have sent everyone.189502:06:30.560 --> 02:06:32.920
Then we'd be burying a lot of dead elves for189602:06:33.000 --> 02:06:37.119
New Year's Missus Claws said. Ray will win this fight189702:06:37.199 --> 02:06:39.640
because he's just as much a symbol of Christmas as189802:06:39.680 --> 02:06:44.119
you are. Santa raised a wooly brow. I don't think189902:06:44.159 --> 02:06:47.960
we're talking about the same elf. How many wars have190002:06:48.039 --> 02:06:51.880
you delivered presents through? How many communities have come together190102:06:52.119 --> 02:06:56.359
in times of disaster, fed one another during famines, sang190202:06:56.479 --> 02:07:01.520
carols through plagues. Christmas is not a holiday. It's not presents,190302:07:02.239 --> 02:07:07.880
It's not even Santa Claus. It's an unyielding spirit, she said,190402:07:08.199 --> 02:07:11.520
coiling the curls of his beard around her fingers. The190502:07:11.600 --> 02:07:16.439
true meaning of Christmas is love. That's why it always190602:07:16.560 --> 02:07:21.159
endures no matter what turmoil comes. Peppermint Ray is the190702:07:21.159 --> 02:07:25.399
embodiment of the Christmas spirit. He's a sadistic munchkin that190802:07:25.560 --> 02:07:30.720
enjoys killing. Santa huffed, you enjoy your work too. She190902:07:30.880 --> 02:07:33.640
kissed his forehead, which is why you need to get191002:07:33.680 --> 02:07:36.760
off your fat ass and get to it. Keep the191102:07:36.760 --> 02:07:40.199
scales moving in our favor. Dear Ray will do his191202:07:40.319 --> 02:07:45.199
job and tomorrow we'll drink our eggnog from candy Andy's skull.191302:07:49.279 --> 02:07:53.520
Bruite Cake flew around the island a second time. Bonfires191402:07:53.560 --> 02:07:58.560
burned high despite the battery of subzero winds. Inmates danced191502:07:58.600 --> 02:08:02.680
and fired captured gun into the air and celebration. An191602:08:02.720 --> 02:08:07.680
explosion illuminated scores of dead guards making bloody snow angels191702:08:07.720 --> 02:08:11.880
in the yard. Ray could smell burnt flesh wafting up191802:08:11.920 --> 02:08:15.800
on the smoke. He checked the magical compass, and the191902:08:15.840 --> 02:08:20.760
needle pointed straight down. Looks like the little shits opened192002:08:20.760 --> 02:08:25.359
their Christmas presents early, He groaned, you ready for Christmas dinner? Pal?192102:08:26.159 --> 02:08:31.199
The reindeer rumbled excitedly. Good. It's colder than Prancer's pecker192202:08:31.279 --> 02:08:33.279
up here, and I want all the feeling in my192302:08:33.399 --> 02:08:38.960
fingers when I closed them around Andy's throat. Bruitcake snorted, shit,192402:08:39.319 --> 02:08:43.560
you're right, we need tunes. Ray turned on the bluetooth192502:08:43.600 --> 02:08:47.560
speaker hanging from Brutecake's saddle. He nodded his head. As192602:08:47.560 --> 02:08:51.479
the bells tinkled and the music began, the reindeer let192702:08:51.520 --> 02:08:56.359
out a long, hoarse call of agreement. That's right, Candy, Andy,192802:08:57.000 --> 02:09:02.119
all I want for Christmas is you to die. The192902:09:02.159 --> 02:09:06.479
reindeer changed course, speeding toward the island. Ray drew his193002:09:06.520 --> 02:09:09.760
scimitar and shifted to the side to hack down one193102:09:09.760 --> 02:09:13.479
of the escaped convicts. Bullets whizzed by his head. His193202:09:13.600 --> 02:09:17.439
steed banked hard, nearly flinging Ray from the saddle. A193302:09:17.439 --> 02:09:21.279
pair of teens cut loose with their festively painted assault rifles.193402:09:21.800 --> 02:09:25.479
Brute Cake twisted, flying over them, upside down and then193502:09:25.600 --> 02:09:29.680
biting one's head while Ray impaled the other. The skull193602:09:29.840 --> 02:09:34.119
crunched loudly between the reindeer's teeth. In the chaos, Ray193702:09:34.199 --> 02:09:38.039
almost missed the incoming call. He turned down the music193802:09:38.079 --> 02:09:41.039
and answered the phone while Brute Cake flew into a193902:09:41.079 --> 02:09:46.640
group of delinquents peppervent party line. He said, gleefully, Ray,194002:09:47.199 --> 02:09:53.199
it's wait, is that gunfire? Missus Claws asked, Not everyone194102:09:53.239 --> 02:09:56.039
plays with the same kinds of toys. A bullet tore194202:09:56.159 --> 02:09:59.960
Ray's hat off. Can I call you back? No, you cannot,194302:10:00.479 --> 02:10:03.680
missus Claws said, sternly. This is going to be really194402:10:03.680 --> 02:10:06.119
hard for you, but you can't kill any of the194502:10:06.199 --> 02:10:09.600
kids on that island. Ray tugged the reins to pull194602:10:09.680 --> 02:10:12.319
Brute Cake up and away from the field of battle.194702:10:12.800 --> 02:10:16.880
Two murder munchkins hung from his bloody antlers. Ray cleared194802:10:16.880 --> 02:10:20.319
his throat. Uh, the service is really bad with this194902:10:20.640 --> 02:10:24.279
storm and all, Ray said. I didn't hear you. You195002:10:24.319 --> 02:10:29.119
said kill all the naughty kids, right, none of them? Ray? Oh,195102:10:30.079 --> 02:10:34.439
so yeah, we can do that, Ray mind shooting himself195202:10:34.479 --> 02:10:38.760
in the head. Why exactly are we not killing them?195302:10:39.319 --> 02:10:43.560
The scales have tipped too far. Her voice sounded sullen195402:10:43.600 --> 02:10:47.319
and distant. It wasn't the storm making Ray's knees shake.195502:10:47.880 --> 02:10:50.840
If she was worried, then it really was the end195602:10:50.840 --> 02:10:54.680
of Christmas. Brute Cake tilted his head to slide one195702:10:54.680 --> 02:10:57.319
of the bodies closer so he could take a bite.195802:10:58.079 --> 02:11:01.760
Ray rolled his eyes. What was done was done so195902:11:01.920 --> 02:11:06.359
his faithful steed might as well enjoy the spoils. Okay,196002:11:07.159 --> 02:11:13.479
no more killing, Ray reluctantly agreed. What's the plan? Give196102:11:13.560 --> 02:11:18.199
them gifts? She told him, Restore the image of Santa,196202:11:18.520 --> 02:11:23.119
remind them that Christmas is about love, and love is196302:11:23.239 --> 02:11:26.960
second chances? Ray, How am I supposed to get past196402:11:27.000 --> 02:11:32.119
them without killing them? Make them toys? Ray, I didn't196502:11:32.159 --> 02:11:37.560
exactly pack for that sort of thing. I have no toys. Improvise.196602:11:38.159 --> 02:11:40.800
You were a toy maker, long before you were a killer,196702:11:41.199 --> 02:11:46.600
she reminded him, A terrible one, the worst, She agreed.196802:11:47.279 --> 02:11:50.640
Naughty kids now get crappy toys, and thanks to you,196902:11:51.239 --> 02:11:54.800
we have a warehouse full of those. Glad I could help,197002:11:55.119 --> 02:11:59.760
Ray said, deadpanned. The other elves are mobilizing. What about197102:11:59.800 --> 02:12:04.680
kill Andy pain? Silly Ray? Her voice perked up. Everyone197202:12:04.800 --> 02:12:09.439
knows peppermint kills pain. Ray ended the call with a197302:12:09.479 --> 02:12:13.359
pointed smile. He tugged the reins and directed Brute Cake197402:12:13.880 --> 02:12:17.159
toward the roof of the prison. A mob of children197502:12:17.239 --> 02:12:22.039
surrounded him with pilfered nightsticks, shanks, and torches. Ray hopped197602:12:22.079 --> 02:12:24.960
down from his saddle. A bigger kid stepped out of197702:12:25.000 --> 02:12:28.920
the group to meet him, wielding an axe adorned with mistletoe.197802:12:29.680 --> 02:12:32.920
We didn't invite you to the Christmas party, the boy said,197902:12:32.960 --> 02:12:36.680
in a pubescent squeak. Why don't you and Rudolph fuck off?198002:12:38.399 --> 02:12:43.640
Are you afraid? Good? Weakly spooky? We'll be right.198102:12:43.439 --> 02:12:56.119
Back Brutecake shook his head violently, flinging the corpses from198202:12:56.119 --> 02:12:59.640
his antlers. He snorted and scraped his hoof through the snow.198302:13:00.479 --> 02:13:04.359
Blood soaked his snout and bubbled in his nostrils. To198402:13:04.439 --> 02:13:06.880
be fair, you do have a red nose right now,198502:13:07.520 --> 02:13:11.600
Ray padded the animal's side. Look, Dallas, we're here on198602:13:11.720 --> 02:13:15.840
important North Pole business. How'd you know my name? The198702:13:15.880 --> 02:13:19.199
boy demanded. I read the naughty list like it's the198802:13:19.239 --> 02:13:23.079
Sunday paper, Ray said, before you chopped up your family,198902:13:23.399 --> 02:13:26.880
you made the list for smashing your sister's gerbil. The199002:13:26.960 --> 02:13:31.159
crowd gasped. And I know you and you and you,199102:13:32.000 --> 02:13:34.840
Ray said, as he turned and pointed at various children.199202:13:35.399 --> 02:13:38.399
He wagged his finger at one of them, especially you.199302:13:39.199 --> 02:13:43.960
That was some innovative work you did, kiddo. What what199402:13:44.039 --> 02:13:48.960
do you want, Dallas asked, to give you presents. Ray199502:13:49.000 --> 02:13:53.239
threw his hands into the air. Christmas is about second chances.199602:13:53.680 --> 02:13:56.359
The fat man's had a change of heart. Go on199702:13:56.520 --> 02:13:59.439
back to your cells before you catch a cold. Tomorrow199802:14:00.159 --> 02:14:05.640
everyone gets gifts. I already got my present. Dallas hefted199902:14:05.640 --> 02:14:09.960
the axe. I said, I wouldn't kill anyone else tonight,200002:14:10.079 --> 02:14:13.159
so try to run really fast so that I don't200102:14:13.199 --> 02:14:16.680
look like a lyar. Ray pulled the be dazzled grenade200202:14:16.720 --> 02:14:21.720
from his pocket. Five second fuse, eight meter kill zone.200302:14:21.760 --> 02:14:26.199
It's doable, but just barely. The elf jerked the pin200402:14:26.359 --> 02:14:30.279
free and the children scattered. Ray ran for the edge,200502:14:30.439 --> 02:14:33.640
knowing his stumpy legs would never get him clear in time.200602:14:34.399 --> 02:14:37.520
He jumped over the side, casting his grappling hook for200702:14:37.560 --> 02:14:41.479
the drain pipe as the device exploded behind him. He200802:14:41.560 --> 02:14:45.119
planned on crashing through the window like John mcclan, only200902:14:45.279 --> 02:14:49.680
Knakotomi Plaza didn't have bars over the windows. Ray struck201002:14:49.720 --> 02:14:52.800
the iron grid and bounced off, twisting on the rope201102:14:52.840 --> 02:14:56.319
like the world's ugliest ornament. He hit it again but201202:14:56.479 --> 02:15:00.199
caught hold. Ray pulled his dagger and used it to201302:15:00.239 --> 02:15:04.239
unscrew the grate. He kicked out the glass and shimmered inside.201402:15:05.720 --> 02:15:10.039
Fuck me with a nutcracker, he groaned, whatever gets your201502:15:10.079 --> 02:15:13.119
rocks off, the woman said, before grabbing Ray by the201602:15:13.199 --> 02:15:17.479
throat and slinging him into a graffitied wall. Ray's tiny201702:15:17.520 --> 02:15:21.199
form shattered the sheet rock. A female guard towered over him.201802:15:21.319 --> 02:15:25.640
Her cutoff trousers revealed thick muscular thighs each one as201902:15:25.640 --> 02:15:29.760
big around as Ray himself. Scalps dangled from her pistol202002:15:29.760 --> 02:15:33.479
belt that hung below a hardened eight pack of abdominal muscles.202102:15:34.159 --> 02:15:37.439
Ray's eyes widened when he saw she was topless and202202:15:37.520 --> 02:15:41.479
pinned her badge threw her left nipple. She patted a202302:15:41.560 --> 02:15:45.319
nightstick against her palm. Growls and barks came from one202402:15:45.319 --> 02:15:48.000
of the cells. Two of the guards came out, wearing202502:15:48.039 --> 02:15:52.399
nothing but dog ears and tails. This is the pro202602:15:52.560 --> 02:15:56.640
bowl of fucking psychopaths, he said, struggling to his feet.202702:15:57.319 --> 02:16:02.239
I'm Commander Thatcher. The woman's voice boomed long before Mindy202802:16:02.319 --> 02:16:06.119
the Thrasher Thatcher had taken over Kreager Island. She'd been202902:16:06.159 --> 02:16:10.720
a women's wrestling champion and longtime resident of the Naughty List.203002:16:11.279 --> 02:16:14.479
It was no wonder Candy Pain had picked Killy Island203102:16:14.760 --> 02:16:19.000
to deliver his coup de gras to Christmas sicken boys.203202:16:19.840 --> 02:16:23.159
The two guards snarled and scurried at Ray on all fours.203302:16:23.760 --> 02:16:27.079
The elf juked around one, letting them crash together with203402:16:27.119 --> 02:16:30.720
a yip. He ran down the hall, hurtling, gnawed bodies,203502:16:31.159 --> 02:16:34.079
and slid to a stop as another guard dog crawled203602:16:34.120 --> 02:16:37.879
out to block his path. Only this time it was203702:16:37.920 --> 02:16:42.120
an actual dog. The terrier, wearing a mask of leather straps,203802:16:42.520 --> 02:16:47.799
dragged a length of intestines behind him. You're breaking the law, convict,203902:16:48.319 --> 02:16:52.399
Thatcher shouted, my law. Now get your scrawny ass back204002:16:52.440 --> 02:16:56.879
in your cell. Convict Ray tugged at his pointy ears,204102:16:57.360 --> 02:17:02.440
You dumbass. I'm an elf. The growled gimp doesn't give204202:17:02.440 --> 02:17:05.719
a shit what gang you're in. Neither do I. Thatcher204302:17:05.760 --> 02:17:09.719
tapped the baton with each step closer. Bad children spend204402:17:09.719 --> 02:17:13.959
the night with the dogs. The human pupps stalked alongside204502:17:14.000 --> 02:17:18.159
their mistress. They gnashed their bloody teeth, slinging pink saliva204602:17:18.280 --> 02:17:22.479
with each bark. This cell block belonged to Lucifer Lloyd.204702:17:23.120 --> 02:17:26.440
Thatcher tugged at a scalp on her belt. So did204802:17:26.479 --> 02:17:30.559
this he thought he was the devil. Think you'll scream204902:17:30.600 --> 02:17:33.520
as much as the devil when I peel your skull. Elf,205002:17:34.440 --> 02:17:37.399
keep talking and I'll do it myself. Ray cupped a205102:17:37.479 --> 02:17:41.200
hand to his ear. Hear that is it time to205202:17:41.200 --> 02:17:46.959
make the cookies. That is just a hurtful stereotype. Ray barked.205302:17:47.520 --> 02:17:51.239
You haven't seen how hurtful I can be yet, Thatcher laughed.205402:17:51.959 --> 02:17:54.079
I was going to give you a witty one liner,205502:17:54.479 --> 02:17:57.559
Ray said, better make it a singer, because it'll be205602:17:57.639 --> 02:18:01.360
your last words. Thatcher drew the bowie knife from her belt.205702:18:01.760 --> 02:18:05.680
Ray backed away from her. She clanked the weapons together rhythmically.205802:18:06.319 --> 02:18:10.520
The human animals howled for elf meat. Ray continued back205902:18:10.559 --> 02:18:13.440
pedaling until he felt the wet nose of the terrier206002:18:13.520 --> 02:18:17.440
touch his hand. The dog let out a deep, throaty206102:18:17.520 --> 02:18:23.000
growl and licked his fingers. Don't you know, Ray said,206202:18:23.000 --> 02:18:27.000
with a giggle. Elves are one with nature, even psycho206302:18:27.040 --> 02:18:30.680
mutch like this. One. Gimp nuzzled its head under his arm,206402:18:31.000 --> 02:18:34.440
and Ray gave him pets. Thatcher stopped in her tracks.206502:18:34.920 --> 02:18:36.959
I bet I know what a good puppy like you206602:18:37.079 --> 02:18:43.079
wants for Christmas, Ray chirped, happily chew toys. The terrier206702:18:43.159 --> 02:18:47.120
bolted down the corridor, launching itself at the wannabees. The206802:18:47.200 --> 02:18:50.639
second pounced on him, biting into the dog's shoulder. Gimp206902:18:50.680 --> 02:18:54.079
didn't even make a yip before swinging around and tearing207002:18:54.120 --> 02:18:58.040
out the man's throat. Thatcher stumbled backwards, slipping in the207102:18:58.159 --> 02:19:02.280
arterial spray. A dog in the remaining guard locked up207202:19:02.920 --> 02:19:06.719
gimp latched onto the man's crotch, drawing a high pitch wail,207302:19:07.520 --> 02:19:12.520
Good boy, you found his squeaker. Ray slouched, Shit, I207402:19:12.600 --> 02:19:16.520
feel like Michael Vick watching this. Thatcher scrambled down the207502:19:16.559 --> 02:19:19.799
hallway with the dog on her heels. Ray whistled as207602:19:19.799 --> 02:19:22.639
he skipped away from the carnage to find the stairwell.207702:19:23.159 --> 02:19:26.719
He crept down stealthily, stopping to listen at the door.207802:19:27.479 --> 02:19:30.799
He could hear a ruckus beyond, and decided to try207902:19:30.840 --> 02:19:35.200
another floor. Ray could rewrite the naughtylist from memory. He208002:19:35.319 --> 02:19:38.920
knew who else howlsed on kill you Island. Some of208102:19:38.959 --> 02:19:41.239
them wouldn't make it easy to keep his word to208202:19:41.280 --> 02:19:45.479
missus claws. On the third floor, Ray paused to listen.208302:19:46.159 --> 02:19:50.239
His ears twitched at the melodic giggling. Normal people do208402:19:50.319 --> 02:19:53.120
not giggle in the middle of a prison riot. He208502:19:53.200 --> 02:19:56.799
didn't need heightened sentences to hear the screams that came next.208602:19:57.479 --> 02:20:01.159
The naughtiest inmate on the island was up in the basement.208702:20:01.879 --> 02:20:05.000
Ray knew that's where pain would be going if he208802:20:05.159 --> 02:20:09.520
wasn't there already. Unfortunately, that meant crossing the east wing208902:20:09.600 --> 02:20:13.280
of the facility. He knelt suddenly putting his palm to209002:20:13.360 --> 02:20:17.360
the floor. Toy makers had to have an amazing sense209102:20:17.399 --> 02:20:21.159
of touch. It helped with stalking naughty children as well.209202:20:22.000 --> 02:20:26.040
Someone was coming up the stairs. His wide nostrils flared,209302:20:26.120 --> 02:20:30.840
taking in the scent chemicals clung to his nosehairs. He209402:20:30.959 --> 02:20:34.319
had a pretty good idea who it was and exactly209502:20:34.360 --> 02:20:39.159
what the kid had asked for this Christmas. Ray was209602:20:39.239 --> 02:20:42.360
out of options. He slid through the door, closing it209702:20:42.479 --> 02:20:46.559
gently behind him. The five girls didn't notice him as209802:20:46.559 --> 02:20:48.879
they played ring around the rosy with one of their209902:20:48.879 --> 02:20:53.840
dismembered but not dead cellmates. The arms and legs still210002:20:53.879 --> 02:20:58.479
twitched and danced next to the wriggling torso. Ray slumped,210102:20:59.440 --> 02:21:04.000
Bridget and Patty Booth led the sing song chant all210202:21:04.120 --> 02:21:07.719
together in a circle, we sing the name of the210302:21:07.719 --> 02:21:13.319
most wicked thing, mister Jolly, the Smiling King, except the210402:21:13.360 --> 02:21:19.200
sacrifice that we bring, mister Jolly, the Smiling King, master210502:21:19.360 --> 02:21:22.799
of all that bite and staying for you, we kill210602:21:23.079 --> 02:21:27.680
and dance, and saying enough, Ray whistled and clapped his hands.210702:21:28.280 --> 02:21:30.760
The girls quit dancing, and the circle broke into a210802:21:30.840 --> 02:21:34.559
human chain that blocked the hall. They stared at the210902:21:34.600 --> 02:21:39.120
elf quizzically, this looks like a really fun slumber party.211002:21:39.559 --> 02:21:43.360
Ray pointed at the sacrifice. Well maybe not for her,211102:21:43.520 --> 02:21:46.319
but you need to get to bed now. Santa is211202:21:46.319 --> 02:21:49.879
bringing everyone presence, but only if you're sound asleep when211302:21:49.879 --> 02:21:54.440
he gets here. Fuck Santa, Pat squeaked. We don't need211402:21:54.479 --> 02:21:58.239
that judgmental bastard. Yeah, like, I've got two of those211502:21:58.319 --> 02:22:02.959
at home. Bridget added, they're called parents. We have the211602:22:03.000 --> 02:22:07.879
Smiling King. The other girls said in unison. Oh yeah,211702:22:07.959 --> 02:22:12.719
that was creepy. Ray patted the air. Hate to tell you,211802:22:12.760 --> 02:22:16.920
but your creepy pasta is a little undercooked. There is211902:22:17.000 --> 02:22:20.639
no mister Jolly is coming, the dismembered girl said, with212002:22:20.680 --> 02:22:24.920
a mouthful of blood. It worked, Hail the Smiling King.212102:22:25.719 --> 02:22:29.319
The lights flickered in the hallway. You've got to be212202:22:29.440 --> 02:22:34.399
fucking kidding me. Ray drew his scimitar. It's a stupid212302:22:34.559 --> 02:22:40.280
internet story. What's Santa, Bridget asked. If you believe in something,212402:22:40.600 --> 02:22:46.079
really believe it's real. Santa is real, Elves are real,212502:22:47.239 --> 02:22:51.920
Mister Jolly is real. This is what we really want212602:22:51.959 --> 02:22:58.799
for Christmas. Pat said, mister Jolly the Smiling King a212702:22:58.840 --> 02:23:02.799
deep voice sag inside a cell. The name of the212802:23:02.879 --> 02:23:08.799
most wicked thing. The lights went out completely. The inhuman212902:23:08.959 --> 02:23:13.319
voice laughed. Ray's eyes adjusted quickly, and he saw the213002:23:13.319 --> 02:23:18.319
girls jumping about giddaly. Spindly fingers gripped the bars of213102:23:18.360 --> 02:23:22.600
the cell. Spiders scurried from his sleeves and over the213202:23:22.680 --> 02:23:28.479
claw like digits. Ray heard muffled buzzing. The entity still213302:23:28.600 --> 02:23:32.639
hiding in the abyss wretched, and the swarm of wasps213402:23:32.680 --> 02:23:36.719
billowed out into the corridor. Ray bolted for the door.213502:23:37.520 --> 02:23:42.920
He cranked on the handle. It wouldn't budge. A widow213602:23:43.000 --> 02:23:46.639
twisted gracefully on a strand of silk until it rested213702:23:46.680 --> 02:23:50.639
on his nose. Ray flicked it away and followed the213802:23:50.680 --> 02:23:54.879
string up to a shiny cufflin. A live, deathly hand213902:23:55.000 --> 02:23:59.479
held the door at the top. Ray turned slowly and214002:23:59.559 --> 02:24:02.639
looked up but the demonic thing the children had summoned.214102:24:03.319 --> 02:24:06.639
It glared down at him with bulging eyes ringed with214202:24:06.760 --> 02:24:11.559
ragged flesh where lids had been cut away. Its gaunt214302:24:11.639 --> 02:24:15.840
face hung open and an oversized smile held together with214402:24:16.040 --> 02:24:23.719
rawhide stitching. The king is holding court, it hissed, without214502:24:23.799 --> 02:24:29.000
moving its mouth. Sorry, Pally, but I like my creepypastas214602:24:29.040 --> 02:24:33.920
with extra red sauce. Ray swung the Tomatian's sword across214702:24:33.959 --> 02:24:38.280
the creature's torso, slicing a wide gash that erupted with insects.214802:24:38.559 --> 02:24:42.079
They spilled over peppermint Ray, biting and stinging his flesh.214902:24:42.479 --> 02:24:45.239
He dived between the monster's legs and rolled across the215002:24:45.280 --> 02:24:48.799
floor to squish as many as he could. The lights215102:24:50.040 --> 02:24:57.280
flicked back on. Mister Jolly was gone. Ray looked around.215202:24:58.079 --> 02:25:01.719
The child coultists were slumped on the floor, covered in215302:25:01.840 --> 02:25:07.319
masses of swollen welts, and all wearing impossibly wide smiles.215402:25:08.239 --> 02:25:11.840
Ray touched a raised knot on his cheek and gingerly215502:25:11.879 --> 02:25:16.680
plucked the stinger from the center. I don't care if215602:25:16.719 --> 02:25:19.040
I did just see you. I don't believe in you,215702:25:19.440 --> 02:25:24.520
he shouted. So there, you can't hurt me. The lights215802:25:24.520 --> 02:25:28.159
flickered and Ray screamed. The door opened at the opposite215902:25:28.200 --> 02:25:32.760
end of the hall. Mister Jolly's laughter echoed from the216002:25:32.799 --> 02:25:38.680
other side. Fucking crazy dominatrix, bitch people acting like dogs216102:25:38.680 --> 02:25:44.600
and lunatics everywhere. Now a supernatural monster. This is worse216202:25:44.680 --> 02:25:48.520
than Christmas with Crampus. Ray threw his hands into the air.216302:25:49.360 --> 02:25:54.959
What's next? The door banged open behind him, chest nuts216402:25:55.159 --> 02:26:01.559
roasting on an open fire. The little boy sang. Ray216502:26:01.639 --> 02:26:04.159
dropped to the ground as the jet of napalm blazed216602:26:04.200 --> 02:26:07.440
over him. He turned over and watched Milo the Pyro216702:26:07.840 --> 02:26:11.879
blast the nearest cell with his flamethrower. Doesn't anyone in216802:26:11.959 --> 02:26:16.239
this fucking place just want a Teddy rucksban, Ray kipped216902:26:16.319 --> 02:26:21.040
up to his feet. Listen, Milo, you're a pretty good kid.217002:26:21.120 --> 02:26:24.479
I mean, who hasn't burned down a house or seven? Right?217102:26:25.440 --> 02:26:29.120
Do you know who I am? Yeah? You make those217202:26:29.200 --> 02:26:35.040
awesome cookies with fudge. Milo smiled. I like those, No217302:26:35.399 --> 02:26:39.079
I do not. Ray saw the boy's eyes fill with hate.217402:26:40.200 --> 02:26:43.680
Do not just make the fudge ones? I make them all.217502:26:44.639 --> 02:26:50.040
I'm the head cookie chef that sounds made up? Milo said,217602:26:50.920 --> 02:26:54.799
Look at these shoes, Milo, Ray wiggled his foot. Look217702:26:54.840 --> 02:26:57.879
at these pointy fucking ears. Do I look like a217802:26:57.959 --> 02:27:03.000
garden gnome? No? I look like an elf. Elves don't217902:27:03.040 --> 02:27:06.079
lie about serious shit, and there is no shit more218002:27:06.159 --> 02:27:11.680
serious than cookies to an elf. Cool, Milo jabbed the218102:27:11.719 --> 02:27:15.639
flamethrower towards him. I'm going to burn this place down now.218202:27:16.360 --> 02:27:19.920
Can't deliver cookies to a pile of ash. Ray shrugged,218302:27:20.280 --> 02:27:23.440
health code and all that. I just signed a deal218402:27:23.479 --> 02:27:27.559
with Santa. The naughty nice thing is over. Naughty kids218502:27:27.559 --> 02:27:30.000
are getting presents now, and he knows how much you218602:27:30.159 --> 02:27:36.799
love my cookies. Then why be nice? Milo torched another cell,218702:27:37.959 --> 02:27:42.079
because there's better presence for the nice kids. Ray waved218802:27:42.079 --> 02:27:46.200
his hand. They're still working out the details, but point is,218902:27:46.760 --> 02:27:52.040
you get cookies on Christmas morning if you stop setting fires.219002:27:52.719 --> 02:27:56.959
The striped ones too, he asked. Ray looked over his219102:27:57.000 --> 02:28:00.840
shoulder at the open door. A spider crawled along the jam,219202:28:01.520 --> 02:28:06.719
and somewhere down the stairs he heard jolly snickering. He219302:28:06.799 --> 02:28:10.840
turned back to Milo and smiled. Let me borrow that219402:28:10.920 --> 02:28:15.159
flamethrower and I'll throw in cookies so special that only219502:28:15.319 --> 02:28:19.319
elves have ever tasted them.219602:28:19.399 --> 02:28:23.799
There's more scares where that came from. Weakly spooky will219702:28:23.840 --> 02:28:24.680
be right back.219802:28:31.520 --> 02:28:35.040
Ray watched the jellied petroleum burn on the cinder block219902:28:35.120 --> 02:28:39.079
wall with a amused grin. He blasted the flame thrower220002:28:39.159 --> 02:28:42.040
down each set of stairs to clear the path until220102:28:42.040 --> 02:28:46.719
he finally arrived in the basement. A rusted gate stood220202:28:46.719 --> 02:28:51.319
ajar next to an unmanned security desk, bare bulbs flickered,220302:28:51.600 --> 02:28:55.799
casting shadow puppets on the walls. The heavy steel doors220402:28:55.840 --> 02:29:01.120
of solitary confinement cells were open. Ells drifted down the220502:29:01.120 --> 02:29:06.879
corridor that made Ray's stomach growl. Someone was cooking burgers.220602:29:07.440 --> 02:29:12.040
His face paled. They didn't cook burgers in prison basements.220702:29:12.760 --> 02:29:15.760
It had to be a Christmas request, and if anyone220802:29:15.799 --> 02:29:19.920
in the hole was requesting delicious all meat patties, it220902:29:20.040 --> 02:29:24.000
had to be Robbie Mocker. Vomit hit the back of221002:29:24.120 --> 02:29:28.079
Ray's teeth, but he choked it back down. Each cell221102:29:28.159 --> 02:29:32.040
he passed was empty. The aroma grew stronger, and despite221202:29:32.079 --> 02:29:36.760
knowing that or who was in those paddies, Ray had221302:29:36.760 --> 02:29:40.760
to admit that the smell was exquisite. He rounded the corner,221402:29:40.879 --> 02:29:45.319
his finger tense against the trigger sugar plum. Gary shoved221502:29:45.360 --> 02:29:48.000
an arm into the meat grinder and hopped off the221602:29:48.040 --> 02:29:51.920
step ladder to work the crank. Ray watched the arm221702:29:52.040 --> 02:29:56.079
descend into the machine. The process made the hand wave221802:29:56.120 --> 02:29:58.760
at him as it disappeared and came out the other221902:29:58.920 --> 02:30:02.639
end in ropey pink strands that dropped into a bowl.222002:30:03.239 --> 02:30:06.239
Gary pinched two balls of the meat and smashed them222102:30:06.239 --> 02:30:09.600
onto an electric griddle. He slapped cheese on a pair222202:30:09.680 --> 02:30:14.239
that were already cooking. The toaster popped noisily, almost causing222302:30:14.319 --> 02:30:19.079
Ray to torch the makeshift kitchen prematurely. Gary, who sucked222402:30:19.079 --> 02:30:23.879
at everything, was a short order savant. Hurry up out there,222502:30:24.239 --> 02:30:26.760
Candy pain barked from the last cell on the left.222602:30:27.200 --> 02:30:33.159
He's still hungry. Order up, Gary declared, happily. Then bring222702:30:33.200 --> 02:30:35.159
it here, Gary, It's not a present if you don't222802:30:35.159 --> 02:30:39.760
deliver it. Ray whistled. Gary turned and dropped the burger.222902:30:40.440 --> 02:30:43.399
The lights went out, and Ray pulled the trigger, filling223002:30:43.440 --> 02:30:48.200
the hallway with fire and smell of burning gingerbread. Gary's223102:30:48.200 --> 02:30:52.239
immolated body bounced off the walls before collapsing next to223202:30:52.280 --> 02:30:56.799
the table. Through the flickering flames, Ray saw the unnatural223302:30:56.840 --> 02:31:01.200
smile hiding in the dark. Mister Jolly unfolded himself from223402:31:01.239 --> 02:31:04.680
the tight space, his legs stepping over his torso like223502:31:04.719 --> 02:31:09.719
a spider. Before he stood upright, wasps crawled along his lips.223602:31:10.479 --> 02:31:14.920
Ray raised the flamethrower. I brought my bug spray this time, Pally,223702:31:15.399 --> 02:31:18.719
you ever been burned alive? I have? It sucks and223802:31:18.799 --> 02:31:20.959
as much as it would jingle my bells to find223902:31:21.000 --> 02:31:25.959
out how flammable you are. I got some more pressing issues.224002:31:27.399 --> 02:31:31.600
Don't you want to smile? Ray the King asked, you224102:31:31.680 --> 02:31:36.319
could smile forever. I will be after I kill you.224202:31:36.559 --> 02:31:39.559
But let's stick a pin in that just for now.224302:31:40.479 --> 02:31:45.440
When you want to play, just sing, mister Jolly. Sank224402:31:45.920 --> 02:31:51.319
into the shadows, sing for the King, the most wicked thing.224502:31:52.799 --> 02:31:56.159
Ray let the flamethrower fall to the floor and stepped224602:31:56.159 --> 02:32:00.280
into the doorway of the kinder cannibal cell. The East224702:32:00.399 --> 02:32:03.239
Child used his fingers to force the last bite of224802:32:03.280 --> 02:32:08.559
burger into his over stuffed mouth. Is that enough? Candy224902:32:08.639 --> 02:32:11.920
Paine asked? Are you satisfied? Now? Have I granted you225002:32:11.959 --> 02:32:16.040
the buffet you most wanted for Christmas? Robbie shook his225102:32:16.120 --> 02:32:20.040
head and his cheeks kept moving afterwards. He was in225202:32:20.120 --> 02:32:23.680
kindergarten when he realized he liked the taste of people.225302:32:24.760 --> 02:32:28.159
Then one day in third grade, he decided to turn225402:32:28.200 --> 02:32:32.200
his class into a goddamn Denny's. At his trial, he said,225502:32:32.239 --> 02:32:36.120
people whose names end in vowel sounds taste better. Ray225602:32:36.200 --> 02:32:38.639
knocked on the door as he entered the tiny room.225702:32:39.559 --> 02:32:45.159
You'll never get away with this, Ray snickered, Get it, Yule, Yeah,225802:32:45.239 --> 02:32:48.040
you never did have a sense of humor. I knew225902:32:48.079 --> 02:32:51.879
he'd send you candy. Pain said, if I give the226002:32:51.959 --> 02:32:55.440
naughtiest kids the presence they want the most, then this226102:32:55.600 --> 02:33:00.840
whole system burns. Without Santa, humans will destroy themselves through226202:33:00.840 --> 02:33:05.680
their own avarice. Ray tapped his ear. Do you hear226302:33:05.760 --> 02:33:12.360
that the sleigh bells? Pain scoffed. I know your corny226402:33:12.440 --> 02:33:16.040
lines as well as I know your tactics. I got226502:33:16.040 --> 02:33:19.399
some mistletoe hanging off my belt. How about you kiss226602:33:19.479 --> 02:33:24.360
me under it? Ray pointed at the ceiling. The storm's over, dipshit.226702:33:24.879 --> 02:33:29.040
Santa's giving naughty kids presents too. Because you're right, humans226802:33:29.079 --> 02:33:34.000
are greedy, and you you're jealous of that. Candy Pain226902:33:34.159 --> 02:33:37.200
rose from the bunk. His hand moved to his dagger.227002:33:37.799 --> 02:33:41.159
When you put love into things instead of people, it227102:33:41.239 --> 02:33:45.600
becomes greed. Christmas has shown us that, but it's shown227202:33:45.680 --> 02:33:49.360
us what they can do when they love each other too.227302:33:49.639 --> 02:33:53.479
Ray drew his knife. For all we've got going for us,227402:33:54.399 --> 02:33:59.280
elves can't love. You're wrong, because I'm going to love227502:33:59.440 --> 02:34:04.159
gutting you. You Ray, Ray, Robbie muttered in a spew227602:34:04.239 --> 02:34:08.920
of crumbs, a sound the cannibal scurried through the discarded227702:34:08.959 --> 02:34:12.600
leftovers and clamped his teeth into Ray's leg. He chewed227802:34:12.600 --> 02:34:15.000
the muscle until he gnawed deep enough for a good227902:34:15.200 --> 02:34:17.959
solid bite, and jerked his head back with a hunk228002:34:18.000 --> 02:34:23.000
of elf meat oozing between his lips. Yummy, Robbie said228102:34:23.000 --> 02:34:27.200
as he chewed. I want more. I want elf burgers228202:34:27.239 --> 02:34:30.840
for Christmas. Ray limped out of the room. He tried228302:34:30.879 --> 02:34:33.639
to think of a plan that didn't involve stabbing the228402:34:33.760 --> 02:34:37.520
kid in the face, but it was the most appealing option.228502:34:38.360 --> 02:34:42.280
Gingerbread wafted to his schnauz. Ray looked at the knife228602:34:42.319 --> 02:34:46.040
in his hand. In his very long life, he'd never228702:34:46.120 --> 02:34:50.639
known missus claws to be wrong about anything. He hobbled228802:34:50.639 --> 02:34:54.680
to Gary's burnt corpse and collapsed next to it. He228902:34:54.760 --> 02:34:58.159
cut away a slab of blackened muscle and tossed it229002:34:58.200 --> 02:35:01.920
onto a single paper plate. Ray held the plate up229102:35:01.959 --> 02:35:06.680
as the kinder cannibal sprang on him once more. Merry Christmas,229202:35:07.239 --> 02:35:12.000
he squeaked. Robbie snatched the plate from him and sniffed it.229302:35:13.159 --> 02:35:19.159
I want burgers. That is better than burgers. Ray said that, well,229402:35:19.920 --> 02:35:25.440
that's a Gary meal. Gary. Robbie accented the vowel sound229502:35:25.479 --> 02:35:30.559
and took a bite. Gary meal is yummy too, seasoned229602:35:30.600 --> 02:35:34.600
with my secret blend of herbs and napalm. Ray snapped229702:35:34.639 --> 02:35:37.079
off one of Gary's ribs and got to his feet.229802:35:37.440 --> 02:35:40.920
Every Gary Meal comes with a prize too. Ray worked229902:35:40.959 --> 02:35:43.840
at the bone with his dagger, putting his Elvin toy230002:35:43.879 --> 02:35:46.920
making abilities to task. As he quickly whittled it into230102:35:46.920 --> 02:35:51.000
a figure. He stretched to hand it to Robbie. All230202:35:51.120 --> 02:35:54.879
kids deserve toys for Christmas, and that is special because230302:35:55.280 --> 02:35:59.559
it's just for you. It's a limited edition. What is it,230402:36:00.079 --> 02:36:05.559
Robbie asked. It's a superhero. Looks like a fish. That's230502:36:05.600 --> 02:36:09.959
because it's Aquaman. Ray rolled his eyes. Look pally. Last230602:36:10.040 --> 02:36:12.479
year I would have just killed you. So shitty action230702:36:12.600 --> 02:36:15.440
figures are a step up. Now, how about you go230802:36:15.559 --> 02:36:17.879
back to your room and I'll make you another Gary Meal.230902:36:18.559 --> 02:36:22.760
You're fucking dead. Candy Pain charged down the hall, springing231002:36:22.799 --> 02:36:25.479
off Robbie's back and launching himself into the air with231102:36:25.600 --> 02:36:29.040
his dagger cocked back. The light glinted on the serrated231202:36:29.079 --> 02:36:33.280
teeth of the blade. Ray jumped back, narrowly dodging the attack.231302:36:33.799 --> 02:36:37.159
Pain slashed for Ray's throat, a spray of indigo blood231402:36:37.280 --> 02:36:41.559
drenched both elves faces. Ray twisted his dagger and pulled231502:36:41.559 --> 02:36:44.879
it free. Guess you don't know my tactics that well,231602:36:44.920 --> 02:36:51.440
after all, Candy Andy. Ray let the elf fall. Robbie231702:36:51.479 --> 02:36:56.719
crawled to him. Candy Andy, He accented the final sound231802:36:56.760 --> 02:37:02.079
of each word, double yum. Andy's gurgling screams echoed down231902:37:02.120 --> 02:37:05.200
the halls as the kinder cannibal dragged the elf to232002:37:05.280 --> 02:37:09.200
his cell for a late night snack. Ray listened to232102:37:09.280 --> 02:37:12.840
the begging until it was replaced with noisy chewing. He232202:37:12.959 --> 02:37:19.000
pursed his lips and nodded, Merry Christmas, Pally. Ray limped232302:37:19.040 --> 02:37:23.079
around a pool of shadow and locked the cell and232402:37:23.200 --> 02:37:38.639
to all a good night inner. Rage by Rob Fields,232502:37:39.760 --> 02:37:45.600
chapter one. Christmas Eve is here again, only this year232602:37:46.520 --> 02:37:49.879
and the many others that follow I'll be spending it232702:37:49.920 --> 02:37:54.280
at glen View Correctional Facility, which is located just a232802:37:54.360 --> 02:37:59.000
short drive from North Ridgeway. This place has been my232902:37:59.120 --> 02:38:03.079
home ever since I turned myself in shortly after bringing233002:38:03.120 --> 02:38:08.239
down the Queen of Heart's serial killer. You see, I233102:38:08.479 --> 02:38:13.319
was also a serial killer known as the Angel of Death.233202:38:14.959 --> 02:38:17.920
Keep in mind I never referred to myself as that233302:38:18.040 --> 02:38:22.000
it was simply what the media called me, mainly because233402:38:22.040 --> 02:38:26.799
I only killed people who I believe deserved to die,233502:38:27.760 --> 02:38:33.520
like high profile criminals and other serial killers. I might233602:38:33.639 --> 02:38:36.760
still be a serial killer today if I hadn't met233702:38:37.040 --> 02:38:42.840
Detective Drake Kasmarak. Drake seemingly came to Strickfield, where I233802:38:42.920 --> 02:38:46.280
was attending university at the time, to fill a detective233902:38:46.280 --> 02:38:50.000
opening that his uncle had in the police department. In truth,234002:38:50.600 --> 02:38:55.760
Drake was in Strickfield to find and capture me. Drake234102:38:55.840 --> 02:38:58.639
had done much homework and determined I was in that234202:38:58.879 --> 02:39:02.840
very village. Shortly after he arrived at the station, I234302:39:02.920 --> 02:39:06.319
showed up at the request of Chief Jeffrey Casmarack. I234402:39:06.399 --> 02:39:10.920
was a police intern and a sign to Drake. I234502:39:10.959 --> 02:39:13.360
believe it was right then and there that Drake fell234602:39:13.399 --> 02:39:17.319
madly in love with me. At the time, I couldn't234702:39:17.319 --> 02:39:20.879
feel emotions, but I knew there was an ulterior motive234802:39:21.399 --> 02:39:25.520
for his being in Strickfield. As Drake mentored me during234902:39:25.600 --> 02:39:29.120
my off campus hours, I decided to take my mentor235002:39:29.680 --> 02:39:32.920
as my new mate and applied myself to being his235102:39:33.120 --> 02:39:37.280
perfect girl friend. Little did he realize that the serial235202:39:37.360 --> 02:39:40.719
killer he was looking for was right under his nose235302:39:41.520 --> 02:39:46.120
and in his bed. Why was Drake determined to capture me?235402:39:47.120 --> 02:39:50.200
Years ago, during my time in high school, I had235502:39:50.319 --> 02:39:54.120
killed a former North Ridgeway High teacher named Annie Judge.235602:39:54.760 --> 02:39:59.799
She was prostituting herself and selling drugs to my fellow students,235702:40:00.280 --> 02:40:04.479
even underaged kids. When a girl turned up missing and235802:40:04.520 --> 02:40:08.760
I discovered she was dead, I trapped Annie Judge and235902:40:08.959 --> 02:40:13.520
ended her. Little did I realize that this particular kill236002:40:13.520 --> 02:40:17.319
would come back to haunt me in the form of Drake,236102:40:17.959 --> 02:40:22.760
who was Annie's former lover. Maybe Drake wanted to fall236202:40:22.799 --> 02:40:25.760
in love with me, and maybe he didn't. I've never236302:40:25.840 --> 02:40:28.879
asked him this. Even though I was putting myself in236402:40:29.000 --> 02:40:32.040
danger of him discovering me being a serial killer, I236502:40:32.159 --> 02:40:35.200
chose to be with him, knowing that he was a236602:40:35.239 --> 02:40:39.920
good man. Choosing to remain with Drake was what ultimately236702:40:39.959 --> 02:40:43.760
became my undoing as a serial killer. Drake loved me236802:40:43.879 --> 02:40:46.639
so much that he wanted to marry me, to which236902:40:46.719 --> 02:40:50.920
I accepted his proposal. The Queen of Heart's Killer had237002:40:50.920 --> 02:40:53.879
a personal vendetta with me and let me know she237102:40:54.040 --> 02:40:58.760
wanted to finish a prior conflict from before I was237202:40:58.799 --> 02:41:02.639
ready to kill Rigby Rooster, the Queen of Hearts, but237302:41:02.840 --> 02:41:05.760
Drake begged and pleaded with me not to end her.237402:41:07.120 --> 02:41:09.120
It was in that one moment that he took me237502:41:09.159 --> 02:41:13.399
in his arms and kissed me. It was that one237602:41:13.520 --> 02:41:17.680
magical moment, that one triggering event I waited my whole237702:41:17.719 --> 02:41:21.559
life for, Drake had finally caused me to feel the237802:41:21.719 --> 02:41:26.879
very emotions I had longed for. In that moment, I237902:41:27.000 --> 02:41:30.159
knew I loved Drake the same way he loved me.238002:41:31.639 --> 02:41:34.120
Even though Drake had finally found the person who had238102:41:34.200 --> 02:41:38.760
killed Annie Judge, he couldn't forsake me. He still wanted238202:41:38.760 --> 02:41:41.680
to marry me. I can swear by it that Drake238302:41:41.760 --> 02:41:44.600
is one of the most honest cops you'll ever meet.238402:41:44.799 --> 02:41:48.120
He was always by the book on everything, even when238502:41:48.159 --> 02:41:52.040
he was mentoring me in my university years. But this238602:41:52.280 --> 02:41:56.520
one time, Drake was willing to look the other way,238702:41:57.799 --> 02:42:01.479
not just because he loved me, but because I never238802:42:01.600 --> 02:42:06.920
killed innocent people or children. The problem with that, however,238902:42:07.120 --> 02:42:11.559
was that my new emotions came back on me. I239002:42:11.600 --> 02:42:15.159
had a horrible nightmare of me killing some random person239102:42:15.200 --> 02:42:18.399
the way I've done so many hundreds of killers and239202:42:18.440 --> 02:42:23.639
criminals before that was when I told Drake to arrest me,239302:42:24.559 --> 02:42:26.799
even though it hurt him deep to have to do it.239402:42:27.360 --> 02:42:30.079
He read me my rights and took me to the station.239502:42:31.040 --> 02:42:35.159
I confessed to being the Angel of Death to Chief Casmarak.239602:42:36.040 --> 02:42:39.000
I was found guilty at my trial and sentenced to239702:42:39.040 --> 02:42:43.559
life here at the glen View Correctional Facility. However, I239802:42:43.600 --> 02:42:47.840
wouldn't be placed with the general population. My Mama, Detective239902:42:47.920 --> 02:42:51.520
Chantelle Devereaux, and Drake both had influence on account of240002:42:51.559 --> 02:42:54.920
their reputations as detectives and went to bat for me.240102:42:55.959 --> 02:42:59.319
It was decided that I could have certain privileges in240202:42:59.399 --> 02:43:03.319
return for my services. I would help solve cases when240302:43:03.319 --> 02:43:07.760
they were presented to me. Because of my highly photographic memory.240402:43:08.559 --> 02:43:12.799
I was a great service in this aspect. Plus, I240502:43:12.959 --> 02:43:18.399
think like a killer. I'm in my very own special cell,240602:43:18.479 --> 02:43:21.680
which gives me many of the comforts of home. It's240702:43:21.799 --> 02:43:24.920
kind of like having a little apartment, except I can't240802:43:24.959 --> 02:43:28.239
always come and go when I please. I do get240902:43:28.280 --> 02:43:31.360
to go outside, but I'm all by myself and am241002:43:31.399 --> 02:43:35.360
constantly watched by the guards. Mama and Drake can both241102:43:35.399 --> 02:43:39.040
come visit me anytime they want. I've even had visits241202:43:39.040 --> 02:43:43.479
from both Chief Cosmarak and Chief Montgomery Cobbs, my mom's boss.241302:43:44.479 --> 02:43:48.719
You'd think i'd be regretting turning myself in here's the irony,241402:43:48.760 --> 02:43:52.920
though I don't. I've been at peace ever since I241502:43:52.959 --> 02:43:57.920
got locked up. The only thing that really hurts is Drake.241602:43:59.319 --> 02:44:01.319
I couldn't even and begin to tell you how many241702:44:01.360 --> 02:44:04.159
times I've told him to forget about me and find241802:44:04.159 --> 02:44:07.280
someone else who would be better suited for him, but241902:44:07.319 --> 02:44:11.280
he will not turn away from me. In fact, he242002:44:11.319 --> 02:44:14.319
still wants to marry me. Even though I'm in glen242102:44:14.399 --> 02:44:18.040
View for the rest of my life. Drake still won't242202:44:18.079 --> 02:44:21.639
give me up. Every so often he proposes to me242302:44:21.760 --> 02:44:24.399
again and wants to give me back my engagement ring242402:44:24.479 --> 02:44:28.239
that I returned to him once he arrested me. My242502:44:28.399 --> 02:44:31.079
problem here is that Drake challenges me to look him242602:44:31.079 --> 02:44:33.680
in the eyes and tell him I want him out242702:44:33.719 --> 02:44:36.680
of my life. If I can just tell him that,242802:44:36.760 --> 02:44:40.920
he'll respect my wishes and never come back. But every242902:44:40.959 --> 02:44:44.120
time I try, I burst into tears and clutch him243002:44:44.159 --> 02:44:47.520
to me. Mama told me that you can't just turn243102:44:47.559 --> 02:44:52.280
emotions on and off. I hate when she's right. So243202:44:52.440 --> 02:44:57.319
Drake and I are still together. Like I said, it's243302:44:57.399 --> 02:45:01.159
Christmas Eve. I'm sitting in my cell visiting with Mama.243402:45:01.959 --> 02:45:05.159
She's proud of me for having helped solve some heavy243502:45:05.239 --> 02:45:09.479
cases in the last month. Unfortunately, Mama won't be able243602:45:09.479 --> 02:45:12.399
to spend the night with me since she's on duty.243702:45:13.639 --> 02:45:16.399
She said she'd be back in the afternoon for Christmas.243802:45:17.440 --> 02:45:20.000
I told her I'd be okay since Drake was coming243902:45:20.479 --> 02:45:23.680
and would be spending the night with me. After Mama244002:45:23.719 --> 02:45:28.120
and I wish each other Merry Christmas. She leaves. Now244102:45:28.159 --> 02:45:39.079
it's just me and the guard at her station. Chapter two,244202:45:39.360 --> 02:45:41.840
CHESSI Carver has been one of the guards assigned to244302:45:41.879 --> 02:45:44.719
sit outside my cell since I was first placed in here.244402:45:45.600 --> 02:45:47.559
At first, she didn't know what to make of me,244502:45:48.280 --> 02:45:51.639
but in time we started talking to each other. We244602:45:51.719 --> 02:45:56.079
came to build trust and understanding between us. In fact,244702:45:56.120 --> 02:45:58.760
it's getting close to the evening when Drake shows up244802:45:59.079 --> 02:46:03.040
and sees us playing chess. When he sees me pondering244902:46:03.079 --> 02:46:07.120
my next move, he asks me if I'm okay. I245002:46:07.159 --> 02:46:09.760
look up at him. This is what I get for245102:46:09.840 --> 02:46:14.040
teaching Chessie everything I know about chess. Drake watches us245202:46:14.079 --> 02:46:19.719
finish our game, Chessie beats me barely. After I congratulate245302:46:19.760 --> 02:46:22.440
her on a game well played, she leaves my cell245402:46:22.479 --> 02:46:26.520
and returns to her station. Of course, she locks Drake245502:46:26.600 --> 02:46:30.639
and I in. Drake again makes my emotions rise when245602:46:30.639 --> 02:46:34.200
he lays a huge bag of Denoyer's grill down on245702:46:34.280 --> 02:46:37.600
the table. I told you i'd bring you something wonderful245802:46:37.639 --> 02:46:41.440
for dinner, Drake reminds me. I start to cry a245902:46:41.440 --> 02:46:47.319
little when I smell those delicious pancakes and the burghers. Wow,246002:46:48.000 --> 02:46:51.360
everything's still warm. You must have floored it from Denoyers246102:46:51.360 --> 02:46:53.840
all the way here. What did you do turn on246202:46:53.879 --> 02:46:58.159
the siren when you left there? Drake laughs. No, Actually,246302:46:58.719 --> 02:47:01.079
there weren't too many people on the road on Christmas Eve.246402:47:02.159 --> 02:47:04.559
I look at the clock and see it's around six246502:47:05.239 --> 02:47:08.680
by now. Many people are probably home or with family246602:47:08.760 --> 02:47:12.559
and friends to enjoy Christmas Eve. Having Drake here with246702:47:12.680 --> 02:47:14.959
me makes me glad. I don't have to spend tonight246802:47:15.399 --> 02:47:19.559
or tomorrow alone. Before I never really cared whether I246902:47:19.639 --> 02:47:23.719
was alone or not, not when I didn't have feelings.247002:47:24.719 --> 02:47:31.040
You okay, rage, Drake asks, Yeah. I quickly reply I'm fine.247102:47:32.079 --> 02:47:34.600
We look at each other for a little bit, then247202:47:34.760 --> 02:47:38.600
Drake moves and sets the table. When he's done, he's247302:47:38.680 --> 02:47:41.959
laid out a nice feast of breakfast and dinner foods.247402:47:42.440 --> 02:47:46.840
Dig in, Drake invites me. Chessie gets up and leaves247502:47:46.879 --> 02:47:50.120
for a little bit. Normally she's not supposed to do that,247602:47:50.280 --> 02:47:53.079
but she kind of makes it a point when Drake247702:47:53.120 --> 02:47:56.440
and I are together like this. She's heard us talking247802:47:56.440 --> 02:48:00.719
to each other before and hasn't heard anything taboo. She's247902:48:00.799 --> 02:48:04.239
even been there when we've made out. I've even told248002:48:04.239 --> 02:48:07.360
her I'm not the least bit bothered by her. Still248102:48:07.920 --> 02:48:11.879
she gives us alone time at times. Drake and I248202:48:12.000 --> 02:48:16.079
have our Denoyer's grill feast and talk about whatever. Drake248302:48:16.159 --> 02:48:18.360
again thanks me for all I do with helping the248402:48:18.360 --> 02:48:23.040
police force in spite of my current situation. Drake and248502:48:23.079 --> 02:48:25.920
I finish eating, I clear off the table and throw248602:48:25.959 --> 02:48:30.120
away the trash. Before I can sit down, Drake takes248702:48:30.159 --> 02:48:32.360
hold of my wrist and eases me to sit on248802:48:32.440 --> 02:48:35.360
his lap. We look at each other for a long248902:48:35.440 --> 02:48:39.159
moment before we have some kisses. Since Drake will be249002:48:39.200 --> 02:48:41.639
spending the night with me tonight, I can't wait until249102:48:41.680 --> 02:48:45.239
we can be intimate. The more we kiss, the more249202:48:45.280 --> 02:48:48.600
I'm finding it hard to be able to wait. Eventually,249302:48:48.680 --> 02:48:52.920
we do stop so we can catch our breaths. I249402:48:53.000 --> 02:48:56.920
love you, he tells me. I close my eyes and249502:48:56.959 --> 02:49:00.239
bow my head a little. I still say you could249602:49:00.239 --> 02:49:03.559
do so much better than me. He puts his finger249702:49:03.639 --> 02:49:06.760
under my chin and raises my head back up. I249802:49:06.799 --> 02:49:11.399
open my eyes and look into his. Just tell me249902:49:11.479 --> 02:49:14.920
to my face, just say it and mean it, and250002:49:15.000 --> 02:49:19.200
I'll leave you right now. Once again, he's challenging me.250102:49:20.200 --> 02:49:22.239
I don't even get to have another attempt. When I250202:49:22.239 --> 02:49:25.799
feel the tears on my face. When Drake holds me,250302:49:26.559 --> 02:49:32.399
I can't help holding him back. You deserve better, I persist.250402:49:32.600 --> 02:49:35.520
When I finish crying, Drake has the engagement ring out250502:49:35.559 --> 02:49:38.799
again again. I try to tell Drake to leave me250602:49:38.920 --> 02:49:42.280
and never look back, but the tears come more than ever.250702:49:43.120 --> 02:49:46.639
It hurts more and more each time, thinking of a250802:49:46.680 --> 02:49:51.239
life without Drake. I don't care that you're in here rage,250902:49:51.719 --> 02:49:55.000
Drake tells me again, like he's told me so many251002:49:55.040 --> 02:49:58.680
times before, I can come see you whenever I want.251102:49:58.719 --> 02:50:02.239
I can even stay with you. We should be living251202:50:02.280 --> 02:50:06.200
together in our own place, not here in prison. I251302:50:06.280 --> 02:50:10.520
tell him, I don't care where we are. He insists251402:50:11.000 --> 02:50:14.120
you'll always have me in your life. I'm never letting251502:50:14.159 --> 02:50:17.959
you go. I quickly get off Drake's lap and tighten251602:50:18.000 --> 02:50:21.319
my fists. But what will your family say about you251702:50:21.399 --> 02:50:25.280
marrying a serial killer? I told you how many lives251802:50:25.319 --> 02:50:29.559
I've taken. Drake gets up to confront me. I don't251902:50:29.639 --> 02:50:33.239
care what my family says. I only care about you.252002:50:34.479 --> 02:50:38.200
I really tighten my fists now. I won't let you252102:50:38.319 --> 02:50:41.840
throw away your life on me, Drake. I feel myself252202:50:42.280 --> 02:50:47.280
really shaking now. I'm practically sobbing. Just as I'm about252302:50:47.360 --> 02:50:51.239
to scream for him to leave me, I fall to252402:50:51.280 --> 02:50:56.719
my knees. Drake lowers himself and comforts me, as he's252502:50:56.760 --> 02:51:01.360
also done so many times before. Am I really so252602:51:01.520 --> 02:51:06.280
scared of losing him? Yes? I'm reminded of that again252702:51:06.360 --> 02:51:10.360
when we're kissing. I can't wait any longer. It's when252802:51:10.360 --> 02:51:13.639
I hear CHESSI fastening the locks on my cell that252902:51:13.760 --> 02:51:17.639
she knows we need our alone time. It's once we253002:51:17.680 --> 02:51:21.200
hear her leave and lock that door behind her that253102:51:21.280 --> 02:51:23.799
we quickly work to get each other's clothes off.253202:51:25.440 --> 02:51:29.360
You're not safe yet, weekly Spooky will be right back.253302:51:35.399 --> 02:51:40.360
Chapter three Drake and I are spooned up together under253402:51:40.399 --> 02:51:44.559
the covers and watching TV. I can't help looking at253502:51:44.559 --> 02:51:48.159
the engagement ring again. He placed it on my finger253602:51:48.200 --> 02:51:51.559
and challenged me to take it off. It feels so253702:51:51.760 --> 02:51:55.440
wrong on so many levels, But at the same time,253802:51:55.559 --> 02:51:58.760
I know I can never remove it. I know I253902:51:58.879 --> 02:52:03.360
truly belong to him. You're going straight to hell with me.254002:52:03.959 --> 02:52:07.799
I tell him, you know that, right, If that's where254102:52:07.799 --> 02:52:11.719
we're getting married, then I accept. He tells me. We254202:52:11.879 --> 02:52:15.440
kiss again, then we get dressed and sit with each other.254302:52:16.520 --> 02:52:20.319
After a time, Chessie comes back in and unlocks my cell.254402:52:21.440 --> 02:52:24.479
When I look to her for an explanation, she reminds254502:52:24.520 --> 02:52:26.920
me that I'm allowed my time to leave my cell.254602:52:27.799 --> 02:52:30.360
Drake's allowed to take me to the rooms designated my254702:52:30.479 --> 02:52:34.319
free spaces. While other prisoners here can access these rooms254802:52:34.360 --> 02:52:37.280
during their times, they're not supposed to know when I'm254902:52:37.319 --> 02:52:40.840
even here. That's why I have my own private area255002:52:41.200 --> 02:52:44.840
and don't have a cellmate. Also, I can access rooms255102:52:44.920 --> 02:52:47.799
like the library because the other prisoners are locked up255202:52:47.840 --> 02:52:50.600
for the night. As long as Drake or Mama is255302:52:50.600 --> 02:52:54.520
with me, a guard doesn't always have to be. Drake255402:52:54.559 --> 02:52:57.760
and I head into the library and sit again. He255502:52:57.879 --> 02:53:00.799
tells me he wants to marry me. I tell him255602:53:00.840 --> 02:53:03.319
he knows my answer. Since I can't bring myself to255702:53:03.360 --> 02:53:09.079
remove the ring, I look at it again. I'll go255802:53:09.159 --> 02:53:12.840
straight to hell with you, he promises me, taking and255902:53:12.879 --> 02:53:16.920
holding my hands. Nothing is ever going to separate us,256002:53:17.440 --> 02:53:21.520
not even this prison. I squeeze his hands back. I256102:53:21.600 --> 02:53:25.040
truly do want better for him, but my emotions won't256202:53:25.079 --> 02:53:30.200
let me lose him. I love him way too much. However,256302:53:30.479 --> 02:53:32.680
Drake and I were about to have our love put256402:53:32.719 --> 02:53:36.920
to the test this very night. The test was about256502:53:36.959 --> 02:53:40.120
to start. Once we got up and started walking around256602:53:40.120 --> 02:53:43.120
the safe rooms again. We walk out into one of256702:53:43.159 --> 02:53:46.719
the hallways and head to the little theater. We go256802:53:46.799 --> 02:53:49.079
in and head up to the projection booth to see256902:53:49.079 --> 02:53:52.280
what we can watch together. Drake and I have watched257002:53:52.319 --> 02:53:55.639
movies in here together before. He tells me he's found257102:53:55.639 --> 02:53:58.440
a good Christmas movie for us to watch and puts257202:53:58.440 --> 02:54:02.440
it in as soon as he turns the digital projector on.257302:54:03.520 --> 02:54:12.159
That's when the terror begins. Chapter four. Drake reaches me257402:54:12.239 --> 02:54:15.239
when he sees me bent over the body of Sherman257502:54:15.360 --> 02:54:18.840
Biggs near the screen. One of the older guards. I257602:54:18.879 --> 02:54:22.840
got along with We had many conversations in the library257702:54:22.879 --> 02:54:27.520
on nights. Careful, Rage, Drake warns me, don't let the257802:54:27.520 --> 02:54:30.399
other guards here see her. You can vouch for me,257902:54:30.760 --> 02:54:34.479
I remind him. Quickly, look at these. I point to258002:54:34.520 --> 02:54:38.920
the two puncture marks on Sherman's neck. This would explain258102:54:38.959 --> 02:54:42.559
why the body's pale. When Drake looks at me, I258202:54:42.600 --> 02:54:45.799
can tell he really doesn't want to believe it. Oh,258302:54:45.799 --> 02:54:48.200
if Mama saw the look on his face right now,258402:54:48.360 --> 02:54:52.479
she'd be given him Hell. Why won't you believe? I ask?258502:54:53.399 --> 02:54:56.799
You've seen vampires for yourself, Drake. Mama and I have258602:54:56.920 --> 02:54:59.719
both proven to you they're real. You were with us258702:54:59.760 --> 02:55:02.920
the night night we took down Sheranda Thorn. You've seen258802:55:03.040 --> 02:55:06.639
vampires with your own two eyes. Drake seems to be258902:55:06.719 --> 02:55:09.879
at a loss for words. I groan, annoyed at his259002:55:10.040 --> 02:55:14.680
continued disbelief. If Mama was here right now, she'd slap259102:55:14.680 --> 02:55:18.200
you upside the head. Now he's giving me that look.259202:55:18.799 --> 02:55:22.479
I know Drake's never been comfortable around Mama. He's endured259302:55:22.520 --> 02:55:26.440
her for my sake. I point to Drake, you stay259402:55:26.440 --> 02:55:30.959
close to me, Stay close to you. You're not even armed,259502:55:31.040 --> 02:55:36.360
Rage Drake counters, pulling his gun. He's right looking around.259602:55:36.399 --> 02:55:38.280
I can't pick up any of the chairs and break259702:55:38.319 --> 02:55:41.600
them for stakes, since they're all metal and attached to259802:55:41.639 --> 02:55:46.559
the floor. Suddenly I have an idea. I grab Drake's hand,259902:55:47.079 --> 02:55:51.639
let's go, rage, Drake protests. I lead Drake through one260002:55:51.719 --> 02:55:55.440
room after another until we come into the chapel. Fortunately,260102:55:55.520 --> 02:55:59.079
this supposedly holy place is open twenty four to seven.260202:56:00.239 --> 02:56:04.159
Open the door and we both gasp. There's blood all260302:56:04.159 --> 02:56:07.000
over the altar from the priest who's hanging from the260402:56:07.079 --> 02:56:11.399
large cross overshadowing it. I had a feeling you would260502:56:11.440 --> 02:56:16.799
come here eventually, Reagan Devereux. A feminine voice calls out.260602:56:17.719 --> 02:56:20.239
We look to see the tell tale woman getting up260702:56:20.239 --> 02:56:23.840
from one of the pews and turning to face us.260802:56:24.399 --> 02:56:27.520
She looks like she's in her early forties. I can260902:56:27.559 --> 02:56:30.479
see the facial features and immediately know who this woman261002:56:31.040 --> 02:56:35.319
is related to. Yes, you recognize me, do you not?261102:56:36.239 --> 02:56:41.079
Then she chuckles, you remember my daughter whom you destroyed.261202:56:42.079 --> 02:56:48.000
Your mother took my son. However, Sherandah was my favorite.261302:56:48.040 --> 02:56:52.000
Maximilian was a fool. It was no wonder that he died.261402:56:52.920 --> 02:56:57.719
She points to me. But you killed my daughter, and261502:56:57.799 --> 02:57:03.879
I must now rectify that by killing you. She smiles wickedly,261602:57:04.719 --> 02:57:10.200
and the man you love. She holds her hands outward. Naturally,261702:57:10.280 --> 02:57:12.840
you came here to seek weapons to fight us with.261802:57:14.360 --> 02:57:17.399
When she sees the look on my face, she knows261902:57:17.520 --> 02:57:21.360
she's got the upper hand. You did not think I262002:57:21.399 --> 02:57:25.360
would come to this prison alone. Oh, I will battle262102:57:25.399 --> 02:57:28.959
with you myself. I just needed my minions to make262202:57:29.000 --> 02:57:33.000
sure it would be just the two of us. There262302:57:33.000 --> 02:57:36.200
are no other guards here to help you now, she262402:57:36.360 --> 02:57:40.040
raises her finger, and you need not worry about the prisoners.262502:57:40.920 --> 02:57:45.879
They shall remain locked in their cells. Ah, here they262602:57:45.920 --> 02:57:50.360
are now. Now I see there are other vampires emerging262702:57:50.440 --> 02:57:53.959
from their hiding places. Their hissing noises and their red262802:57:54.000 --> 02:57:56.680
eyes tell me, Drake and I are going to have262902:57:56.799 --> 02:58:01.040
our hands full. Have you taken care of every last263002:58:01.120 --> 02:58:06.360
guard here? The Thorn Woman asks, we have one of263102:58:06.360 --> 02:58:11.920
the answers. Excellent. Then she looks back at me. We263202:58:12.000 --> 02:58:16.239
shall play a little game, you and I. Suddenly she263302:58:16.280 --> 02:58:18.799
appears right in front of me and knocks me on263402:58:18.879 --> 02:58:22.600
my ass. When Drake raises his gun, she snatches it263502:58:22.639 --> 02:58:28.959
from him and crushes it, much to his horror and disbelief. Next,263602:58:29.000 --> 02:58:33.479
she grabs Drake and tosses him to her minions. They263702:58:33.559 --> 02:58:37.440
grab him and keep him with them. When I get up,263802:58:37.479 --> 02:58:38.680
the woman is in my face.263902:58:38.760 --> 02:58:39.040
Now.264002:58:39.959 --> 02:58:43.920
I could easily kill you right now, but that would264102:58:43.959 --> 02:58:47.559
be far too easy. Miranda would never want me to264202:58:47.680 --> 02:58:51.959
kill you easily. No, I taught her to be more264302:58:52.040 --> 02:58:57.319
ruthless than that. Oh, where are my manners? I know264402:58:57.440 --> 02:59:01.239
your name, but you need to know mine. I believe264502:59:01.280 --> 02:59:04.840
you must know I am a thorn, but you may264602:59:04.879 --> 02:59:10.440
call me Miranda. When she sees me looking uneasily at Drake,264702:59:10.840 --> 02:59:14.239
she turns my attention back to her. You need not264802:59:14.399 --> 02:59:19.520
worry about your lover, Reagan, she addresses her minions. Under264902:59:19.559 --> 02:59:22.799
no circumstances are any of you to harm that mortal265002:59:23.239 --> 02:59:26.760
in any way. He is to be the prize in265102:59:26.799 --> 02:59:31.799
our contest. Am I understood? When I hear the minions265202:59:31.840 --> 02:59:35.840
agree to her commands, Neroanda turns her attention back to me.265302:59:37.319 --> 02:59:40.719
Here are the rules of our contest. I shall give265402:59:40.760 --> 02:59:45.360
you a fifteen minute head start. From there, I shall265502:59:45.440 --> 02:59:48.959
hunt you down myself. My underlings will keep your lover265602:59:49.159 --> 02:59:53.600
safe and secure. You have until the end of Christmas Eve,265702:59:54.799 --> 02:59:58.239
just under three hours, if you are still alive at265802:59:58.239 --> 03:00:01.840
the stroke of midnight, or in the unlikely event that265903:00:01.920 --> 03:00:06.479
you and me, both you and your lover have earned266003:00:06.479 --> 03:00:11.799
your freedom and your lives. However, when I find and266103:00:11.920 --> 03:00:16.200
destroy you, then my reward shall be both a vengeance266203:00:16.200 --> 03:00:20.639
for my daughter, and I shall lay claim to your266303:00:20.680 --> 03:00:26.360
lover by siring him and making him my new husband. Then,266403:00:26.479 --> 03:00:30.879
Miranda laughs coldly. The fear on both of you is266503:00:30.959 --> 03:00:35.639
so ripe I can practically taste it on my own tongue.266603:00:35.680 --> 03:00:41.559
She points to the clock. Your fifteen minute head start begins. Now,266703:00:42.360 --> 03:00:46.399
if I were you, Reagan, I'd be taking every advantage266803:00:46.920 --> 03:00:51.280
of that time. I have no choice. Fortunately, I know266903:00:51.440 --> 03:00:54.079
enough about glen View to have an advantage over these267003:00:54.479 --> 03:00:58.319
blood sucking freaks. I just know I have to save Drake.267103:00:59.159 --> 03:01:04.959
I turn around and run out of the chapel. Chapter five.267203:01:06.600 --> 03:01:09.159
It doesn't take me long to find some tools to267303:01:09.239 --> 03:01:12.200
help me. I came across a few of the bodies267403:01:12.200 --> 03:01:15.600
of the guards. Naranda wasn't lying when she said her267503:01:15.639 --> 03:01:19.559
minions took them all down. They're all pale, which means267603:01:19.559 --> 03:01:23.000
they were drained of their blood. I find keys and267703:01:23.120 --> 03:01:25.760
key cards on the first guard. On the next one,267803:01:25.799 --> 03:01:28.440
I find a gun and take it. I won't be267903:01:28.479 --> 03:01:30.479
able to use it against Aranda or any of the268003:01:30.520 --> 03:01:33.799
other vampires, but it's better to have a gun than268103:01:33.879 --> 03:01:38.079
have nothing at all. I won't let Naranda take me unarmed.268203:01:38.760 --> 03:01:41.040
If I go down against her, then I'm going down268303:01:41.120 --> 03:01:44.799
knowing I was fighting. I've been counting the time in268403:01:44.879 --> 03:01:48.639
my mind. So far, i haven't seen her. When I268503:01:48.719 --> 03:01:51.200
come into the gymnasium, I see the big clock on268603:01:51.239 --> 03:01:55.040
the middle wall and see Naranda has kept her word.268703:01:55.959 --> 03:01:58.760
I've got one minute left before she'll start pursuing me.268803:02:00.360 --> 03:02:03.520
As I'm trying to keep my focus. I've never gotten268903:02:03.600 --> 03:02:06.719
used to the feeling of fear. I hate to admit it,269003:02:06.760 --> 03:02:10.920
but I'm really scared. I'm scared that Miranda will kill me,269103:02:11.879 --> 03:02:14.319
but I'm more afraid she'll make good on her promise269203:02:14.399 --> 03:02:19.120
to Drake. The fifteen minutes are up. Now, Miranda lets269303:02:19.159 --> 03:02:23.559
me know when I hear the long shrill whistle. Hard269403:02:23.559 --> 03:02:26.639
to believe that vampire kept her word. I'll have to269503:02:26.639 --> 03:02:30.360
consider the possibility that she may be a master vampire.269603:02:30.840 --> 03:02:32.879
If she is, then I'll have to both stake her269703:02:33.000 --> 03:02:36.760
and cut her head off. Then I remember telling Drake.269803:02:36.799 --> 03:02:39.000
How Mama would have slapped him upside the head for269903:02:39.040 --> 03:02:43.360
his disbelief. Mama would give me hell if she knew270003:02:43.360 --> 03:02:46.040
I wasn't thinking straight and not calling upon the lessons270103:02:46.079 --> 03:02:50.600
about vampires and other supernatural beings she taught me. No,270203:02:51.559 --> 03:02:54.399
Mama's not going to find my dead body. I'm not270303:02:54.440 --> 03:02:58.120
going to let Mama down again, Not like this. Mama270403:02:58.159 --> 03:03:00.840
taught me better than that. Not going to let the270503:03:00.879 --> 03:03:04.120
man I love down either. I may not have the270603:03:04.159 --> 03:03:10.239
bloodlust anymore, but that doesn't count against vampires. They're already dead.270703:03:11.319 --> 03:03:14.799
I still have my highly photographic memory. I still remember270803:03:14.840 --> 03:03:18.239
each in every kill I've ever done, how they died,270903:03:18.680 --> 03:03:22.959
what date, and what I destroyed them for. I remember271003:03:23.000 --> 03:03:27.079
everything Mama taught me regarding the supernatural. My mind is271103:03:27.079 --> 03:03:31.479
how I'll destroy you, Neranda. Just as I'm contemplating a plan,271203:03:31.840 --> 03:03:34.040
I hear some clacking on the floor. As I reach271303:03:34.120 --> 03:03:37.159
the end of a long hall, I turn and see271403:03:37.159 --> 03:03:41.879
a large wolf looking right at me and know it's Neranda.271503:03:42.600 --> 03:03:44.959
She changed into a wolf and tracked me down by271603:03:44.959 --> 03:03:49.399
my scent. The wolf growls and runs swiftly towards me.271703:03:50.200 --> 03:03:53.760
I'm ready to turn and run, but I don't have271803:03:53.840 --> 03:03:57.799
to do. I. In that moment, I lose my fear271903:03:58.120 --> 03:04:00.840
and look right at Neiranda as she's closing the gap272003:04:00.879 --> 03:04:05.239
between us. I've got grim determination now and know how272103:04:05.280 --> 03:04:10.000
I'm winning this round. That's it, Queenie, just keep on coming.272203:04:10.479 --> 03:04:14.000
I'll show you how I've dealt with bad dogs. In fact,272303:04:14.440 --> 03:04:17.920
a very bad dog was my first kill. A very272403:04:17.959 --> 03:04:21.520
bad dog was how I learned I was a serial killer.272503:04:22.399 --> 03:04:24.639
Just as Miranda is ready to leap up and at me,272603:04:25.159 --> 03:04:28.000
I drop my gun and suddenly snatch her and drive272703:04:28.040 --> 03:04:31.399
her right to the floor. Just as quickly, she springs272803:04:31.440 --> 03:04:33.360
back to her feet and bites me on the wrist.272903:04:34.120 --> 03:04:37.120
Even though I no longer have my bloodlust, I still273003:04:37.200 --> 03:04:41.239
feel very little pain. This is a double edged sword273103:04:41.280 --> 03:04:44.760
for me. I just told you the positive side. The273203:04:44.799 --> 03:04:47.200
negative is that I can become injured and not know it,273303:04:47.719 --> 03:04:53.399
which means I can potentially bleed to death. Now I'm mad. Wow,273403:04:53.920 --> 03:04:57.319
I really love being mad. I'm wishing I could have273503:04:57.360 --> 03:05:00.479
felt this emotion much sooner. I'm so mad right now273603:05:00.479 --> 03:05:03.200
that I roar and kick Nearanda hard in her chest273703:05:03.719 --> 03:05:05.799
enough to make her break her hold on my wrist.273803:05:06.639 --> 03:05:09.479
While she's stunned. I lower myself to take hold of273903:05:09.520 --> 03:05:12.280
the back of her head and her muzzle and snapper274003:05:12.360 --> 03:05:17.559
had hard enough to hear her neck break. Noranda yelps274103:05:18.479 --> 03:05:23.079
and goes limp. No, I haven't defeated her, but I274203:05:23.120 --> 03:05:26.799
have temporarily stunned her and bought myself a little time.274303:05:27.920 --> 03:05:31.319
I spring and slide the door shut before I run again.274403:05:32.520 --> 03:05:34.879
I know these doors are sealed enough to prevent smoke274503:05:34.920 --> 03:05:38.360
from penetrating them, which happened many years ago when prisoners274603:05:38.399 --> 03:05:42.559
got loose and rioted. This was long before I was born,274703:05:42.639 --> 03:05:46.520
by the way, Also, Mama was at university and wasn't274803:05:46.559 --> 03:05:50.920
in North Ridgeway around that time. I'm already concocting another274903:05:50.959 --> 03:05:54.479
plan and am finalizing the details when I hear the275003:05:54.520 --> 03:05:57.959
sliding door give way. Nearanda had to have returned to275103:05:58.000 --> 03:06:01.840
her human form after she healed from her injury. She275203:06:01.959 --> 03:06:05.319
either snapped the locks on the sliding door or she275303:06:05.440 --> 03:06:08.879
warped past it. As long as Nearanda can't see me,275403:06:09.520 --> 03:06:13.600
she can't warp right to me. Unfortunately, turning off all275503:06:13.639 --> 03:06:17.399
the lights won't help me since she has vampire vision.275603:06:18.520 --> 03:06:21.920
I hear clacking on the floor again and know she's275703:06:22.000 --> 03:06:25.639
returned to her wolf form, likely tracking my blood this275803:06:25.799 --> 03:06:30.879
time precisely what I was counting on. In fact, Neiranda,275903:06:31.319 --> 03:06:35.200
I already know how I'm going to defeat you at least. Yes,276003:06:35.239 --> 03:06:38.079
you kept your word by giving me a fifteen minute276103:06:38.079 --> 03:06:41.079
head start that you promised, but that doesn't mean you'll276203:06:41.159 --> 03:06:43.920
keep your word about releasing Drake when I defeat you,276303:06:44.600 --> 03:06:47.680
and trust me when I say, your punishment shall most276403:06:47.719 --> 03:06:54.079
certainly fit the crime. Like I said, you're dead, even276503:06:54.120 --> 03:06:58.079
though I no longer have my insistent bloodlust commanding me276603:06:58.159 --> 03:07:01.280
to take lives from before. I don't have to feel276703:07:01.280 --> 03:07:06.040
guilty about killing you since you're not alive. But in276803:07:06.159 --> 03:07:09.079
order for me to accomplish my objective and defeat you276903:07:09.399 --> 03:07:12.760
and your minions, I have to get to one specific277003:07:12.840 --> 03:07:17.520
area of the prison. It'll be there where we finish277103:07:17.559 --> 03:07:21.360
our game. I run down a couple flights of stairs277203:07:21.360 --> 03:07:23.520
to get to the ground floor and head to the277303:07:23.559 --> 03:07:27.079
laundry room. When I get inside, I quickly remove my277403:07:27.159 --> 03:07:31.200
clothes underwear too. First, I take care of my bites277503:07:31.239 --> 03:07:35.680
by rinsing them out and using clean cloths to bandage them. Now,277603:07:35.719 --> 03:07:37.600
I grab some dirty clothes out of one of the277703:07:37.719 --> 03:07:42.879
wash piles and quickly put them on. These clothes really stink,277803:07:43.319 --> 03:07:45.639
but they may be enough to conceal my own scent.277903:07:46.559 --> 03:07:49.639
After slipping my feet into shoes, I find I get278003:07:49.680 --> 03:07:53.360
out of the laundry room and resume my destination. A278103:07:53.399 --> 03:07:57.959
few moments later, I hear a loud, shrill scream sounds278203:07:58.000 --> 03:08:01.399
to me like Neranda's lost my scent. I know I278303:08:01.440 --> 03:08:04.600
can't gloat too much. Nearanda knows other ways she can278403:08:04.639 --> 03:08:08.479
pick me up again. She's been a vampire for far278503:08:08.559 --> 03:08:13.440
too long to not have other means of detection including278603:08:13.520 --> 03:08:16.719
picking up the smell of my blood again.278703:08:18.600 --> 03:08:23.959
Are you afraid? Good? Weekly Spooky, We'll be right back.278803:08:29.200 --> 03:08:33.879
Chapter six. I'm proven right. When I go to cross278903:08:33.920 --> 03:08:37.520
through another hallway, I'm about to shut that sliding door279003:08:37.600 --> 03:08:42.799
behind me when I feel Neranda's close. Suddenly the door279103:08:42.879 --> 03:08:47.000
comes flying away. Nearanda gasps with either happiness that I'm279203:08:47.040 --> 03:08:50.239
giving her a challenge or that she's finally caught up279303:08:50.280 --> 03:08:54.360
to me. Who can say, please, do not make this279403:08:54.520 --> 03:08:58.280
easy for me, Reagan, She says, I still wish to279503:08:58.319 --> 03:09:02.159
have fun with you. She licks her lips, and your279603:09:02.200 --> 03:09:07.319
blood tastes just delicious. I was hoping I wouldn't have279703:09:07.360 --> 03:09:10.280
to use these yet, I tell her, but you're not279803:09:10.399 --> 03:09:13.399
leaving me with much choice. I step up to her279903:09:13.719 --> 03:09:16.600
as she's putting her hands on my arms. I grab280003:09:16.680 --> 03:09:19.159
the neck of her form fitting dress and pull it280103:09:19.200 --> 03:09:23.479
open to drop what's in my hand inside. Miranda shrieks280203:09:23.520 --> 03:09:26.799
and screams when she feels the holy wafers. I manage280303:09:26.879 --> 03:09:30.120
to snap up at the bloody altar burning her flesh.280403:09:30.399 --> 03:09:34.159
Both her skin and the gown are aflame. Since she's280503:09:34.200 --> 03:09:36.760
going to have to sort that out, I've got time280603:09:36.840 --> 03:09:39.559
to run again. I don't know how much time I'm280703:09:39.600 --> 03:09:41.920
going to have before Neranda will be back to hunting280803:09:41.959 --> 03:09:44.920
me again. I can see the blood from my wrists280903:09:44.959 --> 03:09:48.479
soaking through my makeshift bandage. She'll smell that again and281003:09:48.559 --> 03:09:52.159
easily pick up the trail. Also, since she got close281103:09:52.239 --> 03:09:56.639
enough to me, she'll know the scent of these stinky clothes. Fortunately,281203:09:56.719 --> 03:09:59.440
I'm almost where I need to get to. I reach281303:09:59.479 --> 03:10:02.360
the women's sh room before I go in, I quickly281403:10:02.360 --> 03:10:04.360
get naked and turn on the water to hear all281503:10:04.399 --> 03:10:07.719
the nozzles fire up at once. I walk inside and281603:10:07.760 --> 03:10:10.840
stand underneath a spray of steamy water at the back center.281703:10:11.280 --> 03:10:14.959
When Miranda enters and sees me, Oh, the look of281803:10:15.040 --> 03:10:18.879
confusion on her face. What is the meaning of this, Reagan?281903:10:19.319 --> 03:10:25.159
She asks? Then she smirks, are you are you offering282003:10:25.200 --> 03:10:29.520
yourself to me to save your lover? Is that what282103:10:29.719 --> 03:10:33.920
you really think? I murmur, running my hands from the282203:10:33.959 --> 03:10:37.680
front to the rear of my long, wet, dirty blonde hair.282303:10:38.719 --> 03:10:41.559
She's really confused now. When I raise my finger for282403:10:41.639 --> 03:10:44.520
her to see. Next, I move my finger to my282503:10:44.680 --> 03:10:49.520
neck and trace down in between my large breasts all282603:10:49.559 --> 03:10:52.719
the way to my belly button. Then I trace my282703:10:52.840 --> 03:10:58.079
finger across my skin just underneath my breasts. The water282803:10:58.239 --> 03:11:01.600
continues to spray down on me as I just stand282903:11:01.639 --> 03:11:06.040
there and wait for her. I'm all yours, Miranda. I283003:11:06.120 --> 03:11:10.000
tell her all you have to do is just join283103:11:10.079 --> 03:11:14.159
me in the shower. Then I smirk, if you can.283203:11:15.520 --> 03:11:18.239
She's still not sure what I've got in mind, but283303:11:18.360 --> 03:11:21.879
she walks towards me. The showers are wetting her down.283403:11:22.719 --> 03:11:25.600
It's when she starts to come under my spray that283503:11:25.719 --> 03:11:28.520
she suddenly cries out in pain and hisses as she283603:11:28.559 --> 03:11:33.040
gets away from me. What is this? She demands? Then283703:11:33.120 --> 03:11:36.239
she tries to come and grab me again, like before,283803:11:36.559 --> 03:11:39.520
her skin burns when the water spraying from my nozzle283903:11:39.639 --> 03:11:43.959
touches her. As for me, I'm fine. The water's warm284003:11:44.040 --> 03:11:47.159
to hot, but not burning me in the slightest. In fact,284103:11:47.799 --> 03:11:51.719
the water feels very relaxing. Miranda tries grabbing me a284203:11:51.760 --> 03:11:55.360
couple more times. In determination, she warps behind me and284303:11:55.399 --> 03:11:58.040
wraps her arms around me. I cry out when she284403:11:58.159 --> 03:12:01.159
sinks her fangs into me again, and this time at284503:12:01.159 --> 03:12:03.879
my shoulder. She holds on for as long as she284603:12:03.959 --> 03:12:07.079
can as she drinks from me. I can actually feel284703:12:07.159 --> 03:12:10.239
the pain of her fangs in my flesh. But why284803:12:10.239 --> 03:12:15.440
does this feel so wonderful? I think I love pain.284903:12:16.159 --> 03:12:19.000
Miranda can't hold onto me anymore, since she's in way285003:12:19.040 --> 03:12:21.600
more pain from the water than what she's giving me.285103:12:22.440 --> 03:12:25.200
She finally lets go and warps away from my shower285203:12:25.239 --> 03:12:30.760
spray shit, I'm bleeding again. Neranda glares at me now,285303:12:31.399 --> 03:12:34.440
much to my surprise, she's not the least bit angry285403:12:34.479 --> 03:12:39.040
with me. Yes, you are giving me quite the challenge,285503:12:39.360 --> 03:12:43.879
Reagan Devereux. She licks her lips. Your blood is so285603:12:44.120 --> 03:12:47.920
incredibly delicious. I think I may just keep you and285703:12:48.040 --> 03:12:51.920
drink from you on special occasions. Perhaps, you shall be285803:12:52.000 --> 03:12:55.600
the special reserve label blood I drink after I marry285903:12:55.639 --> 03:12:59.159
your man. I can see the steam coming off of286003:12:59.200 --> 03:13:03.079
her burning skin. How are you able to be safe286103:13:03.120 --> 03:13:07.639
from me under your shower. It's not this shower alone,286203:13:07.920 --> 03:13:11.680
I inform her. It's any shower I happen to stand underneath.286303:13:12.360 --> 03:13:15.360
I start to close up my chosen vampire trap. When286403:13:15.360 --> 03:13:18.079
I leave the nozzle I'm under and move to another.286503:13:18.920 --> 03:13:23.399
See for yourself. Miranda cautiously moves to the nozzle I286603:13:23.479 --> 03:13:27.799
was underneath. Sure enough, her skin's not burning under that286703:13:27.879 --> 03:13:31.319
spray now. Yet she comes too close to the spray286803:13:31.360 --> 03:13:35.680
I'm now underneath, and her skin is burning again. She286903:13:35.840 --> 03:13:39.360
curses me, but is oddly happy at the same time.287003:13:40.000 --> 03:13:42.319
I quickly move to the shower entrance, where there are287103:13:42.319 --> 03:13:45.719
two heavy spraying nozzles. I squat down and make the287203:13:45.760 --> 03:13:48.239
sign of the Cross on the floors. There. I make287303:13:48.280 --> 03:13:51.040
my way around to each of the other sprays and287403:13:51.120 --> 03:13:55.000
make the same sign underneath them. Noranda tries to stop me,287503:13:55.239 --> 03:13:57.639
but has to keep away since the water's spraying on287603:13:57.760 --> 03:14:01.559
me is deadly to her. You think you can just287703:14:02.360 --> 03:14:07.239
seal me in here like this, Noranda yells, exactly. I287803:14:07.360 --> 03:14:10.760
tell her every shower nozzle in here is deadly holy287903:14:10.840 --> 03:14:14.719
water to you now. In fact, I even disinfected my288003:14:14.799 --> 03:14:18.360
wounds with it. You hurt me, Miranda, but I'm sure288103:14:18.360 --> 03:14:21.280
my pain's nowhere near to what you're feeling right now.288203:14:21.639 --> 03:14:24.040
In fact, I don't even think you could turn into288303:14:24.079 --> 03:14:27.680
mist to be able to escape my trap. Miranda falls288403:14:27.680 --> 03:14:30.760
to her knees. She's not directly under the nozzles, but288503:14:30.799 --> 03:14:33.200
the steam is too much for her. Her skin is288603:14:33.239 --> 03:14:36.239
as red as a lobster's shell. She tries to change288703:14:36.239 --> 03:14:39.680
into a wolf, then a bat. She howls with pain288803:14:39.760 --> 03:14:43.079
before she returns to her human form and falls flat288903:14:43.120 --> 03:14:47.360
on her face and chest on the floor. Now it's289003:14:47.440 --> 03:14:53.559
time to prepare her for old time's sake. Chapter seven,289103:14:55.000 --> 03:14:58.040
Miranda wakes up and finds herself secured to a table289203:14:58.079 --> 03:15:01.440
in the infirmary. She tries to sit up, of fines,289303:15:01.559 --> 03:15:05.639
she can't move Like your daughter before you, I've bound289403:15:05.639 --> 03:15:09.520
you with a crucifix. I tell her you're mine now.289503:15:10.520 --> 03:15:13.600
Miranda is still badly burned from being in holy water289603:15:13.680 --> 03:15:18.239
showers with me. As for me, I'm dry now, aside289703:15:18.239 --> 03:15:21.760
from my hair. She looks up at me now like289803:15:21.840 --> 03:15:25.159
Shiranda thorn before her. She tries using her glam on me.289903:15:26.120 --> 03:15:29.239
Then she sees my eyes glowing red, the way Shiranda290003:15:29.479 --> 03:15:32.719
and so many of my other victims before her have seen.290103:15:34.120 --> 03:15:38.639
What are you, Neiranda demands, you cannot possibly be a290203:15:38.760 --> 03:15:41.920
human woman. I can feel your evil emitting from your290303:15:42.040 --> 03:15:45.639
very eyes. I wonder if I'll ever understand why my290403:15:45.760 --> 03:15:49.639
victims think I'm so evil. And then I put my290503:15:49.760 --> 03:15:52.280
hands on the pit of my stomach and feel my290603:15:52.399 --> 03:15:58.719
familiar passenger. I moan softly, knowing my bloodlust has returned.290703:16:00.280 --> 03:16:05.600
With my new emotions, it feels just amazing. I want290803:16:05.639 --> 03:16:09.879
more than anything to put Nearanda to death and claim her. Now,290903:16:10.000 --> 03:16:13.360
Nearanda sees the plaques displaying the pictures of the dead291003:16:13.399 --> 03:16:17.479
guards I found. You and your minions have killed these people.291103:16:18.040 --> 03:16:20.639
Many of them had families who loved them a great deal.291203:16:21.360 --> 03:16:25.000
I understand your vile nature as a vampire, but in291303:16:25.079 --> 03:16:29.520
my eyes, you're all vicious murderers. You even tried to291403:16:29.520 --> 03:16:32.520
take my love from me, regardless of whether you ever291503:16:32.559 --> 03:16:35.440
planned on keeping your word and letting him go. I291603:16:35.520 --> 03:16:39.840
will not be letting you go. Like your daughter before you.291703:16:39.840 --> 03:16:44.520
You're going to die by my hands. Very shortly, Miranda291803:16:44.600 --> 03:16:48.040
opens her mouth to show her fangs. My family will291903:16:48.079 --> 03:16:50.959
never stop coming for you, Reagan Devereux. If you kill292003:16:51.000 --> 03:16:53.559
me here today, you will have enemies at every turn.292103:16:53.680 --> 03:16:56.600
The house of Thorn is a great one. Allow me292203:16:56.680 --> 03:16:58.719
to live, and I shall bring you into my house.292303:16:59.680 --> 03:17:02.799
You would be greatly worshiped for your abilities as a292403:17:02.840 --> 03:17:07.840
prolific killer alone. I consider her a moment. Then I292503:17:07.959 --> 03:17:11.559
tell her, perhaps if you would have approached me years292603:17:11.559 --> 03:17:14.200
ago when I was a child and raised me yourself,292703:17:14.879 --> 03:17:17.760
I might have been as your offering. But I was292803:17:17.879 --> 03:17:21.000
raised by a good and wonderful person who taught me292903:17:21.079 --> 03:17:24.079
to be a good girl and instilled her values in me.293003:17:24.840 --> 03:17:27.440
She even taught me her ways of dealing with your kind.293103:17:28.280 --> 03:17:32.479
I can never take innocence. I just can't do it. No,293203:17:33.559 --> 03:17:36.399
you will die here today. If your family comes for me,293303:17:36.600 --> 03:17:39.879
then they come for me. None of us will live forever,293403:17:40.719 --> 03:17:45.879
nor are we promised tomorrow. You are a fool to293503:17:45.959 --> 03:17:51.840
refuse my offer, Reagan. Miranda yells a fool, But today293603:17:52.719 --> 03:17:55.959
you're the fool, I remind her, Or have you suddenly293703:17:56.000 --> 03:17:58.719
forgotten what I'm about to do to you? I reach293803:17:58.799 --> 03:18:01.239
over to my instruments and pick up one of the293903:18:01.280 --> 03:18:07.360
sharp wooden steaks I made, and now Nearanda Thorn let294003:18:07.399 --> 03:18:12.680
the punishment fit the crime. When I raise the steak,294103:18:13.079 --> 03:18:16.879
she yells for me to stop. I do for a moment.294203:18:17.760 --> 03:18:19.920
Then she asks me how I was able to make294303:18:19.959 --> 03:18:23.920
those showers spray holy water. She tells me I must294403:18:23.959 --> 03:18:28.239
at least tell her that, but I don't, and bring294503:18:28.280 --> 03:18:34.239
the steak right down, hard and fast. Nearanda screams when294603:18:34.239 --> 03:18:37.319
the steak pierces her heart from the front to the back.294703:18:38.760 --> 03:18:44.639
I wait until she finally dies. However, her body doesn't294803:18:44.680 --> 03:18:50.559
immediately start burning into ash, which means Naranda Thorn had294903:18:50.600 --> 03:18:56.200
lived long enough to become a master vampire. I pick295003:18:56.280 --> 03:18:58.399
up the blade I made in the maintenance shop a295103:18:58.479 --> 03:19:02.639
block away and use it to decapitate her. I grab295203:19:02.680 --> 03:19:05.760
her hair and lift her head up high, feeling both295303:19:05.760 --> 03:19:10.280
my emotions and my bloodlust together. I've never been more excited.295403:19:10.559 --> 03:19:14.479
I've just killed my first ever master vampire. Mama will295503:19:14.479 --> 03:19:17.559
be so proud of me. I think I'm even crying295603:19:17.559 --> 03:19:21.680
with joy now. So how did I make the shower295703:19:21.760 --> 03:19:25.719
spray holy water? Well? When I turned eighteen, Mama had295803:19:25.760 --> 03:19:29.399
me do something really strange. She made me sign up295903:19:29.399 --> 03:19:33.440
online to become an ordained minister. Mama and I don't296003:19:33.479 --> 03:19:36.879
believe in the existence of God or Satan, but she296103:19:37.000 --> 03:19:39.799
explained that using artifacts of the holy and being a296203:19:39.840 --> 03:19:43.120
minister doesn't mean faith in God. It means believing that296303:19:43.200 --> 03:19:46.200
these weapons can protect you against the beings who are296403:19:46.280 --> 03:19:50.799
vulnerable to them. Now do you understand? I simply blessed296503:19:50.799 --> 03:19:53.079
myself and the spots on the floor in the shower296603:19:53.120 --> 03:19:57.280
to turn the water holy. Like I said, Mama taught296703:19:57.319 --> 03:20:02.120
baby well, But today I learned a valuable lesson that296803:20:02.200 --> 03:20:05.479
the master vampire I had just killed taught me before296903:20:05.520 --> 03:20:08.760
I ended her. I know what I need to do.297003:20:08.840 --> 03:20:12.840
Now it's time for me to go find Drake and297103:20:12.959 --> 03:20:18.399
show Nearanda's minions that she's lost our contest. After placing297203:20:18.440 --> 03:20:22.319
Nearanda's body in the incinerator, I gathered the stakes I made,297303:20:22.840 --> 03:20:26.559
armed myself with a few crosses, and pocketed several bottles297403:20:26.559 --> 03:20:29.840
of holy water. I'll go down fighting if that's what297503:20:29.879 --> 03:20:34.799
those vampires want. I secure Miranda's head and carry it297603:20:34.840 --> 03:20:38.000
in my hand. I'm coming for you, Drake.297703:20:39.959 --> 03:20:42.440
Did you hear that? Better check the locks on your297803:20:42.520 --> 03:20:45.959
doors weekly Spooky we'll be right back.297903:20:51.600 --> 03:20:58.920
Chapter eight. You're never going to believe this. I returned298003:20:58.920 --> 03:21:01.159
to the chapel ready for the fight of my life.298103:21:01.239 --> 03:21:05.520
I was truly ready to die to save Drake. I298203:21:05.639 --> 03:21:08.399
came into the chapel and held up Neranda's head for298303:21:08.440 --> 03:21:13.079
her minions to see. Your master is mine. I yelled,298403:21:13.600 --> 03:21:16.799
honor the bargain and let Drake go, or come out298503:21:16.799 --> 03:21:20.760
here and fight me yourselves to keep him. My bloodlust298603:21:20.840 --> 03:21:24.479
is really hungry for more vampires, but it would not298703:21:24.520 --> 03:21:28.760
get any more today. The bodies of Miranda's minions, or298803:21:29.360 --> 03:21:34.399
rather their ashen remains, are everywhere. I do find Drake298903:21:34.479 --> 03:21:37.760
behind the altar, unconscious. I check him over and see299003:21:37.799 --> 03:21:41.079
he's not bitten, even using a mirror to see his reflection.299103:21:42.319 --> 03:21:46.159
Knowing he wasn't sired, I shake him awake as he299203:21:46.200 --> 03:21:48.920
struggles to come too. I know that he was glamed.299303:21:49.520 --> 03:21:51.200
I look around to see if there are any other299403:21:51.319 --> 03:21:57.879
vampires waiting to attack, but they don't. Rage Drake utters299503:21:58.520 --> 03:22:01.440
Are you all right? I asked, helping him to his feet.299603:22:02.440 --> 03:22:05.840
Drake gasps when he sees Miranda's head on the altar.299703:22:06.799 --> 03:22:09.559
Then he sees the look on my face and knows299803:22:09.600 --> 03:22:12.879
what I'm about to say isn't going to be good.299903:22:14.079 --> 03:22:18.520
Rage he utters again. I look him in the eyes.300003:22:19.959 --> 03:22:24.719
I'm not going to marry you, Drake. In fact, it's300103:22:24.760 --> 03:22:27.959
over between you and me. I really do mean it300203:22:28.040 --> 03:22:32.239
this time. I remove the engagement ring and place it300303:22:32.239 --> 03:22:38.319
in his hand. But rage, he stammers. He doesn't see300403:22:38.360 --> 03:22:41.360
me cry like I've done many times before when I300503:22:41.360 --> 03:22:46.680
couldn't allow myself to be separated from him. Go and300603:22:46.799 --> 03:22:51.200
live your life, Drake, Kasmarak. I tell him, I'm going300703:22:51.239 --> 03:22:52.840
to be in this prison for the rest of my300803:22:52.959 --> 03:22:57.440
natural life, and that's not fair to you. While you300903:22:57.479 --> 03:22:59.399
were able to come and visit me here and even301003:22:59.440 --> 03:23:02.479
spend nights with me, you can't ultimately live here with me.301103:23:03.440 --> 03:23:08.360
Ultimately you won't want to live with me. I've taken301203:23:08.920 --> 03:23:11.559
far too many lives. I don't even know if I'm301303:23:11.639 --> 03:23:15.719
human or not. I just killed this master vampire, and301403:23:17.680 --> 03:23:22.159
I loved it. I step away from Drake, I mean it.301503:23:22.719 --> 03:23:26.680
Leave here now and go live your life, find yourself301603:23:26.680 --> 03:23:30.280
another mate to be happy with. All I'll ever bring301703:23:30.319 --> 03:23:33.879
you is misery. You may not think so now, but301803:23:33.959 --> 03:23:36.319
over time, you're going to wish you'd never met me301903:23:37.399 --> 03:23:39.520
or did you forget why you came looking for me302003:23:39.559 --> 03:23:42.760
in the first place. I tighten my fists and scream,302103:23:43.520 --> 03:23:48.360
I killed Annie Judge. Now Drake is finally looking at302203:23:48.360 --> 03:23:50.959
me the way I knew he would. I can see302303:23:50.959 --> 03:23:56.520
some contempt on his face. I killed Annie Judge. I repeat,302403:23:57.239 --> 03:24:00.280
I will never regret killing her, Drake. You and I302503:24:00.280 --> 03:24:03.840
both know why she deserved to die. In fact, I302603:24:03.879 --> 03:24:07.639
will never regret killing any of my victims. I grab302703:24:07.680 --> 03:24:13.520
and raise Miranda's head again, including this master vampire. I302803:24:13.600 --> 03:24:17.000
glare at him now. He gasps when he sees how302903:24:17.079 --> 03:24:22.719
red my eyes have become. Don't you understand I'll never303003:24:22.760 --> 03:24:25.479
be your perfect mate, I'll never be a normal woman,303103:24:25.639 --> 03:24:29.079
and you deserve so much, so much better than me.303203:24:29.879 --> 03:24:34.239
I put the head back on the altar. I release you, Drake,303303:24:35.360 --> 03:24:39.200
go and live the rest of your life. Hopefully you'll303403:24:39.239 --> 03:24:41.719
be able to find someone who can truly make you happy.303503:24:43.200 --> 03:24:47.079
You're a good man, but I am not a good woman.303603:24:48.959 --> 03:24:51.319
I told you a long time ago that I'm damaged303703:24:51.360 --> 03:24:55.399
and can never be made whole again. Leave me now303803:24:55.399 --> 03:25:00.680
and never return here to see me ever again. In fact,303903:25:01.639 --> 03:25:04.280
I will leave instructions that you are banned from seeing304003:25:04.280 --> 03:25:08.000
me unless it's for a case you absolutely need my help.304103:25:08.000 --> 03:25:12.440
On Drake doesn't say anything to me. I know I've304203:25:12.520 --> 03:25:16.159
heard him again. I know I heard him deep when304303:25:16.200 --> 03:25:20.159
I killed Anny Judge. But this will likely hurt him304403:25:20.239 --> 03:25:26.360
just as deep. In time, he will heal. I follow304503:25:26.399 --> 03:25:28.959
behind him where I can see him and he can't304603:25:29.000 --> 03:25:32.200
see me. I watch from an open door as he304703:25:32.239 --> 03:25:35.399
gets into his car and leaves.304803:25:37.040 --> 03:25:37.559
Wow.304903:25:37.719 --> 03:25:40.920
I left him so distraught that he completely forgot I305003:25:40.959 --> 03:25:45.000
can easily walk out of glen View altogether. I could305103:25:45.040 --> 03:25:48.719
literally be a free woman this very night, or rather305203:25:50.239 --> 03:25:57.799
Christmas Day, as the nearby clock strikes midnight. I know305303:25:57.959 --> 03:26:00.079
I have the skills to be able to stay on305403:25:59.920 --> 03:26:03.360
the run and avoid law enforcement. I could even leave305503:26:03.399 --> 03:26:07.319
the country and live somewhere free of this place's rules.305603:26:09.120 --> 03:26:13.639
The ironic truth here is, however, that I really don't305703:26:13.639 --> 03:26:18.479
want to go. I know I've done wrong. In spite305803:26:18.520 --> 03:26:21.319
of the fact I've saved so many lives and claim305903:26:21.440 --> 03:26:26.600
so many corrupt souls, the truth is I still continue306003:26:26.639 --> 03:26:32.000
to feel very much at peace here. It's then when306103:26:32.040 --> 03:26:35.680
it begins to snow, I stand in the doorway and306203:26:35.760 --> 03:26:39.200
watch it come down. The Christmas lights that line. The306303:26:39.200 --> 03:26:44.760
fence aren't the prettiest to look at, but I'll take it. Suddenly,306403:26:44.799 --> 03:26:48.600
I feel somebody near me. I turn and see CHESSI306503:26:48.719 --> 03:26:54.600
carver Reagan. She utters. She and I look at each other.306603:26:55.760 --> 03:26:59.959
I'm so overjoyed that she's okay. Looks like she probably306703:27:00.079 --> 03:27:04.120
he got knocked out. Chessie sees I can easily escape306803:27:04.120 --> 03:27:07.120
glen View. She doesn't even have her gun on her.306903:27:07.840 --> 03:27:12.399
She has her belt, but no gun. Chessie gives me307003:27:12.479 --> 03:27:18.440
a beckoning look, please do the right thing, Reagan, don't escape.307103:27:19.680 --> 03:27:23.680
I give her a warm smile and approach her. I307203:27:23.680 --> 03:27:27.200
think she's wondering if I'm going to kill her, but307303:27:27.280 --> 03:27:30.680
I wrap my arms around her. Then I feel her307403:27:30.760 --> 03:27:34.799
hugged me back. I just wanted to see the snow.307503:27:35.840 --> 03:27:41.600
I tell her it's Christmas. Now, I'm so glad you're307603:27:41.639 --> 03:27:46.760
all right. We hug for a moment, then we come apart.307703:27:48.040 --> 03:27:52.360
Chessie seems more confident in me now, want to take307803:27:52.399 --> 03:27:57.520
me back to my block. I ask, I promise I307903:27:57.559 --> 03:28:03.120
won't fight you. Chessie nods. I hold out my hands308003:28:03.120 --> 03:28:06.520
for her to cuff me, but she takes my hand.308103:28:07.559 --> 03:28:09.680
We walk back to my block, where I let her308203:28:09.719 --> 03:28:14.319
open my special cell and watch me go back inside.308303:28:14.440 --> 03:28:17.559
It's only minutes after she locks me up that the308403:28:17.600 --> 03:28:22.600
state police finally arrive. Chessie tells them everything she knows308503:28:23.239 --> 03:28:26.600
seeing I'm in my cell. They don't even question me.308603:28:27.959 --> 03:28:31.319
As for Drake, no one ever knew he was there308703:28:31.479 --> 03:28:39.280
during Miranda's raid. It's one week later New Year's Eve.308803:28:40.120 --> 03:28:43.479
Chessie actually agreed to sit at her station and watch me. Tonight,308903:28:44.200 --> 03:28:46.000
she could have gone to be with her family and309003:28:46.040 --> 03:28:49.680
friends to watch the ball drop or whatever people do309103:28:49.840 --> 03:28:53.079
to ring in the New Year. Mama was already here309203:28:53.120 --> 03:28:56.399
and we spent the day together. As for Christmas Eve,309303:28:57.040 --> 03:28:59.680
she got the full story from me on what happened.309403:29:00.760 --> 03:29:03.600
Like I said, she was very proud of me for309503:29:03.680 --> 03:29:07.920
slaying my first master vampire. She was even more proud309603:29:07.959 --> 03:29:10.959
of me for not escaping here when I had the chance.309703:29:12.040 --> 03:29:15.440
She said I was truly a good girl and that309803:29:15.520 --> 03:29:18.559
she raised me right in spite of the fact I309903:29:18.639 --> 03:29:22.920
was a serial killer. She was still sad and wondering310003:29:23.000 --> 03:29:26.600
where she went wrong with me on that I assured310103:29:26.639 --> 03:29:30.280
her it was nothing she did. She also said she310203:29:30.360 --> 03:29:34.559
was very sorry for what happened between Drake and I310303:29:35.479 --> 03:29:39.639
speaking of Drake. He hasn't been back here since Christmas Eve.310403:29:40.399 --> 03:29:43.639
Aside from Mama, the only visitor I got was Chief310503:29:43.680 --> 03:29:47.200
Cobbs from the North Ridgeway PD. He had a case310603:29:47.239 --> 03:29:51.040
he wanted my help on. Once I cracked it, he310703:29:51.120 --> 03:29:56.719
thanked me personally. Now I'm here with Chessie. She's not Mama,310803:29:56.879 --> 03:29:59.719
but she's a motherly woman to me just the same.310903:30:00.719 --> 03:30:03.040
She later told me that I had saved her daughter's311003:30:03.079 --> 03:30:06.360
life years ago when a rapist tried to take advantage311103:30:06.360 --> 03:30:10.920
of her. She told me the name of the man. Yes,311203:30:11.159 --> 03:30:15.360
I did kill him for that very reason. I didn't311303:30:15.360 --> 03:30:18.319
admit to it, but Chessie said I didn't have to.311403:30:20.120 --> 03:30:23.959
She even called me a good girl too. As Chessie311503:30:24.000 --> 03:30:26.360
and I are playing another game of chess in my cell,311603:30:27.040 --> 03:30:30.520
she gets a call at her station phone. I wait311703:30:30.600 --> 03:30:33.920
while she goes and answers it. Then she looks my311803:30:34.000 --> 03:30:38.680
way and tells me I have a visitor. She doesn't311903:30:38.719 --> 03:30:40.360
know who it is and asks if I want to312003:30:40.399 --> 03:30:44.120
see the young woman waiting for me? Who would come312103:30:44.120 --> 03:30:47.479
to visit me on New Year's Eve? I wonder out loud,312203:30:48.920 --> 03:30:51.120
then I nod and tell Chessie it may be a312303:30:51.239 --> 03:30:54.639
law enforcement official with another case for me to work on.312403:30:55.600 --> 03:30:57.760
Chessie confirms the meeting as I come out of my312503:30:57.879 --> 03:31:01.639
cell to walk with her. Chessie takes me to the312603:31:01.760 --> 03:31:04.799
room where I get my cases. But it's not any312703:31:04.879 --> 03:31:08.920
kind of law enforcement person that I've ever seen. It's312803:31:08.959 --> 03:31:14.200
a girl who looks to be either seventeen or eighteen.312903:31:15.120 --> 03:31:20.239
She's very skinny and has long blonde hair. Then I313003:31:20.360 --> 03:31:26.040
see her red eyes and know immediately that she's a vampire.313103:31:27.639 --> 03:31:31.559
I turn to Chessie and nod once, I'll be okay.313203:31:33.040 --> 03:31:36.719
Chessie nods once herself and leaves, locking the door behind me.313303:31:38.440 --> 03:31:44.600
Then I sit down across from this vampire Reagan Devereux right,313403:31:45.319 --> 03:31:50.399
She asks me, or do you prefer rage? Rage is fine,313503:31:50.840 --> 03:31:58.440
I reply. The girl smiles. My name's Bella Tabon. I'd313603:31:58.479 --> 03:32:01.200
like it very much if we could have ourselves a313703:32:01.280 --> 03:32:10.479
friendly chat. Well, my Spookyes, the holiday season is nearing313803:32:10.520 --> 03:32:14.520
its clothes, but don't worry. There's plenty of fear and313903:32:14.600 --> 03:32:18.840
fun waiting for you right here. So make sure you're subscribed.314003:32:18.879 --> 03:32:21.479
And thank you so much for all the support, all314103:32:21.520 --> 03:32:25.040
the love, and all the fear we get to share314203:32:25.520 --> 03:32:27.239
it really does mean a lot to me, and it314303:32:27.280 --> 03:32:31.639
adds a lot to my own holiday season. So make314403:32:31.680 --> 03:32:34.959
sure you're subscribed and head to Weeklyspooky dot com if314503:32:34.959 --> 03:32:37.520
you want to throw us some support, But for now,314603:32:38.719 --> 03:32:41.920
stay warm.
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