7 Stories of Mistletoe and Mayhem! Horrifying Tales of Christmas!

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Hello, my Spookyes, it's your host and narrator Enrique Kuto

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here with yet another holiday present for you all, in

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the form of a seven story marathon guaranteed to give

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you a very scary Christmas stories about killer Santa Clauses,

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ghosts at Christmas Eve, and so much more. So get comfortable,

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put another log on the fire, not just to stay warm,

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but to keep jolly old maniac Saint Nicholas out of

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your home at least for a few hours. And make

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sure you're subscribed on your favorite podcasting app because we

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have so many, so very many scares left to give you,

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not just for Christmas, but the rest of the year

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as well. But now I have a hankering for some

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Christmas Cranberry's Christmas Cranberries by L. F. Falconer. Ronnie was

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no longer content with pulling the legs off of crickets

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that bored him anymore, as did wingless dragonflies and tailless lizards.

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So today it was Fluffy, the long haired tabby with

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the blue collar that jingled softly with the cat's subtle

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movements to protect the birds. Fluffy's owner, Missus kent from

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the neighboring house was often known to say Fluffy was

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missus Kent's favorite, and Ronnie did not like missus Kent,

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for missus Kent was mean. Her mouth was always turned

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down in a frown, and her eyes glinted like a pirate's.

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She never missed the opportunity to complain to Ronnie's mom

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when he'd picked the apples from missus Kent's tree off

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the single branch that overhung the back fence, and she

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fused to return any balls that accidentally ended up in

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her yard. Yes, missus Kent was a mean old biddy,

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So this day Ronnie thought, when he caught Fluffy trespassing,

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was to be Fluffy's last. Ronnie's eyes gleamed as he

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firmly held the writhing cat beneath the water of his

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wading pool. He imagined the cat to be missus Kent

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as he kept holding her down tighter and tighter until

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she was quite dead beneath the shallow water. He smiled.

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A sweet tang like Cranberri's filled his mouth. He savored

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the taste as he shoved the wet, dead cat into

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a garbage bag and stuffed it into the trash can

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in the alley for a long time. Ronnie stared at

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the trash can, reveling in satisfaction, relishing the taste of cranberries.

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In all of his six years of life, he could

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never remember feeling so good. That was in June. By

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the first of September, just one week before his seventh birthday,

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Ronnie was beginning to hunger. With the need to feel

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good again, he began to crave the cranberries. For his birthday,

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his father brought home the puppy, a happy eight week

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old Lab Border Collie mix, At his mother's suggestion. The

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boy named the dog Susie, and within a few days,

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Susie was fetching the ball Ronnie would toss. Very few

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were lost to missus Kent's yard any more. At night,

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Susie would curl up in her crate at the footboard

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of Ronnie's bed, and she rarely woke before daylight. In

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the morning, she would follow Ronnie like a shadow and

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wait patiently outside the closed bathroom door until he would

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let her out in the backyard to tend to her

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own duties. When Ronnie would come home from school, Susie

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would brim with joy and exuberance, wagging her entire hindquarters.

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Four weeks after Ronnie's birthday, Susie disappeared. Ronnie knew where

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the dog had gone. Though Susie had done nothing to

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set Ronnie into a fit of anger. The boy had

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simply wanted to feel good. He had been hungry. He'd

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wanted to taste the cranberries. He had taken his father's

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clawhammer out of the garage. He'd bashed it against Susie's head.

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He'd bashed again and again, each blow, feeding his hunger,

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filling his mouth with tang, until cranberry drew low, overflowed,

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and dribbled onto his chin. The hunger was seated. He'd

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tossed the hammer behind the rose bush, unlatched the alley gate,

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and shoved Susie's little body into a box in mister

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Phipps's trash can at the end of the block. He

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would be full for a while. Ronnie felt good. Ronnie's

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mother and father posted the reward flyers around the neighborhood

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in hopes of inducing the return of the missing pup.

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Five days after he'd put them up, Ronnie's dad took

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the flyers down, even though the lost puppy had not

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been found. A week before Halloween, Ronnie was blessed with

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a new sister. His mother had gone to the hospital

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and came home two days later with baby Elizabeth wrapped

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in her arms. Grandma Rose and Grandpa Sigga Grandpa Paul

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all came for the Thanksgiving holiday dinner with much fuss

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and ado over baby Elizabeth. Grandma Rose clicked her favorite photo,

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so she said, of a smiling Ronnie lovingly holding his

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new one month old sister in his arms. Little did

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Grandma Rose know that when she posed the children for

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that shot, how hungry Ronnie was growing, how Ronnie's bright

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smile was merely instigated by his inner anticipation and his

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knowledge of how to feel good, how to taste more cranberries.

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He tried to fill his hunger at the Thanksgiving feast,

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but the ones from the can were too sweet, They

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weren't the same. They did not make him feel good.

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After dinner, the women gathered in the kitchen for the cleanup,

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and the men retiredired to the living room in front

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of the TV. So Ronnie, Grandpa Paul asked, as he

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settled upon the sofa, what do you want Santa to

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bring you for Christmas? This year? Ronnie scooted forward in

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his seat. A baseball bat would be nice. He had

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no desire for a ball or a glove. A shiny

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red baseball bat red like cranberries. His grin was as

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wide as his eyes. It made Grandpa Paul smile. I

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always loved baseball as a boy, Grandpa Sigg said, loosening

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his tie. Grandpa Sigg always wore a tie. You never

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know when you'll need to make a good impression, he

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always said. Ronnie's dad, Jim, leaned back in his recliner.

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Santa might not come this year. Why not, Jimmy, Grandpa

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Sigg asked. He's not short of cash, is he No?

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But sometimes it's just best if he stays away. Ronnie's

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dad muted the TV and set the remote aside. Dad,

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why don't you tell Rannie about the Santa you knew

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as a boy. Are you sure? Grandpa Sig ran his

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tie back and forth through his fingers. Times are different,

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and here in America, Santa Claus has changed his m

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a little. He's changed his m O a lot, Dad,

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So indulge me and help me teach the boy a

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little folklore from his heritage. My Rannie's old enough to

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know there's more than one Santa in the world. He

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looked over at his son and winked, aren't your son.

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Ronnie sat up proudly, Yes, I am, and the boy

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listened and rapped awe as his father's father began the tale. Well,

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here in America, Santa Claus might come accompanied by a

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red nosed reindeer. Grandpa sigin toned, But back where I

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come from, Santa or Samiklaus, as he's known, makes his

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rounds with Schmutzy. Ronnie giggled at the sound of the

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name spoken in his grandfather's residual German accent. Is that

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a Swiss reindeer? He asked. Grandpa sig shook his head solemnly. No,

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Schmutzy is Samyklaus evil altar. While Samyklaus wears a red

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cloak and a tall red hat, Smutzy dresses in Suti gray.

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Samiklaus has a long white beard, and Smutzy is black

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as coal. Schmutzy's face, too, is black as an ink well,

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and his eyes glow red as embers in a fire.

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Sami Klaus leaves true eats in the shoes of good

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little children, while schmutzley beats the naughty children with his broom,

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and with those boys and girls who've been truly, truly bad,

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he sweeps them into his sack and spirits them away

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deep into the wilderness, to be eaten and never seen again.

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Ronnie stared wide eyed. Why are you telling the boy

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that horrible tale, Grandma Rose asked, coming out of the

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kitchen with a handful of fresh washed china for the cabinet.

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There's nothing wrong with Ronnie knowing the folklore of his heritage, Mom,

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Jim said, after all, I grew up with it, and

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look how sane I turned out. Well, I didn't approve

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of your father telling you those stories then, and I

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don't approve of you scaring my grandson with them now.

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It's too late, Jim said, reaching for the TV remote.

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The tale of Schmultzy has been told. I'm not scared,

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Grandma Ronnie lied, after all, this is America. Santa's changed

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his mo o. Grandpa Sig and Grandpa Paul both laughed.

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Grandma Rose shook her head and returned to the kitchen.

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Ronnie stared at the TV. The sound was reinstated, but

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Ronnie didn't hear it. All that filled his mind was

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the picture of glowing red eyes on a black face,

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and the hunger for cranberries faded into the background.

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Don't go away, weakly, Spooky will be right back.

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When Ronnie relayed the story of Somniklaus and Schmultzy to

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his friend Jason at school, Jason just laughed. It's not real,

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Jason said. There's no such thing as Santa anyway. It's

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only your parents. And that is what Ronnie wanted to believe,

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or at least that in America there was Sanna, not

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semi cloths, and certainly no Schmultzy. And maybe he hadn't

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been that naughty though he wanted to be. He was

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craving the cranberries, but it would have to wait. He

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couldn't take any chances before Christmas. Two days before Christmas,

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Ronnie watched, licking the taste of cranberries on his lips

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as his mother bathed baby Elizabeth in the infant's tub

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upon the tabletop. Can I help, he tentatively asked. After

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a moment's consideration, mother nodded, of course, Ronnie. She handed

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the boy the soft washcloth when he stepped close. Just

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gently wash her body, okay. Mother held Elizabeth securely in

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the tub. Ronnie rubbed the cloth over the baby's soft

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shoulders and belly, and imagined grabbing hold of the baby's ankles,

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whirling her around and flinging her against the wall, then

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jumping up and down on her body. Once she hit

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the floor. He imagined skewering her with the fireplace poker

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and roasting her like a marshmallow. He imagined taking his

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fingers and poking them into Elizabeth's wide blue eyes and

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cramming the soaking wet washcloth down her throat. He licked

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the tang of cranberries away. Here. Mother interrupted his thoughts.

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Hold her steady for me while I lay out the towel.

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Ronnie's hands replaced his mother's beneath Elizabeth's arms. He looked

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up into his mother's eyes. They were smiling, The tang

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in his mouth sweetened. Mother leaned over to unfold the

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towel beside the infant's tub. Ronnie began to release his grip.

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Elizabeth slipped a bit. Could she slide all the way

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down until she drowned? Ronnie wondered, Not likely, but perhaps

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she could slip fast enough that were he to try

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to catch hold of her again. Her tiny little neck

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might snap in the process, her tiny little neck so

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skinny in its frailty trying to hold up her big

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bobbling head, and maybe her big bobbling head just might

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pop right off in his hands. Pop the cranberry tang

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caused a slip of drool to dampen Ronnie's chin. His

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eyes grew wide as he stared at his sister. He

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let go his grip. Elizabeth started to slide. Whoa. Mother

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quickly caught the baby before or she slipped into the

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shallow water, and laughed nervously. She can be a little wigglebug, can't.

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She almost got away from you. You have to be

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more careful with your sister, Ronnie. His father spoke from

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the doorway as he entered the room. Yes, Ronnie agreed,

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taking a step back, relieved mother had been so quick.

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Christmas was close. He couldn't be naughty before Santa came,

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but afterwards, afterwards he could feel good again. On Christmas Eve,

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he could not sleep. His stocking was hung, but would

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it be filled? Was Santa real? Would he come? And

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what about Schmultzy? But this was America, of course Santa

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would come. Santa in a red nosed reindeer to leave

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presents under the tree, not red eyed Schmutzley. He had

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been being oh so very good, even though the hunger

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for Cranberry's was unendurably strong. Elizabeth was sleeping in her

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room across the hall. Mother and father were sleeping in

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their room at the end of the hall. Ronnie stared

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out the dark window to the starlit night beyond. Please

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let Santa come, he whispered. He only had to wait

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until after Santa came. He couldn't be bad before Santa came,

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but afterwards everything would be all right and he could

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feel good again. After all, this was America, and in America,

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Santa wanted little boys to feel good. Santa rewarded good

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with presents. Ronnie stared at his bedroom door. Elizabeth was

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across the hall. Mother and father were at the end

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of the hall. At the other end of the hall,

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around the corner in the living room, the brightly lit

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Christmas tree cheerfully winked, awaiting its yearly night stalking visitor.

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Every year, it was Santa who came, not Semiklaus, not Schmultzy.

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This was America. Ronnie pulled the blanket up to his

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chin and stared out the dark window. The tang was

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in his mouth. He just wanted to feel good, that's all.

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He didn't want to be naughty, and there was only

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one way to feel good, and here in America, Santa

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brought presents to the good, maybe even a baseball bat,

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bright shiny and red thunk. He could hear the metallic

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sound of the bat's impact. Thunk, thunk, hollow and resonant, red, gleaming, slick, gosh.

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He was so hungry. He wanted to feel good, to

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feel good for Santa. Elizabeth was across the hall. He

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sat up in bed and stared at the door. Was

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there truly a Santa If so? Was he American? Or

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was he Swiss? And had he come yet? Ronnie laid

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back down. It was getting hard to breathe. His mouth

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was full. He needed to feel good. When would Santa

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come so he could feel good? He needed to know

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Santa had come before he could feel good. He sat

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back up and dangled his feet over the side of

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the bed. He stared at the door. Elizabeth was across

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the hall. Had Santa come yet? Ronnie was so very hungry,

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starving He could taste the cranberries he needed to feel good.

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Bare feet hit the floor, he crept to the bedroom door,

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peeked into the hall, looked to his parents closed bedroom door,

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then to Elizabeth's. His hands began to sweat. Ronnie eased

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his way into the hall without squeaking. The door hinges

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and padded for the living room. He peeped around the

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corner into the room a wash with twinkling colored lights,

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and gasped, Santa was real. He had come. The stockings

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were bulging filled to the brim. Beneath the tree, under

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a big green bow, was a shimmering red baseball bat,

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the color of cranberries. He crouched to his hands and

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knees and crawled for the tree. Hesitantly. His hand touched

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the cold aluminum that gleamed beneath a barrage of twinkling lights.

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He slowly lifted it up and gave the bat a

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loving caress. In America, Santa wanted little boys to feel good.

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In America, Santa rewarded the good. He rewarded the good

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with shiny aluminum baseball bats to enable the good never

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to stop. Ronnie wanted to feel good. He had waited

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for so so long. The sweet tang of cranberries filled

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his mouth as he hugged the red baseball bat and

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eased back down the hall. Turning the knob to Elizabeth's

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bedroom door, he gently pushed it open. He stepped inside. Thunk, thunk, thunk,

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In a gleam of red, the bat hit the floor.

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The flyer Ronnie's father tacked to the electric pole featured

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the smiling face of a seven year old boy. A

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reward was being offered for any information leading to the

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missing boy's whereabouts, but Jim knew no reward would ever

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be paid out. Jim knew Ronnie had been a bad boy.

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Jim had found the bloody hammer, matted with dog hair

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and gore. He knew Ronnie had lied about the puppy

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running off through the open gate, and Jim feared what

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Ronnie would do with a shiny new baseball bat. Yes,

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Ronnie was certainly a very bad boy, and very bad

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boys had to be whisked away forever. The Naughty List

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by Keith Tomlin. Andy Price, twelve years old, went to

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sleep on Christmas Eve in a dry, warm bed in

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the Saint Luke's Home for Wayward Youth and woke up

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on a cold, damp stone floor. He groggly sat up

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and looked around the large chamber. A dozen other kids

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about his age were also waking up, each looking about

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with the same dazed and confused look that he had.

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There were three girls and ten boys, including Andy, all

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wearing their nightclothes. Andy stumbled to his feet, reaching out

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to the nearby wall to steady himself. The wall felt

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cold against his bare hand. He looked closer, and it

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seemed that the walls and even the ceiling were made

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from ice. A dim luminescence emitted from the ice, creating

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a soft light that lit the entire chamber. Each wall

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of the square room had tunnels that led off of it,

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and the tall ceiling had a large circular hole in

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the middle. Some kids began milling about, exploring the cavern

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and looking down the corridors. Others remained seated on the floor,

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unable to believe what their eyes were telling them, and

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he stood apart against the wall and studied the other kids.

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He knew that knowledge was power, and he wanted to

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gain as much information as possible to ensure that he

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would as always come out on top. As he studied

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the kids, he began to sort them into categories. Are

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they weak or strong? Are they a threat? Can he

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manipulate them into doing what he wants? How can he

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use them to ensure that he will win? Whatever sick

300
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and twisted game this was. All of this came to

301
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Andy as naturally as breathing. He always got what he

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wanted and nothing stood in his way. No teachers, no laws,

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not even as parents. Andy was born to Greg and

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Mary Price, a young couple living in Chicago. Greg was

305
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a junior architect and Mary was a kindergarten teacher. They

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had met in a Bible study class and soon fell

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in love. They married, and within a year, Mary gave

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birth to their first child, Andrew or Andy, as he

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was lovingly called. He was a perfect baby, never crying,

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never raising a fuss. When he was eight and small

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pets and animals started disappearing around the neighborhood, no one

312
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suspected the quiet Price kid. They put the disappear pearances

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down to rumors of coyotes roaming the Chicago suburbs. When

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Andy was ten and bigger pets began disappearing, some neighbors

315
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did begin to point fingers at that odd Price child,

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who always seemed to be watching them with a hint

317
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of a knowing smile on his young face. His parents

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never suspected their son was anything but a perfect little angel,

319
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at least not until they brought home their second child, Susan,

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when Andy was eleven. Little accidents began to happen to

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the baby. Mysterious bruises appeared, and they twice found the

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baby choking, having somehow swallowed a marble and a coin.

323
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The final incident was when the crib tipped over during

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the night, and the resulting injury required Susan to have surgery.

325
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When his parents began to suspect that Andy maybe behind

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them these accidents, an electrical outlet started a fire that

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only Andy survived. Loud, eerie music, reminiscent of the tune

328
00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:13.880
you would hear from a Jack in the box toy

329
00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:18.000
began drifting down from the hole in the ceiling. It

330
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slowly increased in volume until it shook the walls. This

331
00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:26.440
went on for so long that Andy thought his ear

332
00:26:26.519 --> 00:26:30.519
drums would shatter. He pressed his palms against his ears

333
00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:33.160
and fell to the floor, screaming for it to stop,

334
00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:40.319
and suddenly it did. A few heartbeats later, a high

335
00:26:40.359 --> 00:26:44.599
pitched voice began reciting a poem in a hypnotic sing

336
00:26:44.680 --> 00:26:52.240
song voice. Judgment passed, trial done judged, naughty everyone, no games,

337
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no rules, no referee. Two choices, fight or flee. Survived

338
00:26:59.119 --> 00:27:02.039
the night only two ways? Killed the monster or escaped

339
00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:06.359
them maze. The voice stopped, but the echoes rang along

340
00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:11.599
the corridors for minutes before finally fading away. Andy struggled

341
00:27:11.640 --> 00:27:14.200
to his feet as a grinding sound like an old,

342
00:27:14.359 --> 00:27:20.000
rusty gate being opened, shook the room. Seconds later, a

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00:27:20.119 --> 00:27:25.160
massive creature dropped from the hole, landing heavily on the floor.

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The creature stood up straight, twice as tall as Andy.

345
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It had an apelike body that was covered with long

346
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white fur. It roared, opening its oversized mouth to reveal

347
00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:45.799
rose of razor sharp teeth. The creature's long arms flexed

348
00:27:45.880 --> 00:27:50.440
as its powerful muscles rippled beneath the long hair. Each

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00:27:50.599 --> 00:27:55.799
hand had long fingers that were tipped with wickedly sharp claws.

350
00:27:56.799 --> 00:28:03.400
The creature slowly swiveled its massive head to survey its surroundings.

351
00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:06.039
Most of the children who had been shocked by the

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00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:09.279
reveal of the monster snapped to life and began running

353
00:28:09.319 --> 00:28:13.519
for the nearest tunnel. This seemed to amuse the creature,

354
00:28:13.920 --> 00:28:18.160
and it threw back its head and roared again, this

355
00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:24.039
time in anticipation of the hunt. When the creature first appeared,

356
00:28:24.119 --> 00:28:27.119
Andy had slid along the wall and ducked into a

357
00:28:27.160 --> 00:28:32.279
side passage. He peered out around the corner and watched

358
00:28:32.359 --> 00:28:38.400
the chamber quickly empty of children except for two. One

359
00:28:38.400 --> 00:28:41.680
of the younger looking kids, a petite girl dressed in

360
00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:44.519
a pink nightgown, had curled into a ball on the

361
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ground and kept repeating this is not happening, over and

362
00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:53.400
over again. The other kid, a red haired boy, stood

363
00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:57.480
pressed against the wall, his face filled with horror and disbelief.

364
00:28:57.960 --> 00:29:01.039
A large wet stain had appeared on his Marvel's Superhero

365
00:29:01.079 --> 00:29:05.359
pajama bottoms, running from his crotch to his ankles. The

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00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:07.960
creature clicked his tongue as it walked over to the

367
00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:12.480
boy that was standing. It seemed to smile as it

368
00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:17.160
gently reached out one claw hand and slowly wrapped it

369
00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:21.799
around the boy's chest. It pulled him close and stared

370
00:29:21.839 --> 00:29:24.880
in his eyes before it raised his other hand and

371
00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:30.039
flicked a finger out, slicing the boy's throat. It seized

372
00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:32.960
the boy's head in its free hand and bent it

373
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back like snapping open a pixie stick. It raised the

374
00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:40.680
child above his head and let the blood flow into

375
00:29:40.680 --> 00:29:44.599
its mouth, blood splattering all over the creature's face and chest.

376
00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:49.880
When the blood stopped, the creature flung the lifeless body

377
00:29:49.920 --> 00:29:53.240
across the cavern. As the creature turned to face the

378
00:29:53.240 --> 00:29:57.720
girl on the ground, she began chanting, this is not happening,

379
00:29:58.279 --> 00:30:02.359
louder and more frantic. The creature's arm shot out and

380
00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:06.119
grabbed her by the ankle. In one smooth motion, it

381
00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:09.519
whipped its arm around, slamming the girl's head into the wall.

382
00:30:10.079 --> 00:30:13.799
It split open and splattered blood, bone, and brains all

383
00:30:13.839 --> 00:30:18.799
over the room. As the creature began to feed, Andy's

384
00:30:18.839 --> 00:30:23.160
mind raced, searching for possibilities of how to control the situation.

385
00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:26.559
He had always known what to say and do to

386
00:30:26.759 --> 00:30:29.599
ensure that he got what he wanted. Now his mind

387
00:30:29.640 --> 00:30:35.680
came back with nothing except panic. This was new to him.

388
00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:41.319
Andy had never before tasted fear. He turned and ran.

389
00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:45.480
The passages were wide, at least eight feet across and

390
00:30:45.559 --> 00:30:49.200
not quite as tall as the starting chamber. Side tunnels

391
00:30:49.279 --> 00:30:53.200
ran off of this one in seemingly random intervals. Echoes

392
00:30:53.240 --> 00:30:55.880
seemed to have a life of their own and reverberated

393
00:30:55.920 --> 00:30:59.400
all around Andy. He heard the echo of the girl chanting,

394
00:30:59.640 --> 00:31:03.240
this is not happening, as well as the wet, hollow

395
00:31:03.400 --> 00:31:06.599
thunk of her head hitting the ice. He could also

396
00:31:06.680 --> 00:31:12.240
hear echoes of something large moving quickly. Andy felt disoriented

397
00:31:12.279 --> 00:31:15.799
and began choosing passages at random, trying to put as

398
00:31:15.880 --> 00:31:18.960
much distance between him and that creature as possible. More

399
00:31:19.079 --> 00:31:23.319
screams echoed through the halls as the creature found another victim.

400
00:31:23.880 --> 00:31:28.000
After a few minutes, Andy paused, gasping for breath as

401
00:31:28.039 --> 00:31:31.000
he looked down a side tunnel. He noticed that it

402
00:31:31.079 --> 00:31:34.319
opened up into a room.

403
00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:38.000
A sh it was only the wind. You are safe,

404
00:31:38.400 --> 00:31:40.480
weekly spooky, We'll be right back.

405
00:31:42.160 --> 00:31:46.279
He skulked along that corridor and peered around the corner.

406
00:31:47.359 --> 00:31:49.880
The room was large and had ceilings as tall as

407
00:31:49.920 --> 00:31:54.200
the first chamber. Along the far wall was a wooden

408
00:31:54.359 --> 00:31:59.000
rack with metal items arrayed along its length. It took

409
00:31:59.039 --> 00:32:03.559
Andy a moment to realize what was on the rack. Swords,

410
00:32:04.279 --> 00:32:08.079
Andy whispered. As Andy took a few steps forward, a

411
00:32:08.119 --> 00:32:12.319
boy dressed in transformers pajamas charged into the room. Run

412
00:32:12.559 --> 00:32:17.519
it's coming, he yelled once again, Andy turned and ran.

413
00:32:18.359 --> 00:32:22.599
Andy didn't know how long he ran, It seemed like days.

414
00:32:23.359 --> 00:32:27.759
He heard screams echoing all around him, unclear if they

415
00:32:27.839 --> 00:32:32.599
were old screams echoing their way back around or new ones.

416
00:32:33.440 --> 00:32:35.960
He ran out of one tunnel into a larger corridor

417
00:32:36.319 --> 00:32:38.759
and had to immediately duck as the largest of the

418
00:32:38.839 --> 00:32:41.480
children tried to take his head off with a sword.

419
00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:44.920
You stay away. I don't trust you, and I'll kill

420
00:32:44.920 --> 00:32:47.799
anyone that gets too close to me. The boy screamed,

421
00:32:47.839 --> 00:32:50.039
swinging his sword in the air as he backed away

422
00:32:50.039 --> 00:32:53.920
from Andy. He moved past a side tunnel when a

423
00:32:53.960 --> 00:32:57.400
blur of white sprang out of it. The creature leaped

424
00:32:57.400 --> 00:33:00.640
at the boy, pinning him to the ground. It began

425
00:33:00.720 --> 00:33:03.279
to tear limbs off the large boy like a child

426
00:33:03.359 --> 00:33:08.279
might wings off a fly. Andy ran. After a few minutes.

427
00:33:08.559 --> 00:33:11.599
Andy ran into a chamber with four children standing in

428
00:33:11.599 --> 00:33:16.039
a semicircle, each holding a short spear. The tallest of

429
00:33:16.079 --> 00:33:20.599
the kids pointed to a wooden rack of spears behind them, saying, hey, kid,

430
00:33:21.079 --> 00:33:23.839
grab a weapon. We're going to kill that damn thing.

431
00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:28.400
Andy ran to the rack and snatched one up, nodding

432
00:33:28.400 --> 00:33:30.799
at the tall boy. He walked over to the left

433
00:33:30.799 --> 00:33:33.920
side of the phalanx, making sure he was closest to

434
00:33:33.960 --> 00:33:38.200
the exit. The kids stood at the ready, watching for

435
00:33:38.279 --> 00:33:42.640
the creature. As ready as they were. The attack happened

436
00:33:42.680 --> 00:33:45.599
so quickly only the tall kid was able to bring

437
00:33:45.640 --> 00:33:48.839
his spear up to attack. The creature burst out of

438
00:33:48.880 --> 00:33:51.920
the tunnel that Andy had come through and smashed into

439
00:33:51.920 --> 00:33:54.880
the circle of kids. Tall Kid was able to put

440
00:33:54.920 --> 00:33:57.079
a spear in the side of the creature, but the

441
00:33:57.119 --> 00:34:01.480
powerful beast barely noticed. The creature knocked over two defenders

442
00:34:01.480 --> 00:34:04.759
with one powerful blow and grabbed tall Kid in the

443
00:34:04.799 --> 00:34:11.320
other hand. Andy turned and ran, panting with effort. Andy

444
00:34:11.400 --> 00:34:14.760
ran as fast as he could. Looking back, he saw

445
00:34:14.840 --> 00:34:18.360
one of the other defenders, a young girl with long hair,

446
00:34:18.400 --> 00:34:21.320
wearing sweatpants and a shirt with a peace sign. She

447
00:34:21.480 --> 00:34:25.159
ran up alongside him, matching his speed and gave a

448
00:34:25.159 --> 00:34:30.039
small nod. Andy nodded back. They ran together for a

449
00:34:30.079 --> 00:34:33.519
few seconds before he heard the creature roar and felt

450
00:34:33.519 --> 00:34:38.039
the ground shake as the beast pursued them. Andy didn't

451
00:34:38.119 --> 00:34:41.159
dare look, but he could tell the creature was gaining fast.

452
00:34:41.920 --> 00:34:44.599
The girl gave him another quick look and a shrug.

453
00:34:44.639 --> 00:34:47.639
As she increased her speed and began to pull away

454
00:34:47.639 --> 00:34:51.079
from him, Andy tried to dig deeper, but he had

455
00:34:51.119 --> 00:34:54.800
nothing left. The creature was getting closer and he was

456
00:34:54.880 --> 00:34:59.000
running out of options. He then realized that he was

457
00:34:59.039 --> 00:35:02.719
still holding the sp His mind started to race through

458
00:35:02.719 --> 00:35:05.800
the potentials. Attacking the creature with it would do nothing

459
00:35:06.159 --> 00:35:09.480
except get him killed. He could drop it and hope

460
00:35:09.480 --> 00:35:14.039
that it increases his speed, or as soon as his

461
00:35:14.159 --> 00:35:17.679
mind came up with the third possibility, he acted without

462
00:35:17.719 --> 00:35:20.880
even fully realizing what he was going to do. He

463
00:35:21.079 --> 00:35:24.760
thrust the spear forward as he ran, and just barely

464
00:35:25.239 --> 00:35:27.159
he was able to catch the girl in the back

465
00:35:27.199 --> 00:35:30.480
of her thigh with the tip. It wasn't a deep wound,

466
00:35:30.800 --> 00:35:33.519
but it was just enough to make her stumble and fall.

467
00:35:34.320 --> 00:35:37.199
He ran past without looking down at her. A few

468
00:35:37.239 --> 00:35:41.199
strides later, her scream and the sound of snapping bones

469
00:35:41.800 --> 00:35:46.840
echoed in the hallway. The passageway led to another room.

470
00:35:47.039 --> 00:35:49.920
Andy ran into it and stopped for a second to

471
00:35:49.960 --> 00:35:54.159
catch his breath. He felt the ground shake and knew

472
00:35:54.239 --> 00:35:57.519
the creature was making its way down the hall towards him.

473
00:35:58.280 --> 00:36:01.199
Just as Andy was about to run down another passageway,

474
00:36:02.039 --> 00:36:06.519
the kid with the Transformer pajamas came stumbling into the room.

475
00:36:06.880 --> 00:36:11.239
He held a wounded arm and was panting heavily. Hey kid,

476
00:36:11.760 --> 00:36:15.559
Andy said, I owe you one from earlier. This way

477
00:36:15.639 --> 00:36:17.800
is safe. I'll catch up to you in a second.

478
00:36:18.079 --> 00:36:21.360
I just need to catch my breath. Andy pointed back

479
00:36:21.400 --> 00:36:25.880
the way he just came. Thanks, the Transformer kid said,

480
00:36:25.880 --> 00:36:29.320
as he started moving down the corridor that Andy just exited.

481
00:36:29.920 --> 00:36:33.960
As Andy turned down another passage, he smiled as he

482
00:36:33.960 --> 00:36:40.159
heard screams and a beastly roar of triumph. Minutes or

483
00:36:40.360 --> 00:36:43.920
maybe hours later, Andy was cold to the bone and

484
00:36:43.960 --> 00:36:48.280
could not control his shivering, but he kept running. His

485
00:36:48.320 --> 00:36:51.760
feet were leaving bloody footprints with every step, but he

486
00:36:51.880 --> 00:36:56.119
was numb to that, as he was numb to everything else.

487
00:36:57.199 --> 00:37:00.840
He ran without thinking, letting his subcond just guide him

488
00:37:00.880 --> 00:37:05.079
through the maze. After an incalculable amount of time, he

489
00:37:05.199 --> 00:37:08.559
entered into a large oval room, bigger than any other

490
00:37:08.599 --> 00:37:12.239
he had seen so far. He slowed down as he

491
00:37:12.320 --> 00:37:15.639
noticed that there were no other corridors leading off of

492
00:37:15.679 --> 00:37:20.519
this room. As he walked further into the massive chamber,

493
00:37:21.239 --> 00:37:25.719
he noticed a door at the far end. Andy approached

494
00:37:25.760 --> 00:37:29.159
the door a painted sign that hung over. It had

495
00:37:29.159 --> 00:37:34.760
a single word written exit. Andy reached out and placed

496
00:37:34.760 --> 00:37:37.920
his hand on the wood of the door. It felt real.

497
00:37:38.920 --> 00:37:42.239
A tear ran down Andy's cheek as he realized that

498
00:37:42.360 --> 00:37:46.559
this was not an illusion. He slowly turned the door

499
00:37:46.599 --> 00:37:52.760
handle and the door clicked and began to open. A sharp,

500
00:37:53.320 --> 00:37:57.039
icy breeze blew in from the outside, and Andy started

501
00:37:57.079 --> 00:38:01.039
to take a step forward to cross the threshold. He

502
00:38:01.159 --> 00:38:05.880
suddenly stopped when he noticed shapes in the darkness outside.

503
00:38:06.239 --> 00:38:12.039
Dozens and dozens of little humanoid creatures stood around the

504
00:38:12.079 --> 00:38:16.559
outside of the exit door. Andy could feel all of

505
00:38:16.599 --> 00:38:21.760
their eyes on him. Is this a trick? Andy yelled

506
00:38:21.800 --> 00:38:26.119
at them, but did not get a reply. Andy tried

507
00:38:26.119 --> 00:38:29.119
to think to push back the fog and fatigue that

508
00:38:29.199 --> 00:38:33.840
clouded his mind. Shaking his head, Andy realized that there

509
00:38:33.880 --> 00:38:39.519
was only one choice and started once again to step

510
00:38:39.599 --> 00:38:43.719
through the door. As he lifted his foot, a powerful

511
00:38:43.800 --> 00:38:46.719
hand grabbed him around his waist and lifted him in

512
00:38:46.719 --> 00:38:49.960
the air. He was spun around to face the creature.51300:38:50.199 --> 00:38:54.719



Its black eyes drilled into his mind, his soul. It51400:38:54.800 --> 00:38:59.920



seemed to smile as it drew him closer. The thing51500:39:00.199 --> 00:39:04.039



opened its mouth and with a deep rumble croaked out51600:39:04.639 --> 00:39:11.920



a single word, naughty. That was the last thing that51700:39:12.000 --> 00:39:16.000



Andy heard before the creature's teeth tore his head from51800:39:16.039 --> 00:39:21.360



his body. The creature greedily fed and tossed the corpse51900:39:21.440 --> 00:39:24.960



behind him as it started to move back into the52000:39:25.000 --> 00:39:29.960



bowels of the maze. As Andy's lifeless body hit the floor,52100:39:30.039 --> 00:39:34.000



the sound of bells echoed through the maze. The creature52200:39:34.079 --> 00:39:37.920



grabbed its massive head and fell to the floor. As52300:39:37.960 --> 00:39:41.480



it slumped over, the little humanoid creatures began to flood52400:39:41.480 --> 00:39:47.239



into the room. These little creatures, known to some as elves,52500:39:47.840 --> 00:39:52.159



formed a circle around the fallen monster. When the bells52600:39:52.239 --> 00:39:55.800



stopped ringing, the elves began to chant in their high52700:39:55.880 --> 00:40:01.239



pitched voices, chanting ancient and powerful words it's long forgotten52800:40:01.800 --> 00:40:06.639



by humanity. As the chanting grew louder, the white fur52900:40:06.760 --> 00:40:10.559



that covered the creature's body began to turn black and53000:40:10.719 --> 00:40:15.480



crumble into ash. Its bare skin started to smoke, giving53100:40:15.519 --> 00:40:20.880



off waves of intense heat. The skin rippled and pulsated53200:40:20.920 --> 00:40:25.199



and soon began to flow like lava, forming a mound53300:40:25.280 --> 00:40:29.960



on the floor. As the mound cooled, the skin hardened53400:40:30.000 --> 00:40:35.920



into a shell, into a cocoon. As one, the elves53500:40:35.960 --> 00:40:41.599



stopped their chant. They stood silent and unmoving, watching the53600:40:41.639 --> 00:40:47.079



cocoon in awe. The minutes stretched on, the silence in53700:40:47.119 --> 00:40:52.760



the chamber was deafening, until suddenly a large crack echoed53800:40:52.880 --> 00:40:56.440



throughout the room as the cocoon split open on top.53900:40:56.960 --> 00:41:02.159



The elves sprang into motion. Most of the elves clapped, cheered,54000:41:02.199 --> 00:41:06.280



and danced. A few ran forward with small hammers and54100:41:06.400 --> 00:41:10.079



chisels and delicately began to chip away at the shell54200:41:10.159 --> 00:41:15.079



of the cocoon, reverently handling every small piece they chipped54300:41:15.079 --> 00:41:18.559



off to the other elves, who carefully carried it through54400:41:18.599 --> 00:41:23.159



the exit door. After minutes of chiseling, the side of54500:41:23.199 --> 00:41:27.679



the cocoon burst open, spilling its contents onto the stone floor.54600:41:28.239 --> 00:41:32.280



Gallons of thick, greenish yellow liquid poured from the hole,54700:41:32.440 --> 00:41:37.159



and with a splash, a tall, rotund man with a54800:41:37.320 --> 00:41:41.679



long white beard slid from the cocoon onto the floor.54900:41:42.599 --> 00:41:46.119



A large group of elves rushed forward, some cleaning up55000:41:46.159 --> 00:41:50.199



the liquid with towels, others gently wrapping the man in55100:41:50.320 --> 00:41:55.000



heavy blankets and carrying them out into the cold, dark night.55200:41:56.199 --> 00:42:00.400



Santa Claus opened his eyes and looked around the room,55300:42:01.119 --> 00:42:07.000



stifling a yawn. His face turned from confusion to concern55400:42:07.800 --> 00:42:09.920



when he noticed that the room was filled with his55500:42:09.960 --> 00:42:18.039



little helpers. Why hello, everyone, is something wrong? Santa said55600:42:18.280 --> 00:42:22.760



in his deep booming voice, his hand stroking his long55700:42:22.880 --> 00:42:26.840



white beard. One elf stepped forward and gave a small55800:42:26.920 --> 00:42:31.199



bow in a high pitched, squeaky tone. He said, we're55900:42:31.239 --> 00:42:34.559



sorry to wake you, Santa, but it's Christmas Eve, and56000:42:35.280 --> 00:42:40.239



Christmas Eve, Santa interrupted. He leapt out of bed, almost56100:42:40.280 --> 00:42:45.000



knocking over a score of elves. I overslept again. Prepare56200:42:45.039 --> 00:42:47.960



the sled, gather the gifts. I have millions of good56300:42:47.960 --> 00:42:52.159



little boys and girls to visit tonight. The elves cheered56400:42:52.360 --> 00:42:55.320



as Santa grabbed his black boots off the floor and56500:42:55.480 --> 00:42:59.440



rushed out of the room. The elves kept cheering as56600:42:59.480 --> 00:43:04.400



they followed Santa out of the bedroom, all except one.56700:43:04.440 --> 00:43:08.519



This elf walked over to a small writing desk and56800:43:08.679 --> 00:43:13.199



sat down. He removed a quill pen and a parchment56900:43:13.280 --> 00:43:16.960



from a drawer. Dipping the pen into an inkwell, he57000:43:17.039 --> 00:43:22.119



wrote naughty across the top of the paper in a smooth,57100:43:22.199 --> 00:43:27.840



elegant font. He then drew thirteen lines underneath it. He57200:43:27.960 --> 00:43:33.360



put the pen down and sat there waiting waiting for57300:43:33.440 --> 00:43:37.280



the new list of naughty boys and girls for next57400:43:37.880 --> 00:43:53.000



Christmas Eve. Lady Frankenstein by Rob Fields. December twenty third57500:43:53.239 --> 00:43:58.360



was the absolute biggest Christmas shopping day in Strickfield. Usually,57600:43:58.719 --> 00:44:02.280



most everyone was out shotopping. Strickfield Town Center Mall was57700:44:02.320 --> 00:44:05.920



even packed the one season of the year when it57800:44:06.039 --> 00:44:10.840



usually was. However, there was one person who had other57900:44:10.920 --> 00:44:15.639



plans during the holiday season. Just outside the village limits,58000:44:15.679 --> 00:44:18.599



in an old mansion that was thought to be abandoned,58100:44:19.360 --> 00:44:23.719



Vincent Frankenstein was alone in a third floor laboratory and58200:44:23.800 --> 00:44:26.840



working on an experiment that was on a large slab.58300:44:27.440 --> 00:44:30.199



He had just finished to fixing the hands to the58400:44:30.280 --> 00:44:34.599



lifeless female body. As he admired his work, he knew58500:44:34.639 --> 00:44:38.079



that his female creation would correct many of the flaws58600:44:38.400 --> 00:44:43.679



that had plagued his ancestor, Henry Frankenstein many years ago.58700:44:44.079 --> 00:44:48.199



After finding Henry's thought to be lost journals and studying58800:44:48.239 --> 00:44:51.920



them over immensely, Vincent had started work on trying to58900:44:51.960 --> 00:44:56.559



rediscover and harness that great ultraviolet ray that was said59000:44:56.880 --> 00:45:00.280



to have brought life to all things living. Vince since59100:45:00.360 --> 00:45:03.119



first experiment was on a cat that had been hit59200:45:03.199 --> 00:45:06.639



by a car, Vincent fixed the body up as best59300:45:06.679 --> 00:45:10.039



he could. He achieved success in turning the ray on59400:45:10.159 --> 00:45:13.159



the cat and restoring life to it after he had59500:45:13.199 --> 00:45:16.360



performed many tests on it. The cat had not shown59600:45:16.440 --> 00:45:20.800



any hostile tendencies. In fact, it acted as if it59700:45:20.800 --> 00:45:24.679



had never died and even took nourishment upon its rebirth.59800:45:25.559 --> 00:45:28.440



Vincent had succeeded in restoring a dog to life with59900:45:28.519 --> 00:45:33.039



the same results, one experiment after another. Vincent would continue60000:45:33.039 --> 00:45:36.800



his research until he was absolutely certain that his updated60100:45:36.880 --> 00:45:41.360



process worked flawlessly. Once he felt that he had compiled60200:45:41.480 --> 00:45:44.039



enough data, he decided that he would do what Henry60300:45:44.079 --> 00:45:48.320



had accomplished on two occasions to create a human being60400:45:48.880 --> 00:45:54.400



from dead parts and endow the amalgamation with life. Like60500:45:54.559 --> 00:45:58.400



his great ancestor before him, he secured fresh body parts60600:45:58.440 --> 00:46:01.840



for his creation anywhere where he could obtain them. It60700:46:01.880 --> 00:46:04.519



had taken Vincent a great deal of time and a60800:46:04.559 --> 00:46:09.000



lot of preservation, but he had nearly completed a female body.60900:46:09.679 --> 00:46:13.400



All that was missing was a perfect head, and this61000:46:13.519 --> 00:46:17.360



part was where Vincent would exercise the utmost caution, for61100:46:17.480 --> 00:46:21.079



he remembered that Henry's first creation had turned out for61200:46:21.119 --> 00:46:24.679



the worst. Henry had unknowingly placed the brain of a61300:46:24.719 --> 00:46:28.800



dead criminal within the head of what became known as61400:46:28.840 --> 00:46:35.760



Frankenstein's Monster or simply just Frankenstein. Yes, Henry's first creation61500:46:35.880 --> 00:46:39.199



had killed many people, including a little girl who was61600:46:39.280 --> 00:46:43.280



playing by the water near her village. Vincent could not61700:46:43.920 --> 00:46:46.639



allow such a mistake to be made a second time.61800:46:47.159 --> 00:46:50.119



Henry had also recorded in another journal that he, with61900:46:50.199 --> 00:46:54.400



the help of one doctor Septimus Pretorius, had created a62000:46:54.440 --> 00:46:57.719



female of his own to be a companion and mate62100:46:58.159 --> 00:47:02.119



for the original creation. However, the female creation had come62200:47:02.159 --> 00:47:05.199



to reject her potential mate and was believed to be62300:47:05.280 --> 00:47:09.519



destroyed in an explosion. Vincent had thought ahead and removed62400:47:09.519 --> 00:47:13.119



his creation's reproductive system to make her sterile so that62500:47:13.199 --> 00:47:18.519



his creation could not produce potentially dangerous offspring. Vincent had62600:47:18.559 --> 00:47:21.760



read in Strickfield's local newspaper that a young woman from62700:47:21.840 --> 00:47:25.519



North Ridgeway had recently passed away due to an extreme62800:47:25.639 --> 00:47:28.559



loss of blood. He was certain that the head would62900:47:28.559 --> 00:47:32.280



be in great physical condition and would be perfect for63000:47:32.360 --> 00:47:36.559



his creation. That night, he had gone to North Ridgeway63100:47:36.639 --> 00:47:41.639



Memorial Hospital. After disengaging the security cameras, Vincent made his63200:47:41.719 --> 00:47:45.119



way to the morgue and found the naked female body63300:47:45.599 --> 00:47:49.920



with his perfect head. When Vincent thoroughly examined the body63400:47:49.960 --> 00:47:53.960



of Annabeth Winter's, he couldn't understand what had caused this63500:47:54.079 --> 00:47:58.559



once living, beautiful girl to die from such an extreme63600:47:58.639 --> 00:48:03.000



loss of blood. His research on Annabeth Winters showed that63700:48:03.039 --> 00:48:06.440



she had been a top level athlete from North Ridgeway University,63800:48:07.000 --> 00:48:11.719



so she was not a dangerous criminal. Vincent's creation would63900:48:11.760 --> 00:48:16.639



have the perfect head and brain of Annabeth Winters. It64000:48:16.679 --> 00:48:20.000



had taken Vincent a great deal of time to properly64100:48:20.039 --> 00:48:23.760



attach the spinal cord to the brain of Annabeth Winters.64200:48:24.719 --> 00:48:29.079



Upon successful completion, he stitched the flesh together to finish,64300:48:29.119 --> 00:48:32.480



making the head a part of the body. Vincent hooked64400:48:32.559 --> 00:48:35.880



up the completed body to the multiple machines to both64500:48:35.920 --> 00:48:40.320



inject and conduct the circulation of blood. All he needed64600:48:40.360 --> 00:48:43.119



now was the perfect storm to grant him that one64700:48:43.320 --> 00:48:48.000



jolt of powerful lightning in conjunction with his ultraviolet ray64800:48:48.719 --> 00:48:53.519



to bring his creation to life. His Christmas wish couldn't64900:48:53.519 --> 00:48:57.639



have been granted soon enough. This Christmas season just happened65000:48:57.639 --> 00:49:02.880



to be unseasonably warm. Garret teeing a green holiday, Vincent65100:49:02.920 --> 00:49:07.320



heard the loud rumbling and knew that he needed to65200:49:07.360 --> 00:49:11.599



act quickly. After he finished wrapping the body in special65300:49:11.679 --> 00:49:16.360



bandages to help evenly distribute the forthcoming electrical current, all65400:49:16.480 --> 00:49:19.440



was ready, he threw the switches to both open the65500:49:19.480 --> 00:49:22.800



panel in the roof and send the body upward until65600:49:22.800 --> 00:49:27.280



it was outside and exposed to the storm. Vincent monitored65700:49:27.320 --> 00:49:31.760



his instruments closely. When the needles and digital displays spiked65800:49:31.800 --> 00:49:34.639



in their readings, he knew that the lightning had struck65900:49:34.679 --> 00:49:37.079



the rods at each corner of the slab and had66000:49:37.119 --> 00:49:40.920



sent millions of volts throughout the body. In conjunction with66100:49:40.960 --> 00:49:44.719



the ultraviolet ray that he had mounted just above, Vincent66200:49:44.840 --> 00:49:49.440



brought the body back down, closing the roof panel. When66300:49:49.480 --> 00:49:52.880



the slab was back on the floor again, Vincent waited66400:49:52.920 --> 00:49:56.519



for any sign of movement. He didn't have to wait66500:49:56.639 --> 00:50:03.599



long when a hand started to move. It's alive, he gasped.66600:50:04.559 --> 00:50:11.280



It's alive. My god, I've succeeded. He took his scissors66700:50:11.440 --> 00:50:14.840



and proceeded to cut the wrappings to reveal the creation's head.66800:50:15.480 --> 00:50:18.639



Then he cut the wrappings to reveal her hands and feet.66900:50:19.199 --> 00:50:22.519



It struck him odd that the creation's stitched areas were67000:50:23.000 --> 00:50:27.559



quickly healing up into a single, unified flesh. He heard67100:50:27.559 --> 00:50:31.960



his creation moaning and knew that she was scared. He67200:50:32.000 --> 00:50:35.800



looked into the beautiful face of his creation. It's all right,67300:50:36.360 --> 00:50:39.679



You're going to be just fine. I'll take very good67400:50:39.760 --> 00:50:43.639



care of you. The Creation regarded her creator for a67500:50:43.719 --> 00:50:49.079



moment and screamed. Then she started heaving. Vincent saw that67600:50:49.119 --> 00:50:54.760



his creation was angry, now very angry. She screamed again67700:50:54.880 --> 00:50:58.440



to show her rage. Then Vincent noticed that the Creation's67800:50:58.480 --> 00:51:03.400



eyes were goldwing red. It was during her third scream,67900:51:03.480 --> 00:51:06.559



one for freedom, that she broke the iron shackles that68000:51:06.599 --> 00:51:11.199



had secured her wrists and ankles to the slab. No stop.68100:51:11.800 --> 00:51:14.159



Vincent held out his hands to try to take hold68200:51:14.159 --> 00:51:17.360



of her to calm her down. The Creation quickly grabbed68300:51:17.360 --> 00:51:20.800



a heavy table nearby and flung it at her creator.68400:51:21.360 --> 00:51:24.840



He ducked to avoid serious injury. When Vincent got to68500:51:24.880 --> 00:51:28.559



his feet, the Creation screamed with rage again. Seeing the68600:51:28.639 --> 00:51:31.440



door to her right, she proceeded to walk to it68700:51:32.079 --> 00:51:36.760



to her freedom. Stop. Vincent yelled at her. When the68800:51:36.840 --> 00:51:39.519



Creation had reached the door, she found it was locked.68900:51:39.960 --> 00:51:42.679



She smashed her fists through the thick wooden door as69000:51:42.719 --> 00:51:46.239



if it were brittle. It was then when Vincent saw69100:51:46.360 --> 00:51:50.920



the full length mirror near the control panel, the creature69200:51:51.000 --> 00:51:57.519



had no reflection. It was then that Vincent Frankenstein had69300:51:57.519 --> 00:52:00.840



gotten his answer as to why the body of Annabeth69400:52:00.880 --> 00:52:06.039



Winters was in such good condition in spite of a69500:52:06.119 --> 00:52:11.159



loss of blood. The young woman had been sired by69600:52:11.199 --> 00:52:14.920



a vampire. In utilizing her head, Vincent had made an69700:52:14.960 --> 00:52:18.719



even worse mistake than what Henry before him had made. No,69800:52:19.119 --> 00:52:21.239



he had not given his creation the brain of a69900:52:21.280 --> 00:52:25.840



dead criminal. He had given his creation the head of70000:52:25.880 --> 00:52:27.320



a newborn vampire.70100:52:28.840 --> 00:52:32.760



You're not safe yet, weekly Spooky will be right back.70200:52:35.239 --> 00:52:38.920



The creation easily smashed through the French doors and walked70300:52:38.920 --> 00:52:43.079



down the steps to the front yard to continue her escape.70400:52:43.239 --> 00:52:47.559



The rain poured on her seemingly mummified body. The creation70500:52:47.800 --> 00:52:51.079



relished her freedom in spite of the weather. She came70600:52:51.159 --> 00:52:53.760



to a dirt path and walked it for several minutes70700:52:54.320 --> 00:52:57.920



before she arrived at a road. Seeing a sign with70800:52:57.960 --> 00:53:01.239



an arrow that pointed left, she turned in that direction70900:53:02.119 --> 00:53:06.599



and headed to Strickfield. The roads were deserted as she71000:53:06.679 --> 00:53:11.199



walked to her destination. When she entered the Strickfield village limits.71100:53:11.800 --> 00:53:16.119



She noticed that every house was bright with Christmas lights71200:53:16.639 --> 00:53:21.440



and decorations. There were even houses with animatronics doing their71300:53:21.480 --> 00:53:27.519



programmed actions. As the Creation stared at this winter wonderland,71400:53:28.519 --> 00:53:34.800



she started to become uncomfortable. She growled and clutched her throat.71500:53:35.320 --> 00:53:37.920



She looked and saw a man working to replace a71600:53:37.920 --> 00:53:42.360



few bulbs in a string of Christmas lights. She hissed71700:53:42.840 --> 00:53:46.320



with delight and began to make her way towards the man.71800:53:47.000 --> 00:53:50.119



When she reached him, the man saw her bare feet71900:53:50.559 --> 00:53:56.000



and looked up at her bandaged body. Listen, you get72000:53:56.039 --> 00:53:59.480



the hell off my property, he grumbled, not unless you72100:53:59.480 --> 00:54:03.679



want me to call the The man fought to break72200:54:03.679 --> 00:54:06.360



her iron grip as she held his coat and hair.72300:54:06.800 --> 00:54:10.480



She tilted his head back to fully expose his neck,72400:54:10.760 --> 00:54:14.840



before opening her mouth to reveal her sharp fangs. The72500:54:14.880 --> 00:54:18.639



man screamed as she bit into his neck and began72600:54:18.800 --> 00:54:23.320



to drink. The Creation felt herself becoming stronger and more72700:54:23.400 --> 00:54:27.800



vibrant with each swallow of blood. When she was finished,72800:54:28.119 --> 00:54:31.559



she shoved the corpse away from her. The Creation heard72900:54:31.639 --> 00:54:37.000



other sounds nearby, mainly a car engine. She looked and73000:54:37.039 --> 00:54:40.679



saw the car in another person's yard that had damaged73100:54:40.679 --> 00:54:45.320



an animatronic Santa Claus. Shortly after, four high school kids,73200:54:45.519 --> 00:54:47.960



two boys and two girls, got out of the car.73300:54:48.440 --> 00:54:52.159



One of the girls pointed to the vandalized Santa Fuck you,73400:54:52.360 --> 00:54:56.440



Principal van Deist. The other girl kicked the Santa head73500:54:56.800 --> 00:55:00.000



that had fallen at her feet. Yeah, go get fucked73600:55:00.119 --> 00:55:04.760



to you, motherfucker. One of the guys pointed to the house. Hey,73700:55:05.639 --> 00:55:09.000



we should see if Principal van Deste is home, then73800:55:09.039 --> 00:55:11.599



we can smash his door in and kill his ass.73900:55:12.320 --> 00:55:15.239



The other guy muttered, I can't believe that son of74000:55:15.239 --> 00:55:18.440



a bitch expelled us from high school just because Stevie74100:55:18.440 --> 00:55:22.559



tripped little alien Donnerly in the hallway yesterday. The girl74200:55:22.639 --> 00:55:26.280



named Stevie turned and shoved the guy, and then that74300:55:26.360 --> 00:55:29.320



fucking bitch, Bella Tabon, beat the shit out of me74400:55:29.400 --> 00:55:32.559



for it. Bella Tabon beat the shit out of all74500:55:32.599 --> 00:55:35.920



of us. The other girl yelled, but Principal van Deiste74600:55:35.960 --> 00:55:41.000



expels us. I say we beat the living shit out74700:55:41.000 --> 00:55:45.360



of Van dest then we find Bella Tabon and fucking74800:55:45.519 --> 00:55:49.039



kill her ass too. Stevie slapped the other girl on74900:55:49.079 --> 00:55:53.599



her arm quickly hey, look. The four of them turned75000:55:53.599 --> 00:55:57.519



their attention to the Creation. One of the guys started75100:55:57.599 --> 00:56:01.920



laughing when he saw her staring at them from Is75200:56:01.960 --> 00:56:06.920



that bitch dressed up like a like a mummy? The75300:56:07.000 --> 00:56:10.960



other guy yelled to her, Hey, airhead, Halloween was two75400:56:11.039 --> 00:56:16.159



months ago. It's not trick or treat weekend, bitch, Stevie added,75500:56:16.880 --> 00:56:20.239



none of these houses are giving out candy, but will75600:56:20.280 --> 00:56:23.360



beat your fucking ass if you don't fuck off. The75700:56:23.440 --> 00:56:27.400



other girl further added when the Creation wouldn't walk away,75800:56:27.880 --> 00:56:31.519



they got back into their car. The guy driving turned75900:56:31.559 --> 00:56:35.840



the wheel towards the Creation and hit the gas. Yeah,76000:56:36.039 --> 00:56:40.400



run that fucking bitch over, Stevie yelled. The Creation didn't76100:56:40.400 --> 00:56:44.519



look the least bit afraid. In fact, her eyes glowed76200:56:44.559 --> 00:56:48.400



hot as she screamed with rage and raised her fists.76300:56:48.960 --> 00:56:51.400



As the car was about to hit her. The Creation76400:56:51.559 --> 00:56:54.119



brought her fists down on the car's hood and hit76500:56:54.199 --> 00:56:56.840



it with enough force to both stop the car dead76600:56:56.880 --> 00:57:00.280



in its tracks and make the rear end go way76700:57:00.320 --> 00:57:05.119



off road and slam back down just as hard. The76800:57:05.239 --> 00:57:09.000



Creation moved the vehicle and saw the four enemies who76900:57:09.039 --> 00:57:12.760



had pissed her off. They were moaning in pain. The77000:57:12.800 --> 00:57:15.880



girls in the back were bleeding from their heads. As77100:57:15.920 --> 00:57:18.400



for the guys up front, they were both on the77200:57:18.440 --> 00:57:22.280



hood after crashing through the windshield. Together. She could smell77300:57:22.360 --> 00:57:25.639



how delicious the red leaking liquid from their wounds was77400:57:26.039 --> 00:57:30.559



and grabbed the driver. He screamed as the Creation drank77500:57:30.599 --> 00:57:34.920



him dry. After tossing him aside, she grabbed the other77600:57:35.000 --> 00:57:39.079



guy and drank him up. That left only the two77700:57:39.159 --> 00:57:44.239



girls now. The Creation moved to the passenger's side and77800:57:44.400 --> 00:57:48.159



ripped the door off. She reached inside and pulled the77900:57:48.159 --> 00:57:51.000



girl next to Stevie out. She held her by her78000:57:51.039 --> 00:57:54.119



hair with one hand. With the other, she grabbed the78100:57:54.199 --> 00:57:57.559



neck of her turtle neck sweater. The girl cried out78200:57:57.599 --> 00:58:01.559



when she felt the Creation's fingers pierce her flesh. She78300:58:01.760 --> 00:58:05.280



screamed as the Creation pulled down fast, ripping the front78400:58:05.280 --> 00:58:08.679



of her turtleneck sweater away past her stomach, tearing all78500:58:08.719 --> 00:58:12.920



the flesh beyond with it. The Creation threw the girl78600:58:13.000 --> 00:58:16.960



onto her back, leaving her vital organs exposed as blood78700:58:17.039 --> 00:58:21.519



pulled around the body. Stevie saw this and screamed in terror.78800:58:21.840 --> 00:58:25.559



The Creation heard her and screamed with rage yet again.78900:58:26.199 --> 00:58:29.159



She moved to the driver's side door and ripped it off,79000:58:29.480 --> 00:58:33.880



throwing it aside. She reached in and grabbed Stevie. She79100:58:33.920 --> 00:58:36.440



pulled her out of the car and held her where79200:58:36.480 --> 00:58:43.239



she stood. Well, what are you, Stevie choked out. As79300:58:43.280 --> 00:58:46.199



the Creation moved her hands to the sides of Stevie's79400:58:46.239 --> 00:58:49.719



head to crush her skull in. She felt two sharp79500:58:49.840 --> 00:58:53.599



jabs on her shoulder blade. She screamed as she felt79600:58:53.639 --> 00:58:59.079



the voltage go through her entire body, making her release Stevie.79700:58:59.119 --> 00:59:02.920



When the Creation refused to fall, the voltage only seemed79800:59:02.960 --> 00:59:07.920



to increase. She turned and saw Vincent Frankenstein at the79900:59:07.920 --> 00:59:11.480



other end of the Taser rifle. She grabbed the cables80000:59:11.480 --> 00:59:14.119



and yanked hard enough to pull the rifle away from him.80100:59:14.559 --> 00:59:17.519



When the rifle landed in front of her, she stomped80200:59:17.519 --> 00:59:20.320



on it with one bare foot to snap it in two.80300:59:21.119 --> 00:59:25.840



You are my Creation, stop this at once, Vincent yelled.80400:59:26.480 --> 00:59:29.960



The Creation screamed with rage and stretched her hands out80500:59:30.039 --> 00:59:33.440



into claws. As she was ready to attack Vincent. They80600:59:33.519 --> 00:59:37.440



both heard a low moan from Stevie. Seeing that the80700:59:37.480 --> 00:59:40.760



Creation was distracted, Vincent rushed at her and threw his80800:59:40.840 --> 00:59:44.119



body into her to knock her down. He moved quickly80900:59:44.159 --> 00:59:47.239



and lifted Stevie into his arms. As the Creation suddenly81000:59:47.320 --> 00:59:50.800



sat up, Vincent ran as fast as he could and81100:59:50.880 --> 00:59:55.519



threw some nearby yards. Fortunately he knew Strickfield quite well.81200:59:55.880 --> 00:59:58.679



The Creation would not catch him and Stevie so quickly,81300:59:58.960 --> 01:00:01.719



at least not so long as she hadn't yet understood81401:00:02.239 --> 01:00:07.639



all of her potential vampiric powers. The Creation, frustrated that81501:00:07.679 --> 01:00:10.840



she had lost her two victims, looked up and screamed81601:00:10.880 --> 01:00:14.360



so loudly that anything of a fragile nature nearby would81701:00:14.400 --> 01:00:19.400



either break or crack. When she finished, she turned and81801:00:19.480 --> 01:00:30.639



continued walking through Strickfield. The next morning, Christmas Eve, the81901:00:30.760 --> 01:00:34.599



Creation awakened and left the abandoned barn that she had82001:00:34.639 --> 01:00:38.880



taken shelter in. It had finally stopped raining, but it82101:00:38.920 --> 01:00:43.400



was quite cloudy and chilly. She seemed disoriented at how82201:00:43.440 --> 01:00:47.119



much more light was outside compared to the darkness of82301:00:47.199 --> 01:00:51.559



the night before. Just the same she began to walk again.82401:00:53.440 --> 01:00:57.599



I like it spooky weekly, Spooky will be right back.82501:01:00.320 --> 01:01:03.679



The Creation would find its way to Strickfield Town Center Mall.82601:01:05.000 --> 01:01:08.719



The Creation walked in and saw that many people were82701:01:08.719 --> 01:01:11.760



going in and out of the stores, or doing business82801:01:11.760 --> 01:01:15.679



with vendors at kiosks. But what really intrigued her at82901:01:15.679 --> 01:01:20.079



that moment were the many little versions of the people.83001:01:21.079 --> 01:01:25.159



As she watched the smaller people move about, her facial83101:01:25.199 --> 01:01:32.000



expression softened until Hey, you, you can't be in here83201:01:32.039 --> 01:01:35.880



without any shoes on. You're gonna have to leave. The83301:01:35.920 --> 01:01:39.400



Creation glanced to see a fat security guard next to her.83401:01:39.960 --> 01:01:44.679



She ignored him and started walking again. Hey. The guard83501:01:44.719 --> 01:01:48.880



grumbled and grabbed her arm. The Creation screamed in anger83601:01:48.920 --> 01:01:52.639



before she grabbed him and sank her fangs into his throat,83701:01:52.880 --> 01:01:58.239



which caused panic among the shoppers who saw. After tossing83801:01:58.280 --> 01:02:01.519



the body aside, she screamed at the people and went83901:02:01.599 --> 01:02:04.559



for them. She had killed and drank two more before84001:02:04.599 --> 01:02:07.840



a little boy had crossed in front of her. The84101:02:07.920 --> 01:02:13.559



Creation picked up the boy. Stop. The mother called out, please,84201:02:13.800 --> 01:02:17.760



don't hurt my baby. The Creation looked at the woman84301:02:17.880 --> 01:02:22.360



only for a moment before returning her attention to the boy.84401:02:23.559 --> 01:02:28.119



After examining the boy, she finally lowered him and let84501:02:28.239 --> 01:02:31.800



him go. The mother quickly snatched up her son and84601:02:31.920 --> 01:02:36.239



ran as fast as she could. Suddenly, two police officers84701:02:36.239 --> 01:02:40.519



appeared with their guns drawn. The Creation screamed at them84801:02:40.880 --> 01:02:45.119



as they fired at her. To their disbelief, the officers84901:02:45.119 --> 01:02:48.920



found their bullets were useless. She was on them the85001:02:48.960 --> 01:02:52.360



moment their guns were empty. After she drained them of85101:02:52.440 --> 01:02:59.840



their blood, she made her way through the mall. Many85201:03:00.119 --> 01:03:03.480



family scrambled to flee once they saw her. A few85301:03:03.480 --> 01:03:06.280



of the boldest dared to try and fight the Creation,85401:03:06.880 --> 01:03:11.280



only for her to drink them up. Another fat security85501:03:11.280 --> 01:03:14.039



guard tried to take her down, but was quickly and85601:03:14.159 --> 01:03:18.079



easily thrown with one hand right through the Little Santa's85701:03:18.119 --> 01:03:21.800



House at the center Court. It seemed as if the85801:03:21.880 --> 01:03:25.280



Creation would continue her reign of terror at the mall,85901:03:26.079 --> 01:03:29.480



but she reached the main doors and smashed right through86001:03:29.519 --> 01:03:34.039



them to finally leave. Some of the police ran after86101:03:34.079 --> 01:03:37.039



her to try and subdue her, but they would find86201:03:37.119 --> 01:03:42.400



their efforts to be futile. These officers were most fortunate86301:03:42.440 --> 01:03:45.760



that the Creation only smashed them to the parking lot86401:03:46.000 --> 01:03:50.400



and left them with their lives. She screamed at them86501:03:50.519 --> 01:03:59.039



before she turned and continued on her way. Stevie opened86601:03:59.039 --> 01:04:01.840



her eyes and awoke to find herself covered up in86701:04:01.920 --> 01:04:05.039



a four post bed. She saw that she was wearing86801:04:05.079 --> 01:04:08.119



a gown and felt that she had a bandage wrapped86901:04:08.119 --> 01:04:12.119



around her forehead. She felt a little scared as she87001:04:12.199 --> 01:04:16.360



looked around and wondered where she was. It's all right,87101:04:17.119 --> 01:04:20.920



Vincent said to her as he entered the room. Where87201:04:20.960 --> 01:04:25.599



the fuck am I, Stevie demanded, You're in my home,87301:04:25.679 --> 01:04:28.559



young lady. I treated your headroom and put you to87401:04:28.559 --> 01:04:32.400



bed so you could rest. Stevie shrieked and pointed in87501:04:32.440 --> 01:04:39.239



a random direction that thing. Vincent sighed, sadly, she's still87601:04:39.280 --> 01:04:41.880



out there. I'm afraid. I went out to try and87701:04:41.920 --> 01:04:47.960



find her, but was unsuccessful. Stevie understood immediately and pointed87801:04:48.000 --> 01:04:52.199



an accusing finger at him. You created that motherfucking thing.87901:04:52.920 --> 01:04:57.400



She sprang out of bed, fucking why, Vincent held up88001:04:57.440 --> 01:05:01.440



his hands. I am truly so for what she did88101:05:01.480 --> 01:05:04.000



to you and your friends, and nothing I can do88201:05:04.079 --> 01:05:07.239



will ever make up for that. I'll have to carry88301:05:07.280 --> 01:05:09.360



every death she's caused with me for the rest of88401:05:09.360 --> 01:05:14.360



my life. He lowered his hands in sighed. I only88501:05:14.440 --> 01:05:16.960



wanted to be able to create life from death, the88601:05:17.000 --> 01:05:23.320



way my ancestor did many many years ago. Vincent explained88701:05:23.800 --> 01:05:27.400



everything to Stevie. The more he explained, the more Stevie88801:05:27.440 --> 01:05:31.079



became furious, she finally screamed at the top of her88901:05:31.159 --> 01:05:34.280



lungs and lunged at Vincent. She took him down and89001:05:34.360 --> 01:05:37.960



screamed more as she threw fist after fist at him. Finally,89101:05:38.039 --> 01:05:41.159



she fell off him and heaved, God, damn you, God89201:05:41.280 --> 01:05:45.800



damn you. Yes, perhaps God himself will damn me to89301:05:45.840 --> 01:05:50.159



hell for what I've done. Vincent agreed, but I still89401:05:50.159 --> 01:05:54.079



have to find my creation just the same. But how89501:05:54.159 --> 01:05:57.920



the fuck will you kill her? Asshole? Stevie mocked him.89601:05:58.599 --> 01:06:01.599



You fucked up by putting the head of a vampire89701:06:01.679 --> 01:06:06.079



on her. Vincent sat up and faced her. You believe89801:06:06.119 --> 01:06:11.199



in vampires, Stevie sneered in disgust. I was raped by89901:06:11.239 --> 01:06:14.440



one and survived. I ended up killing his mother fucking90001:06:14.480 --> 01:06:17.519



ass after he tried to sire me. She moved on90101:06:17.599 --> 01:06:21.800



to her knees and glared at Vincent with anticipation. I'm90201:06:21.800 --> 01:06:25.360



definitely gonna help you kill that fucking thing. When Stevie90301:06:25.400 --> 01:06:28.679



saw that Vincent was apprehensive, she growled and attacked him,90401:06:28.760 --> 01:06:31.719



getting on top of him again. When he looked up90501:06:31.760 --> 01:06:36.519



at her, she glared down at him. You listen to me, motherfucker,90601:06:37.159 --> 01:06:42.159



she pointed in a random direction. That fucking thing killed90701:06:42.159 --> 01:06:45.519



my friends. It damn near killed me. How many more90801:06:45.559 --> 01:06:49.480



people do you think she's going to kill right fucking now? Huh,90901:06:49.559 --> 01:06:54.880



they're all on your fucking head. Okay, okay, Vincent conceded.91001:06:55.519 --> 01:06:57.760



I was hoping to take her alive so that maybe91101:06:57.800 --> 01:07:01.519



I can fix her. Stevie got off Vincent and stood up.91201:07:02.000 --> 01:07:04.599



There is no fixing her. You know it, and I91301:07:04.760 --> 01:07:08.760



know it. Vincent got up and faced Stevie. I'll get91401:07:08.800 --> 01:07:11.280



you some fresh clothes, then we'll go look for my creation.91501:07:12.239 --> 01:07:15.519



Stevie continued to glare at him with distrust as he91601:07:15.599 --> 01:07:21.119



left her room. The Creation walked onto the Strickfield University91701:07:21.159 --> 01:07:25.920



grounds and looked at the Christmas decorations. She didn't understand91801:07:25.960 --> 01:07:29.880



why there were so many brightly colored lights, the multiple snowmen,91901:07:30.039 --> 01:07:32.800



or even the fat men wearing red and white suits.92001:07:33.599 --> 01:07:37.000



She really didn't understand too much, except that people were92101:07:37.039 --> 01:07:39.920



after her, that she needed to feed on their blood,92201:07:40.159 --> 01:07:44.239



and that she now felt certain desires growing inside her.92301:07:45.119 --> 01:07:49.519



The Creation continued walking the campus, but she didn't see anybody.92401:07:50.079 --> 01:07:53.119



Of course, she couldn't have known that nearly every student92501:07:53.159 --> 01:07:57.280



had left Strickfield University for the holiday break She screamed92601:07:57.320 --> 01:08:00.639



in frustration at not getting what she desired. She approached92701:08:00.639 --> 01:08:03.960



a nearby animatronic Santa Claus and sent its head flying92801:08:04.039 --> 01:08:07.559



right off its shoulders with a quick punch. She reached92901:08:07.599 --> 01:08:11.920



inside its open neck to kill it some more. The93001:08:12.000 --> 01:08:15.880



creation screamed and became angrier as the high voltage surged93101:08:15.880 --> 01:08:18.600



through her body. She stopped the voltage by ripping the93201:08:18.640 --> 01:08:23.560



animatronic Santa in half. Jesus Christ, what are you doing?93301:08:24.159 --> 01:08:27.279



Someone called out to her. The creation was ready to93401:08:27.319 --> 01:08:32.239



scream at the person, but she quickly stopped and calmed down.93501:08:33.359 --> 01:08:37.039



She allowed the chunky guy with glasses to approach her.93601:08:37.520 --> 01:08:42.039



You you all right? She didn't answer, but continued to93701:08:42.039 --> 01:08:46.880



look him over. Wow, you sure are tall. He looked93801:08:46.880 --> 01:08:50.039



down at her bare feet, and you don't even need heels.93901:08:51.159 --> 01:08:54.199



Then he saw that her wet bandages had parted enough94001:08:54.720 --> 01:08:57.319



in several places to reveal that she didn't have any94101:08:57.319 --> 01:09:02.680



clothing on underneath at all. Hey, you can't stay out94201:09:02.680 --> 01:09:06.239



here looking like that if the police see you, He94301:09:06.279 --> 01:09:09.720



took her hand. Come on, my house is just over there.94401:09:10.479 --> 01:09:11.960



I can give you something to wear out of my94501:09:12.039 --> 01:09:15.800



sister's room. The creation allowed the guy to lead her94601:09:15.840 --> 01:09:19.159



off campus and to the nearby house where he lived94701:09:19.159 --> 01:09:22.119



with his family. He brought her inside and took her94801:09:22.199 --> 01:09:26.159



upstairs to his bedroom. My parents aren't home, but I'll94901:09:26.159 --> 01:09:30.239



take care of you. Listen, do you have a name?95001:09:31.319 --> 01:09:33.920



When she still didn't answer him, he pointed to himself,95101:09:34.840 --> 01:09:39.960



I'm Reggie Regi. When she remained silent, he motioned for95201:09:40.000 --> 01:09:43.520



her to stay. I'll get a scissor in some clothes.95301:09:44.159 --> 01:09:47.760



The creation waited until Reggie returned with the promised items.95401:09:48.199 --> 01:09:50.560



He set the clothes on his desk and proceeded to95501:09:50.680 --> 01:09:54.680



use the scissors to cut off her bandages. After several minutes,95601:09:55.119 --> 01:09:59.560



he had her completely naked. You know what, maybe you95701:09:59.600 --> 01:10:06.039



should take a shower first, Reggie suggested the bathroom. The95801:10:06.119 --> 01:10:12.319



Creation seized Reggie and kissed him hungrily. Reggie couldn't believe95901:10:12.359 --> 01:10:15.840



his luck and kissed her back. She ripped his t96001:10:16.000 --> 01:10:18.199



shirt off like it was tissue paper and sat down96101:10:18.239 --> 01:10:21.119



on the bed. Reggie looked down at the beautiful naked96201:10:21.159 --> 01:10:25.880



creation who truly truly desired him. She growled and ripped96301:10:25.920 --> 01:10:29.880



his jeans open. He eased her onto her back, got96401:10:30.039 --> 01:10:35.159



naked and climbed on top of her.96501:10:36.279 --> 01:10:41.680



Are you afraid, good, weakly spooky. We'll be right back.96601:10:43.560 --> 01:10:46.880



Reggie had finished drying the Creation off after giving her96701:10:46.920 --> 01:10:50.359



a shower. Then he dressed her in his sister's clothing.96801:10:51.319 --> 01:10:54.479



Even though the items fit, they were still too small96901:10:54.520 --> 01:10:58.159



for her. The t shirt revealed her full stomach, and97001:10:58.239 --> 01:11:02.279



the jeans were more like caprise. The Creation looked at97101:11:02.319 --> 01:11:05.239



him and attempted to smile for the first time ever.97201:11:06.439 --> 01:11:09.600



Then she took his hand and held it between her97301:11:09.640 --> 01:11:13.199



two hands. She closed her eyes and let him kiss97401:11:13.199 --> 01:11:17.439



her lips again. He sat down next to her and97501:11:17.560 --> 01:11:24.039



admired her. I can't believe we just had sex, Reggie97601:11:24.039 --> 01:11:28.760



told her, this sort of thing just doesn't happen to me.97701:11:30.000 --> 01:11:34.359



The Creation smiled for him a second time. Then she97801:11:34.479 --> 01:11:38.640



quickly turned her head when she heard noises coming from downstairs.97901:11:39.479 --> 01:11:44.119



Somebody's home. Reggie explained, don't worry, nobody's gonna hurt you.98001:11:45.079 --> 01:11:48.760



The Creation wouldn't release his hand. Only when he assured98101:11:48.760 --> 01:11:51.279



her that he would return did she let him go.98201:11:52.279 --> 01:11:56.720



He opened the door and headed downstairs. The Creation heard talking,98301:11:57.439 --> 01:12:01.520



but she couldn't understand the words. It wasn't long after98401:12:01.560 --> 01:12:04.359



that she heard quick movements on the stairs along with98501:12:04.439 --> 01:12:08.800



Reggie yelling something was wrong. She stood up and moved98601:12:08.840 --> 01:12:11.720



to the door. She walked right through it, turning it98701:12:11.760 --> 01:12:15.680



into boards and kindling. She turned to see Vincent, Frankenstein,98801:12:15.720 --> 01:12:20.279



and Stevie in the hallway. She screamed angrily and moved98901:12:20.319 --> 01:12:24.920



at them. Oh shit, Stevie shrieked. She raised her shotgun99001:12:24.960 --> 01:12:29.600



and blasted the Creation and the shoulder. No, Reggie yelled.99101:12:29.960 --> 01:12:33.800



The Creation only jerked back on its impacted shoulder and99201:12:33.920 --> 01:12:38.319



showed Stevie just how fast she could heal. Stevie and99301:12:38.439 --> 01:12:42.479



Vincent quickly moved back downstairs. They hadn't counted on the99401:12:42.520 --> 01:12:47.359



Creation leaping all the way down the stairway. Stevie cried99501:12:47.359 --> 01:12:49.960



out in fright as the Creation suddenly grabbed her and99601:12:50.039 --> 01:12:52.840



put her right through the front door. Then she turned99701:12:52.840 --> 01:12:56.640



to face Vincent and Reggie. For a moment, she seemed99801:12:56.640 --> 01:13:00.720



to convey betrayal towards Reggie. When she saw him shaking99901:13:00.720 --> 01:13:05.760



his head. Quickly, she realized he was innocent. Her Creator100001:13:05.800 --> 01:13:09.840



and the girl had found her somehow. Vincent raised his100101:13:09.920 --> 01:13:12.520



hands in front of him. Let me take you home.100201:13:12.840 --> 01:13:15.680



I can fix you. Please don't be like this, no100301:13:15.840 --> 01:13:20.079



more killing, Please just come with me. The Creation still100401:13:20.119 --> 01:13:23.840



didn't understand him, but she screamed with hatred at him.100501:13:24.199 --> 01:13:26.800



She was about to grab him when she took another100601:13:26.840 --> 01:13:30.760



shotgun blast, this time in the back. The Creation turned100701:13:30.800 --> 01:13:34.479



to see Stevie. Come and get me, you fucking bitch,100801:13:35.079 --> 01:13:38.520



she called out. As she turned and ran, The Creation100901:13:38.760 --> 01:13:42.640



screamed and darted outside. It hadn't taken the Creation long101001:13:42.760 --> 01:13:46.640



to almost be upon Stevie. Suddenly she felt Vincent jumping101101:13:46.680 --> 01:13:49.319



onto her back. As she was about to grab him,101201:13:49.720 --> 01:13:53.159



she felt the sharpness of a needle going into her shoulder,101301:13:53.960 --> 01:13:58.119



followed by something squirting out. Vincent dropped off her back101401:13:58.439 --> 01:14:02.039



and stuck her with a second needle. The Creation fell101501:14:02.079 --> 01:14:05.960



to her knees and then on to her side. We101601:14:06.000 --> 01:14:08.520



don't have much time, Stevie. Let's get her back to101701:14:08.560 --> 01:14:12.000



the lab, Vincent said. I can't believe I'm agreeing to101801:14:12.079 --> 01:14:15.279



let you try and fix her. Stevie muttered, you should101901:14:15.319 --> 01:14:19.159



just fucking kill her. When Stevie saw Reggie coming outside,102001:14:19.199 --> 01:14:21.680



she pointed right at him. Shut the fuck up and102101:14:21.760 --> 01:14:25.720



get back inside, you fucking fat fuckstick. What are you102201:14:25.760 --> 01:14:29.359



gonna do with her? He demanded. When Stevie raised the102301:14:29.359 --> 01:14:33.159



shotgun to him and pumped it. He quickly squealed and102401:14:33.279 --> 01:14:42.399



darted back inside. The Creation opened her eyes and felt102501:14:42.399 --> 01:14:46.239



as if she was moving, yet she found she was incapacitated.102601:14:46.960 --> 01:14:49.720



She looked up and saw the sky was moving fast.102701:14:50.560 --> 01:14:53.319



She clinched her teeth and found the chain securing her102801:14:53.840 --> 01:14:57.439



wouldn't give. She growled through her teeth as she exerted102901:14:57.439 --> 01:15:01.560



her strength again. This time the chain broke in several places.103001:15:02.239 --> 01:15:05.359



She moved to her feet and leaped from the pickup truck.103101:15:05.960 --> 01:15:08.239



As soon as she landed on her bare feet, she103201:15:08.319 --> 01:15:11.720



heard the truck break to a halt. Vincent and Stevie103301:15:11.760 --> 01:15:15.520



got out. The Creation looked at them and screamed the103401:15:15.600 --> 01:15:18.720



loudest she had ever screamed. The two of them tried103501:15:18.760 --> 01:15:21.039



to get back into the truck, but the Creation moved103601:15:21.039 --> 01:15:24.720



to it quickly. She easily lifted the truck and threw103701:15:24.760 --> 01:15:26.720



it right off the side of the bridge they were on.103801:15:27.680 --> 01:15:31.800



The truck soon made a huge splash in the Castallia River,103901:15:32.359 --> 01:15:36.960



where the raging waters would carry it away. Vincent and104001:15:37.000 --> 01:15:40.239



Stevie turned to run, but the Creation only had to104101:15:40.319 --> 01:15:43.079



leap to catch them. She backed them up to the104201:15:43.199 --> 01:15:46.239



edge of the bridge. It would take a combined desperate104301:15:46.239 --> 01:15:50.039



attempt for them to survive. As Vincent injected the Creation104401:15:50.239 --> 01:15:54.279



with his last two tranquilizers, and Stevie placed her shotgun104501:15:54.359 --> 01:15:57.439



under the Creation's chin and blasted the top of her104601:15:57.479 --> 01:16:01.119



head off. The Creation staggered back and fell off the104701:16:01.159 --> 01:16:04.600



side of the bridge. She dropped into the Castalia River,104801:16:05.039 --> 01:16:09.600



where the raging waters quickly carried her body away. You104901:16:09.640 --> 01:16:16.000



think we stopped her, Stevie asked quickly Vincent's side. I105001:16:16.039 --> 01:16:24.880



don't know. I just don't know. On Christmas morning, the105101:16:24.960 --> 01:16:28.439



Creation had awakened. She didn't know how long she had105201:16:28.479 --> 01:16:31.560



been unconscious, but she was lying on the side of105301:16:31.600 --> 01:16:35.800



the river. She slowly pulled herself to her feet and105401:16:35.880 --> 01:16:40.119



felt her head, which was fully restored. She didn't understand105501:16:40.239 --> 01:16:44.159



how she had survived, and she really didn't care. There105601:16:44.199 --> 01:16:48.079



was only one thing that Creation did care about, and105701:16:48.199 --> 01:16:53.039



put her hands on her swollen belly. Vincent Frankenstein hadn't105801:16:53.079 --> 01:16:57.439



counted on the Creation's vampiric healing factor restoring the ovaries105901:16:57.439 --> 01:17:01.920



that he had removed prior to giving her life. On106001:17:02.039 --> 01:17:07.359



Christmas Eve, she had conceived life with Reggie later on106101:17:07.439 --> 01:17:12.279



Christmas Day, her first child would be born the first106201:17:12.399 --> 01:17:28.279



child of a superior new race. All I Want for106301:17:28.359 --> 01:17:38.920



Christmas by Morgan Moore. A deathly chill blows through the106401:17:39.000 --> 01:17:43.960



night as light snow falls and gently blankets the ground.106501:17:44.680 --> 01:17:51.239



Cemetery gates creek open another gust of December wind, blowing106601:17:51.279 --> 01:17:54.680



out of the hollowed grounds. As they do so, the106701:17:54.760 --> 01:17:58.359



man who unlocked and opened the gates removes the key106801:17:58.640 --> 01:18:01.840



from the lock. In his other hand is a shovel.106901:18:02.880 --> 01:18:06.359



He looks into the cemetery and takes a deep breath,107001:18:06.960 --> 01:18:11.960



releasing it along with a sigh before walking in. The107101:18:12.039 --> 01:18:19.000



man in question was Jebediah Hawkins. Jebediah was a gravekeeper107201:18:19.039 --> 01:18:23.199



for the cemetery. He had a wife and a little girl.107301:18:24.520 --> 01:18:28.279



His reason for being in the cemetery tonight would never107401:18:28.319 --> 01:18:34.680



be anything of question, but it was Christmas Eve. Nobody107501:18:35.000 --> 01:18:40.760



worked in the cemetery on Christmas Eve or day. Jebediah107601:18:40.800 --> 01:18:45.800



walked through the cemetery, never wavering on his path. He107701:18:45.960 --> 01:18:54.359



was on a mission tonight, one he intended to complete.107801:18:54.720 --> 01:18:58.159



A few days ago, Jebediah was working a day shift.107901:18:58.760 --> 01:19:01.319



While he was cleaning in the funeral home that rested108001:19:01.319 --> 01:19:05.479



on the grounds, he spotted something that took his breath away.108101:19:06.720 --> 01:19:10.039



It was the body of a six year old girl,108201:19:10.960 --> 01:19:15.199



the same age as his daughter. In her hands was108301:19:15.239 --> 01:19:19.720



a Tresie doll. Tresie dolls were the new toy of108401:19:19.760 --> 01:19:24.000



the year, selling like hotcakes, coming and going lickety split.108501:19:24.600 --> 01:19:30.159



Every little girl wanted one, including Jebediah's daughter. Like many108601:19:30.199 --> 01:19:33.680



other parents, Jebediah and his wife had no luck finding108701:19:33.720 --> 01:19:38.600



the doll. Their daughter's birthday went by without her getting one.108801:19:38.680 --> 01:19:41.760



It broke the Hawkins' hearts to not be able to108901:19:41.800 --> 01:19:45.119



get the one thing their daughter wanted, the one thing109001:19:45.279 --> 01:19:49.239



she asked for in a childhood where she rarely, if ever,109101:19:49.359 --> 01:19:52.920



asked for anything. The two agreed that if either of109201:19:52.960 --> 01:19:56.239



them found a Trescie, that if they could, they would109301:19:56.239 --> 01:20:00.479



buy it on the spot. Unfortunately, their town was small,109401:20:01.159 --> 01:20:06.279



filled almost exclusively with small cell phoned stores. Stocks of109501:20:06.319 --> 01:20:08.720



the doll came and went in the blink of an eye,109601:20:09.159 --> 01:20:13.039



and out of town trips proved no better. The couple109701:20:13.119 --> 01:20:18.079



had just given up hope as Christmas approached, melancholic and109801:20:18.199 --> 01:20:24.760



ready to disappoint their daughter, until Jebediah laid his eyes109901:20:24.840 --> 01:20:29.880



on the Tressie doll. Clutched in the dead girl's hands. Tragic,110001:20:29.960 --> 01:20:36.079



isn't it, the undertaker asked. Huh, Jebediah asked in response,110101:20:36.840 --> 01:20:39.239



poor Lass fell off a horse she was riding and110201:20:39.279 --> 01:20:43.600



got trampled to death right before Christmas. To boot such110301:20:43.600 --> 01:20:49.920



a shame, the undertaker explained as he walked away. Yeah,110401:20:50.239 --> 01:20:55.680



a real shame, Jebediah answered. The next day, Jebediah watched110501:20:55.720 --> 01:20:59.239



as the girl was buried, the Tressie doll still in110601:20:59.279 --> 01:21:04.039



her hands. When he asked why they kept it, the110701:21:04.119 --> 01:21:08.560



undertaker told him that girl and doll went everywhere together110801:21:09.239 --> 01:21:13.079



like they were the best of friends. Her parents thought110901:21:13.119 --> 01:21:15.359



it would be appropriate then that she went off to111001:21:15.439 --> 01:21:19.600



heaven with a friend so she wouldn't be lonely. It111101:21:19.680 --> 01:21:29.920



didn't take long for Jebediah to formulate his plan. Jebediah111201:21:29.920 --> 01:21:33.520



approached the grave of the little girl, more snow and111301:21:33.600 --> 01:21:38.039



wind blew around him, the cold cutting through to his bones.111401:21:39.840 --> 01:21:43.680



Am I really about to do this? He thought? He111501:21:43.760 --> 01:21:47.279



wanted to give his daughter a great Christmas, give her111601:21:47.319 --> 01:21:50.880



the one thing she asked for. Can I do this?111701:21:52.600 --> 01:21:56.199



His answer was an earth piercing yes, as he stabbed111801:21:56.239 --> 01:22:00.000



the shovel into the ground. He repeats the action again111901:22:00.079 --> 01:22:03.800



and again, throwing snow covered dirt off to the side112001:22:03.840 --> 01:22:07.359



as he works his way deeper into the little girl's grave.112101:22:08.319 --> 01:22:12.039



Jebediah's mind blocked out all thoughts of the dead child112201:22:12.119 --> 01:22:16.119



he saw only a few days ago, instead conjuring up112301:22:16.159 --> 01:22:20.279



the image of his daughter with the doll playing happily112401:22:20.680 --> 01:22:24.239



a few hours from now, on Christmas Day. He thought112501:22:24.319 --> 01:22:27.760



of him and his wife sitting by the fire come nightfall,112601:22:28.560 --> 01:22:33.680



an extra happy Christmas behind them. It was these thoughts112701:22:33.680 --> 01:22:36.640



that kept Jebediah busy until he felt the shovel head112801:22:36.760 --> 01:22:42.039



slam into the coffin. Jebediah looked down at the small box.112901:22:42.920 --> 01:22:46.319



A gust of wind blew by and threw dirt down113001:22:46.359 --> 01:22:50.359



onto Jebediah and the coffin, almost as if the universe113101:22:50.439 --> 01:22:56.279



was telling him to stop. I can't stop, not now.113201:22:57.880 --> 01:23:02.119



Jebediah started to stab the coffin with the shovel. As113301:23:02.159 --> 01:23:06.000



the head struck the casket repeatedly, wood splintered and flew up.113401:23:06.960 --> 01:23:10.800



Jebediah kept at it for minutes before finally punching a113501:23:10.880 --> 01:23:15.399



hole through the coffin. He stared down into the breach113601:23:16.319 --> 01:23:21.880



and saw the little girl's face and the doll. The113701:23:21.920 --> 01:23:24.560



desperate father tossed the shovel out of the grave and113801:23:24.640 --> 01:23:29.399



knelt down beside the coffin. Jebediah gulped as he stared113901:23:29.520 --> 01:23:35.600



down at the girl's corpse. He reached into the coffin,114001:23:36.920 --> 01:23:44.199



grabbed the doll, and pulled up. Nothing budged. Jebediah tried again,114101:23:45.079 --> 01:23:49.239



but nothing moved. He looked closer as he kept trying114201:23:49.319 --> 01:23:53.279



to pull the doll out. The doll was clasped so114301:23:53.520 --> 01:23:58.000



tightly in her hands that it wouldn't budge. Every tug114401:23:58.119 --> 01:24:02.760



got him nowhere closer to getting the tressy doll. The114501:24:02.880 --> 01:24:06.680



night was moving on and the temperature was dropping. Soon114601:24:07.239 --> 01:24:11.840



it would be midnight Christmas. If he didn't get the114701:24:11.880 --> 01:24:15.880



doll back home in time, then Christmas would be ruined.114801:24:16.880 --> 01:24:20.239



Jebediah braced a foot against the coffin and grabbed the114901:24:20.279 --> 01:24:23.399



doll with both hands. He put all his strength into115001:24:23.520 --> 01:24:30.960



one big tug. The doll came free, and so did115101:24:31.000 --> 01:24:35.680



the hands of the little girl. Still gripping the doll.115201:24:37.520 --> 01:24:41.079



Jebediah stared in horror at the image. He pried the115301:24:41.119 --> 01:24:44.000



hands off the doll and threw them back into the coffin.115401:24:44.920 --> 01:24:50.640



Jebediah stared down into the hole, into the coffin and115501:24:50.720 --> 01:24:54.279



at the dead little girl, her hands laying on opposite115601:24:54.359 --> 01:24:58.079



ends of her body. The more he looked at her,115701:24:59.119 --> 01:25:02.159



the more she st arded to remind him of his115801:25:02.239 --> 01:25:07.840



own daughter. Jebediah felt a tinge of regret for what115901:25:07.960 --> 01:25:12.279



he'd done. What if his daughter was dead and someone116001:25:12.359 --> 01:25:17.000



dug up her body to get something. He looked down116101:25:17.079 --> 01:25:20.199



at the doll. All of this, all of this fuss116201:25:21.279 --> 01:25:25.880



over a simple little doll. Jebediah stretched his arms out,116301:25:26.199 --> 01:25:29.119



hands trembling as he told himself he couldn't take it.116401:25:29.680 --> 01:25:32.640



He closed his eyes, Unable to bear looking at the corpse.116501:25:33.640 --> 01:25:38.119



The man tried to conjure up images more pleasant. What116601:25:38.359 --> 01:25:41.920



came to him was the image of his daughter on116701:25:42.079 --> 01:25:48.720



Christmas morning, playing with her new Tresci doll. Jebediah opened116801:25:48.720 --> 01:25:53.199



his eyes and looked at the doll. He had to116901:25:53.239 --> 01:26:01.279



go through with it, he told himself, for his little girl. Sorry,117001:26:02.199 --> 01:26:05.720



Jebediah said to the dead girl. He climbed out of117101:26:05.720 --> 01:26:09.039



the grave and set the doll down before picking up117201:26:09.079 --> 01:26:13.159



the shovel. Quickly, he filled the hole back up with dirt.117301:26:14.039 --> 01:26:16.800



Grabbed the doll and high tailed it out of the117401:26:16.840 --> 01:26:22.760



cemetery into his car and sped away into the night.117501:26:26.840 --> 01:26:30.960



Jebediah snuck into his house, being careful not to make117601:26:31.039 --> 01:26:34.880



too much noise. He headed to the kitchen and turned117701:26:34.920 --> 01:26:39.000



on a small light above the sink. Jeb placed the117801:26:39.039 --> 01:26:42.520



doll down, took off his coat, and picked the doll117901:26:42.600 --> 01:26:46.319



back up with a flick of his wrist. Jebediah turned118001:26:46.359 --> 01:26:50.119



on the water and started to clean the doll. After118101:26:50.239 --> 01:26:53.279



some time, the doll was clean of all dirt, and118201:26:53.359 --> 01:26:56.399



Jebediah managed to get out some of the stench of earth.118301:26:57.439 --> 01:27:00.039



He smiled at the tressey and placed it on the118401:27:00.119 --> 01:27:07.359



kitchen table. Now to get you wrapped up, Jebediah said, triumphantly.118501:27:07.479 --> 01:27:10.680



Jebediah walked out of the kitchen and started heading to118601:27:10.720 --> 01:27:14.039



his wife's sewing room. The grandfather clock in the living118701:27:14.119 --> 01:27:22.199



room struck midnight. It was Christmas. Jebediah stopped as the118801:27:22.239 --> 01:27:28.000



clock chimed and looked at the Christmas tree. Suddenly, a118901:27:28.079 --> 01:27:32.159



microburst assaulted the Hawkins house. The windows burst open, and119001:27:32.279 --> 01:27:36.159



wind and snow assaulted Jebediah. He tried to get to119101:27:36.199 --> 01:27:40.079



the windows, but is throated by how strong the wind is. Next,119201:27:40.119 --> 01:27:42.560



he attempted to retreat to the sewing room, but a119301:27:42.600 --> 01:27:45.560



gust of wind blew through the windows inside the room119401:27:45.880 --> 01:27:51.119



and slammed Jebediah to the ground. He tried to stand up,119501:27:51.119 --> 01:27:56.199



but found that he couldn't. Instead, he crawled his way119601:27:56.279 --> 01:28:02.359



back into the kitchen. Upon entering the kitchen, the wind stopped.119701:28:03.319 --> 01:28:08.319



The house felt deathly cold. As Jebediah stood up cautiously,119801:28:09.720 --> 01:28:13.159



he went to call out for his family, but found119901:28:13.199 --> 01:28:18.039



he couldn't due to a tightening pressure on his throat.120001:28:19.479 --> 01:28:23.720



Jebediah looked down at his neck and found a disembodied120101:28:23.800 --> 01:28:27.600



hand clasped around it. He grabbed hold of the hand120201:28:27.680 --> 01:28:30.000



and tore it off of him, bits of flesh and120301:28:30.079 --> 01:28:32.760



blood going with it. Jeb threw it to the ground120401:28:32.800 --> 01:28:35.880



and stomped as hard as he could on it, crushing120501:28:35.920 --> 01:28:39.760



it in a single blow. A shrill mix of a120601:28:39.880 --> 01:28:45.359



cry and laugh rang in Jebediah's ears. He spun around120701:28:45.399 --> 01:28:48.600



to find the ghostly image of the little Girl from120801:28:48.600 --> 01:28:54.479



the Grave hovering in his kitchen. Jebediah gasped in disbelief120901:28:54.520 --> 01:28:59.640



at what was in front of him. What you're dead,121001:29:00.239 --> 01:29:06.520



He cried, give it back. The spirit demanded, give what back?121101:29:07.640 --> 01:29:12.479



My friend? The ghastly girl screamed, loud enough to shatter windows.121201:29:13.479 --> 01:29:19.840



Jebediah stood confused until he remembered what the undertaker had said.121301:29:20.479 --> 01:29:23.520



That girl and doll went everywhere together like they were121401:29:23.520 --> 01:29:26.439



the best of friends. Her parents thought it would be121501:29:26.479 --> 01:29:28.920



appropriate then that she went off to heaven with a121601:29:28.960 --> 01:29:33.239



friend so she wouldn't be lonely. The doll. It was,121701:29:33.279 --> 01:29:38.359



that damned doll. Jebediah stared up at the table. How121801:29:38.399 --> 01:29:41.880



could a doll have made this happen, he asked himself.121901:29:42.720 --> 01:29:47.359



He looked at the girl. You don't understand, my daughter.122001:29:47.720 --> 01:29:51.000



She wants it, needs it. You'll have plenty of friends122101:29:51.079 --> 01:29:53.600



up in heaven. Can't you allow a little girl to122201:29:53.640 --> 01:29:58.399



know the happiness you knew with it? Jebediah pleaded. The122301:29:58.479 --> 01:30:01.960



girl answers with her other attached hand grabbing hold of122401:30:02.039 --> 01:30:06.279



Jebediah's face, its nails digging into his flesh. He grabbed122501:30:06.319 --> 01:30:08.880



hold of the hand and once more freed himself, his122601:30:09.000 --> 01:30:13.520



face bearing gashes that would scar. Jebediah quickly got to122701:30:13.560 --> 01:30:16.159



his feet and grabbed the tressed doll off the table122801:30:16.640 --> 01:30:20.880



and ran from the kitchen. Jebediah ran into the living room.122901:30:21.279 --> 01:30:24.600



As he tried to approach the stairs, the ghost appeared.123001:30:25.359 --> 01:30:27.880



She brought down everything she could in the living room123101:30:27.880 --> 01:30:32.199



to stop him in his path, books, furniture, anything and everything,123201:30:32.479 --> 01:30:36.760



but Jebediah persevered. Finally he reached the stairs and ascended123301:30:36.760 --> 01:30:40.760



them to the second floor. The house started to shake.123401:30:40.960 --> 01:30:44.119



A deafening cry of anguish and rage echoed through the house.123501:30:44.399 --> 01:30:49.000



Jebediah sprinted towards his daughter's room. No an avalanche of123601:30:49.079 --> 01:30:52.880



snow fell upon the Hawkins house. Jebediah screamed as the123701:30:52.920 --> 01:30:56.600



force brought down the roof. The second floor collapsed onto123801:30:56.600 --> 01:31:05.199



the first, leaving the house completely and utterly demolished. Jebediah123901:31:05.279 --> 01:31:10.079



bolted awake, gasping for air. Despite the wintry cold, he124001:31:10.159 --> 01:31:14.640



was drenched in sweat. Honey, what is it, his wife124101:31:14.760 --> 01:31:17.640



asked in a panic. She rubbed the small of his back,124201:31:17.720 --> 01:31:21.479



and the sensation of feeling touch brought comfort to him.124301:31:22.279 --> 01:31:24.560



He looked at his wife and embraced her in a tight,124401:31:25.000 --> 01:31:30.439



near violent hug. Missus Hawkins returned the gesture. Jebediah broke124501:31:30.479 --> 01:31:32.600



the embrace and ran out of their bedroom. And into124601:31:32.600 --> 01:31:39.880



his daughters. She wasn't there downstairs, he exclaimed. Jebediah ran downstairs,124701:31:39.880 --> 01:31:42.399



with his wife not too far behind him. When they124801:31:42.439 --> 01:31:45.680



reached the living room, the couple found their daughter sitting124901:31:45.720 --> 01:31:48.920



by the Christmas tree. She turned and looked at her125001:31:48.960 --> 01:31:54.359



parents with a smile. Jebediah sighed in relief. What kept125101:31:54.439 --> 01:32:00.520



you sleepy heads waiting? It's Christmas? The daughter said, yes, yes,125201:32:00.560 --> 01:32:05.000



it is, Jebediah said, with a huge smile. It was125301:32:05.039 --> 01:32:10.479



all a dream, he told himself. Mister and missus Hawkins125401:32:10.520 --> 01:32:13.720



sat on their couch while their daughter began to open presence.125501:32:14.760 --> 01:32:19.079



Jebediah kissed his wife and the two shared smiles and125601:32:19.159 --> 01:32:23.760



I love yous. From the outside looking in, the Hawkins125701:32:23.760 --> 01:32:30.800



were having a perfect Christmas. But outside in a blackened125801:32:30.800 --> 01:32:35.239



ethereal plane, the little girl sat and looked through the125901:32:35.319 --> 01:32:41.920



roof and into the house. She grinned, well, Tressy, it126001:32:41.960 --> 01:32:46.279



looks like we have some new friends forever and ever.126101:32:47.680 --> 01:32:52.279



Merry Christmas, she told her doll, giving it a big126201:32:52.359 --> 01:32:58.840



hug before returning her gaze to her brand new toys.126301:33:07.479 --> 01:33:15.960



Blood on the Snow by Shane Nigliovanka. The cold, numbed126401:33:16.000 --> 01:33:19.600



the man's feet. The snow was nearly to his knees.126501:33:20.680 --> 01:33:23.920



There was nobody to be seen. It was a blizzard126601:33:24.439 --> 01:33:28.239



on Christmas Eve. Only fools and lunatics would be on126701:33:28.279 --> 01:33:31.880



the road tonight. He could have sworn he'd seen a sign.126801:33:32.800 --> 01:33:37.079



What the hell was it called Vera's Roadhouse. He could126901:33:37.159 --> 01:33:40.640



go for a nice juicy burger and some fries, though127001:33:40.680 --> 01:33:45.079



he really doubted they'd be open. I don't think you127101:33:45.159 --> 01:33:49.079



saw it. The man didn't turn. He didn't want to127201:33:49.079 --> 01:33:52.640



give Simon the satisfaction. This is a fine mess you've127301:33:52.640 --> 01:33:56.560



gotten us in. Simon moaned, we should go back. We127401:33:56.640 --> 01:34:02.560



have a job to do. Away down the road, the127501:34:02.640 --> 01:34:07.560



man stopped. An abandoned car sat alongside the shoulder, covered127601:34:07.600 --> 01:34:11.439



by the steady snowfall. Brushing the snow off the driver's127701:34:11.439 --> 01:34:16.680



side window, the man peered inside. The interior was bathed127801:34:17.439 --> 01:34:21.199



in a faint red hue. The car was empty, save127901:34:21.279 --> 01:34:24.479



for a cell phone sitting on the passenger side seat,128001:34:25.079 --> 01:34:29.920



a red depleted battery symbol on its screen. There were128101:34:29.960 --> 01:34:33.479



words written on the inside of the windshield in what128201:34:33.560 --> 01:34:38.880



appeared to be red lipstick. The woods are lovely, dark128301:34:39.000 --> 01:34:43.560



and deep, Simon read. The man backed away from the car,128401:34:43.640 --> 01:34:50.359



looking around strange, Simon observed, look at the snow. He128501:34:50.439 --> 01:34:53.520



pointed to the snow in front of the car. Through128601:34:53.560 --> 01:34:56.640



the covering of fresh snow. Two sets of footprints were128701:34:56.680 --> 01:35:01.920



still visible, one from the car and one approaching. It128801:35:01.920 --> 01:35:06.800



looks like a struggle, maybe, Simon noted. Indeed, it looked128901:35:06.800 --> 01:35:09.119



like a scuffle of some kind happened where the two129001:35:09.159 --> 01:35:14.000



sets of footprints came together. I think you're right, the129101:35:14.079 --> 01:35:19.840



man answered, Finally he speaks. The man ignored his companion.129201:35:20.239 --> 01:35:23.239



The second set came from a head, then one left129301:35:23.279 --> 01:35:26.880



and headed through the woods. The man was tempted to129401:35:26.880 --> 01:35:30.560



see where the footprints led, but his feet ached and129501:35:30.640 --> 01:35:38.359



the road promised a glimmer of shelter and warmth. Angela129601:35:38.520 --> 01:35:41.640



really wanted to go home, not that she had much129701:35:41.680 --> 01:35:45.199



to go home too in her little apartment. Yet it129801:35:45.279 --> 01:35:47.359



was a hell of a lot better than waiting tables129901:35:47.399 --> 01:35:51.279



at the roadhouse. Vera was paying her extra for Christmas Eve,130001:35:51.680 --> 01:35:54.000



and Angela needed the money if she was ever going130101:35:54.039 --> 01:35:59.000



to leave Dylansville. There was a small group tonight, three regulars,130201:35:59.239 --> 01:36:04.039



stew the cook, and Vera man. Look at that shit130301:36:04.159 --> 01:36:09.000



come down. I think it's nice, Billy Vera said, gonna130401:36:09.000 --> 01:36:14.520



have a white Christmas. Billy scoffed, Fuck Christmas, You're just130501:36:14.560 --> 01:36:17.840



an old scrooge, the old black man sitting at the130601:36:17.840 --> 01:36:22.720



bar said, before taking a shot of whiskey. Got that right, Marvin,130701:36:23.159 --> 01:36:28.439



Billy laughed. He won't see me wishing anybody a merry Christmas.130801:36:29.039 --> 01:36:32.479



I remember one Christmas, the old man mused. For a130901:36:32.520 --> 01:36:37.039



moment twenty years back, we didn't have snow until January.131001:36:38.199 --> 01:36:42.840



That's global warming for you. Angela spoke up, Fuck global warming,131101:36:43.319 --> 01:36:47.079



Billy grumbled. Verus scolded, every other word out of your131201:36:47.119 --> 01:36:50.520



mouth is either fuck shit or damn well. Hell, I131301:36:50.520 --> 01:36:53.600



guess I need my mouth washed with fucking soap. This131401:36:53.640 --> 01:36:57.520



brought a chuckle from another of the regulars. Don't encourage him,131501:36:57.560 --> 01:37:02.359



Donnie Vera said, a heavy set bald man sat at131601:37:02.359 --> 01:37:05.920



the end of the bar. Earlier tonight. I saw the131701:37:05.960 --> 01:37:09.520



strangest looking light coming out of the woods. Made me131801:37:09.560 --> 01:37:14.119



feel weird just seeing it, Donnie said, softly. What it131901:37:14.159 --> 01:37:18.840



looked like, strange green color, like nothing I'd seen before.132001:37:19.640 --> 01:37:23.880



Probably some kids snowmobile and got fancy new headlights or something,132101:37:24.439 --> 01:37:29.079



Billy said dismissively. The front door opened. It banged hard132201:37:29.119 --> 01:37:32.840



against the wall, startling Angela. A man in a black132301:37:32.920 --> 01:37:36.760



leather jacket stood in the entrance, brushing snow off his goatee.132401:37:37.640 --> 01:37:42.319



Get in here, he ordered. A woman carrying a young132501:37:42.359 --> 01:37:46.840



girl entered. She flashed a meek smile. Warm in here,132601:37:47.560 --> 01:37:50.640



the woman smiled. Won't be for long if you keep132701:37:50.720 --> 01:37:53.960



the door open, Billy said, earning a glare from the man.132801:37:55.119 --> 01:37:58.479



What brings you folks out on Christmas Eve? Vera asked?132901:37:59.119 --> 01:38:02.600



The woman. Set the girl down. We were visiting my mother.133001:38:03.119 --> 01:38:06.680



Allie thought we could beat the storm home. Vera sat133101:38:06.720 --> 01:38:09.600



them at one of the booths. What can I get you, folks?133201:38:10.319 --> 01:38:12.840



The woman looked at the girl. What do you want?133301:38:12.920 --> 01:38:13.840



Hone?133401:38:14.079 --> 01:38:20.560



Uh? Hot chocolate? Vera smiled. Can do got a beer?133501:38:21.079 --> 01:38:26.319



Ali asked? Not tonight? The woman said, you promised. I'll133601:38:26.399 --> 01:38:30.159



drink what I want Marie. Marie looked at Vera. I'll133701:38:30.159 --> 01:38:33.439



have a hot chocolate too, New folks hungry, I'll have133801:38:33.520 --> 01:38:40.119



Angela bring you some menus. Sure, sure, Alli said, whatever, Hey, Vera.133901:38:40.640 --> 01:38:43.600



Donnie spoke up. A hot chocolate sounds good, I'll have134001:38:43.640 --> 01:38:47.920



one too. Donnie slid off the barstool he'd been keeping warm.134101:38:48.359 --> 01:38:51.079



Hefting up his loose fitting pants, he walked over to134201:38:51.159 --> 01:38:54.640



the table with the newcomers. Mama, are we going to134301:38:54.680 --> 01:38:58.000



be home in time for Santa? The little girl asked Marie.134401:38:58.840 --> 01:39:02.359



I'm not sure, honey. Will Santa still bring stuff if134501:39:02.359 --> 01:39:05.359



we're not home? He won't come if you're a bad134601:39:05.439 --> 01:39:09.920



girl and keep making noise, Ally warned her. Donnie tried134701:39:09.960 --> 01:39:13.720



to make small talk. Quite a night out. Huh terrible,134801:39:14.359 --> 01:39:18.239



Marie answered. Donnie smiled and waved to the girl. What's134901:39:18.279 --> 01:39:22.880



your name, little one? Haley? The girl responded, looking worried.135001:39:23.760 --> 01:39:27.000



Why don't you leave us alone? Man Ally's eyes narrowed135101:39:27.000 --> 01:39:32.359



to slits. Mind your own business? Sure, sorry. The door135201:39:32.399 --> 01:39:36.159



opened again, letting in a whirlwind of snow. The man135301:39:36.239 --> 01:39:39.119



stood there at its center. He stepped into the road house,135401:39:39.159 --> 01:39:44.399



slamming the door shut in Simon's face. Hey wait, Simon protested.135501:39:44.439 --> 01:39:47.319



Before the door closed. The man felt their eyes on135601:39:47.520 --> 01:39:50.680



him as he went over to a corner booth. From135701:39:50.720 --> 01:39:52.840



here he had a good view of the road house.135801:39:54.000 --> 01:40:00.840



Angela approached him, looking a little apprehensive. Merry Christmas, she smiled,135901:40:01.279 --> 01:40:03.199



Can I get you something to drink? Or bring you136001:40:03.239 --> 01:40:07.119



a menu? A coke and a cheeseburger with fries and136101:40:07.319 --> 01:40:12.359



make it bloody right. She left, and after a moment,136201:40:12.760 --> 01:40:16.000



Simon slumped into the seat opposite him, brushing snow from136301:40:16.000 --> 01:40:21.159



his shoulders and hair. Very funny, Simon bitched, I thought,136401:40:21.199 --> 01:40:27.439



so order anything for me? No figures. Donnie sidled up136501:40:27.479 --> 01:40:30.800



to the man's table. The place is jumping tonight, have136601:40:30.960 --> 01:40:36.239



some car trouble. I don't want to do this. Donnie looked, perplexed.136701:40:37.479 --> 01:40:43.680



What don't want? What this? The man said, talking go away.136801:40:44.840 --> 01:40:48.079



A heavy set man, his hair pulled back into a ponytail,136901:40:48.159 --> 01:40:53.039



leaned his head out of the kitchen. Verra Angela, why137001:40:53.039 --> 01:40:56.359



do you get me some rolls from storage? The man137101:40:56.479 --> 01:40:58.960



sat watching the others as he waited for his food.137201:40:59.439 --> 01:41:02.239



Donnie went back to his barstool and began talking to137301:41:02.319 --> 01:41:05.600



Marvin Angela. The waitress brought a tray with food and137401:41:05.680 --> 01:41:09.239



drinks to the family sitting near the entrance. Another patron,137501:41:09.520 --> 01:41:13.800



Angela called him Billy was playing a pinball machine. The137601:41:13.840 --> 01:41:17.600



man felt the tiredness creeping up on him. How long137701:41:17.640 --> 01:41:21.319



had it been since he'd slept? His eyelids grew heavy137801:41:21.800 --> 01:41:25.840



as weariness began to conquer him. His head drooped forward,137901:41:26.880 --> 01:41:29.680



his eyes snapped open again as a scream ripped through138001:41:29.680 --> 01:41:33.680



the roadhouse. Vera screamed again, tears running down her red cheeks,138101:41:34.680 --> 01:41:39.479



out back dead. Stu and Angela comforted Vera as Billy138201:41:39.600 --> 01:41:42.239



questioned her, what the hell are you talking about? Woman?138301:41:42.399 --> 01:41:47.399



Who's dead? A man? I don't know who? By the storeroom,138401:41:48.159 --> 01:41:51.039



Billy and Stu left to go look as Angela sat138501:41:51.239 --> 01:41:56.960



holding Vera's hand. That's crazy, huh, A dead guy, Donnie138601:41:56.960 --> 01:42:01.039



asked Marvin, who was busy pouring himself another drink. Lots138701:42:01.039 --> 01:42:04.199



of crazy shit in the world these days, boys. The138801:42:04.279 --> 01:42:07.560



man got up. He felt a nagging itch in his head.138901:42:08.239 --> 01:42:11.520



Simon was gone and there was a dead man he139001:42:11.640 --> 01:42:16.199



had to see, had to know. Donnie called after him139101:42:16.199 --> 01:42:20.000



as he walked by. Where are you going, mister, to139201:42:20.079 --> 01:42:21.079



see a dead body?139301:42:22.079 --> 01:42:25.800



Don't go away weakly, spooky, We'll be right back.139401:42:28.520 --> 01:42:32.800



The storeroom was a separate building behind the roadhouse. Billy139501:42:32.840 --> 01:42:35.760



and Stu were staring at the body when he found them.139601:42:36.600 --> 01:42:41.479



Never seen this fella before. Stu was saying, shit me neither.139701:42:42.560 --> 01:42:46.640



The body sat its back against the storeroom's wall, partially139801:42:46.720 --> 01:42:51.960



covered in snow. Well He's dead, all right, the man said,139901:42:52.079 --> 01:42:57.479



startling Billy and Stu. Fuck, don't do that, dude, Billy warned,140001:42:57.840 --> 01:43:03.520



almost shit him? Oh, mister, Stu asked. The man shook140101:43:03.560 --> 01:43:09.720



his head. It wasn't anyone he recognized a small blessing anyway. No,140201:43:10.680 --> 01:43:13.079



but I did see an abandoned car down the road.140301:43:13.800 --> 01:43:18.520



Maybe it was his. Stu pondered, this tidbit could be?140401:43:18.920 --> 01:43:23.239



Could be anybody check him for id you mean like140501:43:24.520 --> 01:43:28.760



touch him? Billy shivered at the thought. Billy and Stu140601:43:28.920 --> 01:43:32.079



looked at the man, stepping out of the way. Billy140701:43:32.159 --> 01:43:36.560



motioned to the body, be my guest. The man knelt140801:43:36.600 --> 01:43:39.640



in front of the body. The dead man's eyes were wide,140901:43:39.720 --> 01:43:45.359



a horrified expression etched on his face. Holy hell, Stu exclaimed,141001:43:46.159 --> 01:43:50.479



what killed him? Billy asked, his voice wavering. The man141101:43:50.600 --> 01:43:54.159



brushed more snow off the body. There were no visible141201:43:54.199 --> 01:44:00.319



marks or wounds anywhere, no clue. The man searched the body.141301:44:00.840 --> 01:44:05.039



Should you be touching him? Stu asked, he could have something.141401:44:06.079 --> 01:44:10.000



The man found a wallet. Inside was fifty dollars, a141501:44:10.039 --> 01:44:14.079



picture of a woman and a driver's license. Adam Hunter,141601:44:14.600 --> 01:44:21.039



He said, out loud, Merry Christmas. Stu stroked his stubby chin. Uh,141701:44:21.680 --> 01:44:24.760



what do we do with him? Leave him here, the141801:44:24.840 --> 01:44:28.079



man said, he ain't going anywhere and he'll be frozen.141901:44:28.560 --> 01:44:34.039



No smell. Suppose you're right. The man slipped the wallet142001:44:34.119 --> 01:44:37.279



back into the corpse's pocket before heading back in with142101:44:37.399 --> 01:44:45.960



Billy and Stu. Inside, not much had changed. Angela sat142201:44:45.960 --> 01:44:48.880



in one of the booths with Vera. Donnie sat at142301:44:48.880 --> 01:44:52.199



the bar, annoying. Marvin and the family were still seated142401:44:52.199 --> 01:44:55.800



where they were previous. Angela looked up as they entered.142501:44:57.000 --> 01:45:05.800



Is he? Billy nodded, was was he? You know, murdered? Well,142601:45:05.840 --> 01:45:09.920



that's tough to say, really, Stu said, we should call142701:45:09.960 --> 01:45:13.399



the cops. I think Vera needs a doctor. I'm fine,142801:45:13.840 --> 01:45:17.920



Vera said, wiping her bloodshot eyes. I've never seen that142901:45:18.039 --> 01:45:21.279



kind of look on a man's face before, Billy said,143001:45:21.319 --> 01:45:26.439



sitting down at the bar. If if he was killed,143101:45:27.119 --> 01:45:32.119



Vera stammered, that means somebody did it. She looked at143201:45:32.119 --> 01:45:36.680



the others. An uneasy hush fell over everybody. The man143301:45:36.840 --> 01:45:41.920



felt the other's eyes on him. What, well, you aren't143401:45:41.920 --> 01:45:46.359



from around here, Stu said, neither are they. The man143501:45:46.399 --> 01:45:52.039



pointed to the family. They got a kid. Billy spoke up. Besides,143601:45:52.479 --> 01:45:57.560



you seemed mighty comfortable around that body, right, Stu nodded.143701:45:58.279 --> 01:46:02.399



The man felt sweat trickled down on his brow. Maybe143801:46:02.439 --> 01:46:08.640



you're a maniac, Donnie answered, A serial killer. He looked suspicious.143901:46:09.159 --> 01:46:13.640



Vera observed, look at him sweatin'. You're all being a144001:46:13.680 --> 01:46:17.960



bunch of idiots, Marvin stated, before taking another shot of whiskey.144101:46:18.720 --> 01:46:21.960



The man shook his head. I didn't kill that man.144201:46:22.760 --> 01:46:26.560



Where was Simon? The man thought he could really use144301:46:26.600 --> 01:46:30.600



him right about now. We should call the cops. Angela144401:46:30.640 --> 01:46:33.399



suggested they can handle it. We don't know if he144501:46:33.520 --> 01:46:37.279



did anything. Marie stood up. We should at least lock144601:46:37.359 --> 01:46:43.000



him up, especially with my daughter here. I agree. Billy said, look,144701:46:43.039 --> 01:46:46.920



you muskrat love listening? Motherfucker's The man looked at Marie144801:46:46.920 --> 01:46:50.960



and her daughter. Pardon my french. I didn't kill that guy.144901:46:51.279 --> 01:46:53.640



In fact, how do we know it wasn't one of145001:46:53.720 --> 01:46:59.840



you assholes? Marvin started laughing. He's got you there. Angelus stood,145101:47:00.119 --> 01:47:03.560



taking out her phone. Everybody calmed down. I'm gonna call145201:47:03.560 --> 01:47:07.000



the cops. They can sort it all out. Stu seemed145301:47:07.000 --> 01:47:10.560



to be swayed by this. Yeah, let them deal with it.145401:47:11.119 --> 01:47:16.439



Billy grumbled fine. He looked at the man coldly. Vera145501:47:16.560 --> 01:47:19.520



went behind the bar. Why don't I make us all145601:47:19.520 --> 01:47:23.079



some coffee. The man sat in one of the booths,145701:47:23.399 --> 01:47:28.800



looking out the window, watching the snowfall crap. Angela complained,145801:47:29.239 --> 01:47:31.760



all I'm getting is a recording. All the lines must145901:47:31.840 --> 01:47:35.560



be busy from the storm. Angela want to help me146001:47:35.600 --> 01:47:40.960



with the coffee, Vera asked, coming, Angela answered, can I146101:47:41.000 --> 01:47:44.159



get a beer? Ali hollered, If we're going to be146201:47:44.239 --> 01:47:47.760



stuck here, might as well enjoy it. Haley tugged at146301:47:47.760 --> 01:47:53.000



her mother's sleeve. Mama, Mama, I got a pee. Marie146401:47:53.039 --> 01:47:57.840



looked at Ali unsure. I'm not sure, honey, Ali grumbled,146501:47:58.279 --> 01:48:02.760



take her give me some quay. Taking Hayley by the hand,146601:48:03.159 --> 01:48:07.079



Marie asked Annie directions to the restrooms. The man watched146701:48:07.079 --> 01:48:10.840



them go by. He sat wishing he was anywhere but here.146801:48:11.439 --> 01:48:14.960



On Christmas night, it was obvious most of the people146901:48:15.000 --> 01:48:17.439



here were ready to pin that dead man on him,147001:48:17.840 --> 01:48:19.960



but he didn't give a shit about any of them.147101:48:20.479 --> 01:48:23.960



There was a job to do. The lights flickered rapidly147201:48:24.479 --> 01:48:29.000



before going out. There were murmurs of shock, confusion, and anger.147301:48:29.039 --> 01:48:32.720



From the patrons and staff. Stu spoke up, trying to147401:48:32.760 --> 01:48:37.600



calm everyone. Storm probably knocked out some power lines. Don't worry,147501:48:37.680 --> 01:48:41.319



I got a generator out back. Then, from somewhere in147601:48:41.359 --> 01:48:46.720



the roadhouse, somebody screamed. The man felt somebody rush by147701:48:46.800 --> 01:48:50.319



him in the dark. The others called out. After several147801:48:50.399 --> 01:48:54.439



minutes of darkness and uncertainty, Angela appeared, holding her cellphone147901:48:54.479 --> 01:48:58.159



to light the way. They followed Angela to the women's bathroom.148001:48:58.680 --> 01:49:02.640



Vera stood with a shake, Marie and Haley in there.148101:49:03.319 --> 01:49:06.760



Vera motioned to the middle stall, shining the light into148201:49:06.800 --> 01:49:11.279



the stall they crowded around. Sitting there, slumped on the148301:49:11.319 --> 01:49:16.359



toilet was a dead woman. She wore an ugly Christmas sweater,148401:49:16.640 --> 01:49:20.600



made uglier by the blood frozen to it from her148501:49:20.640 --> 01:49:26.720



slashed throat. Written behind her in blood, it read, but148601:49:26.880 --> 01:49:34.159



I have promises to keep holy shit, Donnie gasped. Vera148701:49:34.239 --> 01:49:39.520



took Marie and Haley out of there. Who is she fucked?148801:49:39.520 --> 01:49:44.399



If I know? Stu replied, she's been dead, awhile the148901:49:44.479 --> 01:49:48.560



man pointed out. After some debate, they agreed to leave149001:49:48.600 --> 01:49:52.159



the woman sitting there, best not to disturb any evidence.149101:49:53.039 --> 01:49:56.000



Back at the bar. They found Marie and Haley sitting149201:49:56.039 --> 01:49:58.800



together in a booth. Vera had lit a couple of149301:49:58.880 --> 01:50:04.159



kerosene lanterns, giving the interior a soft glow. Deep shadows149401:50:04.239 --> 01:50:08.840



lurked at the fringes of the light. Coffee's ready, Vera149501:50:08.920 --> 01:50:13.239



informed them. Stu exhaled, His breath was visible in the149601:50:13.319 --> 01:50:17.920



lantern light. I'm going out to start the generator, he said,149701:50:17.920 --> 01:50:21.880



pulling on a heavy jacket. Are you going out there alone?149801:50:22.600 --> 01:50:26.439



Donnie asked. Stu reached under the bar, pulling out a149901:50:26.479 --> 01:50:36.239



pump shotgun. Not alone. Fierra and Angela handed out mugs150001:50:36.239 --> 01:50:40.159



of hot coffee. The man took one, watching the steam150101:50:40.239 --> 01:50:44.279



rise off it. He felt too nervous to drink. He150201:50:44.439 --> 01:50:46.640



was used to being in control, and now he was150301:50:46.720 --> 01:50:49.800



stuck in the middle of nowhere. There were two dead bodies,150401:50:50.079 --> 01:50:55.439



and Simon was missing. He needed Simon. The man didn't150501:50:55.479 --> 01:50:58.960



even notice the lights flickering back to life until Donnie clapped.150601:51:00.079 --> 01:51:02.840



We can warm up a little, at least, Vera said,150701:51:02.920 --> 01:51:06.800



rubbing her hands together. Vera and Angela went back to150801:51:06.840 --> 01:51:10.880



the kitchen. The others hung by the bar, talking amongst themselves,150901:51:11.159 --> 01:51:14.840



save for Ali, Marie and their girl. The man kept151001:51:14.880 --> 01:51:19.439



to himself, not trusting any of them. Minutes went by151101:51:19.560 --> 01:51:22.960



before Vera emerged from the kitchen with Angela, both holding151201:51:23.000 --> 01:51:29.680



trays of sandwiches. Where's stew? Vera asked, looking around. There151301:51:29.760 --> 01:51:34.439



was a murmur among them as they realized he hadn't returned.151401:51:37.039 --> 01:51:42.039



Four of them went out, the man, Vera, Billy, and Angela.151501:51:42.880 --> 01:51:45.880



The wind began to batter them with cold and snow.151601:51:46.560 --> 01:51:49.199



Vera guided them around the back of the storeroom to151701:51:49.239 --> 01:51:53.079



a small shed. She let out a startled gasp as151801:51:53.119 --> 01:51:58.319



they neared the structure. There laying in the snow was151901:51:58.359 --> 01:52:02.720



what once could have been called a human being, but152001:52:02.840 --> 01:52:06.199



as of now it was akin to a charcoal briquette.152101:52:06.760 --> 01:52:11.640



A few feet away lay Steu's shotgun. Written on the152201:52:11.640 --> 01:52:16.800



shed in charred black substance, it read and miles to152301:52:16.920 --> 01:52:21.720



go before I sleep. Somebody was playing a game with them,152401:52:22.119 --> 01:52:26.560



the man thought. Vera had to steady yourself. Who would152501:52:26.600 --> 01:52:31.760



do this? The man looked down at the snow covered ground. Well,152601:52:32.399 --> 01:52:36.239



besides our fresh tracks and stews, there are only one152701:52:36.279 --> 01:52:40.359



other set, all of them coming from the back door.152801:52:41.800 --> 01:52:46.560



We were all together, Billy observed, except for he looked152901:52:46.560 --> 01:52:49.880



at Angela and Vera had to be one of you.153001:52:51.560 --> 01:52:54.000



Did you hear that? Better check the locks on your153101:52:54.079 --> 01:52:57.560



doors weekly. Spooky will be right back.153201:52:59.239 --> 01:53:03.319



Angela looked Billy with a hurt expression. Why would I153301:53:04.000 --> 01:53:07.560



You had eyes on Stu all the time? Vera accused,153401:53:07.920 --> 01:53:10.920



laughing at his jokes all the time, fawning all over him,153501:53:10.960 --> 01:53:16.479



trying to steal him away from me. You're nuts, Angela spat, jealous,153601:53:16.520 --> 01:53:21.840



old bitch. Angela slapped Vera across the face. Vera retaliated153701:53:21.880 --> 01:53:25.239



by clawing at Angela's face with her long nails. Billy153801:53:25.319 --> 01:53:28.800



stepped in, pushing them apart. While this was going on,153901:53:29.600 --> 01:53:33.560



the man made his move. The three were so preoccupied154001:53:33.560 --> 01:53:37.000



with their argument they'd paid no attention to him. He'd154101:53:37.079 --> 01:53:41.800



charged forward, scooping up the shotgun. Enough of this Jerry154201:53:41.800 --> 01:53:46.359



Springer bullshit. He leveled the shotgun on the three. Get154301:53:46.399 --> 01:53:54.199



inside over there, the man ordered, sit down. What the hell?154401:53:54.600 --> 01:53:58.760



Ali blurted out. As they entered. What's going on? Marvin154501:53:58.800 --> 01:54:04.640



asked Stu was dead? Vera said, burned alive? We don't154601:54:04.680 --> 01:54:08.279



know it was him. Angela argued, who the hell else154701:54:08.279 --> 01:54:13.960



would it be? Vera growled, sit The man ordered Vera154801:54:14.000 --> 01:54:18.319



and Angela sat, but Billy resisted. Look, dude, don't go154901:54:18.520 --> 01:54:21.399



ordering us around and waving that shotgun in our The155001:54:21.479 --> 01:54:24.239



man drove the butt of the shotgun into Billy's stomach,155101:54:24.520 --> 01:54:27.399



dropping him to his knees. The others let out a155201:54:27.439 --> 01:54:31.319



startled gasp. Now with that foolishness out of the way, Billy,155301:54:31.800 --> 01:54:34.520



I got a little something I'd like to try. Cool155401:54:34.520 --> 01:54:40.640



with that, Billy nodded, glaring at the man. Angela, hold155501:54:40.680 --> 01:54:47.079



out your hands. Marvin shook his head. He's loco. Angela trembling,155601:54:47.479 --> 01:54:50.479



held her hands out in front of her. Don't worry,155701:54:50.960 --> 01:54:56.600



the man reassured her. Okay, Billy, smell her hands. Motherfucking what,155801:54:57.600 --> 01:55:03.640



Billy exclaimed, Go ahead, take a whiff. Angela blushed as Billy,155901:55:04.239 --> 01:55:08.800



still on his knees, smelled her hands. What's it smell like,156001:55:09.439 --> 01:55:15.159



the man asked. Billy shook his head. I don't know, peppermint,156101:55:15.199 --> 01:55:19.640



I guess. Okay, Now do the same with Vera. Ali156201:55:19.760 --> 01:55:23.039



spoke up, What the fuck is this supposed to prove156301:55:23.520 --> 01:55:27.640



you getting your rocks off or something? Stu was dowsed156401:55:27.640 --> 01:55:30.960



with gasoline and burned. I'm willing to bet whoever did156501:55:30.960 --> 01:55:34.199



it their hands stink of it. Billy knelt in front156601:55:34.199 --> 01:55:40.159



of Vera whatever man. Before he could sniff her palms,156701:55:40.720 --> 01:55:43.680



Vera leaped on him, pulling a knife out of her jacket.156801:55:43.880 --> 01:55:47.000



She stabbed Billy in the chest. The others screamed in156901:55:47.079 --> 01:55:50.760



horror and shock. The man aimed at Vera, his finger157001:55:50.800 --> 01:55:53.920



at the trigger. Marvin and Donnie stumbled into his line157101:55:53.920 --> 01:55:57.079



of fire. The two struggled to restrain Vera. Get out157201:55:57.119 --> 01:56:01.000



of my way, the man shouted. Vera slashed at Marvin,157301:56:01.039 --> 01:56:03.880



forcing him to back off. Donnie managed to knock the157401:56:03.960 --> 01:56:06.640



knife from Vera's hand, but the crazed woman grabbed him157501:56:06.680 --> 01:56:09.760



by the throat. She locked eyes with the confused Donnie157601:56:09.800 --> 01:56:12.319



and they both screamed, but he managed to shove her157701:56:12.319 --> 01:56:15.199



head into the corner of a nearby table. She crumpled157801:56:15.239 --> 01:56:20.479



to the floor, as did Donnie, breathing heavily. Everyone remained157901:56:20.520 --> 01:56:24.680



frozen in place for a moment in shock. Angela moved158001:56:24.720 --> 01:56:30.520



first and began checking Billy, then Vera. They're dead, she158101:56:30.680 --> 01:56:34.800



said with a heavy sigh. The man looked over at Marvin.158201:56:35.880 --> 01:56:40.119



You okay, old man, I'm fine, just a little nick.158301:56:40.920 --> 01:56:43.680



He looked at the small gash on his arm, and158401:56:43.760 --> 01:56:48.479



don't call me old man. Marvin grumbled, what about him?158501:56:49.159 --> 01:56:52.960



The man motioned to Donnie. Donnie started to stand a158601:56:53.000 --> 01:56:58.399



bit shaky. You okay, Donnie, Angela asked. He cracked his158701:56:58.520 --> 01:57:03.920



neck just and that was fucked up. The little girl158801:57:04.000 --> 01:57:07.399



was sobbing as Marie tried to comfort her. Alie stood158901:57:07.439 --> 01:57:11.359



taking in the scene. Was that crazy bitch the killer?159001:57:12.119 --> 01:57:14.800



He walked over to the bodies. I need another drink,159101:57:16.520 --> 01:57:21.239



I guess, Angela answered. The man watched them, still holding159201:57:21.239 --> 01:57:25.960



the shotgun. She had to be Donnie added, gasoline smell159301:57:26.000 --> 01:57:29.159



on her hands. We have to get the sheriff out here,159401:57:29.720 --> 01:57:33.560



Marvin said. Angela sighed, I just want to go home159501:57:33.600 --> 01:57:38.479



and sleep. Miles to go before you sleep. Donnie said,159601:57:39.520 --> 01:57:44.680



what the man said? What did you just say? Nothing?159701:57:44.800 --> 01:57:48.520



Nothing at all. I just want to sleep, too, Donnie answered.159801:57:49.239 --> 01:57:51.720



Ali went to the bar, taking a bottle of scotch.159901:57:52.600 --> 01:57:55.800



I don't think they'll mind. He walked by Donnie, who160001:57:55.880 --> 01:57:59.520



grabbed the bottle from his hand. Give me some. Donnie160101:57:59.520 --> 01:58:04.199



gulped some with a Scotch. Down, Hey, asshole, Ali complained,160201:58:04.880 --> 01:58:08.079



that was mine. Donnie hammered Ali in the head with160301:58:08.119 --> 01:58:15.119



the bottle, once, twice, three times? Fine, have it. Ali160401:58:15.279 --> 01:58:19.399



fell dead to the floor, his body a bloody mess.160501:58:20.199 --> 01:58:23.279



The man opened fire, the thunder of his shotgun echoing160601:58:23.319 --> 01:58:26.920



through the roadhouse. Donnie was already moving before he'd fire.160701:58:27.119 --> 01:58:30.079



The slug missed all but the big man's arm grazing him.160801:58:30.359 --> 01:58:33.079



Donnie yanked a startled Marie from her seat, holding her160901:58:33.079 --> 01:58:37.600



by the throat in front of him. Fire away, Donnie laughed,161001:58:38.600 --> 01:58:43.880



Who are you, the man asked, A sleeper? A traveler?161101:58:44.359 --> 01:58:49.079



Donnie answered, I've been wandering forever, but your bodies are161201:58:49.159 --> 01:58:56.039



so weak. Let her go, the man ordered, Why we're playing?161301:58:56.760 --> 01:58:59.800



He tightened his grip on Marie. It's the only thing161401:58:59.800 --> 01:59:03.760



that makes this life interesting. Yeah, but you don't want161501:59:03.760 --> 01:59:06.359



to go running around in that fat asshole anymore, do you?161601:59:07.279 --> 01:59:11.279



The thing inside? Donnie pondered that for a moment. What161701:59:11.319 --> 01:59:17.760



are you offering me? The man offered, Let them go? Sure,161801:59:18.399 --> 01:59:22.239



why not, he laughed, drop the gun and come here.161901:59:23.000 --> 01:59:27.399



Angela stood next to the man. Don't do it, trust me,162001:59:28.079 --> 01:59:31.159



he reassured her. As he dropped the shotgun to the ground,162101:59:32.079 --> 01:59:35.920



he stepped forward. The others watched as Donnie took him162201:59:35.920 --> 01:59:40.600



by the head. They locked eyes. Pains seared through every162301:59:40.720 --> 01:59:43.720



fiber of his being. For what seemed like an eternity162401:59:43.720 --> 01:59:48.399



of agony, he felt every inch of his mind assaulted. Finally,162501:59:48.439 --> 01:59:51.720



it ended, and Donnie collapsed to the floor, moaning in pain.162601:59:52.119 --> 01:59:55.520



Marie grabbed her daughter and held her. The man braced162701:59:55.600 --> 01:59:58.720



himself against a table. Your head is filled with so162801:59:58.880 --> 02:00:03.840



much static, the thing said. Are you okay? Angela asked,162902:00:04.279 --> 02:00:07.760



stay away. The man warned, I can't hold on to myself.163002:00:08.479 --> 02:00:12.680



He felt it laughing in his head. I'm here for you.163102:00:13.279 --> 02:00:18.159



Simon stood in the doorway of the roadhouse. Simon, I163202:00:18.239 --> 02:00:22.600



knew you hadn't left me, the man smiled. Angela looked163302:00:22.600 --> 02:00:25.479



at the others and then the man. Who are you163402:00:25.560 --> 02:00:29.079



talking to? The man pointed to the shotgun on the floor.163502:00:30.079 --> 02:00:33.359



If I come back, use it. I won't be me.163602:00:34.800 --> 02:00:48.039



He stepped out into the cold. It was hard to see.163702:00:48.239 --> 02:00:51.560



The wind and snow assaulted his senses. He could feel163802:00:51.600 --> 02:00:55.520



the presence inside him. He won't hold me for long,163902:00:56.000 --> 02:01:01.079



it taunted. I'll go back kill the rest. You're just164002:01:01.159 --> 02:01:05.079



another voice in my head. The man responded, I've lived164102:01:05.119 --> 02:01:07.720



with so many in there for as long as I164202:01:07.760 --> 02:01:12.199



can remember he trudged through the snow. His body was tired,164302:01:12.680 --> 02:01:17.039



but Simon beckoned him on the bitter cold. Clawed at164402:01:17.039 --> 02:01:20.399



his body is the thing inside, clawed at his soul.164502:01:21.319 --> 02:01:24.680



He'd find a place somewhere out here, far away from164602:01:24.720 --> 02:01:37.600



anybody else. Miles to go before we sleep, Twelve Days164702:01:38.319 --> 02:01:43.720



by Mike Ashcuey, to whom it may concern. The following164802:01:43.800 --> 02:01:46.840



data logs were recovered from the wreckage and flight recorder164902:01:47.279 --> 02:01:50.479



of the United Earth Colony ship Roanoke in the year165002:01:50.600 --> 02:01:54.640



twenty three seventy. The data contained within is from the165102:01:54.680 --> 02:01:58.319



lone custodial engineer aboard the vessel during its journey to165202:01:58.359 --> 02:02:02.680



the proposed colony site on planet lv Life Viable five165302:02:02.800 --> 02:02:06.800



two nine. The original colony mission was launched from Pluto165402:02:06.920 --> 02:02:09.840



Station in twenty two eighty and was projected to take165502:02:09.880 --> 02:02:13.520



twenty five years. Support staff, their families, as well as165602:02:13.520 --> 02:02:15.840



a number of colonists were estimated to have numbered at165702:02:15.840 --> 02:02:19.399



two thousand. All crew and support staff are presumed to165802:02:19.399 --> 02:02:23.600



have perished under questionable circumstances between December twelfth, twenty two165902:02:23.680 --> 02:02:27.920



ninety and December twenty fifth, twenty two ninety. Certain portions166002:02:27.920 --> 02:02:30.600



of the record have been redacted to protect United Earth166102:02:30.680 --> 02:02:34.960



military interests and to protect certain individuals as well. Records166202:02:35.000 --> 02:02:39.359



will officially become available for public consumption in January two thousand,166302:02:39.439 --> 02:02:43.680



five hundred via Freedom of information request. Please retain all166402:02:43.720 --> 02:02:48.039



confidential information as eyes only clearance. Contact your United Earth166502:02:48.079 --> 02:02:53.119



Military Science Division Support officer for additional questions and follow up. Sincerely,166602:02:53.560 --> 02:02:59.319



Recovery Officer, Titan Outpost air in Reaching date February second,166702:02:59.600 --> 02:03:05.079



twenty five, three seventy five Roanoke Colony ship flight recorder166802:03:05.199 --> 02:03:11.119



data stream begins Audio log number one, December twelfth, twenty166902:03:11.159 --> 02:03:18.119



two ninety Good, good morning, is this thing on? This167002:03:18.199 --> 02:03:21.760



is Custodial Engineer David Lambert, and this is my maintenance167102:03:21.760 --> 02:03:25.199



shift aboard the Roanoke. My logs will be recorded via167202:03:25.239 --> 02:03:30.399



audio and by the ship's virtual intelligence AKA Vinnie. Well nah.167302:03:30.600 --> 02:03:32.520



He always wanted me to go out and get a job,167402:03:32.560 --> 02:03:36.000



and well here i am. I'm on the frontier of167502:03:36.039 --> 02:03:39.880



space and with a whole new family of about two thousand.167602:03:40.920 --> 02:03:43.920



Maybe now I'll find a wife, a or maybe a husband.167702:03:44.399 --> 02:03:47.760



I've always considered dating an android too, so maybe we167802:03:47.840 --> 02:03:53.960



can have robobabies. A brave new world for me. It's167902:03:54.039 --> 02:03:56.840



December twelfth, and I'm the only one awake aboard the168002:03:56.880 --> 02:03:59.119



ship while everyone else is in cryo sleep for the168102:03:59.159 --> 02:04:02.119



next several months. They need someone to make sure we168202:04:02.159 --> 02:04:05.239



don't bounce too close to a star or accidentally veer168302:04:05.239 --> 02:04:08.680



off course. Now, odds are I'll volunteer and run a168402:04:08.720 --> 02:04:11.680



maintenance shift again and let everyone stay frozen, and I'll168502:04:11.680 --> 02:04:16.119



stay awake for two weeks and maintain the systems. They168602:04:16.159 --> 02:04:18.079



only need a person to stay awake for a few168702:04:18.119 --> 02:04:20.520



weeks at a time to maintain things, and then go168802:04:20.600 --> 02:04:24.119



back to sleep for a few months, then rinse and repeat.168902:04:24.840 --> 02:04:26.880



It's like I'm a captain of my own ship in169002:04:26.920 --> 02:04:30.079



a sense. I'll wake up again in March, make sure169102:04:30.079 --> 02:04:32.960



we're all still alive and going where we're supposed to go,169202:04:33.319 --> 02:04:35.479



and not wake up any of the United Earth's stuffed169302:04:35.520 --> 02:04:40.319



shirts unless I have to. It's lonely, but I don't mind.169402:04:41.000 --> 02:04:43.159



I have Vinnie to keep me company in the entire169502:04:43.239 --> 02:04:47.439



Library of Congress on Hollow and every soccer match in history.169602:04:48.800 --> 02:04:52.239



I'll be all right. It's Christmas time here, and well169702:04:53.319 --> 02:04:57.239



I'm gonna decorate, even if it's only for myself and Vinnie.169802:04:57.920 --> 02:05:00.399



I manage to make some tinsel out of some I169902:05:00.439 --> 02:05:04.039



found in the engineering toolroom. I think it's fiber optics170002:05:04.079 --> 02:05:07.000



of some sort, or maybe some of that nanotube stuff.170102:05:08.159 --> 02:05:10.159



I think maybe tomorrow I'll see if I can put170202:05:10.239 --> 02:05:12.920



up a tree or some sort in the mess hall.170302:05:13.680 --> 02:05:16.199



I know it's just me and the AI, but it170402:05:16.199 --> 02:05:18.680



at least makes me feel somewhat like home. While I'm here,170502:05:19.640 --> 02:05:22.560



I'll check the computer systems life support and make sure170602:05:22.600 --> 02:05:26.239



the slipstream drives output is within acceptable range. We won't170702:05:26.279 --> 02:05:29.159



hit our first milestone for another few years of this journey,170802:05:29.199 --> 02:05:31.920



but gotta make sure I cross the eyes and dot170902:05:31.960 --> 02:05:37.039



the t's wait, is that the phrase? Fuck it? Never mind?171002:05:37.479 --> 02:05:44.000



Vinnie and Audio Log number one Audio log number two,171102:05:44.520 --> 02:05:49.479



December thirteenth, twenty two, ninety log, Day two of maintenance shift.171202:05:50.239 --> 02:05:54.800



I was checking the computer logs yesterday and found something weird.171302:05:55.479 --> 02:05:58.000



Seems like about two weeks ago, we had a small171402:05:58.000 --> 02:06:01.479



containment breach in one of the lower Signs laboratories. It171502:06:01.560 --> 02:06:03.479



was supposed to be related to something that some of171602:06:03.520 --> 02:06:07.079



the scientists had called. Sounds kind of scary to me,171702:06:07.239 --> 02:06:11.479



but none of my business. Don't know how I feel171802:06:11.479 --> 02:06:14.840



about them messing with but then again, I'm not supposed171902:06:14.880 --> 02:06:18.079



to understand it. It was likely caused when we came172002:06:18.119 --> 02:06:22.560



a little close to a radiation anomaly while in slip space. Vinnie,172102:06:22.640 --> 02:06:25.399



the ship's computer chose not to wake anyone up because172202:06:25.439 --> 02:06:28.359



it was deemed not a threat, but did note it172302:06:28.399 --> 02:06:31.119



in the ship's log. Guess I didn't see it till172402:06:31.119 --> 02:06:34.479



this morning, when I went through it all manually. Weird.172502:06:35.760 --> 02:06:39.600



No one should get too pissy at me, right, Vinnie,172602:06:40.039 --> 02:06:42.640



why didn't you wake anyone up? Is that you being172702:06:42.760 --> 02:06:45.479



nice by letting us sleep in the freezers a bit longer?172802:06:45.600 --> 02:06:48.560



Or is it a malfunction in your computer core? Guess172902:06:48.600 --> 02:06:51.319



I'll take a look tomorrow, but right now I have173002:06:51.399 --> 02:06:54.840



more important things to do. I found an old robotic173102:06:54.960 --> 02:06:58.840



exoskeleton that I can turn into a kind of Christmas tree.173202:06:59.159 --> 02:07:01.319



I'll probably deck cate it tonight and listen to old173302:07:01.399 --> 02:07:05.359



Christmas tunes while doing my reports. My moms and I173402:07:05.479 --> 02:07:08.239



used to always celebrate Christmas and make it a big deal.173502:07:08.680 --> 02:07:11.359



We'd have hot cocoa and watch Hollows, and we'd have173602:07:11.399 --> 02:07:15.960



a ski trip too. I missed my mom's come to173702:07:16.000 --> 02:07:19.800



think of it, will they even be alive when we173802:07:19.880 --> 02:07:24.079



reached the new colony can't even send a transmission in173902:07:24.119 --> 02:07:28.720



slipstream without a massive time delay. I hope they're okay.174002:07:31.800 --> 02:07:36.800



Audiologue number three, December fourteenth, twenty two ninety I went174102:07:36.880 --> 02:07:39.840



down to the redacted lab this morning, and it's a mess.174202:07:40.199 --> 02:07:43.640



Stuff was strewn everywhere, and it seems something broke out174302:07:43.680 --> 02:07:47.359



of one of the organic experiment labs. It's supposed to174402:07:47.359 --> 02:07:52.039



be harmless genetic experimentation. I think stuff with grown hormones174502:07:52.079 --> 02:07:56.520



and cross species. Doctor redacted is not going to be happy.174602:07:57.039 --> 02:08:00.279



She always seemed grumpy anyway, So what do I care.174702:08:00.880 --> 02:08:03.680



I've noted it with Vinnie, and internal sensors are actively174802:08:03.720 --> 02:08:08.159



sweeping each deck. What more can I do? All biologics174902:08:08.199 --> 02:08:10.560



are supposed to be frozen solid for the trip, or175002:08:10.640 --> 02:08:14.159



at least in minimal activity and securely monitored for twenty175102:08:14.159 --> 02:08:18.760



five years. I don't think it's dangerous. I mean, it's175202:08:18.800 --> 02:08:22.199



probably some designer animal that somebody wants to field test175302:08:22.239 --> 02:08:25.199



on a new planet. If it was dangerous at all,175402:08:25.920 --> 02:08:30.680



Vinnie would have warned me maybe it's a kiddie. Would175502:08:30.680 --> 02:08:33.079



that be too much to hope for? I know the175602:08:34.000 --> 02:08:38.079



lab is secure. At least Vinnie has the doors hermetically sealed.175702:08:38.479 --> 02:08:42.439



It'll take a scientist's authorization. It's someone else's problem. Now175802:08:43.199 --> 02:08:45.920



I've cleaned up and secured the lab as best I can,175902:08:46.000 --> 02:08:49.920



and accounted for all the labeled growth experiments. All experiment176002:08:50.039 --> 02:08:52.920



pods are locked up tight and cryo seals are in place.176102:08:53.960 --> 02:08:56.079



Likely going to set up in the mess hall tonight176202:08:56.119 --> 02:08:59.079



and watch a bunch of movies and maybe rehydrate a176302:08:59.119 --> 02:09:02.239



turkey dinner. It'll be a nice way to unwind after176402:09:02.279 --> 02:09:09.079



the day i've had. Audio Log number four, December sixteenth,176502:09:09.199 --> 02:09:14.880



twenty two ninety Something bad happened this morning. I'm sorry176602:09:14.920 --> 02:09:17.479



to report that we lost a portion of the crew.176702:09:18.359 --> 02:09:20.880



Vinnie is still compiling data now, but it seems like176802:09:20.960 --> 02:09:23.680



there was an accident in one of the cryopods bays.176902:09:24.279 --> 02:09:27.560



Most of the military cruise pods failed. There was a177002:09:27.600 --> 02:09:30.520



malfunction inside their cryopods and it flooded them with the177102:09:30.520 --> 02:09:34.560



freezing solution. They were basically all frozen solid and the177202:09:34.600 --> 02:09:38.479



bodies were destroyed in a way that I don't care177302:09:38.520 --> 02:09:42.039



to describe for the record, Vinnie can explain in a177402:09:42.119 --> 02:09:48.359



more scientifically detailed method. If you wish. The poor bastards177502:09:48.399 --> 02:09:53.000



didn't feel a thing. I don't think so. Anyway, we177602:09:53.079 --> 02:09:55.159



lost three hundred people in the blink of an eye.177702:09:56.920 --> 02:10:00.399



I met a loss for words. I'll perform orm my177802:10:00.479 --> 02:10:03.560



full account of the dead, and then I'll begin procedures177902:10:03.560 --> 02:10:06.039



to wake up the command crew and inform them of178002:10:06.079 --> 02:10:13.359



what happened. I don't want to be alone anymore. Weirdest thing, though,178102:10:14.520 --> 02:10:17.159



there was music playing in the cryo bay as I entered.178202:10:18.680 --> 02:10:23.560



It was silent night. I didn't do that. But if178302:10:23.600 --> 02:10:28.680



I didn't do that, then who did? That? Has to178402:10:28.720 --> 02:10:32.760



be my imagination? Too many long hours stuck on this178502:10:32.920 --> 02:10:40.439



boat Audio log number six, December seventeenth, twenty two ninety.178602:10:41.479 --> 02:10:45.760



I can't bring the other cryopods online, the command crew,178702:10:45.840 --> 02:10:49.319



the support staff. I can't even wake up another custodial engineer.178802:10:50.239 --> 02:10:54.439



The system refuses to respond. Vinnie is reporting a system178902:10:54.479 --> 02:10:59.159



wide failure relating to the reanimation system caused by yesterday's failure.179002:11:00.079 --> 02:11:03.359



It believes it can be repaired, but it'll involve taking179102:11:03.439 --> 02:11:08.079



him offline for several days while it runs low level diagnostics.179202:11:08.680 --> 02:11:15.399



It would just be me and the ship and maybe179302:11:15.560 --> 02:11:18.840



whatever else is on board. This has to be just179402:11:18.880 --> 02:11:23.279



an accident and a coincidence. I'll clean up as respectfully179502:11:23.319 --> 02:11:26.399



as I can, but I may let the ship's reclamation179602:11:26.479 --> 02:11:30.720



and automated systems deal with it. Burial in space isn't179702:11:30.760 --> 02:11:35.439



so bad, right, I know they deserve better, but look,179802:11:36.000 --> 02:11:38.239



I'm just a custodian. I don't get paid enough to179902:11:38.239 --> 02:11:43.119



put people into buckets to be later identified. I'm not180002:11:43.159 --> 02:11:47.079



overly religious, but maybe I'll pray for them tonight or something.180102:11:47.680 --> 02:11:53.079



Say a few nice things. I'll say something anything. Wait,180202:11:53.760 --> 02:12:01.079



strike that from the record. Please shit, Vinnie's offline. Please180302:12:01.199 --> 02:12:02.680



strike that from the record.180402:12:03.560 --> 02:12:08.840



Fuck did you hear that? Better check the locks on180502:12:08.880 --> 02:12:12.560



your doors weekly. Spooky will be right back.180602:12:15.239 --> 02:12:20.680



Audio log number seven, December nineteenth, twenty two ninety Vinnie180702:12:20.720 --> 02:12:25.920



is still offline and repairing themselves. Something weird is going180802:12:25.960 --> 02:12:30.359



on here. Internal motion sensors keep going off on random decks.180902:12:31.000 --> 02:12:34.840



I've had motion detected on the engineering level, recreation centers,181002:12:34.880 --> 02:12:38.920



and even some in the nursery cryopods. I still am181102:12:39.000 --> 02:12:42.039



unable to wake the crew. I even went down to181202:12:42.079 --> 02:12:44.600



the main command level and tried to manually override the181302:12:44.640 --> 02:12:51.279



captain's pod. She's still sound asleep. Communications are also completely181402:12:51.319 --> 02:12:55.039



offline as well. According to the logs, they were manually181502:12:55.119 --> 02:12:59.960



taken offline over a month ago. Something is wrong here.181602:13:01.439 --> 02:13:04.079



I'm afraid to go to sleep right now. I'm going181702:13:04.079 --> 02:13:05.920



to go down to the armory and get a gun181802:13:05.960 --> 02:13:12.000



and sleep with it beside me. Probably overkill, though, what181902:13:12.159 --> 02:13:16.159



was that thing that mom used to say? Happiness is182002:13:16.199 --> 02:13:19.760



a warm gun. It'll make me feel safer if I182102:13:19.800 --> 02:13:27.239



get a gun. I'm getting a gun. Audio log number eight,182202:13:27.880 --> 02:13:32.920



December twentieth, twenty two ninety. Life support keeps flicking on182302:13:33.039 --> 02:13:36.479



and off between the decks. Sometimes it's perfectly warm and182402:13:36.520 --> 02:13:40.319



suitable for people, and other times it's almost as cold182502:13:40.359 --> 02:13:44.399



as the vacuum outside the ship. Internal alarms keep going182602:13:44.399 --> 02:13:47.960



off in the room and now in the computer core.182702:13:48.680 --> 02:13:51.119



I can't get into the lab area though I sealed182802:13:51.119 --> 02:13:55.319



it off a few days ago, and without doctored authorization182902:13:55.479 --> 02:13:59.039



or one of her flunkies, I'm locked out. I guess183002:13:59.119 --> 02:14:02.239



I could try lowing the door and seeing what happens,183102:14:02.279 --> 02:14:06.720



but I don't want to risk rupturing the bulkheads. I183202:14:06.840 --> 02:14:10.800



doubt that seismic survey charges would work anyway. I went183302:14:10.800 --> 02:14:13.760



through the mess hall today and sat by my Christmas183402:14:13.760 --> 02:14:17.560



tree and tried to find a few minutes to get183502:14:17.560 --> 02:14:23.640



my thoughts together. I thought i'd feel safer here, someplace familiar.183602:14:25.520 --> 02:14:29.600



It didn't work. I swear the exoskeleton suit had moved183702:14:29.600 --> 02:14:32.359



where I'd put it now. I haven't slept a lot183802:14:32.399 --> 02:14:34.319



in the last twenty four hours, so I could be183902:14:34.399 --> 02:14:39.399



imagining it. I'm also positive I faintly heard something over184002:14:39.439 --> 02:14:45.520



the ship's intercoms, like it was something only I could hear. Again,184102:14:46.560 --> 02:14:50.159



I haven't been sleeping. Well. Vinnie should be back online soon.184202:14:50.279 --> 02:14:53.119



Then I won't be alone. He'll wake up the crew184302:14:53.239 --> 02:14:58.680



and I won't be alone. I won't need this gun anymore.184402:15:00.439 --> 02:15:05.399



Oh yeah, this is David Lambert or whatever. Christ I184502:15:05.479 --> 02:15:12.439



need to sleep. Audio log number nine, December twenty second,184602:15:12.800 --> 02:15:18.000



twenty two. Ninety more are dead. I think we lost184702:15:18.000 --> 02:15:21.800



around eight hundred in the middle of the night. What184802:15:21.920 --> 02:15:26.279



in the fuck happened? The pods are flooded. They drowned184902:15:26.319 --> 02:15:32.000



in their sleep, even the kids. Vinnie came back online185002:15:32.039 --> 02:15:35.439



for a few but isn't responsive to commands. He won't185102:15:35.439 --> 02:15:39.319



even say hello to me, just silence. But I know185202:15:39.439 --> 02:15:43.359



he can hear me. I know it sounds crazy, but185302:15:43.479 --> 02:15:46.960



I know I heard something laughing over the intercoms. When185402:15:46.960 --> 02:15:51.359



I entered the Colonist's cryogenic section, internal censors went offline,185502:15:51.359 --> 02:15:55.960



but not before I saw I saw something on the monitors.185602:15:56.600 --> 02:16:01.520



That robotic exoskeleton was walking around the corridor. It doesn't185702:16:01.520 --> 02:16:04.800



even have a computer core. It's a fucking husk. It185802:16:04.880 --> 02:16:10.960



can't act independently. I am not fucking crazy. Why am185902:16:11.000 --> 02:16:13.680



I still recording these Someone has to know what the186002:16:13.720 --> 02:16:17.079



fuck is happening here? I am not crazy. I didn't186102:16:17.159 --> 02:16:21.359



kill these people. Mom, I'm sorry. I didn't say goodbye186202:16:21.399 --> 02:16:28.520



to you, to either of you. Please God help me.186302:16:30.880 --> 02:16:35.399



Audio Logue number ten, December twenty third, twenty two ninety186402:16:37.520 --> 02:16:43.479



I'm being hunted now. Vinnie isn't a virtual intelligence. It's186502:16:43.520 --> 02:16:50.760



an artificial intelligence, and he it, whatever it is, wants186602:16:50.799 --> 02:16:56.840



me dead. Something escaped from the redacted labs and contaminated186702:16:56.879 --> 02:17:00.559



the biological portions of his computer core. He took the186802:17:00.600 --> 02:17:06.440



exoskeleton and is hunting me. Deck by deck, Vinnie is186902:17:06.479 --> 02:17:10.959



alive and has a body. Now he is the ship187002:17:10.959 --> 02:17:13.159



and at the same time is stalking the ship in187102:17:13.200 --> 02:17:16.120



a robotic suit that I just had to drag up187202:17:16.120 --> 02:17:21.319



from storage. Power randomly fluxes off across the different decks187302:17:21.360 --> 02:17:26.639



and sections. Vinnie controls the ship. If the rest of187402:17:26.680 --> 02:17:29.159



the crew isn't dead by now, they soon will be.187502:17:29.959 --> 02:17:32.680



I took this portable recorder, which goes directly to the187602:17:32.680 --> 02:17:36.840



flight recorder, which is independent of his operating systems. I187702:17:36.840 --> 02:17:40.239



don't think the pistol I have can pierce the exoskeleton's plating.187802:17:41.120 --> 02:17:44.799



It's funny. I'm going to be murdered by something that187902:17:44.879 --> 02:17:48.959



was supposed to bring me joy. Did I mention? I188002:17:49.040 --> 02:17:53.440



made it a funny little Santa Hatan beard. I'm going188102:17:53.479 --> 02:17:57.280



to die out here, and there isn't a whole lot188202:17:57.319 --> 02:18:02.280



I can do about it. I thought we were friends, Vinnie.188302:18:02.600 --> 02:18:09.520



Didn't I treat you right? I thought we were friends.188402:18:10.319 --> 02:18:15.120



Audio Log number eleven, December twenty fourth, twenty two ninety.188502:18:17.239 --> 02:18:21.079



Vinnie is slowly siphoning off the air on the ship.188602:18:23.399 --> 02:18:26.079



I'll suffocate in less than twenty four hours, and there188702:18:26.120 --> 02:18:28.920



isn't a lot that I can do about it. I188802:18:28.959 --> 02:18:31.200



can't get into the vehicle section to even get a188902:18:31.239 --> 02:18:34.159



space suit. The bay is locked tight, and even if189002:18:34.200 --> 02:18:36.600



I could, Vinnie blew the doors and all the suits,189102:18:36.799 --> 02:18:42.040



vehicles and everything was blown into space. I don't even189202:18:42.040 --> 02:18:45.000



think we're in slip space anymore. I don't feel the189302:18:45.079 --> 02:18:48.600



hum of the engines anymore. I think Vinnie is toying189402:18:48.639 --> 02:18:52.319



with me. Now, he's playing with the environmental controls. And189502:18:52.360 --> 02:18:56.920



it's starting to get colder where I am. I can189602:18:56.959 --> 02:19:00.879



see my breath and it's so cold I can't even189702:19:00.879 --> 02:19:05.360



hold the pistol steady. The ship's speakers are playing Santa189802:19:05.360 --> 02:19:07.920



Claus Is come into town at a frequency that only189902:19:07.959 --> 02:19:13.639



I can hear. I fucking hate Christmas. Maybe I have190002:19:13.719 --> 02:19:16.760



one last thing I can do before I eventually suffocate.190102:19:19.280 --> 02:19:20.959



I'm not going to let this son of a bitch190202:19:21.000 --> 02:19:26.520



take me down, not without a fight. Ho Ho ho, motherfucker.190302:19:29.360 --> 02:19:33.639



Final data entry for United Earth Colonies ship Roanoke Custodial190402:19:33.680 --> 02:19:37.639



engineer David Lambert initiated liquid nitrogen purge in the engineering deck,190502:19:37.680 --> 02:19:41.319



critically damaging all systems and leaving the ship adrift. On190602:19:41.399 --> 02:19:45.399



December twenty fifth, twenty ninety at twelve oh one am.190702:19:45.520 --> 02:19:49.120



Ship has suffered critical engine failure to slipstream drive. Ship190802:19:49.200 --> 02:19:53.120



no longer able to complete mission objectives. Ship's virtual intelligence190902:19:53.159 --> 02:19:57.959



disabled by unknown user experiment unaccounted for as of December191002:19:58.000 --> 02:20:02.120



twenty fifth, twenty ninety escape launched with zero biological life191102:20:02.120 --> 02:20:05.319



signs aboard. All crew and support staff dead due to191202:20:05.360 --> 02:20:11.280



catastrophic failure across multiple systems. Cause likely sabotage, Internal reporting191302:20:11.280 --> 02:20:14.559



of mental instability of crew member Custodial engineer David Lambert191402:20:14.799 --> 02:20:19.440



likely responsible for crew and vessel destruction. Recommend investigation and191502:20:19.520 --> 02:20:24.760



activation of redacted protocol. Distress Beacon activated on December thirty first,191602:20:25.120 --> 02:20:29.799



twenty ninety by unknown user awaiting salvage and recovery operations.191702:20:30.920 --> 02:20:46.479



End transmission. A Christmas to Remember by Joe Salma. Donnie191802:20:46.520 --> 02:20:49.920



shifted his old Ford pickup into gear as he left191902:20:49.959 --> 02:20:53.040



the rest stop. It should be the last gas stop192002:20:53.079 --> 02:20:56.600



before he was finally home. It had been a few years,192102:20:56.639 --> 02:20:59.319



and to be honest, for a while, he couldn't have192202:20:59.360 --> 02:21:02.799



made the trip even if he wanted to. He merged192302:21:02.840 --> 02:21:06.920



with traffic just as the snow started to fall. It192402:21:06.959 --> 02:21:09.200



looked like it was going to be a white Christmas192502:21:09.600 --> 02:21:14.479



after all. He was both excited and apprehensive. If he192602:21:14.600 --> 02:21:18.799



was being honest, He left home almost ten years ago192702:21:18.840 --> 02:21:23.000



and never looked back, heading south, running from something that192802:21:23.120 --> 02:21:28.159



even he couldn't name, just a feeling. He always hated192902:21:28.200 --> 02:21:30.559



the North, and it bothered him to think he would193002:21:30.639 --> 02:21:34.120



die there. He headed to Fort Lauderdale as soon as193102:21:34.159 --> 02:21:38.159



he could for a better life, where he almost instantly193202:21:38.760 --> 02:21:42.840



got hooked on heroin and became homeless, the shame of193302:21:42.879 --> 02:21:46.200



which kept him from calling home for help, at least193402:21:46.239 --> 02:21:50.159



at first. Then it got harder and harder for him193502:21:50.200 --> 02:21:53.360



to reach out, playing out his family's scrutiny in his193602:21:53.399 --> 02:21:57.280



brain over and over. He could just hear them calling193702:21:57.399 --> 02:22:01.639



him a junkie and a loser. Every time someone overdosed193802:22:01.680 --> 02:22:04.440



next to him at night under the yellow street lights,193902:22:04.879 --> 02:22:06.879



and he was so high and scared, all he could194002:22:06.920 --> 02:22:10.040



do was watch another. Part of that kid that moved194102:22:10.120 --> 02:22:14.799



south left him until looking into the puddle's reflection, even194202:22:14.879 --> 02:22:20.120



he didn't recognize who he was. Florida was such an evil,194302:22:20.360 --> 02:22:23.760



soul sucking place, he would think at times like that,194402:22:24.799 --> 02:22:27.479



it destroyed who he was and replaced him with this194502:22:28.200 --> 02:22:31.840



junkie in his skin. He didn't know whose eyes looked194602:22:31.840 --> 02:22:35.079



back at him, with the disheveled beard, the worn and194702:22:35.159 --> 02:22:38.120



torn Nirvana T shirt, and the shorts that used to194802:22:38.200 --> 02:22:41.159



be pants until he ripped them. Jumping a chain link194902:22:41.239 --> 02:22:44.520



fence to get away from the cops. The first year195002:22:44.600 --> 02:22:47.879



was rough, but it got easier as Donnie fell into195102:22:47.920 --> 02:22:51.760



the groove got used to it. An old Japanese man195202:22:51.840 --> 02:22:54.399



taught him to steal hot dogs from the grocery store.195302:22:55.200 --> 02:22:58.680



He wouldn't eat them, though, he'd walk down to the canals,195402:22:59.239 --> 02:23:02.200



cut a small piece esaf and used them to catch195502:23:02.239 --> 02:23:07.280



fish tenkara or something he called it. He could catch195602:23:07.399 --> 02:23:10.879



enough fish to keep the cluster of junkies fed. It195702:23:11.000 --> 02:23:14.200



was a real loss when he died, but Donnie did195802:23:14.239 --> 02:23:18.360



find his wallet. He had money in there, real money,195902:23:18.840 --> 02:23:22.319



a couple hundred. The next few weeks were a drug196002:23:22.319 --> 02:23:26.200



induced blur. He made sure his family got his wallet back, though,196102:23:26.879 --> 02:23:30.799



even if it had no cash. Inside the Ford's engine196202:23:30.879 --> 02:23:34.120



roared on the highway. It probably needed a muffler, to196302:23:34.159 --> 02:23:37.280



be honest. He could feel the vibration coming up through196402:23:37.280 --> 02:23:41.079



the seat and steering wheel. The smell of exhaust was strong.196502:23:42.159 --> 02:23:45.120



He fiddled with the radio, trying to remember the channels196602:23:45.120 --> 02:23:48.360



he used to listen to back in the day, but196702:23:48.520 --> 02:23:53.239



everything was static. Welcome to New York, he said, as196802:23:53.239 --> 02:23:55.360



he read the sign on the side of Interstate two196902:23:55.399 --> 02:23:58.719



eighty seven. It was nice to finally pass out of197002:23:58.760 --> 02:24:02.159



New Jersey. He wondered, how many people say the same197102:24:02.239 --> 02:24:05.399



thing when they leave the sticky taint of the Northeast.197202:24:06.239 --> 02:24:09.399



He had always hated New Jersey. He got robbed on197302:24:09.479 --> 02:24:12.399



his travels down to Florida. There While in Trenton overnight,197402:24:13.120 --> 02:24:17.079



three bikers robbed him outside his motel room. Luckily, he197502:24:17.120 --> 02:24:19.920



had locked his car keys in the car, or he197602:24:19.920 --> 02:24:22.680



would have had to end his trip right there. Now197702:24:22.719 --> 02:24:25.920



that he was thinking of it, that might be unluckier.197802:24:27.000 --> 02:24:30.520



Is that a word, he wondered. The snow had picked up,197902:24:30.520 --> 02:24:33.559



and Donnie slowed the truck down, trying to see the198002:24:33.680 --> 02:24:38.000



road through the Star Wars Hyperdrive view between wipers. The198102:24:38.040 --> 02:24:42.120



package slipped in the seat next to him. He instinctively198202:24:42.159 --> 02:24:44.319



threw a hand out to keep it from sliding off198302:24:44.360 --> 02:24:48.559



the worn bench seat. Stay still, he said to the package,198402:24:48.920 --> 02:24:52.559



and looked at his wrap job. It wasn't bad, he thought.198502:24:53.440 --> 02:24:55.639



He looked back up at the road as his tires198602:24:55.680 --> 02:24:58.159



caught the bumps on the side to wake up drivers198702:24:58.200 --> 02:25:02.520



that fell asleep. Oh shit. The truck slid back and forth,198802:25:02.639 --> 02:25:05.680



but he couldn't get it under control. Luckily, there wasn't198902:25:05.680 --> 02:25:08.639



another vehicle near him, and when the ford lost traction,199002:25:09.319 --> 02:25:13.079



it slid off the road alone, catching the bank and199102:25:13.159 --> 02:25:16.079



flipping down into the ditch about thirty feet from the199202:25:16.120 --> 02:25:20.440



pavement on its side. Donnie undid his seat belt and199302:25:20.520 --> 02:25:23.079



did a quick pat down to make sure he was okay.199402:25:24.040 --> 02:25:26.879



With a sigh of relief, he began trying to climb out,199502:25:27.440 --> 02:25:30.959



using the steering wheel as a step. He flopped out199602:25:31.000 --> 02:25:34.799



onto the frozen ground just as the headlights cut out,199702:25:35.559 --> 02:25:38.799



leaving him in the silence of the snowstorm on the199802:25:38.840 --> 02:25:42.719



side of the New York State Thruway. He laid there199902:25:42.760 --> 02:25:46.559



for a moment in the shock of the cold. His200002:25:46.680 --> 02:25:50.840



eyes grew heavy and he started to close them. A200102:25:50.879 --> 02:25:54.079



sudden gust of wind made the truck creak, which snapped200202:25:54.159 --> 02:25:56.479



him out of it. He pulled himself up to a200302:25:56.520 --> 02:25:59.959



sitting position a few feet from the truck. He realized200402:26:00.159 --> 02:26:03.360



tis worn through Florida Hoodie wasn't going to do it.200502:26:03.760 --> 02:26:06.520



He had to get up to the highway and get help.200602:26:07.440 --> 02:26:10.559



He scrambled up the embankments towards the road on hands200702:26:10.559 --> 02:26:13.559



and knees. He could see headlights coming towards him in200802:26:13.600 --> 02:26:18.280



the distance. A sense of hope filled him made him warm.200902:26:18.600 --> 02:26:20.600



He peeked his head over the side of the road,201002:26:20.680 --> 02:26:24.719



seeing the car getting closer. The headlights were so close together.201102:26:25.239 --> 02:26:28.559



It must be one of those smart cars, Donnie thought.201202:26:29.159 --> 02:26:32.239



He rose to unsteady feet and began to wave frantically,201302:26:32.440 --> 02:26:34.799



hoping they would see him in the near blizzard that201402:26:34.879 --> 02:26:38.440



wrapped around him like a frozen blanket. There must be201502:26:38.520 --> 02:26:40.920



an inch and a half on the road now, he thought.201602:26:41.559 --> 02:26:44.639



The car veered into the left lane, then the right,201702:26:45.120 --> 02:26:48.719



then back again to the left. Donnie wondered if the201802:26:48.760 --> 02:26:52.000



person was drunk. The car was getting closer, and he201902:26:52.079 --> 02:26:55.680



began to get worried that they might hit him. He202002:26:55.760 --> 02:26:58.440



took a step back off the road and his foot202102:26:58.520 --> 02:27:01.639



slipped out from under him. He smacked his face on202202:27:01.719 --> 02:27:04.799



the gravel shoulder and started to slide down the embankment202302:27:05.159 --> 02:27:08.440



back to his truck. He started to turn as he202402:27:08.520 --> 02:27:10.879



slid and slammed into the roof of his truck with202502:27:10.959 --> 02:27:14.600



his hip, sending pain up his spine. He let out202602:27:14.600 --> 02:27:17.760



a cry. He was facing down with his head facing202702:27:17.799 --> 02:27:20.559



the truck. He couldn't see what happened with the car202802:27:20.559 --> 02:27:23.719



on the highway. He waited for the pain to subside202902:27:23.719 --> 02:27:27.360



before trying to move. The pain proved too much, and203002:27:27.479 --> 02:27:30.760



he knew he screwed something up. He couldn't even get203102:27:30.799 --> 02:27:34.879



the strength to turn over. He laid there helpless for203202:27:34.920 --> 02:27:40.479



a moment. Then he heard it, the sound of two203302:27:40.600 --> 02:27:45.719



car doors. Maybe they had seen him and stopped. He203402:27:45.799 --> 02:27:49.799



listened in the snowstorm as the sound of footfalls crunching203502:27:49.840 --> 02:27:54.719



the pottery snow grew louder. And were those voices? He heard?203602:27:55.879 --> 02:28:01.159



It sounded like a child talking. Rained his ears trying203702:28:01.200 --> 02:28:06.719



to listen the voices stopped. He wondered how much snow203802:28:06.840 --> 02:28:09.600



was on him now, with it whipping around like it was,203902:28:10.719 --> 02:28:15.440



maybe they couldn't see him. Help. He called out into204002:28:15.520 --> 02:28:22.639



the night weekly then tried again. Hell, he heard the204102:28:22.719 --> 02:28:25.840



voices again, but the wind was keeping him from hearing204202:28:25.879 --> 02:28:29.520



what they were saying. The footfalls came a little closer,204302:28:30.159 --> 02:28:35.440



but still seemed distant to him. Someone there, he called out,204402:28:35.559 --> 02:28:40.120



this time he heard them talking. But we must A204502:28:40.239 --> 02:28:44.440



childish voice said, no, we don't. We don't have any obligation.204602:28:45.000 --> 02:28:49.360



Another high pitched voice replied, we can't just leave him there,204702:28:50.159 --> 02:28:52.600



Sure we can. It's easy. We just go back up204802:28:52.639 --> 02:28:56.600



the hill and forget this happened. Came the response. Donnie204902:28:56.600 --> 02:28:59.799



winced in pain and forced himself to turn over. He205002:29:00.079 --> 02:29:02.719



blinked the snow out of his eyes and strained the205102:29:02.799 --> 02:29:07.040



night's storm to see who was there. Help me, please,205202:29:07.799 --> 02:29:11.399



he said, Now it's talking to us, one of the205302:29:11.440 --> 02:29:15.760



voices said, with a sigh. Donnie heard the footfalls grow close,205402:29:16.200 --> 02:29:19.319



and he could make out two diminutive shadows in the darkness.205502:29:19.879 --> 02:29:22.559



One of them turned on a flashlight and stuck it205602:29:22.600 --> 02:29:26.399



in the snow to give them some light. It looks injured,205702:29:26.799 --> 02:29:29.879



said the first voice Donnie had heard. It might not205802:29:29.959 --> 02:29:33.639



be in good shape, came the reply. Donnie raised one205902:29:33.680 --> 02:29:36.639



hand up to block the immediate light and see his206002:29:36.760 --> 02:29:41.399



would be rescuers. As his eyes adjusted, he made out206102:29:41.440 --> 02:29:46.319



the faces of two short people. They both wore green206202:29:46.479 --> 02:29:50.159



pointed hats. One was holding a black leather bag in206302:29:50.200 --> 02:29:53.319



his hand that reminded Donnie of the type he'd seen206402:29:53.399 --> 02:29:57.399



in old movies when doctors made house visits. They both206502:29:57.479 --> 02:30:01.520



had pointed soft shoes tied to some kind kind of snowshoe.206602:30:02.600 --> 02:30:05.520



I mean, it seems like fate brought it to us,206702:30:05.879 --> 02:30:09.959



the one said, you swerving while getting RoadHead is hardly fate.206802:30:10.319 --> 02:30:13.959



The other replied, while either way this could go quite206902:30:13.959 --> 02:30:17.040



a ways towards our quota. Let me get the list.207002:30:17.799 --> 02:30:22.000



Who the fuck are you guys, Donnie asked, exasperated at207102:30:22.000 --> 02:30:25.559



the conversation. The one holding the bag looked at the207202:30:25.600 --> 02:30:29.040



other one, who now had a list. He turned it207302:30:29.079 --> 02:30:32.440



so his companion could see. The one holding the bag207402:30:32.600 --> 02:30:38.040



nodded and squatted down next to Donnie's face. Ain't it obvious, kid,207502:30:38.559 --> 02:30:42.399



We ain't your fairy godmothers. We are the dream fulfillers,207602:30:42.559 --> 02:30:45.639



the ones working behind the scenes to make everything perfect207702:30:45.680 --> 02:30:48.719



every year. Now, be quiet while I make some wishes207802:30:48.799 --> 02:30:52.360



come true, he said, and pulled a stainless steel saw207902:30:52.440 --> 02:30:53.120



from the bag.208002:30:54.639 --> 02:30:59.000



There's more scares where that came from. Weakly, spooky, will208102:30:59.040 --> 02:31:00.200



be right back.208202:31:01.079 --> 02:31:07.000



Liver right. The other nodded, What the hell? Donnie called out,208302:31:07.920 --> 02:31:11.360



You gonna whine the whole time? The doctor one asked.208402:31:11.879 --> 02:31:15.120



He placed one hand over Donnie's mouth, and Donnie tried208502:31:15.159 --> 02:31:18.280



to shout into the night. You ever asked Sanna for208602:31:18.360 --> 02:31:21.840



something impossible for Christmas? Do you have any idea how208702:31:21.840 --> 02:31:25.600



many people wish for the unfeasible? How the fuck do208802:31:25.639 --> 02:31:29.319



you think they work new limbs and organs poof into208902:31:29.399 --> 02:31:32.559



existence for them? No, we have to go out and209002:31:32.680 --> 02:31:35.799



harvest the fucking things, and that fat jolly fuck gets209102:31:35.799 --> 02:31:39.479



all the credit. He ran the saw across Donnie's chest,209202:31:39.600 --> 02:31:42.879



cutting into the flesh. Donnie wondered if the cold or209302:31:42.920 --> 02:31:45.840



shock would numb the wound first, as he watched the209402:31:45.920 --> 02:31:50.520



steam rise from his open wound. You see here, kid,209502:31:50.959 --> 02:31:54.200



we can scratch several wishes off our list. You're doing209602:31:54.319 --> 02:31:57.840



us a favor. Really. I know I don't seem appreciative,209702:31:57.920 --> 02:32:01.799



but I am, Doc said, with another saw across the chest.209802:32:02.520 --> 02:32:04.559



The other one was returning from the car with a209902:32:04.600 --> 02:32:09.159



biohazard cooler. Donnie responded, but the doc was still covering210002:32:09.159 --> 02:32:12.319



his mouth. He stopped sawing and lifted his hand off210102:32:12.360 --> 02:32:16.840



Donnie's mouth for just a second. What's that, kid? You210202:32:16.879 --> 02:32:21.879



guys are Santa's Elves, Donnie asked, and began to laugh.210302:32:22.639 --> 02:32:26.520



That funny to you, Doc, Elf asked. Donnie couldn't help210402:32:26.559 --> 02:32:28.840



but laugh in the freezing cold at the thought of210502:32:28.879 --> 02:32:33.680



being murdered by one of Santa's elves. Something not elf210602:32:33.879 --> 02:32:37.639



like about us, Doc asked. The other Elf climbed onto210702:32:37.680 --> 02:32:41.239



the truck and peered inside. Are we not fucking full210802:32:41.239 --> 02:32:46.520



of cheer? Uh? Boss? Come here, the one on the210902:32:46.559 --> 02:32:50.200



truck said to his partner, Doc. Boss tossed down the211002:32:50.280 --> 02:32:52.239



saw in the snow and made his way over to211102:32:52.280 --> 02:32:55.000



the truck. The other elf had to help him up.211202:32:55.840 --> 02:32:58.920



What do we got here, he asked, and turned back211302:32:58.959 --> 02:33:03.440



to Donnie. Shit, Donnie said, as he realized they had211402:33:03.479 --> 02:33:06.799



found his package. He scrambled for the saw in the snow.211502:33:07.159 --> 02:33:09.760



Every movement was a world of pain that tried to211602:33:09.879 --> 02:33:12.760



envelop him. He managed to get his grip on the211702:33:12.799 --> 02:33:16.559



saw and tried to rise to his knees. At least211802:33:16.600 --> 02:33:19.399



then he could look them in the eye. When he211902:33:19.440 --> 02:33:22.520



turned to face them, both elves looked at him in212002:33:22.600 --> 02:33:25.440



disgust as they held his package in front of them.212102:33:27.079 --> 02:33:30.559



She had been so pretty, Donnie said, as a tears212202:33:30.600 --> 02:33:35.360



streaked down his face. I loved her. Is that why212302:33:35.399 --> 02:33:39.600



you killed her? Doc asked. I gave it to her,212402:33:40.600 --> 02:33:44.760



the smack she oweded on It was my fault, he said,212502:33:44.879 --> 02:33:50.680



lowering the saw. I couldn't I couldn't say goodbye yet.212602:33:51.799 --> 02:33:55.959



She ain't so fresh, kid, Doc said, she been dead212702:33:56.000 --> 02:34:02.799



a few days. Yeah three now, Donnie responded. Fuck that's212802:34:02.879 --> 02:34:06.360



too long for us, he said, and tossed the cellophane212902:34:06.399 --> 02:34:09.600



wrapped body down in the snow. He took a few213002:34:09.639 --> 02:34:14.000



steps closer to Donnie, then saw the saw. What are213102:34:14.040 --> 02:34:17.360



you going to do with that? You're losing blood every second.213202:34:18.200 --> 02:34:21.639



There's no way you can win this. Donnie rose to213302:34:21.680 --> 02:34:26.159



his feet steadily. Come at me and I'll kick your213402:34:26.280 --> 02:34:30.639



fucking head off. Donnie said, you know that saw had213502:34:30.680 --> 02:34:34.680



reindeer ejaculate on it. It's a type of anesthesia. The213602:34:34.719 --> 02:34:38.159



only reason you're standing right now is pure adrenaline. But213702:34:38.280 --> 02:34:42.440



it won't last, Doc said, and shook his head. Donnie213802:34:42.559 --> 02:34:45.200



charged and tried to swing the saw at Doc, but213902:34:45.360 --> 02:34:50.000



lost his grip midswing and the saw dropped helplessly to214002:34:50.120 --> 02:34:53.440



the ground. He tried to ball up his fist for214102:34:53.479 --> 02:34:56.879



a backswing, but his legs gave out and he fell214202:34:56.920 --> 02:35:01.120



back to his knees in the snow. Doc looked him214302:35:01.159 --> 02:35:05.239



right in the eye. That would be the deer come working.214402:35:05.799 --> 02:35:10.200



Stupid move, kid, and punched Donnie in the face. He214502:35:10.239 --> 02:35:13.600



fell onto his back in the snow. Get over here214602:35:13.639 --> 02:35:17.319



and hold him down, he called to his partner. Donnie214702:35:17.319 --> 02:35:20.719



watched on in horror as Doc started to saw with214802:35:20.760 --> 02:35:25.239



a renewed vigor in his chest. As he lost feeling.214902:35:26.200 --> 02:35:30.319



A peaceful smile crossed his face. At least he didn't215002:35:30.360 --> 02:35:34.000



have to face his family after all these years, or215102:35:34.040 --> 02:35:43.799



worse yet, hers. The beeping of the machines kept Mary awake.215202:35:44.559 --> 02:35:47.840



She wouldn't leave her daddy's side, even though things look215302:35:47.920 --> 02:35:51.239



grim for him. She had been praying like Mommy asked215402:35:51.239 --> 02:35:56.440



her to do for weeks and nothing had changed. She215502:35:56.479 --> 02:35:59.319



even wrote a letter to the North Pole to ask215602:35:59.440 --> 02:36:03.399



Santa for help. Two days ago. It was Christmas Eve215702:36:03.440 --> 02:36:08.360



and she watched his machines kept her daddy alive. There215802:36:08.360 --> 02:36:14.840



would be no joy, no cheer, nothing this Christmas. The215902:36:14.959 --> 02:36:18.399



doctor walked in. He handed her a cup of ice cream,216002:36:19.120 --> 02:36:24.440



the kind that came with the little wooden spoon, and smiled. Mary.216102:36:25.680 --> 02:36:28.799



I have some good news about your daddy, he said,216202:36:29.120 --> 02:36:32.600



after glancing at her mom Stacy, in the one chair216302:36:32.639 --> 02:36:38.520



in the room. We found a match. Your daddy is216402:36:38.559 --> 02:36:41.280



going to get a new liver. It should be here216502:36:41.319 --> 02:36:45.120



in a few hours. Why don't you two go get216602:36:45.159 --> 02:36:48.079



some sleep and we'll let you know when we're ready216702:36:48.120 --> 02:36:55.399



to go, he said. Mary yawned, Daddy's going to be okay. Yes,216802:36:56.680 --> 02:37:01.159



it's a Christmas miracle. Stacy said, and took her daughter's hand.216902:37:02.120 --> 02:37:06.520



Thank you, doctor, that's great news. Stacy kissed her husband217002:37:06.600 --> 02:37:10.799



on the forehead and headed for the door. Mary let217102:37:10.840 --> 02:37:13.959



go of her mom's hand, which made her turn around.217202:37:15.000 --> 02:37:19.760



Come now, Mary, she said, But Mom, someone is there217302:37:19.760 --> 02:37:24.559



with daddy, She said, just the doc. Her mom replied217402:37:24.959 --> 02:37:27.959



and pulled Mary out the door, who was looking over217502:37:28.000 --> 02:37:33.559



her shoulder. After everyone left. From behind the curtain, a217602:37:33.639 --> 02:37:37.680



pointed green hat peeked out and patted the husband's foot217702:37:37.719 --> 02:37:41.959



on the bed. You're gonna be okay, fella. The small217802:37:42.000 --> 02:37:45.520



figure jumped down onto the floor and carried his black217902:37:45.600 --> 02:37:57.440



bag with him out into the hall, unnoticed by all. Well,218002:37:57.479 --> 02:38:02.399



my spookyes, you survived yet another marathon of horrors with218102:38:02.479 --> 02:38:05.799



a holiday theme to it. But don't worry. There's one218202:38:05.920 --> 02:38:09.479



more coming very soon, as well as all of the218302:38:09.559 --> 02:38:14.239



brand new holiday horrors awaiting you right here at Weekly Spooky.218402:38:15.120 --> 02:38:17.959



Every year we give you plenty to enjoy at Christmas218502:38:17.959 --> 02:38:20.840



in Halloween, so make sure you're subscribed to go to218602:38:20.879 --> 02:38:24.479



Weeklyspooky dot com for everything else, and I'll see you218702:38:25.360 --> 02:38:28.200



before you know it. Ho ho ho