July 4, 2025

7 Scary Stories to Ruin Your Fourth of July

7 Scary Stories to Ruin Your Fourth of July

Fireworks and sunshine won’t save you now… This summer, Weekly Spooky returns with its Summer Scares 2025 anthology—seven terrifying tales from fan-favorite authors that will leave you sweating, screaming, and second-guessing every sound after dark....

Fireworks and sunshine won’t save you now…
This summer, Weekly Spooky returns with its Summer Scares 2025 anthology—seven terrifying tales from fan-favorite authors that will leave you sweating, screaming, and second-guessing every sound after dark. From haunted swimming holes to demonic dive bars, each story is a uniquely horrifying way to celebrate the Fourth of July.
🔥 Featured Stories:

  1. The Spirit of Langley Pond by Charles CampbellA girl drowns in 1981… but her soul still lingers beneath the surface. Some legends never rest.
  2. Bed, Breakfast, and Zombies by Keith TomlinA family vacation turns into a nightmare when a pair of siblings awaken the dead—one crypt at a time.
  3. The Wolf of Fagan County by David O’HanlonA vicious predator is prowling the woods, and a group of campers is about to find out what true terror smells like.
  4. Lady in the Germ Box by Killian CraneA strange woman is confined to a sealed hospital chamber—but is she a victim, or something far worse?
  5. The Devil Knows Three Chords by John Oak DaltonA dive bar, a band with a cursed setlist, and an audience that might never leave alive.
  6. Wilson Road by Charles CampbellA summer dare turns deadly when two boys challenge the ghostly legend of Wilson Road.
  7. Summer Slaycation by David O’HanlonA tropical escape turns into a blood-soaked nightmare. The sun isn’t the only thing that burns…

Whether you’re roasting marshmallows or dodging monsters, these tales are the perfect way to keep Halloween alive all summer long. So grab your headphones, light a sparkler… and pray it’s not the only thing that lights up the dark.

Get your very own signed copy of Weekly Spooky's The April Fool !

🎧 LISTEN NOW and subscribe for spine-tingling horror stories every week!

🎉 Unlock exclusive bonus episodes and support the show on Patreon!
👉 WeeklySpooky.com/Join

📬 Contact Us / Submit Your Horror Story!

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

🎧 LISTEN NOW and subscribe for spine-tingling horror stories every week!

🎉 Unlock exclusive bonus episodes and support the show on Patreon!
👉 WeeklySpooky.com/Join

📬 Contact Us / Submit Your Horror Story!

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

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Hello, my spookies, and Happy Independence Day to those in

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the US of A today. Whether you're out and about

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in the hot sun, having a hot dog and watching

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the fireworks go off, or you're just hanging out, maybe

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in the air conditioning, keeping cool. Don't you worry. We're

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here to help things stay chilling while giving you those

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summer spooky vibes that I know you dig. So kick back, relax,

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and enjoy seven tales of summer fun and fury from

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the deep dark depths of the Weekly Spooky Vault. Something

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for everyone in this marathon of madness. So without further ado,

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get yourself some sunscreen and a drink as cold as

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your blood, as we begin with a our first story,

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The Spirit of Langley Pond by Charles Campbell, Summer nineteen

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eighty one. Elena Ann Sanders swam for all she was worth.

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She could hear the echo of her mother's sentiment in

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her mind, don't get into any trouble. Call me if

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you need me to come get you. No questions asked.

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Elena wished she had listened to her mother instead. It

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was nearly midnight and she was swimming for her life

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to shore. Elena was beginning to think she was going

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to make it. She was going to see her mother again.

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The crack of a gunshot was the last sound Elena

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heard before the darkness of the water claimed her. Langley

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Pond was going to be her grave. Summer two thousand

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and twenty one, Langley Pond had changed quite a bit

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in the last forty years, being billed as the largest

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pond in North America, it was nearly the size of

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a lake. No longer were clay mudslides used as makeshift

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boat ramps. Now there were full fledged, paved boat ramps

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descending into the water. There were designated picnic areas spread

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around the shoreline, along with a few cabins that were

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rented nearly every weekend. It was almost ten o'clock at

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night and the humidity of the day still hung in

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the air. Brianna Turner glanced at her cell phone. It

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was eighty two degrees. Ugh, I can't believe how hot

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it is, Brianna said. She peeled a strand of sweat

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stuck hair from her forehead and grinned at her boyfriend,

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Andy Spires. Andy smiled back and said, yeah, it was

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over a hundred today. Thought we might get a little

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relief by being near the water, and all, guess not.

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At least we have the cabin with the window unit.

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That's a plus. You're right, that's a plus. Brianna agreed.

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They both turned toward the woods when they heard snapping

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twigs and shuffling feet. Hey, Frog, y'all catch anything, Andy

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asked when he saw Frog Spradley and his girl of

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the week, Jenny Coggins clear the tree line into their sight.

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Had a few nibbles, but nothing big. Threw them all back,

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Frog said, Jenny smiled, but she didn't look all that

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happy to be trapesing through the woods. Good thing we

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brought beanie weenies. Then, Andy said, Jenny gave him the

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you can't be serious look, and Frog replied, damn man,

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you are a lifesaver. Beanie weenies are the shit. I

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thought I'd have to break out the vienna sausages and

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saltine crackers. Hey, Jenny, you want to go in the

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cabin and cool off, Brianna asked, yes. Jenny shouted it

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was hot, she was sticky, and if this excursion with

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Frog taught her anything, she was definitely an inside girl.

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The boys watched as the girls walked into the cabin. Okay, Frog,

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where'd you find that one, Andy asked. Frog gave him

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a sneaky smile and sheepishly shrugged his shoulders. Come on, man,

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I don't recognize her. She ain't one of your usual

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valley honeys. She's from Martinez. Frog whispered. Why are you whispering?

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She can't hear us out here? What in the world

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were you doing in Martinez? And how'd you get her?

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She looks too sophisticated to be stomping around Langley Pond,

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especially with you the prints of the valley. She don't

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know nothing about the valley, does she? Andy asked, Well

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she does now. I told her about the spirit of

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Langley Pond. Frog replied, you didn't, and she hasn't left screaming,

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not yet. Maybe it's because her phone died while we

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were fishing. She seemed more interested in whatever was on

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Instagram or Facebook than catching a catfish inside the cabin.

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Oh my god, that ac feels fantastic, Jenny said, and

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stuck her face in front of the window unit. It

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was turned all the way up, and Jenny's sandy blonde

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hair blue behind her, like she was riding on the

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back of a motorcycle. Yeah, it's the only cabin out

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here with one. Andy Sprang for the extra sixty bucks

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said it would be worth it to sleep in comfort,

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and he ain't wrong. It's sticky as hell outside. How

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long you and frag I've been seeing each other? Oh?

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I just met him yesterday. Where are you from? You

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ain't from the valley valley? What's the valley, Jenny asked?

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You're in it, Brianna answered, and continued. You know that

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main road you took to get here, the one that

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went through a bunch of little bitty towns. Yeah, Jenny

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replied and turned to face Brianna. Brianna was grinning and

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her brown eyes were gleaming. Jenny really paid attention to

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Brianna for the first time, and she had this country

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girl pretty thing going for. She looked like she could

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be fun in the sack, but could kick your ass

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out of it if necessary. Well, that road is four

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twenty one and for twenty one is the valley Rednecks

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for as far as the eye can see. And you

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got yourself what we call a valley prince, that right?

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Why is he a valley prince? He's a Spradley and

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Spradley's have been around the valley for as long as

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anybody can remember. Everybody calls him Frog. I don't even

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know if that's his given name, but I know his

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daddy was called Frog and his daddy's daddy was called Frog.

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They owned several businesses in the valley. His brother Ricky

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owns Valley Video. His other brother, Johnny, owns Spradley's filling

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station in Langley. His sister Darnell Well, she owns a

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beauty shop in Gloverville named Can you guess Spradley's Beauty Shop?

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Jenny asked as she shrugged her shoulders. Yep, nailed it.

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So if you're from the valley, you know who the

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Spradleys are. Oh really, that's good to know. So what

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do you know about this spirit he was telling me

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about while we were fishing? He didn't tell you about

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the spirit of Langley Pond. Please tell me he didn't

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try to scare you with that story, Brianna suppressed a chuckle.

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He did, and it it did freak me out a bit.

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Is there any truth behind it? From what I've heard,

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these local legends start with a grain of truth somewhere,

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and that grain grows and gets exaggerated over the years.

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That's kind of what I'm thinking. Am I wrong? Should

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I be afraid of a ghost in the pond? Jenny asked.

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Brianna smiled and motioned for Jenny to take a seat

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in the living room. Yeah, I know about the grain

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that started the story. It was something that really happened

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about forty years ago. It went something like this summer

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nineteen eighty one. It was Friday morning and Elena bit

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her mother farewell for the weekend. Her mother's voice issued

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a lifeline as Elena walked out the door to meet

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her boyfriend, Dustin Hines. Don't get into any trouble. Call

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me if you need me to come get you. No

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questions asked. Elena told her mother not to worry and

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that she would be home on Sunday night. Hey babe,

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Dustin said, as Elena hopped into his forward pickup. She

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leaned over and gave Dustin a quick kiss before she

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pounded the dashboard, which meant it was time to burn rubber.

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Dustin pulled out of the driveway and be lined to

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bel the deer Clearwater road. Finally, Elena shouted she was

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ready to have a weekend alone with Dustin. They had

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been talking about it for the better part of six months.

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Elena leaned her head out of the open window to

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feel the wind in her face. Hey, babe, watch out

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for telephone polls. You don't want to get your head

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knocked off. Who would really, uh put a damper on

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the weekend, Dustin said, as he tugged on Elena's arm. Okay, okay,

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I'm just excited that that's all I know. It's just

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Langley Pond, Just Langley Pond, Just Langley Pond. You know,

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it's the pride of the valley, Dustin said. He looked

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at Elena with his blue eyes and he could see

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her melt just a little. You're laying on a little

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thick there, ain't you. Everybody knows Richardson's Lake is the

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pride of the valley, she said, enamored with her man.

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I beg to differ. You can't put a boat on

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Richardson's Lake, And I really don't know how they can

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call that tiny mud puddle a lake anyway. Langley Pond

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should be a lake. I mean it's as big as one.

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Speaking of boats, Elena interrupted, does your daddy still have

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that John boat at Langley pond. He does, Dustin smiled

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trolling motor in the back of the truck. Dustin answered sweet,

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Elena replied. The pair rowed in silence for the next

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nine minutes. Elena hopped out of the truck as soon

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as it rolled to a stop just inside the confines

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of Langley Pond. I can't wait to jump in the water,

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Elena screamed and shed her clothing as fast as she could,

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revealing her bathing suit underneath. Dang, girl, you ain't gonna

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wait for me to put up the tent, Dustin asked

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the air. Elena was already splashing in the water. Dustin

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set up the two person tent and pulled the trolling

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motor from the back of the truck. Elena swam to

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shore when she saw the tent was all set up

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and the trolling motor was attached to the john boat. Hey, babe,

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we gonna do some night fishing. The bass should be

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popping top water plugs tonight, Elena said, as she took

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a seat in the lawn chair set outside the tent.

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I reckon, we can do that. Mama packed up some

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ham sandwiches and the small cooler, and I got papst

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in the biggin I love you, Dustin. Shut up, you

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do not You just want me from a Dustin joked.

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The couple ate sandwiches, drank beer, let their food and

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drink settle before they made clumsy love. In the tent,

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Elena fell asleep with Dustin's arms wrapped around her. She

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woke up five hours later alone. Dustin you outside, Elena asked,

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as she rubbed her eyes and stretched. She shuffled out

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of the tent and heard the frogs croaking their night tunes.

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The crickets returned to symphony of their own. Dustin, where

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are you at? You know you can pee in front

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of me, Elena shouted. She looked around and was comforted

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that the truck was still parked in the same spot,

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so Dustin didn't decide to go on a midnight snack

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run and leave her out here all alone. But he

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didn't answer her, and that was a reason for concern

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until she saw the light from the flashlight out in

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the middle of the pond. The john boat wasn't there

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that sorry sack of potatoes? Elena shouted, Dustin, get your

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ass back over here and pick me up. She hollered

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into the night toward the light of the boat. The

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light flashed in her direction, but the boat didn't move.

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Don't make me swim out there, Dustin. I swear I will,

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and I'll make so much noise that no fish is

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gonna bite for the rest of the night. Don't test me.

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Elena was leaving playful and moving into piste off. The

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light flashed in her direction once more, but the boat

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still did not move. Okay, I'm coming. Elena sloshed into

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the pond and began swimming toward the boat. The boat

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still didn't move. The longer she swam, the angrier she became.

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He'd better not dare ask for sex the rest of

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the trip, is what she was thinking. Not even a

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hand job. The light still shined like a beacon from

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a lonely lighthouse. Elena was about thirty yards away from

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the John boat when she realized something was very, very wrong.

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There was a figure standing in the center of the boat,

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a figure that was a mite bit shorter than her boyfriend.

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That was there, John boat, but that wasn't Dustin. Elena

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00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:30.360
swam a little closer to see if she could make

210
00:14:30.360 --> 00:14:33.679
out who it was standing in the boat and screamed

211
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in horror. When she saw what the man was holding

212
00:14:37.720 --> 00:14:42.000
in his left hand. It couldn't be real. It had

213
00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:45.159
to be some kind of joke. Her mind was telling

214
00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:48.320
her someone was just pranking her. The man in the

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boat swung his left arm up around and launched the

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severed head of dustin hinds in Elena's direction. She waited

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what seemed like hours on the sound of the splash,

218
00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:05.679
and when the sound came, Elena turned around and swam

219
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for all she was worth. Elena felt as if bricks

220
00:15:09.559 --> 00:15:12.559
were weighing her down. The burning in her lungs felt

221
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like she inhaled lit gasoline. She could hear the echo

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00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:20.320
of her mother's sentiment in her mind, don't get into

223
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any trouble. Call me if you need me to come

224
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get you. No questions asked. Elena wished that she had

225
00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:30.600
listened to her mother. Instead, she was swimming for her

226
00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:33.759
life to shore. Elena was beginning to think she was

227
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going to make it. She was going to see her

228
00:15:36.360 --> 00:15:41.039
mother again. The crack of a gunshot was the last

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00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:45.000
sound Elena heard before the darkness of the water claimed her.

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Langley Pond was going to be her grave. Summer twoenty

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twenty one, Jenny's face was flush. When Brianna finished the story.

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Was that true what you told me? She asked, pretty much.

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I don't know if that's exactly how the conversations went down,

234
00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:16.679
but the facts are Elena and Dustin went to Langley Pond.

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Dustin's head was chopped off. They found the body in

236
00:16:21.080 --> 00:16:23.600
the boat, and Elena had been shot in the head.

237
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It took them a while to find her body, though

238
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longer than it probably should have. They say her body

239
00:16:30.919 --> 00:16:33.200
was in the pond long enough for her spirit to

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be trapped here. Some people say they can hear splashing

241
00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:42.120
around and hollering. Sometimes me, I think it's just the

242
00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:45.200
bass having their late night snacks. They can make quite

243
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a ruckus when they're attacking frogs, lizards and whatnot. I

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wouldn't let it scare you too much, though. Brianna finished

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and patted Jenny on her hands. Did they ever catch

246
00:16:56.559 --> 00:17:00.799
the guy that did it? Jenny asked, Well, that's the

247
00:17:00.919 --> 00:17:05.039
thing they did, That's how we got this story that's

248
00:17:05.079 --> 00:17:08.079
been passed down for forty years. But he was shot

249
00:17:08.119 --> 00:17:09.920
in the head with a long range rifle as he

250
00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:13.440
was escorted to the courthouse. Let's just say the police

251
00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:15.640
didn't spend a lot of time looking for the killer

252
00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:19.839
of Billy Jean Morris. From what's been passed down, a

253
00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:21.759
lot of folks think it was set up that way.

254
00:17:22.400 --> 00:17:25.079
The police can turn a blind eye sometimes when it

255
00:17:25.119 --> 00:17:29.240
comes to valley justice, especially when it's a couple of

256
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local kids that were killed. Kids that everybody knew, kids

257
00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:37.920
that everybody loved. There were some rumors that it was

258
00:17:37.960 --> 00:17:41.880
Elene's daddy or even Dustin's daddy. They were both avid

259
00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:46.079
hunters with rifles to do the job. They weren't even questioned.

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I don't blame either one of them. If they killed

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Billy Jean, he deserved it, Brianna finished. Jenny looked at

262
00:17:54.079 --> 00:17:57.200
her in all seriousness and said, what if Billy Jean

263
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didn't kill them? What if someone else did? And what

264
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if that someone else is still around? Jenny asked, clearly

265
00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:08.359
working herself up into something that Brianna thought was silly.

266
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Calm down, girl, it was Billy Jean. I know it

267
00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:16.319
was Billy Jean. It's a valley thing. He wouldn't understand. Now,

268
00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:19.400
let's go see what those boys are up to. Frog

269
00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:21.480
was grinning from ear to ear as he saw the

270
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girl's approach. Andy was downing another PBR. I was beginning

271
00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:29.519
to worry about you too. You get your girl talk in,

272
00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:34.279
Frog asked, as he grabbed his own PBR. Yeah, something

273
00:18:34.440 --> 00:18:37.640
like that, Brianna replied, and winked at Jenny to let

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her know it was okay. It was just a stupid

275
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local legend. Nothing to worry about, Frog. Are we really

276
00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:49.440
having Beanie Weenies for dinner? I mean, I'd rather go

277
00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:52.480
to the store and grab some sandwich stuff. Maybe Brianna

278
00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:54.440
and I could run to the grocery store real quick.

279
00:18:54.680 --> 00:18:56.200
We'll get a bag of ice and some more of

280
00:18:56.200 --> 00:18:59.680
that beer, y'all like. Frog was all set to disagree

281
00:18:59.799 --> 00:19:03.119
and forced the Beanie Weenie supper, but when the bee

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00:19:03.119 --> 00:19:07.799
word came up, he changed his course of thinking. I

283
00:19:07.799 --> 00:19:10.519
think that'd be okay. What do you think Andy, The

284
00:19:10.599 --> 00:19:12.960
girls can go get the sandwich stuff in another case

285
00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:16.680
of beer. I'll contribute ten bucks for the cause, Frog said,

286
00:19:16.680 --> 00:19:21.079
and pulled a crinkled bill from his well weathered leather wallet. Yeah,

287
00:19:21.119 --> 00:19:24.039
I reckon that'll be okay, Brianna. Take her to the

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00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:26.640
bilo where Jimmy works. He'll let you buy the beer

289
00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:30.160
with no id. Brianna rolled her eyes at Andy like

290
00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:33.319
she didn't already know that she had bought beer at

291
00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:36.680
that bilo since she was fourteen years old. The valley

292
00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:40.039
kids knew where to go without being ripped off. There

293
00:19:40.119 --> 00:19:42.640
was always the quick shop option, where the owner would

294
00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:46.000
only sell the swill known as Milwaukee's Best for triple

295
00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:49.720
the labeled price to desperate teens. That's the only way

296
00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:51.880
he could get rid of the crap, and he had

297
00:19:51.880 --> 00:19:53.640
to carry it because it was such an under the

298
00:19:53.680 --> 00:19:57.200
table money maker for him. Any Way he can stick

299
00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:59.640
it to the government and help raise the next generation

300
00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:02.319
of value ally rats, the better for his valley pride

301
00:20:02.359 --> 00:20:06.240
and his pockets. Andy tossed the truck keys to Brianna.

302
00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:09.519
Be careful, babe, don't wreck my truck, and don't get

303
00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:12.759
caught with that beer. Brianna gave him another eye roll

304
00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:16.000
and trotted to the driver's side. Jenny felt a wave

305
00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:19.240
of relief when Brianna started the engine and the cool

306
00:20:19.319 --> 00:20:24.680
lair from the ac kissed her face. Andy Frog said

307
00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:29.160
with a wicked grin, Yeah, I had Jenny going pretty

308
00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:32.160
good with the spirit of Langley Pond. You want to

309
00:20:32.200 --> 00:20:34.279
have some fun and scare the girls when they get

310
00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:39.319
back more. Jenny than Brianna. I know she's tough to scare.

311
00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:42.920
I don't know, man, that new girl might go off

312
00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:45.440
the deep end. I mean, you don't know her all

313
00:20:45.480 --> 00:20:48.960
that well, and it'll severely reduce your chances of playing

314
00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:52.400
Hide the Snake. If you catch my drift, it'll be

315
00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:56.039
more like a whack a mole. Andy replied and smiled.

316
00:20:56.599 --> 00:20:59.720
I don't care, Frog began. I don't think she's gonna

317
00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:02.480
give it up anyway. May as well have some fun

318
00:21:02.519 --> 00:21:07.880
with her. She's creeped out over the ghost of Elena Sanders. First,

319
00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:10.759
what did you have in mind? And second, if Brianna

320
00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:16.440
gets pissed, it's on you. Andy replied. Look, while they're gone,

321
00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:18.640
I'm gonna go to the edge of the woods over

322
00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:22.279
yonder Frog pointed to the shoreline at his left. You

323
00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:26.240
see that cluster of trees over there. Yeah, well, I'm

324
00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:29.519
gonna go over there behind them trees and start tossing

325
00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:31.599
some of the red bricks that Ricky put over in

326
00:21:31.640 --> 00:21:34.839
that clearing into the pond. He'll never miss him. He

327
00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:37.359
done forgot he put them out there, and check this

328
00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:40.440
out real quick, give me a second. Frog ran to

329
00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:42.759
his car, and Andy could hear him rustling before he

330
00:21:42.839 --> 00:21:47.240
came trotting back with a palm sized speaker. It's a bluetooth, man,

331
00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:51.359
I'm gonna place some Halloween screams out of this bad boy.

332
00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:55.000
It works right off my phone. And while you're doing

333
00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:57.680
all this shit, where am I supposed to tell them?

334
00:21:57.680 --> 00:21:59.880
You are? Tell them I went to the other side

335
00:21:59.920 --> 00:22:03.279
of upond to go giggin. Brianna will believe that she

336
00:22:03.400 --> 00:22:06.880
knows how much I love to go giggin, and when

337
00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:09.920
she finds out that's a lie, then me and my

338
00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:11.880
right hand are going to be best friends for the

339
00:22:11.880 --> 00:22:15.400
rest of the trip. I don't think so, Andy replied,

340
00:22:16.359 --> 00:22:19.200
you have to take the fun out of everything. Man. Look,

341
00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:21.319
I will tell you that I was going giggin and

342
00:22:21.400 --> 00:22:23.720
I'm going to disappear for a little while. Then you

343
00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:25.880
won't be lying and you can act like you're just

344
00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:28.839
as pissed as the girls. I suspect I'll be taking

345
00:22:28.920 --> 00:22:31.200
Jenny home after this stunt, and you and Brianna will

346
00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:34.839
be all alone in the cabin. Frog grinned and poked

347
00:22:34.839 --> 00:22:37.319
his finger through the hole he made with his other hand.

348
00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:42.000
A smile ran across Andy's face. Now that sounds like

349
00:22:42.039 --> 00:22:45.720
a better plan. My man, I know nothing, I see nothing,

350
00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:48.759
I hear nothing but the spirit of Elena Ann Sanders

351
00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:54.160
splashing and screaming in the water. That's the spirit, Frog replied,

352
00:22:54.200 --> 00:23:02.400
without realizing the pun. Darkness was closing in on the

353
00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:05.079
valley when Andy saw the lights of his truck coming

354
00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:09.039
down the path. They're back, he shouted, which sent Frog

355
00:23:09.160 --> 00:23:12.359
scurrying for the tree line. Brianna and Jenny were still

356
00:23:12.440 --> 00:23:16.279
laughing from their conversation on the trip back. Hey, girls,

357
00:23:16.440 --> 00:23:20.599
need a hand, Andy walked toward them. Where's Frog was

358
00:23:20.640 --> 00:23:23.920
the first question from Jenny's lips, and Brianna already had

359
00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:27.440
her doubting eyes looking around for the mischievous valley prints.

360
00:23:28.440 --> 00:23:30.920
He'll be back directly, he went Gigan on the other

361
00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:35.240
side of the pond. What's gigin, Jenny asked, thinking it

362
00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:38.599
was some made up thing by these valley people. He

363
00:23:38.680 --> 00:23:42.240
went to kill his namesake. Brianna answered. Gigin is when

364
00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:45.039
you basically take a three prong metal spear and go

365
00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:48.839
stab frogs with them. Don't worry, though, Frog isn't killing

366
00:23:48.880 --> 00:23:51.599
them entirely for fun. He'll cut the legs off and

367
00:23:51.640 --> 00:23:55.200
fry them up. Ew He's going to eat their legs.

368
00:23:55.880 --> 00:24:00.000
Jenny couldn't believe what she was hearing. Yeah, I'll probably

369
00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:03.759
eat some too, Andy, though he's not much on frog legs,

370
00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:07.440
are you, babe? Briann asked, y'all can have that. If

371
00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:09.319
I eat a fried leg, it better have belonged to

372
00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:12.599
a chicken. That's all I'll say. Did he say when

373
00:24:12.599 --> 00:24:17.119
he's coming back? Jenny asked, Well, with frog, you never

374
00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:19.880
can tell. If he starts sticking them left and right,

375
00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:22.400
it might be a while. But if he can't catch him,

376
00:24:22.400 --> 00:24:25.559
then he might not be gone so long. Is he

377
00:24:25.640 --> 00:24:29.160
good at catching them? Jenny asked, best in the valley?

378
00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:34.160
Brianna replied, oh. Jenny said she thought that was a

379
00:24:34.200 --> 00:24:36.359
hell of a way to treat your date. Send her

380
00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:38.680
off to get your beer while you go kill frogs

381
00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:41.480
around the pond. Jenny made up her mind that Frog

382
00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:43.240
would have to take her home as soon as he

383
00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:47.400
got back. Here's your beer, Brianna said, and pulled the

384
00:24:47.480 --> 00:24:50.200
case from the bed of the pickup. It's still cold.

385
00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:52.440
Jenny and I are going to make ourselves a couple

386
00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:55.480
of sandwiches. You want a ham and cheese, you know

387
00:24:55.599 --> 00:24:57.960
I do? Can you bring it back out here? I'm

388
00:24:58.000 --> 00:25:00.920
gonna start a fire in the pit. It's eighty something

389
00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:02.920
degrees out Andy, do you really want to make it

390
00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:06.599
any hotter? I like to see the people in the flames, Babe.

391
00:25:06.880 --> 00:25:10.200
I won't keep it lit all night. Alrighty, then go

392
00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:13.960
see your flame people. Come on, Jenny, I'm starving. The

393
00:25:13.960 --> 00:25:16.799
girls went into the cabin. Andy lit up the fire

394
00:25:16.839 --> 00:25:20.240
pit and waited to hear the first splash. Brianna came

395
00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:22.720
out ten minutes later with Andy sandwich wrapped in a

396
00:25:22.759 --> 00:25:28.079
paper towel. Did Frog really go giggin? Brian asked? Andy

397
00:25:28.119 --> 00:25:31.200
truthfully answered that's where he told me he was going.

398
00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:34.079
But you never know with Frog. He added that just

399
00:25:34.119 --> 00:25:36.200
to cover his ass for when the shit went down.

400
00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:39.880
All Right, it's pretty dark out here. Now. You coming

401
00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:42.839
in soon? Yeah, I'll be in in a little bit.

402
00:25:43.240 --> 00:25:45.119
I was trying to wait on Frog to get back.

403
00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:47.440
I'm surprised he didn't come running when he heard the

404
00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:51.079
beer truck, Andy said, already thinking of how fake mad

405
00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:53.720
he was going to be with Frog when the prank unfolded,

406
00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:56.559
Andy wondered if Frog would let him get a punch

407
00:25:56.599 --> 00:26:00.559
in just to completely exonerate himself from any invo in

408
00:26:00.599 --> 00:26:03.880
his childish ploy. Just put that fire out before you

409
00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:05.880
come in. We don't want to be the ones to

410
00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:10.359
burn down the cabins. Roger that. Andy smiled and pursed

411
00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:13.640
his lips for a kiss. Brianna gave him a quick pack.

412
00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:17.960
Fifteen minutes passed and there was no splash, no sound

413
00:26:18.039 --> 00:26:21.559
from the area in which Frog disappeared. Andy was getting

414
00:26:21.559 --> 00:26:24.000
a little antsy as he stood from his chair, took

415
00:26:24.039 --> 00:26:27.720
another gulp of PBR, and turned toward the cabin. He

416
00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:30.119
could see the outline of the girls standing near the

417
00:26:30.160 --> 00:26:34.559
ac unit. Andy began walking toward the cabin when the

418
00:26:34.599 --> 00:26:42.240
first splash finally came. Ah, so it begins, Andy thought

419
00:26:42.319 --> 00:26:45.680
to himself. The girls didn't hear it, or if they did,

420
00:26:46.039 --> 00:26:48.720
it wasn't enough ruckus yet to make them come outside.

421
00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:55.519
Then there was a second splash, much louder than the first.

422
00:26:56.200 --> 00:26:59.480
He saw Brianna's head turn, but she didn't come outside.

423
00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:02.920
I guess third times a charm, is what Andy thought.

424
00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:06.799
The third splash came, and it was much louder than

425
00:27:06.799 --> 00:27:11.720
the first two. This time he saw Brianna move toward

426
00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:20.160
the door. Then came the scream. It was loud, shrill,

427
00:27:20.559 --> 00:27:25.960
and brief, almost inhuman. It was a scream of severe pain.

428
00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:30.359
Brianna came bursting out the door. All right, Andy, tell

429
00:27:30.440 --> 00:27:33.279
Frog to cut the shit. Jenny's freaking the hell out

430
00:27:33.319 --> 00:27:37.079
in there. She's afraid to come out. Frog, cut the shit,

431
00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:41.480
Brianna hollered in the direction of the commotion. There were

432
00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:48.640
more splashes. They got louder and closer, louder and closer.

433
00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:55.359
Then the second scream. It was so loud. Andy was

434
00:27:55.400 --> 00:27:57.759
thinking that was one hell of a speaker. Frog had

435
00:27:57.759 --> 00:28:01.440
brought Andy and Brianna heard run and it was coming

436
00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:06.799
toward them very quickly. Frog emerged from the darkness and

437
00:28:06.880 --> 00:28:10.240
his face was white as a sheet. Frog, you son

438
00:28:10.279 --> 00:28:13.960
of a bit. Brianna began and then stopped. Her heart

439
00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:17.079
felt like it was going baboom out of her chest

440
00:28:17.160 --> 00:28:21.400
when she heard the next scream. This was no bluetooth speaker.

441
00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:26.920
This was menacing and so full of pain. Damn Frog,

442
00:28:27.599 --> 00:28:31.400
how are you doing that, Andy asked, still not getting it,

443
00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:36.759
actually impressed with his friend's skill. It's not me, Andy,

444
00:28:37.319 --> 00:28:41.559
it's a Lena and I pissed her off. Stop at Frog,

445
00:28:41.920 --> 00:28:45.279
take me home. I'm done with this shit. Jenny yelled.

446
00:28:45.799 --> 00:28:49.279
Her entire body was shaking. The poor girl was scared

447
00:28:49.319 --> 00:28:51.880
out of her mind. I think we all need to leave,

448
00:28:52.319 --> 00:28:56.200
Andy said, as he realized his buddy wasn't joking. Andy

449
00:28:56.319 --> 00:28:59.759
kept calm. Let's just go. We'll come clean up our

450
00:28:59.799 --> 00:29:04.200
crap in the morning. There was another tremendous splash, and

451
00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:07.319
it was closer than any of the others. The rhythm

452
00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:11.559
was almost like thunder followed by lightning. A few seconds

453
00:29:11.640 --> 00:29:15.519
after the splash, the screech came. It was a sound

454
00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:19.680
of unmitigated pain. The four of them froze in place,

455
00:29:20.359 --> 00:29:24.839
and their mouths fell open, almost in unison at what

456
00:29:24.960 --> 00:29:29.960
they saw next. The apparition of Elena was floating above

457
00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:33.319
the water, just past the shoreline. The front of her

458
00:29:33.359 --> 00:29:36.759
head was busted wide open, and her eyes were contorted

459
00:29:36.839 --> 00:29:41.680
black pools that looked in opposite directions. She fell into

460
00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:47.920
the water with a loud, cursed splash, and slowly rose again.

461
00:29:49.079 --> 00:29:53.559
Her mouth opened wide, and this time the scream pierced them.

462
00:29:54.160 --> 00:29:56.559
The ear drums of all four of them were on

463
00:29:56.640 --> 00:30:00.039
the verge of exploding in their skulls. Hands went to

464
00:30:00.200 --> 00:30:03.440
her ears on instinct, but it didn't matter. This scream

465
00:30:03.839 --> 00:30:08.279
moved through flesh and bone, through space and time. This

466
00:30:08.519 --> 00:30:13.519
was the scream of the dead, the dead trapped in

467
00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:17.680
her watery grave. It was a macabre dance of the dead,

468
00:30:17.720 --> 00:30:22.319
in which Elena was forever trapped. Jenny was the first

469
00:30:22.359 --> 00:30:26.119
to speak when the screaming stopped. She's not gonna let

470
00:30:26.200 --> 00:30:29.680
us leave. Brianna looked at Andy and they felt the

471
00:30:29.720 --> 00:30:34.039
same apprehension that Jenny spoke aloud. But Andy simply said,

472
00:30:34.839 --> 00:30:37.799
let's get the hell out of here. Andy and Brianna

473
00:30:37.920 --> 00:30:40.400
ran to the truck, while Frog and Jenny ran to

474
00:30:40.480 --> 00:30:44.119
Frog's mustang. Andy turned the key and heard the clicking

475
00:30:44.200 --> 00:30:48.599
sound associated with a dead battery. Frog did the same.

476
00:30:49.400 --> 00:30:53.200
Jenny was shaking in her seat. Brianna was already thinking

477
00:30:53.240 --> 00:30:55.799
that they would just book it to four twenty one

478
00:30:55.839 --> 00:30:58.680
on foot. It wasn't that far away, and once they

479
00:30:58.680 --> 00:31:02.440
were on that stretch of road they would be home free.

480
00:31:02.599 --> 00:31:06.440
The wind suddenly picked up and the temperature dropped. The

481
00:31:06.440 --> 00:31:09.279
four of them got out of the vehicles and moved

482
00:31:09.279 --> 00:31:13.599
closer to one another. Brianna wanted to scream, wanted to

483
00:31:13.640 --> 00:31:16.240
tell them to run, but something in her gut warned

484
00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:20.440
her that would be a big mistake. Jenny's lips were

485
00:31:20.519 --> 00:31:23.720
quivering with fear, and Frog didn't look like a prince

486
00:31:23.799 --> 00:31:27.440
at all. For the first time in his life, Frog

487
00:31:27.599 --> 00:31:31.720
truly felt fear rush up his spine. The calmness that

488
00:31:31.759 --> 00:31:34.880
Andy displayed just moments before was replaced with a feeling

489
00:31:34.920 --> 00:31:39.359
of despair. They all felt like Brianna, felt as if

490
00:31:39.359 --> 00:31:44.359
they should run but couldn't. Not that anyone or anything

491
00:31:44.440 --> 00:31:48.559
was stopping them, but it just felt like a very

492
00:31:48.640 --> 00:31:52.400
bad idea. There was another screech, and the four of

493
00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:56.319
them turned toward the pond. The apparition was floating above

494
00:31:56.319 --> 00:31:59.720
the water, just at the shoreline. Her dark hair was

495
00:31:59.720 --> 00:32:04.480
flowed behind her, and she wasn't falling this time. Her

496
00:32:04.519 --> 00:32:07.559
mouth was contorted as if she were about to release

497
00:32:07.599 --> 00:32:12.680
another screech, but this time she didn't. The spirit of

498
00:32:12.720 --> 00:32:16.920
Elena looked directly at Frog with a face of recognition.

499
00:32:17.839 --> 00:32:21.839
The spirit began shaking above the water. What the fuck, frog,

500
00:32:22.519 --> 00:32:29.599
Andy whispered, I don't know, man, Frog whispered back, she's

501
00:32:29.680 --> 00:32:34.519
pointing at you, Jenny said, on the verge of sobbing. No,

502
00:32:34.640 --> 00:32:37.960
she's not. She's pointing at us. She don't want us

503
00:32:37.960 --> 00:32:39.599
to be here, and I think we should give her

504
00:32:39.640 --> 00:32:44.079
what she wants. Frog whispered back. Andy, Jenny, and Brianna

505
00:32:44.480 --> 00:32:49.200
slowly stepped away from Frog. Elena's spirit kept pointing to

506
00:32:49.240 --> 00:32:54.440
the Valley Prince. It was recognition and it wasn't coincidence.

507
00:32:55.759 --> 00:32:57.680
What the hell, man, what did I ever do to her?

508
00:32:58.319 --> 00:33:01.359
I don't know, man, but I make any sudden movements

509
00:33:01.400 --> 00:33:08.559
if I were you. Summer nineteen eighty one, he had

510
00:33:08.559 --> 00:33:11.599
seen Elena come in his store through the years. He

511
00:33:11.759 --> 00:33:16.000
longed for her, but she was taken. Dustin Hines was

512
00:33:16.039 --> 00:33:19.039
her man, and it didn't sit well with him, not

513
00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:22.240
one bit. He heard it through the grapevine that they

514
00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:25.680
were going to Langley Pond for a romantic getaway this weekend,

515
00:33:26.160 --> 00:33:30.319
and today was Friday. Elena wouldn't give him the time

516
00:33:30.359 --> 00:33:33.319
of day, would barely utter a word when she came

517
00:33:33.359 --> 00:33:37.039
in to pick out a movie. Sometimes Dustin would be

518
00:33:37.079 --> 00:33:40.000
with her. She would come in with her beautiful, long

519
00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:43.920
black hair and perfect smile, teasing him. Elena had to

520
00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:46.119
know that he was in love with her, but she

521
00:33:46.119 --> 00:33:49.000
would come in with Dustin, flaunting her love for him

522
00:33:49.200 --> 00:33:54.960
and in a sense, a disdain for Frog Spradley. He

523
00:33:55.039 --> 00:33:59.279
didn't understand why Valley Video was going to be his outright.

524
00:33:59.319 --> 00:34:02.759
In another year, he would be a reputable business owner.

525
00:34:03.279 --> 00:34:05.680
Frog was sure that the video rental business would be

526
00:34:05.720 --> 00:34:10.360
a necessity for generations to come. But she would come

527
00:34:10.400 --> 00:34:15.079
and go, tease him, taunt him, show him what he

528
00:34:15.159 --> 00:34:19.440
can't have, show him who was getting her love. This

529
00:34:19.599 --> 00:34:22.440
wasn't going to work for Frog. He would be at

530
00:34:22.440 --> 00:34:28.079
that pond tonight, just like the song said, bang bang,

531
00:34:28.159 --> 00:34:32.800
he shot me down, Bang bang, I hit the ground,

532
00:34:33.639 --> 00:34:39.159
bang bang. That awful sound bang bang. My baby shot

533
00:34:39.239 --> 00:34:43.920
me down. And that's exactly what Frog would do. He

534
00:34:43.960 --> 00:34:47.000
would go to the pond. He would hear them making

535
00:34:47.079 --> 00:34:50.360
love in the tent. He would take his machete and

536
00:34:50.400 --> 00:34:54.320
get Dustin to come outside. While Elena was sleeping, he'd

537
00:34:54.360 --> 00:34:57.679
hack him up and chop off his head. He'd take

538
00:34:57.760 --> 00:35:01.239
the john boat out late he heard them talking about

539
00:35:01.280 --> 00:35:04.840
their late night fishing trip. She would come out. She

540
00:35:04.880 --> 00:35:07.480
would see the light. She would think that her lover

541
00:35:07.639 --> 00:35:11.440
was fishing without her. She'd see the man that she scorned,

542
00:35:12.320 --> 00:35:15.440
see what she could have had. He would toss the

543
00:35:15.480 --> 00:35:19.440
head of her betrothed. She would see him. All she

544
00:35:19.599 --> 00:35:23.079
had to do was keep swimming to the boat, and

545
00:35:23.119 --> 00:35:26.599
she would have lived. But she turned and swam away,

546
00:35:27.360 --> 00:35:29.800
afraid of the man that was truly meant for her.

547
00:35:30.239 --> 00:35:33.519
He'd line her up with his deer rifle. Frog was

548
00:35:33.559 --> 00:35:37.519
a dead shot. He wasn't going to miss. He'd let

549
00:35:37.559 --> 00:35:40.400
her feel as if she may get away before the

550
00:35:40.480 --> 00:35:44.639
shot would zip through the back of her skull. It

551
00:35:44.760 --> 00:35:47.239
was pure luck that they pinned it on Billy Jean.

552
00:35:47.920 --> 00:35:51.079
He always had a short fuse, and that was all

553
00:35:51.239 --> 00:35:54.559
very well and good. With Frog. He'd find another love,

554
00:35:55.239 --> 00:35:58.519
one that would love him. They'd have a baby boy,

555
00:35:58.880 --> 00:36:02.280
and he would keep the name of Frog alive. Frog

556
00:36:02.400 --> 00:36:05.199
was the spitting image of his father and his grandfather.

557
00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:09.559
He'd grow up as a valley prince. Frog Senior wouldn't

558
00:36:09.559 --> 00:36:13.159
think of Elena again until he took his final breath

559
00:36:13.599 --> 00:36:17.880
in twenty fifteen, when the song floated through his mind

560
00:36:18.400 --> 00:36:23.840
for the first time since that day. Bang bang, he

561
00:36:23.960 --> 00:36:29.880
shot me down. Bang bang, I hit the ground, Bang

562
00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:36.280
bang that awful sound bang bang, My baby shot me down.

563
00:36:37.639 --> 00:36:41.119
Frog died with his loved ones around him and tears

564
00:36:41.199 --> 00:36:46.239
in his eyes. His family didn't know the tears weren't

565
00:36:46.239 --> 00:36:52.480
for them, but for Elena. The spirit of Langley Pond

566
00:36:56.320 --> 00:37:02.159
Summer twenty twenty one the specter was transfixed on Frog,

567
00:37:02.559 --> 00:37:06.239
and he was in turn locked onto her lifeless eyes.

568
00:37:07.159 --> 00:37:10.519
Her mouth curled in pain, and it was as if

569
00:37:10.920 --> 00:37:15.400
she were the one seeing a ghost. Frog couldn't move.

570
00:37:16.079 --> 00:37:19.079
It was as if he were stuck knees deep in mud,

571
00:37:19.880 --> 00:37:23.000
and the air around him was infused with a coldness

572
00:37:23.400 --> 00:37:28.159
that chilled him to his soul. The spirit of Langley

573
00:37:28.280 --> 00:37:31.719
Pond seemed to know him, and she didn't seem all

574
00:37:31.760 --> 00:37:36.199
that thrilled that he was looking at her. Oh my god,

575
00:37:36.679 --> 00:37:41.320
Brianna screamed in Frog's direction, she knows you. Andy turned

576
00:37:41.320 --> 00:37:45.320
away from the ghost and saw the angst in Frog's

577
00:37:45.320 --> 00:37:50.000
face before he said, that's impossible. There's no way she

578
00:37:50.119 --> 00:37:54.360
knows Frog. The ghost floated closer to them and seemed

579
00:37:54.360 --> 00:37:57.960
to put her feet on the ground. The entire shoreline

580
00:37:58.000 --> 00:38:02.039
got much colder, and the others felt it. Everyone was

581
00:38:02.119 --> 00:38:05.440
stuck in their spot, afraid to make any sudden movement.

582
00:38:06.360 --> 00:38:09.639
The four of them formed somewhat of a straight line,

583
00:38:09.679 --> 00:38:12.840
and they all faced the spirit of Elena, but that

584
00:38:13.039 --> 00:38:16.800
spirit was only focused on one of them, and she

585
00:38:17.039 --> 00:38:21.599
changed the life came back into her eyes. They turned

586
00:38:21.599 --> 00:38:26.559
from black pools to light brown. The distortion in her

587
00:38:26.559 --> 00:38:30.880
face also melted away. The ghostly apparition that the four

588
00:38:30.920 --> 00:38:34.400
of them witnessed floating above the pond changed into healed

589
00:38:34.480 --> 00:38:39.800
flesh and blood. She no longer floated, but walked toward Frog.

590
00:38:40.800 --> 00:38:46.320
He managed to utter the first words to break the silence. Hey, look,

591
00:38:47.599 --> 00:38:50.800
what do you want from us? The young woman smiled

592
00:38:50.840 --> 00:38:54.480
at him and held out her hands. Frog wanted to

593
00:38:54.480 --> 00:38:57.280
believe this was just a dream, that he had drank

594
00:38:57.320 --> 00:39:01.119
five too many PBRs and would wake up any minute,

595
00:39:01.239 --> 00:39:03.639
but he knew that he was in the here and

596
00:39:03.719 --> 00:39:10.199
now take my hand. You were there, You killed my boyfriend,

597
00:39:11.000 --> 00:39:15.840
you chopped off his head, and you shot me, Elena said,

598
00:39:15.880 --> 00:39:20.360
and continued, Take my hand so I can leave this

599
00:39:20.519 --> 00:39:25.039
god forsaken place. Frog trembled. His brain was trying to

600
00:39:25.039 --> 00:39:30.800
fight the overwhelming compulsion to grab Elena's hand. If he did,

601
00:39:31.280 --> 00:39:33.360
he thought it might be the last thing that he

602
00:39:33.440 --> 00:39:40.559
ever did. Brianna found her courage and spoke Elena. The

603
00:39:40.639 --> 00:39:44.000
girl turned to face her. He couldn't have killed your

604
00:39:44.000 --> 00:39:49.280
boyfriend or you please just listen to me. Elena placed

605
00:39:49.320 --> 00:39:52.519
her hands at her side and gave Brianna a sense

606
00:39:52.559 --> 00:39:56.880
of relief. She was going to listen to her good

607
00:39:56.960 --> 00:40:00.800
good look. The year is two thousand, in twenty one.

608
00:40:01.480 --> 00:40:04.519
You were killed in nineteen eighty one by Billy Jean Morris.

609
00:40:05.119 --> 00:40:07.760
It was in all the papers. My mama told me

610
00:40:07.840 --> 00:40:10.239
about it. The whole town knew it was Billy Jean.

611
00:40:10.679 --> 00:40:13.519
He was shot dead, Elena. They got the man that

612
00:40:13.639 --> 00:40:18.440
killed you and your boyfriend. Elena turned her attention away

613
00:40:18.440 --> 00:40:22.199
from Frog for just a moment and walked to Brianna.

614
00:40:22.880 --> 00:40:25.320
Jenny ran to Andy and stuck her head in the

615
00:40:25.320 --> 00:40:27.480
crook of his arm, like she was trying to shield

616
00:40:27.519 --> 00:40:31.000
herself from seeing a kill in a horror movie. Elena

617
00:40:31.079 --> 00:40:34.760
walked toward Brianna. She seemed to admire the beauty of

618
00:40:34.800 --> 00:40:38.840
the girl. They were close to the same age. Billy

619
00:40:38.920 --> 00:40:43.000
Jean Morris did not kill me. Billy Jean Morris never

620
00:40:43.159 --> 00:40:47.519
talked to me. I know who I saw, and it

621
00:40:47.679 --> 00:40:51.880
was his face, she said, and pointed back at Frog.

622
00:40:53.079 --> 00:40:57.480
Shit woman, I wasn't even born yet. Please Frog pleaded,

623
00:40:58.079 --> 00:41:02.000
it was him, Elena said, and started to turn away

624
00:41:02.039 --> 00:41:06.840
from Brianna. Brianna lunged forward and grabbed Elena around her wrist.

625
00:41:07.440 --> 00:41:10.880
She was surprised that she didn't pass through her. Brianna

626
00:41:10.960 --> 00:41:14.559
really had a grip on the young woman. Alena spun

627
00:41:14.639 --> 00:41:18.280
around and Brianna's backwards hug like a slippery eel, and

628
00:41:18.400 --> 00:41:22.639
placed her hands on Brianna's head. The memory of that

629
00:41:22.840 --> 00:41:27.239
night and her death filled Brianna's mind in what felt

630
00:41:27.280 --> 00:41:34.360
like a wave of electricity. Brianna blinked rapidly. Andy pushed

631
00:41:34.440 --> 00:41:37.920
Jenny away and started to run toward his girlfriend. No,

632
00:41:38.800 --> 00:41:44.280
Brianna screamed, stop. Andy stopped in his tracks. Elena looked

633
00:41:44.280 --> 00:41:50.239
into Brianna's eyes, looking for understanding. You see it was him,

634
00:41:51.239 --> 00:41:55.960
You see that now right. Elena broke Brianna's grip around

635
00:41:55.960 --> 00:41:59.800
her waist and turned back to Frog. What the hell

636
00:42:00.480 --> 00:42:04.719
I wasn't even on the planet. Then it was his daddy,

637
00:42:05.119 --> 00:42:10.400
Brianna shouted. This made Elena pause. It is twenty twenty one.

638
00:42:10.599 --> 00:42:13.440
His daddy's name was Frog, and his name is Frog.

639
00:42:13.960 --> 00:42:16.679
He looks just like his daddy. He didn't have anything

640
00:42:16.719 --> 00:42:20.159
to do with it. Andy rushed to his girlfriend's side,

641
00:42:20.400 --> 00:42:23.159
and Jenny was right behind him. The three of them

642
00:42:23.199 --> 00:42:27.840
stood together. Frog was still frozen in place. Elena moved

643
00:42:27.880 --> 00:42:31.000
closer to Frog. She could see the man that chopped

644
00:42:31.000 --> 00:42:34.639
off Dustin's head. She could almost feel the bullet break

645
00:42:34.679 --> 00:42:38.079
open the back of her skull all over again. He

646
00:42:38.119 --> 00:42:41.079
put his hands out in front of him, hoping this

647
00:42:41.119 --> 00:42:45.000
would keep her at arm's length. She touched his hand

648
00:42:45.880 --> 00:42:48.320
and it was colder than anything he had ever felt

649
00:42:48.800 --> 00:42:52.920
in his young life. You have his blood, and a

650
00:42:53.000 --> 00:42:56.840
penance has to be paid, Elena said, as she grabbed

651
00:42:56.880 --> 00:42:59.880
the valley prince by the hand. I will not stay

652
00:42:59.880 --> 00:43:03.800
here any longer. I was waiting on him to return,

653
00:43:04.239 --> 00:43:08.840
and he never did, but his son will do. You

654
00:43:09.039 --> 00:43:12.320
carry the blood of the man that killed me. You

655
00:43:12.400 --> 00:43:16.719
should have never been born, Elena said, and pulled Frog

656
00:43:16.840 --> 00:43:20.800
closer to her. Brienna and Andy started to run toward them.

657
00:43:21.400 --> 00:43:25.639
Jenny was a blubbering mess to save their friend, but

658
00:43:25.760 --> 00:43:28.440
it was too late. Elena had a firm grip on

659
00:43:28.519 --> 00:43:32.599
both of Frog's arms and she morphed back into the specter.

660
00:43:33.519 --> 00:43:36.800
Frog was lifted straight up into the sky, his legs

661
00:43:36.920 --> 00:43:40.599
kicking and his lungs screaming into the night. Brienna and

662
00:43:40.599 --> 00:43:45.000
Andy shouted Frog's name as he disappeared into the sky.

663
00:43:46.280 --> 00:43:50.599
His screams went silent. Andy and Brianna looked at one

664
00:43:50.599 --> 00:43:56.159
another waiting for another sound, another sign of life from

665
00:43:56.239 --> 00:44:00.000
the valley Prince. What they heard in the far distance

666
00:44:00.239 --> 00:44:08.800
of the pond was a splash, a cackle, and then silence.

667
00:44:11.039 --> 00:44:16.679
The spirit of Elena Anne Sanders was now free. It

668
00:44:16.760 --> 00:44:19.360
was replaced by the son of the man that killed

669
00:44:19.400 --> 00:44:24.639
her and Dustin. This would be the penance that set

670
00:44:24.679 --> 00:44:30.320
her free. Brianna, Andy and Jenny would never be able

671
00:44:30.320 --> 00:44:34.199
to explain what they witnessed. They just said frog went

672
00:44:34.280 --> 00:44:51.239
giggin and never came back. What else could they say?

673
00:44:51.960 --> 00:45:00.119
Bed Breakfast and Zombies by Keith Tomlin. Jake sighed loudly

674
00:45:00.159 --> 00:45:02.519
as he stared out the second story window of the

675
00:45:02.559 --> 00:45:04.840
Bed and Breakfast that he and his father had been

676
00:45:04.840 --> 00:45:08.920
staying at for the last few days. This sucks, he thought.

677
00:45:09.400 --> 00:45:13.119
Should have gone to Grandpa's with Mom. His family was

678
00:45:13.159 --> 00:45:16.400
on a rare vacation, taking a trip from Chicago to

679
00:45:16.440 --> 00:45:19.239
New York City to visit his mom's parents. It was

680
00:45:19.280 --> 00:45:22.239
the four of them, Jake, his little sister Sarah, his

681
00:45:22.280 --> 00:45:26.119
father Edward, and his mother Karen all jammed into a

682
00:45:26.159 --> 00:45:30.039
twelve year old Volvo wagon. Jake remembered when his father,

683
00:45:30.280 --> 00:45:35.159
during breakfast a few days ago, could barely contain his excitement. Kids.

684
00:45:35.639 --> 00:45:38.719
I was looking over my papers last night, he said,

685
00:45:38.800 --> 00:45:41.599
pointing to a huge stack of papers that he poured

686
00:45:41.639 --> 00:45:44.960
over every moment that he wasn't driving, and I found

687
00:45:44.960 --> 00:45:48.920
something exciting. He looked wide eyed at both of his children.

688
00:45:49.320 --> 00:45:51.960
Sarah was using all of her concentration to draw on

689
00:45:52.000 --> 00:45:54.920
a coloring page that doubled as the kidsmen you sew.

690
00:45:55.079 --> 00:45:58.880
Edward focused on his eleven year old son, Jake. How

691
00:45:58.880 --> 00:46:02.440
would you like to look for some witches? Jake was

692
00:46:02.480 --> 00:46:05.679
swept away with his dad's excitement. They dropped the others

693
00:46:05.719 --> 00:46:07.960
off at his grandfather's house and jumped back on the

694
00:46:08.039 --> 00:46:11.360
road to a small town in New York called Stone's Creek.

695
00:46:12.079 --> 00:46:15.119
Jake wondered what they needed to hunt witches? Do we

696
00:46:15.239 --> 00:46:19.360
need garlic or maybe silver bullets? What Jake didn't know,

697
00:46:19.519 --> 00:46:22.679
and soon found out, was the only things they needed

698
00:46:23.079 --> 00:46:26.719
was the local library and long walks in an old

699
00:46:26.760 --> 00:46:31.880
graveyard across the street from the Grinning Cat Inn, the

700
00:46:31.880 --> 00:46:36.320
bed and breakfast at which they would be staying. Jake

701
00:46:36.480 --> 00:46:40.519
was bored. He sighed louder. This time I heard you

702
00:46:40.599 --> 00:46:43.400
the first time, his dad said, without looking up from

703
00:46:43.400 --> 00:46:46.840
the papers he copied from the library. When he finished

704
00:46:46.880 --> 00:46:50.199
the page, he finally looked at Jake, removing his unlit

705
00:46:50.239 --> 00:46:52.800
pipe from his mouth and pointed at Jake with it.

706
00:46:53.519 --> 00:46:56.639
Why don't you go outside and play, he said, gesturing

707
00:46:56.679 --> 00:47:00.960
to the door with his pipe. But Dad, I'm bored,

708
00:47:01.480 --> 00:47:05.639
Jake said, his shoulders slumping forward. Look, once I get

709
00:47:05.719 --> 00:47:08.159
through these pages, we can take a walk. You can

710
00:47:08.199 --> 00:47:10.960
either go outside and play until then, or sit there

711
00:47:11.079 --> 00:47:14.360
quietly and read a book. His dad gave him one

712
00:47:14.440 --> 00:47:17.880
last stern look before turning his attention back to his

713
00:47:17.960 --> 00:47:22.559
stack of papers. Read a book, Jake thought, Why is

714
00:47:22.599 --> 00:47:26.119
it always books with him? Jake didn't want books. He

715
00:47:26.199 --> 00:47:30.400
wanted fun and adventure. Suppressing another sigh, he turned his

716
00:47:30.440 --> 00:47:33.679
attention back to the window. He was surprised to see

717
00:47:33.679 --> 00:47:36.480
a car on the road. He had only seen one

718
00:47:36.519 --> 00:47:40.159
other car all day. He was even more surprised and

719
00:47:40.280 --> 00:47:45.599
excited to see that the car started to slow down. Dad, Dad,

720
00:47:45.719 --> 00:47:47.960
Jake said quickly, as he had always done when he

721
00:47:47.960 --> 00:47:51.960
grew excited. There's a car turning into the parking lot. Really,

722
00:47:52.199 --> 00:47:56.280
that's interesting, his dad mumbled. Jake watched intently as the

723
00:47:56.320 --> 00:47:58.480
car glided to a stop in front of the inn.

724
00:47:58.920 --> 00:48:01.519
The driver, A huge, huge, bulky man got out and

725
00:48:01.559 --> 00:48:04.880
opened the rear door. A well dressed man stepped out

726
00:48:04.880 --> 00:48:07.440
of the back seat of the car, quickly followed by

727
00:48:07.440 --> 00:48:12.039
a young boy who looked around Jake's age. Debt debt, debt, debt,

728
00:48:12.239 --> 00:48:15.199
Jake said, getting louder with each word. They have a kid.

729
00:48:15.280 --> 00:48:17.320
Can I go down and meet him? Come on, dad,

730
00:48:17.360 --> 00:48:20.679
can I? Jack started jumping back and forth from one

731
00:48:20.719 --> 00:48:23.760
foot to the other. Okay, hang on, his dad said,

732
00:48:23.800 --> 00:48:26.239
taking off his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose.

733
00:48:26.960 --> 00:48:29.679
All right, I guess I'm done here for now. I

734
00:48:29.679 --> 00:48:33.360
don't want you scaring the poor child with your enthusiasm.

735
00:48:33.920 --> 00:48:37.119
Edward set the stack of papers aside. Let's go downstairs

736
00:48:37.199 --> 00:48:40.280
and greet the new arrivals. The door to the Grinning

737
00:48:40.320 --> 00:48:43.599
Cat Inn flew open, and the large man entered. He

738
00:48:43.719 --> 00:48:47.280
scanned the room before stepping aside, allowing the well dressed

739
00:48:47.280 --> 00:48:51.320
man to enter. The reception room was lined with cedar

740
00:48:51.440 --> 00:48:54.280
panels and had a counter that ran along one wall.

741
00:48:54.719 --> 00:48:57.559
A large staircase leading up was right across from the

742
00:48:57.559 --> 00:49:00.880
front door. Two other doorways led to a dining room

743
00:49:00.920 --> 00:49:03.679
in a large den with a roaring fire in the fireplace.

744
00:49:04.119 --> 00:49:07.559
Upon hearing the door, the owner of the end, mister Jarvison,

745
00:49:07.880 --> 00:49:11.920
a tall, thin elderly man, moved to the counter. Good evening, eer,

746
00:49:12.159 --> 00:49:15.599
How may I help you, asked mister Jarvison. The well

747
00:49:15.719 --> 00:49:18.599
dressed man walked over to the counter and with a

748
00:49:18.639 --> 00:49:23.559
thick Slavic accent, said, I am Count Dmitri Romanova. I

749
00:49:23.599 --> 00:49:28.519
have reservation for two rooms. Yes, of course, your rooms

750
00:49:28.519 --> 00:49:33.840
are ready, mister, How should I address you? Mister Jarvison asked, Please,

751
00:49:34.360 --> 00:49:37.920
you may call me Count Romanova, said the count. The

752
00:49:37.960 --> 00:49:41.639
title is largely symbolic at this point, but he shrugged.

753
00:49:42.199 --> 00:49:45.840
We do have our protocols. Yes, sir, I will show

754
00:49:45.880 --> 00:49:49.360
you to your rooms, mister Jarvison said, half bowing. Count

755
00:49:49.440 --> 00:49:53.440
Romanova waved him off. Ivan, my menservant, will look to

756
00:49:53.519 --> 00:49:56.960
the rooms and luggage. I wish to relax by the fire,

757
00:49:57.320 --> 00:50:00.880
he said, pointing towards the den. He then looked at Ivan,

758
00:50:00.920 --> 00:50:03.880
who nodded and gestured to mister Jarvison to lead the

759
00:50:03.920 --> 00:50:07.239
way up the stairs. The Count turned towards the door

760
00:50:07.320 --> 00:50:12.119
and called out come Nikolay let's rest before dinner. A

761
00:50:12.159 --> 00:50:14.960
small framed child around ten years old entered the inn.

762
00:50:15.360 --> 00:50:18.760
He silently followed his father into the den. Edward and

763
00:50:18.840 --> 00:50:21.800
Jake had depressed themselves against the wall to allow Ivan

764
00:50:21.840 --> 00:50:24.519
to pass them on the stairway. Jake stared at the

765
00:50:24.599 --> 00:50:27.920
large man, shocked at the sheer size of him. Ivan

766
00:50:28.039 --> 00:50:31.400
stopped and turned, glaring at Jake, who quickly turned and

767
00:50:31.480 --> 00:50:34.519
ran to catch up with his father. Twenty minutes later,

768
00:50:34.639 --> 00:50:37.800
Jake was standing outside with Nikolay, trying to find a

769
00:50:37.800 --> 00:50:40.480
way to end the awkward silence that hung over them.

770
00:50:40.920 --> 00:50:42.960
It took his dad a few minutes to convince the

771
00:50:43.000 --> 00:50:45.800
count to allow his son outside to play, and now

772
00:50:45.920 --> 00:50:51.480
Jake was wishing that his father had failed. So uh,

773
00:50:51.559 --> 00:50:55.320
Jake said, do you like to play ball? Sorry? I

774
00:50:55.440 --> 00:51:00.199
do not know this game ball? Nikolay replied in broken English. No,

775
00:51:00.400 --> 00:51:03.599
ball is not a game. Well, it's part of a game.

776
00:51:03.880 --> 00:51:06.880
Jake thought that over for a few seconds. Never mind,

777
00:51:07.400 --> 00:51:10.800
Do you want to play hide and seek? Jake said,

778
00:51:10.960 --> 00:51:15.840
hopefully hide and seek? What do we hide? Nikola I

779
00:51:15.880 --> 00:51:20.119
asked no, Jake said, frustrated, you go hide and I

780
00:51:20.320 --> 00:51:24.199
try to find you. Nikola I asked, We are to

781
00:51:24.360 --> 00:51:29.199
be friends, correct, Jake nodded, Then why would I hide

782
00:51:29.239 --> 00:51:33.239
from you? Nikola I asked, friends should trust each other

783
00:51:33.360 --> 00:51:37.239
and not need to hide. Huh, I never thought of

784
00:51:37.280 --> 00:51:42.320
it that way, Jake said, Okay, well we could. Jake

785
00:51:42.480 --> 00:51:45.320
was stumped. He racked his brain for something to do,

786
00:51:45.440 --> 00:51:47.480
and his face lit up when he finally thought of

787
00:51:47.559 --> 00:51:52.039
something that no kid could possibly resist. Do you want

788
00:51:52.039 --> 00:51:55.559
to see something scary? Jake teased with a big grin.

789
00:51:56.400 --> 00:52:01.280
The young foreign boy nodded slowly. Edward leaned forward over

790
00:52:01.320 --> 00:52:04.519
the overstuffed chair, tapping his pipe on the stone of

791
00:52:04.559 --> 00:52:08.760
the fireplace and sweeping the ashes into the fire. What

792
00:52:08.920 --> 00:52:12.800
brings you to this little corner of nowhere, Count Edward asked,

793
00:52:12.880 --> 00:52:16.400
leaning back and refilling his pipe. He looked apologetically at

794
00:52:16.440 --> 00:52:21.719
mister Jarvison. Sorry, no offense, none taken. This is a

795
00:52:21.760 --> 00:52:26.800
small town, very small, mister Jarvison agreed. The Count took

796
00:52:26.800 --> 00:52:29.880
another puff on his cigar and slowly let the smoke

797
00:52:30.039 --> 00:52:34.679
escape his mouth. I came to America on a diplomatic trip,

798
00:52:35.119 --> 00:52:38.559
but I wanted to take some time to visit the relatives.

799
00:52:39.440 --> 00:52:43.519
Mister Jarvison sat up, beaming. You have relations living here?

800
00:52:44.360 --> 00:52:50.480
Count Romanov slowly shook his head living. No. Sorry I

801
00:52:50.599 --> 00:52:54.519
used the wrong word. I have he waved his hand

802
00:52:54.519 --> 00:52:56.840
in the air, causing Ash to fall onto the arm

803
00:52:56.880 --> 00:53:02.400
of his chair. Ancestus here in cemetery, he pointed toward

804
00:53:02.480 --> 00:53:06.559
the graveyard. Jake led Nikolay across the street and into

805
00:53:06.639 --> 00:53:10.079
the old graveyard. They walked through the old gravestones, many

806
00:53:10.159 --> 00:53:12.519
of which were so weathered that you couldn't read the

807
00:53:12.559 --> 00:53:16.039
words engraved upon them. Jake spent many hours here the

808
00:53:16.079 --> 00:53:19.360
last few days, walking the overgrown paths between the graves

809
00:53:19.360 --> 00:53:22.360
with his father. This place held little interest for Jake,

810
00:53:22.480 --> 00:53:26.119
except for an ancient crypt that they were now approaching.

811
00:53:26.719 --> 00:53:29.719
It was a small stone building with vines growing up

812
00:53:29.760 --> 00:53:33.559
the walls toward the tiled roof. The most striking feature

813
00:53:33.599 --> 00:53:36.360
of this building was that along each wall there were

814
00:53:36.400 --> 00:53:38.960
a pair of statues that looked like they were emerging

815
00:53:39.000 --> 00:53:42.400
out of the stone's surface. Each statue was of a

816
00:53:42.440 --> 00:53:46.239
creature with a bald head, pointy ears, and a mouth

817
00:53:46.440 --> 00:53:50.599
with a razor sharp teeth. His dad said they were ghouls,

818
00:53:51.039 --> 00:53:54.039
undead creatures that feast on the flesh of the living.

819
00:53:55.360 --> 00:53:58.280
What do you think, Jake asked. As they approached the crypt,

820
00:53:59.079 --> 00:54:01.880
he snuck a sideway glance, hoping to have scared the

821
00:54:01.920 --> 00:54:06.920
other boy, but instead he looked amazed. The smaller boy

822
00:54:07.039 --> 00:54:10.920
slowly walked around the building, admiring each statue in turn.

823
00:54:11.239 --> 00:54:14.239
He then walked along each wall, running his hand along

824
00:54:14.280 --> 00:54:17.800
the stone surface as he went. Nikolay turned to Jake

825
00:54:18.000 --> 00:54:22.840
and asked, where is the door? Yeah, my dad wondered

826
00:54:22.840 --> 00:54:27.559
the same thing. Weird, huh, Jake replied. Nikolay continued to

827
00:54:27.599 --> 00:54:30.280
walk around the building, examining each wall as he went.

828
00:54:30.880 --> 00:54:33.760
He finally stopped and waved at Jake, pointing at a

829
00:54:33.760 --> 00:54:37.119
brick in the wall. Jake walked over and bent close

830
00:54:37.320 --> 00:54:40.159
to discover that there were drawings etched into this brick,

831
00:54:40.639 --> 00:54:44.760
drawings his dad would have called rooms. The more he looked,

832
00:54:45.079 --> 00:54:49.000
the more they seemed to shimmer. He began tracing them

833
00:54:49.000 --> 00:54:51.840
with his finger, and he swore he felt them start

834
00:54:51.880 --> 00:54:55.199
to grow hot. Jake took a step back to ask

835
00:54:55.320 --> 00:54:57.800
Nikolay if he had spotted any other bricks like this,

836
00:54:58.239 --> 00:55:01.679
when his head started to buzz. The buzzing turned into

837
00:55:01.719 --> 00:55:05.480
a voice deep inside his head. The voice began whispering

838
00:55:05.559 --> 00:55:10.039
six words, over and over again, six words that he

839
00:55:10.159 --> 00:55:14.119
did not understand. These words got louder and louder, until

840
00:55:14.159 --> 00:55:17.039
finally they burst from his lips in a booming voice,

841
00:55:18.239 --> 00:55:24.280
Costos secreta predo malum apierre ostium. Jake was unable to

842
00:55:24.280 --> 00:55:30.039
stop himself from chanting Custo secrita predo malum a pierre ostiem.

843
00:55:31.000 --> 00:55:33.360
Jake heard a low hum coming from the wall in

844
00:55:33.400 --> 00:55:38.159
front of him, Costos secrita preto malum a pierre ostillem.

845
00:55:38.840 --> 00:55:43.400
The rooms started to glow brightly. Custos secreta predo malum

846
00:55:43.639 --> 00:55:48.559
a pierre ostium. Jake's voice roared, and the wall opened.

847
00:55:49.320 --> 00:55:51.639
The count tossed the remains of his cigar into the

848
00:55:51.639 --> 00:55:55.760
fireplace and looked over at Edward. What brings you here?

849
00:55:56.679 --> 00:55:59.719
Edward leaned forward excitedly, as if he had been waiting

850
00:55:59.719 --> 00:56:03.199
to add answer that question all evening. Well. In my

851
00:56:03.280 --> 00:56:06.440
day job, I'm a history professor at the University of Chicago,

852
00:56:06.519 --> 00:56:10.719
but my real passion is writing about the occult, magic

853
00:56:11.000 --> 00:56:13.719
and the supernatural. He took a puff off of his

854
00:56:13.840 --> 00:56:17.519
pipe and continued. I was researching the Salem witch trials,

855
00:56:17.800 --> 00:56:19.840
trying to see if I could bring anything new to

856
00:56:19.880 --> 00:56:23.480
the table, when I uncovered a series of correspondence between

857
00:56:23.519 --> 00:56:28.199
two sisters, both witches. One sadly was convicted of witchcraft

858
00:56:28.239 --> 00:56:31.559
and perished in Salem. He shook his head. The other

859
00:56:31.599 --> 00:56:35.159
one wrote about her coven moving here to help protect

860
00:56:35.159 --> 00:56:40.840
witches against persecution. Most intriguing, said the count. Did they

861
00:56:40.840 --> 00:56:44.239
say how they would protect the witches? I haven't found

862
00:56:44.239 --> 00:56:48.199
many details on that, Edward said, sounding annoyed, except that

863
00:56:48.280 --> 00:56:54.599
it involved the undead. Mister Jarvison looked around uneasily. The

864
00:56:54.639 --> 00:56:57.800
secret door in the crypt's wall swung open, revealing an

865
00:56:57.800 --> 00:57:01.400
empty room except for a steep staircase leading down. The

866
00:57:01.440 --> 00:57:04.920
air smelled stale and musty, and there was an eerie silence.

867
00:57:05.360 --> 00:57:08.960
Jake looked at Nikolay, who stared back, wide eyed. Both

868
00:57:09.039 --> 00:57:12.880
boys started forward, Jake in the lead. The staircase ended

869
00:57:12.920 --> 00:57:15.880
in a stone door. Jake pushed against it until the

870
00:57:15.880 --> 00:57:20.559
door finally screeched open. The sound reverberated throughout the entire structure,

871
00:57:20.840 --> 00:57:25.000
sending chills down Jake's spine. The room, it revealed, was dark,

872
00:57:25.360 --> 00:57:29.599
the light from outside barely penetrating several feet. Jake hesitantly

873
00:57:29.639 --> 00:57:32.679
stepped forward, and flames shot around the room. As a

874
00:57:32.719 --> 00:57:36.760
dozen torches flared to life. They revealed a large, circular

875
00:57:36.880 --> 00:57:40.039
room with a dozen stone doors around the perimeter. The

876
00:57:40.119 --> 00:57:43.199
floor was made of white marble with black marble inlays,

877
00:57:43.320 --> 00:57:46.840
creating a large pentagram. In the center of the pentagram

878
00:57:46.840 --> 00:57:49.960
stood an altar with a large leather bound book sitting

879
00:57:50.000 --> 00:57:54.519
atop it. Wow, Jake exclaimed as he took in the sight.

880
00:57:55.199 --> 00:57:57.480
He looked back to check on Nikolay, who was a

881
00:57:57.480 --> 00:58:01.400
few steps behind him. Jake slowly moved moved forward, fascinated

882
00:58:01.480 --> 00:58:04.719
by the book. Almost without realizing it, he was standing

883
00:58:04.760 --> 00:58:07.559
in front of the altar, staring down at the large tome.

884
00:58:08.119 --> 00:58:10.400
He looked back and Nikolay was standing at the edge

885
00:58:10.440 --> 00:58:13.039
of the pentagram with one foot raised as if he

886
00:58:13.079 --> 00:58:15.639
was trying to decide if he wanted to cross over

887
00:58:15.679 --> 00:58:18.760
it or not. Jake turned back and reached out to

888
00:58:18.760 --> 00:58:21.719
touch the book. The room exploded in white light, and

889
00:58:21.840 --> 00:58:24.679
Jake was blinded as he heard Nikolay cry out in pain.

890
00:58:25.039 --> 00:58:27.440
A series of loud thumps shook the ground as the

891
00:58:27.480 --> 00:58:30.639
stone doors fell open. He looked up and saw black

892
00:58:30.679 --> 00:58:34.199
shapes moving behind each doorway. Jake turned and started to

893
00:58:34.280 --> 00:58:36.840
run toward the stairs. Nikolay was on the ground at

894
00:58:36.840 --> 00:58:39.719
the edge of the pentagram, withering in pain. As Jake

895
00:58:39.760 --> 00:58:44.320
paused to help Nikolay. He glanced around the room. In

896
00:58:44.400 --> 00:58:48.320
each of the dozen doorways, a walking corpse emerged, each

897
00:58:48.760 --> 00:58:52.800
dressed in filthy, flowing white robes. Their skin was leathery

898
00:58:52.840 --> 00:58:56.400
and taunt across their faces and hands. As they emerged

899
00:58:56.440 --> 00:58:58.920
from the darkness, they raised their hands as if they

900
00:58:59.039 --> 00:59:03.079
were searching for something, sniffing, almost like dogs. Jake could

901
00:59:03.119 --> 00:59:07.000
hear the wet rattles of them inhaling deeply. The creatures

902
00:59:07.000 --> 00:59:09.519
didn't look like the ones from the movies, but he

903
00:59:09.639 --> 00:59:15.199
knew what they were zombies. Jake stood there, paralyzed with

904
00:59:15.239 --> 00:59:18.079
fear until the nearest zombie suddenly caught the scent of

905
00:59:18.159 --> 00:59:20.480
something in the air and whipped its head around to

906
00:59:20.519 --> 00:59:23.840
stare at the two boys. A room carved into each

907
00:59:23.880 --> 00:59:26.480
of their foreheads began to glow as they opened their

908
00:59:26.519 --> 00:59:30.360
mouths and moaned. Jake pulled Nikolay up and pushed him

909
00:59:30.360 --> 00:59:33.840
towards the stairs without taking another look behind him, He ran,

910
00:59:35.079 --> 00:59:39.440
are there any of these witches steal around? The count asked,

911
00:59:40.159 --> 00:59:42.920
That's what I've been trying to find out. I believe

912
00:59:42.960 --> 00:59:46.199
that most of the original settlers were witches. I've been

913
00:59:46.199 --> 00:59:49.039
looking at the genealogy records and as far as I

914
00:59:49.079 --> 00:59:52.079
can tell, the last of their living relatives perished in

915
00:59:52.159 --> 00:59:57.079
a fire back in the late nineteen fifties. Edward said somberly, Yes,

916
00:59:57.199 --> 01:00:01.199
that was an awful thing. Mister Jarvison mused, My family

917
01:00:01.239 --> 01:00:04.400
lived a few counties over when it happened. I was

918
01:00:04.519 --> 01:00:06.679
just a young child, but I still remember the news

919
01:00:06.760 --> 01:00:10.400
accounts very sad. Most of the town was attending some

920
01:00:10.559 --> 01:00:13.400
kind of meeting at the town hall when it caught

921
01:00:13.400 --> 01:00:19.519
on fire. Very few survived. All three men fell silent.

922
01:00:20.719 --> 01:00:23.480
The two children burst from the crypt, sounds of heavy

923
01:00:23.519 --> 01:00:26.840
footsteps echoing from the darkness behind them. Jake paused a

924
01:00:26.880 --> 01:00:29.159
moment to try to get his bearings. The sun was

925
01:00:29.199 --> 01:00:31.599
going down and he was a bit confused on how

926
01:00:31.639 --> 01:00:34.559
to get back to the inn. Nikolay had kept running

927
01:00:34.599 --> 01:00:37.599
straight into the overgrown brush that had overtaken this part

928
01:00:37.639 --> 01:00:40.400
of the cemetery. Upon hearing footsteps at the top of

929
01:00:40.440 --> 01:00:43.840
the stairs behind him, Jake quickly followed. Why did he

930
01:00:43.920 --> 01:00:47.360
have to run this way, Jake wondered, as a stickerbush

931
01:00:47.400 --> 01:00:50.440
tugged at his clothes. He finally gave a great pull

932
01:00:50.679 --> 01:00:53.599
and fell back into a clearing. Getting up, he saw

933
01:00:53.639 --> 01:00:55.800
that he was at the stone path that followed the

934
01:00:55.840 --> 01:00:59.960
ten foot tall stone wall that surrounded the cemetery. Jake

935
01:01:00.000 --> 01:01:02.599
he recognized some of the tall monuments, and he knew

936
01:01:02.599 --> 01:01:05.760
where he was. Jake turned toward the right and ran

937
01:01:05.800 --> 01:01:08.719
along the path. After a few minutes of running, Jake

938
01:01:08.800 --> 01:01:11.400
heard a scream coming from ahead of him. They must

939
01:01:11.440 --> 01:01:14.519
have got Nikolay, Jake thought. He began to run faster.

940
01:01:15.880 --> 01:01:19.880
The Count broke the silence suddenly, did you hear a noise?

941
01:01:20.519 --> 01:01:24.239
Something He's not right? The other two men shook their heads,

942
01:01:24.239 --> 01:01:28.119
looking around the room. Ivan, the count said quietly. The

943
01:01:28.199 --> 01:01:30.840
large man stepped forward out of the shadows, quiet as

944
01:01:30.840 --> 01:01:35.880
a mouse, go check on Nikolay. Ivan nodded and glided off.

945
01:01:37.360 --> 01:01:42.039
Something he's not right, Count Romanova repeated himself, looking out

946
01:01:42.039 --> 01:01:46.119
the window into the growing darkness. Jake ran faster than

947
01:01:46.159 --> 01:01:48.559
he'd ever ran in his life. As the path turned

948
01:01:48.599 --> 01:01:50.880
toward the entrance, he tripped on a tree route and

949
01:01:51.000 --> 01:01:54.239
was sent flying. He hit the ground hard and rolled

950
01:01:54.239 --> 01:01:58.119
a few times before landing against a small tree. However,

951
01:01:58.840 --> 01:02:01.599
when he looked up, he reared that it wasn't a tree.

952
01:02:01.960 --> 01:02:05.000
It was the legs of a large zombie. The undead

953
01:02:05.039 --> 01:02:09.639
creature looked down at him and surprisingly turned away and

954
01:02:09.719 --> 01:02:13.920
shambled on. Jake was stunned, but flew back into action

955
01:02:14.000 --> 01:02:17.719
when he heard Nikolay cry out again, this time very close.

956
01:02:18.639 --> 01:02:21.239
Jake looked around and saw Nikolay standing at the entrance

957
01:02:21.239 --> 01:02:23.320
of the cemetery in the middle of a ring of

958
01:02:23.400 --> 01:02:26.280
five zombies. One had grabbed him by the arm and

959
01:02:26.400 --> 01:02:28.920
was lifting him up while the others reached out for him,

960
01:02:29.079 --> 01:02:32.679
the rooms glowing brightly on their forehead. Jake picked up

961
01:02:32.679 --> 01:02:35.119
a rotting tree branch for a weapon and started to

962
01:02:35.159 --> 01:02:37.639
move to help Nikolay. He stopped when he saw a

963
01:02:37.760 --> 01:02:40.840
huge shape come out of the darkness. He sighed with

964
01:02:40.960 --> 01:02:44.440
relief when he realized it was Ivan, but the look

965
01:02:44.519 --> 01:02:47.199
of murderous rage on the big man's face almost scared

966
01:02:47.239 --> 01:02:50.440
him as much as the zombies did. Ivan waded into

967
01:02:50.480 --> 01:02:52.719
the middle of the group of zombies with a ferocity

968
01:02:52.760 --> 01:02:56.119
that Jake had never seen before. Ivan tossed the zombies

969
01:02:56.119 --> 01:02:59.239
aside like they were rag dolls, striking them with thunderous

970
01:02:59.280 --> 01:03:01.760
blows that didn't seemed to do any real damage to them.

971
01:03:02.199 --> 01:03:05.199
When a creature was knocked down, they would rise back

972
01:03:05.320 --> 01:03:08.679
up and continue their assault. When three more zombies stumbled

973
01:03:08.679 --> 01:03:11.559
into view, Ivan pushed the two nearest ones down, picked

974
01:03:11.599 --> 01:03:14.920
up Nikolay, and ran back toward the inn. Seeing Ivan

975
01:03:14.960 --> 01:03:18.039
disappear into the blackness, jolted Jake into action, and he

976
01:03:18.199 --> 01:03:21.639
ran after them. The door to the end crashed open

977
01:03:21.679 --> 01:03:25.679
and Ivan charged inside, still carrying Nikolay. Ivan's suit was

978
01:03:25.760 --> 01:03:28.239
torn and his face and arms were covered with scratches.

979
01:03:28.519 --> 01:03:30.760
Jake ran in after them and slammed the door shut,

980
01:03:30.800 --> 01:03:37.400
locking it dead zombies. Jake yelled, uh what, Edward said,

981
01:03:37.480 --> 01:03:40.639
leaping to his feet. Right then, the window behind Edward

982
01:03:40.679 --> 01:03:44.519
exploded inward. Undead hands clawed at the windowsill, trying to

983
01:03:44.559 --> 01:03:47.440
pull themselves into the room. Another window was smashed, and

984
01:03:47.519 --> 01:03:50.320
loud thumping shook the front door as the dead tried

985
01:03:50.320 --> 01:03:53.920
to break it down. Oh my, what is going on?

986
01:03:54.360 --> 01:03:57.519
Yelled the terrified mister Jarvison. Ivan ran to hold the

987
01:03:57.519 --> 01:04:00.360
front door as Edward grabbed a lamp and started at

988
01:04:00.400 --> 01:04:03.159
the arms. Reaching into the den. They could hear glass

989
01:04:03.199 --> 01:04:06.159
breaking in the other rooms of the house. Mister Jarvison

990
01:04:06.199 --> 01:04:08.840
finally snapped and ran out of the den. He let

991
01:04:08.880 --> 01:04:11.119
out a terrified scream as a zombie lurched out of

992
01:04:11.119 --> 01:04:13.519
the dining room in the reception area. It ignored mister

993
01:04:13.639 --> 01:04:16.880
Jarvison as it shambled toward the Count, the rune on

994
01:04:16.920 --> 01:04:21.239
its forehead glowing brighter with each step the rooms. Edward yelled,

995
01:04:21.280 --> 01:04:24.119
pointing at the glowing brand on the zombie's forehead. Some

996
01:04:24.280 --> 01:04:29.039
powerful magic created these things. Can you stop them? Jake said,

997
01:04:29.079 --> 01:04:32.280
fearing the answer, not without knowing the spell used to

998
01:04:32.280 --> 01:04:35.320
animate them. Edward yelled back. Using the lamp he had

999
01:04:35.360 --> 01:04:40.119
to push a zombie off the windowsill. Jake the book, Nikolay, yelled,

1000
01:04:40.599 --> 01:04:42.679
trying to help his father, who was struggling with the

1001
01:04:42.760 --> 01:04:46.199
zombie from the dining room. Yeah. Dead, there's some kind

1002
01:04:46.239 --> 01:04:49.039
of spellbook or something in that weird crypt in the graveyard,

1003
01:04:49.239 --> 01:04:52.400
Jake said to his father. That may be our only chance.

1004
01:04:52.519 --> 01:04:55.599
Edward shopback, Count. We need to get to that crypt now,

1005
01:04:55.840 --> 01:04:58.360
he yelled. The Count, who was holding his own against

1006
01:04:58.400 --> 01:05:01.760
the zombie, yelled out Ivan to me, we need to

1007
01:05:01.760 --> 01:05:04.599
get to the graveyard. Ivan rushed over and tossed the

1008
01:05:04.679 --> 01:05:08.119
zombie attacking the Count aside through a broken window. Just

1009
01:05:08.159 --> 01:05:10.639
as Ivan turned back to the front door, it burst

1010
01:05:10.679 --> 01:05:13.679
open and three more zombies began to stumble in. Ivan

1011
01:05:13.800 --> 01:05:18.719
ran and leapt, knocking them back outside. Go go, yelled

1012
01:05:18.840 --> 01:05:21.960
Edward as everyone ran toward the front door. The next

1013
01:05:22.000 --> 01:05:24.719
ten minutes seemed like a nightmare. To Jake. Ivan was

1014
01:05:24.760 --> 01:05:27.800
an unstoppable tank, running through the dark, knocking over any

1015
01:05:27.840 --> 01:05:30.280
creature in his way. The rest of the group followed

1016
01:05:30.280 --> 01:05:33.159
in his wake, trying to keep up. Once in the graveyard,

1017
01:05:33.320 --> 01:05:36.119
Edward pointed the way to the crypt. The small party

1018
01:05:36.239 --> 01:05:38.119
entered the crypt and ran down the stairs to the

1019
01:05:38.239 --> 01:05:40.920
large marble room. Edward ran over to the book on

1020
01:05:40.960 --> 01:05:43.559
the altar. Ivan stood with his back pressed up against

1021
01:05:43.599 --> 01:05:46.519
the door, waiting for any sign of the undead creatures.

1022
01:05:46.880 --> 01:05:48.880
The Count and his son stood just off to the

1023
01:05:48.920 --> 01:05:52.559
side of Ivan, backs to the wall. Something felt off

1024
01:05:52.599 --> 01:05:55.559
to Jake, but he didn't know what it was. He

1025
01:05:55.639 --> 01:05:58.239
watched his dad quickly flip through the book, Struggling to

1026
01:05:58.280 --> 01:06:01.239
understand the words on the pages. Jake tried to connect

1027
01:06:01.239 --> 01:06:05.880
the pieces. There was something he couldn't put together. Wait,

1028
01:06:06.440 --> 01:06:09.079
I think I got it, Edward said, almost to himself.

1029
01:06:09.320 --> 01:06:11.840
He began reading the words from the book in a loud,

1030
01:06:12.000 --> 01:06:15.320
booming voice. The undead began pounding on the door, and

1031
01:06:15.400 --> 01:06:19.320
Ivan muscles bulging, struggled to keep the door shut. The

1032
01:06:19.360 --> 01:06:22.000
ground began to shake, and a wind started to rip

1033
01:06:22.039 --> 01:06:25.280
through the chamber. Howls of anger and pain roared from

1034
01:06:25.280 --> 01:06:29.320
behind the door as the undead intensified their attack. Something

1035
01:06:29.400 --> 01:06:33.360
finally clicked in Jake's mind. The zombies ignored me and

1036
01:06:33.480 --> 01:06:38.000
mister Jarvison. The runes grew brighter when they got closer

1037
01:06:38.039 --> 01:06:42.039
to the Count and his son, Dad. Stop the zombies

1038
01:06:42.039 --> 01:06:46.159
aren't after us, there after them, Jake yelled, pointing at

1039
01:06:46.159 --> 01:06:49.400
the Count, who looked back at Jake with a wide grin.

1040
01:06:51.119 --> 01:06:54.159
Edward showed no sign of hearing his son. He kept chanting,

1041
01:06:54.199 --> 01:06:56.880
and as he chanted, his voice grew even louder, and

1042
01:06:56.920 --> 01:06:59.840
the tremors became more powerful. When Edward reached the end

1043
01:06:59.840 --> 01:07:02.679
of the spell, the black marble of the pentagram burst

1044
01:07:02.719 --> 01:07:05.559
into flames. The pounding on the door ceased as a

1045
01:07:05.599 --> 01:07:10.800
silence descended over the room. Edward leaned against the altar. Exhausted,

1046
01:07:11.280 --> 01:07:14.920
Ivan opened the door and only empty robes littered the floor.

1047
01:07:15.679 --> 01:07:19.159
No sign of the zombies. Jake started to run to

1048
01:07:19.199 --> 01:07:21.960
his father. When the ground began to vibrate, the white

1049
01:07:22.000 --> 01:07:25.719
marble floor started to crack as clawed hands began digging

1050
01:07:25.760 --> 01:07:31.519
their way out of the ground. What Jake exclaimed, more zombies?

1051
01:07:33.159 --> 01:07:36.719
Oh no, the Count remarked, these are the relatives I

1052
01:07:36.760 --> 01:07:41.800
spoke of earlier, my ancestors. The Count laughed as he

1053
01:07:41.880 --> 01:07:45.920
began to change. His face elongated while his teeth grew sharp.

1054
01:07:46.199 --> 01:07:49.920
His hair disappeared, while his ears grew larger and more pointed.

1055
01:07:50.159 --> 01:07:52.639
He became one of the creatures from the statues on

1056
01:07:52.679 --> 01:07:57.039
the outside of the crypt. He became a ghoul. Ivan

1057
01:07:57.079 --> 01:08:00.000
and Nikolay also began to revert to their true cells.

1058
01:08:00.960 --> 01:08:05.000
Those meddling witches kept my family imprisoned for hundreds of years.

1059
01:08:05.400 --> 01:08:08.840
When we discovered them, we took our revenge and burned

1060
01:08:08.880 --> 01:08:12.440
them all. But we needed someone pure of heart to

1061
01:08:12.559 --> 01:08:18.600
open the crypt, someone someone like your son, said the Count,

1062
01:08:18.720 --> 01:08:22.520
running his tongue over his razor sharp teeth. We also

1063
01:08:22.760 --> 01:08:26.680
needed another fool to undo the spell of protection and

1064
01:08:26.720 --> 01:08:31.560
destroy those pesky, undead guardians of theirs, he said, gesturing

1065
01:08:31.640 --> 01:08:35.039
back towards the white robes. He took a bit of planning,

1066
01:08:35.119 --> 01:08:38.199
but we were finally able to forge those leathers to

1067
01:08:38.399 --> 01:08:42.840
draw you here. Dozens of ghouls were slowly extracting themselves

1068
01:08:42.880 --> 01:08:46.079
from the ground, their shining eyes looking hungrily at Jake

1069
01:08:46.159 --> 01:08:51.079
and Edward. I do hope you will join us for dinner,

1070
01:08:51.560 --> 01:09:00.920
the count bellowed, laughing the wolf of Fagin count by Ohanna.

1071
01:09:02.840 --> 01:09:06.760
Maybe Whistler was a nice town once. It seemed that

1072
01:09:06.840 --> 01:09:10.479
way until the summer of eighty six. The old folks

1073
01:09:10.520 --> 01:09:14.920
always whispered about certain places, about the places you don't go,

1074
01:09:15.079 --> 01:09:19.479
and the boogeyman that dwelled within. Everyone in Fagin County

1075
01:09:19.520 --> 01:09:24.079
knew a local ghost story. Back then, I loved to

1076
01:09:24.159 --> 01:09:30.600
hear those stories. Nowadays, not so much. My dad trucked

1077
01:09:30.640 --> 01:09:33.800
crops from the farms into the neighboring states of Louisiana

1078
01:09:33.840 --> 01:09:37.600
and Mississippi. I didn't see much of him. He left

1079
01:09:37.640 --> 01:09:41.600
before dawn and got home after sunset. The day before

1080
01:09:41.640 --> 01:09:45.239
my thirteenth birthday, he took a load to Shreveport. I

1081
01:09:45.319 --> 01:09:48.079
awoke to a stack of used horror comics the next

1082
01:09:48.119 --> 01:09:50.640
morning with a note that read, you're old enough for

1083
01:09:50.720 --> 01:09:55.279
the good ones now, Soldier. I loved the way those

1084
01:09:55.319 --> 01:09:58.920
pages smelled After all these years, I still have a

1085
01:09:58.920 --> 01:10:00.960
couple of them in the suit cases I live out

1086
01:10:01.000 --> 01:10:04.039
of I'd read through the entire bundle in a week.

1087
01:10:04.760 --> 01:10:06.880
I flipped through them and found the one I'd enjoy

1088
01:10:06.960 --> 01:10:09.640
the most for a second visit. When my mother called

1089
01:10:09.680 --> 01:10:15.000
from downstairs, Connie, come quick, she shouted. I hated when

1090
01:10:15.039 --> 01:10:18.840
she called me that it was bad enough being named Conrad.

1091
01:10:18.960 --> 01:10:22.119
The effeminate nickname caught on with my friends in second grade,

1092
01:10:22.560 --> 01:10:24.560
and then with the rest of the student body by

1093
01:10:24.600 --> 01:10:28.399
the end of recess. Something sounded off in her voice.

1094
01:10:28.560 --> 01:10:31.640
As I trudged down the narrow staircase that descended into

1095
01:10:31.640 --> 01:10:34.680
the kitchen. Mom was sitting at the table, with her

1096
01:10:34.680 --> 01:10:38.199
elbows pressing into the vinyl top and her hands hiding

1097
01:10:38.199 --> 01:10:42.560
her face. My sister Lisa had her head down, shrouded

1098
01:10:42.560 --> 01:10:48.000
in her arms, her body convulsed as she bawled noisily inside.

1099
01:10:48.319 --> 01:10:50.279
I held my breath all the way to the table.

1100
01:10:51.680 --> 01:10:53.680
No one spoke to me. As I slid the chair

1101
01:10:53.720 --> 01:10:56.640
away from the edge and eased my way into it.

1102
01:10:57.399 --> 01:11:01.560
Mom reached over and put her hand on mine. Something

1103
01:11:01.680 --> 01:11:07.479
terrible's happened, she whispered. Something terrible had happened a few

1104
01:11:07.479 --> 01:11:11.760
weeks ago too, and a few weeks before that. We'd

1105
01:11:11.760 --> 01:11:15.319
discussed both of those events as a family. No one

1106
01:11:15.399 --> 01:11:19.159
was crying. Then. Sure Mom had been shaken up by

1107
01:11:19.159 --> 01:11:22.479
the discovery of the first body, but it seemed like

1108
01:11:22.560 --> 01:11:25.960
nothing to worry about. We all knew old man mcghera

1109
01:11:26.079 --> 01:11:29.279
from around town. He would pop out like a magician's

1110
01:11:29.319 --> 01:11:32.079
rabbit to grump about what a bunch of slack jawed

1111
01:11:32.119 --> 01:11:35.199
hippie spawn all the kids were whenever you least expected it.

1112
01:11:35.640 --> 01:11:38.159
The police said it was a heart attack that took him,

1113
01:11:38.319 --> 01:11:42.199
and that coyotes took to eating his remains. Grotesque and

1114
01:11:42.279 --> 01:11:45.199
unseemly as it were, my folks delivered the news to

1115
01:11:45.279 --> 01:11:48.079
my sister and me with just the facts and reminded

1116
01:11:48.159 --> 01:11:52.720
us to stay away from the woods. Coyotes rarely attacked people,

1117
01:11:52.800 --> 01:11:56.960
but Dad said there's something different about any animal, including man,

1118
01:11:57.560 --> 01:12:00.960
once they got a taste for blood. The second time

1119
01:12:00.960 --> 01:12:04.039
we were called to the table, it was clearly more bothersome.

1120
01:12:05.159 --> 01:12:08.479
Mom wasn't handling it well, but she remained calm as

1121
01:12:08.520 --> 01:12:11.520
she told us about the bodies found along Country Road

1122
01:12:11.560 --> 01:12:14.880
sixty three. A couple of teens gone to make out

1123
01:12:15.000 --> 01:12:18.319
got cut up real bad. Chief Hardesty said it was

1124
01:12:18.399 --> 01:12:21.560
just a freak occurrence, a crime of opportunity, and that

1125
01:12:21.640 --> 01:12:25.600
the killer was likely long gone. Our parents told us

1126
01:12:25.640 --> 01:12:28.760
to be home thirty minutes before sundown after that, and

1127
01:12:28.840 --> 01:12:34.079
to never go anywhere alone, just in case this time

1128
01:12:34.239 --> 01:12:39.159
was different. Connie, she started tugging at the silver locket

1129
01:12:39.239 --> 01:12:44.680
dangling from her thin neck. Her voice trembled. It's Brenda.

1130
01:12:45.359 --> 01:12:49.479
My stomach nodded. Brenda Knowles had been Lisa's best friend

1131
01:12:49.560 --> 01:12:53.279
since kindergarten. She'd baby sat for me on a few occasions,

1132
01:12:53.319 --> 01:12:56.239
and came to eat dinner with us every Wednesday. She

1133
01:12:56.399 --> 01:13:00.560
was my first crush too. I sniffled, but held back

1134
01:13:00.640 --> 01:13:04.920
any other reaction until Mom could finish. Maybe it wasn't

1135
01:13:04.920 --> 01:13:08.479
what I thought. Maybe those old tales from the Crip

1136
01:13:08.560 --> 01:13:12.039
comics were poisoning my imagination the way Father Dean said

1137
01:13:12.079 --> 01:13:15.800
they would at youth service. Maybe she was just moving away.

1138
01:13:16.840 --> 01:13:20.359
That would explain why they were so upset. Chief Hardesty

1139
01:13:20.439 --> 01:13:25.920
found her this morning. Mom continued, Nope, it was exactly

1140
01:13:25.960 --> 01:13:29.840
what I thought it was. I don't remember the exact

1141
01:13:29.920 --> 01:13:34.279
moment that I realized the killings were exactly one month apart,

1142
01:13:35.079 --> 01:13:38.159
but I do remember Lisa raising her face to stare

1143
01:13:38.199 --> 01:13:41.920
at Mom and then me in turn. Her lips quivered,

1144
01:13:42.439 --> 01:13:44.760
and then She stood up fast enough to knock the

1145
01:13:44.840 --> 01:13:48.239
chair to the floor. She slammed her fists onto the

1146
01:13:48.279 --> 01:13:55.640
table and screamed that I'll never forget that look and

1147
01:13:55.720 --> 01:14:07.479
those words. She was eaten. Lisa cried until she passed out.

1148
01:14:07.520 --> 01:14:10.640
That night, I watched the news with Mom to see

1149
01:14:10.640 --> 01:14:14.920
if the police had anything to say. The station's newest reporter,

1150
01:14:15.119 --> 01:14:18.640
Rex Willetts, looked like he'd been sick as he raised

1151
01:14:18.640 --> 01:14:22.399
the microphone close to his chin. His hand shook slightly,

1152
01:14:22.439 --> 01:14:25.960
and his trademark smile was nothing but a thin line

1153
01:14:26.000 --> 01:14:30.560
of white teeth below his bushy mustache. Rex nodded slowly

1154
01:14:31.199 --> 01:14:33.319
and started his report. When the phone rang in the

1155
01:14:33.359 --> 01:14:37.520
kitchen and Mom went to answer, I'm here at the

1156
01:14:37.600 --> 01:14:40.920
Ridley Funeral Home in Fagan County to report on a grisly,

1157
01:14:41.079 --> 01:14:46.199
unimaginable crime. Rex started. He swallowed hart. The body of

1158
01:14:46.239 --> 01:14:49.279
fifteen year old Brenda Knowles was found just before dawn

1159
01:14:49.319 --> 01:14:52.720
this morning. Brenda had been babysitting for family friends the

1160
01:14:52.720 --> 01:14:55.760
prior evening. She started the short walk to her home

1161
01:14:55.920 --> 01:14:59.600
just before eleven PM. I turned my attention to Mom's

1162
01:14:59.600 --> 01:15:03.520
shouting in the kitchen. What do you mean two days Paul?

1163
01:15:04.199 --> 01:15:06.680
She growled, it doesn't take two damn days to get

1164
01:15:06.680 --> 01:15:11.079
a mechanic. Dad's truck broke down. That happened a lot

1165
01:15:11.119 --> 01:15:14.760
when he was hauling rice to Shreveport. Only then, though

1166
01:15:15.520 --> 01:15:18.560
Mom noticed two she had a pretty good idea of

1167
01:15:18.560 --> 01:15:22.239
what was going on. What about the kids, she wailed,

1168
01:15:22.520 --> 01:15:24.880
You know what's going on here? You're leaving us alone,

1169
01:15:24.920 --> 01:15:28.399
so you Her voice became muffled, and I scooted closer

1170
01:15:28.439 --> 01:15:30.880
to the television to hear what Rex had to say.

1171
01:15:31.520 --> 01:15:34.479
I heard the phone slam against the receiver several times,

1172
01:15:34.920 --> 01:15:39.279
and Mom stomping up the steps. I've seen the body,

1173
01:15:40.079 --> 01:15:42.920
my God in heaven. I'll never un see it now,

1174
01:15:43.319 --> 01:15:46.560
Rex said. When movement caught his attention, he snapped his

1175
01:15:46.600 --> 01:15:48.760
fingers and pointed to his cameraman in the direction of

1176
01:15:48.800 --> 01:15:52.359
the police chief. Other reporters rushed in around him. Rex

1177
01:15:52.439 --> 01:15:54.159
elbowed one of them out of his way and reached

1178
01:15:54.159 --> 01:15:57.239
in with his mic don't you buzzards have anything better

1179
01:15:57.239 --> 01:16:00.840
to do? Chief Hardesty barked a child's death for Christ's sake?

1180
01:16:01.720 --> 01:16:06.640
How Rex asked, how did she die? Violently? Hardesty answered,

1181
01:16:06.680 --> 01:16:10.039
in his low gruff drawl, is this related to last

1182
01:16:10.039 --> 01:16:13.960
month's double homicide. A woman asked, we don't have conclusive

1183
01:16:14.000 --> 01:16:17.560
evidence linking the two this early in the investigation. Hardesty

1184
01:16:17.640 --> 01:16:23.079
said his shoulders sagged. There are similarities. Were the other

1185
01:16:23.159 --> 01:16:26.600
victims missing flesh and muscle? Rex quizzed him, were there

1186
01:16:26.640 --> 01:16:30.159
bite marks on them as well? Hardesty glared at Rex

1187
01:16:30.479 --> 01:16:34.840
and then spoke with forced restraint. At this time, I'm

1188
01:16:34.880 --> 01:16:38.039
asking all residents of Whistler in the outlying areas to

1189
01:16:38.119 --> 01:16:41.960
stay indoors at night. The curfew is merely a request. However,

1190
01:16:42.600 --> 01:16:46.039
the wail of sirens cut the report short. We wouldn't

1191
01:16:46.039 --> 01:16:48.640
find out until the morning that they'd found another body.

1192
01:16:49.600 --> 01:16:52.159
Crazy Dolores lived in a shack on the edge of town.

1193
01:16:52.640 --> 01:16:55.640
She sold herbal remedies and told fortunes for a dollar.

1194
01:16:56.600 --> 01:17:00.600
No one knew how long she'd been dead. I climbed

1195
01:17:00.640 --> 01:17:04.319
into bed, but didn't dare go to sleep. I opened

1196
01:17:04.319 --> 01:17:07.920
a comic and thought about Dad. Maybe the rig really

1197
01:17:07.920 --> 01:17:11.800
broke down, but I didn't buy it. He was spending

1198
01:17:11.840 --> 01:17:15.520
time with some woman in a strange way that made

1199
01:17:15.600 --> 01:17:19.000
me feel better. He was more worried about getting laid

1200
01:17:19.039 --> 01:17:20.680
than he was about the killer on the loose, So

1201
01:17:21.760 --> 01:17:25.920
maybe it wasn't a big deal. My door creaked open,

1202
01:17:26.039 --> 01:17:30.039
and Lisa slipped through the gap. I laid the comic down.

1203
01:17:31.199 --> 01:17:34.039
I didn't know what to say. Sorry, your friend was

1204
01:17:34.039 --> 01:17:37.319
brutally murdered and partially eaten. Really didn't seem like it

1205
01:17:37.439 --> 01:17:41.439
helped the situation. Then again, we're going to find Brenda's

1206
01:17:41.479 --> 01:17:44.600
killers wasn't a winner either, But that's exactly what Lisa

1207
01:17:44.640 --> 01:17:48.279
said as she leaned on my dresser. I gawked at

1208
01:17:48.279 --> 01:17:50.720
her and waited for what felt like an eternity for

1209
01:17:50.800 --> 01:17:55.840
her to say something else. Look, Connie, she started, then

1210
01:17:55.880 --> 01:18:00.000
paused and chewed her bottom lip. Chief Hardesty is a scumback.

1211
01:18:00.520 --> 01:18:02.399
He's going to pin all this on the first person

1212
01:18:02.399 --> 01:18:05.279
that ain't baptist enough for him. Then the murderer is

1213
01:18:05.319 --> 01:18:09.399
just going to drift away. I was still too young

1214
01:18:09.760 --> 01:18:12.279
to know how common that sort of thing was around there,

1215
01:18:12.840 --> 01:18:16.439
or what kind of man Baxter Hardesty really was. I

1216
01:18:16.560 --> 01:18:19.399
did want to make sure that Brenda's killer got caught. However,

1217
01:18:20.960 --> 01:18:24.960
the killings are about a month apart, I said, hesitantly,

1218
01:18:25.479 --> 01:18:29.720
unsure of exactly what I discovered. I shrugged. What if

1219
01:18:29.760 --> 01:18:32.680
the killer travels and just stops through here every few

1220
01:18:32.680 --> 01:18:36.119
weeks or lives here and returns home once a month.

1221
01:18:36.720 --> 01:18:40.239
Lisa offered Dad's friend, Ted is a long haul driver.

1222
01:18:40.840 --> 01:18:44.279
I remembered Ted tried to convince Dad to work with

1223
01:18:44.359 --> 01:18:47.479
him all the time. I also remembered Ted coming to

1224
01:18:47.520 --> 01:18:51.199
my birthday party. I shook my head. I'm pretty sure

1225
01:18:51.239 --> 01:18:54.000
he's out of town right now. I scratched the two

1226
01:18:54.119 --> 01:18:58.399
recently sprouted hairs on my chin. What about a delivery driver,

1227
01:18:58.960 --> 01:19:03.159
Brown's only gets a few deliveries a month. Lisa thought

1228
01:19:03.159 --> 01:19:06.520
it over and nodded, okay, we'll go by and see

1229
01:19:06.560 --> 01:19:09.840
when they got a delivery. Thinking the conversation was done,

1230
01:19:09.840 --> 01:19:15.079
I lifted my comic. What is that, Connie, Lisa asked, shakily,

1231
01:19:16.079 --> 01:19:19.560
what are you reading? I closed the issue and looked

1232
01:19:19.600 --> 01:19:23.119
down at the cover. Bright yellow eyes stared up at

1233
01:19:23.119 --> 01:19:26.880
me above the fang's dripping blood over a broken skull.

1234
01:19:27.640 --> 01:19:30.520
I looked up at my sister. I knew what she

1235
01:19:30.680 --> 01:19:32.800
was thinking, and I wanted to tell her that she

1236
01:19:32.960 --> 01:19:38.439
was stupid. I wanted to, but I didn't. The same

1237
01:19:38.479 --> 01:19:41.520
thought hit me when I looked at those fierce yellow

1238
01:19:41.640 --> 01:19:45.039
orbs on the black cover. My stomach pitched as I

1239
01:19:45.079 --> 01:19:48.840
thought about the recent events. My eyes left the stare

1240
01:19:48.880 --> 01:19:52.600
of the beast and met my sisters. It's a werewolf,

1241
01:19:53.359 --> 01:19:59.359
I finally said. We tried to put the notion back

1242
01:19:59.399 --> 01:20:04.520
into our imaginations where werewolves were supposed to stay. Lisa

1243
01:20:04.600 --> 01:20:07.039
and I rode our bikes to Brown's General Store just

1244
01:20:07.119 --> 01:20:10.680
past noon. The curfew officially started at sundown and was

1245
01:20:10.720 --> 01:20:14.079
no longer a request, not that it mattered. The streets

1246
01:20:14.079 --> 01:20:17.880
were already deserted. The baseball cards sputtering, and the bike

1247
01:20:17.960 --> 01:20:21.680
spoke signaled the arrival of Brad Breaker. Brad was between

1248
01:20:21.720 --> 01:20:24.199
Lisa and myself in age, so he hung out with

1249
01:20:24.239 --> 01:20:27.199
both of us. He was the definition of cool with

1250
01:20:27.319 --> 01:20:31.039
his acid washed jeans and his torn middrift Bruce Springsteen

1251
01:20:31.119 --> 01:20:36.039
t shirt. Brad could play guitar and football. He was

1252
01:20:36.079 --> 01:20:39.640
also muscular, with aquiline features and sandy blonde hair that

1253
01:20:39.680 --> 01:20:42.920
made him look like Patrick Swayzee and Red Dawn and

1254
01:20:43.000 --> 01:20:47.000
made Lisa's brain stop working. My mom spazzed when I

1255
01:20:47.039 --> 01:20:49.720
said I was leaving. Brad looked at the grocery store

1256
01:20:49.760 --> 01:20:51.840
and turned back to us. But you said it was

1257
01:20:51.880 --> 01:20:56.039
an emergency. You won't get in trouble, will you, nah?

1258
01:20:56.479 --> 01:21:01.079
Brad shrugged. My old man said experience builds care and

1259
01:21:01.279 --> 01:21:04.479
that I needed to bring back more folgers. Lucky, this

1260
01:21:04.600 --> 01:21:08.199
is our first stop, I said, So why are we here.

1261
01:21:08.920 --> 01:21:12.359
Lisa looked to me, telling him our theory would have

1262
01:21:12.399 --> 01:21:14.920
been the right thing to do, but she thought he

1263
01:21:15.000 --> 01:21:18.359
was cute and hoped I, being closer to the childish

1264
01:21:18.439 --> 01:21:20.720
age to believe such things, would do it for her.

1265
01:21:21.479 --> 01:21:26.279
I did not. We want to find Brenda's killer, I said,

1266
01:21:26.319 --> 01:21:29.800
and waved at the street. Everyone's scared to death, but

1267
01:21:29.880 --> 01:21:34.359
we want to help. Why, Brad asked, I mean, why

1268
01:21:34.399 --> 01:21:37.159
do you think you can do it faster than the police.

1269
01:21:37.279 --> 01:21:40.800
I removed the wrinkled, somewhat neatly folded newspaper clippings and

1270
01:21:40.840 --> 01:21:44.359
handed them to him. Mister mcgara died and his corpse

1271
01:21:44.399 --> 01:21:48.039
was eaten by coyotes. That's what they say. Anyhow, there's

1272
01:21:48.079 --> 01:21:50.760
been a killing at the same time every month since.

1273
01:21:51.319 --> 01:21:54.640
Each of those victims was partially eaten as well, I said,

1274
01:21:54.760 --> 01:21:57.439
rattling off the facts as quickly as I could. I

1275
01:21:57.479 --> 01:22:00.800
think the killer comes to town once a month. We

1276
01:22:00.880 --> 01:22:03.119
think the murderer might be a delivery person or a

1277
01:22:03.159 --> 01:22:05.479
truck driver. So we want to ask the Browns if

1278
01:22:05.479 --> 01:22:10.039
they've gotten any shipments this week, Lisa added gnarly. Brad

1279
01:22:10.079 --> 01:22:14.479
nodded slowly. Let's get to work. The Browns deliveries turned

1280
01:22:14.520 --> 01:22:17.880
up bupkiss. We checked with every business in town for

1281
01:22:17.920 --> 01:22:21.279
the same results. That theory was as dead as Brenda,

1282
01:22:21.760 --> 01:22:27.079
which left us with only one other possibility. A quarter

1283
01:22:27.159 --> 01:22:29.399
till seven, we stopped by the ice cream shop and

1284
01:22:29.439 --> 01:22:32.720
got Sundays for a quick sugar rush before dinner. I

1285
01:22:32.840 --> 01:22:36.760
debated sharing the werewolf idea. I'd been trying to dismantle

1286
01:22:36.760 --> 01:22:39.680
it as we asked around. If it was a werewolf,

1287
01:22:39.720 --> 01:22:43.319
why did the killings start only recently? Was anyone acting

1288
01:22:43.359 --> 01:22:48.399
differently around town? Was anyone new? What made someone a werewolf?

1289
01:22:49.000 --> 01:22:52.239
So many questions, but none of them ruled out the possibility.

1290
01:22:53.359 --> 01:22:57.399
What if it's stupid, Brad said, staring up at the

1291
01:22:57.399 --> 01:23:02.800
now full moon. What if it's a werewolf? Lisa choked

1292
01:23:02.800 --> 01:23:05.279
and stared at me, wide eyed over puffed cheeks full

1293
01:23:05.319 --> 01:23:09.359
of banana split. I mean, my pops tells me to

1294
01:23:09.479 --> 01:23:12.319
stay away from Snyder Creek because some kids died back

1295
01:23:12.359 --> 01:23:16.680
in the twenties. Everyone says that was a monster. Why

1296
01:23:16.760 --> 01:23:20.760
couldn't this be one? Darn it, I snapped, my fingers

1297
01:23:20.760 --> 01:23:22.960
and scooted my chair back with a screech of steel

1298
01:23:23.000 --> 01:23:26.039
feet against the sidewalk. Why didn't I think of that?

1299
01:23:27.119 --> 01:23:31.600
Think of what? Lisa asked. I've heard that story too,

1300
01:23:32.319 --> 01:23:37.359
I answered, the Snyder Creek ghoule. They never found out

1301
01:23:37.359 --> 01:23:40.920
what really happened, Lisa, we need to go to the

1302
01:23:40.960 --> 01:23:43.000
library and see if we can find any old papers

1303
01:23:43.039 --> 01:23:46.600
about it. Not a chance, Connie, She pointed to the

1304
01:23:46.640 --> 01:23:50.840
Sherbert Skyline. We need to get home before dark. It's

1305
01:23:50.880 --> 01:23:56.119
a long ride. The library's probably already closed anyway, Brad offered.

1306
01:23:57.039 --> 01:23:59.760
The cops are never going to believe us. Lisa said,

1307
01:24:00.640 --> 01:24:04.359
after tonight, he'll just be a man. I reassured her.

1308
01:24:04.920 --> 01:24:07.600
We'll have a month to find out who the werewolf

1309
01:24:07.680 --> 01:24:12.000
is and prove it. Crap. Brad let his head hang

1310
01:24:12.720 --> 01:24:17.920
most non triumphant. What Lisa and I asked in unison.

1311
01:24:18.760 --> 01:24:21.920
I forgot the coffee. He put a foot on a pedal.

1312
01:24:22.760 --> 01:24:27.359
I'm going to hustle the Browns. See you later, he wouldn't.

1313
01:24:32.119 --> 01:24:36.560
Brad's body wasn't found for six days. Worst of all,

1314
01:24:36.840 --> 01:24:39.279
strange as it sounds to say, it like a bad thing.

1315
01:24:40.279 --> 01:24:43.479
He didn't get eaten. It would be a while before

1316
01:24:43.479 --> 01:24:47.119
Lisa drew a startling conclusion from the fact the curfew

1317
01:24:47.239 --> 01:24:51.119
started an hour earlier. After that, a citizen's patrol was

1318
01:24:51.239 --> 01:24:54.319
organized as well. It wasn't much more than a dozen

1319
01:24:54.439 --> 01:24:57.800
yokels with spotlights and guns driving the paved roads. However,

1320
01:24:58.119 --> 01:25:01.720
they wouldn't go down the miles of gravel paths where

1321
01:25:01.720 --> 01:25:04.600
there weren't any street lights to keep them safe. They

1322
01:25:04.600 --> 01:25:08.319
didn't find the werewolf either. All they accomplished was shooting

1323
01:25:08.359 --> 01:25:11.279
a drifter who was busking at the Crispy Chicken truck stop.

1324
01:25:12.279 --> 01:25:14.560
Chief hardest. He tried to pin the murders on that

1325
01:25:14.920 --> 01:25:18.640
poor soul, like Lisa had suspected he would, No one

1326
01:25:18.720 --> 01:25:21.920
was buying it. By that point, Dad had decided that

1327
01:25:22.000 --> 01:25:24.960
between the new woman and a monster running roughshod back home,

1328
01:25:25.279 --> 01:25:28.439
he had all the reason he needed to move to Louisiana.

1329
01:25:29.079 --> 01:25:32.000
He came while we were asleep to collect his things.

1330
01:25:32.560 --> 01:25:36.319
We spent every day tracking down information and investigating whatever

1331
01:25:36.359 --> 01:25:39.520
absurd idea came to us. It was two nights before

1332
01:25:39.520 --> 01:25:42.840
the next full moon when Lisa told me her troublesome theory.

1333
01:25:44.319 --> 01:25:49.640
He didn't eat bread because he was warning us, She said,

1334
01:25:49.680 --> 01:25:54.239
somberly across the table. The local library had few books

1335
01:25:54.279 --> 01:25:57.880
on lycanthropy. We'd been reading them every night and comparing

1336
01:25:57.920 --> 01:26:00.319
them to the two clippings we had from nineteen twenty

1337
01:26:00.399 --> 01:26:04.439
six when the Snyder Creek ghoul had struck. I put

1338
01:26:04.439 --> 01:26:06.479
the piece of paper I was using as a bookmark

1339
01:26:06.640 --> 01:26:10.680
between the pages of the tome and closed it. What

1340
01:26:10.720 --> 01:26:15.439
do you mean, I whispered. We were asking around about

1341
01:26:15.720 --> 01:26:19.680
delivery schedules, about people from out of town. She shook

1342
01:26:19.680 --> 01:26:25.159
her head. The wolf isn't a stranger. We know him,

1343
01:26:25.439 --> 01:26:28.560
and he heard us talking. He wants us to leave

1344
01:26:28.640 --> 01:26:32.840
him alone. I checked my watch and reached under the table,

1345
01:26:32.880 --> 01:26:35.760
wrestling with a zipper from my fanny pack. Then he

1346
01:26:35.800 --> 01:26:39.439
shouldn't have killed our friends, I growled. I pulled my

1347
01:26:39.560 --> 01:26:41.600
prize and said it where Lisa could see, with a

1348
01:26:41.640 --> 01:26:45.560
heavy thump. Her eyes widened at the sight of cold

1349
01:26:45.680 --> 01:26:49.520
blue steel. Dad forgot it when he packed, I told her,

1350
01:26:49.600 --> 01:26:52.399
and lifted the Saint Christopher medallion our aunt had given

1351
01:26:52.439 --> 01:26:56.439
me for my birthday. I've got this and six silver dollars.

1352
01:26:57.039 --> 01:27:00.479
We can make two or three bullets with that. We

1353
01:27:00.520 --> 01:27:04.359
don't know how to make bullets. Otto Dickens does, I

1354
01:27:04.479 --> 01:27:07.199
pointed out, We have time to get to his store

1355
01:27:07.239 --> 01:27:09.760
and back home if we go right now. We're not

1356
01:27:09.920 --> 01:27:13.479
hunting this damn thing. Connie Lisa stood quickly and looked

1357
01:27:13.479 --> 01:27:17.880
around at the mostly empty library. She lowered her voice.

1358
01:27:18.079 --> 01:27:21.439
We should stop this. If he killed Brad to scare

1359
01:27:21.520 --> 01:27:24.560
us off, then he knows who we are. We need

1360
01:27:24.560 --> 01:27:29.680
the bullets. Regardless. Her face twisted with contempt. She knew

1361
01:27:29.680 --> 01:27:32.520
I was right and scooped her backpack before heading to

1362
01:27:32.560 --> 01:27:35.359
the exit. We rode our bikes to the fork in

1363
01:27:35.399 --> 01:27:38.439
the road, left to our house or right to Otto

1364
01:27:38.520 --> 01:27:42.439
Dickens's gun shop. Lisa didn't speak as she leaned and

1365
01:27:42.479 --> 01:27:46.239
pulled her Shwin down the right hand street. I smiled

1366
01:27:46.279 --> 01:27:50.680
softly and followed. Most families in Whistler had lived no

1367
01:27:50.840 --> 01:27:54.840
further away than the county line for generations. Otto just

1368
01:27:54.880 --> 01:27:58.520
seemed to appear one day. Despite what you might have

1369
01:27:58.560 --> 01:28:03.600
heard about southern hospitality, it doesn't apply to strangers. Otto

1370
01:28:03.680 --> 01:28:07.840
had an uncanny ability with firearms. However, small towns of

1371
01:28:07.920 --> 01:28:12.239
rural Arkansas might have hated strangers, but they certainly loved

1372
01:28:12.279 --> 01:28:15.359
their guns. Otto was soon a welcomed member of the

1373
01:28:15.359 --> 01:28:17.520
community and set up a shop on the far side

1374
01:28:17.520 --> 01:28:20.520
of town, a couple of miles past the old cemetery.

1375
01:28:21.840 --> 01:28:24.920
The tarnished bell over the door announced our arrival with

1376
01:28:24.960 --> 01:28:27.880
whatever the hell a bell's version of a smoker's cough is.

1377
01:28:28.399 --> 01:28:31.680
Otto looked up from the reloading station, his face twisted

1378
01:28:31.680 --> 01:28:35.720
with curiosity as two teens entered his tiny store. A

1379
01:28:35.760 --> 01:28:38.880
long scar parted his wild white beard on the left

1380
01:28:38.920 --> 01:28:41.680
side of his face. He held up the cartridge he

1381
01:28:41.760 --> 01:28:45.279
was working on between his thumb and index finger. Best

1382
01:28:45.359 --> 01:28:49.119
goddamn rifle round in history, he said, in a voice

1383
01:28:49.159 --> 01:28:53.159
that sent a shiver racing up my spine. Forty five seventy.

1384
01:28:53.840 --> 01:28:56.560
I kept the chopped down Winchester in this caliber for

1385
01:28:56.640 --> 01:29:00.640
clearing tunnels. Can't hear much as shit anymore as a result,

1386
01:29:00.720 --> 01:29:03.479
but it could turn old Victor Charlie inside out in

1387
01:29:03.560 --> 01:29:08.279
those confine spaces. You ever shot a man? Lisa and

1388
01:29:08.319 --> 01:29:12.760
I exchanged bewildered glances. How many kids could say yes?

1389
01:29:14.319 --> 01:29:18.079
Didn't think so? Otto deposited the finished cartridge into a

1390
01:29:18.119 --> 01:29:23.119
cardboard box beside him. Well, what can I help you with? Then?

1391
01:29:23.680 --> 01:29:28.359
Too early for hunting, not where we're hunting, I said, Lisa,

1392
01:29:28.439 --> 01:29:31.159
elbowed me in the ribs and cleared her throat. You

1393
01:29:31.199 --> 01:29:35.399
can make bullets, right, reckon, I can. Lisa held out

1394
01:29:35.399 --> 01:29:37.279
her hand and I gave her the items from my

1395
01:29:37.359 --> 01:29:40.840
fanny pack. Otto left his stool and prowled to her.

1396
01:29:41.600 --> 01:29:44.399
He bounced the coins and pendon in his palm. His

1397
01:29:44.439 --> 01:29:46.720
amber eyes darted from one of us to the other

1398
01:29:46.840 --> 01:29:51.319
before he snorted, you want silver bullets. He set the

1399
01:29:51.359 --> 01:29:54.600
materials on his counter and shook his head. That's a

1400
01:29:54.760 --> 01:29:59.279
shit idea. Silver's too dense. It won't take the rifling

1401
01:30:00.199 --> 01:30:02.920
you plan on shooting at a barn. You won't be

1402
01:30:03.000 --> 01:30:06.680
hitting nothing from more than a few feet muzzle velocity

1403
01:30:06.720 --> 01:30:09.960
with noseedive two because the round is heavier than your

1404
01:30:09.960 --> 01:30:14.479
powder load. You won't mushroom either. They'll go clean in

1405
01:30:14.640 --> 01:30:17.960
and clean out shot shells. That's what you need if

1406
01:30:18.000 --> 01:30:21.239
you're looking to use silver. Lisa looked at me, completely

1407
01:30:21.279 --> 01:30:25.159
lost in the gunsmith's lesson in ballistic science. I didn't

1408
01:30:25.239 --> 01:30:29.640
understand it either. We don't have a shotgun, I finally said.

1409
01:30:30.600 --> 01:30:34.119
We have a Chief Special thirty eight, a snub nose

1410
01:30:34.359 --> 01:30:39.000
shooting silver bullets auto burst with boisterous laughter. Hell, you

1411
01:30:39.119 --> 01:30:41.920
kids might as well slathery yourselves in barbecue sauce and

1412
01:30:42.039 --> 01:30:45.359
yell here, puppy, if you plan on fight and a werewolf.

1413
01:30:45.359 --> 01:30:48.720
With that set up, my jaw fell open, and I

1414
01:30:48.800 --> 01:30:51.000
quickly glanced to my sister to find her in the

1415
01:30:51.000 --> 01:30:54.439
same state. Otto put a hand on each of our shoulders.

1416
01:30:55.039 --> 01:30:58.119
I hadn't noticed before, but three of his fingers were

1417
01:30:58.159 --> 01:31:02.159
missing from the one resting on me. He hunkered slightly

1418
01:31:02.560 --> 01:31:07.000
to look us in the eyes. Don't look surprised. Ain't

1419
01:31:07.079 --> 01:31:10.640
much else you could be doing with silver bullets. He

1420
01:31:10.720 --> 01:31:13.680
went behind the counter and pulled a sawd off shotgun

1421
01:31:13.720 --> 01:31:16.840
from beneath the register. My eyes drifted to the black

1422
01:31:16.920 --> 01:31:20.239
tape wrapped around the walnuts stock and the rough scratches

1423
01:31:20.319 --> 01:31:23.680
where a serial number had once been reckon. You can

1424
01:31:23.720 --> 01:31:27.079
borrow this one, going to take about an hour. On

1425
01:31:27.199 --> 01:31:34.199
the shells. You believe us, I asked lots of things

1426
01:31:34.199 --> 01:31:36.960
in this world we pretend not to believe in. No more,

1427
01:31:37.840 --> 01:31:42.000
pretend weren't real in the first place. He absently rubbed

1428
01:31:42.000 --> 01:31:44.319
the scar on his cheek with the nubs of his fingers.

1429
01:31:45.600 --> 01:31:53.479
We pretend until they started eating us. The sun was

1430
01:31:53.600 --> 01:31:56.439
just an orange razor's slash. By the time we got home.

1431
01:31:57.119 --> 01:32:00.039
We dropped our bikes in the yard and ran inside.

1432
01:32:00.159 --> 01:32:03.319
The shotgun mostly fit inside Lisa's backpack so we could

1433
01:32:03.359 --> 01:32:06.760
sneak it past Mom. Not that it mattered. All the

1434
01:32:06.840 --> 01:32:09.279
lights were off and she wasn't waiting for us like normal.

1435
01:32:10.039 --> 01:32:12.119
I headed for the living room while she stashed the

1436
01:32:12.159 --> 01:32:17.039
gun and changed clothes. How are you soldier, a gruff,

1437
01:32:17.159 --> 01:32:21.439
ragged voice asked from a darkened corner. The hairs prickled

1438
01:32:21.479 --> 01:32:23.359
on the back of my neck at my dad's pet

1439
01:32:23.439 --> 01:32:28.000
name for me. He stepped out of the shadows. He

1440
01:32:28.079 --> 01:32:33.840
looked different and naked as he gracefully scaled the back

1441
01:32:33.880 --> 01:32:37.359
of the couch and perched on the cushion. The weak

1442
01:32:37.479 --> 01:32:40.079
glow of the mail ordered torch lamps shimmered on the

1443
01:32:40.119 --> 01:32:44.199
sweat slick hairs growing longer from his tight flesh. His

1444
01:32:44.279 --> 01:32:48.279
elongated nails scratched at the thick orange fabric of the sofa.

1445
01:32:49.239 --> 01:32:53.159
You can catch a lot from horses, he said. He

1446
01:32:53.279 --> 01:32:58.359
spoke slowly, like each word was new to him. Long

1447
01:32:58.439 --> 01:33:01.840
strands of drools lung from his mouth as he flexed

1448
01:33:01.880 --> 01:33:07.520
his jaw with a series of loud, painful pops. Your

1449
01:33:07.720 --> 01:33:13.439
ma knew tried to fix it with crazy dolores. His

1450
01:33:13.520 --> 01:33:17.239
obsidian eyes focused on the coffee table. I saw mom's

1451
01:33:17.279 --> 01:33:20.600
locket sitting there next to the half full ashtray, still

1452
01:33:20.600 --> 01:33:26.359
wet with blood. It's not just the bite, he grumbled,

1453
01:33:26.399 --> 01:33:30.960
his words becoming deeper and more human. It's like the

1454
01:33:31.119 --> 01:33:39.079
clap I brought it home made her. Mister mcgarrill was accident.

1455
01:33:39.920 --> 01:33:43.439
He shifted on the cushion. Things moved inside his body,

1456
01:33:43.800 --> 01:33:47.399
bones and muscles realigning, and he whined like a dog

1457
01:33:47.479 --> 01:33:50.840
in a sticker bush. He sprang over the table and

1458
01:33:50.960 --> 01:33:54.960
landed inches from me. His nose twitched as he took

1459
01:33:54.960 --> 01:33:58.159
in my scent. His lips didn't touch anymore as the

1460
01:33:58.239 --> 01:34:03.359
fangs locked together. Stiff fur covered his once chubby cheeks.

1461
01:34:04.079 --> 01:34:09.399
She couldn't control. He growled, his teeth snapped in front

1462
01:34:09.399 --> 01:34:18.239
of me. I can join pack, become come with me, soldier.

1463
01:34:19.119 --> 01:34:23.880
I quivered with fear, with hurt, with anger. I never

1464
01:34:23.920 --> 01:34:28.840
suspected my parents. I needed answers. Lisa screamed and broke

1465
01:34:28.880 --> 01:34:31.800
me out of his hypnotic gaze. His hand clamped over

1466
01:34:31.840 --> 01:34:35.079
my mouth. He watched the stairs, waiting for Lisa to

1467
01:34:35.119 --> 01:34:38.199
come down. I eased my hand to the fanny pack,

1468
01:34:38.560 --> 01:34:41.600
wiggling my fingers to stretch the zipper without the noise.

1469
01:34:43.479 --> 01:34:48.359
Connie Lisa called Dad sniffed the air. I watched his

1470
01:34:48.439 --> 01:34:51.720
pointed ear twitch. He whipped his head back around to me,

1471
01:34:51.800 --> 01:34:54.920
and his eyes widened as the barrel pressed against his chest.

1472
01:34:55.920 --> 01:34:59.600
The thirty eight was louder than I remembered. The bullets

1473
01:34:59.600 --> 01:35:02.720
weren't so, but they did the trick. He fell backwards

1474
01:35:02.720 --> 01:35:05.479
and crashed through the table. I fired the rest of

1475
01:35:05.520 --> 01:35:08.119
them into his face while he was down. He screamed

1476
01:35:08.119 --> 01:35:10.479
and pained behind me. While I darted for the stairs,

1477
01:35:10.600 --> 01:35:13.720
I slammed into Lisa, who was clutching the shotgun. I

1478
01:35:13.760 --> 01:35:16.680
think there's two of them. I wasn't listening. I jerked

1479
01:35:16.720 --> 01:35:19.399
the weapon from her hands and went to finish Dad off.

1480
01:35:20.399 --> 01:35:25.479
Only he wasn't there. Two bloody bullets rolled in the

1481
01:35:25.479 --> 01:35:28.680
debris of the coffee table. A shadow fell over me

1482
01:35:28.720 --> 01:35:32.039
from the kitchen. I threw myself to the floor, narrowly

1483
01:35:32.119 --> 01:35:35.239
dodging the swipe of my father's claws. I rolled onto

1484
01:35:35.279 --> 01:35:38.159
my back, and he looked more monstrous than before. His

1485
01:35:38.239 --> 01:35:42.239
face had contorted into a snout. The front window shattered

1486
01:35:42.279 --> 01:35:45.920
startling me. My finger tensed on the trigger, and the

1487
01:35:45.960 --> 01:35:50.359
silver buckshot tore through Dad's thigh, obliterating the wood paneling beyond.

1488
01:35:51.000 --> 01:35:53.119
I clambered up the stairs and Lisa pulled me to

1489
01:35:53.119 --> 01:35:55.720
my feet by my collar. We ran into our parents'

1490
01:35:55.720 --> 01:35:59.119
bedroom and slammed the door behind us. I screamed when

1491
01:35:59.119 --> 01:36:02.439
I saw the body on the bed. It was Mom,

1492
01:36:03.479 --> 01:36:07.760
but just barely. Her features were still deformed, her body

1493
01:36:07.800 --> 01:36:10.119
still covered in the bristly fur of her new form,

1494
01:36:10.600 --> 01:36:13.199
and her head hung from the gnawed throat by a

1495
01:36:13.239 --> 01:36:17.039
few remaining strands of muscle. Everything Dad tried to tell

1496
01:36:17.079 --> 01:36:22.039
me suddenly made sense. His new girlfriend turned him, and

1497
01:36:22.159 --> 01:36:26.319
he turned mom. That's how the werewolf knew we were snooping.

1498
01:36:27.640 --> 01:36:31.119
Mom was doing the killing while Dad joined his new

1499
01:36:31.199 --> 01:36:36.000
pack in Louisiana. I vomited at the foot of the bed.

1500
01:36:36.920 --> 01:36:42.880
What's happening, Lisa asked downstairs. Sounded like a dog fight, snarls,

1501
01:36:43.000 --> 01:36:46.920
yips of pain, furious barks, things breaking. I threw the

1502
01:36:46.960 --> 01:36:49.079
door open and whipped around the corner with the shotgun

1503
01:36:49.199 --> 01:36:52.880
raised and ready. Dad pounced onto the stairs. Blood gushed

1504
01:36:52.880 --> 01:36:55.119
from wounds, and he bared his fangs as he crawled

1505
01:36:55.159 --> 01:37:00.000
up the steps toward me. I pulled the trigger. Nothing happened.

1506
01:37:01.000 --> 01:37:04.520
I remembered duck hunting with him, and then my own folly.

1507
01:37:05.479 --> 01:37:09.359
I hadn't chambered another round. He drew closer as I

1508
01:37:09.479 --> 01:37:13.279
racked the slide, but it was too late. His claws

1509
01:37:13.319 --> 01:37:16.600
opened deep furrows in my thigh and I toppled backwards.

1510
01:37:17.119 --> 01:37:19.880
Then the other wolf came into view. It grabbed my

1511
01:37:19.960 --> 01:37:22.600
father's legs and pulled him down the steps before mounting

1512
01:37:22.640 --> 01:37:26.439
his back. The beast howled victoriously and glared at me

1513
01:37:26.520 --> 01:37:31.039
with amber eyes set in white fur. The monster clamped

1514
01:37:31.039 --> 01:37:33.880
its fully formed jaws down on the back of Dad's neck.

1515
01:37:34.479 --> 01:37:37.159
I heard the wet snap of the spine as it

1516
01:37:37.239 --> 01:37:40.840
shook its head from side to side. I stared at

1517
01:37:40.840 --> 01:37:45.239
the long scar parting its fur, at the claws digging

1518
01:37:45.279 --> 01:37:50.000
into its prey, and the missing fingers beside them. I

1519
01:37:50.079 --> 01:37:52.079
pressed the barrel of the shotgun to the back of

1520
01:37:52.119 --> 01:37:56.880
my father's skull and fired. The white wolf slunk away.

1521
01:37:57.279 --> 01:37:59.840
Brain matter and pieces of skull clung to its fur.

1522
01:38:00.600 --> 01:38:11.000
I pumped the shotgun again, and then the beast was gone.

1523
01:38:11.159 --> 01:38:14.520
By mourning, the bodies had fully reverted to their human forms.

1524
01:38:15.159 --> 01:38:19.359
Chief Hardesty didn't question anything. Dad was the killer and

1525
01:38:19.520 --> 01:38:22.560
Mom was just a victim. We let him run with

1526
01:38:22.640 --> 01:38:26.319
that story. Before our aunt could come and pick us up,

1527
01:38:26.760 --> 01:38:30.439
we needed to take care of one more thing. We

1528
01:38:30.560 --> 01:38:32.800
rode our bikes to Otto Dickon's shop and found him

1529
01:38:32.840 --> 01:38:36.760
assembling a pistol at his counter. Reckon the police sees

1530
01:38:36.840 --> 01:38:43.239
that gun, he said, simply, yeah, I answered, sorry, I guess.

1531
01:38:44.319 --> 01:38:47.239
I set my mother's locket on the counter and looked

1532
01:38:47.239 --> 01:38:53.239
at the gunsmith questioningly. Wolfe'spane, He licked his lips. It

1533
01:38:53.359 --> 01:38:56.359
helps when you're young, when the moon is still your master.

1534
01:38:57.039 --> 01:38:59.399
He finished the pistol he was working on and slipped

1535
01:38:59.399 --> 01:39:02.000
it into a mess your bag. He pushed the kid

1536
01:39:02.039 --> 01:39:05.720
over to me. I haven't killed anyone in a long time.

1537
01:39:06.159 --> 01:39:10.680
In case you were wondering, he told us, what do

1538
01:39:10.720 --> 01:39:14.159
we do now? Lisa asked different breeds of wolf the

1539
01:39:14.199 --> 01:39:18.319
world over. My kind don't have a pack here, He

1540
01:39:18.359 --> 01:39:22.359
pointed at the gauze around my leg. Your old man's kind,

1541
01:39:22.439 --> 01:39:27.399
does you took from them? They'll take from you. A

1542
01:39:27.439 --> 01:39:32.119
wolf never forgets. You're just rabbits now, and there's nothing

1543
01:39:32.199 --> 01:39:35.439
left to do for a scared bunny, but to run.

1544
01:39:36.920 --> 01:39:39.840
We took the bag Auto prepared for us and left

1545
01:39:39.840 --> 01:39:43.279
his shop. We didn't go back to the house and

1546
01:39:43.319 --> 01:39:46.199
wait for our aunt, though, We rode our bikes to

1547
01:39:46.279 --> 01:39:49.319
the outskirts of Fagan County and hitched a ride at

1548
01:39:49.319 --> 01:39:52.760
the Crispy Chicken. They caught up with us in Saint Louis.

1549
01:39:52.800 --> 01:39:56.880
Three years later. I buried Lisa behind a city park.

1550
01:39:57.960 --> 01:40:00.439
I rest in one place until I hear the of

1551
01:40:00.479 --> 01:40:04.640
the pack on those bright moonlit nights, and then I

1552
01:40:04.720 --> 01:40:10.399
disappear onto another stretch of asphalt, always moving, always staying

1553
01:40:10.399 --> 01:40:15.560
ahead of the wolves, always ready to remind them that

1554
01:40:15.800 --> 01:40:33.520
rabbits have teeth too. The lady in the germ box

1555
01:40:34.119 --> 01:40:41.439
by killian crane. It's too hot, Greg thought. He and

1556
01:40:41.520 --> 01:40:44.960
the other poor kids sat in squirrel lodge, packed like

1557
01:40:45.159 --> 01:40:49.239
rats and fold out chairs. Some of the rats laughed,

1558
01:40:49.760 --> 01:40:54.279
some of them cried. Bo Fumes and chocolate breath stagnated

1559
01:40:54.319 --> 01:40:57.279
in the air. Greg doubted he could take this for

1560
01:40:57.359 --> 01:41:01.560
two weeks. The head camp counselor, Marty Hartman, took to

1561
01:41:01.600 --> 01:41:05.239
the stage. His mustache wriggled as he checked something off

1562
01:41:05.279 --> 01:41:09.520
of his clipboard. All right, kids, he exclaimed, let's play

1563
01:41:09.520 --> 01:41:12.119
the quiet game as I give you the camp Tomatachi

1564
01:41:12.199 --> 01:41:16.600
safety talk. It was all Greg's parents' fault. His father,

1565
01:41:16.880 --> 01:41:19.600
a pro golfer, won a big tournament and used the

1566
01:41:19.600 --> 01:41:22.840
money to get his helicopter license. His parents went on

1567
01:41:22.880 --> 01:41:26.880
an awesome helicopter trip around Europe while he was forced

1568
01:41:26.920 --> 01:41:30.520
to learn the importance of rules or whatever for two weeks.

1569
01:41:31.159 --> 01:41:34.359
He was ready to go home. Greg didn't listen as

1570
01:41:34.359 --> 01:41:38.479
Marty droned on about emergency exits and procedures. He was

1571
01:41:38.520 --> 01:41:42.319
caught in a game of cat and mouse digitally. His

1572
01:41:42.319 --> 01:41:45.600
fingers danced over the portable game system he held, making

1573
01:41:45.640 --> 01:41:49.479
his avatar dash across a bridge. A giant fish chased him,

1574
01:41:49.680 --> 01:41:53.039
mouth gaping. If he could just get the star over

1575
01:41:53.079 --> 01:41:55.720
the water, he wouldn't have to worry about that stupid

1576
01:41:55.720 --> 01:41:57.920
fish at all. He could sprint all the way to

1577
01:41:57.960 --> 01:42:03.319
the end. He came down to one single jump. Someone

1578
01:42:03.359 --> 01:42:06.199
bumped him hard on the shoulder and his avatar misstepped.

1579
01:42:06.359 --> 01:42:08.920
He fell into the water, paddling like mad, but in

1580
01:42:08.960 --> 01:42:12.159
the end he was pulled down to a watery grave.

1581
01:42:14.640 --> 01:42:18.319
He grunted as the infamous game over music played. What

1582
01:42:18.359 --> 01:42:22.880
the heck? He turned to see Russell smiling nefariously down

1583
01:42:22.920 --> 01:42:25.800
at him. Russell had a fire red mullet and was

1584
01:42:25.840 --> 01:42:28.600
twice the size of any kid in the room. Pay

1585
01:42:28.640 --> 01:42:32.279
attention to the assembly, the fat head said, sitting back

1586
01:42:32.319 --> 01:42:36.000
and enjoying himself. When Greg's parents had dropped him off,

1587
01:42:36.239 --> 01:42:39.760
they'd made a fatal error. They'd arrived in the family's

1588
01:42:39.840 --> 01:42:43.439
luxury suv. As Greg brought his things to the cabin,

1589
01:42:43.800 --> 01:42:48.439
a large, chalky hand stopped him. It was said, fat head, Hey,

1590
01:42:49.159 --> 01:42:53.840
was that your ride? One of them? Creig corrected, we

1591
01:42:53.920 --> 01:43:00.600
have five. The fathead smiled, his pasty face somehow darkening. Oh,

1592
01:43:00.760 --> 01:43:04.359
we're gonna have some fun you and I. Marty raised

1593
01:43:04.359 --> 01:43:08.039
a finger. Before we continue, I will stress to you children,

1594
01:43:08.239 --> 01:43:12.199
absolutely no pranks and or bullying will be tolerated here

1595
01:43:12.239 --> 01:43:16.520
at Camp Tomatachi. Something told Greg that the fat head

1596
01:43:16.560 --> 01:43:20.079
behind him would be breaking those two rules, most likely

1597
01:43:20.640 --> 01:43:24.359
breaking them over his head. Marty did a cartwheel. Let

1598
01:43:24.359 --> 01:43:28.159
me introduce you to our camp counselors. There were five

1599
01:43:28.319 --> 01:43:32.239
underlings total, all of them big kids, probably high schoolers,

1600
01:43:32.279 --> 01:43:35.760
and probably losers if they were here and not doing

1601
01:43:35.880 --> 01:43:40.039
cool kid stuff. Greg didn't bother learning their names. The

1602
01:43:40.079 --> 01:43:42.199
only person he wanted to get to know was that

1603
01:43:42.359 --> 01:43:45.760
blonde girl over there, Natalie. He thought her name was

1604
01:43:46.479 --> 01:43:50.159
boy was she's something. Girls had cooties and whatnot, But

1605
01:43:50.319 --> 01:43:54.479
Natalie seemed different. Her hair was like strands of gold,

1606
01:43:54.800 --> 01:43:58.560
and her emerald eyes could start wars. She was walking

1607
01:43:59.039 --> 01:44:03.279
talking treasure. Greg just had to know, like, what was

1608
01:44:03.319 --> 01:44:08.119
her deal? Give it up for our squirrel counselors. Marty shrieked,

1609
01:44:08.159 --> 01:44:12.199
clapping madly. Greg gave a golf clap, the one his

1610
01:44:12.319 --> 01:44:16.239
mother used at his father's tournaments. As Marty droned on

1611
01:44:16.439 --> 01:44:18.840
about how much fun they were all going to have,

1612
01:44:19.319 --> 01:44:21.880
there was a tap on his arm. It was the

1613
01:44:22.000 --> 01:44:25.079
kid next to him. He had thick glasses and scraggly hair.

1614
01:44:26.039 --> 01:44:31.079
I'm Simon, he whispered, Simon Biles from Upstate. First time

1615
01:44:31.119 --> 01:44:37.159
on the yard, the yard, Greg asked, low, yeah, Simon said,

1616
01:44:37.760 --> 01:44:43.199
you know the yard that slang for prison on TV. Ah.

1617
01:44:43.279 --> 01:44:49.279
Greg said, nonplussed, uh yeah, first time. Simon smiled, pushing

1618
01:44:49.319 --> 01:44:53.119
up his glasses. This makes year three for me. The

1619
01:44:53.199 --> 01:44:55.920
rents just don't trust me around the house while they're gone.

1620
01:44:56.479 --> 01:45:01.319
Wanna be bunk mates? Year three? Greg thought this guy

1621
01:45:01.399 --> 01:45:03.840
looked like he could use a friend and Greg could

1622
01:45:03.920 --> 01:45:07.399
use some information. He nodded at the blonde girl, possibly

1623
01:45:07.479 --> 01:45:13.920
named Natalie. What's her deal? Simon's eyebrows danced. That's Natalie Carver,

1624
01:45:14.319 --> 01:45:18.199
real looker. Huh, she's Queen Bee around these parts, sure

1625
01:45:18.199 --> 01:45:21.520
to get the leading lady role of this year's stupid play.

1626
01:45:22.560 --> 01:45:28.000
Greg was intrigued play. Simon nodded. Every year we put

1627
01:45:28.039 --> 01:45:30.000
on a play for our parents the day they pick

1628
01:45:30.079 --> 01:45:32.720
us up. Marty says, it shows that we learned about

1629
01:45:32.920 --> 01:45:35.840
teamwork and dedication. But I think he's trying to live

1630
01:45:35.880 --> 01:45:40.079
out some fantasy through us. And do you think Natalie

1631
01:45:40.119 --> 01:45:43.159
will be in this play? We'll all be in it,

1632
01:45:43.279 --> 01:45:47.439
Simon said, it's mandatory, but yes, she'll probably get the

1633
01:45:47.479 --> 01:45:50.760
leading part. Greg could feel himself coming down with a

1634
01:45:50.880 --> 01:45:54.359
case of the acting bug. Where there was a leading lady,

1635
01:45:54.840 --> 01:45:59.680
there was a prince charming opposite her, and possibly a kiss.

1636
01:46:00.520 --> 01:46:03.039
It was clear that Simon was a wealth of information.

1637
01:46:03.439 --> 01:46:05.680
Greg wondered what else he could tell him about the

1638
01:46:05.720 --> 01:46:10.039
camp and, more importantly, Natalie. Greg put out his hand.

1639
01:46:10.640 --> 01:46:14.880
You got a deal, bunk mate, sweet, Simon said, and

1640
01:46:14.920 --> 01:46:18.560
they shook on it. When Marty finally finished the squirrely

1641
01:46:18.640 --> 01:46:21.239
safety talk. He announced that they would all have hot

1642
01:46:21.279 --> 01:46:25.319
dogs for dinner, followed by activity sign up. But first

1643
01:46:25.760 --> 01:46:28.760
he neighed, let's all come up on stage for our

1644
01:46:28.840 --> 01:46:34.039
camp group photo. Cheesy music played. Kids ran to the stage.

1645
01:46:34.399 --> 01:46:39.119
Greg ran too, stopping next to Natalie. He smiled wide

1646
01:46:39.199 --> 01:46:42.279
for the camera. Maybe he'd been wrong about this summer

1647
01:46:42.359 --> 01:46:46.239
camp thing. Maybe this would be the best summer ever.

1648
01:46:47.680 --> 01:46:51.479
At seven point thirty sharp, Marty Hartman's bugle woke the dead.

1649
01:46:52.079 --> 01:46:55.520
Greg brushed his teeth, thinking about the night before. By

1650
01:46:55.640 --> 01:46:58.880
pure coincidence, he and Natalie signed up for the same activities,

1651
01:46:59.479 --> 01:47:03.039
even the same time slots. The play this year was

1652
01:47:03.039 --> 01:47:06.600
The Wonderful fairy Tale. According to the script, a witch

1653
01:47:06.680 --> 01:47:10.560
casts a spell on a beautiful damsel, and only truelove's

1654
01:47:10.680 --> 01:47:14.439
kiss could wake her. Greg would study the script every

1655
01:47:14.520 --> 01:47:18.119
evening after activities, really getting into the mindset of the prince.

1656
01:47:18.439 --> 01:47:21.359
He was already rich and handsome, so he was a

1657
01:47:21.399 --> 01:47:24.640
shoe in. He couldn't wait to show Natalie how amazing

1658
01:47:24.720 --> 01:47:28.680
he was at literally everything. He dressed for the day.

1659
01:47:28.840 --> 01:47:32.359
Satisfied with himself, then he stepped into his shoes and

1660
01:47:32.439 --> 01:47:38.600
grimaced dollops of shaving cream foamed around his ankles. Greg sighed,

1661
01:47:39.079 --> 01:47:43.760
everyone else was already outside. His shoes slashed as he sprinted.

1662
01:47:44.399 --> 01:47:47.159
A camp counselor raised the flag as Marty slid his

1663
01:47:47.199 --> 01:47:50.319
bugle away, put his hand over his heart and led

1664
01:47:50.359 --> 01:47:53.720
them in the pledge of allegiance. Greg couldn't help but

1665
01:47:53.800 --> 01:47:57.600
look for Russell. He found the fat head was grinning

1666
01:47:57.600 --> 01:48:02.439
at him. Well, he thought, this isn't going to be good.

1667
01:48:03.399 --> 01:48:06.239
The week went on much in that fashion. Each time

1668
01:48:06.279 --> 01:48:09.520
he tried to impress Natalie, or even just get her attention,

1669
01:48:10.039 --> 01:48:13.000
there was Russell to ruin it for him. It didn't

1670
01:48:13.000 --> 01:48:17.800
matter what sport they played, dodgeball, volleyball, kickball, basketball, tennis.

1671
01:48:17.920 --> 01:48:20.880
When Russell was on the serving end, Greg was always

1672
01:48:21.119 --> 01:48:23.760
on the receiving end. And when Greg had the ball

1673
01:48:24.119 --> 01:48:26.600
he had to either get rid of it immediately or

1674
01:48:26.680 --> 01:48:31.119
be crushed by a stampeding fat head. Sprinkled in between

1675
01:48:31.159 --> 01:48:35.880
being humiliated at every event, Greg kept discovering little surprises,

1676
01:48:36.520 --> 01:48:39.800
and every time he discovered them, Russell wasn't far away.

1677
01:48:40.520 --> 01:48:44.039
Bugs in his backpack, sand in his toothpaste, a toy

1678
01:48:44.159 --> 01:48:47.039
snake in his nightstand. Worst of all was when he

1679
01:48:47.159 --> 01:48:50.680
learned that Russell could sew he'd sewn all of Greg's

1680
01:48:50.760 --> 01:48:55.000
underwear together. He wanted to report all of this to Marty,

1681
01:48:55.079 --> 01:48:58.199
but he didn't dare give either of them the satisfaction.

1682
01:48:58.720 --> 01:49:01.560
He just accepted sign help getting rid of the evidence

1683
01:49:01.960 --> 01:49:06.279
and moved on bunk mates. Simon would say, and it

1684
01:49:06.319 --> 01:49:10.680
would genuinely make Greg smile. Greg didn't shirk his studies

1685
01:49:10.720 --> 01:49:13.399
for the play. In drama class, he was by far

1686
01:49:13.560 --> 01:49:16.760
the loudest and the most expressive. He knew he was

1687
01:49:16.800 --> 01:49:19.000
a shoe in for the Prince. He just needed to

1688
01:49:19.039 --> 01:49:22.319
seal the deal. He couldn't understand why people were laughing,

1689
01:49:22.800 --> 01:49:26.079
but he was getting a reaction. The evening before auditions,

1690
01:49:26.159 --> 01:49:29.159
Greg and Simon sat on the sandbar of Lake Tomatachi

1691
01:49:29.359 --> 01:49:34.760
talking shop. Simon shuddered, that thing is so creepy. Greg

1692
01:49:34.800 --> 01:49:38.039
followed his gaze. There was an electric blue porta potty

1693
01:49:38.039 --> 01:49:41.239
at the edge of the forest. Marty explained that because

1694
01:49:41.279 --> 01:49:44.479
the cabins were so far from the sandbar, they'd installed

1695
01:49:44.479 --> 01:49:49.319
a blue box in case of emergencies. Greg felt unease,

1696
01:49:49.520 --> 01:49:53.000
nodding his guts. It was fact those things contained all

1697
01:49:53.119 --> 01:49:57.199
kinds of sickness and disease, and they stank. No one

1698
01:49:57.279 --> 01:50:00.199
with any sense would ever use one of them. At

1699
01:50:00.279 --> 01:50:03.800
least that's what his mom said. Those things really give

1700
01:50:03.840 --> 01:50:07.199
me the hebe gebies. Greg said, I wouldn't go inside

1701
01:50:07.239 --> 01:50:10.920
of that thing in a thousand years. Behind them, a tall,

1702
01:50:11.039 --> 01:50:13.640
fat head with a red mullet burst from the bushes.

1703
01:50:14.119 --> 01:50:18.399
Really the hebe gbis. He lifted Greg by the shirt,

1704
01:50:18.479 --> 01:50:22.520
grinning from ear to ear. You don't say he hauled

1705
01:50:22.560 --> 01:50:25.319
Greg in the direction of the electric blue germ box.

1706
01:50:25.840 --> 01:50:28.720
Greg pumped the brakes, digging his bare feet deep into

1707
01:50:28.760 --> 01:50:31.960
the dirt. His shoes were far behind next to Simon. No,

1708
01:50:32.199 --> 01:50:34.640
he thought, No, my bare feet can't touch that floor

1709
01:50:34.680 --> 01:50:38.800
in there. No, put me down, fat head, Greg shouted.

1710
01:50:39.119 --> 01:50:41.960
Simon on his heels echoed put him down, fat head.

1711
01:50:42.520 --> 01:50:46.680
Russell backhanded Simon, sending his glasses flying. The boy quickly

1712
01:50:46.680 --> 01:50:49.960
shuffled to all four, searching madly for them. Greg tried

1713
01:50:50.000 --> 01:50:52.119
to put up a fight, but Russell shook him like

1714
01:50:52.119 --> 01:50:55.199
a sack of marshmallows. His brain careened in his skull,

1715
01:50:55.279 --> 01:50:58.279
making him see double. The door of the germ box

1716
01:50:58.800 --> 01:51:04.760
swung open. No, Greg cried, please, Russell. No. Russell threw

1717
01:51:04.800 --> 01:51:08.039
him inside and shut the door. Greg kicked and yelled,

1718
01:51:08.279 --> 01:51:11.319
but it wouldn't budge. He heard Russell laughing as he

1719
01:51:11.359 --> 01:51:15.159
shoved something against the door, blocking it good. Greg's bare

1720
01:51:15.159 --> 01:51:19.199
feet touched the floor germs, he thought, I can feel

1721
01:51:19.199 --> 01:51:25.800
the germs between my toes. He screamed, Simon, help, I'm

1722
01:51:25.840 --> 01:51:30.000
running for Martie. Greg, No, you don't snitch. Two sets

1723
01:51:30.000 --> 01:51:34.600
of running feet faded away. Whatever trapped him was jammed solid.

1724
01:51:35.159 --> 01:51:38.399
He wanted to hyperventilate, but he didn't dare breathe. The

1725
01:51:38.439 --> 01:51:43.319
toxic fumes might kill him. Actually, he thought it didn't

1726
01:51:43.359 --> 01:51:48.520
smell too bad. It was relatively clean for what it was,

1727
01:51:49.239 --> 01:51:53.840
But grime began to seep between his bare toes. What

1728
01:51:53.880 --> 01:51:57.720
would the Prince do? He thought? He raised the toilet lid.

1729
01:51:58.319 --> 01:52:01.840
Some brave souls had definitely he'd been here already. Waist

1730
01:52:02.000 --> 01:52:06.520
floated in the blue liquid below. He gagged, slamming it closed.

1731
01:52:07.199 --> 01:52:12.720
Anger welled inside of him. I wish Russell would just disappear.

1732
01:52:13.800 --> 01:52:17.159
There was a knock. Greg looked at the door. Maybe

1733
01:52:17.199 --> 01:52:22.199
someone heard him screaming, hello, can you help me? There

1734
01:52:22.239 --> 01:52:26.199
was another knock. It hadn't come from the outside. It

1735
01:52:26.279 --> 01:52:30.800
came from the toilet, from under the seat. He hesitated,

1736
01:52:30.920 --> 01:52:37.159
his heart thudding in his neck. Hello. The knock came again, louder.

1737
01:52:38.159 --> 01:52:41.680
Greg lifted the lid. There was a woman down there,

1738
01:52:41.720 --> 01:52:45.199
looking up at him. Her long, wet hair nodded in clumps,

1739
01:52:45.319 --> 01:52:53.399
and her skin was stained a dark blue. She smiled thinly. Hello.

1740
01:52:53.600 --> 01:52:57.720
Greg wanted to scream, but he couldn't. Her head bobbed

1741
01:52:57.720 --> 01:53:00.680
out of the toilet bowl into the light. He backed

1742
01:53:00.680 --> 01:53:03.439
as far away as he could, but they were basically

1743
01:53:03.520 --> 01:53:08.880
face to face. Who are you? He uttered. The lady

1744
01:53:08.960 --> 01:53:12.520
cocked her head to one side and blue liquid ran

1745
01:53:12.720 --> 01:53:16.279
from her ear. Greg barely kept from losing his lunch.

1746
01:53:17.279 --> 01:53:21.039
Her voice was soft. I'm the lady of the lake.

1747
01:53:21.880 --> 01:53:27.720
I heard your wish. Greg was stunned. My wish. The

1748
01:53:27.840 --> 01:53:32.920
lady nodded enthusiastically. I can help you tell me what

1749
01:53:33.000 --> 01:53:37.359
you wish and it will be so. Greg thought of

1750
01:53:37.399 --> 01:53:40.800
his game. Was this his chance to grab the star?

1751
01:53:41.560 --> 01:53:44.279
With Russell out of the way, he'd have no problem

1752
01:53:44.319 --> 01:53:50.319
in pressing Natalie fine. Greg said, I I wish that

1753
01:53:50.439 --> 01:53:56.119
Russell would disappear. The lady smiled, bowed her head, and

1754
01:53:56.239 --> 01:54:01.239
disappeared with a splash. Marty Hartman opened the door, holding

1755
01:54:01.279 --> 01:54:04.439
a large board and a pair of boy's shoes. Are

1756
01:54:04.479 --> 01:54:07.840
you okay, Gregory? Greg wasn't sure how to answer that.

1757
01:54:08.920 --> 01:54:13.920
We'll see, he guessed. Russell got a stern talking to

1758
01:54:14.039 --> 01:54:17.439
about why bullying is bad, but by dinner he wasn't

1759
01:54:17.479 --> 01:54:21.760
in trouble anymore. The fat head smiled at Greg. Greg

1760
01:54:21.840 --> 01:54:26.079
smiled back. He couldn't help himself. Either he'd gone crazy

1761
01:54:26.119 --> 01:54:30.840
in the germ box or after tonight, Russell wouldn't be

1762
01:54:30.880 --> 01:54:36.760
a problem. As the bugle woke him, Greg felt wonderful.

1763
01:54:37.279 --> 01:54:40.359
He looked at where Russell slept. The bed was empty.

1764
01:54:40.840 --> 01:54:43.680
He got ready fast. There were no bugs in his bag,

1765
01:54:43.800 --> 01:54:46.840
no snakes in his nightstand, no sand in this toothpaste.

1766
01:54:46.920 --> 01:54:49.680
When he put on his shoes, there was no shaving cream.

1767
01:54:50.039 --> 01:54:52.960
The flag was raised and they said the Pledge of Allegiance.

1768
01:54:53.520 --> 01:54:56.399
No Russell in sight. As they split into groups. Greg

1769
01:54:56.439 --> 01:55:02.039
stopped Marty, Hey, He asked, where's Russell? Marty checked his clipboard.

1770
01:55:03.159 --> 01:55:10.800
I'm sorry, who, Greg blinked Russell. Marty checked his clipboard again. Who.

1771
01:55:11.000 --> 01:55:17.279
Greg smiled, Oh, no, unimportant. That day was amazing. With

1772
01:55:17.399 --> 01:55:19.880
no fat head interference. He was able to put in

1773
01:55:19.920 --> 01:55:22.920
some time with Natalie. She didn't seem all that interested

1774
01:55:22.960 --> 01:55:26.600
in talking. In fact, she seemed to try and avoid Greg,

1775
01:55:26.720 --> 01:55:31.520
but Greg was confident that that would change soon. At auditions,

1776
01:55:31.600 --> 01:55:34.800
Natalie killed it, drawing applause from the entire crowd. She

1777
01:55:34.960 --> 01:55:36.840
was a shoe in for the part of the damsel.

1778
01:55:37.399 --> 01:55:40.000
Greg put in the performance of a lifetime. He didn't

1779
01:55:40.079 --> 01:55:43.159
just pretend to be the Prince. He was the Prince

1780
01:55:43.760 --> 01:55:47.640
instead of a standing ovation. People laughed. He didn't understand

1781
01:55:47.640 --> 01:55:51.039
what they thought was so funny. Still, he was confident.

1782
01:55:51.720 --> 01:55:54.960
That night he had two sloppy Joes to celebrate. It

1783
01:55:55.039 --> 01:55:57.760
wasn't long before Marty posted the rolls on the Squirrel

1784
01:55:57.760 --> 01:56:01.880
bulletin board. Bodies buzzed Dick decidedly around the results. Greg

1785
01:56:01.880 --> 01:56:04.279
couldn't see through them, but it was clear by murmurs

1786
01:56:04.359 --> 01:56:08.399
that Natalie got the part of the damsel. To his confusion,

1787
01:56:08.640 --> 01:56:11.920
a lot of people were congratulating Simon. He supposed that

1788
01:56:12.000 --> 01:56:15.920
Simon got the party wanted Borkley the comic relief. He

1789
01:56:16.039 --> 01:56:18.359
shoved through the crowd and scanned the list for his name,

1790
01:56:19.079 --> 01:56:24.079
But there had been some mistake. Simon Biles the Prince,

1791
01:56:24.800 --> 01:56:28.880
Greg gree Gaspard Borkley his jaw hit the top of

1792
01:56:28.920 --> 01:56:33.840
his shoes. How could this happen? Simon, looking dejected, put

1793
01:56:33.840 --> 01:56:37.000
out a hand to shake. You gave it hell, bunk mate,

1794
01:56:37.359 --> 01:56:41.840
He'll be an awesome borkley. Greg stared at the hand shaking.

1795
01:56:42.239 --> 01:56:46.600
He squeezed a bit harder than he intended. Congrats Pal.

1796
01:56:47.439 --> 01:56:50.680
He hid the storm cloud in his heart. He needed

1797
01:56:50.720 --> 01:56:54.920
to walk clear his head. And then the storm cloud

1798
01:56:54.920 --> 01:57:01.760
had a flash of lightning. Lake Tomatachi, the sandbar. He

1799
01:57:01.800 --> 01:57:04.960
went straight to the germ box, locking the door behind him.

1800
01:57:05.359 --> 01:57:09.159
The darkness magnified the smell. He was terrified, but he

1801
01:57:09.239 --> 01:57:12.159
was out of options. Simon had simply forced his hand.

1802
01:57:12.680 --> 01:57:16.800
He lifted the lid of the toilet, swatting the fetid air. Tentatively,

1803
01:57:16.880 --> 01:57:19.880
he said, I wish I was the lead in the

1804
01:57:19.920 --> 01:57:24.199
camp play. The stark outline of a head dripping blue

1805
01:57:24.279 --> 01:57:28.279
liquid floated out of the toilet bowl. Is that so?

1806
01:57:29.520 --> 01:57:35.079
Greg swallowed hard yep. Before when he'd made his wish,

1807
01:57:35.439 --> 01:57:41.840
she disappeared almost immediately. This time she lingered, floating ghostly quiet.

1808
01:57:42.640 --> 01:57:46.720
Greg could hear his breathing. After an eon, she cut

1809
01:57:46.720 --> 01:57:53.960
the silence. Anything else. The words surprised Greg. Yeah, I

1810
01:57:54.079 --> 01:57:59.960
suppose there's this girl, Natalie Carver. I wish she liked

1811
01:58:00.319 --> 01:58:06.119
me a lot. She gave a low bow, then disappeared.

1812
01:58:06.920 --> 01:58:10.239
Greg quickly shut the lid. Well, he said to no one,

1813
01:58:10.960 --> 01:58:14.880
that's that. He crept back to Squirrel Lodge among the

1814
01:58:14.960 --> 01:58:18.880
kids running wild. Simon was talking to Nadley. She was

1815
01:58:18.920 --> 01:58:22.840
smiling at him. Greg had had enough. He left and

1816
01:58:22.920 --> 01:58:26.319
went to bed. He tossed and turned for a long time,

1817
01:58:26.520 --> 01:58:29.960
wrestling with the Knight's events. When he finally dreamed he

1818
01:58:30.079 --> 01:58:33.000
was at one of his dad's golf tournaments. His swing

1819
01:58:33.119 --> 01:58:37.119
was perfect. The ball plunked into the electric blue germ

1820
01:58:37.159 --> 01:58:43.359
box hole in wine. The bugle sounded, and everyone rose

1821
01:58:43.439 --> 01:58:49.399
to greet the day except Simon. A medical emergency was declared.

1822
01:58:49.439 --> 01:58:52.119
Simon was wheeled out of the cabin by ems. His

1823
01:58:52.239 --> 01:58:55.680
glasses dropped from his face, skittering on the ground. Greg

1824
01:58:55.760 --> 01:58:58.479
picked them up. Simon reached out to him with a

1825
01:58:58.520 --> 01:59:01.560
red and white striped hand. He was striped like that

1826
01:59:01.760 --> 01:59:08.359
all over his entire body. Thanks, bunk, mate, Simon said, weakly,

1827
01:59:08.399 --> 01:59:11.960
putting on his glasses. He gave Greg a pitiful smile.

1828
01:59:12.880 --> 01:59:16.800
Even his teeth were striped. The ambulance doors were shut

1829
01:59:17.000 --> 01:59:21.560
and the vehicle roared away. Greg felt genuinely terrible about

1830
01:59:21.560 --> 01:59:27.119
what he'd done until he locked eyes with Natalie Carver.

1831
01:59:28.000 --> 01:59:30.279
She looked at him in a way that made steam

1832
01:59:30.399 --> 01:59:33.760
whistle out of his ears. Marty walked up to him,

1833
01:59:33.960 --> 01:59:37.159
shaking his head and looking at his clipboard. Sorry to

1834
01:59:37.199 --> 01:59:40.479
ask like this, he said, I know he was your friend,

1835
01:59:40.520 --> 01:59:44.239
but the show must go on. It's what Simon would

1836
01:59:44.239 --> 01:59:48.039
have wanted. How do you feel about being the Prince?

1837
01:59:49.119 --> 01:59:54.560
Gregg's eyes never left Natalie's. Yes, he said, I think

1838
01:59:54.640 --> 01:59:58.560
Simon would want that. Marty checked something off his clipboard,

1839
01:59:58.800 --> 02:00:07.079
enthusiastically fantastic. During activities, Greg and Natalie were inseparable. Instead

1840
02:00:07.119 --> 02:00:10.199
of participating, they doted on each other, laughing at everything

1841
02:00:10.239 --> 02:00:13.159
the other said. More than once, camp counselors had to

1842
02:00:13.199 --> 02:00:17.000
separate them. During the afternoon break, they stole away to

1843
02:00:17.079 --> 02:00:22.880
a secret alcove near Lake Tomatachi, far from camp counselor's eyes. Oh, Greg,

1844
02:00:23.239 --> 02:00:25.840
Natalie said, I don't know what it is about you.

1845
02:00:25.840 --> 02:00:31.079
You're just so funny. Greg shrugged, What can I say, Milady?

1846
02:00:31.760 --> 02:00:35.720
Natalie lost it. Greg laughed himself. He was pretty funny.

1847
02:00:36.640 --> 02:00:40.560
It's too bad, she moped in a few days, I'll

1848
02:00:40.600 --> 02:00:42.720
have to go back home, and you'll have to go

1849
02:00:42.800 --> 02:00:45.600
back home, and we'll probably never see each other again.

1850
02:00:46.720 --> 02:00:50.479
Greg had other plans. They locked eyes for a long time,

1851
02:00:51.600 --> 02:00:56.279
never say never, they kissed. It was just one and

1852
02:00:56.319 --> 02:00:59.000
it was over fast, but to Greg it lasted a

1853
02:00:59.039 --> 02:01:03.640
lifetime woozy as they rubbed noses. We better get back,

1854
02:01:03.880 --> 02:01:07.479
he said, they'll be looking for us soon. I know,

1855
02:01:08.000 --> 02:01:12.840
Natalie said, tittering. We're so bad. They walked, holding hands,

1856
02:01:13.079 --> 02:01:17.520
the sandbar crunching under their feet. The germ box loomed ahead.

1857
02:01:18.720 --> 02:01:22.680
I'll catch up, Greg said, I need to pee. Oh,

1858
02:01:23.159 --> 02:01:27.840
Natalie said, I can wait on you. Uh, don't be ridiculous,

1859
02:01:27.880 --> 02:01:31.680
I'll catch up. She hesitated, not wanting to move. Then

1860
02:01:31.760 --> 02:01:36.359
she gave up, pouting. Fine, but seriously, don't take too long.

1861
02:01:36.920 --> 02:01:40.920
I'll miss you. She sulked away. Greg went into the

1862
02:01:40.960 --> 02:01:45.359
germ box and locked the door. I wish I never

1863
02:01:45.439 --> 02:01:48.960
had to go home. He raised the toilet seat. She

1864
02:01:49.119 --> 02:01:52.319
smiled up at him, content not to come up. You

1865
02:01:52.439 --> 02:01:57.840
sure about that, she asked. Greg cleared his throat. Yes.

1866
02:01:58.760 --> 02:02:03.640
The lady nodded, then sank into the dirty abyss. That night,

1867
02:02:04.000 --> 02:02:09.840
Greg's dreams were filled with handholding, hugs and best of all, kisses.

1868
02:02:10.800 --> 02:02:16.880
He got his star power up. He was unstoppable. No

1869
02:02:17.000 --> 02:02:22.600
bugle screeched that morning. Instead, Greg was called into Marty's office.

1870
02:02:22.720 --> 02:02:25.479
He thought maybe he and Natalie were in trouble, but

1871
02:02:25.560 --> 02:02:32.520
Marty looked too grave for that. Gregory, he said, tears

1872
02:02:32.560 --> 02:02:36.399
welling in his eyes. I really don't know how to

1873
02:02:36.439 --> 02:02:40.199
say this. Greg grew impatient, ready to spend the day

1874
02:02:40.199 --> 02:02:46.000
with Natalie, ready for another kiss. Well, spit it out already.

1875
02:02:47.119 --> 02:02:51.880
Marty blew his nose. I'm so sorry. We got a

1876
02:02:51.920 --> 02:02:57.359
call that your father crashed his helicopter. Your parents are

1877
02:02:58.520 --> 02:03:02.520
Greg sank in his chair. Marty handed him a tissue.

1878
02:03:03.199 --> 02:03:05.720
Greg looked at it, not sure what to do with it,

1879
02:03:06.239 --> 02:03:09.880
not sure about anything. Eventually he was able to speak.

1880
02:03:10.720 --> 02:03:19.239
I need to go home, Marty winced. Actually Greg's eyes

1881
02:03:19.319 --> 02:03:25.640
went wide. What your neighbor called? There was a fire,

1882
02:03:26.199 --> 02:03:32.960
something electrical. Your house was totally destroyed. Greg laughed, unbelieving

1883
02:03:33.560 --> 02:03:38.680
it wasn't a happy laugh. Marty shook his head. I'm sorry, Gregory,

1884
02:03:39.199 --> 02:03:42.279
I can counsel you through this. Do you need a hug?

1885
02:03:43.039 --> 02:03:48.000
Greg crumpled the tissue in his hand. No, what am

1886
02:03:48.000 --> 02:03:52.039
I supposed to do? Well? You can stay here. We

1887
02:03:52.159 --> 02:03:57.600
have everything you need. No, Greg shouted now, Gregory Marty said,

1888
02:03:57.960 --> 02:04:01.840
it's lovely in the winter. This wasn't the deal, He shouted,

1889
02:04:02.159 --> 02:04:07.319
she tricked me. Marty's mustache twitched. Who tricked you? Greg

1890
02:04:07.399 --> 02:04:12.439
stormed out Gregory. Marty shouted, come back. I'm not finished

1891
02:04:12.479 --> 02:04:16.359
counseling you. Greg almost sprinted past the kids, saying the

1892
02:04:16.359 --> 02:04:19.680
pledge of allegiance. Natalie seized him by the arm. She

1893
02:04:19.800 --> 02:04:23.680
had a crazy look in her eye. Greg, don't you

1894
02:04:23.760 --> 02:04:26.920
ever scare me like that again? Where were you get

1895
02:04:26.960 --> 02:04:30.520
off me? He yelled, pulling away. Natalie's face went from

1896
02:04:30.600 --> 02:04:35.920
hurt to fury to pleading to love. I'll never leave you, Greg,

1897
02:04:36.399 --> 02:04:39.920
what's wrong? Let me help you. Greg was crying, leave

1898
02:04:39.960 --> 02:04:44.840
me alone. He ran towards Lake Tomatachi, Natalie close behind him.

1899
02:04:45.199 --> 02:04:48.600
She was frothing mad. Greg, don't you run for me.

1900
02:04:49.119 --> 02:04:52.199
You can't get away from me. He locked himself in

1901
02:04:52.199 --> 02:04:55.920
the germ box. She pulled and banged and even headbutted

1902
02:04:55.920 --> 02:04:58.560
the door. Get out here so I can help you,

1903
02:04:59.199 --> 02:05:02.960
she shouted, as her claws scraped down the electric blue plastic.

1904
02:05:04.239 --> 02:05:07.600
The smell was horrible. Greg lifted the lid, releasing a

1905
02:05:07.640 --> 02:05:12.159
swarm of flies. Get out here, he commanded. A face

1906
02:05:12.239 --> 02:05:15.439
bobbed out of the blue liquid floating among the waist.

1907
02:05:16.079 --> 02:05:21.960
It was grinning with thin sharp teeth. Marty muled outside. Greg,

1908
02:05:22.239 --> 02:05:25.800
come out here, let me counsel you. The box shook

1909
02:05:25.800 --> 02:05:29.199
as Natalie assaulted it. He could see her wild eyes

1910
02:05:29.239 --> 02:05:31.960
through the crack. It wouldn't be long before she pulled

1911
02:05:31.960 --> 02:05:36.039
the door off the hinges Greg. When Greg turned back

1912
02:05:36.079 --> 02:05:39.039
to the lady, her head stuck high out of the bowl.

1913
02:05:39.560 --> 02:05:43.279
She seemed to bulge from under there, barely contained. She

1914
02:05:43.479 --> 02:05:47.439
was big, he realized. He wondered with some horror what

1915
02:05:47.560 --> 02:05:51.079
she'd looked like, hauled up on land gills ran the

1916
02:05:51.159 --> 02:05:57.399
length of her serpentine neck. You called you cheated, he said,

1917
02:05:57.720 --> 02:06:02.079
My wish didn't come true. Her blue tongue licked dripping

1918
02:06:02.159 --> 02:06:06.640
liquids from her lips. You wished you didn't have to

1919
02:06:06.680 --> 02:06:11.680
go home. The door flexed, the plastic nearly buckling His parents,

1920
02:06:11.760 --> 02:06:14.880
his house, this camp, it was all too much for him.

1921
02:06:15.359 --> 02:06:18.680
He had to escape. He wanted out. He looked at

1922
02:06:18.720 --> 02:06:23.560
the lady, his voice of fury, Get me out of here.

1923
02:06:24.439 --> 02:06:28.680
She cocked her head. Are you sure about that, Greg

1924
02:06:28.760 --> 02:06:33.680
gestured behind him. Yes, I wish I could disappear. The

1925
02:06:33.760 --> 02:06:39.880
lady's pupils grew massive, very well. Her head lurched forward,

1926
02:06:39.920 --> 02:06:43.239
biting into his fingers. Shocked, Greg screamed as the needlelike

1927
02:06:43.319 --> 02:06:46.119
teeth sank into his knuckles. Her gills opened and she

1928
02:06:46.199 --> 02:06:51.279
blew ultramarine liquid everywhere. Slowly, she slid into the toilet bowl,

1929
02:06:51.479 --> 02:06:55.039
cackling as she did. Greg pulled and protested, but she

1930
02:06:55.079 --> 02:06:58.800
wouldn't let him go. He reached for the handle, but

1931
02:06:58.880 --> 02:07:02.520
he was already too far. He flailed madly as he

1932
02:07:02.600 --> 02:07:07.479
was pulled into the darkness, into a sea of ultramarine blue.

1933
02:07:07.640 --> 02:07:11.439
The bowl muffled his screams as he slipped. Marty muled

1934
02:07:11.439 --> 02:07:17.479
from the outside. Greg. Let me counsel you, Natalie screeched, Greg,

1935
02:07:17.880 --> 02:07:21.479
let me help you. The lady slid below the surface,

1936
02:07:21.520 --> 02:07:25.479
her eyes glowing in the dark. Liquid. Dread seized Greg

1937
02:07:25.720 --> 02:07:29.279
as the greasy fluid ran up his arm. He squealed

1938
02:07:29.279 --> 02:07:32.079
as his grip failed and he was pulled fully into

1939
02:07:32.159 --> 02:07:36.359
the bowl with a great splash. Natalie pulled the door

1940
02:07:36.399 --> 02:07:39.960
off its hinges, throwing it to the side. Greg was

1941
02:07:40.039 --> 02:07:43.880
nowhere to be seen. She and Marty held their noses

1942
02:07:43.920 --> 02:07:46.479
as they looked down the open lid, just in time

1943
02:07:46.800 --> 02:07:49.239
to see a grouping of bubbles float to the top.

1944
02:07:50.159 --> 02:07:55.079
One by one, they popped, and the waist floating on

1945
02:07:55.119 --> 02:08:10.640
the blue sea grew deathly still. The Devil Most Three

1946
02:08:10.680 --> 02:08:17.239
records by John o'cdoll, a Weekly Spunky original. Chester Killbuck

1947
02:08:17.319 --> 02:08:20.000
and Bobby Lee Starr were one of the hottest bluegrass

1948
02:08:20.079 --> 02:08:23.079
duos of the fifties and early sixties, but it all

1949
02:08:23.199 --> 02:08:26.159
ended in a dumpster behind the Avalon Ballroom in San

1950
02:08:26.199 --> 02:08:30.199
Francisco in nineteen sixty eight. Like a lot of bluegrass

1951
02:08:30.279 --> 02:08:33.239
musicians at the time, they started in the Bluegrass Boys

1952
02:08:33.239 --> 02:08:35.760
in the late forties and then joined the Foggy Mountain

1953
02:08:35.760 --> 02:08:38.399
Boys in the early fifties before setting off on their

1954
02:08:38.439 --> 02:08:42.840
own as Killbuck and Star. Chester and Bobby Lee couldn't

1955
02:08:42.840 --> 02:08:46.000
have been more different, and thus made an unlikely team.

1956
02:08:46.479 --> 02:08:50.199
Chester was married three or four times and had several

1957
02:08:50.319 --> 02:08:54.359
kids that hated him, and several more he wouldn't admit

1958
02:08:54.399 --> 02:08:57.039
to having and who didn't know he was their daddy.

1959
02:08:57.720 --> 02:09:00.479
Bobby Lee was still married to his first wife, Marian,

1960
02:09:00.560 --> 02:09:03.560
and they had a son, Johnny, who was born blind

1961
02:09:03.640 --> 02:09:06.800
in nineteen forty six and who Bobby Lee lived and

1962
02:09:06.880 --> 02:09:10.680
died for. Chester followed the old ways in the old music,

1963
02:09:10.840 --> 02:09:13.800
but Bobby Lee saw things differently. When his son started

1964
02:09:13.800 --> 02:09:17.000
playing folk music with a couple of other guys, Bobby

1965
02:09:17.079 --> 02:09:20.000
Lee wanted to add some more Bob Dylan and Graham

1966
02:09:20.000 --> 02:09:23.800
Parsons to their song list, but Chester said that would

1967
02:09:23.840 --> 02:09:26.800
never get them on the Porter Wagner Show and they

1968
02:09:26.800 --> 02:09:30.159
would get booed out of the Grand Old opry. Bobby

1969
02:09:30.199 --> 02:09:32.439
Lee got through a lot of his disagreements with Chester

1970
02:09:32.560 --> 02:09:35.000
by bringing Johnny on the road with him when he

1971
02:09:35.039 --> 02:09:38.000
was old enough, and Johnny became a great mandolin player

1972
02:09:38.039 --> 02:09:40.319
in his own right. So in the same way that

1973
02:09:40.359 --> 02:09:42.880
they wanted to leave Bill Monroe and then leave Flatt

1974
02:09:42.920 --> 02:09:45.800
and Scrugs, Johnny wanted to forge out on his own.

1975
02:09:46.319 --> 02:09:49.239
It was the way of things, and Bobby Lee could

1976
02:09:49.319 --> 02:09:52.840
not deny his son. But his son still needed him,

1977
02:09:53.119 --> 02:09:55.520
So when Johnny Starr made a deal for his own

1978
02:09:55.560 --> 02:09:58.880
band with the Avalon Ballroom, which was the premier venue

1979
02:09:59.079 --> 02:10:02.119
in San Francisco, the center of everything happening in nineteen

1980
02:10:02.159 --> 02:10:05.039
sixty eight, he might have mentioned his dad would come

1981
02:10:05.079 --> 02:10:09.199
and play too, the Avalon promised Kilbuck and Star top

1982
02:10:09.239 --> 02:10:13.479
Billing and Johnny's band Lemon Dirty Fingernails second, ahead of

1983
02:10:13.560 --> 02:10:17.680
the Stone Ponies and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Chester

1984
02:10:18.000 --> 02:10:21.520
was very angry with the deal, but went along with it,

1985
02:10:21.800 --> 02:10:24.439
and as it happened, Kilbuck and Star killed it in

1986
02:10:24.479 --> 02:10:27.159
front of all these young people who were turning on

1987
02:10:27.279 --> 02:10:31.439
to the Bakersfield Sound and the Birds and Dylan, and

1988
02:10:31.600 --> 02:10:34.600
suddenly Bobby Lee could see a future for the duo,

1989
02:10:35.000 --> 02:10:39.079
a future beyond the Long County Fair Tours, a future

1990
02:10:39.159 --> 02:10:42.720
beyond waiting for someone to tap their shoulder for the opry.

1991
02:10:43.439 --> 02:10:46.640
Bobby Lee waited backstage for his son, who was still

1992
02:10:46.640 --> 02:10:49.279
out talking to friends, and it was good that he

1993
02:10:49.359 --> 02:10:53.079
was late, because he found out quickly. Chester was still fuming.

1994
02:10:54.279 --> 02:10:57.039
Bobby Lee found at the little Rickety table in the

1995
02:10:57.119 --> 02:10:59.680
dressing room. His son had left a water bottle with

1996
02:10:59.680 --> 02:11:02.680
a note that said drink me, and a plate of

1997
02:11:02.680 --> 02:11:05.439
food with a note that said eat me. It was

1998
02:11:05.520 --> 02:11:08.119
punched out in braille with the little stylus and sleep

1999
02:11:08.239 --> 02:11:11.920
both father and son had learned to use. Bobby Lee

2000
02:11:11.960 --> 02:11:15.000
was drinking down the water when Chester banged the door open.

2001
02:11:15.800 --> 02:11:18.520
Bobby Lee looked at him with a smile and a squint.

2002
02:11:19.039 --> 02:11:21.239
I thought you slipped off with that little gal in

2003
02:11:21.279 --> 02:11:24.159
the front row and those short shorts, Bobby Lee said.

2004
02:11:24.840 --> 02:11:28.680
Chester's frown deepened. Hell, that gal had more armpit hair

2005
02:11:28.680 --> 02:11:31.119
than I do. You couldn't tell who was the girl

2006
02:11:31.119 --> 02:11:33.640
and who was The boys with all that long hair

2007
02:11:33.680 --> 02:11:38.640
out there, they loved us, Chester, Bobby Lee said, they

2008
02:11:38.640 --> 02:11:42.399
should love their goddamn country. Your son's a cripple and

2009
02:11:42.479 --> 02:11:44.600
has an excuse, but the rest of them boys should

2010
02:11:44.600 --> 02:11:49.079
be over in Vietnam fighting communism. Chester proclaimed that killed

2011
02:11:49.119 --> 02:11:52.720
off Bobby Lee's good feeling. It'd be nice if you

2012
02:11:52.760 --> 02:11:56.000
could be happy with one thing in this world, Bobby

2013
02:11:56.039 --> 02:12:01.840
Lee muttered, but Chester wasn't listening as usual. That one

2014
02:12:01.880 --> 02:12:04.760
hairy soob that plays with Johnny has a dog he

2015
02:12:04.840 --> 02:12:10.159
calls Roya Cuff. Chester added, he means that with respect. Chester,

2016
02:12:10.680 --> 02:12:14.079
Bobby Lee said, you don't name a hound dog after

2017
02:12:14.199 --> 02:12:19.199
roy A Cuff. Chester shot back. Bobby Lee shrugged. These

2018
02:12:19.239 --> 02:12:22.239
young folks they got their own thing going on out here,

2019
02:12:22.560 --> 02:12:25.920
Bobby Lee said. Chester looked at him with narrowed eyes

2020
02:12:25.960 --> 02:12:29.960
and lit a lucky strike. They ain't our people, Bobby Lee.

2021
02:12:30.680 --> 02:12:34.039
Our people are in Oklahoma, in Iowa, and every little

2022
02:12:34.079 --> 02:12:37.920
town between there. In Nashville, this whole state could fall

2023
02:12:37.960 --> 02:12:40.520
off into the ocean, and good riddance till them all.

2024
02:12:41.600 --> 02:12:43.760
Bobby Lee looked at his partner full in the face.

2025
02:12:44.560 --> 02:12:48.159
Johnny is my son, and he's living out here, and

2026
02:12:48.239 --> 02:12:52.359
he's got a band he calls Lemon dirty Fingernails, and

2027
02:12:52.479 --> 02:12:56.439
that ain't a band name, although one word is accurate.

2028
02:12:57.279 --> 02:13:00.840
Bobby Lee swallowed hard and began to sweat. Bobby Lee

2029
02:13:00.920 --> 02:13:05.319
wasn't sure, but it looked like the walls were sweating too.

2030
02:13:05.880 --> 02:13:08.119
I didn't do what I did to end up playing

2031
02:13:08.159 --> 02:13:11.000
too a room full of draft dodgers and drug addicts.

2032
02:13:11.199 --> 02:13:15.800
Chester said. Bobby Lee frowned. What did you do? Chester?

2033
02:13:16.560 --> 02:13:20.560
Bobby Lee thought the flowered wallpaper behind Chester was starting

2034
02:13:20.600 --> 02:13:25.000
to bloom. Chester looked at him. You think Robert Johnson

2035
02:13:25.119 --> 02:13:28.279
was the only man ever met the devil at the crossroads.

2036
02:13:28.880 --> 02:13:31.560
Blues music is in the roots of the soil, but

2037
02:13:31.680 --> 02:13:36.039
so is country music. Those roots are even deeper. You

2038
02:13:36.079 --> 02:13:38.359
don't think a bluegrass man could find his way to

2039
02:13:38.399 --> 02:13:43.760
those crossroads. Chester's normally red face, flushed with anger and drink,

2040
02:13:44.000 --> 02:13:48.399
became even redder. What do you think is at them crossroads?

2041
02:13:49.159 --> 02:13:53.439
Behind him? The flowers bloomed black? Do you think what

2042
02:13:53.600 --> 02:13:57.159
career we have come from? Good looks in your sweet nature?

2043
02:13:57.920 --> 02:14:01.000
Bobby Lee watched a cold smile come acod ross Chester's face,

2044
02:14:01.920 --> 02:14:06.079
full of yellow teeth, and then, as Bobby Lee watched,

2045
02:14:07.359 --> 02:14:10.239
a pair of horns began to grow out of his forehead.

2046
02:14:11.560 --> 02:14:15.560
Chester's voice came in a hard rasp. Let me ask

2047
02:14:15.600 --> 02:14:19.319
you another question. You knew me back when we both

2048
02:14:19.359 --> 02:14:24.479
lived in the Cumberland homesteads up in those mountains, when

2049
02:14:24.560 --> 02:14:27.560
you'd know my family ever have money for a fiddle?

2050
02:14:28.760 --> 02:14:31.359
When did you ever see me practice on one when

2051
02:14:31.359 --> 02:14:35.960
I wasn't already good? In answer, Bobby Lee picked up

2052
02:14:36.000 --> 02:14:39.960
the bottle again and smashed it into Chester's face. Chester

2053
02:14:40.079 --> 02:14:42.319
fell with a growl, and Bobby Lee was on him

2054
02:14:42.319 --> 02:14:45.319
in a flash, choking him. And after a few moments,

2055
02:14:45.760 --> 02:14:50.039
Chester's eyes bulged and the horns receded, and Bobby Lee

2056
02:14:50.119 --> 02:14:54.439
quit his work. The walls quit sweating and blooming, and

2057
02:14:54.520 --> 02:14:57.800
Chester looked like a normal person again, and Bobby Lee

2058
02:14:57.880 --> 02:15:02.479
realized this was going to hard to explain, so Bobby

2059
02:15:02.520 --> 02:15:04.840
Lee dragged Chester out the back door, into an alley

2060
02:15:05.359 --> 02:15:08.319
and heaved him up into a dumpster and hoped that

2061
02:15:08.439 --> 02:15:11.880
was going to be enough. Chester was heavy and it

2062
02:15:11.920 --> 02:15:14.520
was slow going as the ground beneath Bobby Lee seemed

2063
02:15:14.520 --> 02:15:18.039
to buck and heave. Bobby Lee was grateful there wasn't

2064
02:15:18.079 --> 02:15:21.039
anyone lounging at the mouth of the alley during his work.

2065
02:15:21.560 --> 02:15:25.000
The crowd had dispersed, and with them the good vibes,

2066
02:15:25.039 --> 02:15:28.880
and suddenly the Avalon was just a crumbling old building.

2067
02:15:30.079 --> 02:15:32.439
He got back into the tiny dressing room just ahead

2068
02:15:32.439 --> 02:15:36.039
of his son, who came in beaming. Pops, it was

2069
02:15:36.119 --> 02:15:39.560
quite a night, Johnny said. Bobby Lee steadied his voice.

2070
02:15:40.399 --> 02:15:44.920
It was I'm proud of you. Bobby Lee said, where's

2071
02:15:45.000 --> 02:15:49.119
Uncle Chester. Bobby Lee wiped at his brow. Oh, he

2072
02:15:49.239 --> 02:15:54.239
found some trouble to get into I reckon, Johnny nodded,

2073
02:15:54.279 --> 02:15:59.039
then reached out of hand. Pops, you're sweating and you

2074
02:15:59.159 --> 02:16:02.239
sound funny. You drink that water I left for you?

2075
02:16:03.119 --> 02:16:09.520
Sure why? Johnny nodded more seriously and slowly. I'm sorry.

2076
02:16:09.640 --> 02:16:12.279
I wanted to get back here sooner. I wanted to

2077
02:16:12.319 --> 02:16:17.800
go on that trip with you. What trip? I dosed

2078
02:16:17.800 --> 02:16:20.760
that water, Pops. I thought we could tune in together

2079
02:16:20.840 --> 02:16:25.439
tonight to celebrate. It looks like you started without me,

2080
02:16:25.840 --> 02:16:27.600
but I can walk you through the rest of the way.

2081
02:16:28.319 --> 02:16:32.280
Just remember, everybody here is a friend. This place is

2082
02:16:32.280 --> 02:16:37.040
full of love. Tonight, Bobby Lee sat down hard. You

2083
02:16:37.079 --> 02:16:40.399
didn't eat the brownies? Cool? You eat one and I'll

2084
02:16:40.440 --> 02:16:43.120
eat one, and we'll be on this trip together. I

2085
02:16:43.159 --> 02:16:46.200
can see things when I trip, Pops, if you can

2086
02:16:46.200 --> 02:16:51.159
dig that dig was a funny word to Bobby Lee.

2087
02:16:51.280 --> 02:16:55.000
He had dumped, not dug a place for Chester to rest.

2088
02:16:56.040 --> 02:17:01.639
Bobby Lee started laughing. Pops, Bobby Lee couldn't stop laughing

2089
02:17:02.159 --> 02:17:05.879
all night. They got onto the opry after all. When

2090
02:17:05.879 --> 02:17:09.760
they did a tribute show for Chester Killbuck, Bobby Lee

2091
02:17:09.799 --> 02:17:13.879
took Johnny to Nudie's Rodeo Tailors in Hollywood and got

2092
02:17:14.000 --> 02:17:18.120
match in Rhyanstone suits for the gig Earl Scruggs showed

2093
02:17:18.200 --> 02:17:21.680
up and played with them. Mother Maybelle Carter was there,

2094
02:17:21.680 --> 02:17:25.559
and so was Doc Watson. Doc Watson brought his son Merle,

2095
02:17:25.799 --> 02:17:28.559
and Scruggs brought his sons Randy and Gary, and that

2096
02:17:28.719 --> 02:17:32.639
made it more special for Bobby Lee. Roy Acuff was

2097
02:17:32.680 --> 02:17:35.280
the MC and it was just as well nobody, and

2098
02:17:35.360 --> 02:17:38.280
Johnny's band mentioned they had a dog named after him.

2099
02:17:38.760 --> 02:17:41.799
The Summer of Love didn't seem to last a summer.

2100
02:17:41.840 --> 02:17:45.360
Even Johnny's band got broken up by the draft after all,

2101
02:17:45.399 --> 02:17:48.600
and then broken up for good by the Vietcong and

2102
02:17:48.760 --> 02:17:52.520
Din Bien Fu. Some people said the Summer of Love

2103
02:17:52.680 --> 02:17:57.079
ended with the violence at Altamont Speedway, with the Rolling

2104
02:17:57.120 --> 02:17:59.639
Stones and the Hell's Angels and everything that went down.

2105
02:18:00.120 --> 02:18:02.920
Some people pointed to the murder of doctor Martin Luther

2106
02:18:03.040 --> 02:18:07.440
King Junior, and some the killing of Bobby Kennedy. Some

2107
02:18:07.520 --> 02:18:09.879
even said it ended when a hippie girl tricked Chester

2108
02:18:09.959 --> 02:18:13.360
Killbuck into going into an alley with her, where a

2109
02:18:13.399 --> 02:18:16.120
bunch of her friends cornered him and beat him to

2110
02:18:16.159 --> 02:18:20.360
death for his take at the Avalon Ballroom that night.

2111
02:18:21.159 --> 02:18:24.040
The Avalon closed just a few months later and got

2112
02:18:24.040 --> 02:18:27.840
converted into a movie theater. The first movie they showed

2113
02:18:28.440 --> 02:18:32.239
was The Love Bug with Dean Jones. Bobby Lee took

2114
02:18:32.280 --> 02:18:34.079
his son on the road for a short while, but

2115
02:18:34.600 --> 02:18:37.079
Emmy Lou Harris called for him to record and tour

2116
02:18:37.120 --> 02:18:41.120
with her, and once more Bobby Lee could not deny

2117
02:18:41.200 --> 02:18:46.000
his son. Chester was three quarters outlaw, but he was

2118
02:18:46.040 --> 02:18:48.520
the one with the business sense, and Bobby Lee was

2119
02:18:48.559 --> 02:18:52.000
the one that always got lost in the music. That

2120
02:18:52.159 --> 02:18:54.600
is why Bobby Lee felt that if Chester made a deal,

2121
02:18:55.920 --> 02:18:59.159
he should keep it. So Bobby Lee kept doing the

2122
02:18:59.200 --> 02:19:03.200
circuit and the vfw's and the high school gyms, and

2123
02:19:04.200 --> 02:19:05.879
if he was doing a show in a nice small

2124
02:19:05.920 --> 02:19:09.040
town on a Sunday, somebody would always invite him back

2125
02:19:09.040 --> 02:19:13.159
to their house for fried chicken. As the years went on,

2126
02:19:13.239 --> 02:19:16.120
Bobby Lee began to understand more of what might have

2127
02:19:16.239 --> 02:19:20.440
happened that night at the Avalon Ballroom, but he was

2128
02:19:20.479 --> 02:19:24.479
never really quite sure. Because if you sing the old

2129
02:19:24.559 --> 02:19:28.639
songs that people wanted to hear, the gospel and the hymns,

2130
02:19:29.559 --> 02:19:32.760
you had to believe it. You had to believe it

2131
02:19:33.319 --> 02:19:36.799
or the audience would know when you sang will the

2132
02:19:36.840 --> 02:19:40.159
Circle Be Broken? You had to feel that there was

2133
02:19:40.200 --> 02:19:44.360
a better home awaiting by and by. So if you

2134
02:19:44.479 --> 02:19:49.159
believed in one place, it only made sense you believed

2135
02:19:49.159 --> 02:19:52.760
in the opposite place. There had to be an opposite,

2136
02:19:53.559 --> 02:19:58.000
just like Killbuck was the opposite of Star, but they

2137
02:19:58.079 --> 02:20:01.920
only worked their best together. So if Chester Kilbuck had

2138
02:20:01.959 --> 02:20:05.680
really stood at the crossroads and made a promise, it

2139
02:20:05.719 --> 02:20:08.879
was better to keep that promise, then cross your fingers

2140
02:20:09.200 --> 02:20:20.399
and hope that none of it was real. Wilson Road

2141
02:20:21.079 --> 02:20:26.200
by Charles Camp. There is nothing like a dirt road

2142
02:20:26.600 --> 02:20:29.959
in the Deep South. The dust kicked up by your

2143
02:20:30.000 --> 02:20:32.799
truck when you race up the hill after a long

2144
02:20:32.920 --> 02:20:36.559
day of hard work. The occasional deer that looks back

2145
02:20:36.600 --> 02:20:39.879
at you curiously when you round the corner is a

2146
02:20:40.000 --> 02:20:43.680
sight to behold. There are snakes that slither across the

2147
02:20:43.719 --> 02:20:45.879
dirt road to get to the other side of the woods.

2148
02:20:46.559 --> 02:20:49.680
You will see hawks scoping out prey from the trees

2149
02:20:49.719 --> 02:20:52.840
as you move down the dirt road. There are many

2150
02:20:52.879 --> 02:20:56.799
surprises when you go up or down, and old fashioned

2151
02:20:57.319 --> 02:21:02.959
in the woods, authentic dirt road. I should know. I

2152
02:21:03.000 --> 02:21:04.920
grew up in a big house at the top of

2153
02:21:04.959 --> 02:21:07.559
the hill of one of these roads, a road that

2154
02:21:07.680 --> 02:21:12.600
was named after my family, Wilson Road. There is one

2155
02:21:12.680 --> 02:21:16.040
story above the many that stands above them all. It

2156
02:21:16.159 --> 02:21:19.399
was late summer and my cousin came running up the road.

2157
02:21:20.120 --> 02:21:21.719
He was out of breath, and it was a night

2158
02:21:21.799 --> 02:21:26.559
none of us would ever forget. Danny, you gotta come

2159
02:21:26.600 --> 02:21:30.079
down the hill, Tanner hollered. He had his hands on

2160
02:21:30.120 --> 02:21:32.879
his knees and he sucked in air like no tomorrow.

2161
02:21:33.760 --> 02:21:36.680
What happened, Danny asked as he rose from his seat

2162
02:21:36.719 --> 02:21:40.000
on the back steps. I saw something down there. It

2163
02:21:40.040 --> 02:21:42.360
took off in the woods. Go in the house and

2164
02:21:42.399 --> 02:21:46.559
get the shotgun real quick, Tanner said, finally catching his breath.

2165
02:21:47.120 --> 02:21:49.280
Was it a deer? You know we can't shoot deer

2166
02:21:49.319 --> 02:21:53.040
with a shotgun, Danny said, and began to sit back down.

2167
02:21:53.760 --> 02:21:55.600
Don't get back on your ass. Get in the house

2168
02:21:55.600 --> 02:21:58.319
and grab the shotgun. It wasn't any deer. I don't

2169
02:21:58.360 --> 02:22:00.680
know what it was exactly. I just caught a flash

2170
02:22:00.680 --> 02:22:03.280
of it. But it was big and it was an animal.

2171
02:22:03.920 --> 02:22:07.079
You probably just saw a dog, Danny replied, as he

2172
02:22:07.159 --> 02:22:09.920
turned to open the door. He'd grabbed the Remington that

2173
02:22:09.959 --> 02:22:13.200
sat just inside the doorway. What the big house was

2174
02:22:13.280 --> 02:22:17.159
not low on was shotguns. There were a few Winchesters,

2175
02:22:17.399 --> 02:22:21.520
a couple of Mossburgs, and four Remington's. Danny grabbed the

2176
02:22:21.559 --> 02:22:23.920
box of shells, and Tanner was waiting for him at

2177
02:22:23.920 --> 02:22:26.440
the edge of the dirt road. Come on, I'll show

2178
02:22:26.479 --> 02:22:29.079
you where I saw it. I ain't shooting a dog,

2179
02:22:29.200 --> 02:22:33.079
Tanner just telling you that now. It weren't no dog.

2180
02:22:33.200 --> 02:22:36.920
Come on, Tanner wasn't a small guy. He was a

2181
02:22:36.959 --> 02:22:39.799
seventeen year old that had hit his growth spurt at thirteen.

2182
02:22:40.440 --> 02:22:42.959
He was six foot three and still had a little

2183
02:22:43.000 --> 02:22:46.799
growing left in him. Danny was much smaller in stature

2184
02:22:46.840 --> 02:22:50.280
by comparison, standing at just five foot six with a

2185
02:22:50.319 --> 02:22:53.159
slender frame, which made it kind of funny that he

2186
02:22:53.319 --> 02:22:56.559
was the one in charge of the shotgun. Tanner lumbered

2187
02:22:56.600 --> 02:23:00.159
down the hill like sasquatch, with Danny following close behind.

2188
02:23:00.760 --> 02:23:03.600
Tanner pointed, it was down there near the bottom of

2189
02:23:03.680 --> 02:23:06.319
the hill, off close to the creek bed, all right.

2190
02:23:06.360 --> 02:23:09.719
Then Danny racked the remington and stepped off the dirt

2191
02:23:09.840 --> 02:23:12.479
road and led the way in front of Tanner. The

2192
02:23:12.520 --> 02:23:14.520
two of them made their way down the creek bed,

2193
02:23:14.559 --> 02:23:17.680
and Danny noticed something right off the back. There was

2194
02:23:17.719 --> 02:23:21.639
a litany of broken branches lying about. It was as

2195
02:23:21.680 --> 02:23:25.319
if someone tossed them about haphazardly all over the ground.

2196
02:23:26.040 --> 02:23:29.159
They were definitely out of place, as the tree line

2197
02:23:29.200 --> 02:23:32.120
was approximately fifteen yards or so from the edge of

2198
02:23:32.159 --> 02:23:35.559
the creek bed. You see anybody dumping their sticks down here,

2199
02:23:35.959 --> 02:23:39.799
Danny asked Tanner. No, there ain't no tire tracks. I

2200
02:23:39.799 --> 02:23:42.040
don't know why they'd lug all these branches down here

2201
02:23:42.040 --> 02:23:45.000
by foot be easier to run them over to Langley Dump.

2202
02:23:45.520 --> 02:23:50.719
Tanner answered, well, these limbs didn't magically fly from the trees.

2203
02:23:51.360 --> 02:23:53.319
We ain't had no big winds in a couple of

2204
02:23:53.319 --> 02:23:55.479
months at least, And I was down here at the

2205
02:23:55.520 --> 02:23:59.200
creek two days ago and these weren't here. Danny said,

2206
02:23:59.719 --> 02:24:01.600
he he d a three P sixty to see if

2207
02:24:01.639 --> 02:24:04.959
anything else jumped out at him. Tanner acted as if

2208
02:24:04.959 --> 02:24:08.040
the limbs weren't a big deal. The big deal was

2209
02:24:08.120 --> 02:24:11.200
the something he swore he saw. I don't know nothing

2210
02:24:11.239 --> 02:24:13.840
about the stupid sticks, but what I saw was standing

2211
02:24:13.879 --> 02:24:18.360
about where we are now. You see any prince, Danny asked.

2212
02:24:18.639 --> 02:24:23.319
Tanner was looking at the ground looking for that very thing. No,

2213
02:24:23.600 --> 02:24:27.000
but you know how this ground is. It don't hold prints.

2214
02:24:27.079 --> 02:24:31.760
That good, true, Danny said, Let's walk up the creek

2215
02:24:31.799 --> 02:24:35.040
a bit. Danny took the lead and Tanner followed. It

2216
02:24:35.120 --> 02:24:36.879
was going to be dark soon, but the two of

2217
02:24:36.920 --> 02:24:39.159
them knew these woods better than they knew just about

2218
02:24:39.200 --> 02:24:43.399
anything else in the world. Keep your eye out for moccasins,

2219
02:24:44.000 --> 02:24:47.840
Danny warned. Tanner rolled his eyes to signify that Danny

2220
02:24:47.920 --> 02:24:51.200
must have forgotten who he was talking to. Tanner fancied

2221
02:24:51.239 --> 02:24:55.120
himself as the Moccasin King. He had so many skins

2222
02:24:55.159 --> 02:24:57.520
hanging on his walls that he lost count of them.

2223
02:24:58.040 --> 02:25:00.600
I don't know where it could have gone. Almost up

2224
02:25:00.639 --> 02:25:04.159
the old finishing plant, Tanner said. You think it might

2225
02:25:04.159 --> 02:25:08.280
have went in the plant? Danny asked, could be? I

2226
02:25:08.440 --> 02:25:10.959
just got a quick glance before it took off. It

2227
02:25:11.079 --> 02:25:14.360
was big and dark. You'd think I was going crazy,

2228
02:25:14.399 --> 02:25:16.239
But I know what I saw, and I ain't smoked

2229
02:25:16.239 --> 02:25:18.479
any weed in the last week. If that's what you're thinking.

2230
02:25:19.440 --> 02:25:22.000
That bad shit I got from Frog last time taught

2231
02:25:22.000 --> 02:25:25.200
me the error of my ways, Tanner said, with a

2232
02:25:25.600 --> 02:25:30.000
nervous chuckle. Yeah, I don't know where he got that shit.

2233
02:25:30.520 --> 02:25:33.600
He must have grown that out by Langley Pond. It

2234
02:25:33.680 --> 02:25:36.520
messed you up pretty bad. Glad it didn't kill you,

2235
02:25:36.879 --> 02:25:41.280
Danny said, and chuckled himself. Darkness was creeping up around them.

2236
02:25:41.799 --> 02:25:44.000
They could see the lights from the big House, but

2237
02:25:44.360 --> 02:25:47.559
it was quickly receding. Wish I would have grabbed the

2238
02:25:47.559 --> 02:25:50.920
flashlight out of my truck, Danny said, You want me

2239
02:25:50.959 --> 02:25:54.319
to run up there and get it? Real quick. Tanner asked, No,

2240
02:25:54.639 --> 02:25:56.680
you about died when you ran up there a little

2241
02:25:56.680 --> 02:25:59.000
while ago. I'm not telling Nana you died of a

2242
02:25:59.040 --> 02:26:02.399
heart attack. While we your fake monster to the finishing plant.

2243
02:26:03.079 --> 02:26:06.959
You got your lighter, don't you. Yeah, we'll just light

2244
02:26:07.040 --> 02:26:09.440
a few sticks if we need to. We know our

2245
02:26:09.440 --> 02:26:13.920
way around here that we do. There was a crash.

2246
02:26:14.040 --> 02:26:16.360
It sounded like a boulder was dropped from the second

2247
02:26:16.360 --> 02:26:18.639
story of the finishing plant. The two of them looked

2248
02:26:18.639 --> 02:26:21.000
at one another. They knew they were going to find

2249
02:26:21.000 --> 02:26:24.040
out where the noise came from. Danny broke into a

2250
02:26:24.120 --> 02:26:26.559
jog and Tanner fell a little behind. The boys came

2251
02:26:26.639 --> 02:26:28.920
up on the tricky part of the track. They had

2252
02:26:28.920 --> 02:26:32.520
to cross a narrow pipe on foot. One misstep and

2253
02:26:32.559 --> 02:26:36.159
they would go tumbling into the creek below. Danny could

2254
02:26:36.159 --> 02:26:39.399
walk it in his sleep. Tanner could move quickly across

2255
02:26:39.440 --> 02:26:41.680
it in the stark light of day, but he took

2256
02:26:41.799 --> 02:26:45.280
measured steps in the narrow light. He could tell that

2257
02:26:45.360 --> 02:26:47.520
he would probably have to take the long way back

2258
02:26:47.559 --> 02:26:49.559
to the hill when they were done at the plant.

2259
02:26:50.159 --> 02:26:52.680
No way could he balance back across the pipe in

2260
02:26:52.680 --> 02:26:56.079
complete darkness. Good news is that Danny would take the

2261
02:26:56.159 --> 02:26:58.879
long way with him. Danny stood at the end of

2262
02:26:58.879 --> 02:27:02.879
the pipe, patiently waiting on Tanner to finish crossing. He

2263
02:27:03.000 --> 02:27:07.040
stayed quiet as not to startle his large cousin. All right,

2264
02:27:07.120 --> 02:27:10.440
let's go, Danny said. Once Tanner cleared the pipe, the

2265
02:27:10.479 --> 02:27:13.799
boys walked the grooved path to the old plant. There

2266
02:27:13.840 --> 02:27:16.920
was a redneck console and gretel trail of tossed cigarette

2267
02:27:16.959 --> 02:27:21.120
butts and rolling papers. The abandoned plant was a cool

2268
02:27:21.200 --> 02:27:25.000
place for the valley kids to break shit. Danny suspected

2269
02:27:25.000 --> 02:27:28.079
the crashing sound they heard on approach was one or

2270
02:27:28.239 --> 02:27:31.719
more of those said kids screwing around the decrepit building,

2271
02:27:32.479 --> 02:27:35.479
and it was probably one of those kids that Tanner

2272
02:27:35.559 --> 02:27:39.479
saw at the creek bed. The sun was almost fully set,

2273
02:27:39.559 --> 02:27:43.760
with only the last haze disappearing, surrendering the day. It

2274
02:27:43.879 --> 02:27:46.639
was a good thing they were wearing shoes with heavy soles,

2275
02:27:46.680 --> 02:27:49.360
because the crunch of broken glass under their feet as

2276
02:27:49.399 --> 02:27:52.680
they got closer to the building was now prominent with

2277
02:27:52.799 --> 02:27:57.719
every step. The darkness finally enveloped them completely, and the

2278
02:27:57.840 --> 02:28:00.959
night sky was star filled with a full that provided

2279
02:28:01.319 --> 02:28:05.280
adequate light. There were no clouds in the sky, and

2280
02:28:05.360 --> 02:28:08.319
that was good. What the boys didn't need was to

2281
02:28:08.360 --> 02:28:11.079
be stomping around the inside of the gutted plant with

2282
02:28:11.440 --> 02:28:16.840
zero visibility. Danny was very good directionally, but complete darkness

2283
02:28:16.879 --> 02:28:20.920
would definitely test his skill. Let's just stop for a

2284
02:28:20.959 --> 02:28:24.959
minute and listen, Danny said, as he held the shotgun

2285
02:28:25.040 --> 02:28:28.200
by his side. I think you saw a buck, Tanner.

2286
02:28:28.760 --> 02:28:31.200
It warn't no deer. I know what a damn deer

2287
02:28:31.239 --> 02:28:37.360
looks like. Tanner whispered angrily. All right, sh Danny replied.

2288
02:28:38.639 --> 02:28:43.479
The boys got quiet and listened. The wind had ceased

2289
02:28:44.040 --> 02:28:48.079
and the crickets weren't as noisy. They could hear some

2290
02:28:48.239 --> 02:28:51.959
of them, but not the overwhelming chorus that was common

2291
02:28:52.000 --> 02:28:54.399
for this time of the day in this part of

2292
02:28:54.440 --> 02:28:59.799
the woods. Danny finally broke the silence. Well, Tanner, I

2293
02:29:00.159 --> 02:29:02.840
going in there unless we hear something. I don't feel

2294
02:29:02.840 --> 02:29:06.000
like tripping over something and breaking my neck. We can

2295
02:29:06.040 --> 02:29:08.360
take the main road back. I know you can't cross

2296
02:29:08.399 --> 02:29:12.399
that pipe now, Danny said. Come on, man, I didn't

2297
02:29:12.399 --> 02:29:14.760
make it up. Let's wait about five more minutes, and

2298
02:29:14.760 --> 02:29:17.000
if we don't hear nothing, then we can scoot back.

2299
02:29:17.360 --> 02:29:21.760
Just five more, okay, all right, then five more and

2300
02:29:21.799 --> 02:29:25.680
then we're out of here. Danny replied five minutes. Then

2301
02:29:26.280 --> 02:29:29.360
Tanner said, and no sooner did he get the words

2302
02:29:29.399 --> 02:29:32.959
out of his mouth. There was another loud crash, and

2303
02:29:33.040 --> 02:29:36.120
it definitely came from the second floor of the plant.

2304
02:29:36.959 --> 02:29:40.840
Let's go, Danny said flatly. The boys entered the plant

2305
02:29:40.840 --> 02:29:43.000
from what would have been the back entrance when it

2306
02:29:43.040 --> 02:29:46.399
was functioning. Now there were entry points everywhere that the

2307
02:29:46.440 --> 02:29:49.840
walls had crumbled. It certainly wasn't a safe place to

2308
02:29:49.879 --> 02:29:54.319
be screwing around, especially at night. What remained of the

2309
02:29:54.360 --> 02:29:57.719
old stairs near the back entrance was a precarious snack

2310
02:29:57.799 --> 02:30:02.719
of bricks that resembled stairs, but there were chunks missing

2311
02:30:02.840 --> 02:30:05.760
where he would have to really stretch to reach the

2312
02:30:05.799 --> 02:30:10.000
next usable step. This wasn't a problem for Tanner, but

2313
02:30:10.120 --> 02:30:14.079
presented a challenge for the shorter leg to Danny. Let

2314
02:30:14.079 --> 02:30:17.159
me hold your lighter real quick. Danny motioned for Tanner

2315
02:30:17.159 --> 02:30:20.280
to hand it over. Danny flicked the bit and carefully

2316
02:30:20.319 --> 02:30:23.479
took the lead. Tanner stayed close behind so we could

2317
02:30:23.520 --> 02:30:27.520
grab Danny if he fell backwards. The boys paused when

2318
02:30:27.559 --> 02:30:31.280
another crash broke the silence. Shit, it's up there, all right,

2319
02:30:31.680 --> 02:30:35.399
Tanner whispered. It's not an It it's just some kids,

2320
02:30:35.399 --> 02:30:37.200
and they'll piss their pants when they see us coming

2321
02:30:37.319 --> 02:30:41.319
up there. Danny said, Cuz, I hope you're right what

2322
02:30:41.479 --> 02:30:44.799
I saw weren't no kids. Make sure that shotgun is ready,

2323
02:30:45.079 --> 02:30:49.079
Tanner said. There was no jest in his voice. There

2324
02:30:49.120 --> 02:30:53.040
was a calm clarity that Danny didn't recognize, and his cousin,

2325
02:30:53.879 --> 02:30:57.399
Tanner was never clear about anything, so this gave Danny

2326
02:30:57.479 --> 02:31:02.200
some inner pause to hear this unfamiliar tone in his voice.

2327
02:31:03.040 --> 02:31:06.280
The two of them got to the second floor. Abandoned

2328
02:31:06.319 --> 02:31:08.920
spindles were spread all around, and the light from the

2329
02:31:09.040 --> 02:31:11.959
night sky peaked through the many holes and craters in

2330
02:31:12.000 --> 02:31:15.159
the walls. There were a number of large holes in

2331
02:31:15.200 --> 02:31:17.799
the floor that would send you on a rapid descent

2332
02:31:17.840 --> 02:31:20.200
to the first floor if you stepped fully into one,

2333
02:31:20.879 --> 02:31:23.799
unintended booby traps that the boys would have to navigate

2334
02:31:24.159 --> 02:31:27.959
in order to get to the sound source. There was

2335
02:31:28.000 --> 02:31:31.680
another crash, bricks exploding back in the darkest corner of

2336
02:31:31.719 --> 02:31:34.920
the second floor. It was completely engulfed in darkness, and

2337
02:31:35.040 --> 02:31:37.719
Danny was beginning to second guess their decision to chase

2338
02:31:37.760 --> 02:31:41.879
Tanner's beast. Maybe it wasn't as imaginary as he thought

2339
02:31:42.360 --> 02:31:46.879
just moments before. It's back there, Tanner said, and pointed

2340
02:31:47.440 --> 02:31:51.479
he had no reservation in his voice. It was more determination,

2341
02:31:52.239 --> 02:31:55.000
determination that they were going to find out what he saw,

2342
02:31:55.239 --> 02:31:57.680
and if they needed to pump it full of shotgun shells,

2343
02:31:58.079 --> 02:32:02.120
then so be it. Watch your step, Danny whispered, back,

2344
02:32:02.639 --> 02:32:06.399
stay close and follow my exact steps. It might still

2345
02:32:06.440 --> 02:32:08.840
be some kids screwing around back there, and I'm not

2346
02:32:08.879 --> 02:32:13.239
shooting anything until I can see it. Gotcha, Tanner replied

2347
02:32:13.280 --> 02:32:17.120
in agreement and understanding. The wind picked up just a bit.

2348
02:32:17.799 --> 02:32:19.840
The boys got closer to the dark side of the

2349
02:32:19.879 --> 02:32:23.680
second floor and there was another explosion of brick against wall.

2350
02:32:24.319 --> 02:32:26.520
Danny flicked the bick again and held it out in

2351
02:32:26.520 --> 02:32:28.440
front of him for just a second. He would have

2352
02:32:28.520 --> 02:32:30.760
to give it to Tanner to hold the shotgun properly,

2353
02:32:30.959 --> 02:32:33.200
but he wanted to see if anything would reveal itself

2354
02:32:33.239 --> 02:32:37.319
before they completely walked into the darkness. The boys heard

2355
02:32:37.360 --> 02:32:40.600
the shuffling of what could have been Claus, but they

2356
02:32:40.680 --> 02:32:45.799
still couldn't see anything. Okay, then Danny said and handed

2357
02:32:45.840 --> 02:32:49.200
the lighter back to his cousin keep it lit. Danny

2358
02:32:49.280 --> 02:32:52.040
paused for a couple of seconds, held the shotgun out

2359
02:32:52.079 --> 02:32:56.200
in front, ready to fire, and hollered out, who's back there,

2360
02:32:56.639 --> 02:33:00.520
Come on out now. Tanner was steady with the lighter

2361
02:33:00.719 --> 02:33:04.120
and his breath was measured. Danny couldn't believe how calm

2362
02:33:04.120 --> 02:33:07.319
his cousin was. Danny didn't scare easy, but he was

2363
02:33:07.360 --> 02:33:10.639
beginning to feel something approaching fright, but he fought the

2364
02:33:10.799 --> 02:33:14.520
urge to be trigger happy. The boys stepped completely into

2365
02:33:14.559 --> 02:33:18.840
the darkness, and that's when the Red Eyes turned to

2366
02:33:18.920 --> 02:33:21.680
look at them. Oh shit, shoot it, Danny, you don't

2367
02:33:21.680 --> 02:33:24.360
need to see it. Danny fired the Remington into the

2368
02:33:24.440 --> 02:33:27.760
darkness just below the red eyes. There was a growl

2369
02:33:27.920 --> 02:33:30.920
of anger that shook the boys to their core. Danny

2370
02:33:31.000 --> 02:33:33.760
chambered another shell, and it screamed out of the muzzle

2371
02:33:33.760 --> 02:33:36.760
with nothing but death as its intent. The Red Eyes

2372
02:33:36.799 --> 02:33:40.319
were still there, and the beast moved quickly. Danny was

2373
02:33:40.360 --> 02:33:42.600
in the process of racking the third shell when the

2374
02:33:42.600 --> 02:33:46.040
barrel of the Remington was sliced in half. The beast

2375
02:33:46.120 --> 02:33:49.680
was in front of them. Now. Danny couldn't believe his eyes.

2376
02:33:50.479 --> 02:33:54.000
It was straight out of the movies, only it was

2377
02:33:54.079 --> 02:33:57.719
so much worse. The creature's eyes were blood red and

2378
02:33:57.760 --> 02:34:01.319
its canines were bared. Its stood a good foot taller

2379
02:34:01.360 --> 02:34:04.120
than Tanner and twice as wide. It was haunched on

2380
02:34:04.200 --> 02:34:07.440
its back legs. Tanner and Danny stepped back into the

2381
02:34:07.479 --> 02:34:11.479
lip part of the plant, and the creature walked toward them.

2382
02:34:11.719 --> 02:34:14.280
The boys couldn't just turn and run. They would surely

2383
02:34:14.319 --> 02:34:16.959
step into one of those death traps. They had to

2384
02:34:17.000 --> 02:34:22.239
back away slowly and hope for the best. As they stepped,

2385
02:34:22.840 --> 02:34:26.520
the creature continued to follow. They should have just left

2386
02:34:26.559 --> 02:34:30.280
this thing alone in the dark. Finally, the boys got

2387
02:34:30.319 --> 02:34:35.200
a full body look at the monster. It was covered

2388
02:34:35.239 --> 02:34:38.840
in black fur from head to toe. There was burnt

2389
02:34:38.879 --> 02:34:42.159
hair and scorched flesh from where the shotgun shells found

2390
02:34:42.200 --> 02:34:45.680
their mark. But did little but really piss this thing off.

2391
02:34:46.120 --> 02:34:49.120
It had the ears and snout of a wolf. It

2392
02:34:49.200 --> 02:34:52.680
was a creature of muscle and destruction. It snarled in

2393
02:34:52.799 --> 02:34:55.799
anger and had a hunger in its eyes, but it

2394
02:34:55.840 --> 02:35:02.079
also didn't attack. It looked at the boys. Tanner and

2395
02:35:02.159 --> 02:35:05.239
Danny were silently making their peace with the Lord. As

2396
02:35:05.280 --> 02:35:08.520
the creature was almost on top of them. They were

2397
02:35:08.559 --> 02:35:12.479
going to die, no doubt about it. Tanner and Danny

2398
02:35:12.559 --> 02:35:16.440
closed their eyes and wished for a quick death. Danny

2399
02:35:16.440 --> 02:35:19.319
could feel the hot breath of the creature on his forehead,

2400
02:35:19.920 --> 02:35:24.239
and then it moved to Tanner. The calmness Tanner displayed

2401
02:35:24.280 --> 02:35:29.159
just moments before was all gone. He pissed himself. The

2402
02:35:29.239 --> 02:35:31.520
creature jumped into one of the craters in the floor

2403
02:35:32.159 --> 02:35:37.200
and disappeared into the woods. Tanner and Danny kept their

2404
02:35:37.239 --> 02:35:40.399
eyes closed for another minute or two. Tanner was the

2405
02:35:40.399 --> 02:35:42.959
first one to open his eyes, and he poked his

2406
02:35:43.000 --> 02:35:49.399
cousin in the back. I think it's gone, Tanner said, nervously.

2407
02:35:50.280 --> 02:35:53.600
Danny opened his eyes. He was still holding the shotgun.

2408
02:35:53.920 --> 02:35:57.000
The creature had turned it into the sawed off variety.

2409
02:35:58.079 --> 02:36:00.959
Let's just wait here for another couple minutes before we

2410
02:36:01.440 --> 02:36:05.639
go back out, just in case he's out there waiting,

2411
02:36:06.239 --> 02:36:10.559
Danny said. Let's not. If that thing wanted to kill us,

2412
02:36:10.559 --> 02:36:13.840
he would have. Let's just get out of here, get

2413
02:36:13.840 --> 02:36:17.680
to the road, get back to the house, and don't

2414
02:36:17.719 --> 02:36:24.719
say shit to anybody about this. That was a damn werewolf. Danny. Yeah,

2415
02:36:25.040 --> 02:36:28.680
I wonder what he was doing back in that corner. Well,

2416
02:36:29.639 --> 02:36:32.559
we are on a need to know basis, and we

2417
02:36:32.639 --> 02:36:39.040
don't need to know. Let's go Tanner shouted, and that's

2418
02:36:39.079 --> 02:36:44.120
exactly what the boys did. They went home. They were

2419
02:36:44.159 --> 02:36:48.319
asleep in their beds when Grandpa climbed up the back

2420
02:36:48.360 --> 02:36:52.840
of the house and slipped into the attic. He'd transform

2421
02:36:53.159 --> 02:36:56.760
and be down for breakfast. Grandpa was a good man.

2422
02:36:57.600 --> 02:37:01.600
He wouldn't kill someone unless he had to. When he transformed,

2423
02:37:01.799 --> 02:37:04.280
he'd take out some of the deer around his property

2424
02:37:04.600 --> 02:37:07.040
and then take his aggression out on the many bricks

2425
02:37:07.040 --> 02:37:10.120
inside of the plant. It was better than ripping out

2426
02:37:10.200 --> 02:37:12.440
throats and bringing the weight of the world down on

2427
02:37:12.479 --> 02:37:16.920
his family. Grandpa was happy that the curse had skipped

2428
02:37:16.959 --> 02:37:21.799
over Tanner, but Tanner's kid, if he ever had them,

2429
02:37:22.120 --> 02:37:26.399
would be subject to the curse, and maybe that kid

2430
02:37:26.399 --> 02:37:30.520
would succumb to the animalistic urges of the hunt. Fortunately

2431
02:37:30.600 --> 02:37:33.600
for the valley, the man that currently lived at the

2432
02:37:33.639 --> 02:37:54.120
top of Wilson Road did not summer slaycation by David O'Hanlon.

2433
02:37:57.600 --> 02:38:00.559
The plan is simple, Henry Stout said, around the butt

2434
02:38:00.600 --> 02:38:03.520
of his cigarette. We take the canoes across the lake

2435
02:38:03.760 --> 02:38:06.639
and into the Cypress Maze, and then it's just a

2436
02:38:06.680 --> 02:38:10.120
short hike to the mini Winyan bunk houses. What if

2437
02:38:10.159 --> 02:38:14.159
we get lost Lance Calaveras snatched the smoke from Henry's mouth.

2438
02:38:14.639 --> 02:38:18.360
It's called the maze for a reason. Henry scratched at

2439
02:38:18.399 --> 02:38:21.920
the patch of bristly hair he called his beard. I've

2440
02:38:21.959 --> 02:38:24.319
done the maze three times. I can get us through.

2441
02:38:25.120 --> 02:38:27.479
Henry was on his fourth stay at the Living Grace

2442
02:38:27.559 --> 02:38:31.799
rehabilitation camp for youth offenders. The thirteen week camp was

2443
02:38:31.840 --> 02:38:34.920
developed by Pastor Frank Oppendecker to put kids on the

2444
02:38:34.959 --> 02:38:38.200
straight and narrow through Christ. If that didn't work, the

2445
02:38:38.239 --> 02:38:41.600
former Marine Corps drill instructor had more inventive ways to

2446
02:38:41.680 --> 02:38:45.639
grind the little pukes into productive members of society. The

2447
02:38:45.680 --> 02:38:48.479
Cypress Maze was the final test for all the teens

2448
02:38:48.479 --> 02:38:51.879
that entered the program. If they failed, they completed their

2449
02:38:51.879 --> 02:38:55.000
sentences in a juvenile detention center. It was a one

2450
02:38:55.079 --> 02:39:01.000
time deal. Normally, Father o as the delinquent's took a

2451
02:39:01.040 --> 02:39:04.079
special interest in Henry and brought him back every time

2452
02:39:04.200 --> 02:39:07.399
he reoffended. He saw Henry as the camp's one and

2453
02:39:07.559 --> 02:39:10.959
only failure. Henry saw the camp as a grueling but

2454
02:39:11.159 --> 02:39:15.280
welcomed reprieve from his home, a dilapidated trailer park outside

2455
02:39:15.280 --> 02:39:20.440
of Russellville called the Green Mile, yeah, you've done the maze,

2456
02:39:20.760 --> 02:39:25.719
Lance said, but not at night. Then stay here. Henry

2457
02:39:25.760 --> 02:39:28.600
threw his hands in the air. Maybe Father Roh will

2458
02:39:28.680 --> 02:39:31.680
let you polish the pews for morning service. The rest

2459
02:39:31.719 --> 02:39:34.920
of us are going to the mini Winnions and then

2460
02:39:35.159 --> 02:39:38.120
we'll see Ted Vang cut both his hands to his

2461
02:39:38.239 --> 02:39:43.479
chest as if cradling breasts. Seriously, Ted Dexter Brown shook

2462
02:39:43.520 --> 02:39:46.879
his head with those glasses. You can see them from here.

2463
02:39:48.239 --> 02:39:51.120
Too many trees in the way. Ted adjusted his glasses

2464
02:39:51.159 --> 02:39:55.760
over his plump cheeks. Ted's right, Henry smirked. The Senior

2465
02:39:55.799 --> 02:39:58.959
House is responsible for bed checks and lockdown, so they

2466
02:39:59.040 --> 02:40:02.840
hit the shower's lap. That's when we'll strike. We throw

2467
02:40:02.879 --> 02:40:05.680
the bombs through the windows and they'll all come out running.

2468
02:40:06.559 --> 02:40:09.680
Dexter held up the polaroid camera, and I'll get the

2469
02:40:09.719 --> 02:40:11.879
photos to make sure we all get a good look

2470
02:40:11.920 --> 02:40:15.799
and don't miss out on anything. What about the counselors,

2471
02:40:16.000 --> 02:40:19.840
Jimmy O'Reilly, always the pragmatist, asked, they're going to come running.

2472
02:40:19.840 --> 02:40:24.319
Two These babies aren't exactly subtle. Jimmy tossed one of

2473
02:40:24.360 --> 02:40:27.319
the devices between his hands. It wasn't much bigger than

2474
02:40:27.319 --> 02:40:30.239
a thermos with a main body of paper machet over

2475
02:40:30.360 --> 02:40:34.360
chicken wire with four thinner cardboard tubes attached to the sides.

2476
02:40:34.760 --> 02:40:37.440
A waterproof fuse snaked from the top of all four

2477
02:40:37.479 --> 02:40:39.399
and came together in a braid with that of the

2478
02:40:39.440 --> 02:40:43.120
main device. The entire package was wrapped in black electrical

2479
02:40:43.159 --> 02:40:47.680
tape for easy concealment on the moonless night. Jimmy's unsettling

2480
02:40:47.719 --> 02:40:51.280
interest in things that went boom were what landed him

2481
02:40:51.360 --> 02:40:55.799
in the camp. Spas'll take care of that, Henry reassured them.

2482
02:40:55.959 --> 02:40:59.239
Marco Spaz Reynolds tugged at the ends of his shaggy

2483
02:40:59.280 --> 02:41:03.639
mane and rocked in place, giggling, Yeah, Yeah, I got

2484
02:41:03.639 --> 02:41:05.959
something to keep those pesky counselors out of our business.

2485
02:41:06.879 --> 02:41:11.079
Father Oh handpicked all the campers. He wanted to challenge

2486
02:41:11.120 --> 02:41:14.120
himself as much as the youths. Whether it be Henry's

2487
02:41:14.159 --> 02:41:19.399
seeming inability to rehabilitate Ted's obesity, Dexter's unwillingness to apply

2488
02:41:19.559 --> 02:41:24.600
his genius IQ, Jimmy's authority issues, or Lance's temper, each

2489
02:41:24.639 --> 02:41:27.639
of the sixteens offered him a chance to prove his faith.

2490
02:41:28.280 --> 02:41:31.719
Spaz was no different. He grew up in a satanic

2491
02:41:31.799 --> 02:41:36.159
cult that were currently all facing charges of kidnapping and cannibalism.

2492
02:41:36.399 --> 02:41:38.760
There was no evidence that Spaz had been involved in

2493
02:41:38.799 --> 02:41:41.760
the Colt's crimes, but it didn't matter. He was still

2494
02:41:41.799 --> 02:41:45.440
a devout, devil worshiper. The raised flesh of a pentagram

2495
02:41:45.479 --> 02:41:48.639
branded on his forehead made Spaz a poster child for

2496
02:41:48.719 --> 02:41:54.360
the program. If Father Oh could reform him. Okay, Lance said,

2497
02:41:54.520 --> 02:41:57.559
let's stop talking about it and get moving. He grabbed

2498
02:41:57.559 --> 02:42:02.239
one of Jimmy's devices. No one gets hurt, right, maybe

2499
02:42:02.280 --> 02:42:06.639
their feelings, Jimmy shrugged. It's all smoke and sparks and

2500
02:42:06.719 --> 02:42:09.319
some little pops, just enough to make them think there's

2501
02:42:09.360 --> 02:42:12.799
a fire. The six boys made their way to the

2502
02:42:12.840 --> 02:42:15.600
door of the cabin, and Dexter poked his head out first.

2503
02:42:16.360 --> 02:42:19.719
The pastor's cabin was dark in the distance, opposite the

2504
02:42:19.760 --> 02:42:24.399
oppressive structures of the obstacle course. Dexter nodded the all clear,

2505
02:42:24.639 --> 02:42:27.760
and they eased through the screen door, one after the other,

2506
02:42:28.200 --> 02:42:31.680
careful not to let the rusted spring slam it shut.

2507
02:42:32.520 --> 02:42:36.239
The rubber band of Ted's slingshot twanged softly, followed by

2508
02:42:36.280 --> 02:42:40.479
the unavoidable pop of a light bulb. Shattering. Jimmy stretched

2509
02:42:40.479 --> 02:42:42.639
his neck to watch over the bush for Father Roh's

2510
02:42:42.719 --> 02:42:46.280
lamp to come on. When it didn't, he tapped Ted's shoulder.

2511
02:42:46.639 --> 02:42:49.799
The portly Mongolian fired another stone at the second light

2512
02:42:49.879 --> 02:42:53.399
positioned over the rack of canoes, shards tinkled off the

2513
02:42:53.440 --> 02:42:57.200
fiberglass bodies of the little boats. The boys sprinted across

2514
02:42:57.200 --> 02:42:59.840
the open lot and quickly loosed three of the canoes.

2515
02:43:00.399 --> 02:43:03.000
They carried them overhead, just like the pastor made them

2516
02:43:03.000 --> 02:43:06.159
on their morning marches. The boats hit water, and the

2517
02:43:06.200 --> 02:43:10.520
teens paddled gently into the lake. On the other side

2518
02:43:10.520 --> 02:43:14.200
of the lake, the lovely ladies of the Miniwinnion Girls

2519
02:43:14.239 --> 02:43:17.840
Retreat would be working diligently to finish their nightly duties.

2520
02:43:18.360 --> 02:43:21.600
Then they would head to the showers. Their bare flesh

2521
02:43:21.639 --> 02:43:25.799
was a sirens song sang between the horrid cries of frogs, crickets,

2522
02:43:25.799 --> 02:43:29.319
and cicadas. The six boys increased their rowing without saying

2523
02:43:29.360 --> 02:43:32.079
a word. They were at the mercy of their loins,

2524
02:43:32.079 --> 02:43:35.000
which spurred them faster into the low fog that shrouded

2525
02:43:35.040 --> 02:43:39.799
the mouth of the cypress. Maize Spaz held the narrow

2526
02:43:39.840 --> 02:43:42.479
trunk of a smaller cypress to keep the canoe still

2527
02:43:42.680 --> 02:43:46.559
as Jimmy urinated over the aft. Henry and Ted shared

2528
02:43:46.559 --> 02:43:50.399
the lead boat and panned their flashlights around wildly. Lance

2529
02:43:50.440 --> 02:43:52.920
and Dexter rowed past them and deeper into the maze.

2530
02:43:53.879 --> 02:43:57.399
Glad you know the way, Henry, Lance said, This is

2531
02:43:57.440 --> 02:44:00.319
the right way. Henry responded, I mark the trees. The

2532
02:44:00.399 --> 02:44:03.079
last time I went through the stupid thing. We already

2533
02:44:03.079 --> 02:44:05.159
made it to the second marker, which means the third

2534
02:44:05.200 --> 02:44:09.040
should be right here. That's the halfway point. You've been

2535
02:44:09.040 --> 02:44:12.000
looking for the mark for twenty minutes, Dexter reminded him.

2536
02:44:12.440 --> 02:44:14.440
The girls will already be dried off by the time

2537
02:44:14.479 --> 02:44:18.360
we get there. They'll still be naked, though, Ted reassured

2538
02:44:18.360 --> 02:44:21.680
them all. A sudden splash broke up their debate and

2539
02:44:21.760 --> 02:44:24.879
was immediately followed by a profane cry and another dynamic

2540
02:44:25.000 --> 02:44:27.559
entrance into the marsh. The fourteens turned their lights in

2541
02:44:27.600 --> 02:44:29.879
the direction of the commotion. The red bottom of the

2542
02:44:29.879 --> 02:44:32.360
canoe was facing up and rocking in the turbulence. The

2543
02:44:32.440 --> 02:44:34.719
lights danced over the surface of the water and converged

2544
02:44:34.719 --> 02:44:37.079
on the face down body that drifted away from the

2545
02:44:37.079 --> 02:44:41.200
boat lazily. Oh damn. Dexter went to work with his oar,

2546
02:44:41.440 --> 02:44:45.120
rowing them backwards. Hold on, Jimmy, we're coming. The canoe

2547
02:44:45.200 --> 02:44:47.600
must have come down on him when it flipped. Lance

2548
02:44:47.680 --> 02:44:51.719
rode harder and panned his head mounted light wildly. Where's

2549
02:44:51.760 --> 02:44:55.319
Spaz Get him out of the water. Henry twisted in

2550
02:44:55.360 --> 02:44:58.959
his seat. There's gators out there. Why are we out

2551
02:44:58.959 --> 02:45:01.520
here in the dark? If there's the gaiters, Ted gripped

2552
02:45:01.520 --> 02:45:03.719
his oar like a spear and gazed at the black

2553
02:45:03.799 --> 02:45:07.799
void around them. They hunt at night, Lots of things

2554
02:45:07.879 --> 02:45:11.239
hunt at night. The bank of halogen lights illuminated the

2555
02:45:11.239 --> 02:45:14.399
teens and everything in a sixty foot path. Dexter pulled

2556
02:45:14.479 --> 02:45:17.200
Jimmy's unconscious body across the canoe, behind the glare of

2557
02:45:17.200 --> 02:45:20.159
the bulbs. A silhouette stalked across the deck of a

2558
02:45:20.200 --> 02:45:24.440
camouflaged airboat, the form of some strange malevolence moved behind

2559
02:45:24.520 --> 02:45:27.239
him and slipped over the side, disappearing into the water.

2560
02:45:27.959 --> 02:45:30.479
Ted stood quickly, swinging the paddle over his shoulder like

2561
02:45:30.520 --> 02:45:34.120
a club. Who are you? Ted took a step back,

2562
02:45:34.239 --> 02:45:37.559
rocking the boat hard. Henry leaned forward to the other

2563
02:45:37.639 --> 02:45:40.399
side to steady them. Get out of here, mister our

2564
02:45:40.440 --> 02:45:45.239
Counselor's out here with us. The good Pastor is sound asleep.

2565
02:45:45.719 --> 02:45:49.959
The shadowy figure said, don't struggle too much. I don't

2566
02:45:49.959 --> 02:45:54.479
want you hurting yourself. Something broke the surface beside Lance

2567
02:45:54.479 --> 02:45:58.399
and Dexter. A pair of malforned green brown appendages reached

2568
02:45:58.479 --> 02:46:02.079
up and twisted in jimmy'slath. His body slipped back into

2569
02:46:02.079 --> 02:46:06.159
the marsh. Dexter and Lance grabbed his legs and struggled

2570
02:46:06.159 --> 02:46:08.639
to pull him back in the tug of war intensified

2571
02:46:08.680 --> 02:46:11.319
with the heavy rocking of the canoe. Jimmy's legs were

2572
02:46:11.319 --> 02:46:16.079
completely submerged, then up to his rib cage. Suddenly the

2573
02:46:16.159 --> 02:46:19.399
boys were airborne. They popped their heads above the filthy water,

2574
02:46:19.639 --> 02:46:22.719
coughing and rubbing their eyes clear. Jimmy bobbed beside them.

2575
02:46:22.840 --> 02:46:26.479
They reached for him in unison. They screamed that way too,

2576
02:46:27.239 --> 02:46:30.239
when the bisected body of their bunkmate tipped over and

2577
02:46:30.360 --> 02:46:35.000
sank into the abyss. Dexter watched in horror as Ted

2578
02:46:35.040 --> 02:46:37.879
and Henry were knocked into the marsh. A net sailed

2579
02:46:37.879 --> 02:46:40.680
from the airboat over them, and something beneath the surface

2580
02:46:40.719 --> 02:46:43.600
gathered it, dragging it back to the man hiding behind

2581
02:46:43.600 --> 02:46:47.719
the lights, Lance disappeared with a quick splash. Dexter swam

2582
02:46:47.760 --> 02:46:49.600
as hard as he could. He didn't care if he

2583
02:46:49.639 --> 02:46:52.319
was swimming toward Camp or the Mississippi, just so long

2584
02:46:52.360 --> 02:46:55.000
as he was swimming anywhere that wasn't the Cypress maze.

2585
02:46:55.399 --> 02:46:58.319
Something snagged his shirt. He felt the barbs dragging through

2586
02:46:58.360 --> 02:47:01.879
his flesh, but forced himself off onward. Then he was

2587
02:47:01.959 --> 02:47:09.000
under water, and he wasn't alone. The house sat on

2588
02:47:09.040 --> 02:47:11.440
a tiny island in the back of the bayou, away

2589
02:47:11.440 --> 02:47:15.959
from prying eyes. Sawgrass obscured the boundaries where land met swamp,

2590
02:47:16.120 --> 02:47:18.799
and the tiny dock at which the airboat rocked sedately.

2591
02:47:19.399 --> 02:47:22.440
The ramshackle three story was built shortly after the Civil

2592
02:47:22.479 --> 02:47:25.639
War and abandoned for almost as long. Portions of the

2593
02:47:25.719 --> 02:47:28.680
roof sagged, and others had collapsed long before and were

2594
02:47:28.719 --> 02:47:31.959
patched with tarps. Glass was long gone from the windows,

2595
02:47:32.000 --> 02:47:34.760
and the breeze whistled across the edges of the century

2596
02:47:34.799 --> 02:47:38.879
old shards that remained. Two rusted water tanks had been

2597
02:47:38.920 --> 02:47:42.360
converted to hold gasoline for the generators, and three windmills

2598
02:47:42.399 --> 02:47:46.360
provided the rest of his electricity. The owner stretched his

2599
02:47:46.440 --> 02:47:49.840
aching limbs. The isolated home was the perfect location for

2600
02:47:49.840 --> 02:47:53.760
the laboratory and the clandestine aims of his research. It

2601
02:47:53.799 --> 02:47:56.840
was not so easy on his ailing body, however. He

2602
02:47:56.879 --> 02:48:00.000
wrung his arthritic hands and worked the blue nitrial gloves

2603
02:48:00.079 --> 02:48:03.000
over them with a pair of sharp snaps. He checked

2604
02:48:03.000 --> 02:48:06.239
his reflection in a griny mirror. Its surface shook with

2605
02:48:06.280 --> 02:48:10.440
the constant rumbling of the generators. He'd forgotten surgical masks

2606
02:48:10.440 --> 02:48:13.040
on his last trek into town, not that it would

2607
02:48:13.040 --> 02:48:16.559
matter once the procedure was complete. He adjusted the paper

2608
02:48:16.600 --> 02:48:19.799
cap over the few remaining patches of vomit, yellow hair,

2609
02:48:20.079 --> 02:48:23.479
and the unfortunate results of the last treatment. He would

2610
02:48:23.479 --> 02:48:27.920
succeed soon. It was a shame the one boy was

2611
02:48:27.959 --> 02:48:31.799
torn in half, but science came with losses. No one

2612
02:48:31.879 --> 02:48:34.559
cared how many monkeys got vivisected in the name of

2613
02:48:34.639 --> 02:48:39.440
medical advancement. Teenage boys were just as abundant and equally expendable.

2614
02:48:39.959 --> 02:48:42.840
One of them was advancing at an exponential rate already.

2615
02:48:43.319 --> 02:48:46.360
The previous summer's campers were failures, but they did get

2616
02:48:46.440 --> 02:48:49.079
him closer to his goals, and he was certain that

2617
02:48:49.159 --> 02:48:52.239
this was his year. He wiggled a tooth in its

2618
02:48:52.239 --> 02:48:55.479
socket with his tongue. It clacked off the floorboards next

2619
02:48:55.520 --> 02:48:58.799
to his feet. If he didn't succeed this year, there

2620
02:48:58.799 --> 02:49:02.120
wouldn't be enough left of it for another harvest. He

2621
02:49:02.239 --> 02:49:05.799
patted up the stairs, feeling each step rattling his fragile bones.

2622
02:49:06.319 --> 02:49:10.079
The boy in the suspension tube was showing amazing cellular response.

2623
02:49:10.600 --> 02:49:13.959
The other had not been so compatible. The doctor watched

2624
02:49:14.000 --> 02:49:16.559
two of his previous failures, dragging the corpse to the

2625
02:49:16.600 --> 02:49:19.719
window to push it over the sill. A splash let

2626
02:49:19.799 --> 02:49:22.879
him know they'd made their shot. The two creatures slapped

2627
02:49:22.920 --> 02:49:27.120
each other's backs wildly and screeched with excitement. Baboons were

2628
02:49:27.159 --> 02:49:31.200
so easily pleased, even ones that weren't entirely monkey anymore.

2629
02:49:31.840 --> 02:49:35.000
The three remaining teens awaited their first rounds of injections

2630
02:49:35.000 --> 02:49:39.280
on the reclined gurneys that served as surgical tables. The

2631
02:49:39.360 --> 02:49:42.280
chubby Asian boy was sobbing, while the other two observed

2632
02:49:42.280 --> 02:49:46.200
the room quietly. The doctor found their calm unsettling and

2633
02:49:46.280 --> 02:49:49.440
busied himself with turning up the isotope saturation of the

2634
02:49:49.479 --> 02:49:53.719
suspension tube. The disfigured team floated in the irradiated solution,

2635
02:49:53.840 --> 02:49:56.920
beneath the glow of ultraviolet lamps that shimmered between the

2636
02:49:56.920 --> 02:49:59.520
lily pads floating at the top of the tube. The

2637
02:50:00.079 --> 02:50:04.440
tap the glass until the boy's eyes opened. You are

2638
02:50:04.520 --> 02:50:09.280
a marvelous creature, the doctor said. His two servants bounded

2639
02:50:09.319 --> 02:50:12.879
closer to him, leaves pressed through their green gray hairs,

2640
02:50:12.920 --> 02:50:16.760
with coiling vines dangling from their aged faces like unkempt beards.

2641
02:50:17.440 --> 02:50:21.559
They were his first successes and his only companions. The

2642
02:50:21.680 --> 02:50:25.879
doctor patted their heads. Go feed your siblings. They may

2643
02:50:25.920 --> 02:50:29.920
not be necessary after tonight. He leaned in and kissed

2644
02:50:29.959 --> 02:50:34.280
the suspension tube. We may finally have what we need.

2645
02:50:35.879 --> 02:50:39.920
Frank Oppendecker dragged the inflatable boat onto the island's shore.

2646
02:50:40.479 --> 02:50:43.200
His boys were missing, and there were two places they

2647
02:50:43.200 --> 02:50:46.520
could go with no disturbances at the mini Winyan camp.

2648
02:50:46.840 --> 02:50:48.799
That only left the creepy house in the middle of

2649
02:50:48.840 --> 02:50:52.159
the swamp. Something splashed behind him, and he cocked the

2650
02:50:52.159 --> 02:50:55.319
shotgun's slide to remind the mysterious owner to stay away.

2651
02:50:56.120 --> 02:50:59.799
It did. Father Oh crept through the house, thankful for

2652
02:50:59.840 --> 02:51:02.719
the drone of the generator's masking his creaking ascent to

2653
02:51:02.760 --> 02:51:05.920
the second floor. He pressed the walnut stock of his

2654
02:51:06.000 --> 02:51:09.239
weapon tight into his shoulder and swiveled around the doorway

2655
02:51:09.239 --> 02:51:12.520
into the lab. Three of his campers were strapped down.

2656
02:51:12.879 --> 02:51:15.559
Another man stood with the back of a filthy lab coat,

2657
02:51:15.600 --> 02:51:19.079
turned toward Father Roh. He ingched into the room, scanning

2658
02:51:19.079 --> 02:51:22.760
the abundance of shadows left by the inadequate illumination of

2659
02:51:22.799 --> 02:51:27.079
the strands of Christmas lights overhead. Lance's face stretched into

2660
02:51:27.079 --> 02:51:29.239
a smile as he saw the pastor coming in to

2661
02:51:29.280 --> 02:51:32.200
save them. He quickly wiped the look away before the

2662
02:51:32.239 --> 02:51:36.760
doctor could see it. Where are the others, Father row asked.

2663
02:51:37.520 --> 02:51:42.200
The doctor turned slowly. Warped earth and tendrils stretched from

2664
02:51:42.280 --> 02:51:45.159
corrupted flesh and wiggled in the air. Beneath the lab

2665
02:51:45.200 --> 02:51:48.399
coat was nothing but liver spots and deep purple veins,

2666
02:51:48.440 --> 02:51:52.120
broken up by the abominations of the doctor's self experimentation.

2667
02:51:52.719 --> 02:51:55.959
Tiny leaves sprang where normal men grew hair, and bright

2668
02:51:56.040 --> 02:52:00.719
red flowers opened to sniff the air. You never come

2669
02:52:00.760 --> 02:52:04.840
to visit anymore, Francis. The doctor ambled closer to Father

2670
02:52:04.959 --> 02:52:08.840
Roh with his arms outstretched. I mean it, Dad, you

2671
02:52:08.879 --> 02:52:12.600
can't take all of them. Frank lowered his weapon. I

2672
02:52:12.639 --> 02:52:15.479
thought your experiments were running a muck again. I should

2673
02:52:15.479 --> 02:52:20.760
have known. It was your gluttonous zeal for this blasphemous perversion. Dad.

2674
02:52:21.319 --> 02:52:23.840
Dexter tried to sit up, but the straps binding him

2675
02:52:23.840 --> 02:52:27.639
to the table just turned it into an awkward twitch. Father,

2676
02:52:27.719 --> 02:52:32.559
Oh what's he talking about? The pastor ignored him. The

2677
02:52:32.639 --> 02:52:35.680
doctor pinched the embroidered pocket of his coat and wiggled

2678
02:52:35.680 --> 02:52:40.559
it in the direction of Dexter. Doctor Werner Oppendecker, I'm sorry.

2679
02:52:40.719 --> 02:52:44.440
I should have introduced myself sooner. Werner turned to his son.

2680
02:52:45.159 --> 02:52:48.840
Does it make life easier? Francis going through it blindly

2681
02:52:48.879 --> 02:52:52.000
accepting magic instead of reaching for obtainable knowledge in the

2682
02:52:52.000 --> 02:52:56.840
realms of science. Save me the Thanksgiving disappointment debate. Dad

2683
02:52:57.000 --> 02:53:00.600
cut them loose. He jerked a thumb toward the suspense tube.

2684
02:53:01.079 --> 02:53:03.319
You can keep that one, but these three are going

2685
02:53:03.360 --> 02:53:07.120
with me. Where are the other two dead? I'm afraid,

2686
02:53:07.559 --> 02:53:10.680
and you're not taking my subjects. I'm too close this time, Francis.

2687
02:53:10.840 --> 02:53:14.239
I've destroyed my cancers, though with unfortunate side effects. These

2688
02:53:14.280 --> 02:53:16.639
hooligans that you brought me will take the procedure to

2689
02:53:16.680 --> 02:53:21.280
a level that will end all human suffering. Human lance

2690
02:53:21.319 --> 02:53:24.520
grunted humans don't grow lilies on their skin, you nut job,

2691
02:53:24.680 --> 02:53:29.239
You're not human and our ancestors were not apes. Warner

2692
02:53:29.280 --> 02:53:32.959
turned and the woody tendrils reached out to caress Lance's face.

2693
02:53:33.600 --> 02:53:36.479
They were more, and so shall we be. I am

2694
02:53:36.520 --> 02:53:40.200
no longer just a man. Warner twisted away, letting the

2695
02:53:40.239 --> 02:53:43.239
appendages scratch Lance's cheeks. As he made his way to

2696
02:53:43.319 --> 02:53:47.920
the tube, he slapped the glass. Evolution is an undeniable reality,

2697
02:53:48.079 --> 02:53:51.239
and I have harnessed it. Human and plant will come

2698
02:53:51.239 --> 02:53:53.760
together to create a human that never ages and is

2699
02:53:53.760 --> 02:53:57.959
immune to all of our horrible diseases, meat and veggies

2700
02:53:58.000 --> 02:54:01.639
all in one dish. Dexter said, sounds pretty crazy to me,

2701
02:54:02.040 --> 02:54:05.639
don't you think so? Ted? Ted cried louder in response.

2702
02:54:06.319 --> 02:54:09.879
I think he agrees. Lance said, I'm not screwing around

2703
02:54:09.959 --> 02:54:13.239
dad father. Oh, raised the shotgun to his hip. I'm

2704
02:54:13.280 --> 02:54:16.399
taking the boys back with me. I knew you'd say that.

2705
02:54:16.840 --> 02:54:19.920
Werner smiled as best he could with so few teeth remaining.

2706
02:54:20.600 --> 02:54:23.719
You should have paid more attention in school's son Plants

2707
02:54:23.760 --> 02:54:27.959
communicate with pheromones. The floor collapsed under him, and the

2708
02:54:27.959 --> 02:54:30.440
shotgun boomed as he fell through. The shrieks of the

2709
02:54:30.479 --> 02:54:33.280
two baboons mingled with Father Ro's screams until they were

2710
02:54:33.280 --> 02:54:36.680
the only sound remaining. Lance stared at the mad scientist

2711
02:54:36.799 --> 02:54:39.600
clutching the tight cluster of buckshot holes in his abdomen

2712
02:54:39.639 --> 02:54:43.079
before he toppled over. Werner's face splashed into the pool

2713
02:54:43.120 --> 02:54:45.600
of water streaming from the holes, and the blood splattered

2714
02:54:45.639 --> 02:54:49.520
suspension to the glass. Spider webbed around them. Fissures raced

2715
02:54:49.559 --> 02:54:51.559
along the surface until the weight of the fluid tore

2716
02:54:51.639 --> 02:54:54.840
the pieces away in a fantastic crash of falling glass

2717
02:54:54.840 --> 02:54:57.479
and rushing water. He struggled to get a hand free

2718
02:54:57.520 --> 02:54:59.680
of the straps while the mad scientists screamed at the

2719
02:54:59.680 --> 02:55:04.479
desaster success. Lance quickly undid the buckles across his torso

2720
02:55:04.559 --> 02:55:07.520
and proceeded to free Dexter. They worked in tandem to

2721
02:55:07.559 --> 02:55:11.319
release Ted, who immediately curled into a fetal position. Want

2722
02:55:11.360 --> 02:55:14.600
to wake up now, he cried. I'm sorry, I tried

2723
02:55:14.600 --> 02:55:16.760
to look at the girls. I just want to wake up.

2724
02:55:17.200 --> 02:55:20.120
We don't have time for this. Lance slapped Ted's cheek

2725
02:55:20.200 --> 02:55:23.440
with no result aside from a raised handprint. Come on, Ted,

2726
02:55:23.600 --> 02:55:27.280
we have to run now, better idea. Dexter kicked the

2727
02:55:27.280 --> 02:55:30.360
brakes on the gurney's wheels that works. Now, let's get

2728
02:55:30.360 --> 02:55:32.840
out of here. They pushed ted toward the doorway as

2729
02:55:32.840 --> 02:55:35.719
fast as the rusted, squealing wheels would roll. One of

2730
02:55:35.719 --> 02:55:38.280
the plant monkeys sprang through the hole in the floor

2731
02:55:38.360 --> 02:55:41.719
and blocked their path. Its mossy covered lips peeled away

2732
02:55:41.760 --> 02:55:45.159
from piercing fangs. Lance slid like he was stealing home base,

2733
02:55:45.159 --> 02:55:47.840
and kicked it back into the hole. The creature's terrified

2734
02:55:47.840 --> 02:55:50.799
shriek was replaced with Lance's own as gnarled, root like

2735
02:55:50.920 --> 02:55:54.559
fangs dug into his leg. The second beast emerged from

2736
02:55:54.559 --> 02:55:58.520
broken floorboards. Tiny buds bloomed among its sniff hairs, revealing

2737
02:55:58.600 --> 02:56:03.120
snapping floral mouths full of adhesive fuchsia fingers. Even the

2738
02:56:03.159 --> 02:56:06.399
plant based parts of the monstrosity hungered for flesh. It

2739
02:56:06.479 --> 02:56:08.799
launched itself out of the hole and straddled him. The

2740
02:56:08.799 --> 02:56:12.239
creature tried to pulp Lance's skull and narrowly missed. Dexter

2741
02:56:12.319 --> 02:56:14.239
seized it by the thick coat of its back, only

2742
02:56:14.280 --> 02:56:16.760
to be attacked by the miniature mouths hiding there. The

2743
02:56:16.799 --> 02:56:19.000
plants tore into his hands and held him tight while

2744
02:56:19.040 --> 02:56:23.000
the baboon's jaws snapped inches from Lance's throat. A horrible

2745
02:56:23.200 --> 02:56:27.440
chaotic orchestra of howls, shrieks, and unintelligible shouting played below

2746
02:56:27.479 --> 02:56:31.239
their battle. I'm sorry, guys, Ted Vang rolled from his

2747
02:56:31.280 --> 02:56:33.639
stretcher and darted for the window. I just wanted to

2748
02:56:33.680 --> 02:56:37.799
see boobs. The towering green form lumbered across his path.

2749
02:56:38.040 --> 02:56:41.760
Twisting vines of inching long thorns hung like living dreadlocks

2750
02:56:41.760 --> 02:56:45.399
around its verdant face. Scales of barks sprouted along the

2751
02:56:45.440 --> 02:56:48.440
angular jaw, and in the center of the thing's forehead

2752
02:56:48.719 --> 02:56:52.600
was the raised lines of a pentagram. Ted held his

2753
02:56:52.680 --> 02:56:58.520
arms up defensively. Spaz, is that you It's Ted. We're friends, right,

2754
02:56:58.559 --> 02:57:04.120
Bud right, Spaz hissed, before his new hair ensnared the

2755
02:57:04.120 --> 02:57:08.200
portly camper. Spaz's chest opened with a sticky slurp, and

2756
02:57:08.239 --> 02:57:11.959
he jerked Ted into the maw head first. Spaz snapped

2757
02:57:12.000 --> 02:57:14.639
around to the remaining campers as they fought with the baboon.

2758
02:57:15.000 --> 02:57:19.079
He stomped toward the fray. Things just got worse. Dexter

2759
02:57:19.200 --> 02:57:21.479
slammed a knee into the monkey's tailbone and tore a

2760
02:57:21.520 --> 02:57:24.600
hand free. Lance held the creature's jaws apart, with his

2761
02:57:24.680 --> 02:57:27.399
face caught between them. Not from down here. They haven't

2762
02:57:27.639 --> 02:57:31.159
kill this stupid thing. Spaz Is foot connected with Dexter

2763
02:57:31.319 --> 02:57:34.639
and sent him in the abomination, thudding into the wall. Shit.

2764
02:57:35.079 --> 02:57:38.840
Lance stared up at Spaz. Things just got worse. Lance

2765
02:57:38.959 --> 02:57:41.159
rolled away as the thorns scoured the floor in a

2766
02:57:41.239 --> 02:57:43.959
vain effort to seize him. He pulled the gurney between

2767
02:57:44.040 --> 02:57:47.040
him and Spas Ted's legs kicked soundlessly as his head

2768
02:57:47.040 --> 02:57:51.280
and torso dissolved inside Spaz's new form. The man Plant's

2769
02:57:51.280 --> 02:57:56.239
lips contorted in malevolent joy. I've always enjoyed the taste

2770
02:57:56.239 --> 02:58:01.040
of human it growled. Yeah, well, I've always hated vegetables.

2771
02:58:01.239 --> 02:58:04.360
Lance grabbed Ted's leg and jumped down the hole. Spaz

2772
02:58:04.399 --> 02:58:06.719
caught himself on the broken boards, and Lance dangled from

2773
02:58:06.760 --> 02:58:09.799
the leg of his slowly digesting fellow camper. The first

2774
02:58:09.840 --> 02:58:13.159
floor was a demolition site. The busted cages lined the walls.

2775
02:58:13.319 --> 02:58:17.399
Malformed freaks ran amook, tearing apart the home and each other. Father,

2776
02:58:17.520 --> 02:58:20.559
oh what was left of him, limped through the madness,

2777
02:58:20.559 --> 02:58:23.799
freeing more of the doctor's failed experiments. Lance dropped the

2778
02:58:23.799 --> 02:58:26.040
rest of the distance and picked himself up with a groan.

2779
02:58:26.440 --> 02:58:29.319
Something that might have been a raccoon snarled at him,

2780
02:58:29.360 --> 02:58:32.040
and he booted it across the room. Its mossy body

2781
02:58:32.120 --> 02:58:35.799
bounced next to Father Ro's shotgun. Spaz came crashing down

2782
02:58:35.840 --> 02:58:38.719
beside him, with Dexter on his back. The teen winked

2783
02:58:38.719 --> 02:58:41.799
at Lance and then jumped off the writhing beast. Let's

2784
02:58:41.799 --> 02:58:43.959
get out of here, Dexter said, as he ran for

2785
02:58:44.040 --> 02:58:47.760
the door detour first. Lance dashed for the weapon and

2786
02:58:47.879 --> 02:58:50.360
joined him on the front porch. They watched some of

2787
02:58:50.360 --> 02:58:53.479
the creatures swim away from the tiny island. Others simply

2788
02:58:53.479 --> 02:58:57.680
disappeared beneath the placid surface of the swamp. Lance twisted

2789
02:58:57.920 --> 02:59:01.040
and saw the oblong rust covered next to the house.

2790
02:59:01.559 --> 02:59:04.920
He raised the shotgun and fired it until it clicked

2791
02:59:04.959 --> 02:59:08.440
on the empty chamber. Gasoline spurted from the wounds, but

2792
02:59:08.559 --> 02:59:12.520
the tanks didn't explode. Dexter raised an eyebrow and shrugged.

2793
02:59:13.239 --> 02:59:16.879
It's the thought that counts. It always works in the movies.

2794
02:59:17.159 --> 02:59:20.600
Lance pointed at the airboat. Let's go. The two teens

2795
02:59:20.639 --> 02:59:23.280
untied from the mooring and turned on the motor, watching

2796
02:59:23.319 --> 02:59:26.239
the oversized fan spin without any sort of guard. The

2797
02:59:26.280 --> 02:59:28.440
doctor cared as much for safety as he did for

2798
02:59:28.520 --> 02:59:31.760
medical ethics, it seemed. Dexter laughed and held up a

2799
02:59:31.760 --> 02:59:36.719
plastic box with big block letters emergency signal kit. Lance

2800
02:59:36.760 --> 02:59:39.440
took the case and opened it quickly, finding the flare

2801
02:59:39.440 --> 02:59:42.239
gun inside. Drew an excited whoop from him. Bet it

2802
02:59:42.280 --> 02:59:45.239
blows up now, Dexter said. He moved them away from

2803
02:59:45.280 --> 02:59:47.719
the dock gently as he got the hang of the controls.

2804
02:59:48.159 --> 02:59:50.399
The boat rocked hard, and the boy spun to see

2805
02:59:50.440 --> 02:59:53.520
Spaz climbing over the side to join them. Dexter jumped

2806
02:59:53.520 --> 02:59:55.639
from the controls and body checked him before he could

2807
02:59:55.680 --> 02:59:58.200
get his balance. The fan blades caught the vines and

2808
02:59:58.360 --> 03:00:02.440
diced them. Lance and Dexter exchanged glances. Dexter ducked under

2809
03:00:02.479 --> 03:00:05.280
Spaz's swinging fist and dropped to the deck behind him.

2810
03:00:05.680 --> 03:00:09.399
Let's toss this salad, Dexter shouted. Lance jumped over the

2811
03:00:09.440 --> 03:00:12.159
steering column and kicked Spas with both feet, sending him

2812
03:00:12.200 --> 03:00:15.200
careening over the prone Dexter and into the fan. Spaz's

2813
03:00:15.239 --> 03:00:18.600
mulch remains sprayed behind the boat as his body passed

2814
03:00:18.600 --> 03:00:23.399
through the oversized food processor with ease. Let's toss this salad.

2815
03:00:23.840 --> 03:00:26.479
That was the best you could come up with. Lance laughed.

2816
03:00:26.840 --> 03:00:29.879
Dexter scooped the flare gun and slapped it against Lance's palm.

2817
03:00:30.159 --> 03:00:34.079
Shut up and burn the house down. Already gladly, Lance

2818
03:00:34.120 --> 03:00:37.239
sat up and fired at the tanks. They watched the

2819
03:00:37.280 --> 03:00:40.799
fire spread through the tall grass. It moved placidly until

2820
03:00:40.799 --> 03:00:43.520
it met the dried, ancient timber of the house. The

2821
03:00:43.559 --> 03:00:46.879
structure flared like a matchhead, spreading its light across the

2822
03:00:46.879 --> 03:00:50.159
black water. Somewhere in the swamp, a baboon cried out

2823
03:00:50.239 --> 03:00:54.000
as it watched its home burn. Think the girls have

2824
03:00:54.600 --> 03:00:59.680
taken a shower yet, Lance asked. Probably. Dexter turned the

2825
03:00:59.680 --> 03:01:03.879
steering wheel. Can't hurt to double check. The fuel tanks

2826
03:01:03.920 --> 03:01:08.159
exploded behind them, but they didn't bother. Looking back, Dexter

2827
03:01:08.280 --> 03:01:11.719
sped up, maneuvering through the bayou. The experiments were loose,

2828
03:01:11.920 --> 03:01:15.120
but at least the doctor wouldn't be making anymore. They

2829
03:01:15.120 --> 03:01:19.200
would tell the authorities what happened. Eventually, there were more

2830
03:01:19.200 --> 03:01:22.520
pressing matters to attend to. First, they smiled through the

2831
03:01:22.559 --> 03:01:32.319
blood and grind and aimed the boat toward the Cypress maze. Well,

2832
03:01:32.360 --> 03:01:36.799
my spookies, I hope you enjoyed the scary tales I've

2833
03:01:36.840 --> 03:01:41.280
brought for you on this summer fun day. I hope

2834
03:01:41.319 --> 03:01:44.000
you're having a safe time, and I hope if you

2835
03:01:44.120 --> 03:01:49.760
happen to lose any appendages this holiday weekend, it's due

2836
03:01:49.760 --> 03:01:55.319
to fireworks and not well whatever it is that goes

2837
03:01:55.399 --> 03:01:59.639
bump in the night. So make sure you're subscribed, because

2838
03:01:59.639 --> 03:02:02.920
we have so much more fear coming right at you.

2839
03:02:03.799 --> 03:02:04.760
See you next time.