WEBVTT
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Hello, my spookies. It's your narrator and host, Enrique Kuto,
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here to bring you the first of many holiday gifts
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starting right now, with not only the first eight holiday
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stories to ever be released on Weekly Spooky, but I
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went back and digitally remastered them for optimal sound quality, because,
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as you know, we've been at this show for over
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five years, and on this journey, I've learned a lot
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about how to make the Spooky sound just the way
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you like it. So please kick back and enjoy this
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marathon of holiday horrors. And in the month of December,
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we have so many bonus episodes it's going to get
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a little out of hand. We have ten brand new
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holiday stories for you, and that's just the beginning, So
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make sure you're subscribed and enjoy the Yule tie.
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Terror Biting Cold, biting cold, biting cold.
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By Jeff Carpenter. Pain hit him like a spear in
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the gut. He was hungry, but he knew that thing
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out there was too, and he knew its kind never
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left wounded prey until they could pick the bones clean.
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He was sheltered, safe for now, or so, he hoped.
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Dug into his snow cave, he shifted his body bumping
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up against the cold walls. He couldn't see his right arm,
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and maybe that was for the best. The solidity of
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the snow walls comforted him, but it was a frozen comfort,
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a chilled comfort for his cold, tired bones. A sound
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carried over the crisp air. His ears pricked up, chattering,
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an incessant clacking that assaulted his ears. It was his
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own noise. With every intake of breath, he could feel
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the sharp cold shoot through his teeth. His teeth chattered,
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but he could not feel them. He longed for another
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familiar sound, a sound that would take him home. In
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his breast pocket was a cell phone with very low
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battery charge. He was far out of range of any
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known cell tower, but he still had some voice messages
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saved that he'd listened to before the blizzard hit, one
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from his father at the hunting lodge. Christmas was approaching
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and his father had exhorted him to check the trap
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lines one more time before the big snow hit hard
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and stranded them. He was sure his father had attempted
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to search for him, but the guests had gone home
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for the holidays, and the wheelchair would have been useless.
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Much beyond the pack down paths around the cabin in
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the snow. Another message from his little girl back in
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the city, complaining about her new braces and how they
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hurt her teeth and made her lips bleed when she
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practiced her carols for the choir. She would be caroling
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out there tonight, braving the cold and her sore gums,
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to spread her joy to the world around her. She'd
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left him one last message, but he would leave that
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one unheard until he really needed to hear it. He
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would survive for her. He exhaled and felt the steamy
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breath in front of his face. He tried to breathe
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warmth into his fingers on his left hand, but they
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were well pass numb. Now out there was the only
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hope for life, but death lurked there in the shadows.
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If he did nothing, if he curled up in his
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icy tomb and let sleep overtake him, the beast would
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have him still. It would dig in and dig him out,
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scavenge his cold, tired bones like a grave robber. The
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beast's teeth would crunch and crush the bones and frozen
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flesh of his rigid corpse just as easily as if
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he had offered himself to it. It would swallow him
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in huge choking gulps, and then he would be gone,
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and it would be night forever. He closed his eyes
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tight enough to shut out the images in his brain,
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the creature invading the hole with its snout slavery to
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get at the bloody, sweating slab of meat still living inside.
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If only he could last through the then maybe one
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more night. It was just the last night that it
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all had happened. The avalanche had thrown a tree on
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top of him, brought a roll damn tree down on
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top of him. It must have been the rifle shot
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that set it off. Must have been from behind him.
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The rumble came out of nowhere. The tree had torn
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his arm from his shoulder and left it gashed and bleeding.
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When he came to with a violent tug on his
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arm socket, the beast's beady red eyes dared him to
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wrench his arm back into place. He let the animal
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take his prize. It was no good to him anymore anyway.
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But now the beast knew he was weakened and had
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limited mobility, had limited range, had tasted mortality, and was handicapped.
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It would come again and again to test its preise
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strength and its ebbing will to survive. If he could
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only make it to the tree, The upturned tree, its
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branches ready made kindling. The waterproof matches in his pocket
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were still good. He hoped fire, A glorious fire could
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be kindled, bringing warmth to this long night, warming his belly,
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slacking his thirst, thawing his fingers. The beast would feed
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him its long, dense fur. The oil in its hairs
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would keep the frost off of him. His boot would
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hold enough snow to melt into drinking water. His left
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hand clenched into a fist. It needed to hold something,
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something solid. His bolt action remington had been broken and
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buried by the tree's weight. No weapon. Still. The branches
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could make a spear, but he didn't have a knife
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to sharpen it. Teeth He had teeth, as did the beast,
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of course, and he would pit his molars, canines and scisors,
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and his dizzy brain against the animals. He had thirty
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two thirty one after that drunken brawl. Molars for grinding,
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and scissors for biting and cutting canines, his eye, teeth
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for tearing, flipping, he would chew the bark and spit
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it out. He would chew the fleshy tip of his
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branch into a wicked, sharp point of death, dealing plunge
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it into the gut of the ravenous animal, finally killing
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its hunger. He had no fingers, not that he could
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feel any way. He could pull himself to the tree,
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but that could loosen the shirt of his makeshift tourniquet
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and open the flow of blood again. He can feel
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himself succumbing to the cold, to his leaking blood, to
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the dark night all around. It was now or never.
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His eyelids fled letter to sleep or he moves. He
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pushes out the hole, crawling at first, then limping, stooping,
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gradually more erect from animal to man, a momentary recurrence
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of evolutionary strides. He can do it. He is doing it.
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His numb fingers find the tree with a grunt. He
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feebly snaps off twigs. He clutches them clumsily in his
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single arm. They slip and fall out. He scoops them
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up again. He collects and breaks off branches of various
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sizes from the falling tree, smaller for kindling, larger for
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the main fuel of the fire. He stacks them in
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a rickety pyramid. His hand curled like a useless claw,
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clutches the match box to his chest. He pulls out
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one match with his teeth. His lips tremble as he
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bends his head to the matchbox striking surface. The match
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flares up and burns his lips. It falls to snow
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and fizzles. He tries again and manages to catch it
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a flame. He ignites the pyramid stack of wood with
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the warmth comes the feeling back into his fingers. He
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bites into the fleshy wood, his lips curling at the
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bitter taste of bark. He grinds away at the wood,
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periodically spitting out the pulpy ball of mulch. He wipes
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the wood juice running down his chin with the back
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of his hand. The hot saliva runs cold and icy
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down his chin, almost freezing solid, before running down his
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neck collar. He breaks a tooth and whimpers in pain.
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Then he stops. He sees a movement motion at the
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edge of the perimeter of the circle of firelight. His
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eyes dart to the right, scanning the flickering shadows and
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darkness beyond. He holds the rim of the boot collar
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to his lips, awaiting the refreshing slake of liquid to
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quench his thirst. The smell hits him first, the foul,
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pungent odor, then the crushing weight of the beast slams
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into his chest, bowling him over. His arms flail to
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fight for balance, but he's gone, and so is his boot.
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Flung into the fire, splashing water, it sizzles and steams,
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and then the wolverine growls and makes his slow advance
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halty bathing. The beast leaps on him, snarling, slavering hot
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spit and wet saliva on his face. He turns his head,
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avoiding its snapping teeth, the hot breath on his face.
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It pushes on top of him for better advantage. It
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will have him soon. He can feel himself losing the battle.
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His eyelids flutter to sleep, or he bites into the
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exposed neck of the beast and wet fur. The beast
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jerks and rears back, giving him enough room to reach
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his stride and grab the spear. He plunges the spear
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deep into the belly of the beast. It howls an
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agony in its tongue, lolls in its mouth, tasting mortality.
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The wolverine slumps to the ground, its fur bathed in
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the orange glow of the fire. He raises his stick
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in victory. He circles the body of the wolverine, watching
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it closely, the steam escaping from the gash in its
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belly as it slowly cools to the outside temperature. Snap
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teeth bite into his ankle. The shin bone of his
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leg fractures. The unrelenting metal jaws of one of his
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steel traps enclose his lower leg. He hits the ground hard.
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He stares at the wolverine's missing fore length, the nub
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where it had bitten it.
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Off to escape, and then his own missing arm. The
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wolverine's eyes now closed, its soft lashes whiting over the
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fresh snowflakes. His lashes, too, grow heavy with white flakes.
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The flickering flames of the fire die to embers. His
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eyelids flutter. He takes the cell phone out of his
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breast pocket. One last unheard message, He clicks it. It
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is his daughter, singing softly. He closes his eyes and
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listens to the carol on repeat until the battery dies.
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A thrill love the weary world.
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Rejoice is Frionner breaks a new en. Glorious morn fall.
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On your knees.
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Oh his the angel's voice, Oh night.
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Divine. A thought passes through his frozen mind to sleep
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or or or or I'll be home for Christmas. By
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shine Mikleyovoka, a weekly smunky origin. It's never going to stop,
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Kat Walker said to herself, watching as never ending white
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fell outside. The dying embers of the day cast a
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soft glow that lit the snow covered landscape in a
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blood red hue. The wind howled, making the old walls
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of the house creak and strain. Cat was alone in
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the parlor, the gathering place for most of the social
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activity at Black Oaks. A tall Christmas tree sat in
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the room's center, its lights blinking on and off. The
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smell of cinnamon delighted Cat's senses. Cinnamon cookie ornaments hung
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from the tree branches, crafted in various Christmas related forms,
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Santa frosty snowflakes, and Christmas trees, all lovingly made by
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Black Oak's resident cook, Malory Horst. A fire crackled in
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the fireplace, and the scent of burning wood hung in
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the air. The sound of whiskey flowing over ice pulled
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Cat from her thoughts. She watched fellow student Georgina harris
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enter reflected in the glass of the window. Georgina returned
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her metal flask to the folds of her expensive robe
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before crashing to the couch. The chikh brunette lounged on
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the couch, her sleek legs visible at the robe's part.
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Taking a sip of whiskey. She lit a cigarette. The
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weather outside is indeed frightful. Little kitten Cat turned angry
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at the interruption. She spun around so fast her long,
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raven black hair fell across her eyes, stinging them. What
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are you doing, Cat blurted out, her anger getting the
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better of her. Working towards a career in alcoholism and
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nicotine addiction, Georgina smirked, raising her glass in a toast.
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Just like dear old mom. You know the rules, Kat said,
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If Miss Keene sees you, her lowered, as if saying
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the woman's name would summon the headmistress out of thin air,
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don't worry about it. Georgina took a puff off her cigarette.
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It's not your ass on the line. If I'm caught,
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kitten fine Cat gave up. Why did she care if
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the bitch got in trouble anyway. And my name is Kat.
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I hate it when you call me kitten. Girls like
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Georgina were the reason Cat was at Black Oaks. She'd
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gotten in her fair share of fights with girls that
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thought they were better than her. Thought they could tell
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Cat or place. Expulsion for Cat soon followed nearly every
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time a slight red haired girl with a fox like
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face stood framed in the doorway. Her freckled brow wrinkled
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in concern. She was wearing a snug, if preposterous sweater.
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Robots danced around a Christmas tree on its front and
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a pair of pale blue jeans. There you guys are,
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Sue McCoy said, sounding relieved. Miss Keane wanted to know
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if you guys wanted to exchange Christmas presence now are
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in the morning. Kat looked down at the presence, neatly
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arranged under the tree. She wondered how the tree looked
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at home. Her mom would have it all decked out
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with all the usual ornaments. This would be the first
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year Cat wouldn't be there to help her decorate it.
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She was stuck here at Black Oak's boarding school mainly
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for the simple fact that her parents couldn't afford to
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come and get her, even if the weather did permit,
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not that she was the only one stuck here for
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Christmas break. Georgina's mom and her new girlfriend were off
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to Barcelona for the holiday. Sue was still here because
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she preferred it to her home life. Why Cat really
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wasn't sure, nor did she want a pry. The other
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two students still here, Lois Kincaid and Alice and Gordy,
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were both stuck due to the stubborn onslaught of the
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freak blizzard assaulting half of the country. Besides the remaining
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five girls, there was miss Keene and Mallory still at
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the school. Georgina kicked one of the presents under the
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tree with an outstretched leg. I say we get this
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shit over with, Sue turned to Cat, Yeah, why not?
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Can answered. A half hour later, wrapping paper littered the
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parlor's royal blue carpet. The girls had done a secret Sanna,
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ensuring that each girl got a gift and they didn't
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have to spend a lot of money getting multiple presents.
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Kat sat with her knees drawn up on the floor,
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clutching her gift in her arms, a simple black T
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shirt with I'm against it written on its front in
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a spray paint font. Whoever had drawn Cat's name, they
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certainly knew her tastes. Sitting next to her was Mallory,
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the Cook, was only a few years older than her
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and lived in town with her mother, who had held
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the position previously until injuring her back. Now her daughter
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supported her. Cat had bonded with her, both feeling very
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much the outsider at black Oak's. Malory had a crisp,
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no bullshit way of looking at things and never sat
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around feeling sorry for herself or whining up the shit
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life had handed her. It was something Kat aspired to
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do herself. Mallory's secret Sannah bought her a simple pendant necklace.
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She wore it proudly around her neck, turning to smile
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at Kat. As they all laughed at one of Miss
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Keene's stories. Cat drifted in and out of the story
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the woman was telling. Her ears picked up bits and
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pieces of the news playing on the TV behind them,
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The Storm of the Century, flights canceled, power outages, escaped
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mental patients pile up on the throughway. The girls all
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laughed again, and Kat joined in instinctively. Her thoughts turned
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back towards home. Were Mom and Dad celebrating tonight? Was
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Mom making her annual Christmas lasagna tomorrow? She hoped her
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parents were safe and happy. What's on your mind? Kat
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turned to see Mallori looking at her. Nothing, just Christmas
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at home, Kat answered, miss your folks. Yeah, we uh,
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00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:02.920
we don't always get along, but this time of year though,
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all the shit of the year disappears. Kat smiled, thinking
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about the warm feelings she got sitting around the tree
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on Christmas morning. How about you hope I can get
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back into town tomorrow spend the day with Mom. Hold
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hands you love birds. Georgina mocked. The heavy scent of
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whiskey hung in the air as she spoke. Malory made
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a face, God, you're drunk, Georgina laughed. Fuck yea towny.
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Kat noticed a repeated thumping sound under the din of
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the girl's laughter and the TV. It grew louder and
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more ferocious as seconds ticked by, until finally, someone's here,
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Kat said, springing up from the floor. All eyes turned
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toward her. They stared as if she was in a
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one woman play written by a psychotic. At the door,
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Kat added, Already headed to the foyer, Kat fumbled with
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the door lock as the knocking outside intensified. Miss Keen
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and the girls gathered behind her. I told you there's
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somebody at the door. Cat felt vindicated as the knocking continued.
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Maybe you shouldn't open that door. Sue spoke up. It
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could be a you know, a crazy person. It might
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be a rapist, Lois said, or a holy roller. Georgina added,
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we'll be buried in watchtowers. From the other side of
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00:20:25.720 --> 00:20:29.680
the door, a man spoke, Please, I know you're in there.
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I need help. Cat looked at Miss Keen for guidance.
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The head mistress nodded her approval. Without hesitation, Cat unlocked
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the door. Wind and snow assaulted her immediately. A man,
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00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:45.039
looking half dead, stood at the center of the moustrom.
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His hair whipped about as if alive, and his eyes
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were wide with panic. The man stumbled into the house,
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helped along by Cat and Miss Keen. Sue struggled to
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shut the door behind them, the snow and wind fighting her.
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Mallory stepped in and helped her close the door. Well,
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this is something, Georgina said, observing the scene before her.
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00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:09.480
They took the stranger into the dining room. A large
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wood table sat at room center. The room, much like
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00:21:12.839 --> 00:21:16.160
the living room, had been decorated for the holiday. Lights
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00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:19.119
and Garland ran along the walls, and the table was
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covered by a tablecloth and place mats depicting Santa and
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00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:26.319
his reindeer on Christmas night. Alison pulled out one of
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the chairs for the disheveled man. Get him a blanket
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00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:32.599
and some coffee. Miss Keen instructed Alison and Lois, sending
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the two girls racing off in opposite directions. I told
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00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:39.000
them I'll be home for Christmas, the man said, through
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00:21:39.079 --> 00:21:42.640
chapped lips. He looked up into cat's eyes. My wife
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and son, they're waiting for me. Miss Keane took the
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blanket from a returning Alison and draped it over the
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man's shoulders. Were you in an accident? The man hugged
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the blanket to himself before nodding. Our bus went off
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the road. The snow made it hard to see. Lois
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00:21:58.720 --> 00:22:01.359
came back with a steaming cup of coffee. The man
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00:22:01.480 --> 00:22:04.039
gladly took the mug, holding it in his hands for
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00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:08.119
the warmth that radiated. Whereabout did you crash? Miss Kean
331
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asked how many people were on the bus besides you.
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I don't know where. The storm made it hard to
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see any landmarks. The man took a sip of coffee. Ten.
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I think there was maybe ten on the bus. He
335
00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:25.400
pondered this for a moment before continuing. I went for
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00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:31.240
help and I got lost, he laughed grimly. I was
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00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:34.680
in the army, some tracker I turned out to be.
338
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I used to go through the jungle like nothing. We
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should call the police, Lois said, and tell them what
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Georgina pointed out. We don't know where this guy crashed.
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Where are we going to send them? Mallory stepped forward.
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She's right, we should get you to a hospital, Miss
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Keane said, turning towards the man. I'll call for an ambulance.
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The headmistress left. There were only two working phones at
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Black Oaks, one in Miss Kean's office and the other
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in the wreck room. The girls weren't allowed to have
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cell phones, as they were felt to be too much
348
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of a distraction from their studies. The same went for
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the internet. The girls were allowed laptops for assignments, but
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couldn't even get those online After a few minutes. A
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stone faced, Miss Keen returned. The phone is out, she
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00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:23.279
informed the girls, fighting to conceal any troubling emotion that
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might slip out. It must be the blizzard. I'm so hungry,
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the man groaned, his voice full of pain and regret.
355
00:23:33.319 --> 00:23:38.200
USh, it was only the wind. You're safe, weekly, spooky,
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We'll be right back.
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I'm starving. Mallory went to the kitchen to get the
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man some food, while Kat and the others stayed with
359
00:23:46.440 --> 00:23:50.400
him in the dining room. Under the circumstances, Miss Keen
360
00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:53.240
addressed the group, I think it best I drove into
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00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:55.640
town with our guest. We can get him help and
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get a search started for that bus. There was some
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00:23:58.720 --> 00:24:01.960
debate over the idea before the headmistress's authority went out.
364
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Over the girl's doubts, miss Keen agreed to take Lois
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and Alison with her and the man into town. The
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stranger greedily devoured the tune of his sandwich Mallory brought him.
367
00:24:11.640 --> 00:24:13.640
As miss Keen and the two girls geared up for
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their trip, Cat donated one of her trench coats for
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00:24:16.680 --> 00:24:19.319
the man to wear out into the bitter cold. The
370
00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:22.400
remaining girls watched as the four headed towards the garage,
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the four swallowed up by the blizzard. Cat took one
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00:24:26.599 --> 00:24:34.880
last look outside before closing and locking the door. Georgina
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sauntered off back to the parlor. Back to our regularly
374
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scheduled program, she quipped. Anxious Cat glanced out the window.
375
00:24:43.839 --> 00:24:47.720
It had been fifteen minutes. Shouldn't she have seen something
376
00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:50.960
from the garage by now, a light from the car
377
00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:55.200
through the billowing snow, just something to confirm they'd left.
378
00:24:56.279 --> 00:25:00.119
I don't like this, she muttered, Where are they? It's
379
00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:03.000
it's gonna take time in this weather, Sue answered, pulling
380
00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:06.000
on her jacket and hat, she unlocked the door. I'm
381
00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:09.359
gonna go check on them, just to make sure Sue
382
00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:13.119
thought about it. Can't hurt. I'll go with. We'll hold
383
00:25:13.160 --> 00:25:17.000
down the fort, Georgina said, lighting up a cigarette. As
384
00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:19.720
soon as Sue was ready, the two girls headed outside.
385
00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:24.079
Malory stood inside the doorframe. Hurry back, I'll have some
386
00:25:24.160 --> 00:25:27.160
hot chocolate waiting. Don't leave me alone with that boozy
387
00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:31.000
bitch for too long, Cat laughed. Don't worry, we won't.
388
00:25:31.799 --> 00:25:35.680
I heard that, Georgina hollered from the parlor. Don't care,
389
00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:39.640
Mallory shot back, slamming the door shut. The snow was
390
00:25:39.640 --> 00:25:42.119
ankle deep as the girls made their way down the walk,
391
00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:45.920
holding gloved hands as snow and bitter cold wind raged
392
00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:50.079
around them. Cold snow slipped down into Cat's boots. She
393
00:25:50.119 --> 00:25:52.680
felt her nose start to run as her cheeks reddened.
394
00:25:53.279 --> 00:25:56.240
Halfway to the garage, she was already regretting coming out here.
395
00:25:56.599 --> 00:26:00.799
Why couldn't the fucking garage be connected to the day house,
396
00:26:01.119 --> 00:26:04.599
she moaned. Sue made a face. Cat had forgot the
397
00:26:04.599 --> 00:26:09.039
girl's disdain for colorful language. With the garage in sight,
398
00:26:09.160 --> 00:26:12.160
the pair were surprised to see the garage door still closed,
399
00:26:12.920 --> 00:26:16.880
car headlights visible from within the slats. Entering, the girls
400
00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:21.960
found Miss Keane's van sitting there, headlights on, doors closed,
401
00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:27.000
melting snow. Footprints led to the van, but none led away.
402
00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:31.359
There seemed to be something smeared on the interior windows,
403
00:26:32.039 --> 00:26:36.359
making it hard to see inside. The faint sound of
404
00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:40.839
music came from within the vehicle. Is that Buddy, Holly,
405
00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:45.440
she asked? It was indeed, as Buddy sang about a
406
00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:48.519
love that never fades away. Kat touched the handle of
407
00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:52.200
the driver's side door. She glanced at Sue, who nodded
408
00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:56.960
in approval. Cat turned the handle, slowly opening the door.
409
00:26:58.400 --> 00:27:02.519
Miss Keene, is everything all right night? In response, something
410
00:27:02.599 --> 00:27:05.839
fell from the van with a moist thud, rolling to
411
00:27:05.880 --> 00:27:09.279
a stop next to Sue's feet, causing her to scream.
412
00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:12.359
Before Kat could turn to see what was wrong, her
413
00:27:12.400 --> 00:27:15.400
eyes were caught by the van's interior, which was covered
414
00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:20.480
in splashes of dripping crimson. Human limbs, chunks of flesh,
415
00:27:20.559 --> 00:27:23.759
and what appeared to be intestines littered the front seats.
416
00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:27.039
The next thing, Cat knew, what she'd had for dinner,
417
00:27:27.079 --> 00:27:31.440
now covered her boots and part of the floor. Oh god,
418
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Cat groaned. Sue had stopped screaming and was now doing
419
00:27:34.680 --> 00:27:40.240
an impromptu impression of a Monty Python routine. It's it's
420
00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:45.519
it's Miss Keane's head lay at Sue's feet. The dead
421
00:27:45.559 --> 00:27:51.920
head Mistress's eyes were wide with terror. I'm starving. The
422
00:27:51.960 --> 00:27:55.759
stranger's voice came from somewhere in the shadows of the garage.
423
00:27:56.000 --> 00:28:00.400
I couldn't help it. Kat took Sue's hand, ready to
424
00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:03.279
drag the girl out of there if need be, Backing
425
00:28:03.319 --> 00:28:06.759
towards the side door they entered by. They hadn't gotten
426
00:28:06.759 --> 00:28:09.799
more than a few steps when something slithered out from
427
00:28:09.880 --> 00:28:13.200
under the van. The thing grabbed Sue by the leg
428
00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:15.880
and wrenched the startled girl off her feet, which caused
429
00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:19.400
Kat to lose her footing as well. Desperately, Cat scrambled
430
00:28:19.400 --> 00:28:22.200
to grab the screaming girl's outstretched hand. The thing that
431
00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:25.079
had hold of Sue was faster, dragging the red haired
432
00:28:25.119 --> 00:28:28.000
girl into the darkness under the van. Screaming once more
433
00:28:28.039 --> 00:28:32.839
filled the air before being suddenly cut off. Gripped by terror,
434
00:28:33.160 --> 00:28:36.559
Cat half crawled, half ran for the door. Stumbling out
435
00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:39.559
into the snow. Cat gasped her breath as the wind hammered,
436
00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:42.839
her heart pounding. She retraced her footprints in the snow drifts.
437
00:28:42.960 --> 00:28:44.680
She tried to block what she saw in the van
438
00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:46.880
from her head, tried not to think about what must
439
00:28:46.920 --> 00:28:49.400
be happening to Sue back there in the garage. It
440
00:28:49.400 --> 00:28:52.519
had happened so fast, could she have possibly saved her.
441
00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:55.720
Back At the main house, Cat found the front door locked.
442
00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:59.119
Pounding on it, she waited, prayed for someone to open it.
443
00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:01.880
Suddenly overtime, with the feeling that someone was behind her,
444
00:29:02.039 --> 00:29:04.759
Cat spun around in the distance through the snow. She
445
00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:06.960
saw them standing there at the end of the driveway,
446
00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:13.839
three figures. Then she saw two more standing in adrift
447
00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:18.680
on the lawn, their features obscured by snow and distance.
448
00:29:20.079 --> 00:29:21.799
She wanted to call out to them for help, but
449
00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:27.720
something about them felt wrong. Filling her head with dread,
450
00:29:28.880 --> 00:29:32.200
she returned to pounding the door frantically. The door opened,
451
00:29:32.400 --> 00:29:35.839
Cat pushed past a slightly aggravated Georgina, nearly falling to
452
00:29:35.880 --> 00:29:38.759
her knees. Panic stricken and out of breath, tears and
453
00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:43.240
snot were frozen to her face. What the hell, Georgina said,
454
00:29:43.599 --> 00:29:46.240
Who's that out there? She poked her head out the door.
455
00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:50.680
Who are those people? Close the door? Cat gasped warm air,
456
00:29:50.759 --> 00:29:54.440
burning her lungs. Lock it. Georgina slammed the door shut,
457
00:29:54.440 --> 00:29:56.799
clicking the dead bolt in place as Stevie Nicks belted
458
00:29:56.880 --> 00:30:00.880
out Silent Night from the parlor's TV. Stood feeling her
459
00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:04.079
knees shake. Looking down at her shirt, she noticed chunks
460
00:30:04.079 --> 00:30:07.559
of vomit. Pulling off her coat and shirt, Cat walked
461
00:30:07.559 --> 00:30:11.640
into the parlor, Georgina followed her. What the fuck is
462
00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:15.440
going on? Where's the sidekick? Kat pulled on her I'm
463
00:30:15.480 --> 00:30:19.000
against It T shirt. She took a deep breath, not
464
00:30:19.160 --> 00:30:26.039
wanting to say the words She's dead, Georgina laughed, what
465
00:30:26.440 --> 00:30:30.920
are you shitting me? No, Cat's eyes scammed the room.
466
00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:36.559
Where's Mallory in the kitchen washing dishes or some shit?
467
00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:41.799
Sue's dead? What the fuck? Cat took off for the kitchen,
468
00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:45.920
Georgina storming after her, profanity flowing freely from her mouth.
469
00:30:46.359 --> 00:30:49.640
They found Malorie in the kitchen, standing uneasily next to
470
00:30:49.680 --> 00:30:55.440
the stranger, seated at the counter, eating a sandwich. Your
471
00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:58.599
friend made me a nice sandwich. He took a bite
472
00:30:58.640 --> 00:31:01.960
from it, blood running down his chin as he chewed.
473
00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:05.440
Pieces of fleshy meat stuck to the corners of his mouth.
474
00:31:07.079 --> 00:31:10.960
You're not safe yet, Weekly Spooky will be right back.
475
00:31:13.640 --> 00:31:18.519
That's disgusting, Georgina gasped. Mallory get away from him. Cat
476
00:31:18.559 --> 00:31:21.559
reached out towards the young cook. A large kitchen knife
477
00:31:21.640 --> 00:31:25.400
gleamed near Mallory's side, held in the stranger's free hand.
478
00:31:26.319 --> 00:31:32.839
I think she's fine right here, the man smiled bloodily. Oh,
479
00:31:33.200 --> 00:31:37.200
there's a hair in my mouth. He pulled a red
480
00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:42.279
hair from between his teeth. Who the fuck are you,
481
00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:47.680
Georgina asked, horrified and angry, Just a man on his
482
00:31:47.720 --> 00:31:51.079
way home from a pointless war in the jungle, sick
483
00:31:51.119 --> 00:31:54.359
of being called baby killer, just wanted to get home
484
00:31:54.400 --> 00:31:58.160
to my wife and boy for Christmas. The man sighed,
485
00:31:58.480 --> 00:32:02.559
his eyes focusing on something long gone, and then that
486
00:32:02.759 --> 00:32:07.000
goddamn blizzard hit. The old drunk behind the wheel of
487
00:32:07.039 --> 00:32:10.720
the bus drove us into a ditch on some backwoods road.
488
00:32:11.240 --> 00:32:13.839
I went for help with one of the passengers, and
489
00:32:13.880 --> 00:32:17.920
we got lost in the storm. A chill ran down
490
00:32:17.960 --> 00:32:21.759
Cat's spine as the man spoke, I don't know how
491
00:32:21.799 --> 00:32:25.640
long we were out there. I got so hungry, and
492
00:32:25.720 --> 00:32:29.279
the other man was falling behind in the bush. You
493
00:32:29.359 --> 00:32:32.400
had to do anything it took to survive. He was
494
00:32:32.440 --> 00:32:37.000
holding me back, and I needed food. So the man
495
00:32:37.039 --> 00:32:41.640
licked his blood caked lips and laughed. And then the
496
00:32:41.680 --> 00:32:45.160
next day I found myself back at the fucking bus,
497
00:32:45.599 --> 00:32:49.680
those ungrateful shits criticizing me for getting lost, accusing me
498
00:32:50.279 --> 00:32:54.160
after everything I did, everything I went through, it was
499
00:32:54.200 --> 00:32:59.359
too much, and a man's gotta eat. Cat felt sick
500
00:32:59.400 --> 00:33:02.359
to her stomach. She willed herself not to throw up
501
00:33:02.680 --> 00:33:06.960
for a second time that night. It came to me,
502
00:33:07.559 --> 00:33:10.559
standing there at the edge of the trees. It called
503
00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:17.960
to me. When to go, demon spirit, my burden, my curse,
504
00:33:18.920 --> 00:33:23.880
the hunger inside me. That's where it lives, keeping me
505
00:33:23.960 --> 00:33:30.400
alive to feed it. Georgina scoffed, that's a pretty fucked
506
00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:33.480
up story, buddy. What are you smoking? And can I
507
00:33:33.559 --> 00:33:38.240
get some? A loud knock came from the door. They're here,
508
00:33:38.640 --> 00:33:41.640
the man said as he stood. I hate to eat
509
00:33:41.680 --> 00:33:44.880
and run, but their company. I try not to keep
510
00:33:46.319 --> 00:33:49.920
Who are those people out there? Georgina asked, I really
511
00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:53.000
must be going. I fucked around here too long. The
512
00:33:53.039 --> 00:33:55.400
stranger held the tip of the knife to Malory's throat.51300:33:56.079 --> 00:33:58.920
I was looking forward to sampling all of this young51400:33:59.079 --> 00:34:02.559
flesh tastes so much better than that old hag in51500:34:02.640 --> 00:34:06.039
the car. He backed towards the rear door that connected51600:34:06.079 --> 00:34:09.119
the kitchen to the courtyard behind the main house. Another51700:34:09.199 --> 00:34:12.559
knock came from the front door. Shit, I don't think51800:34:12.599 --> 00:34:16.159
I have time to even slaughter you bitches properly. I'll51900:34:16.199 --> 00:34:19.320
have to be quick. Cat scanned the kitchen quickly. The52000:34:19.320 --> 00:34:21.679
stranger could kill Mallory before she got to a knife.52100:34:21.760 --> 00:34:24.320
There had to be something else. A third knock came52200:34:24.320 --> 00:34:26.440
from the front door, with his free hand, the stranger52300:34:26.519 --> 00:34:29.599
yanked Mallory's head back by her long blonde hair, exposing52400:34:29.639 --> 00:34:33.280
her neck. Quick and easy, babe. The stranger grinned the52500:34:33.280 --> 00:34:35.719
whine of a kettle sliced through the tension of the kitchen,52600:34:35.960 --> 00:34:37.719
causing the man to look up from his prey just52700:34:37.760 --> 00:34:40.559
in time to see Cat snatch it from the stove.52800:34:41.159 --> 00:34:44.199
Have a little hot chocolate, Cat screamed. As the scolding52900:34:44.239 --> 00:34:46.800
water hit the man dead center in the face. He53000:34:46.920 --> 00:34:49.119
let go of Mallory and the knife as he held53100:34:49.119 --> 00:34:52.639
his face, screaming in pain. Mallory screamed herself as some53200:34:52.719 --> 00:34:55.000
of the water had hit her as well. Cat hurled53300:34:55.000 --> 00:34:57.679
the now empty kettle at the wounded stranger. Georgina, for53400:34:57.719 --> 00:35:00.320
her part, pulled the startled Mallory to her feet. Let's53500:35:00.360 --> 00:35:03.280
get the fuck out of here, Georgina shouted. The girls53600:35:03.320 --> 00:35:05.960
started towards the door, but the man blocked their escape route,53700:35:06.000 --> 00:35:08.639
holding his ragged face with one hand and a knife53800:35:08.639 --> 00:35:13.880
in the other. You cunts aren't going anywhere. The trueau53900:35:13.880 --> 00:35:15.840
of girls turned and ran out the kitchen, down the54000:35:15.840 --> 00:35:20.039
hallway towards the front door. Out there, Georgina stopped them.54100:35:20.519 --> 00:35:23.800
What choice do we have? Kat said out one of54200:35:23.840 --> 00:35:26.719
the windows. Mallory answered the stranger stood in the hallway,54300:35:26.920 --> 00:35:30.599
having replaced the knife with a meat cleaver. You ain't54400:35:30.639 --> 00:35:34.480
going anywhere. I could have ran, but you three really54500:35:34.719 --> 00:35:37.679
pissed me off. The knocking on the door turned into54600:35:37.679 --> 00:35:40.599
a loud banging. The man charged them with the cleaver,54700:35:40.760 --> 00:35:43.000
forcing the girls to run into the parlor, slicing at54800:35:43.039 --> 00:35:46.159
them as they went. Georgina lunged towards the fireplace, grabbing54900:35:46.199 --> 00:35:49.239
a poker. Spinning around, she confronted the stranger, swinging the55000:35:49.280 --> 00:35:51.880
poker at him. It collided with the stranger's head with55100:35:51.960 --> 00:35:54.599
a sickening thud. Never mess with a chick from the55200:35:54.679 --> 00:35:58.199
Upper east Side, asshole. Georgina followed up with a couple55300:35:58.199 --> 00:36:00.840
of hard swings, but her cockiness was her downfall. As55400:36:00.840 --> 00:36:03.360
the stranger caught the poker, yanking it from her grip,55500:36:03.679 --> 00:36:06.360
he kicked her in the gut, doubling Georgina over in pain.55600:36:06.719 --> 00:36:10.280
Throwing the poker aside, the stranger hoisted the cleaver, ready55700:36:10.320 --> 00:36:14.159
to strike down on the stunned girl. Kat ran towards55800:36:14.199 --> 00:36:17.159
the man, howling like a banshee, attempting to tackle him.55900:36:17.280 --> 00:36:20.079
She grabbed the man's hand holding the cleaver. The two struggled,56000:36:20.119 --> 00:36:22.880
but the man was stronger and a trained fighter. Using56100:36:22.920 --> 00:36:25.360
Kat's weight and momentum against her, he sent her sailing56200:36:25.400 --> 00:36:28.239
into the Christmas tree with a loud crash. Both the56300:36:28.280 --> 00:36:30.519
girls and the tree went down in an explosion of56400:36:30.559 --> 00:36:33.519
tinsel and ornaments. From the foyer came a sound of56500:36:33.559 --> 00:36:37.480
straining wood as the pounding assault continued on the front door. Cat,56600:36:37.519 --> 00:36:39.519
now caught up in the tinsel and lights of the tree,56700:36:39.639 --> 00:36:42.760
struggled to free herself. The man stalked towards her, a56800:36:42.840 --> 00:36:47.639
desperate evil smile on his burned lips. She watched helpless,56900:36:47.880 --> 00:36:50.880
unable to defend herself. A strand of lights dropped over57000:36:50.920 --> 00:36:54.119
his head, wrapping around his neck. Standing behind him, Mallory57100:36:54.199 --> 00:36:57.639
pulled it tight, choking him. Holding tight the young cook57200:36:57.719 --> 00:37:00.960
pulled him away from Cat. The pair stumbled towards the man,57300:37:01.039 --> 00:37:04.000
clumsily taking wild swings with the cleaver, trying to hit57400:37:04.079 --> 00:37:07.000
Mallory behind him. Taking a handful of the man's unkempt57500:37:07.000 --> 00:37:09.400
hair with one hand and holding the strand tight with57600:37:09.480 --> 00:37:12.239
the other, Malory rammed the man's head into the mantle57700:37:12.280 --> 00:37:16.039
repeatedly until the bloodied and battered man pushed away from her,57800:37:16.400 --> 00:37:18.760
Yanking the strand from his neck, he hurled it to57900:37:18.800 --> 00:37:21.679
the ground. Finally free of the Christmas tree, Cat was58000:37:21.679 --> 00:37:24.280
on her feet. Picking up the discarded fire poker, she58100:37:24.320 --> 00:37:27.679
attacked the stranger, screaming as she beat him. Georgina picked58200:37:27.719 --> 00:37:30.400
up a second poker and swung primily as well, forcing58300:37:30.480 --> 00:37:33.039
the man to fall to his knees. The girl stopped58400:37:33.039 --> 00:37:37.800
when the front door shattered. The three girls turned as58500:37:37.840 --> 00:37:43.320
something shambled into the house. Standing framed in the parlor58600:37:43.400 --> 00:37:49.239
door stood a decayed corpse dressed in a tattered, age58700:37:49.360 --> 00:37:55.599
ravaged bus driver's uniform. Standing behind it were similarly decayed corpses.58800:37:56.159 --> 00:37:59.400
The three girls stood tall and readied themselves for a58900:37:59.440 --> 00:38:04.840
new fight. To their surprise, the dead ignored the three.59000:38:05.480 --> 00:38:10.159
The walking corpses surrounded the man, who now knelt laughing59100:38:10.360 --> 00:38:15.400
hysterically behind him. The discarded strand had partially fallen into59200:38:15.400 --> 00:38:20.400
the fireplace. Burning like a fuse, it had lit the59300:38:20.440 --> 00:38:25.519
carpet up. The fire was quickly spreading. Come and get it,59400:38:25.559 --> 00:38:29.679
you bastards, the man laughed as the dead descended on him,59500:38:30.159 --> 00:38:34.679
ripping at his flesh. Let's get the fuck out of here,59600:38:35.039 --> 00:38:38.000
Cat said, as she watched the man being ripped apart.59700:38:38.760 --> 00:38:40.519
The three girls hurried out of the house as the59800:38:40.559 --> 00:38:44.119
fire and the dead claimed it. They stood on the59900:38:44.199 --> 00:38:48.039
lawn for several minutes, watching the house burn, holding their60000:38:48.079 --> 00:38:54.039
jackets tight in the bitter cold. So now what, Georgina asked,60100:38:55.000 --> 00:38:59.199
Walk to town, Cat said, Mallory shook her head. We60200:38:59.199 --> 00:39:01.400
should wait out the fire and the storm in one60300:39:01.400 --> 00:39:04.000
of the staff buildings. They're far enough away not to60400:39:04.039 --> 00:39:08.280
catch fire. We should be warm. There sounds like a plan,60500:39:08.440 --> 00:39:18.239
Georgina said. Kat looked at her two friends. Merry Christmas, guys, baumbug,60600:39:18.679 --> 00:39:23.239
Georgina laughed. The three girls trudged through the snow. Cat60700:39:23.280 --> 00:39:26.159
turned to take a last look at the burning building60800:39:27.000 --> 00:39:45.639
before continuing on Christmas Range by rob Fields December twenty third, evening.60900:39:46.760 --> 00:39:49.960
Strickfield Town Center Mall only seemed to be a hopping61000:39:50.000 --> 00:39:53.760
place around the holidays. The vacancies left during the usual61100:39:53.840 --> 00:39:56.119
ten months out of the year were mostly filled by61200:39:56.239 --> 00:39:59.480
seasonal stores. There was even a Santa Claus house in61300:39:59.519 --> 00:40:03.320
the mall's enter court. Families would line up with their children,61400:40:03.719 --> 00:40:06.760
many of whom had Christmas lists to give to Santa.61500:40:07.559 --> 00:40:12.480
But on this day things were about to take macabre turn.61600:40:14.119 --> 00:40:17.239
Santa Claus had just taken his seat on his throne.61700:40:17.280 --> 00:40:20.320
Templeton Mirn, the owner of the mall, and his family61800:40:20.320 --> 00:40:23.119
were right there in front of him. Santa just sat61900:40:23.159 --> 00:40:27.079
there and looked right at them. Templeton appeared to be patient.62000:40:27.679 --> 00:40:31.159
When Santa's silence got to be too much, Templeton leaned62100:40:31.159 --> 00:40:35.519
in and whispered loudly, if you don't get your act together, Stanley,62200:40:35.760 --> 00:40:39.000
you'll be enjoying this Christmas on your fucking welfare check.62300:40:40.119 --> 00:40:43.320
Stanley Monroe was always tapped to play Santa Claus from62400:40:43.679 --> 00:40:47.239
Black Friday until Christmas Eve at the Strickfield Town Center mall.62500:40:47.800 --> 00:40:50.639
But as Santa slowly stood up and glared at Templeton,62600:40:50.679 --> 00:40:55.679
Mirran and his family, he seemed to have a foreboding presence.62700:40:56.519 --> 00:41:00.280
Then Santa opened the door to his house and reived62800:41:00.320 --> 00:41:05.079
several screams when the slain, bloody body of Stanley Monroe62900:41:05.239 --> 00:41:08.920
just fell out onto the porch. The family scattered in63000:41:08.920 --> 00:41:12.000
different directions. Santa took his time as he reached inside63100:41:12.000 --> 00:41:14.960
the house and pulled out the same bloody axe that63200:41:15.000 --> 00:41:18.440
he had used on Stanley earlier. Then he marched toward63300:41:18.440 --> 00:41:23.159
Templeton Mirran, raising his lethal weapon. Templeton Mirron turned and63400:41:23.280 --> 00:41:25.760
yanked a nearby father right in front of the Santa.63500:41:25.920 --> 00:41:28.800
The father never uttered a peep as Santa buried the63600:41:28.800 --> 00:41:32.079
blade right in his head. The other bystanders were too63700:41:32.159 --> 00:41:35.280
frightened to see what Templeton Mirron had done. They never63800:41:35.360 --> 00:41:38.360
saw him or his wicked wife grab their children and63900:41:38.519 --> 00:41:41.679
leave from there. Santa pulled the axe out of the64000:41:41.719 --> 00:41:45.199
father's head and buried it into another bystander as it64100:41:45.280 --> 00:41:49.199
came upon a midnight clear slowly began to play over64200:41:49.239 --> 00:41:59.159
the mall speeders. Christmas Eve morning, I awaken in a64300:41:59.159 --> 00:42:02.840
different room and remember that I'm here at Franklin Sloan's house.64400:42:03.519 --> 00:42:06.159
Franklin invited me to come home with him for Christmas.64500:42:06.760 --> 00:42:09.519
Franklin and I have been seeing each other since late August.64600:42:10.119 --> 00:42:14.800
In fact, he's been my only companion this semester. After64700:42:14.840 --> 00:42:18.119
I take a shower and get dressed, I hear arguing downstairs.64800:42:18.639 --> 00:42:20.719
I make my way down and stop short when I64900:42:20.719 --> 00:42:25.480
hear that I'm the topic of discussion. Actually, it's more65000:42:25.519 --> 00:42:28.199
like Franklin's parents are giving him a hard time about me.65100:42:29.000 --> 00:42:32.320
The more I listen, the more I hear his father,65200:42:33.079 --> 00:42:38.440
Joseph and his stepmother Delphine just discouraging him. His dad65300:42:38.480 --> 00:42:42.119
tells him there's no way that a big titted putana65400:42:42.480 --> 00:42:45.679
like me would ever care for him. They tell him65500:42:45.679 --> 00:42:48.559
that I'm just using him for my own selfish ends.65600:42:49.480 --> 00:42:52.760
Franklin argues back and tells them that I'm nothing like that.65700:42:53.400 --> 00:42:55.519
He tells them We've been seeing each other since the65800:42:55.519 --> 00:42:58.119
beginning of the fall semester. He asks them what I65900:42:58.119 --> 00:43:03.199
could possibly be using him for. Here's the irony. I66000:43:03.400 --> 00:43:07.440
am using Franklin, but not for the reasons his parents66100:43:07.480 --> 00:43:10.840
are implying. They think I'm with him for money or66200:43:10.840 --> 00:43:14.000
that I'm waiting to humiliate him. I'm fully aware that66300:43:14.039 --> 00:43:16.840
people look at Franklin and decide that he's the biggest66400:43:16.840 --> 00:43:20.199
nerd there is. Do you have any idea how many66500:43:20.239 --> 00:43:23.320
times I've heard people whisper that to each other when66600:43:23.320 --> 00:43:26.639
they think I'm not listening. I even hear those same66700:43:26.760 --> 00:43:30.360
people wondering how someone like me would even be with Franklin.66800:43:31.559 --> 00:43:35.159
Delphine tells Franklin that I'm way too beautiful for him.66900:43:35.679 --> 00:43:38.400
She even tells Franklin that I would never have sex67000:43:38.440 --> 00:43:42.639
with him, that people like me belong with fraternity boys. Yes,67100:43:43.079 --> 00:43:45.599
I certainly could have had my pick of a fraternity67200:43:45.599 --> 00:43:49.000
boy or even a jock. The problem with those types67300:43:49.039 --> 00:43:50.960
of guys is that they would only want to have67400:43:51.039 --> 00:43:54.400
sex with me just for a short time. They would67500:43:54.440 --> 00:43:58.719
not want to commit to me. No, I need much67600:43:58.840 --> 00:44:03.039
more than they are willing to give. For those of67700:44:03.079 --> 00:44:05.800
you who haven't been following me, since the beginning, from67800:44:05.840 --> 00:44:09.000
the time I came into the world, I have never67900:44:09.360 --> 00:44:13.239
felt so much as a single emotion. Perhaps my being68000:44:13.239 --> 00:44:18.000
emotionless is why I'm a serial killer. Your society has68100:44:18.079 --> 00:44:20.880
labeled me the angel of death because I destroy those68200:44:20.880 --> 00:44:24.079
who pray on innocent people. I suppose the closest thing68300:44:24.119 --> 00:44:28.239
to emotion that I feel is my ever insistent bloodlust,68400:44:28.360 --> 00:44:32.199
which pushes me onward to claim my victims. In fact,68500:44:32.719 --> 00:44:37.559
I'm feeling the urgent need to kill right now. I68600:44:37.639 --> 00:44:39.920
make my way to the dining room. The family doesn't68700:44:39.960 --> 00:44:42.559
hear me come in until I'm right there. Right when68800:44:42.599 --> 00:44:46.159
Franklin yells at Delphine, that's your problem. You always think68900:44:46.199 --> 00:44:48.719
everybody's out to get me. Well, rage isn't like that69000:44:48.840 --> 00:44:53.760
at all. Franklin becomes quiet when he realizes I'm here.69100:44:54.360 --> 00:44:57.440
The family is just looking at me. Now, perhaps I69200:44:57.440 --> 00:45:01.719
should just go, I say I'm not wanted or welcome here.69300:45:02.239 --> 00:45:04.519
I'll just get my things and go back to my dorm.69400:45:05.320 --> 00:45:10.320
Delphine looks sternly at me. You heard everything I nod69500:45:10.400 --> 00:45:15.119
once I did, and you're wrong about me. I fold69600:45:15.159 --> 00:45:18.760
my arms in front of me. Please enlighten me. What69700:45:18.920 --> 00:45:23.840
do I hope to gain by using Franklin? Delphine takes69800:45:23.880 --> 00:45:28.559
a deep breath. Do you see yourself, Reagan? Do you69900:45:28.639 --> 00:45:32.599
see Franklin? Do you see how completely mismatched the two70000:45:32.599 --> 00:45:35.559
of you are? You can have any man you want.70100:45:36.199 --> 00:45:40.400
Why would you settle for Franklin? While I myself don't70200:45:40.440 --> 00:45:44.039
have emotions, I have come to understand a great deal70300:45:44.039 --> 00:45:48.239
about how emotions can move people, both positively and negatively.70400:45:48.599 --> 00:45:51.599
Watching enough television and being around MoMA long enough will70500:45:51.599 --> 00:45:54.440
do that for someone like me. So let me get70600:45:54.440 --> 00:45:58.079
this straight. Just because I'm a beautiful girl and Franklin's70700:45:58.079 --> 00:46:00.480
a nerd, I would not want to be with someone70800:46:00.639 --> 00:46:05.599
like him. Then why would I date Franklin? Why would70900:46:05.639 --> 00:46:09.079
I agree to come home with him for Christmas? Delphine71000:46:09.079 --> 00:46:13.280
glares at me now, well, I don't know. Why don't71100:46:13.320 --> 00:46:17.559
you tell us I agreed to come here with Franklin71200:46:17.639 --> 00:46:21.159
because he asked me to. I reply, I wasn't going71300:46:21.159 --> 00:46:23.679
home for Christmas, and Franklin didn't want me to be alone.71400:46:24.239 --> 00:46:26.440
I'm thinking he invited me out of the kindness of71500:46:26.440 --> 00:46:29.639
his heart. That's why I choose to be with Franklin.71600:46:30.480 --> 00:46:33.039
He's kind to me. He's never once tried to take71700:46:33.039 --> 00:46:36.920
advantage of me. I enjoy his company. I unfold and71800:46:36.960 --> 00:46:39.920
lower my arms. I can't believe that you and your71900:46:40.000 --> 00:46:43.639
husband would cut Franklin down like this, especially you a72000:46:43.760 --> 00:46:48.039
church minister. Delphine took over being the minister of Strickfield72100:46:48.039 --> 00:46:52.960
Community Church after the scandal with Minister Darren Harlowe years ago. Yes,72200:46:53.039 --> 00:46:57.039
it's the usual type of scandal you read about with children.72300:46:57.360 --> 00:47:00.679
After Harlowe was removed, Delphine became the new minister. She72400:47:00.760 --> 00:47:03.000
had to work very hard to keep the church going,72500:47:03.440 --> 00:47:05.840
but she managed to do it. I was a freshman72600:47:05.880 --> 00:47:08.599
in high school when this happened. By the way, Delphine's72700:47:08.599 --> 00:47:11.679
been quite strict on Franklin ever since. According to what72800:47:11.679 --> 00:47:14.559
he's told me about her, and from what I've just witnessed.72900:47:15.480 --> 00:47:18.760
I put a comforting hand on Franklin's shoulder. Are you73000:47:18.800 --> 00:47:24.679
all right? Franklin shakes his head. Can we just leave rage? Yes,73100:47:25.079 --> 00:47:28.119
yes we can. I reply, go pack a few things73200:47:28.119 --> 00:47:31.159
and we can have Christmas at my dorm. Franklin leaves73300:47:31.159 --> 00:47:33.679
the dining room. His parents only glare at me before73400:47:33.719 --> 00:47:35.679
I turn and head back up to the guest room73500:47:36.000 --> 00:47:38.679
to pack my things. You're thinking that I want to73600:47:38.760 --> 00:47:43.519
kill them both, right, Nope, they're both innocent, so I73700:47:43.639 --> 00:47:48.719
can't kill them. Ah. Yes, now we're getting to what73800:47:48.760 --> 00:47:51.519
I want to tell you. I currently have an even73900:47:51.679 --> 00:47:57.360
greater need to satisfy, even more than I need to kill. Now,74000:47:57.679 --> 00:48:00.800
while I don't feel anything emotional, I do feel things74100:48:00.800 --> 00:48:06.320
that are physical. I know when I need to eat, drink, sleep,74200:48:06.800 --> 00:48:10.559
clean my body, seek comfort. I did say that I'm74300:48:10.599 --> 00:48:13.840
looking to use Franklin. As of late, I'm feeling the74400:48:13.920 --> 00:48:16.679
need to have sex. I was able to get by74500:48:16.840 --> 00:48:19.719
for many years without having to fulfill this basic need.74600:48:20.519 --> 00:48:24.159
Now my sex drive is becoming as insistent as my bloodlust.74700:48:25.039 --> 00:48:27.119
It's because of this that I've come to realize that74800:48:27.199 --> 00:48:31.360
I need a mate, a constant companion. I need someone74900:48:31.360 --> 00:48:33.559
who can be good company for me and satisfy my75000:48:33.639 --> 00:48:38.039
sexual desires when the need arises. In turn, I would75100:48:38.079 --> 00:48:41.360
be just as responsive to my mate. Would you call75200:48:41.400 --> 00:48:44.519
me a primal girl in spite of my highly developed brain?75300:48:45.360 --> 00:48:48.199
Perhaps you would be right. Franklin Sloane is one of75400:48:48.239 --> 00:48:50.960
the few young men at Strickfield University who's taken an75500:48:51.000 --> 00:48:53.639
interest in me. Over time, he's shown me that he75600:48:53.719 --> 00:48:57.480
is both a suitable companion and an intellectual peer. I75700:48:57.519 --> 00:48:59.800
really don't care that Franklin is a skinny nerd who75800:48:59.800 --> 00:49:03.159
talked about chess or contemporary movies. I don't even care75900:49:03.199 --> 00:49:05.039
that the rest of you in the female population are76000:49:05.079 --> 00:49:08.199
repulsed by him. Unlike you, I don't have it in76100:49:08.239 --> 00:49:10.800
me to be repulsed by him. On the other hand,76200:49:11.280 --> 00:49:13.360
I don't even have it in me to be able76300:49:13.360 --> 00:49:17.119
to love him regardless. Franklin has proven himself to be76400:49:17.159 --> 00:49:20.360
a suitable companion for me and my desires for him76500:49:20.440 --> 00:49:25.960
to be my mate. Franklin comes and gets me You ready, rage, Yes,76600:49:26.079 --> 00:49:29.000
we can go. We head downstairs to the front door.76700:49:29.360 --> 00:49:32.679
Before we leave, Franklin turns to his parents. I really76800:49:32.719 --> 00:49:34.800
thought we were going to have a normal family Christmas76900:49:34.840 --> 00:49:38.440
this time even with my bringing Rage. But I can77000:49:38.480 --> 00:49:42.199
see now that's never gonna happen. Come on, Rage, let's77100:49:42.239 --> 00:49:46.920
go once more. Franklin's parents exchange looks. Then I turn77200:49:47.039 --> 00:49:50.719
and leave with Franklin. Franklin is settled in my dorm room.77300:49:51.079 --> 00:49:53.199
I didn't have a room mate during the fall semester.77400:49:53.840 --> 00:49:56.039
The only reason I'm allowed to stay over the holiday77500:49:56.039 --> 00:49:59.280
break is because I'm attending classes here at Strickfield University77600:49:59.320 --> 00:50:03.599
next semester. Franklin looks pretty down. I'm sorry you had77700:50:03.599 --> 00:50:06.559
to see that back home, Rage, We're both sitting on77800:50:06.599 --> 00:50:10.039
our beds. I reach across and take his hands. May77900:50:10.079 --> 00:50:14.239
I say something? He raises his eyes to mine. Sure,78000:50:15.239 --> 00:50:18.760
I know you're probably having your doubts about me. Please don't.78100:50:19.400 --> 00:50:23.800
I really do want to be with you. But why Rage,78200:50:24.360 --> 00:50:27.800
Why are you still with me? Delphine's right, you can78300:50:27.880 --> 00:50:31.360
have any man you want. I could ramble to Franklin78400:50:31.400 --> 00:50:34.800
about why I want him, but I've learned that actions78500:50:34.840 --> 00:50:38.679
can speak a lot for a person. Still holding his hands,78600:50:38.960 --> 00:50:43.280
I move across to Franklin's bed, then we kiss. The78700:50:43.280 --> 00:50:45.960
more we get into our kiss, the more I'm feeling78800:50:45.960 --> 00:50:50.119
that I can't hold back anymore. I need him so desperately.78900:50:50.920 --> 00:50:54.280
I let go of his hands. Franklin is surprised when79000:50:54.280 --> 00:50:56.960
he sees me stand up and take off my clothes.79100:50:57.679 --> 00:50:59.840
Once I'm naked, I pull back the covers on my79200:51:00.239 --> 00:51:03.880
and lay down to face him. It's just you and me, Franklin.79300:51:04.440 --> 00:51:07.079
The dorm is all ours. I want to take this79400:51:07.159 --> 00:51:10.559
next step with you. If you do too, then come79500:51:10.760 --> 00:51:14.119
be with me. I only want and desire you, Franklin.79600:51:14.679 --> 00:51:17.480
Franklin trusts me enough to where he knows I'm sincere.79700:51:18.119 --> 00:51:20.480
He removes his clothes and climbs into bed with me.79800:51:22.360 --> 00:51:26.559
I like it, Spooky weekly. Spooky will be right back.79900:51:38.079 --> 00:51:42.760
Christmas Eve, late afternoon. The Strickfield Community Center was always80000:51:42.800 --> 00:51:45.199
a place where parents could bring their children on Christmas80100:51:45.280 --> 00:51:49.440
Eve for things such as Christmas stories, Christmas cakes and cookies,80200:51:49.679 --> 00:51:53.280
hot chocolate, and visiting with Santa. It had been just80300:51:53.320 --> 00:51:55.280
as much of a tradition as the fact that each80400:51:55.320 --> 00:51:57.800
in every household in Strickfield would be decorated to make80500:51:57.840 --> 00:52:01.559
the village look like a winter wonderland, with the exception80600:52:02.119 --> 00:52:05.760
of the Waldoff property that belonged to the Mirons. In fact,80700:52:06.320 --> 00:52:09.880
Delphine Brewster Sloane helped run the establishment along with a80800:52:09.920 --> 00:52:13.519
few other mothers. Delphine was making more mugs of hot80900:52:13.599 --> 00:52:16.840
chocolate when Missus Patterson walked into the kitchen. She gave81000:52:16.880 --> 00:52:21.880
Delphine a look of desperation. Mary, what's wrong. Hasn't our81100:52:21.920 --> 00:52:27.159
Santa arrived yet? Delphine asked. Mary Patterson reached out, stopped81200:52:27.199 --> 00:52:30.400
motionless for a moment, then fell flat on her face81300:52:30.440 --> 00:52:33.079
to reveal the axe that was sticking out of her back.81400:52:33.719 --> 00:52:37.000
Delphine screamed, then she looked up and screamed even louder81500:52:37.000 --> 00:52:39.679
as the bloodstained Santa Claus stormed in and retrieved the81600:52:39.719 --> 00:52:43.079
axe from Mary Patterson's back. Santa looked right at Delphine81700:52:43.199 --> 00:52:47.320
and watched her scream when he drew back the axe. Somehow,81800:52:47.320 --> 00:52:49.800
she forced herself to duck. When the axe blade became81900:52:49.840 --> 00:52:53.400
embedded in a cupboard, Delphine shoved Santa down and ran out.82000:52:53.880 --> 00:52:57.000
Delphine tried to yell for everyone to leave quickly. The82100:52:57.039 --> 00:52:59.639
shrilling scream of the Santa Claus from Hell overshadowed the82200:52:59.639 --> 00:53:03.519
soft Christmas music. Then more screams overshadowed Santa's as he82300:53:03.599 --> 00:53:06.599
chased after people while swinging the axe, sinking it into82400:53:06.639 --> 00:53:09.599
a few more parents. Delphine grabbed a folding chair and82500:53:09.639 --> 00:53:11.920
moved at Santa to try and keep him from killing82600:53:11.960 --> 00:53:15.920
any more parents or even children. Santa howled with rage82700:53:15.920 --> 00:53:18.880
and disarmed Delphine with a few hard swings of the axe.82800:53:19.079 --> 00:53:21.639
Santa shoved her down and raised the axe for the kill.82900:53:22.079 --> 00:53:24.800
Delphine held her hands up and screamed as her life83000:53:24.960 --> 00:53:34.119
flashed right before her eyes. Christmas Eve evening, I awaken83100:53:34.239 --> 00:53:36.519
and know that Franklin and I are spooned up together.83200:53:37.079 --> 00:53:40.639
We spent much of the afternoon having sex. Franklin has83300:53:40.639 --> 00:53:43.480
definitely proven to be my chosen mate, as he satisfied83400:53:43.519 --> 00:53:47.639
my every desire. I in turn focused to satisfy his.83500:53:48.440 --> 00:53:52.280
Then we fell asleep together. My need for sex is83600:53:52.360 --> 00:53:57.599
satisfied for the time being. However, my need to kill83700:53:58.559 --> 00:54:02.719
is as urgent as ever. I managed to slip out83800:54:02.760 --> 00:54:06.079
of bed. Franklin is still fast asleep. I need to83900:54:06.119 --> 00:54:10.039
go out and prowl for a kill. Since it's Christmas Eve,84000:54:10.159 --> 00:54:12.960
I don't really think I'm going to find anyone. I84100:54:13.079 --> 00:54:15.079
may end up having to wait until the day after84200:54:15.159 --> 00:54:20.280
Christmas to look for somebody. My bloodlust is demanding satisfaction.84300:54:21.000 --> 00:54:23.559
But I'm not going to take an innocent to do it.84400:54:24.679 --> 00:54:27.360
I get dressed and grab my smartphone. I leave the84500:54:27.400 --> 00:54:31.159
dorm and begin my walk around Strickfield. If Franklin texts me,84600:54:31.280 --> 00:54:33.679
I'll just tell him that I'm picking up food for84700:54:33.760 --> 00:54:37.440
us from either Andy's China Garden or Denoyer's Grill downtown,84800:54:37.840 --> 00:54:41.599
which are always open. If I had emotions, I'm sure84900:54:41.599 --> 00:54:43.920
it would simply amaze me at how this village goes85000:54:43.960 --> 00:54:48.119
all out for many of the holidays, including Christmas. Every85100:54:48.199 --> 00:54:51.559
house is decorated and lit brightly. Some of the yards85200:54:51.599 --> 00:54:55.159
even have animatronics. In spite of all this, I still85300:54:55.159 --> 00:55:00.360
continue to feel my constant numbness. It isn't long before85400:55:00.360 --> 00:55:02.719
I hear the sounds of police cars in the distance.85500:55:03.519 --> 00:55:06.559
I decide to go and see what's going on. I85600:55:06.599 --> 00:55:08.920
know I'm only a police intern, which is why I'm85700:55:08.960 --> 00:55:12.519
not being called Strickfield PD only calls me when it85800:55:12.559 --> 00:55:15.960
comes to detective work. If there are that many police cars,85900:55:16.239 --> 00:55:19.519
it's probably something more dire that doesn't require detective work.86000:55:20.480 --> 00:55:23.159
Just the same, I'm going to go and see for myself.86100:55:23.920 --> 00:55:26.800
When I get to the scene, the Strickfield Community Center.86200:55:27.079 --> 00:55:29.840
Mayor Patrick Gunter recognizes me and waves for me to86300:55:29.880 --> 00:55:32.800
come over. I know you've been helping the police, but86400:55:33.280 --> 00:55:36.599
this doesn't require you tonight. Can you at least tell86500:55:36.599 --> 00:55:40.039
me what's going on? I ask? Mayor Gunter tells me86600:55:40.079 --> 00:55:43.000
that there's an escaped lunatic from glen View Asylum inside86700:55:43.039 --> 00:55:45.880
the building, wearing a Santa Claus suit and killing people86800:55:45.960 --> 00:55:49.320
left and right. He mentions how this Santa left bodies86900:55:49.360 --> 00:55:52.559
all over center Court at Strickfield Town Center Mall last night.87000:55:53.079 --> 00:55:56.559
As Mayor Gunter keeps talking, my bloodlust is going crazy,87100:55:56.880 --> 00:56:01.440
commanding me to claim this Santa. Just what Mayor Gunter87200:56:01.519 --> 00:56:03.400
tells me alone is enough to wear. I don't have87300:56:03.519 --> 00:56:06.679
to do my usual research. But the question now is87400:56:07.039 --> 00:56:09.440
how do I get inside the community center without the87500:56:09.480 --> 00:56:13.760
police seeing me? Then I immediately have a plan and87600:56:13.880 --> 00:56:18.000
proceed with its execution. I say good bye to Mayor87700:56:18.039 --> 00:56:22.960
Gunter and wish him a good holiday. I know the87800:56:23.039 --> 00:56:26.039
village of Strickfield very well, thanks to all the maps87900:56:26.079 --> 00:56:29.079
on hand at the police station, including the one for88000:56:29.159 --> 00:56:32.880
the sewer system. Because of my highly photographic memory, I88100:56:32.880 --> 00:56:35.800
immediately remembered the way into the community center through the88200:56:35.840 --> 00:56:38.880
sewer tunnels. I open a manhole covered down in the88300:56:38.960 --> 00:56:41.800
crawl space where the shower pipes are located, and come88400:56:41.840 --> 00:56:44.559
out that way. After putting the cover back on, I88500:56:44.639 --> 00:56:48.800
begin my hunt for this Santa. My blood lust is88600:56:48.920 --> 00:56:52.320
nagging at me now. It doesn't take me long to88700:56:52.360 --> 00:56:55.840
locate Santa. He's got a few women trapped in the kitchen,88800:56:56.159 --> 00:57:00.000
and then I immediately recognize Franklin's stepmother as one of them.88900:57:00.519 --> 00:57:03.119
When we started seeing each other, Franklin told me that89000:57:03.199 --> 00:57:06.159
Delphine volunteers her time here when she's not being the89100:57:06.239 --> 00:57:10.440
minister for Strickfield Community Church. It looks as though Delphine89200:57:10.440 --> 00:57:14.039
got beat up, but she's still alive. I know that89300:57:14.079 --> 00:57:16.880
Franklin would be devastated if anything were to happen to89400:57:16.920 --> 00:57:19.920
his parents. The two of them put Franklin down, and89500:57:20.000 --> 00:57:23.519
yet he still thinks the world of them. I literally89600:57:23.519 --> 00:57:26.960
don't understand it. Just the same I know I've got89700:57:27.000 --> 00:57:30.760
to do something to save these people. Santa never says89800:57:30.800 --> 00:57:33.039
a word. He just glares at the eight women he's89900:57:33.039 --> 00:57:36.280
holding hostage. He even raises his axe and brings it90000:57:36.320 --> 00:57:39.159
down in front of them, making them shriek or scream.90100:57:39.559 --> 00:57:42.400
Even I understand how cowardly it is for an empowered90200:57:42.400 --> 00:57:46.360
male to attack a helpless female. I tighten my fists90300:57:46.400 --> 00:57:49.199
as my bloodlust now screams for me to take his90400:57:49.639 --> 00:57:54.039
fucking life. I must use my head. I can't just90500:57:54.119 --> 00:57:56.679
go in there and fight him. It would be different90600:57:56.719 --> 00:57:59.880
if Santa wasn't toying with those women. Then I moved90700:58:00.039 --> 00:58:02.960
ealthily into the kitchen. He doesn't see me as I90800:58:03.039 --> 00:58:06.480
carefully slide open a drawer and pull out a kitchen knife.90900:58:07.360 --> 00:58:10.000
All I have to do is just draw it back.91000:58:10.599 --> 00:58:13.280
Then I'll fling it right into his back. As I91100:58:13.400 --> 00:58:16.280
raise the knife for the kill, I get a text91200:58:16.360 --> 00:58:19.719
chime on my smartphone and no, it's from Franklin. That91300:58:19.880 --> 00:58:22.679
throws off my plan. As Santa turns and sees me91400:58:22.719 --> 00:58:25.880
with my knife raised, he screams and rushes right at me.91500:58:26.159 --> 00:58:30.119
Delphine is surprised to see me now, Reagan, No, she91600:58:30.239 --> 00:58:33.519
cries out. When Santa reaches me, he swings the axe wildly.91700:58:33.639 --> 00:58:35.360
I quickly hit the floor and feel the rush of91800:58:35.400 --> 00:58:37.199
the blade go right over the back of my head.91900:58:37.480 --> 00:58:39.800
As I quickly turn onto my back, Santa raises his92000:58:39.840 --> 00:58:42.639
axe and brings it down. I turn over again and92100:58:42.679 --> 00:58:44.599
hear it hit the floor. I get to my feet92200:58:44.639 --> 00:58:46.280
and kick Santa in the back of the knee to92300:58:46.280 --> 00:58:49.000
take his leg out from underneath him. Santa growls and92400:58:49.039 --> 00:58:51.159
falls to the floor. I still have the knife in92500:58:51.159 --> 00:58:53.400
my hand. Before I can raise it to stab him,92600:58:53.719 --> 00:58:56.599
Delphine surprises both of us by crying out and ripping92700:58:56.639 --> 00:59:00.119
the axe away from Santa. Reagan, get out of here now,92800:59:00.920 --> 00:59:04.440
Delphine cries. Santa quickly gets back to his feet, then92900:59:04.440 --> 00:59:07.000
he reaches out and grabs the axe. Having a struggle93000:59:07.000 --> 00:59:09.559
with Delphine. I don't see the other women that were93100:59:09.559 --> 00:59:11.960
with Delphine and determine that she must have gotten them93200:59:11.960 --> 00:59:15.400
out while I was distracting Santa. I'm definitely ready to93300:59:15.400 --> 00:59:18.039
stab Santa now, but I know that I can't let93400:59:18.119 --> 00:59:21.920
Delphine wait a minute. She won't know that I'm a93500:59:21.960 --> 00:59:25.199
serial killer. Killing Santa would just be a matter of93600:59:25.880 --> 00:59:31.280
helping Delphine of self defense. Neither Delphine nor Santa can93700:59:31.320 --> 00:59:33.679
see what must be the evil glow in my eyes93800:59:33.880 --> 00:59:36.639
that all of my past victims have seen. All I93900:59:36.719 --> 00:59:40.079
have to do is move up behind Santa. Delphine will94000:59:40.079 --> 00:59:42.440
be splattered with his blood once I slice his throat,94100:59:42.760 --> 00:59:45.440
but common sense gets the better of me. I can't94200:59:45.480 --> 00:59:48.800
let Delphine see just how violent I can truly become.94300:59:49.480 --> 00:59:53.440
She might tell Franklin and I would possibly lose my mate.94400:59:53.480 --> 00:59:55.840
I have another idea.94500:59:56.039 --> 01:00:01.400
Are you afraid? Good, weakly spooky, We'll be right back.94601:00:03.760 --> 01:00:05.960
I quickly make my way around to where Santa can94701:00:06.000 --> 01:00:09.960
easily see me. Hey, Santa's eyes are on me as94801:00:09.960 --> 01:00:12.360
I pull my Christmas sweater up and show him my94901:00:12.480 --> 01:00:17.599
large breasts pikaboobies. His eyes are locked right on my breast,95001:00:17.719 --> 01:00:20.639
which gives Delphine the advantage. She yanks the axe out95101:00:20.639 --> 01:00:23.159
of Santa's hands and swings it to catch him right95201:00:23.199 --> 01:00:26.280
in the gut. He groans and stands for a long moment.95301:00:27.039 --> 01:00:29.760
I pull my sweater down as Delphine removes the axe95401:00:29.800 --> 01:00:34.199
and nails him one more time before he finally goes down.95501:00:34.280 --> 01:00:36.639
I quickly pull out my smartphone and call the police.95601:00:36.960 --> 01:00:39.000
I get Mayor Gunter and tell him that everything's all95701:00:39.079 --> 01:00:43.440
right and that Santa is slaid. My bloodlust is screaming95801:00:43.480 --> 01:00:46.880
at me for a fresh victim, but I had to95901:00:46.960 --> 01:00:51.239
give my kill de Delphine to keep my secret. Delphine96001:00:51.239 --> 01:00:53.639
and I are alone now. After I finished talking to96101:00:53.679 --> 01:00:56.679
Mayor Gunter. She turns to me and gives me a96201:00:56.679 --> 01:01:03.039
stern look. Really, Reagan, showing him your dirty pillows. I96301:01:03.119 --> 01:01:07.239
look sternly at her in return, You are still alive96401:01:07.320 --> 01:01:12.119
because of my dirty pillows. Never forget that, Delphine and96501:01:12.159 --> 01:01:15.840
I keep glaring at one another. Finally, Delphine softens her96601:01:15.880 --> 01:01:20.119
expression and sighs. She looks around and moves to make96701:01:20.159 --> 01:01:23.440
sure that we're truly alone. I can't imagine why she96801:01:23.480 --> 01:01:27.199
would need to do that. She returns to me, Yes,96901:01:28.440 --> 01:01:32.000
you did save many lives today, Reagan. Then she leans97001:01:32.000 --> 01:01:37.079
in and says quietly, I know who and what you are.97101:01:38.159 --> 01:01:41.920
Don't try to hide it from me. You are the97201:01:41.960 --> 01:01:45.960
angel of death. Then she backs away to get my reaction.97301:01:47.400 --> 01:01:52.400
I just look at Delphine. I think you're mistaken. Delphine97401:01:52.400 --> 01:01:57.840
shakes her head slowly. I'm not. You don't know, Reagan,97501:01:58.360 --> 01:02:01.800
but many years ago, you've saved many lives that night,97601:02:02.559 --> 01:02:06.519
including mine. Just then, Mayor Gunter comes in with some97701:02:06.599 --> 01:02:11.719
police officers. He points right at me. Reagan Devereaux over here. Now.97801:02:12.559 --> 01:02:17.039
Delphine mouths to me, we'll talk later. I nod to97901:02:17.039 --> 01:02:19.880
her and address Mayor Gunter, who gives me hell for98001:02:19.960 --> 01:02:22.239
not keeping my distance on account of my being a98101:02:22.280 --> 01:02:26.079
college intern. At the same time, he congratulates me on98201:02:26.159 --> 01:02:29.159
being the hero. Of course, I make sure that Delphine98301:02:29.159 --> 01:02:31.440
has given her fair share of the credit, since I98401:02:31.480 --> 01:02:42.199
didn't stop that Santa from Hell alone. Christmas afternoon, I98501:02:42.239 --> 01:02:44.840
look into the eyes of Templeton Mirn. After I remove98601:02:44.880 --> 01:02:49.039
his blindfold, then I remove his wife's. I have both98701:02:49.039 --> 01:02:52.480
of them secured to tables in their basement. Then I98801:02:52.559 --> 01:02:57.639
remove their gags. What the fuck is this? Destiny Miren demands.98901:02:58.239 --> 01:03:00.440
I move to the front where they can see me.99001:03:01.119 --> 01:03:03.000
I have her remote control in my hand, and I99101:03:03.039 --> 01:03:06.280
turn on their television. I have a little video here99201:03:06.400 --> 01:03:08.360
that I'd very much liked the two of you to see.99301:03:08.880 --> 01:03:12.039
I tell them I play what is the security camera99401:03:12.079 --> 01:03:14.800
footage that was taken from the Strickfield Town Center mall?99501:03:15.320 --> 01:03:18.679
Could I have gotten any more lucky? Chief Kashmerek was99601:03:18.719 --> 01:03:21.159
a little strapped at the station, so he asked me99701:03:21.159 --> 01:03:23.480
if i'd stick around and go through the security footage99801:03:23.519 --> 01:03:26.880
from the mall. After texting Franklin and letting him know99901:03:26.920 --> 01:03:29.239
where I was, I went to the station and looked100001:03:29.239 --> 01:03:32.119
over the footage. Then I saw the angle to where100101:03:32.159 --> 01:03:36.079
Templeton Miron had grabbed an innocent man and pulled him100201:03:36.159 --> 01:03:39.039
right into the path of the killer Santa, just so100301:03:39.119 --> 01:03:42.159
he could preserve his own life. His wife had seen100401:03:42.199 --> 01:03:45.320
what her husband had done and wasn't concerned in the least.100501:03:45.960 --> 01:03:48.079
She only moved to get Templeton and the kids out100601:03:48.079 --> 01:03:51.880
of the mall quickly. Neither Destiny nor Templeton looked back.100701:03:52.760 --> 01:03:55.159
After finishing the footage, I stopped the video and look100801:03:55.199 --> 01:04:00.480
at them any questions, So what, Destiny groans, looking as100901:04:00.480 --> 01:04:03.960
annoyed as she sounded, all this over an insignificant man,101001:04:04.360 --> 01:04:07.880
Templeton ads, it looks to me as if your family101101:04:07.880 --> 01:04:10.239
could have easily gotten away, But you grabbed that man101201:04:10.280 --> 01:04:13.079
and pulled him right in front of the killer, guaranteeing101301:04:13.119 --> 01:04:16.719
his death. In effect, you killed him in cold blood.101401:04:17.440 --> 01:04:21.239
Your wife saw you and didn't care, in effect condoning101501:04:21.280 --> 01:04:25.199
what you did. So now I'm going to claim the101601:04:25.239 --> 01:04:28.480
both of you. Your children are with their grandparents. I've101701:04:28.519 --> 01:04:32.639
even disabled your cameras in your security system. It's just101801:04:32.960 --> 01:04:36.360
the three of us here. I even have pictures to101901:04:36.440 --> 01:04:40.400
display of shady bank records and illegal money laundering. I102001:04:40.440 --> 01:04:43.159
even found some darknet stuff that they were involved in102101:04:43.760 --> 01:04:47.119
too much to list here, but seeing the security video102201:04:47.239 --> 01:04:50.239
from his own mall was more than a red flag102301:04:50.320 --> 01:04:53.800
for me. Normally, I'd have killed them just based on that,102401:04:54.519 --> 01:04:57.519
but I wanted more to give to the police. After all,102501:04:57.559 --> 01:05:01.880
these two were from the infamous Mirror family. The two102601:05:01.880 --> 01:05:04.760
of them are quite emotionless. The only difference between these102701:05:04.800 --> 01:05:08.280
mirrors and myself is that I was naturally born without emotions.102801:05:09.119 --> 01:05:12.440
These two are of great money and privilege, so much102901:05:12.480 --> 01:05:18.159
that they just stopped caring. I'm wearing a plastic poncho103001:05:18.199 --> 01:05:21.400
and have an axe cradled in my hands. Oh wait,103101:05:22.079 --> 01:05:25.639
it looks as if they do know fear. They see103201:05:25.719 --> 01:05:29.800
my evil glare and beg for their lives. Oh but103301:05:29.920 --> 01:05:34.519
it's far too late for that. Templeton and Destiny, Miron.103401:05:35.440 --> 01:05:39.880
Let the punishment fit the crime. Destiny screams as I103501:05:39.880 --> 01:05:44.320
bring the axe right down on her face. And I103601:05:44.360 --> 01:05:48.880
feel so much better now that my bloodlust is finally103701:05:48.960 --> 01:05:57.639
being satiated. Christmas evening, Delphine called Franklin and made things103801:05:57.719 --> 01:05:59.920
right with him. She even told him to bring me103901:06:00.119 --> 01:06:02.960
back to the house for Christmas dinner. I agreed when104001:06:03.000 --> 01:06:06.480
he asked me, and all was well. Franklin's dad still104101:06:06.480 --> 01:06:10.679
gave me some distrustful looks, but that was it. Delphine104201:06:10.719 --> 01:06:12.480
asked me to help her in the kitchen so we104301:06:12.519 --> 01:06:16.920
could have our little talk. As it turned out, Delphine104401:06:16.960 --> 01:06:20.000
had indeed discovered my secret. When she said that I104501:06:20.039 --> 01:06:22.760
had saved the lives of her and many children that night,104601:06:23.400 --> 01:06:26.519
it was because she had discovered Minister Harlowe's terrible secret.104701:06:27.280 --> 01:06:29.280
She had tried to stop him on her own, using104801:06:29.280 --> 01:06:33.239
the legal system, but his influence was too strong. She104901:06:33.360 --> 01:06:35.719
decided that she would bring him down alone, even if105001:06:35.760 --> 01:06:40.039
it meant breaking the commandment regarding killing. As it turned out,105101:06:40.239 --> 01:06:42.559
I had read the story about Harlow in our newspaper105201:06:42.559 --> 01:06:45.559
in North Ridgeway. I came to Strickfield to claim him.105301:06:45.599 --> 01:06:49.159
After I did my research, I broke into Harlow's house,105401:06:49.280 --> 01:06:51.920
not knowing that Delphine was already there ahead of me.105501:06:52.800 --> 01:06:55.480
I ended up finding five children that Harlow had locked105601:06:55.559 --> 01:06:58.920
up in his basement. I freed them and told them105701:06:59.000 --> 01:07:03.000
to keep quiet. Harlow wasn't expecting a high school freshman105801:07:03.039 --> 01:07:05.599
girl to come for him. After going up to the105901:07:05.639 --> 01:07:08.199
second floor and beating the living shit out of Harlow.106001:07:08.280 --> 01:07:11.800
I tied him up to his bed and castrated him.106101:07:12.039 --> 01:07:15.599
Even then, I remembered Mamma's words about making the punishment106201:07:15.639 --> 01:07:19.280
fit the crime. Delphine had been hiding in a closet,106301:07:19.840 --> 01:07:23.280
possibly waiting for the right moment to strike Harlow herself,106401:07:23.920 --> 01:07:28.440
and discovered that I was the angel of death. After106501:07:28.480 --> 01:07:31.079
cleaning myself up, I gave one of my burner phones106601:07:31.079 --> 01:07:33.960
to the kids and told them to call the police.106701:07:34.840 --> 01:07:37.239
Delphine told me that after I had left, she had106801:07:37.239 --> 01:07:40.440
explained everything to the police, leaving me out of it.106901:07:41.000 --> 01:07:43.800
Delphine gave me a big hug and thanked me for107001:07:43.880 --> 01:07:48.039
what I had done to day and back then. She107101:07:48.159 --> 01:07:51.039
promised me that she would keep my secret. The only107201:07:51.079 --> 01:07:53.360
thing she asked was for me not to hurt Franklin.107301:07:53.880 --> 01:07:58.320
I in turn promised her that I wouldn't. Delphine never107401:07:58.400 --> 01:08:01.440
so much as gave me or frank a hard time107501:08:01.840 --> 01:08:06.840
ever again. That night, Franklin and I go back to107601:08:06.880 --> 01:08:10.079
my dorm. After we have sex, Franklin and I talk.107701:08:10.840 --> 01:08:13.119
He tells me that he only wants to make me happy.107801:08:13.960 --> 01:08:18.760
I tell him that I am well in my own way.107901:08:19.439 --> 01:08:22.399
I'm more than content on having Franklin Sloane as my mate,108001:08:22.680 --> 01:08:25.880
and I tell him that I'm not leaving him. Franklin108101:08:25.920 --> 01:08:30.880
has a realization I have something for you rage. He108201:08:30.920 --> 01:08:33.039
gets out of bed and brings me a small gift108301:08:33.039 --> 01:08:36.960
wrapped box. I unwrap and open it to reveal his108401:08:37.039 --> 01:08:41.359
high school class ring. It's not much, Franklin tells me,108501:08:42.319 --> 01:08:45.359
but I know how I feel about you. Maybe Dad108601:08:45.359 --> 01:08:47.520
and Delphine are right about you being too good for me,108701:08:47.600 --> 01:08:53.960
but I need to know, Reagan Devereux, will you marry me?108801:08:55.760 --> 01:09:00.399
I will? I say, without hesitation. Franklin is speechless in108901:09:00.439 --> 01:09:03.520
his emotions, but he finally finds himself and puts his109001:09:03.600 --> 01:09:06.359
ring on my finger. I return the favor by giving109101:09:06.439 --> 01:09:09.479
him my high school ring on a necklace. I only109201:09:09.520 --> 01:09:11.920
wish that I could feel the love that Franklin feels109301:09:11.960 --> 01:09:15.760
for me. Regardless, I will be a good wife to109401:09:15.840 --> 01:09:18.159
him as he will be a good husband to me.109501:09:19.640 --> 01:09:23.840
So this turned out to be a very good Christmas109601:09:23.840 --> 01:09:45.159
for me. After all. Merry Christmas, everyone, don't be naughty.109701:09:46.520 --> 01:09:55.560
Welcome to Tiny Christmas Iowa by Michelle Adler. I let109801:09:55.560 --> 01:09:58.640
out a sigh as my uber passed the now entering109901:09:58.760 --> 01:10:02.840
tiny Christmas Iowa sign. According to the sign, it's the110001:10:02.880 --> 01:10:06.600
tiniest most Christmasiest place in all of Iowa. My Uber driver,110101:10:06.680 --> 01:10:10.359
a Jeet, chuckled, sensing my displeasure. I'm sure it's just110201:10:10.399 --> 01:10:13.439
as Christmasy as all fuck. I say, trying to come110301:10:13.439 --> 01:10:17.119
off as cheery and almost succeeding until that curse word110401:10:17.159 --> 01:10:21.520
at the end. I lied on my interview. I hate Christmas.110501:10:21.760 --> 01:10:24.079
I hate the Midwest. The only thing I know about110601:10:24.079 --> 01:10:27.239
Iowa is that it's a Slipknot album, and I've never110701:10:27.279 --> 01:10:31.000
designed a window display in my life. I Am just110801:10:31.039 --> 01:10:35.399
an unemployable, grumpy freelance graphic designer from New York City110901:10:35.439 --> 01:10:38.520
trying to find any work that isn't stocking shelves at111001:10:38.520 --> 01:10:42.439
a grocery store. To be honest, I didn't realize the111101:10:42.479 --> 01:10:45.800
position was out of state until after i'd applied. I111201:10:45.840 --> 01:10:48.199
had initially intended to turn the job down, as I'd111301:10:48.199 --> 01:10:50.920
never had any desire to live anywhere other than the111401:10:50.920 --> 01:10:56.760
city that never sleeps. The high rise condos, rats street vendors,111501:10:57.079 --> 01:11:01.279
homeless people on every street corner, bodega's also on every corner,111601:11:01.880 --> 01:11:05.560
and constant bustle are things I've lived for but at111701:11:05.560 --> 01:11:08.520
this point, maybe it's time to stop pretending I could111801:11:08.560 --> 01:11:12.079
make it in NYC anymore. It wasn't like I had111901:11:12.159 --> 01:11:15.439
a support system either, no family left and no friends112001:11:15.439 --> 01:11:17.760
to speak of. I hadn't even been on a day,112101:11:17.880 --> 01:11:21.880
and the last two years my social life revolved mostly112201:11:21.920 --> 01:11:25.319
around my interactions with my landlord, none of which were pleasant.112301:11:26.039 --> 01:11:27.960
I heard that she was so happy I was leaving.112401:11:28.039 --> 01:11:31.800
Apparently she even threw me a goodbye party after I left.112501:11:32.840 --> 01:11:35.640
I lived for my work, but things have been so112601:11:35.800 --> 01:11:38.720
hard lately. Maybe it was time for me to give up.112701:11:39.640 --> 01:11:42.760
Maybe it was time for me to start over. Ma'am.112801:11:42.960 --> 01:11:45.880
That's all good and fine, but we're here, ajit said,112901:11:45.920 --> 01:11:50.399
while simultaneously unlocking the doors. I hadn't realized we'd even stopped,113001:11:51.479 --> 01:11:54.399
or that I was talking out loud. I guess it113101:11:54.479 --> 01:11:56.760
had been a while since I'd been around other people.113201:11:57.720 --> 01:11:59.760
I started to open the door before even looking at113301:11:59.760 --> 01:12:02.920
where I was. When I did, I pulled it back shut.113401:12:03.479 --> 01:12:06.239
This can't be right, I mumbled, fumbling for my phone113501:12:06.239 --> 01:12:08.560
to pull up the address I'd been given. I was113601:12:08.600 --> 01:12:10.399
sure I was supposed to be in front of a house,113701:12:10.760 --> 01:12:15.279
my new house or I don't know. Anything but. Instead,113801:12:15.319 --> 01:12:17.680
we sat in a desolate parking lot on the outskirts113901:12:17.720 --> 01:12:21.319
of what was hopefully the correct town, at least, though114001:12:21.319 --> 01:12:24.800
it looked anything but Christmasy. In front of me bloomed114101:12:24.840 --> 01:12:28.399
an industrial complex with a small collection of seemingly long114201:12:28.399 --> 01:12:32.159
abandoned warehouses and factories. I felt a jolt of fear114301:12:32.279 --> 01:12:37.279
pined through my body. It was quiet here, too quiet,114401:12:38.199 --> 01:12:41.119
quiet enough for me to be raped and murdered without114501:12:41.159 --> 01:12:44.439
anyone noticing. This is as far as I can take you,114601:12:44.880 --> 01:12:47.159
I jumped as I realized a jeete was already grabbing114701:12:47.159 --> 01:12:52.239
my luggage from the trunk. What why so no murder? Then,114801:12:52.880 --> 01:12:55.359
it's a small town and a beautiful day. Why not114901:12:55.399 --> 01:12:57.840
take a nice stroll through town on your way. I115001:12:57.840 --> 01:13:01.840
think the farmer's market goes till three, he dodged. No,115101:13:02.119 --> 01:13:05.680
I don't want to walk in. It's thirty degrees, I said,115201:13:05.720 --> 01:13:08.840
while repositioning the luggage he'd removed back into the uber.115301:13:09.279 --> 01:13:11.760
I just want you to finish driving me. What's the115401:13:11.760 --> 01:13:16.399
big deal, it's your job, for Christ's sake. A jeep paused. Listen,115501:13:17.079 --> 01:13:19.840
I don't go in there. Tiny Christmas is not a115601:13:19.880 --> 01:13:23.319
town for people like me. He pointed to his turban.115701:13:24.680 --> 01:13:28.479
They're racist. I don't know what you want to call it,115801:13:28.560 --> 01:13:30.560
but I just don't want to spend the afternoon stuck115901:13:30.600 --> 01:13:33.960
in there while they try to convert me again. Last time,116001:13:33.960 --> 01:13:35.560
I didn't even get to take a lunch break, and116101:13:35.600 --> 01:13:38.840
I'm really hungry today. So you're on your own, he said,116201:13:38.880 --> 01:13:42.039
as he finished re removing my luggage. Like I said,116301:13:42.319 --> 01:13:45.439
small town, very friendly. I'm sure you'll have no problem116401:13:45.479 --> 01:13:50.880
finding the place. Well, I personally respect the Islamic religion,116501:13:51.359 --> 01:13:53.159
I chased him as he walked back around to the116601:13:53.199 --> 01:13:55.880
driver's side door and pulled it open. I'll even buy116701:13:55.920 --> 01:13:59.720
you lunch. How's that? Nope, therapist said, I need to116801:13:59.720 --> 01:14:01.920
start defining my boundaries or people are going to walk116901:14:01.960 --> 01:14:03.960
all over me for the rest of my life. He117001:14:04.079 --> 01:14:06.840
slammed the door and pressed the lock down. Enjoy your117101:14:06.920 --> 01:14:09.800
stay in tiny Christmas. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful117201:14:09.840 --> 01:14:12.800
time with that. He and his niece on Altima pulled117301:14:12.800 --> 01:14:17.159
out of the lot. Wait, you can't be serious, and117401:14:17.199 --> 01:14:20.800
I'm a Sikh, you asshole, he called back as he117501:14:20.840 --> 01:14:25.199
sped away. I stood there, shivering in the cold, confused117601:14:25.199 --> 01:14:29.680
and becoming increasingly angry at my predicament. No, you're the asshole,117701:14:29.880 --> 01:14:32.600
I grumbled as I grabbed my luggage and resigned myself117801:14:32.640 --> 01:14:36.279
to walking into town. As I'd mentioned before, I was117901:14:36.279 --> 01:14:39.199
basically left to fend for myself in an abandoned wasteland.118001:14:39.680 --> 01:14:42.239
A beautiful young woman such as myself should not have118101:14:42.319 --> 01:14:45.920
to subject herself to such a dangerous situation. I pushed118201:14:45.960 --> 01:14:49.239
through the dystopian scenery with a confident stride, preparing myself118301:14:49.239 --> 01:14:53.319
for whatever unsavory situation lay ahead of me. However, when118401:14:53.359 --> 01:14:57.119
I finally rounded the last warehouse, I was not prepared118501:14:57.680 --> 01:15:01.279
for what I saw ahead of me. Across a set118601:15:01.319 --> 01:15:05.199
of train tracks lay the most adorable little downtown I'd118701:15:05.239 --> 01:15:08.159
ever laid my eyes on. As I walked onward, the118801:15:08.199 --> 01:15:11.439
air became filled with the scent of pine, cinnamon and118901:15:12.159 --> 01:15:16.319
roasted chestnuts. The streets were packed with happy looking townsfolk,119001:15:16.560 --> 01:15:18.439
each one going out of their way to say hello119101:15:18.520 --> 01:15:21.560
as I passed, and a jeet was right there was119201:15:21.600 --> 01:15:25.319
a farmer's market. As nice as this all was, I119301:15:25.399 --> 01:15:27.479
have to admit I was a little uncomfortable with the119401:15:27.560 --> 01:15:31.800
level of friendliness and Christmas I was experiencing. I felt119501:15:31.840 --> 01:15:33.840
a bit of guilt well up inside me for not119601:15:33.920 --> 01:15:37.560
immediately being drawn into the merriness. I managed to brush119701:15:37.600 --> 01:15:40.560
it off quickly, though I wasn't wrong. They were the119801:15:40.600 --> 01:15:44.479
ones that were wrong. As I slowly became increasingly annoyed119901:15:44.520 --> 01:15:48.000
at the pleasantries I happened upun a coffee shop. Welcome120001:15:48.000 --> 01:15:51.439
to Christmas Coffee. An overweight, elderly woman hollered in an120101:15:51.439 --> 01:15:54.960
alarmingly cheery tone as the door jingled closed behind me.120201:15:56.079 --> 01:15:57.960
Would you be able to point me in the direction120301:15:58.079 --> 01:16:01.279
of six one six Pine Street eight. I am an120401:16:01.359 --> 01:16:06.239
unemployed graphic designer with no chitchat skills. Oh, I know120501:16:06.319 --> 01:16:09.199
who you are. You're the new window display coordinator from120601:16:09.239 --> 01:16:14.640
the big city. Well, yes, and I'm running late. Oh sweetie,120701:16:15.000 --> 01:16:17.600
you look just about chilled to the bone. Did some120801:16:17.760 --> 01:16:20.319
ethnic cab driver refuse to take you the whole way?120901:16:20.800 --> 01:16:24.079
She asked? I wondered how common of a thing that was.121001:16:24.920 --> 01:16:27.680
Here you go. She poured a cup of coffee and121101:16:27.720 --> 01:16:31.159
slid it to me. Free coffee on the house. I'm Amanda,121201:16:31.159 --> 01:16:34.760
by the way, I took the coffee, avoiding her outstretched arm.121301:16:35.479 --> 01:16:38.319
That's really nice of you. I'll be sure to stop121401:16:38.359 --> 01:16:41.000
back when i'm settled. But I'm running late right now,121501:16:41.079 --> 01:16:46.199
so yeah, I was never coming back. Oh right, six121601:16:46.279 --> 01:16:49.039
one six pine? Was it? Make it left? Then it's121701:16:49.079 --> 01:16:51.199
two blocks down. You couldn't even miss it if you121801:16:51.239 --> 01:16:54.840
wanted to. I thanked her and sped out the door121901:16:54.880 --> 01:16:57.640
before she could continue to waste my time. I took122001:16:57.640 --> 01:16:59.359
a sip of the coffee as I walked out into122101:16:59.399 --> 01:17:02.039
the holiday pape and ammonium, and stopped dead as the122201:17:02.079 --> 01:17:07.800
warmth hit my tongue. This was the best cup of122301:17:07.840 --> 01:17:11.720
coffee I'd ever had in my entire life. It was122401:17:11.960 --> 01:17:15.920
rich and full bodied, with notes of cinnamon, all spice,122501:17:15.920 --> 01:17:19.439
and honey. It brought back a flood of childhood memories,122601:17:20.159 --> 01:17:22.840
drinking hot chocolate after school as my mother brushed the122701:17:22.880 --> 01:17:26.279
snow out of my hair, watching movies, huddled by the fire,122801:17:26.840 --> 01:17:30.319
my mother's warmth as she rocked me to sleep. God,122901:17:30.359 --> 01:17:34.239
I missed her. If only I thought I could have123001:17:34.319 --> 01:17:39.720
something like that again in a real, non coffee based sense. Wait,123101:17:40.399 --> 01:17:44.079
what was I thinking? I am a powerful, competent, unemployed123201:17:44.079 --> 01:17:48.279
graphic designer. I'd never wish for a family, I convinced myself.123301:17:48.640 --> 01:17:51.720
Brushing the tears from my eyes, I went to take123401:17:51.760 --> 01:17:55.399
another sip of coffee, but I was beginning to feel nauseous,123501:17:55.479 --> 01:17:59.920
so instead I dropped it in the next available garbage can.123601:18:00.199 --> 01:18:03.680
Was right. This place was hard to miss. Two blocks down,123701:18:03.760 --> 01:18:06.880
was almost a full mile away and basically in the woods.123801:18:07.640 --> 01:18:10.600
The quaint tutor with six one six scrolled across the123901:18:10.640 --> 01:18:13.640
door was the only building on the entire street. As124001:18:13.680 --> 01:18:16.680
I walked up the driveway, I realized how eerily quiet124101:18:16.720 --> 01:18:19.640
it had become. I hadn't seen a single car pass124201:18:19.720 --> 01:18:22.560
me in the last half a mile. I shivered as124301:18:22.560 --> 01:18:25.000
the wind whipped up. This was the perfect place for124401:18:25.039 --> 01:18:28.279
an unsuspecting young woman to be raped and murdered. I124501:18:28.399 --> 01:18:33.800
was all alone. No wait, I was being watched. Well,124601:18:33.840 --> 01:18:36.640
hello there, Rachel. I jumped as the door of the124701:18:36.640 --> 01:18:39.279
house popped open to reveal a smiling middle aged man124801:18:39.319 --> 01:18:44.039
in a suit. Oh oh, hi, I tried to collect myself.124901:18:44.479 --> 01:18:47.640
You must be correct. I'm Jake from the agency. So125001:18:47.760 --> 01:18:49.760
glad you were able to find your way here. I125101:18:49.880 --> 01:18:51.720
was getting a little worried that you hadn't been able125201:18:51.760 --> 01:18:55.159
to find a ride into town. Funny you should say125301:18:55.159 --> 01:18:58.199
that anyway, This is the place. He cut me off,125401:18:58.399 --> 01:19:02.399
holding the door open, beckoning me inside. The interior, despite125501:19:02.439 --> 01:19:05.399
having a certain charm, was covered in a layer of125601:19:05.479 --> 01:19:08.920
dust and white sheets. The air had a musty quality125701:19:08.960 --> 01:19:13.079
that signaled that this place had been long forgotten. I sighed,125801:19:13.640 --> 01:19:17.560
I did not like cleaning, as mentioned earlier. He continued,125901:19:17.840 --> 01:19:19.680
it's two hundred and fifty dollars a month, and you're126001:19:19.720 --> 01:19:22.920
responsible for paying all utilities, as well as any yardwork126101:19:23.039 --> 01:19:25.840
or snow removal that needs to be done. Also, I126201:19:25.880 --> 01:19:28.000
think there are Christmas lights in the basement, so you126301:19:28.039 --> 01:19:30.520
won't even need to buy a need to decorate. I126401:19:30.560 --> 01:19:32.960
won't be needing them, but thank you. I just want126501:19:33.000 --> 01:19:39.000
to settle in. Oh, he seemed crushed. Well, they're in126601:19:39.079 --> 01:19:41.800
there in case you change your mind. It would probably126701:19:41.840 --> 01:19:46.439
go a long way to making this place feel like home. Thanks.126801:19:47.840 --> 01:19:50.840
How long has it been vacant? I slid my fingers126901:19:50.880 --> 01:19:54.039
through the dust on the fireplace mantle and almost gagged127001:19:54.079 --> 01:19:58.600
at the many years of dead skin cells. About five years?127101:19:58.640 --> 01:20:03.760
I think that, Uh, why so long? I couldn't really127201:20:03.800 --> 01:20:05.960
tell you. I'm just a real estate agent and I127301:20:05.960 --> 01:20:10.399
don't own it or anything. He shrugged. Oh well, I mean,127401:20:10.920 --> 01:20:14.119
if I had to guess, maybe it was the murders.127501:20:15.119 --> 01:20:19.079
Don't go away weekly spooky, We'll be right back.127601:20:22.359 --> 01:20:26.760
Murders, I parroted. See, I knew I was going to127701:20:26.760 --> 01:20:31.279
be raped and killed. Sorry I misspoke. Disappearances is what127801:20:31.319 --> 01:20:35.199
I mean. It's not really murder without a body, Jake said,127901:20:35.239 --> 01:20:38.920
matter of factly. But anyway, that was a long time ago,128001:20:38.960 --> 01:20:41.359
and I heard that Tenant was like really into meth,128101:20:41.520 --> 01:20:46.079
so it was likely drug related. Wait didn't you say anyway?128201:20:46.560 --> 01:20:48.720
Here are the keys. He handed them to me while128301:20:48.760 --> 01:20:51.439
also turning the doorknob. You should be good to go.128401:20:51.720 --> 01:20:54.880
Have a wonderful life in tiny Christmas, and with that128501:20:55.279 --> 01:21:00.359
he was already halfway down the walk. Murders. I had128601:21:00.399 --> 01:21:04.479
an unremarkable first night. Despite wondering just how many disappearances128701:21:04.600 --> 01:21:08.079
Jake had accidentally inferred, I tried not to concentrate on128801:21:08.119 --> 01:21:10.600
it too much. I was starting my new job the128901:21:10.640 --> 01:21:18.039
next morning after all holidays and more. Occupied the largest129001:21:18.079 --> 01:21:21.319
building in town. It was two floors of highly polished129101:21:21.319 --> 01:21:24.760
marble and glass. The first floor held the perfect area129201:21:24.800 --> 01:21:29.319
for a window display, but was currently empty. This will129301:21:29.359 --> 01:21:32.880
be my canvas, I thought. I put my hand up129401:21:32.920 --> 01:21:35.800
to the glass wistfully, only to have it slapped from129501:21:35.840 --> 01:21:37.800
the other side of the glass by a burly man129601:21:37.840 --> 01:21:40.159
with a beard. I jumped back and he let out129701:21:40.159 --> 01:21:44.520
a chuckle and motioned me to come inside. I'm mister Santon,129801:21:44.600 --> 01:21:47.880
the general manager, the burly man explained, giving me a129901:21:47.880 --> 01:21:51.560
firm handshake. Great to meet you in person. Thanks so130001:21:51.680 --> 01:21:54.920
much for the job. We're just so pleased you accepted it.130101:21:55.199 --> 01:21:58.359
The entire board was unanimous in the decision to hire you.130201:21:58.359 --> 01:22:00.760
Your plan for a Christmas display that gets us back130301:22:00.800 --> 01:22:05.199
to our roots is genius. Thank Before I could finish,130401:22:05.239 --> 01:22:07.680
he pulled me in for a hug. Say no more,130501:22:07.760 --> 01:22:10.479
miss Adler. We're just so happy we can add you130601:22:10.600 --> 01:22:13.199
another true believer of the magic of Christmas to our130701:22:13.279 --> 01:22:16.760
wonderful family, he said, while patting me on the back.130801:22:17.479 --> 01:22:20.720
I recoiled slightly, and he seemed to catch my discomfort130901:22:20.840 --> 01:22:24.319
and let me go. Sorry. I just love Christmas so131001:22:24.399 --> 01:22:30.199
much I get carried away sometimes that's I just I131101:22:30.199 --> 01:22:34.479
should probably get to work, right, I deflected, Oh, of course,131201:22:34.760 --> 01:22:37.159
there's only two weeks till the big reveal. After all,131301:22:37.359 --> 01:22:41.079
I'm sure every second counts. Mister Santon led me over131401:22:41.119 --> 01:22:44.319
to my workspace and introduced me to my assistant, Tom Thompson.131501:22:44.680 --> 01:22:47.600
A tall and slightly too handsome man in a red131601:22:47.720 --> 01:22:52.359
vest I felt uncomfortable for looking at him for too long,131701:22:52.560 --> 01:22:56.279
like I might I don't know, blush if I did?131801:22:56.760 --> 01:22:59.399
You know, Tom, you could take notes from miss Adler here,131901:23:00.079 --> 01:23:03.079
Santon said before leaving up your holiday game a little,132001:23:03.079 --> 01:23:05.800
and maybe you'll be the next one promoted. Tom looked132101:23:05.800 --> 01:23:09.960
towards me and let out a little sigh. Yes, sir.132201:23:13.960 --> 01:23:16.199
On that first day, we spent most of our time132301:23:16.279 --> 01:23:19.680
going through boxes, taking inventory of what supplies the store132401:23:19.720 --> 01:23:21.920
already had so i'd know what we would need to buy.132501:23:23.560 --> 01:23:27.520
So I broke the silence. Mister Santan wants you to132601:23:27.600 --> 01:23:30.920
up your holiday game. Eh. Yeah, I guess he's noticed132701:23:30.920 --> 01:23:33.479
I haven't been my normal, cheery self for the last132801:23:34.039 --> 01:23:37.560
couple of years. He seemed as surprised by that timeline132901:23:37.600 --> 01:23:41.199
as I did. That's a long time to not be happy,133001:23:41.920 --> 01:23:44.800
Like I'd know what happy was. I was a weirdly133101:23:44.880 --> 01:23:48.079
employed graphic designer caught in what was increasingly feeling like133201:23:48.159 --> 01:23:52.560
a low budget Christmas movie. I guess so, I just133301:23:52.600 --> 01:23:58.640
haven't been myself since my wife died. Oh he was single,133401:23:58.640 --> 01:24:02.039
and not even the divorced kind widowed the good kind133501:24:02.039 --> 01:24:05.680
of single. I stopped going through the box of Christmas lights.133601:24:06.079 --> 01:24:11.159
My hands were shaking. Yeah, it was really tragic. She133701:24:11.279 --> 01:24:14.399
hit a deer. He was going on about his dead wife.133801:24:14.399 --> 01:24:17.279
But all I could concentrate on was my own heartbeat133901:24:17.640 --> 01:24:20.600
as it began to speed up. Why did I care134001:24:20.640 --> 01:24:23.600
if this guy was single? What was happening to me?134101:24:24.680 --> 01:24:28.079
I concentrated on regaining my composure. I just needed to134201:24:28.079 --> 01:24:30.399
take it easy. This had been a big move, a134301:24:30.520 --> 01:24:33.800
huge change, and I'd lost my bearings. It was perfectly134401:24:33.840 --> 01:24:36.600
reasonable that I would feel confused and even want to134501:24:36.640 --> 01:24:39.000
fit in. Things would get less weird once I was134601:24:39.079 --> 01:24:42.159
used to my surroundings. And then when we took her134701:24:42.199 --> 01:24:46.079
off life support, Oh god, he was still going, I134801:24:46.159 --> 01:24:50.600
just don't think I'll ever really love anyone again. You know,134901:24:52.359 --> 01:24:55.640
I get it. But you're young. You'll meet someone again135001:24:55.760 --> 01:24:59.960
when you're ready. I tried to console he blushed slightly.135101:25:01.079 --> 01:25:04.680
You're a really good listener, you know, Hey, would you135201:25:04.760 --> 01:25:06.880
like to come over for dinner on Sunday? We make135301:25:06.920 --> 01:25:09.079
a big meal after church, so it's always nice to135401:25:09.079 --> 01:25:13.560
have some extra company. Oh no, no, I don't want135501:25:13.560 --> 01:25:16.600
to impose. We don't really know each other, and please.135601:25:17.479 --> 01:25:20.560
I think of it as me repaying you for your kindness,135701:25:20.560 --> 01:25:22.800
for letting me dump all my problems on you like this,135801:25:23.439 --> 01:25:28.720
he begged, Well, when you put it that way, sure.135901:25:34.640 --> 01:25:38.720
After a relatively uneventful week, I awoke from a particularly136001:25:38.760 --> 01:25:42.159
weird nightmare at three am Saturday morning to the sound136101:25:42.159 --> 01:25:46.960
of talking. Frustrated and groggy, I did what any good136201:25:47.039 --> 01:25:49.720
New Yorker would. I pushed the window open with a136301:25:49.800 --> 01:25:52.199
level of violence that this house had probably never seen,136401:25:52.600 --> 01:25:55.520
and leaned out into the dark. Shut the fuck up,136501:25:55.600 --> 01:25:59.399
or I'll fucking come down there and murder you, I yelled,136601:25:59.760 --> 01:26:04.079
then slammed the window shut and lay back down. It136701:26:04.119 --> 01:26:08.079
was quiet for a minute, but then was that chanting.136801:26:09.119 --> 01:26:11.720
By that point, my complete consciousness had returned, and I136901:26:11.800 --> 01:26:14.840
realized that I was no longer in an apartment. I137001:26:14.880 --> 01:26:18.960
was in a house. I was in a completely isolated house.137101:26:19.960 --> 01:26:23.800
No one should be outside. I lay there in silence,137201:26:24.159 --> 01:26:29.439
trying to get a grasp on what I was hearing. Chanting, crying.137301:26:30.279 --> 01:26:33.680
Maybe it was a wild animal. I thought I had137401:26:33.680 --> 01:26:37.640
heard foxes kind of sound like people. Honestly, I didn't137501:26:37.680 --> 01:26:40.680
want it to be people or animals. Both seemed like137601:26:40.720 --> 01:26:42.680
they could be dangerous, and for the first time since137701:26:42.720 --> 01:26:45.319
the day I'd moved in, I considered what the word137801:26:45.439 --> 01:26:50.399
disappearances could possibly mean. After what may have been hours,137901:26:50.479 --> 01:26:53.720
the strange noises dissipated, but I did not sleep for138001:26:53.720 --> 01:26:56.920
the rest of the night. In the morning, I decided138101:26:56.920 --> 01:26:59.760
maybe I would put up those Christmas lights. The house138201:26:59.800 --> 01:27:02.319
had no exterior lighting at all, and seeing as it138301:27:02.359 --> 01:27:05.880
had sat unoccupied, there was a chance someone could still138401:27:05.960 --> 01:27:08.439
think it was vacant and try to break in. If138501:27:08.479 --> 01:27:11.560
the noises I'd heard were people. Anyway, if it was138601:27:11.680 --> 01:27:15.720
foxes or wolves or something, the light should deter them too.138701:27:16.159 --> 01:27:19.319
Despite being opposed to my core beliefs, I'd do it138801:27:19.359 --> 01:27:22.439
for my safety. I found a box with one whole138901:27:22.479 --> 01:27:25.199
strand of lights in it in the basement, just enough139001:27:25.239 --> 01:27:27.720
to do the awning out front. I figured it was139101:27:27.760 --> 01:27:29.640
better than nothing, and it also meant I didn't have139201:27:29.680 --> 01:27:34.159
to spend all day putting them up. So when there was, however,139301:27:34.560 --> 01:27:37.680
another box in the basement, I'd thought it was more139401:27:37.720 --> 01:27:40.880
Christmas decorations originally since there was a piece of garland139501:27:40.920 --> 01:27:43.239
at the top, but when I brought it upstairs, I139601:27:43.319 --> 01:27:47.640
realized that what I'd really found was a gun, a139701:27:47.680 --> 01:27:50.920
shotgun of some sort to be more specific. Along with139801:27:51.000 --> 01:27:53.359
it was a little box with just a few bullets139901:27:53.399 --> 01:27:57.880
in it. Seven. I counted. I'd never really handled a140001:27:57.920 --> 01:28:01.119
gun before, and felt conflicted of realizing that it had140101:28:01.159 --> 01:28:03.079
been in the house with me for the last week.140201:28:03.640 --> 01:28:06.840
Whose was it and why would they leave it anyway? Shit?140301:28:07.359 --> 01:28:09.880
For all, I knew all houses in Iowa came with guns.140401:28:10.640 --> 01:28:14.600
After some careful contemplation and YouTube videos, I decided to140501:28:14.680 --> 01:28:17.359
keep it by the door, loaded in case I did140601:28:17.479 --> 01:28:19.920
end up running into whatever I had heard the night prior.140701:28:20.880 --> 01:28:23.399
When I heard the noises again that night, I at140801:28:23.479 --> 01:28:26.640
least managed to convince myself I could protect myself and140901:28:26.680 --> 01:28:30.119
got the smallest bit of sleep. By the time Tom141001:28:30.159 --> 01:28:32.239
came to pick me up on Sunday, I was already141101:28:32.279 --> 01:28:36.399
exhausted and a little jumpy. You look tired, Are you okay?141201:28:37.079 --> 01:28:40.600
He asked as I fastened my seat belt. His genuine141301:28:40.600 --> 01:28:45.119
concern made my heart feel all warm for some reason. Yeah,141401:28:45.359 --> 01:28:49.359
just insomnia. I used to have that real bad when141501:28:49.439 --> 01:28:54.079
Joanne first died. It's hard being in that house all alone. Huh,141601:28:54.479 --> 01:28:58.720
Not really, why would it be hard? I just guess141701:28:58.800 --> 01:29:02.479
I find being alone really difficult. Everyone needs someone to141801:29:02.520 --> 01:29:06.119
hold at night, he informed me. Was he suggesting he141901:29:06.199 --> 01:29:09.520
wanted to hold me at night? We arrived at his142001:29:09.560 --> 01:29:12.960
parents' lovely little colonial only a few minutes later. I142101:29:13.039 --> 01:29:15.760
may have neglected to say this, but he'd been living142201:29:15.760 --> 01:29:18.359
with his family since his wife died. I thought it142301:29:18.439 --> 01:29:21.000
was a little weird, but I also knew grief could142401:29:21.000 --> 01:29:23.720
really mess up a person, so it was better I142501:29:23.760 --> 01:29:27.279
didn't judge anyway. The house was all decked out in142601:29:27.319 --> 01:29:31.319
a literal ton of blinking Christmas lights outside and in.142701:29:31.840 --> 01:29:35.560
It was really too distracting and tacky for my taste.142801:29:35.600 --> 01:29:38.079
His mom and dad hugged me immediately as we entered142901:29:38.119 --> 01:29:41.119
and thanked me for taking such good care of their son.143001:29:41.359 --> 01:29:44.439
Did they think we were a couple? Did I want143101:29:44.520 --> 01:29:48.920
us to be a couple? What? No. We had a143201:29:49.000 --> 01:29:51.359
nice dinner and his family told me stories about what143301:29:51.399 --> 01:29:54.680
Tom was like growing up. After dinner, they wanted to143401:29:54.680 --> 01:29:57.239
sing Christmas carols, so his mom gathered us around the143501:29:57.239 --> 01:30:01.800
piano as his father played know any full carols, but143601:30:01.880 --> 01:30:05.880
I managed to stumble through all right. We laughed a lot.143701:30:06.079 --> 01:30:09.520
It was It was really nice to feel like I143801:30:09.560 --> 01:30:12.600
was a part of something again. It made me miss143901:30:12.640 --> 01:30:17.239
my parents terribly. I wanted so much to feel safe144001:30:17.279 --> 01:30:21.720
and loved like that again. Maybe I thought, just maybe144101:30:21.720 --> 01:30:25.039
the Thompsons could be my new family. Maybe this place144201:30:25.079 --> 01:30:27.199
could be my new something to be a part of.144301:30:28.319 --> 01:30:30.720
We kissed in my driveway before I got out of144401:30:30.760 --> 01:30:33.359
the car. He told me he was falling for me.144501:30:34.319 --> 01:30:36.720
Maybe I was falling for him too.144601:30:43.880 --> 01:30:44.479
Did you hear that?144701:30:44.960 --> 01:30:49.000
Better check the locks on your doors weekly, spooky, We'll144801:30:49.039 --> 01:30:49.840
be right back.144901:30:51.479 --> 01:30:53.800
I woke up in a pure panic at three am.145001:30:54.319 --> 01:30:56.479
I wasn't even aware of why I was so scared145101:30:56.520 --> 01:30:59.079
for a minute until the events of the evening came145201:30:59.119 --> 01:31:03.359
back to me. Something was terribly wrong with me, and145301:31:03.439 --> 01:31:08.000
the noises were back. The next week was crunch time.145401:31:08.279 --> 01:31:10.439
We had to make this display the most wonderful the145501:31:10.479 --> 01:31:13.319
town had ever seen. We could do it, I knew145601:31:13.319 --> 01:31:15.640
we could. Tom and I spent most of our waking145701:31:15.640 --> 01:31:18.439
hours together making sure everything was perfect for the big145801:31:18.479 --> 01:31:21.800
reveal on Friday night. Well, he spent most of his145901:31:21.840 --> 01:31:25.279
waking hours. I mean he was probably sleeping. I was146001:31:25.319 --> 01:31:30.039
still hearing those weird noises. However, I was beginning to146101:31:30.039 --> 01:31:32.560
think that living in the country just meant hearing unexplained146201:31:32.560 --> 01:31:35.319
sounds at night. It was nothing to worry about, and146301:31:35.359 --> 01:31:38.319
I had that gun just in case, which I decided146401:31:38.319 --> 01:31:42.079
to leave by my front door indefinitely. Plus Tom and146501:31:42.119 --> 01:31:45.239
I were considering moving in together so he would be146601:31:45.239 --> 01:31:49.760
able to protect me. Everything was okay, Everything was better146701:31:49.800 --> 01:31:54.560
than expected. Friday went wonderfully. Mister Santon praised us both146801:31:54.560 --> 01:31:57.640
and offered me a permanent position, which I gladly accepted.146901:31:58.079 --> 01:32:01.760
I invited Tom over that evening to sell So. Uh,147001:32:02.439 --> 01:32:04.720
are you going back to New York City for Christmas?147101:32:05.079 --> 01:32:07.960
He asked me as we cuddled on the couch. Christmas147201:32:08.039 --> 01:32:11.720
was just five days away, wasn't it. Nah, I'm just147301:32:11.800 --> 01:32:15.600
gonna get some Chinese food and watch movies. That sounds147401:32:15.640 --> 01:32:18.560
really sad, Rachel, you should come over to my house.147501:32:18.640 --> 01:32:21.159
We always decorate our tree on Christmas Eve, then we147601:32:21.199 --> 01:32:23.479
do presents in the morning. You can sleep over. It'll147701:32:23.520 --> 01:32:27.399
be fun, he suggested. My family loves you, so I'm147801:32:27.399 --> 01:32:30.840
sure they'd be happy to have you. That sounds really nice.147901:32:30.880 --> 01:32:36.119
But actually I think I just want to take it easy. Oh.148001:32:36.199 --> 01:32:40.199
His expression fell. No, it's not like that, but I've148101:32:40.560 --> 01:32:42.479
I needed to be honest with the man, I loved,148201:32:43.399 --> 01:32:46.359
I've been lying to you. I'm not There was that148301:32:46.479 --> 01:32:51.359
chanting again? Lying, he asked, but then saw the fear148401:32:51.399 --> 01:32:55.960
on his face. What's wrong? Do you hear that? What148501:32:56.199 --> 01:32:58.880
is that? I said in a whisper, my voice shaking.148601:32:59.680 --> 01:33:05.039
Tom listened for a second. The singing that's carolers, isn't it.148701:33:05.880 --> 01:33:08.239
I held my breath to try to ascertain what I148801:33:08.319 --> 01:33:12.760
was hearing. It was getting closer this time. Tom was right.148901:33:13.319 --> 01:33:19.600
It was people singing carolers. I breathed. Yep, the weekend149001:33:19.600 --> 01:33:22.000
before Christmas they go out and sing at people's houses.149101:33:22.279 --> 01:33:25.079
Didn't you have that in New York? I shook my head.149201:33:25.680 --> 01:33:27.680
Had this been what I was hearing the whole time?149301:33:28.439 --> 01:33:33.840
Carolers practicing somewhere? It sounds like they're right outside. I149401:33:33.920 --> 01:33:36.399
jumped as the doorbell rang, but convinced myself it was149501:33:36.439 --> 01:33:40.079
okay to answer it. Outside were seven of the townsfolk,149601:33:40.159 --> 01:33:43.119
decked out in Christmasy attire. As soon as they saw me,149701:33:43.199 --> 01:33:46.520
they began to sing. I wasn't familiar with the song,149801:33:46.600 --> 01:33:49.600
but it was just so beautiful that tears started coming149901:33:49.640 --> 01:33:52.359
to my eyes. Here I'd been all worked up about150001:33:52.359 --> 01:33:56.239
people singing Christmas songs. This wasn't New York City. Nothing150101:33:56.319 --> 01:33:58.560
was going to try to hurt me here. No one150201:33:58.640 --> 01:34:01.800
had been anything other than kind to me. I stood150301:34:01.800 --> 01:34:05.399
in the doorway listening for a long time, just taking150401:34:05.399 --> 01:34:07.920
in the joy. I let the New Yorker part of150501:34:07.920 --> 01:34:13.560
me fade. It was okay now, I was okay. Maybe150601:34:13.640 --> 01:34:15.359
I should go get some money for them or something.150701:34:15.399 --> 01:34:17.520
I thought that was the least I could do for150801:34:17.560 --> 01:34:21.439
this kind of spiritual awakening, right. I was about to150901:34:21.479 --> 01:34:24.640
turn around to find my purse when something stopped me.151001:34:26.079 --> 01:34:30.199
I stopped me. What the fuck was I doing? I151101:34:30.279 --> 01:34:32.920
was a savvy, fucking New Yorker. I didn't need this151201:34:33.079 --> 01:34:35.760
dumb shit. This wasn't even what I wanted at all.151301:34:36.319 --> 01:34:39.079
What was I even doing with this boring sad guy.151401:34:39.439 --> 01:34:42.359
I didn't even like men, and I hated Christmas carols.151501:34:43.079 --> 01:34:45.880
Hey can you guys? That's enough? Can you stop now?151601:34:46.119 --> 01:34:50.159
I pleaded, really, please stop. No one seemed to hear me.151701:34:50.520 --> 01:34:53.119
I felt a deep, primal fear rise up in my stomach.151801:34:53.279 --> 01:34:55.680
I needed to lie down or something. I needed them151901:34:55.680 --> 01:34:59.520
to stop singing already, Tom, can you? I turned around152001:34:59.560 --> 01:35:01.720
just in time to see Tom lunge at me with152101:35:01.760 --> 01:35:04.880
a weird looking knife. Instinctively, I dodged and pushed him152201:35:04.920 --> 01:35:06.920
to the ground. I am a New Yorker who knows152301:35:06.960 --> 01:35:11.119
how to defend myself. I grabbed the shotgun aw The152401:35:11.199 --> 01:35:14.800
carollers grumbled in unison. What the fuck is going on here?152501:35:14.840 --> 01:35:19.239
I spat, clenching my weapon tightly. You ruined everything, That's152601:35:19.279 --> 01:35:22.239
what one of them moaned. I pointed my gun at152701:35:22.239 --> 01:35:25.399
the small crowd. Are you trying to disappear me? Is152801:35:25.439 --> 01:35:26.159
that what this is?152901:35:27.079 --> 01:35:27.319
You know?153001:35:27.439 --> 01:35:30.319
Tom? If you hadn't waited so long, one of them began.153101:35:30.680 --> 01:35:33.119
Tom was now sulking on the ground behind me. I153201:35:33.199 --> 01:35:36.119
was waving the gun wildly between him and the carrollers. Now,153301:35:36.880 --> 01:35:40.079
I just wanted it to be perfect. I'm sorry, guys,153401:35:40.439 --> 01:35:44.199
Tom shrugged. She's gonna taste like shit now. Adrenaline fucks153501:35:44.279 --> 01:35:48.319
everything up. Another said, will someone please tell me what's153601:35:48.359 --> 01:35:51.479
going on? I shouted, tell me, or I kill every153701:35:51.720 --> 01:35:55.399
one of you. Tom sighed, we were just trying to153801:35:55.439 --> 01:35:59.920
teach you the true meaning of Christmas by killing me,153901:36:00.760 --> 01:36:03.239
of course, not think of all the love we showed154001:36:03.239 --> 01:36:05.880
you these past couple of weeks. That's the true meaning154101:36:05.920 --> 01:36:09.720
of Christmas. I recognized this one. It was the woman154201:36:09.760 --> 01:36:13.359
from the cafe. We know you felt it, We could154301:36:13.439 --> 01:36:18.560
tell felt it. This this isn't me. What did you do?154401:36:18.760 --> 01:36:22.000
Have you been putting something in my food? Oh sweetie,154501:36:22.079 --> 01:36:24.960
don't be so paranoid. Everything we gave you was simply154601:36:25.000 --> 01:36:28.920
made with love, something you've been sorely lacking. Amanda explained,154701:36:29.319 --> 01:36:33.479
well that in just a teensy tiny bit of LSD.154801:36:34.159 --> 01:36:38.520
The others nodded in agreement. You fucking dosed me with LSD.154901:36:39.039 --> 01:36:41.479
What we did, Rachel, was give you the best two155001:36:41.520 --> 01:36:43.560
weeks of your life. We even got you back in155101:36:43.600 --> 01:36:48.920
touch with your religion, said mister Santon. My, what now155201:36:48.960 --> 01:36:52.279
you can die? Happily? Tom chimed in, now standing over155301:36:52.319 --> 01:36:57.000
me with that knife, smiling manically. I'm Jewish, you assholes,155401:36:57.880 --> 01:37:00.399
I screamed, and shot a bullet into Tom's case, fused155501:37:00.439 --> 01:37:04.439
looking face. His body thudded to the floor. Oh man,155601:37:05.159 --> 01:37:07.640
how are we gonna explain this to everyone? They whined,155701:37:07.680 --> 01:37:10.239
as I turned my gun back to them. Can we155801:37:10.319 --> 01:37:14.680
even sacrifice a Jew? You're not sacrificing anyone. If you try,155901:37:14.720 --> 01:37:18.079
I'll blow all your goddamn brains out, I threatened, holding156001:37:18.159 --> 01:37:21.039
the shotgun mere inches from them, but they ignored my156101:37:21.119 --> 01:37:24.199
warning and continued discussing my murder like I wasn't even there.156201:37:24.800 --> 01:37:29.319
Fucking rude townies. It's not ideal, But where are we156301:37:29.359 --> 01:37:33.039
gonna find a Christian this close to the ceremony? Santan explained,156401:37:33.399 --> 01:37:35.800
A Jew is probably better than nothing, even if she156501:37:35.920 --> 01:37:39.920
is all upset and will probably taste like sadness. Hey,156601:37:40.079 --> 01:37:43.039
I bet I taste just fine. What was I saying?156701:37:43.640 --> 01:37:46.479
I did probably taste like sadness, but that wasn't the point.156801:37:46.640 --> 01:37:48.319
They were trying to kill me. I knew if I156901:37:48.359 --> 01:37:50.560
wanted to survive the night and ever see my actual157001:37:50.560 --> 01:37:52.199
home again, I was going to have to stand my157101:37:52.239 --> 01:37:55.039
ground and take those fuckers out. Then and there. I157201:37:55.119 --> 01:37:58.039
broke their disagreement with a single shot fired directly into157301:37:58.079 --> 01:38:00.359
the chest of the weirdo closest to me. He fell157401:38:00.439 --> 01:38:02.920
to the ground in a motionless heap. That was finally157501:38:02.960 --> 01:38:05.079
the motivation the rest needed to actually come at me.157601:38:05.319 --> 01:38:08.000
But I was the one with the gun. What you're157701:38:08.039 --> 01:38:10.640
not even gonna try to rape me first? I shouted157801:38:10.680 --> 01:38:13.760
as I fired mercilessly into them. Turns out it isn't157901:38:13.800 --> 01:38:16.079
actually that hard to shoot people when they're that close158001:38:16.119 --> 01:38:18.159
to you. I don't know if I killed them all,158101:38:18.319 --> 01:38:20.239
but I certainly shot them enough to make it so158201:38:20.359 --> 01:38:22.920
they'd have a hard time chasing me if they survived.158301:38:23.239 --> 01:38:25.520
I ran as far away as I could before calling you.158401:38:25.840 --> 01:38:27.920
I don't know if others are coming for me, but158501:38:28.000 --> 01:38:30.479
I'll be ready if they do. I would have called158601:38:30.479 --> 01:38:33.119
the police, but I'm sure they're in on it. You158701:38:33.159 --> 01:38:37.319
were right, that town is crazy. A jeet let out158801:38:37.359 --> 01:38:40.640
a sigh. How many times he wondered was he going158901:38:40.640 --> 01:38:43.600
to help people flee from a crime scene. This couldn't159001:38:43.600 --> 01:38:46.159
be worth the money. He'd be better off working for159101:38:46.159 --> 01:38:49.239
one of those takeout services. Yeah, he was going to159201:38:49.279 --> 01:38:52.920
sign up once he got home. No more transporting crazy people,159301:38:53.359 --> 01:38:58.199
just transporting food to crazy people. Wait, weren't there eight159401:38:58.199 --> 01:39:01.159
of them total? He asked, hoping this didn't set her off.159501:39:01.560 --> 01:39:04.760
Didn't you see that gun only had seven bullets? Doesn't159601:39:04.800 --> 01:39:09.399
that mean you missed one? Rachel thought for a second. Nope,159701:39:09.840 --> 01:39:14.880
she definitely shot eight cultists she'd counted. I guess you159801:39:14.880 --> 01:39:20.239
could call it a Hanikkah miracle, she giggled. A jeep159901:39:20.319 --> 01:39:22.800
let out a fake laugh, not sure what she meant.160001:39:23.000 --> 01:39:43.239
Huh so uh, airport. Then Yeah Please Babes in terror160101:39:43.319 --> 01:39:49.680
Land by Morgan Moore. As with many holiday seasons before it,160201:39:50.199 --> 01:39:53.399
parents and children flocked to Baron's toy store in the160301:39:53.520 --> 01:39:57.039
village of Green Seas. In the middle of the crowd160401:39:57.159 --> 01:39:59.960
was Justin Baron, a fourteen year old boy with a160501:40:00.000 --> 01:40:03.159
an apron featuring a hand sewn version of the store's160601:40:03.199 --> 01:40:06.680
logo in the middle. Justin was staying with his grandmother,160701:40:06.800 --> 01:40:08.960
the owner of the store, for the holidays while his160801:40:09.079 --> 01:40:12.279
parents were away on a business trip. He was enlisted160901:40:12.279 --> 01:40:15.000
to lend a hand almost immediately upon his arrival. With161001:40:15.039 --> 01:40:18.840
it being the store's busiest time of year. Justin could161101:40:18.880 --> 01:40:21.760
never understand how she managed it all on her own,161201:40:22.359 --> 01:40:24.680
but she had been doing it ever since his grandfather161301:40:24.760 --> 01:40:28.920
died a few years ago and was managing it successfully Somehow.161401:40:29.960 --> 01:40:32.279
Justin moved around the store as best he could, seeing161501:40:32.359 --> 01:40:35.159
how crowded the small store was in all. The building161601:40:35.199 --> 01:40:38.159
itself was an old brownstone, with the store situated on161701:40:38.199 --> 01:40:41.439
the ground floor and Missus Barron's home on the second.161801:40:42.279 --> 01:40:46.239
The store could become a claustrophobic nightmare when business was booming,161901:40:46.640 --> 01:40:49.560
but he managed stocking the shelves and helping out customers162001:40:49.600 --> 01:40:53.119
as best he could. By the time three o'clock came around,162101:40:53.199 --> 01:40:55.399
Justin was spent and was ready for the day to162201:40:55.439 --> 01:40:58.479
be over so he could finally get some rest. Those162301:40:58.520 --> 01:41:03.279
thoughts were interrupted when he laid eyes on Kathy Wilcox.162401:41:04.439 --> 01:41:06.359
He had known her since fourth grade and had a162501:41:06.359 --> 01:41:10.000
crush on her that never faded. Justin always wanted to162601:41:10.039 --> 01:41:12.680
tell her how he felt, but he could never muster162701:41:12.800 --> 01:41:15.800
up the courage to do it. Somehow, he could picture162801:41:15.840 --> 01:41:18.800
everything he wanted to say, but any time he saw her,162901:41:19.600 --> 01:41:23.680
it all vanished. Justin felt himself beginning to melt as163001:41:23.720 --> 01:41:26.920
he kept looking at her. His face turned bright red,163101:41:26.920 --> 01:41:29.960
and immediately Justin began to do some busy work around163201:41:30.000 --> 01:41:33.159
the area, trying to disguise the fact that he had163301:41:33.199 --> 01:41:36.760
been staring at her. Justin's heart beat faster and faster,163401:41:36.880 --> 01:41:39.760
as if somebody was pounding away on a drum, but163501:41:39.880 --> 01:41:42.439
that came to an immediate halt when he felt a163601:41:42.520 --> 01:41:46.079
gentle tap on his shoulder. He turned round and saw163701:41:46.159 --> 01:41:53.279
Kathy there. Hi, Justin, Cathy said sweetly, Hi, Kathy. Justin stammered,163801:41:53.279 --> 01:41:56.479
his face feeling like it was on fire. Cathy gave163901:41:56.560 --> 01:41:59.600
him an intimate smile, her blue eyes seeming to shimmer164001:41:59.600 --> 01:42:02.560
to Justine, and mind if I ask you a question?164101:42:03.399 --> 01:42:07.680
Uh oh, Justin thought. She's gonna chew me out for164201:42:07.800 --> 01:42:09.720
looking at her, and in the middle of the store too.164301:42:09.800 --> 01:42:14.359
Everybody's gonna think I'm some perv. Sure, Justin responded, after164401:42:14.399 --> 01:42:18.359
a brief pause. Could you help me and my sister164501:42:18.399 --> 01:42:23.319
real quick? What a relief, Justin thought, Oh yeah, for sure.164601:42:23.960 --> 01:42:26.920
What do you guys need? He asked. She then began164701:42:27.000 --> 01:42:30.560
to walk away down an aisle. Justin followed close behind her.164801:42:31.479 --> 01:42:34.159
My sister found something she wants, but I can't reach it,164901:42:34.199 --> 01:42:37.239
and neither can she. I saw you and thought i'd165001:42:37.279 --> 01:42:39.159
ask if you could bring it down for me, since165101:42:39.159 --> 01:42:43.640
you're so tall and all, Kathy explained, Oh yeah, I165201:42:43.680 --> 01:42:46.399
should be able to get it for you. Justin replied165301:42:46.439 --> 01:42:52.439
with a smile. Kathy returned the smile. Man, she's so cute,165401:42:52.880 --> 01:42:56.880
Justin thought. As they kept walking beside one another. The165501:42:56.960 --> 01:43:00.479
two eventually got to their location and joined Kathy's sister, Janet.165601:43:00.920 --> 01:43:03.560
Upon seeing Justin and the apron identifying him as a165701:43:03.560 --> 01:43:07.239
store employee, Janet pointed upwards toward the top of the165801:43:07.239 --> 01:43:11.640
shelf she was standing at that one, Please, Janet asked Justin.165901:43:12.399 --> 01:43:14.600
Justin looked up to where the child pointed and saw166001:43:14.640 --> 01:43:17.159
a clown doll. The doll had been in the store166101:43:17.319 --> 01:43:20.279
ever since he could remember. It had a wooden head166201:43:20.279 --> 01:43:22.960
and hands, and was dressed in a hand sewn outfit166301:43:23.079 --> 01:43:26.760
colored silver and blue. A jester had adorned its head,166401:43:27.000 --> 01:43:32.119
bells dangling down playfully. Justin had always thought it looked creepy,166501:43:32.479 --> 01:43:34.439
and other people must have thought the same, as the166601:43:34.439 --> 01:43:36.359
doll had been around the store ever since he was166701:43:36.399 --> 01:43:41.079
a child. But maybe finally someone had found the doll166801:43:41.119 --> 01:43:45.079
appealing and wanted to give it a home. Justin smiled166901:43:45.079 --> 01:43:47.720
and reached up, just barely able to get the doll.167001:43:48.239 --> 01:43:49.960
He got a grip on it and brought it down,167101:43:50.119 --> 01:43:53.560
handing it gently to the little girl. Here you go,167201:43:54.119 --> 01:43:57.840
Justin said, Janet smiled as she held and stared at167301:43:57.840 --> 01:44:00.479
the doll. Cathy turned to Justin in gave him a167401:44:00.479 --> 01:44:04.439
big smile. He returned it in kind. I want him,167501:44:04.720 --> 01:44:07.760
Janet responded energetically, as she held the clown doll up167601:44:07.800 --> 01:44:11.039
to the two. How much is it, Kathy asked Justin.167701:44:11.880 --> 01:44:14.119
I'm not sure. It doesn't look like it has a167801:44:14.119 --> 01:44:18.319
tag on it. Let's ask my grandma, Justin said. They167901:44:18.439 --> 01:44:21.479
arrived at the register to find Justin's grandmother smiling at168001:44:21.479 --> 01:44:24.880
the three. There you are, Justin. What cute friends you168101:44:25.000 --> 01:44:29.520
have there, she said. Kathy blushed lightly at the comment, Hey, grandma,168201:44:29.760 --> 01:44:32.199
how much is this? There's no tag on it, or168301:44:32.239 --> 01:44:34.560
even a sign on the shelf it was on. His168401:44:34.640 --> 01:44:40.319
grandmother's smile turned to a slight frown. Oh honey, I'm168501:44:40.399 --> 01:44:44.239
so sorry that doll isn't for sale. I only keep168601:44:44.239 --> 01:44:47.640
it on the shelf for decoration, she explained, as sweetly168701:44:47.680 --> 01:44:52.479
as possible. But I want it. Janet told her. Are168801:44:52.520 --> 01:44:56.840
you sure you're not able to sell it? Kathy asked, unfortunately,168901:44:56.920 --> 01:44:59.760
I am, dear. My husband made the doll many years169001:44:59.800 --> 01:45:03.359
ago for Justin's mother and it just has too much169101:45:03.399 --> 01:45:06.399
sentimental value for me to sell it. It's been watching169201:45:06.439 --> 01:45:10.560
over the store for years, Justin's grandma explained to the three.169301:45:11.359 --> 01:45:15.840
Janet frowned, tears starting to well up. Justin smiled a169401:45:15.920 --> 01:45:18.760
little bit at the two and at his grandma. It's169501:45:18.800 --> 01:45:21.880
all right, I'll put him back, Justin said. He then169601:45:21.920 --> 01:45:24.479
made a motion with his head for Kathy and Janet169701:45:24.520 --> 01:45:26.960
to follow him. The three of them made their way169801:45:27.039 --> 01:45:30.399
back to the aisle. Janet looked utterly devastated that she169901:45:30.479 --> 01:45:33.800
couldn't have the doll, and Cathy looked equally saddened for170001:45:33.880 --> 01:45:37.199
her sister. Once they got back to the aisle, Justin170101:45:37.279 --> 01:45:40.199
put the doll back up. He then turned to Kathy170201:45:40.239 --> 01:45:43.760
with a small grin. She tilted her head in confusion.170301:45:45.079 --> 01:45:48.239
What is it? Why are you grinning like that, she asked,170401:45:48.920 --> 01:45:52.119
Because I know of a way to get that doll170501:45:52.199 --> 01:45:56.199
for Janet, he explained. Janet's face brightened up at once.170601:45:56.720 --> 01:46:01.039
Really how Justin moved in a bit closer to Kathy170701:46:01.119 --> 01:46:03.439
so that he could talk to her in semi privacy.170801:46:04.079 --> 01:46:07.800
Janet frowned when she realized what was going on. My170901:46:07.920 --> 01:46:09.920
grandma is going to go out to a party tonight171001:46:09.960 --> 01:46:12.880
and I'll be alone for hours. Come on buy around171101:46:12.880 --> 01:46:14.720
eight and I'll let you in. We can get the171201:46:14.760 --> 01:46:18.880
doll then, he explained to her. But she'll notice, won't she,171301:46:19.359 --> 01:46:22.800
Kathy asked, don't worry, I'll take care of it. Just171401:46:22.880 --> 01:46:36.239
be here by eight. Later that night, Justin made his171501:46:36.279 --> 01:46:38.800
way downstairs to the store and opened the front door171601:46:38.880 --> 01:46:42.840
to find Kathy and Janet standing there. Justin frowned a171701:46:42.920 --> 01:46:45.680
tiny bit as the two girls made their way inside.171801:46:46.520 --> 01:46:48.720
Why did you bring your sister, he asked, doing his171901:46:48.800 --> 01:46:52.880
best to hide his disappointment that it wasn't just Kathy.172001:46:53.039 --> 01:46:54.640
She wanted to come, and I couldn't get her to172101:46:54.640 --> 01:46:57.399
stay home without spilling the beans. I told my parents172201:46:57.439 --> 01:46:59.560
I was going out with friends, and she threatened to172301:46:59.560 --> 01:47:04.199
tell them what I was really doing. Kathy explained, I mean,172401:47:04.520 --> 01:47:09.279
it isn't entirely untrue. You are hanging out with a friend,172501:47:09.720 --> 01:47:13.880
Justin said, with a small smile. I'm going Janet blurted172601:47:13.920 --> 01:47:16.760
out and ran towards the aisle with the doll. So172701:47:17.239 --> 01:47:19.399
how are you going to explain this to your grandma?172801:47:19.880 --> 01:47:22.199
Kathy asked as she walked past the display of a172901:47:22.239 --> 01:47:25.600
toy war scene. Oh, I'm gonna tell her I ordered173001:47:25.640 --> 01:47:27.439
a pizza and just forgot to lock the door on173101:47:27.479 --> 01:47:29.560
my way back up. I'll take some money out of173201:47:29.600 --> 01:47:32.239
the register and hide a few other toys, maybe knock173301:47:32.319 --> 01:47:34.439
some displays over and make it look like somebody broke173401:47:34.479 --> 01:47:40.119
in and robbed the place. He explained. That's pretty clever, mean,173501:47:40.920 --> 01:47:44.920
but clever, she responded as she stopped by the register. Justin,173601:47:45.000 --> 01:47:48.720
stopping in front of her. Hey, what can I say?173701:47:49.159 --> 01:47:52.520
Justin said? Kathy smiled a bit as she fiddled with173801:47:52.560 --> 01:47:55.560
some small toys by the register. She looked around, then173901:47:55.640 --> 01:47:58.920
returned her gaze to Justin. Why are you doing this174001:47:59.000 --> 01:48:02.399
for us? Why are you risking getting into so much trouble?174101:48:03.159 --> 01:48:05.560
His mind raced at a million miles an hour, trying174201:48:05.560 --> 01:48:07.720
to figure out how to explain why he was so174301:48:07.840 --> 01:48:12.680
willing to help her sister out. No, help her out.174401:48:12.800 --> 01:48:15.119
Before he could give it any more thought, he'd blurted174501:48:15.159 --> 01:48:18.840
out his response, It's because I like you. I've always174601:48:18.920 --> 01:48:20.720
liked you. I think you're sweet and cute, and I174701:48:20.800 --> 01:48:22.399
just wanted to help because I like you, and I174801:48:22.399 --> 01:48:24.039
thought maybe you'd like me back if I did it.174901:48:24.720 --> 01:48:27.960
He gasped for breath. Justin closed his eyes and took175001:48:27.960 --> 01:48:31.359
several deep breaths, eventually regaining control of his breathing. After175101:48:31.399 --> 01:48:34.640
a few brief minutes, he opened his eyes, finding that175201:48:34.720 --> 01:48:37.239
Cathy was staring at him, her mouth dropped open some175301:48:37.720 --> 01:48:41.560
and her eyes wide dread filled. Justin his heart beating175401:48:41.680 --> 01:48:45.279
harder and harder. Oh no, she's gonna leave and never175501:48:45.319 --> 01:48:47.399
speak to me again, and tell everybody I'm a loser175601:48:47.680 --> 01:48:51.279
and a freak, but she surprised him by smiling at175701:48:51.319 --> 01:48:57.239
him warmly and widely. Justin slowly smiled back. They brought175801:48:57.279 --> 01:49:00.560
their faces close to one another. Only a hair's breathed175901:49:00.600 --> 01:49:03.800
the part. The scream that ripped through the air put176001:49:03.840 --> 01:49:06.840
an end to that. Janet Kathy called out and rushed176101:49:06.840 --> 01:49:10.079
toward the location the scream emanated from, just In following176201:49:10.119 --> 01:49:13.039
in her wake. The duo arrived to find Janet laying176301:49:13.079 --> 01:49:16.039
on the floor, screaming and crying in agony, her eye176401:49:16.039 --> 01:49:19.960
sockets bleeding profusely. As for the former resident of those176501:49:20.039 --> 01:49:23.359
yawning black holes, they were in the hands of the176601:49:23.359 --> 01:49:29.399
clown doll. The toy turned its head and looked at them.176701:49:29.920 --> 01:49:32.600
Justin and Kathy bolted from the aisle, the clown doll176801:49:32.720 --> 01:49:35.239
right behind them. As they ran down the aisles, Cathy176901:49:35.279 --> 01:49:37.319
shrieked as the other toys began to spring from the177001:49:37.319 --> 01:49:40.720
shelves and joined the hunt. Stuffed bears and lions pawed177101:49:40.760 --> 01:49:43.560
at them with vicious claws that sprang from their plush baws.177201:49:43.600 --> 01:49:46.199
As metal model cars pelted down on the teens like rain,177301:49:46.359 --> 01:49:50.159
leaving bruises and cuts. Justin managed to grab a baseball177401:49:50.159 --> 01:49:53.079
bat from a nearby barrel and started swinging away, as177501:49:53.159 --> 01:49:55.520
Kathy grabbed a stick horse and did the same. The177601:49:55.560 --> 01:49:58.600
two sent toys flying left and right, but more and177701:49:58.640 --> 01:50:02.520
more came forth. Soon Justin and Cathy found themselves surrounded.177801:50:02.720 --> 01:50:05.840
They continued to swing away, but soon the terror toys177901:50:05.880 --> 01:50:10.000
grabbed their weapons and pulled them away, leaving the pair defenseless.178001:50:10.680 --> 01:50:12.840
Justin and Cathy looked at each other and took hold178101:50:12.880 --> 01:50:16.600
of each other's hand, ready to accept their doomed fate.178201:50:17.720 --> 01:50:20.640
The store lights came alive and bathed everything in a warm,178301:50:20.680 --> 01:50:25.319
fluorescent glow, causing the pair to start. Oh no, look178401:50:25.359 --> 01:50:28.520
at this mess, The voice of Justin's grandmother rang out.178501:50:29.079 --> 01:50:31.760
The older woman looked around at all the toys, who178601:50:31.840 --> 01:50:35.560
now looked back at her. She stopped a few feet178701:50:35.600 --> 01:50:41.119
away from the rattled teens. Grandma, what's going on? Why178801:50:41.159 --> 01:50:43.479
are you home? Justin spat out, in a mix of178901:50:43.560 --> 01:50:47.359
confusion and anger, and why did they attack us and179001:50:48.000 --> 01:50:52.399
my sister? My god Janet Kathy started, but soon stopped179101:50:52.720 --> 01:50:56.039
as she succumbed to raw grief. The senior shook her179201:50:56.079 --> 01:51:00.479
head and sighed, I suppose I should explain you see179301:51:00.479 --> 01:51:04.760
these toys, all of them. They come alive every nightfall.179401:51:06.159 --> 01:51:13.600
But but why how, Justin demanded Justin, dear your grandfather.179501:51:14.479 --> 01:51:18.880
Your grandfather made them that way. Business hasn't been the179601:51:18.920 --> 01:51:23.640
same for years, not since that damned department store opened up. Then,179701:51:24.319 --> 01:51:27.600
when we learned your grandpa didn't have long left, he179801:51:27.640 --> 01:51:30.640
was afraid of what would happen to the store. To me,179901:51:31.920 --> 01:51:34.520
it was his opinion that without any help, the store180001:51:34.520 --> 01:51:39.479
would have shut down, So he decided to create some help.180101:51:40.319 --> 01:51:43.560
Your grandfather came across a strange scroll during the war180201:51:43.600 --> 01:51:46.600
in a bombed out toy store, a store he swore180301:51:46.800 --> 01:51:51.760
was filled with screaming, burning toys. You can guess the rest.180401:51:52.199 --> 01:51:57.039
These toys have been cleaning, stocking, and providing security as180501:51:57.079 --> 01:52:03.319
you've seen here. Ever since, these wonderful toys. They're loyal180601:52:03.920 --> 01:52:09.199
and always have been and always will be. Justin and180701:52:09.279 --> 01:52:13.159
Cathy were taken aback. They believed it all, after all,180801:52:13.640 --> 01:52:19.600
how could they not, But something still bothered them. Oh,180901:52:19.600 --> 01:52:23.720
thank god, we're safe, then, Cathy told them. The two181001:52:23.800 --> 01:52:26.760
smiled as they looked at each other and then at181101:52:26.880 --> 01:52:31.239
Justin's grandma, but the smiles faded as they saw that181201:52:31.319 --> 01:52:36.319
The elder in front of them was grim. Grandma. Justin181301:52:36.359 --> 01:52:41.000
started with a shaky voice. I'm sorry, love, but you181401:52:41.079 --> 01:52:44.560
were trespassing. You know I don't like you coming down181501:52:44.600 --> 01:52:47.199
here at night to say nothing of your friend here181601:52:47.279 --> 01:52:52.079
and her sister. The store was closed. Besides, they don't181701:52:52.079 --> 01:52:55.920
move during the day, but they can still hear. When181801:52:55.960 --> 01:52:57.920
I left for the party, they told me about your181901:52:57.960 --> 01:53:02.079
little plan. That's why I came back early. You mean182001:53:03.239 --> 01:53:06.800
you're gonna turn us into the police, Kathy asked, No,182101:53:07.800 --> 01:53:10.840
Unfortunately for you two. I leave all my security matters182201:53:10.920 --> 01:53:13.920
up to them, and I believe I know what they'll182301:53:13.920 --> 01:53:18.479
do with you, she explained. The toy soldiers from the182401:53:18.520 --> 01:53:21.439
war scene filed in, aiming their guns at the teenagers.182501:53:22.199 --> 01:53:27.119
Justin and Cathy's faces displayed pure and utter terror. With that,182601:53:27.680 --> 01:53:30.279
Justin's grandmother left and made her way to the stairs.182701:53:30.760 --> 01:53:33.520
She looked over at the two again and shook her182801:53:33.560 --> 01:53:37.119
head and sighed. Then, with a flick of her wrist,182901:53:37.279 --> 01:53:41.159
she turned off the lights. A stream of sharp bangs183001:53:41.199 --> 01:54:02.880
filled the store. Santa Letters by Morgan Moore. Every year,183101:54:03.119 --> 01:54:06.680
millions of children send letters to Santa Claus expressing their183201:54:06.680 --> 01:54:09.079
wishes of what they hope will be under their tree183301:54:09.159 --> 01:54:14.159
come Christmas Day? But what if somebody used those letters183401:54:14.199 --> 01:54:19.119
for a not so joyful purpose. It has happened, and183501:54:19.199 --> 01:54:21.680
the following is purported to be the true account of183601:54:21.720 --> 01:54:27.000
those events. This is the case of the Circleville Santa183701:54:27.079 --> 01:54:40.920
Letter murders. In nineteen seventy eight, the citizens of the183801:54:40.920 --> 01:54:44.560
small Ohio town of Circleville were beginning their Christmas season183901:54:44.680 --> 01:54:48.720
like any other, planning the December holiday while eating Thanksgiving dinner,184001:54:49.039 --> 01:54:52.800
making travel arrangements, and all the other hullabaloo that comes184101:54:52.800 --> 01:54:56.159
with the impending season. While the adults were occupied, the184201:54:56.279 --> 01:54:59.720
children of Circleville were planning as well, once more taking184301:54:59.760 --> 01:55:02.279
up the job of writing letters to inform Old Saint184401:55:02.359 --> 01:55:06.560
Nicholas of their Yule Tide desires. Even the local schools184501:55:06.560 --> 01:55:08.880
were caught up in the fund, setting up small deposit184601:55:08.960 --> 01:55:12.680
mailboxes for the kids to place their letters in. All184701:55:12.880 --> 01:55:16.399
was well in Circleville as December came and Christmas magic184801:55:16.479 --> 01:55:20.000
filled the air even more than it already had throughout November.184901:55:20.600 --> 01:55:26.239
Everything was peace and joy. Unfortunately, that was all about185001:55:26.279 --> 01:55:30.319
to change. In the early morning of December seventh, ten185101:55:30.359 --> 01:55:33.760
year old Dylan Jones was delivering papers for the Circleville Herald,185201:55:34.039 --> 01:55:37.039
like he always did. When he reached the house of185301:55:37.119 --> 01:55:40.199
Joe and April Robinson, he was about to be greeted185401:55:40.520 --> 01:55:43.840
with a horrendous sight. Jones went around back to deliver185501:55:43.880 --> 01:55:46.159
the paper as he always did, when he discovered the185601:55:46.239 --> 01:55:50.439
mutilated body of five year old Mary Kate Robinson, a185701:55:50.520 --> 01:55:54.239
letter to Santa Claus nailed to her forehead. The boy185801:55:54.359 --> 01:55:57.680
screamed so loud that almost the entire neighborhood was jarred185901:55:57.720 --> 01:56:03.640
awake and came rushing to the scene. Police questioned the family, friends, teachers,186001:56:03.920 --> 01:56:06.760
everybody within the small community to try to figure out186101:56:06.800 --> 01:56:09.880
any clues and leads as to who may have committed186201:56:09.920 --> 01:56:14.880
this horrible crime, but no answers emerged. Unfortunately for the town.186301:56:15.359 --> 01:56:21.640
It was not the end of this tragedy. On December twelfth,186401:56:21.640 --> 01:56:24.800
around twelve o'clock in the afternoon, eight year old Michael186501:56:24.840 --> 01:56:26.920
Stolings was on his way to the park to meet186601:56:26.960 --> 01:56:29.439
up with a group of friends. At two o'clock, his186701:56:29.520 --> 01:56:32.279
friends called Michael's house and informed his parents that he186801:56:32.319 --> 01:56:35.640
had never showed up. Immediately, the Stallings phoned the police,186901:56:35.720 --> 01:56:38.439
worried about their son. The fate of the Robinson girl187001:56:38.520 --> 01:56:42.680
foremost in their minds. It wasn't long before police found Michael,187101:56:43.000 --> 01:56:46.960
much like Mary Kate Robinson, dead with his body mutilated187201:56:47.199 --> 01:56:50.439
and a letter to Santa Claus nailed to his forehead.187301:56:55.000 --> 01:56:58.279
The next day, Sheriff Patrick o'Kyle held a press conference187401:56:58.319 --> 01:57:00.920
in which he vowed to put a stop to this chaos.187501:57:01.520 --> 01:57:03.720
Curfews were put in place to make sure children of187601:57:03.760 --> 01:57:06.560
all ages were home by five o'clock at night, and187701:57:06.600 --> 01:57:10.319
the youngsters were also advised to travel in groups. Soon187801:57:10.520 --> 01:57:13.000
things looked to be improving, and a week went by187901:57:13.079 --> 01:57:18.640
without anything happening. That was soon to change. December twelfth188001:57:18.760 --> 01:57:22.439
was another quiet day. Fred and Darlene Brooks headed out188101:57:22.479 --> 01:57:25.399
for a long overdue date night, leaving fifteen year old188201:57:25.439 --> 01:57:29.159
Tanya wise Cup in charge of their children. The pair188301:57:29.239 --> 01:57:32.520
returned it close to midnight to find their home bathed188401:57:32.600 --> 01:57:35.960
in darkness. Upon entering the house, the two noticed a188501:57:36.039 --> 01:57:40.199
smell they later said reminded them of rotting meat. They188601:57:40.199 --> 01:57:42.479
didn't think much of it, as they had recently been188701:57:42.520 --> 01:57:45.399
battling with raccoons, getting stuck in the attic and dying.188801:57:46.079 --> 01:57:50.680
Tired and tipsy, the Brooks went to bed, assuming that188901:57:50.760 --> 01:57:53.520
their babysitter was down in the basement a sleep, spending189001:57:53.560 --> 01:57:56.119
the night as she tended to do when she had189101:57:56.119 --> 01:57:59.640
school the next day. When they awakened the following morning,189201:57:59.840 --> 01:58:02.359
the couple went downstairs to check on Tania and see189301:58:02.359 --> 01:58:06.119
if she had indeed stayed overnight. What they discovered was189401:58:06.199 --> 01:58:10.840
nothing short of a bloodbath. Their children, John, Laura, and189501:58:10.960 --> 01:58:15.520
Victoria were all dead, letters nailed to their foreheads, but189601:58:15.680 --> 01:58:19.319
this time there was a chilling new twist. A limb189701:58:19.520 --> 01:58:22.960
from each child was placed under the small Christmas tree189801:58:23.199 --> 01:58:26.840
set up in the basement. As for Tanya, she laid189901:58:26.880 --> 01:58:30.399
discarded on the floor, cut from neck to groin, and190001:58:30.520 --> 01:58:37.880
left to bleed out. Later that day, the city announced190101:58:37.880 --> 01:58:41.680
a new curfew for all residents, stating everyone in town190201:58:41.760 --> 01:58:45.039
must be home and have their businesses closed by four pm.190301:58:45.359 --> 01:58:49.319
Sheriff Okyle also advised residents take extra precautions to keep190401:58:49.359 --> 01:58:52.960
their homes locked and defended. The city became a ghost190501:58:53.000 --> 01:58:56.039
town come four o'clock. The chimes of clocks that rang190601:58:56.119 --> 01:59:00.920
the curfew hour ushered in eerie quiet. Twenty second and190701:59:01.000 --> 01:59:04.560
twenty third came and went with no incidents, but the190801:59:04.600 --> 01:59:08.399
town remained firmly on guard. The morning of December twenty190901:59:08.399 --> 01:59:11.359
fourth came with no surprises as well. It was a191001:59:11.439 --> 01:59:15.039
dreary winter day, the gloom and holiday cheer mixing together191101:59:15.199 --> 01:59:18.960
like cold and warm fronts. Circleville had started to loosen191201:59:19.079 --> 01:59:22.279
up slightly, something not hard to do considering it was191301:59:22.359 --> 01:59:26.479
Christmas Eve. The curfew was still in effect, but that191401:59:26.520 --> 01:59:29.079
seemed to almost add to the magic of the holiday,191501:59:29.079 --> 01:59:32.800
as families stayed bundled in together, celebrating in warm homes191601:59:33.159 --> 01:59:37.279
that stood in contrast to the cold outside. Night came191701:59:37.319 --> 01:59:40.439
and the hours drifted along. It seemed that perhaps these191801:59:40.560 --> 01:59:44.159
terrible crimes were at an end. Christmas morning came and191901:59:44.199 --> 01:59:46.560
the police, who had stood guard in the city streets192001:59:46.600 --> 01:59:49.159
throughout the night, started to head back to the station,192101:59:49.640 --> 01:59:52.119
ready to go home to their own families to celebrate.192201:59:52.600 --> 01:59:56.239
But before anybody could leave, a call came in. Somehow192301:59:56.479 --> 02:00:01.680
the killer had struck again, right under their noses twice.192402:00:01.800 --> 02:00:04.760
The first victim was ten year old Jackson Devns, who192502:00:04.800 --> 02:00:07.439
was found dead in his bedroom by his parents his192602:00:07.520 --> 02:00:11.039
window pried open. At the same time, police also discovered192702:00:11.079 --> 02:00:13.840
the body of six year old Addison Ferguson, who was192802:00:13.880 --> 02:00:16.760
found in a shed in her family's back yard. This192902:00:16.840 --> 02:00:19.960
sent the town over the edge into a full blown frenzy.193002:00:20.319 --> 02:00:24.039
Who was responsible for all these deaths? How could anybody193102:00:24.079 --> 02:00:26.800
have broken into the homes and committed the crimes without193202:00:26.840 --> 02:00:31.039
being caught? Who was next? Police set up barricades to193302:00:31.079 --> 02:00:33.840
close off the town and began a city wide manhunt,193402:00:33.960 --> 02:00:37.560
joined by the town's residents. All day they searched, and193502:00:37.600 --> 02:00:40.399
the next day and the next. For a solid week193602:00:40.520 --> 02:00:44.319
they searched, but no leads arose and no culprit was found.193702:00:44.960 --> 02:00:48.279
The new year came and it seemed that finally there193802:00:48.359 --> 02:00:51.920
was peace. No murders had been committed since Christmas, and193902:00:52.039 --> 02:00:54.960
law enforcement officials theorized that there would be no more194002:00:54.960 --> 02:00:59.880
incidents since the season was over. On January tenth, Circleville194102:00:59.880 --> 02:01:02.880
had held a citywide memorial service in honor of the victims,194202:01:03.279 --> 02:01:06.319
and has held a similar service every Christmas Eve since.194302:01:07.359 --> 02:01:10.960
These murders left many questions, all starting with who the194402:01:11.039 --> 02:01:15.359
murderer was. Upon reflection, they stated that they believed the194502:01:15.439 --> 02:01:18.119
murderer due to the use of the letters the children194602:01:18.159 --> 02:01:20.880
wrote to Santa Claus, had to work for either the194702:01:20.920 --> 02:01:25.119
postal service or the public school. As such, the police194802:01:25.159 --> 02:01:28.880
conducted mass interviews for all post office and school employees.194902:01:29.720 --> 02:01:33.479
While everyone interviewed seemed on edge, nobody stood out as195002:01:33.479 --> 02:01:36.760
being a psychopathic killer. As the weeks rolled on, the195102:01:36.800 --> 02:01:40.399
case began to go cold. Without conclusive evidence to form195202:01:40.479 --> 02:01:43.960
any leads, the city and police made the controversial decision195302:01:44.439 --> 02:01:49.319
to stop the investigation. Nineteen seventy nine continued on, the195402:01:49.359 --> 02:01:52.479
tragedies still hanging over the town of Circleville like the195502:01:52.520 --> 02:01:56.119
specter of death. People slowly started to return to what195602:01:56.159 --> 02:01:59.520
they would call a normal life, with only hushed whispers195702:01:59.720 --> 02:02:03.960
of the Santa Letter murders remaining. Months went by, and195802:02:04.039 --> 02:02:07.359
soon it was November. The Christmas spirit began to grow195902:02:07.359 --> 02:02:10.119
in the town once more, but it was tempered by196002:02:10.239 --> 02:02:15.279
fears of a new murder spree possibly arising. In preparation,196102:02:15.439 --> 02:02:17.960
Circleville schools announced that they would not put up letter196202:02:18.000 --> 02:02:21.199
boxes for kids this year as a safety precaution. The196302:02:21.279 --> 02:02:24.000
post office took action as well, stating that any letters196402:02:24.039 --> 02:02:26.680
addressed to Santa Claus would go straight to the police196502:02:26.720 --> 02:02:30.359
for protection. Everything that the town could think of they implemented,196602:02:30.640 --> 02:02:35.560
hoping to avoid another year of mayhem. December nineteen seventy196702:02:35.640 --> 02:02:41.000
nine began and ended with no murders. This left everyone baffled.196802:02:41.560 --> 02:02:44.640
Why did the killer not strike again? What was it196902:02:44.680 --> 02:02:47.720
about this year compared to last to make him or197002:02:47.840 --> 02:02:52.000
her not lash out? Perhaps the crimes would be nothing197102:02:52.039 --> 02:02:55.039
more than a freak event and unsolved mystery. Like so197202:02:55.119 --> 02:02:58.960
many others. That feeling continued into the next year, and197302:02:59.039 --> 02:03:04.159
the next, and on and on to this day. Nobody197402:03:04.239 --> 02:03:07.279
knows who could have been behind the murders. Christmas in197502:03:07.319 --> 02:03:10.239
Circleville was never quite the same, but the years dulled197602:03:10.239 --> 02:03:13.439
the fear somewhat, and the police allowed the post office197702:03:13.439 --> 02:03:16.680
to start accepting letters to Santa Claus once more, but197802:03:16.760 --> 02:03:20.600
did not allow the school to reopen their dropbox. The197902:03:20.680 --> 02:03:25.039
same question always pops up, who did it? While law198002:03:25.119 --> 02:03:28.560
enforcement never did name a suspect or conduct any arrests198102:03:28.880 --> 02:03:31.640
Okyle later said that he had a theory of the198202:03:31.760 --> 02:03:37.119
murderer's identity. He suspected that elementary school teacher Linda Morrison198302:03:37.520 --> 02:03:41.000
was the killer after discovering her dead from suicide in198402:03:41.119 --> 02:03:44.560
January of nineteen eighty. His reasoning was based on the198502:03:44.600 --> 02:03:47.039
fact that she was the one responsible for handing the198602:03:47.119 --> 02:03:50.600
letters to the post office in nineteen seventy eight, it198702:03:50.680 --> 02:03:53.880
was his belief that she made photocopies of the letters198802:03:53.920 --> 02:03:57.119
before delivering them. As for how she would have selected198902:03:57.119 --> 02:04:00.520
her victims, O Kyle claimed that she did so based199002:04:00.560 --> 02:04:03.800
on which children in the school were receiving discipline for199102:04:03.880 --> 02:04:09.239
bad behavior. However, there was no concrete evidence. Perhaps it199202:04:09.399 --> 02:04:12.560
was Morrison trying to enact a form of discipline on199302:04:12.600 --> 02:04:15.199
the children who acted out and the parents who raised199402:04:15.199 --> 02:04:19.039
their children to act as such. Though perhaps it was199502:04:19.079 --> 02:04:23.199
a disgruntled Post office employee. Maybe it was somebody else199602:04:23.279 --> 02:04:26.439
who worked at one of the schools. Some theory suggest199702:04:26.520 --> 02:04:31.520
it was o Kyle himself or another person within law enforcement. Doubtless,199802:04:32.000 --> 02:04:35.319
no one will ever know Forshare. All that is known199902:04:35.720 --> 02:04:38.359
is that the fear lingers in the cool, crisp winter200002:04:38.439 --> 02:04:43.079
air that one day the devilish Deliverer will once again return,200102:04:43.640 --> 02:04:56.560
bringing Christmas terror to Circleville. The weather outside is frightful200202:04:56.840 --> 02:05:01.479
by Shane Migliovaka. It was the worst blizzard the city200302:05:01.520 --> 02:05:04.640
had seen in over a decade. In time, the storm200402:05:04.640 --> 02:05:07.840
would be known as the Christmas Eve Blizzard of seventy three,200502:05:08.039 --> 02:05:12.399
but tonight it was just the storm. Patrol women Halsey200602:05:12.479 --> 02:05:15.720
Stone strained her eyes scanning the sidewalk as the radio200702:05:15.800 --> 02:05:19.920
car crawled down the street, her partner, officer Roy socerso200802:05:20.119 --> 02:05:22.439
at the wheel. This part of the city had been200902:05:22.479 --> 02:05:27.079
hit hard by the country's current financial stagnation, decaying buildings,201002:05:27.159 --> 02:05:29.640
junk piled on the side of the street, broke down,201102:05:29.680 --> 02:05:33.079
cars left to rot, and open lots. For Stone, this201202:05:33.239 --> 02:05:35.720
was too much like the poverty she'd grown up around.201302:05:36.520 --> 02:05:39.720
Many of the large buildings were seemingly abandoned, but in truth,201402:05:39.960 --> 02:05:43.319
whole families lived within their walls, as did the normal201502:05:43.399 --> 02:05:48.279
cast of junkies, drunks, and other shady characters. An anonymous201602:05:48.279 --> 02:05:51.840
caller had reported a woman screaming for help. They'd circled201702:05:51.840 --> 02:05:54.439
the block a few times but come up with nothing.201802:05:55.000 --> 02:05:58.319
The blizzard had driven everyone indoors. Between the strong gusts201902:05:58.319 --> 02:06:01.159
of wind and the visibility being shit, nobody in the202002:06:01.279 --> 02:06:04.840
right mind would be out here, But here they were202102:06:05.600 --> 02:06:08.640
on Christmas Eve, no less, not that either of them202202:06:08.640 --> 02:06:11.479
had anywhere else to be. Stone had left her family202302:06:11.520 --> 02:06:14.119
behind when she'd moved to the big city, and her202402:06:14.119 --> 02:06:18.079
partner was estranged from his wife and daughter. Stone's left202502:06:18.079 --> 02:06:23.439
hand clasped and unclasped her holster, almost keeping a steady rhythm. Enough,202602:06:23.800 --> 02:06:29.239
snapped Socker, So what with the holster? Kid shit? She202702:06:29.319 --> 02:06:32.000
hadn't realized she'd been doing it. She could get lost202802:06:32.000 --> 02:06:36.359
in thought sometimes, Sorry, this is just a bullshit call,202902:06:36.479 --> 02:06:41.479
kid sure Stone took off her uniform cap. She smoothed203002:06:41.520 --> 02:06:44.439
back some of her long blonde hair that obstinately refused203102:06:44.439 --> 02:06:48.359
to cooperate. What you think there's something to this call?203202:06:48.800 --> 02:06:51.439
Probably just some junkie trying to steal a few bucks,203302:06:51.520 --> 02:06:54.640
or some asshole trying to stay warm by raping a203402:06:55.279 --> 02:06:59.479
He stopped himself, his face reddened a little. Sorry, kid203502:07:00.079 --> 02:07:03.800
Stone adjusted her dirty blonde ponytail. Maybe he was right.203602:07:04.760 --> 02:07:07.039
How long do you want this to go on? Soccer203702:07:07.119 --> 02:07:12.560
so said, what your shitty attitude? No Oakie looking for203802:07:12.680 --> 02:07:17.600
our phantom suspect. God. She hated that. When somebody back203902:07:17.600 --> 02:07:19.920
at the precinct found out about her family coming from204002:07:19.960 --> 02:07:22.960
the Ozarks, one of the assholes had started calling her204102:07:23.159 --> 02:07:26.159
oak They got it from some old song and it204202:07:26.279 --> 02:07:30.920
stuck like glue. You got somewhere to be, she said, somehow,204302:07:30.960 --> 02:07:35.199
making it sound like fuck you. He shot her a look, no,204402:07:36.520 --> 02:07:40.199
just think our time could be spent better. She drummed204502:07:40.199 --> 02:07:43.159
her fingers on the dash. All she wanted to do204602:07:43.359 --> 02:07:46.640
was bounce soccer So's head off the dash. The anger204702:07:46.720 --> 02:07:50.800
was always there, had always been there. Once it scared her.204802:07:51.319 --> 02:07:55.279
Now it was a friend. You know what, Okie, I'm204902:07:55.279 --> 02:07:59.479
gonna make it your call. Do we continue? Looking? Stone205002:07:59.520 --> 02:08:05.119
took a d breath. My choice, no bitching, you're a call.205102:08:06.039 --> 02:08:09.079
Since she'd been a kid, she'd had a feeling she205202:08:09.119 --> 02:08:12.560
could always tell when something bad was coming. Stone had205302:08:12.560 --> 02:08:18.199
that feeling now another time around. If there's nothing, we go. Okay,205402:08:18.640 --> 02:08:22.359
fair enough? Soccer So turned the corner. As outside the205502:08:22.359 --> 02:08:25.439
wind gusted. Stone could feel the car move a little,205602:08:25.520 --> 02:08:28.560
pushed by the wind. We've been at this dance for205702:08:28.560 --> 02:08:31.640
almost a month now, Kid, I'm supposed to be training you,205802:08:32.079 --> 02:08:35.600
be your partner, and I know jack and shit about you.205902:08:36.479 --> 02:08:39.239
That was the way she liked it. There was too206002:08:39.359 --> 02:08:43.880
much in her past. What's there to know? I'm from Missouri.206102:08:44.560 --> 02:08:47.520
Should open up more, hang out with some of us.206202:08:47.800 --> 02:08:51.039
Why you guys constantly make fun of me and where206302:08:51.039 --> 02:08:55.520
I came from. That's just ribbing. You no different than206402:08:55.520 --> 02:08:58.560
any other rookie. You make it harder on yourself anyway,206502:08:58.560 --> 02:09:02.239
acting like a brat. Sorry, I'm just not miss fun.206602:09:02.239 --> 02:09:05.319
In Games, a woman came out of the blanket of206702:09:05.319 --> 02:09:08.680
falling snow running at their car, screaming. There was blood206802:09:08.680 --> 02:09:11.680
on her hands and jacket. Soccer So swerved the car206902:09:11.720 --> 02:09:14.079
and ended up in a snow bank. Stone was already207002:09:14.119 --> 02:09:18.960
undoing her seat belt. Fuck you, okay, kid, Yeah. The207102:09:19.000 --> 02:09:22.279
woman came running towards them. Stone started to open the door.207202:09:22.760 --> 02:09:26.159
Oh god, officer, I'm so sorry, ma'am. Take it easy.207302:09:26.479 --> 02:09:29.920
Is that your blood? Are you injured? She shook her head. No,207402:09:30.560 --> 02:09:35.159
the woman was shaking his blood. Soccer So tried getting207502:09:35.159 --> 02:09:37.560
his door open, but the snow bank wouldn't give as207602:09:37.560 --> 02:09:41.279
he slammed the door repeatedly against the packed snow. Stone207702:09:41.279 --> 02:09:46.119
took the panicked woman towards their car. What's your name, ma'am, Dorothy,207802:09:46.760 --> 02:09:50.199
it's Dorothy. Okay, Dorothy. I need you to get in207902:09:50.239 --> 02:09:55.880
the back of the car. Dorothy hesitated, What why? You'll208002:09:55.880 --> 02:09:58.520
be safe until we can get somebody to look at you.208102:09:59.159 --> 02:10:01.520
Soccer So find he gave up on getting his door208202:10:01.560 --> 02:10:04.840
to open. Dorothy slid in and sat in the middle208302:10:04.840 --> 02:10:08.000
of the back seat. A steel mesh separated Dorothy from208402:10:08.000 --> 02:10:11.640
soccer so you'll be safe here. Now. Can you tell208502:10:11.680 --> 02:10:15.520
me what happened Dorothy. Dorothy told her how she'd been208602:10:15.560 --> 02:10:17.640
cutting through the alleyway on her way home from the208702:10:17.680 --> 02:10:20.319
corner store, when a large man had come out of208802:10:20.359 --> 02:10:23.479
a nook in the alley and chased after her. When208902:10:23.560 --> 02:10:26.600
she fell on the icy ground, he grabbed her. Terrified,209002:10:26.640 --> 02:10:29.520
she pulled a metal nail file from her purse, stuck209102:10:29.560 --> 02:10:33.159
it into his leg, and made her escape. Dorothy pointed209202:10:33.199 --> 02:10:35.399
to the alley across the street, a little way's back.209302:10:36.199 --> 02:10:40.760
It was there. Thank you, Dorothy, Stone said, you're very brave.209402:10:41.199 --> 02:10:43.800
My partner will take care of you until an ambulance arrives.209502:10:44.359 --> 02:10:48.119
I will Dorothy looked up at Stone, perhaps sensing what209602:10:48.239 --> 02:10:51.880
was about to happen. I looked into his eyes. Officer,209702:10:52.760 --> 02:10:58.159
there was nothing inside. Stone tried to reassure her. It's209802:10:58.199 --> 02:11:02.399
going to be okay, kid, don't even think Soccriso said.209902:11:02.760 --> 02:11:05.720
She cut him off. Call it in, get back up.210002:11:06.439 --> 02:11:09.279
Stone slammed the door shut Before he could protest any more.210102:11:10.199 --> 02:11:12.520
She took off down the street towards the alley. Dorothy210202:11:12.560 --> 02:11:15.880
had indicated this was it that feeling of dread that210302:11:15.960 --> 02:11:18.000
she'd felt her heart felt like it was going to210402:11:18.039 --> 02:11:21.079
break free from her chest. She'd made it to the alley.210502:11:21.319 --> 02:11:25.199
He could still be here nursing his wound, she thought. Ultimately,210602:11:25.319 --> 02:11:30.239
he wasn't in the alley, but something was the nail file.210702:11:30.880 --> 02:11:33.319
He'd pulled it out. Now he'd bleed more and make210802:11:33.359 --> 02:11:36.960
her job easier. Stone followed the blood down another alley210902:11:36.960 --> 02:11:39.880
and out to a deserted street. She had never been211002:11:40.000 --> 02:11:42.479
much of a hunter. Her dad had tried to teach her,211102:11:42.479 --> 02:11:46.159
but her patience was lacking. He'd seemed so disappointed in her.211202:11:46.520 --> 02:11:49.279
But those times out in the woods with him, just walking,211302:11:50.359 --> 02:11:52.520
those were some of her favorite memories of growing up.211402:11:53.439 --> 02:11:56.079
But now her father was spending another Christmas in prison,211502:11:56.760 --> 02:12:02.760
She sighed. From somewhere above, Christmas music drifted down hark211602:12:02.840 --> 02:12:07.520
the Herald Angels. The heavy snowfall was quickly covering the blood.211702:12:08.720 --> 02:12:11.479
Stone came out of the alley. She heard voices and211802:12:11.560 --> 02:12:14.479
a door close. She spun around her gun at the ready.211902:12:15.039 --> 02:12:18.760
A young couple stood there holding Christmas gifts, a look212002:12:18.800 --> 02:12:22.199
of shock etched on their faces. Their little dog on212102:12:22.279 --> 02:12:25.640
a leash yelped at her. The man raised his hands,212202:12:25.720 --> 02:12:30.359
dropping the gifts. Have you seen anyone suspicious other than me,212302:12:30.960 --> 02:12:35.199
maybe bleeding. The dog continued yelping. The man pulled hard212402:12:35.239 --> 02:12:38.800
on its leash. Shut up, Mitzi. Stone wouldn't mind slamming212502:12:38.840 --> 02:12:42.680
the guy against the wall. No, officer, I need you212602:12:42.720 --> 02:12:45.159
both to go back inside. There's a dangerous and wounded212702:12:45.239 --> 02:12:48.319
man in the vicinity. Did you hear that?212802:12:48.760 --> 02:12:52.840
Better check the locks on your doors. Weakly, spooky, We'll212902:12:52.880 --> 02:12:53.680
be right back.213002:12:55.239 --> 02:12:59.159
Stone crossed the street. The trail continued down, pasted a213102:12:59.239 --> 02:13:04.159
large abandoned building. Then it stopped ahead of her. Stone213202:13:04.199 --> 02:13:07.640
heard a loud, metallic clank, like a metal door or213302:13:07.720 --> 02:13:12.319
lid closing. She regretted, leaving SoC or So behind. No.213402:13:12.720 --> 02:13:15.199
Stone thought, this is where I show them what I213502:13:15.239 --> 02:13:20.359
can do. She crouched slowly. She peeked around the corner213602:13:20.399 --> 02:13:23.079
of the building until she had a full view of213702:13:23.119 --> 02:13:27.800
the small street that lay beyond. There, next to an213802:13:27.800 --> 02:13:31.359
abandoned theater was a metal hatch set in the ground.213902:13:32.239 --> 02:13:35.880
Those led to basements. Soccer So had told her. Stone214002:13:36.279 --> 02:13:39.199
gun at the ready inch towards it. Snow had been214102:13:39.199 --> 02:13:43.840
brushed off very recently, and there was a bloody handprint214202:13:43.840 --> 02:13:48.479
on the hatch. Got you, bastard, she thought, She pulled214302:13:48.479 --> 02:13:51.119
a rag from her jacket. There was no way she214402:13:51.199 --> 02:13:54.199
was taking a chance of fucking up the evidence her214502:13:54.239 --> 02:13:59.239
service pistol. Ready, Stone pulled on the latch. Locked, of course,214602:14:00.199 --> 02:14:05.239
she'd have to find another way in. Then she heard it,214702:14:06.439 --> 02:14:10.359
the rustle of wings. Stone looked up. Perched on a214802:14:10.439 --> 02:14:14.159
rusty metal railing was a large white owl. It stared214902:14:14.159 --> 02:14:18.039
at her with its large luminous eyes, eyes that looked215002:14:18.159 --> 02:14:24.159
into her. She stared at it, transfixed. Then it struck215102:14:24.199 --> 02:14:27.479
her what it was. Sitting on the railing of a215202:14:27.560 --> 02:14:30.960
fire escape. She ran over and discovered the bottom of215302:14:31.000 --> 02:14:34.479
the escape's ladder was just out of reach. Frantically, she215402:14:34.520 --> 02:14:37.079
looked around for something she could use to get up there,215502:14:38.000 --> 02:14:40.720
and there it was, sitting against the far wall of215602:14:40.720 --> 02:14:45.239
an adjacent building, an old plastic chair. She carried the215702:14:45.319 --> 02:14:48.880
chair over, and on tiptoes, she reached and pulled herself215802:14:48.960 --> 02:14:52.520
up all that tree climbing as a kid. Paid off215902:14:53.560 --> 02:14:56.680
the fire escape led to a locked second story metal door.216002:14:57.279 --> 02:14:59.520
Not far from it was a window set above a216102:14:59.600 --> 02:15:03.239
narrow ledge. She stepped over the metal railing and on216202:15:03.319 --> 02:15:06.720
to the ledge. The wind howled. She feared a really216302:15:06.760 --> 02:15:10.079
strong gust might blow her off her perch. Her feet216402:15:10.119 --> 02:15:13.880
knocked snow free as she inched towards the window. Finally216502:15:14.399 --> 02:15:17.560
she made it. Using the flashlight from her belt, Stone216602:15:17.600 --> 02:15:20.600
smashed through the glass and climbed through the window into216702:15:20.600 --> 02:15:24.159
the dark interior. She played the beam of the flashlight216802:15:24.199 --> 02:15:26.600
over the floor and walls of what had once been216902:15:26.640 --> 02:15:30.560
in office. The broken glass crumbled underfoot as she made217002:15:30.560 --> 02:15:34.079
her way through the room. Stone crept into the hallway217102:15:34.399 --> 02:15:37.800
and soon entered the main theater area. Paint was chipping217202:15:37.840 --> 02:15:40.680
off the walls. The seats that hadn't been ripped out217302:15:40.760 --> 02:15:44.239
or defaced in some way were covered in years of dust.217402:15:45.199 --> 02:15:48.600
She headed towards the stage area. Her snow covered boots217502:15:48.680 --> 02:15:51.680
kicked up dust as she moved, leaving wet tracks on217602:15:51.720 --> 02:15:56.319
the dirty floor. Stone climbed onto the stage. An ugly217702:15:56.359 --> 02:15:59.640
looking green couch sat by itself at the center the217802:15:59.680 --> 02:16:03.279
curtain and pulled shut behind it. She opened the curtain217902:16:03.800 --> 02:16:08.039
and entered the backstage, Stone's flashlight being caught a blank218002:16:08.039 --> 02:16:11.239
white face. She almost pulled her trigger before she realized218102:16:11.640 --> 02:16:16.960
a mannequin stood before her. She walked past the expressionless figure,218202:16:17.920 --> 02:16:22.960
Fuck you asshole. There was a long, dark hallway that218302:16:23.079 --> 02:16:27.000
led off the backstage area. Old mattresses were stacked in218402:16:27.039 --> 02:16:31.520
a haphazard pile stained with god knows what. A musty218502:16:31.640 --> 02:16:36.360
smell permeated the air. A large wood wardrobe sat in218602:16:36.399 --> 02:16:40.200
the middle of the hall. Rotting Stone raised her weapon218702:16:40.239 --> 02:16:42.840
in her left hand and reached out with her right.218802:16:43.520 --> 02:16:45.799
She yanked the door open, causing it to fall off.218902:16:45.840 --> 02:16:53.120
In the process. Stone backed up. It was empty. Continuing on,219002:16:53.479 --> 02:16:56.680
she passed a pile of broken props and raggedy costumes219102:16:56.680 --> 02:17:01.040
on racks before arriving at a metal staircase lee to219202:17:01.120 --> 02:17:05.600
the basement. She headed down, the metal clanking under her boots.219302:17:05.760 --> 02:17:08.639
The basement hallway was lined with brick and appeared to219402:17:08.639 --> 02:17:12.000
be in better shape than the walls above. Another foul219502:17:12.159 --> 02:17:16.840
smell filled the air down here, the smell of something rotten.219602:17:17.840 --> 02:17:20.440
A mattress lay on the floor. Next to it sat219702:17:20.520 --> 02:17:24.879
stacks of books and empty soup cans. Someone was living here.219802:17:25.680 --> 02:17:28.959
Taped to the wall were newspaper clippings and excerpts from219902:17:29.000 --> 02:17:37.760
books and magazines, all concerning axe murders. Above them, scrawled220002:17:37.799 --> 02:17:43.879
in blood red the axe man cometh, Oh great, he's220102:17:43.920 --> 02:17:46.879
got a secret identity. At the far end of the220202:17:46.959 --> 02:17:50.280
room was a metal door. A large rusty chain was220302:17:50.319 --> 02:17:54.120
wound through the handles and secured with a padlock. Before220402:17:54.120 --> 02:17:57.239
she could reach the door, something wet hid her face.220502:17:57.920 --> 02:18:02.559
Stone turned her beam upwards to see multiple severed arms220602:18:03.079 --> 02:18:07.959
hanging from large strands of butcher's twine. Not thinking, she220702:18:08.079 --> 02:18:10.559
bolted forward and crashed into the metal doors with all220802:18:10.559 --> 02:18:13.680
her might. The doors tore from their rusty hinges and220902:18:13.719 --> 02:18:16.319
crashed to the floor with Stone and tow. She quickly221002:18:16.319 --> 02:18:18.680
sprung to her feet and swung her flashlight around the221102:18:18.719 --> 02:18:23.079
new room. Taped to the walls in various sizes were221202:18:23.159 --> 02:18:26.680
crosses made out of paper. She inspected one of the221302:18:26.680 --> 02:18:30.000
crosses on the wall closest to her to find it221402:18:30.040 --> 02:18:33.319
was made from Bible pages. At the far end of221502:18:33.319 --> 02:18:36.760
the room was some kind of demented altar made primarily221602:18:36.799 --> 02:18:40.239
of lashed together bones. A large metal cross stood at221702:18:40.239 --> 02:18:43.879
its center, surrounded by a multitude of crimson candles, which221802:18:43.920 --> 02:18:49.719
filled the surrounding air with acrid smoke. I've taken their sin,221902:18:50.520 --> 02:18:54.239
a deep voice said from behind her. Startled Stone spun222002:18:54.280 --> 02:18:56.840
around to see a brute of a man covered in shoddy,222102:18:57.000 --> 02:19:00.000
blood stained clothes standing in the doorway, cradling an act222202:19:00.200 --> 02:19:02.520
in his arms as if it were a newborn baby.222302:19:03.440 --> 02:19:06.319
Around his right leg, a rag was tied where he'd222402:19:06.360 --> 02:19:10.680
been stabbed by Dorothy. I cut it from their bodies.222502:19:11.760 --> 02:19:17.440
You killed them, freed them. They died without sin. He222602:19:17.520 --> 02:19:23.399
walked forward towards her with a limp. Freeze you motherfucker Stone, barked,222702:19:23.440 --> 02:19:28.280
her voice trembling. He stopped in his tracks. I was chosen.222802:19:28.959 --> 02:19:34.840
He held out the axe. It chose me. Shut up. She222902:19:34.840 --> 02:19:37.559
didn't want to hear his psycho sails. Pitch. Put the223002:19:37.600 --> 02:19:40.200
axe on the ground and place your hands behind your head.223102:19:40.959 --> 02:19:45.440
He stared at her as if not comprehending. I've been223202:19:45.479 --> 02:19:50.360
to another plane ascended. I was sent back to do223302:19:50.399 --> 02:19:54.719
their work. Here, do it, fucker Stone, screamed her, anger223402:19:54.760 --> 02:19:58.479
getting the best of her. He set the axe down, tenderly,223502:19:58.879 --> 02:20:03.200
putting his hands together behind his head. Neil, He did223602:20:03.200 --> 02:20:06.760
as he was told with some effort. She moved forward223702:20:06.840 --> 02:20:10.200
and kicked the axe away. She noticed before its flight223802:20:10.440 --> 02:20:14.440
that it was covered in strange symbols. The wind outside223902:20:14.520 --> 02:20:19.879
sounded like whispers in the air, calling her. I can't help,224002:20:19.920 --> 02:20:24.719
but notice your left handed He said this caught her224102:20:24.760 --> 02:20:26.719
off guard enough that the man was able to lunge224202:20:26.719 --> 02:20:29.040
at her legs with a pocket knife, catching her in224302:20:29.079 --> 02:20:31.239
the side of her right leg. The thirty eight in224402:20:31.280 --> 02:20:34.239
the flashlight fell from her hands as she instinctively grabbed224502:20:34.239 --> 02:20:39.319
her wound. Stone retreated as painfully he stood and retrieved224602:20:39.319 --> 02:20:43.120
his axe. Do you know what it's like to die?224702:20:43.280 --> 02:20:47.639
The painful death of a million? Screams in silence every day.224802:20:48.719 --> 02:20:51.440
Stone fell against the wall, leaving a trail of blood224902:20:51.440 --> 02:20:57.319
in her wake. Then they came to me. Angels took225002:20:57.399 --> 02:21:02.959
my pain, gave me this act. God teaches us with pain.225102:21:03.959 --> 02:21:08.319
That's how we become worthy of his love through pain.225202:21:09.559 --> 02:21:14.479
He limped forward. Stone's head began swimming wildly. Would you225302:21:14.680 --> 02:21:19.600
like to meet God, he asked, raising the axe. She225402:21:19.719 --> 02:21:22.760
felt the cold metal sticking in her leg. With all225502:21:22.799 --> 02:21:26.479
her remaining strength and channeled anger. Stone pulled the knife225602:21:26.479 --> 02:21:31.879
from her wound. The pain was immeasurable. You first, Stone screamed.225702:21:32.079 --> 02:21:35.239
She plunged the blade deep within his breast, causing him225802:21:35.239 --> 02:21:38.639
to howl in agony. Stone pulled out the blade and225902:21:38.719 --> 02:21:43.719
brought it down again and again and again until blackness226002:21:44.440 --> 02:21:51.440
took her. She awoke to find the man in a226102:21:51.479 --> 02:21:56.520
fetal position, sobbing loudly, Stone crawled forward and found her226202:21:56.559 --> 02:22:00.360
thirty eight. The man started to slowly rise, using the226302:22:00.399 --> 02:22:04.440
axe to prop himself up. Don't you move, Stone said, hoarsely.226402:22:05.559 --> 02:22:09.280
I could have helped you. He stood fully on, shaking legs.226502:22:10.319 --> 02:22:14.559
I said, don't move. She took aim. Her arms felt226602:22:14.559 --> 02:22:19.639
like rubber, cleansed the world of sin. He limped towards her,226702:22:19.920 --> 02:22:24.079
dragging the axe along the ground. Stop, she said, her226802:22:24.159 --> 02:22:30.680
voice breaking. You see it, don't you see them? It's226902:22:30.719 --> 02:22:35.680
in your eyes, in your soul, he said, reaching out227002:22:35.719 --> 02:22:39.719
for her with a bloody hand. Stone squeezed the trigger,227102:22:39.920 --> 02:22:43.120
firing around into his chest and another into his forehead.227202:22:43.440 --> 02:22:46.959
His brains exited in a geyser of gore. He fell227302:22:47.000 --> 02:22:50.399
to his knees, the axe clattering to the ground. Then227402:22:51.280 --> 02:22:56.440
he fell forward. His body shuddered and lay still. The227502:22:56.520 --> 02:23:02.799
darkness took her once more. Stone saw her parents playing227602:23:02.799 --> 02:23:05.959
with her as a child, followed by the great white227702:23:06.000 --> 02:23:10.600
owl swooping down from the sky. It landed in a227802:23:10.639 --> 02:23:19.040
tree watching her. It spoke to her. Oakie oaki oki227902:23:19.840 --> 02:23:22.920
okie soccer so called from somewhere out in the hall228002:23:24.120 --> 02:23:27.559
here she said, Stone wasn't sure if he'd hear her.228102:23:28.079 --> 02:23:31.079
He stumbled into the room. Hang on, kid, He put228202:23:31.120 --> 02:23:34.239
a hand over her wound, pressing tight. Back up's coming,228302:23:34.520 --> 02:23:39.120
stay awake, okay, she grabbed his arm. God, my corns228402:23:39.120 --> 02:23:41.799
are killing me. After tracking your damn ass all over town.228502:23:43.079 --> 02:23:46.680
I'm dying and you're bitching about your feet. Shut the228602:23:46.680 --> 02:23:49.799
fuck up. You're not dying. They make em tough where228702:23:49.799 --> 02:23:56.600
you're from, right, Missouri? She nodded and smiled. Well, Merry Christmas, Missouri.228802:24:04.520 --> 02:24:12.959
Satan Claus by Keith Tomlin December twenty fifth, nineteen ninety eight,228902:24:13.479 --> 02:24:17.200
one forty five am. Edward burst out of the back229002:24:17.239 --> 02:24:19.680
door of his house. His foot missed the second step229102:24:19.719 --> 02:24:23.200
of the concrete stairs, and he went sprawling, landing hard229202:24:23.440 --> 02:24:27.040
on the neglected wooden deck of his back patio. Gasping229302:24:27.079 --> 02:24:29.520
for breath, he struggled to his feet, losing one of229402:24:29.520 --> 02:24:32.559
his slippers. After a few tries, he regained his balance229502:24:32.559 --> 02:24:35.000
and raced off into the woods that edged his backyard.229602:24:35.479 --> 02:24:38.319
Burrs and thorns tore at his skin and clothing as229702:24:38.360 --> 02:24:42.360
he plunged into the darkness. As Edward ran, he heard229802:24:42.399 --> 02:24:47.079
a loud crash as something large and powerful followed after him.229902:24:47.120 --> 02:24:50.799
An unearthly roar filled with hate and rage, rang through230002:24:50.799 --> 02:24:55.639
the night. Edward pushed himself harder, charging faster into the forest.230102:24:56.239 --> 02:24:58.479
After a few minutes of running in a blind panic,230202:24:58.840 --> 02:25:02.479
Edward felt a sharp pain run from his chest down230302:25:02.520 --> 02:25:05.840
his arm. He gasped and dropped at the base of230402:25:05.879 --> 02:25:09.280
a large elm tree. Sobbing, he worked himself into a230502:25:09.319 --> 02:25:13.600
sitting position, trying to breathe through the pain. He wiped230602:25:13.639 --> 02:25:19.120
blood from his face, some his some from his wife.230702:25:19.360 --> 02:25:22.239
Hearing a branch breaking, Edward tried to push himself up,230802:25:22.280 --> 02:25:25.000
but the pain in his chest nearly caused him to230902:25:25.000 --> 02:25:28.879
black out. Fighting unconsciousness, he felt hot breath on his231002:25:28.959 --> 02:25:32.719
face as he fought to open his eyes. When he did,231102:25:33.840 --> 02:25:38.280
Edward saw yellow, bloodshot eyes staring into his As the231202:25:38.280 --> 02:25:42.559
creature snorted, sending its moist to rancid breath into his face.231302:25:42.959 --> 02:25:45.280
It let out a blood curdling scream as it reached231402:25:45.280 --> 02:25:48.799
for him with long arms ending in razor sharp claws.231502:25:49.760 --> 02:25:53.319
As the creature tore Edward apart, his last thought was231602:25:53.360 --> 02:25:55.639
not of the intense pain or the realization that his231702:25:55.639 --> 02:26:00.680
life was over. It was a question, is that thing231802:26:00.799 --> 02:26:10.559
wearing a Santa hat, Edward thought as he passed into darkness.231902:26:10.600 --> 02:26:16.200
December twenty fourth, nineteen ninety nine, eleven fifteen, am Emily232002:26:16.280 --> 02:26:20.920
looked incredulously at her thirteen year old brother Tyler satan clause,232102:26:21.319 --> 02:26:25.600
are you fucking serious? She said, Well, yeah, I mean232202:26:26.200 --> 02:26:29.479
it's real, well not real, but they think it's real,232302:26:29.719 --> 02:26:34.120
Tyler said, trying to gather his thoughts. So we're going232402:26:34.159 --> 02:26:38.040
to summon a pretend demon dressed like Santa Claus to232502:26:38.079 --> 02:26:43.520
take care of our stepfather, Emily said, with scorn, Well sorta,232602:26:44.000 --> 02:26:49.000
Tyler sighed, taking a deep breath and slowly letting it out. Okay,232702:26:49.079 --> 02:26:52.639
so take the legend of Bloody Mary. The story goes232802:26:52.639 --> 02:26:54.280
that if you look in the mirror and say her232902:26:54.360 --> 02:26:57.760
name three times, she'll appear and start killing people. Now,233002:26:58.079 --> 02:27:01.319
everyone knows that's not real. If you're having a sleepover233102:27:01.399 --> 02:27:02.840
with friends and they dare you to look in the233202:27:02.879 --> 02:27:05.440
mirror and say her name, you will, you know it's233302:27:05.479 --> 02:27:09.280
not true and nothing will happen. But he said excitedly,233402:27:10.079 --> 02:27:13.040
if it's night and you're alone in the house and233502:27:13.079 --> 02:27:15.159
you're standing in front of a mirror, when the thought233602:27:15.200 --> 02:27:18.639
crosses your mind to say her name three times? Will233702:27:18.680 --> 02:27:23.040
you do it? Without waiting for an answer, Tyler went on, no,233802:27:23.479 --> 02:27:26.200
you wouldn't, and why not. The logical part of your233902:27:26.200 --> 02:27:29.079
mind will say, surely it's not real, it's just crazy talk.234002:27:29.280 --> 02:27:31.600
But on a primal level, you know that if you234102:27:31.639 --> 02:27:35.760
say her name three times, she may appear. This belief234202:27:35.840 --> 02:27:39.440
is what gives these creatures their power. Tyler paused, slightly234302:27:39.479 --> 02:27:45.559
out of breath. You are one weird kid. Emily said, yeah, well,234402:27:45.959 --> 02:27:48.440
you know, growing up in this house does tend to234502:27:48.479 --> 02:27:54.760
make one unusual. Tyler replied solemnly. Emily shook her head. Okay,234602:27:55.120 --> 02:27:59.159
I'm still confused. What creatures are you talking about? Tyler234702:27:59.159 --> 02:28:02.239
looked Emily in the end eyes, something he rarely did234802:28:02.239 --> 02:28:07.079
with anyone. To be honest, I don't know. I just234902:28:07.239 --> 02:28:10.959
know they exist. Throughout history, different cultures had legends of235002:28:11.000 --> 02:28:14.399
horrific creatures that terrorize the common folk. I think that235102:28:14.440 --> 02:28:17.280
these were all some kind of a supernatural force that235202:28:17.360 --> 02:28:20.559
draws power from the beliefs and fears of the people.235302:28:21.239 --> 02:28:24.680
If enough people believe in them, then these ghosts, demons235402:28:24.799 --> 02:28:27.760
or whatever can draw strength in life from these beliefs235502:28:27.760 --> 02:28:34.239
that will actually become these creatures. Wow, I think this235602:28:34.319 --> 02:28:39.120
is insane, said Emily, speechless. I know, and I accept that,235702:28:39.239 --> 02:28:42.120
but I need your help. For you this is a235802:28:42.120 --> 02:28:44.639
win win. If you help and it works, we'll be235902:28:44.760 --> 02:28:48.280
rid of that asshole forever. Tyler looked at Emily, who236002:28:48.319 --> 02:28:52.319
nodded emphatically. If it doesn't work, then you have something236102:28:52.360 --> 02:28:54.520
else to make fun of me for, Not that there's236202:28:54.559 --> 02:28:58.040
any lack of material for that, Tyler said, pointing to236302:28:58.120 --> 02:29:02.120
the piles of role playing manuals superhero comic books stacked236402:29:02.159 --> 02:29:06.079
around his bedroom. Not for the first time, Emily was236502:29:06.120 --> 02:29:10.760
amazed at how smart her brother was. Naive and childlike,236602:29:10.959 --> 02:29:15.719
but also so goddamn smart. She had sworn to herself236702:29:15.719 --> 02:29:17.920
to do whatever she had to do to make sure236802:29:17.920 --> 02:29:21.959
that he reaches adulthood without life crushing his soul. She236902:29:22.079 --> 02:29:23.959
was only a year older than him, but she was237002:29:24.000 --> 02:29:27.000
a survivor. She could take all the pain and suffering237102:29:27.040 --> 02:29:31.360
that life and her stepfather could dish out. Tyler, however,237202:29:32.159 --> 02:29:34.959
was a fragile soul. If this helped him deal with237302:29:35.000 --> 02:29:37.120
all the bullshit, then she was willing to go along237402:29:37.159 --> 02:29:41.040
with it. Fuck it, I'm in, she said, consider it237502:29:41.079 --> 02:29:48.680
your Christmas present. Well, really, Tyler said, clearly expecting more resistance.237602:29:49.319 --> 02:29:53.680
Emily continued, Look, this is the most batshit crazy thing237702:29:53.719 --> 02:29:56.239
I've ever heard, But you're my brother and I'll do237802:29:56.280 --> 02:30:01.200
anything to support you. So Satan Clause, Tyler took a237902:30:01.200 --> 02:30:06.040
few seconds to blink some tears away. Okay, So Satan238002:30:06.079 --> 02:30:08.200
Clause is an urban legend that's been around for at238102:30:08.280 --> 02:30:12.280
least fifteen years. Basically, it's a story of a department238202:30:12.280 --> 02:30:14.399
store Santa that was beaten to death by a gang238302:30:14.440 --> 02:30:17.040
of kids, and his wife got a revenge by baking238402:30:17.079 --> 02:30:20.159
cookies with her blood. She tricked the kids into eating them,238502:30:20.280 --> 02:30:22.639
which caused her husband to come back from the dead238602:30:22.879 --> 02:30:26.600
and kill everyone. Tyler finally paused to take a breath.238702:30:27.479 --> 02:30:30.079
At least nine times in the last seven years, there238802:30:30.120 --> 02:30:32.840
have been a series of gruesome deaths on Christmas Eve,238902:30:32.959 --> 02:30:35.520
so brutal that the police have suspected it was either239002:30:35.559 --> 02:30:39.520
the work of a Satanic cult or some kind of huge,239102:30:40.280 --> 02:30:45.280
unidentified wild creature. I disagree. I think it was the239202:30:45.360 --> 02:30:48.159
legend of Satan Clause that killed them, and that's what239302:30:48.239 --> 02:30:52.239
I want for dear old Frank, Tyler said, referring to239402:30:52.280 --> 02:30:57.239
their stepfather. He deserves to die Emily said, in a cold,239502:30:57.479 --> 02:31:01.959
hard voice, for what he's done to mom you and239602:31:02.000 --> 02:31:05.879
for what he tried to do. Emily trailed off. Tyler239702:31:05.920 --> 02:31:10.760
awkwardly reached out and patted her hand. I know he'll239802:31:10.799 --> 02:31:14.639
pay for all of it, So all we need to239902:31:14.639 --> 02:31:17.440
do is get Frank to eat some cookies, Emily asked.240002:31:17.920 --> 02:31:23.120
Tyler nodded, what do you need from me? Emily finally asked.240102:31:27.639 --> 02:31:32.559
December twenty fifth, nineteen ninety nine, twelve thirty six am240202:31:33.520 --> 02:31:37.360
Emily rubbed the band aid covering her finger, thinking that240302:31:37.440 --> 02:31:39.719
only her brother could talk her into using her blood240402:31:39.719 --> 02:31:42.879
as an ingredient in a cookie recipe. If she had240502:31:42.920 --> 02:31:45.479
to be honest, She enjoyed cutting her finger a lot240602:31:45.520 --> 02:31:48.959
more than baking the cookies. The first batch ended up240702:31:48.959 --> 02:31:51.760
a burned, smoking mess, and she had to mix up240802:31:51.760 --> 02:31:55.399
and recut a second batch. She shook her head, thinking240902:31:55.440 --> 02:31:59.239
about the things that people do for family. Emily looked241002:31:59.239 --> 02:32:01.719
down at her brother asleep on the couch next to241102:32:01.760 --> 02:32:07.360
her and sighed, she loved that crazy little bastard. She241202:32:07.479 --> 02:32:09.879
turned back towards the large picture window to keep up241302:32:09.879 --> 02:32:13.479
her vigil on the dark street outside. After a minute241402:32:13.559 --> 02:32:16.280
or so, the lights from an approaching car lit up241502:32:16.280 --> 02:32:19.680
the neighboring houses. Emily leaned further over the back of241602:32:19.680 --> 02:32:22.600
the couch, face pressed against the window to get a241702:32:22.600 --> 02:32:26.239
better look. When a familiar car pulled into the driveway241802:32:26.239 --> 02:32:28.840
of the house across the street, Emily grabbed her brother241902:32:28.879 --> 02:32:29.680
and shook him awake.242002:32:31.639 --> 02:32:36.040
There's more scares where that came from. Weakly, Spooky will242102:32:36.079 --> 02:32:36.760
be right.242202:32:36.600 --> 02:32:41.799
Back, Tyler. Frank just pulled into our driveway, Emily whispered loudly.242302:32:42.399 --> 02:32:45.920
Tyler sat up, rubbing his eyes. Looking around, he asked,242402:32:46.680 --> 02:32:51.040
where's Missus Patterson. Missus Patterson is in bed. It's past midnight,242502:32:51.319 --> 02:32:55.079
Emily said. Missus Patterson was an elderly woman who lived242602:32:55.079 --> 02:32:59.319
across the street from them, and, understanding their volatile family situation,242702:32:59.680 --> 02:33:01.719
often let the kids spend the night at her house242802:33:02.040 --> 02:33:04.280
while their mom was working the graveyard shift at the242902:33:04.360 --> 02:33:07.639
nursing home. Grab the binoculars and keep your voice down,243002:33:08.000 --> 02:33:12.120
Emily commanded. Tyler's eyes popped open as he suddenly remembered243102:33:12.399 --> 02:33:15.520
what they had planned for Frank. He grabbed his cheap243202:33:15.559 --> 02:33:18.200
pair of binoculars from the coffee table and joined his sister.243302:33:18.520 --> 02:33:21.639
Leaning over the back of the couch, Frank pulled into243402:33:21.639 --> 02:33:24.840
the snow covered driveway, his ragged old Ford sliding to243502:33:24.879 --> 02:33:28.000
a stop, almost hitting the garage door. He opened the243602:33:28.040 --> 02:33:31.879
car door and stumbled out. Frank was a tall, lean man,243702:33:32.000 --> 02:33:35.000
what some may call wiry. He had a face that243802:33:35.200 --> 02:33:38.120
used to be quite handsome and may still be to243902:33:38.200 --> 02:33:41.520
some hidden under the years of hard living and even244002:33:41.559 --> 02:33:45.600
harder drinking. Frank lived to drink and spent most evenings244102:33:45.639 --> 02:33:49.159
complaining about his miserable life to the regulars at Whitey's Tavern,244202:33:49.559 --> 02:33:52.360
a dive bar a few blocks from his house. He244302:33:52.399 --> 02:33:56.440
would usually come home shit faced tonight, however, he was244402:33:56.479 --> 02:33:59.639
well beyond that. One of the bar patrons, a well244502:33:59.680 --> 02:34:02.479
to do businessman that liked to flaunt his success, kept244602:34:02.479 --> 02:34:06.399
buying drinks for the house. Frank kept drinking, and he244702:34:06.559 --> 02:34:12.360
kept getting angrier. Frank's passed kept rolling around in his head.244802:34:12.719 --> 02:34:15.799
Why has his life turned out like shit? Why is244902:34:15.840 --> 02:34:18.440
everyone against him? Why did that bitch of an ex245002:34:18.520 --> 02:34:20.559
wife keep hounding him for money to buy gifts for245102:34:20.600 --> 02:34:24.319
a bunch of ungrateful little shits. Why did his current245202:34:24.360 --> 02:34:26.840
wife keep picking up extra shifts when she should be245302:34:26.879 --> 02:34:29.639
home taking care of him. Why do her fucking brats245402:34:29.680 --> 02:34:33.239
show him no respect in his own goddamn house. Frank245502:34:33.280 --> 02:34:35.200
shut the car door and made his way up the245602:34:35.360 --> 02:34:38.559
icy walkway to the front of the house, swaying as245702:34:38.559 --> 02:34:42.479
he opened up the front door and walked inside. Hey,245802:34:43.799 --> 02:34:47.959
anyone here, Frank bellowed, slamming the front door. Where the245902:34:48.040 --> 02:34:51.440
fuck is my dinner? Frank listened to the sounds of246002:34:51.440 --> 02:34:54.479
an empty house as he remembered that his bitch wife246102:34:54.559 --> 02:34:58.120
was working tonight. Frank mumbled curses under his breath as246202:34:58.159 --> 02:34:59.920
he walked across the small living room to the k246302:35:00.879 --> 02:35:03.360
Seeing a pizza box on the counter, he opened it246402:35:03.440 --> 02:35:06.920
up and grabbed a slice. Chewing on the cold pizza,246502:35:07.120 --> 02:35:09.360
he walked over to the fridge and grabbed a beer.246602:35:09.959 --> 02:35:11.879
He was walking back to the living room when he246702:35:11.959 --> 02:35:15.319
noticed a plate of cookies with a note under it. Squinting,246802:35:15.440 --> 02:35:18.520
he picked up the note and read it. Frank, I246902:35:18.559 --> 02:35:21.479
know we've not gotten along, but for Mom's sake, I247002:35:21.520 --> 02:35:24.600
want to try to fix that. Please accept these cookies247102:35:24.600 --> 02:35:28.840
as a peace offering. Merry Christmas, Emily, the note said.247202:35:29.440 --> 02:35:31.760
Frank picked up the plate with the cookies and turned247302:35:31.799 --> 02:35:34.319
back to the living room. He paused at the end247402:35:34.360 --> 02:35:36.399
of the counter and dropped the cookies, plate and all247502:35:36.879 --> 02:35:41.040
into the trash can. Tyler reached out and grabbed Emily's arm.247602:35:41.360 --> 02:35:44.040
He picked up the cookies, he said, excitedly, looking through247702:35:44.040 --> 02:35:50.600
the binoculars. He's walking Wait. Oh no, he threw them away,247802:35:51.280 --> 02:35:55.079
Tyler said quietly, as silent tears began to roll down247902:35:55.079 --> 02:35:58.719
his face. Give me those, Emily said, as she grabbed248002:35:58.760 --> 02:36:01.360
up the binoculars. She brought them up to her face248102:36:01.360 --> 02:36:03.879
and pointed them at the run down house across the street.248202:36:04.399 --> 02:36:08.360
Because a particularly violent outburst from Frank last week resulted248302:36:08.360 --> 02:36:10.920
in the curtain rods being ripped down, she had a248402:36:10.920 --> 02:36:13.200
good view of the living room and most of the kitchen.248502:36:13.680 --> 02:36:17.520
Emily focused on Frank, sitting in an armchair, drinking a248602:36:17.559 --> 02:36:25.680
beer and watching TV. Emily sighed, lowering the binoculars. Damn, oh, well,248702:36:25.920 --> 02:36:29.360
we tried. She turned to her brother, and her heart248802:36:29.440 --> 02:36:34.200
broke when she looked upon his face wet with tears. Hey,248902:36:35.120 --> 02:36:38.760
don't worry, we'll get through this. Emily reached out and249002:36:38.840 --> 02:36:44.479
hugged Tyler, who began to sob louder. Okay, it'll be okay.249102:36:45.079 --> 02:36:48.520
Emily leaned back and looked Tyler in the eyes. You249202:36:48.600 --> 02:36:50.920
know that this wasn't going to actually work, don't you?249302:36:51.959 --> 02:36:58.040
Tyler shrugged, wiping at the wetness on his cheek. Emily sighed, okay, fine,249402:36:58.600 --> 02:37:02.200
I still owe you a Christmas present, and I'll go249502:37:02.280 --> 02:37:03.959
over there and try to get the ass hat to249602:37:03.959 --> 02:37:06.639
eat a blood cookie. Even if some creature doesn't rip249702:37:06.680 --> 02:37:09.239
him a new asshole, it would be fun just watching that.249802:37:10.600 --> 02:37:14.559
Tyler hugged her tightly for a few seconds. Emily hugged249902:37:14.639 --> 02:37:17.440
him back. She then stood up and looked at Tyler,250002:37:18.159 --> 02:37:20.639
you stay here. I'll be back in a few minutes.250102:37:21.600 --> 02:37:25.639
Walking away, Emily thought, once again, the things you do250202:37:25.719 --> 02:37:29.719
for family. Emily stood on the front stoop of her house,250302:37:30.120 --> 02:37:33.639
shivering in her thin jacket. She took a few deep breaths,250402:37:33.719 --> 02:37:37.360
trying to build up her courage. Damn it, why did250502:37:37.360 --> 02:37:41.360
I agree to do this, Emily thought, exhaling. She turned250602:37:41.360 --> 02:37:45.879
the doorknob and walked inside. Oh hi, Frank, she said,250702:37:45.920 --> 02:37:49.120
as she shut the door. Where the fuck have you been?250802:37:49.559 --> 02:37:53.159
Frank said, without taking his eyes off the TV set. Oh,250902:37:53.639 --> 02:37:55.559
I'm staying at a friend's house. I just stopped by251002:37:55.639 --> 02:37:59.159
to pick something up I forgot. Emily answered, where's your251102:37:59.159 --> 02:38:04.559
retarded brother? Frank said, still watching TV. Emily ignored the insult.251202:38:05.000 --> 02:38:08.440
He's staying with them too. Mom knows your mom doesn't251302:38:08.440 --> 02:38:10.559
tell me shit. I never know what the fuck is251402:38:10.600 --> 02:38:13.760
going on in my own house, Frank said, raising his voice.251502:38:14.600 --> 02:38:19.200
Oh I figured she would, Emily said. A silence fell251602:38:19.200 --> 02:38:22.680
over them, only broken by the muted sound of the television.251702:38:23.600 --> 02:38:26.680
Uh did you see the cookies I baked you, Emily251802:38:26.719 --> 02:38:30.680
asked hesitantly. Frank tossed an empty bottle across the room.251902:38:31.000 --> 02:38:33.239
It landed on the bare wooden floor and rolled to252002:38:33.319 --> 02:38:36.799
a stop next to a table lamp. Get me another beer,252102:38:37.159 --> 02:38:41.399
Frank said. Emily stood still for a few seconds, trying252202:38:41.440 --> 02:38:44.079
to keep her temper in check. She then walked to252302:38:44.120 --> 02:38:46.120
the fridge and grabbed a beer from a half full252402:38:46.200 --> 02:38:49.159
six pack. She paused and grabbed a cookie out of252502:38:49.159 --> 02:38:52.639
the trash can before moving to the living room. Here's252602:38:52.680 --> 02:38:56.760
your beer, Emily said, trying to sound cheerful. She sat252702:38:56.799 --> 02:39:00.959
a beer on the end table next to Frank's prized recliner. Also,252802:39:01.520 --> 02:39:03.840
here's one of the cookies I made for you, she said,252902:39:03.879 --> 02:39:06.079
sitting at cookie down next to the bottle of beer.253002:39:06.520 --> 02:39:08.719
Frank's hand shot out and grabbed her by the arm.253102:39:09.200 --> 02:39:12.719
He began moving his index finger lightly tracing circles on253202:39:12.799 --> 02:39:16.200
the inside of her wrist. He looked up at her, sneering.253302:39:17.079 --> 02:39:19.760
Emily pulled out of his grip. She glared at Frank,253402:39:19.799 --> 02:39:23.840
struggling to hold her temper. Look, I'm trying to be nice.253502:39:23.840 --> 02:39:26.120
I made you some cookies as a peace offering, and253602:39:26.159 --> 02:39:28.680
the least you could do is try one, Emily said253702:39:28.719 --> 02:39:31.879
through gritted teeth. Frank opened the beer and took a253802:39:31.920 --> 02:39:34.520
long pole from it. He slammed it down on the253902:39:34.600 --> 02:39:37.639
end table, smashing the cookie. If you want to be254002:39:37.799 --> 02:39:41.680
nice to me, he said, sarcastically, you could make me254102:39:41.760 --> 02:39:45.440
a sandwich. After a few moments, Frank looked over and254202:39:45.520 --> 02:39:49.559
noticed that she was still standing there, staring daggers at him.254302:39:50.239 --> 02:39:53.799
Look women are only good for two things, he said,254402:39:54.520 --> 02:40:00.040
cooking and fuckin' it's your choice. Bawling her hands in254502:40:00.079 --> 02:40:02.959
to fists, Emily turned and walked back to the kitchen.254602:40:03.280 --> 02:40:05.879
After taking a moment to calm herself down, she opened254702:40:05.959 --> 02:40:08.120
up the fridge and grabbed some baloney and a jar254802:40:08.159 --> 02:40:12.159
of mayonnaise. Hearing the fridge door open, Frank yelled, get254902:40:12.200 --> 02:40:16.319
me another beer too. Emily ignored him and grabbed a255002:40:16.319 --> 02:40:19.719
butter knife from the utensil drawer. She slapped the bolooney255102:40:19.799 --> 02:40:21.920
on a piece of bread and smeared a generous portion255202:40:22.000 --> 02:40:25.000
of mao on top. Reaching back into the trash can,255302:40:25.399 --> 02:40:28.799
she grabbed another cookie. She rolled the jar of mayonnaise255402:40:28.840 --> 02:40:32.879
over the cookie, reducing it to crumbs. Scooping up the crumbs,255502:40:33.040 --> 02:40:35.440
she tossed them on the sandwich and smashed the second255602:40:35.440 --> 02:40:38.639
piece of bread on top. She turned around and dropped255702:40:38.639 --> 02:40:40.920
the plate as she ran into Frank, who had walked255802:40:41.000 --> 02:40:44.559
up behind her. Taking advantage of her surprise, he reached255902:40:44.600 --> 02:40:47.399
and pulled her close to him, the alcohol from his256002:40:47.479 --> 02:40:52.079
breath burning her eyes. I decided that I'm not hungry,256102:40:52.719 --> 02:40:58.639
which only leaves one option, Frank said. Emily growled with rage,256202:40:58.680 --> 02:41:01.559
bringing her knee up with all her might, swinging towards256302:41:01.559 --> 02:41:05.280
his crotch. Frank laughed as he turned slightly, taking the256402:41:05.319 --> 02:41:09.239
blow on his upper thigh. Darling, you ain't gonna catch256502:41:09.239 --> 02:41:12.239
me with that move again. Emily started to reach up256602:41:12.280 --> 02:41:16.200
towards Frank's face, her fingers curled into claws. Frank's hand256702:41:16.239 --> 02:41:18.920
shot out and grabbed her by the neck. Stop fighting.256802:41:19.040 --> 02:41:21.879
Or I'll crush your fucking throat, he growled as he256902:41:21.920 --> 02:41:22.719
squeezed her neck.257002:41:24.159 --> 02:41:28.639
If you're not afraid, then you're already dead. Weakly spooky,257102:41:28.719 --> 02:41:29.639
We'll be right back.257202:41:31.360 --> 02:41:34.920
Emily began to panic as Frank squeezed harder. She was257302:41:34.920 --> 02:41:37.719
swinging her arms wildly, trying to knock his hand loose.257402:41:38.200 --> 02:41:42.399
Frank wasn't a large guy, but he possessed an unexpected strength.257502:41:42.840 --> 02:41:44.719
He used that strength to lift her up by the257602:41:44.799 --> 02:41:47.559
neck and slam her down on the counter. Emily's head257702:41:47.600 --> 02:41:49.959
hit the formica hard enough to cause her to briefly257802:41:50.000 --> 02:41:53.239
lose consciousness. She woke up to fingers tugging at the257902:41:53.239 --> 02:41:56.520
buttons on her shirt. She tried protesting, but it felt258002:41:56.559 --> 02:41:59.799
like she was moving in slow motion. A slap stung258102:41:59.840 --> 02:42:02.559
her cheek and threatened to send her back into darkness.258202:42:03.639 --> 02:42:07.280
Frank pulled his hand back and slapped her again. Little258302:42:07.319 --> 02:42:11.319
miss cock teas Frank said, leaning over her. As he258402:42:11.360 --> 02:42:14.479
brought his hand back to hit her again, something flew258502:42:14.520 --> 02:42:17.239
by his head. He looked up as a pair of258602:42:17.280 --> 02:42:23.040
binoculars hit the front door and shattered what the Frank258702:42:23.079 --> 02:42:26.239
said as something leaped on him from behind, arms reaching258802:42:26.280 --> 02:42:30.280
around his face. Frank laughed as he realized who'd attacked him.258902:42:30.719 --> 02:42:34.120
It's the little fucking retard coming to rescue his sister,259002:42:34.559 --> 02:42:38.360
Frank said, grinning like a madman. Frank reached back and259102:42:38.399 --> 02:42:40.600
grabbed Tyler by the back of the shirt and tossed259202:42:40.680 --> 02:42:43.680
him into the refrigerator door. Tyler slid down and hit259302:42:43.719 --> 02:42:46.959
the ground hard. With Frank's hands off her throat, Emily259402:42:47.079 --> 02:42:49.319
was able to catch her breath as she coughed and259502:42:49.319 --> 02:42:52.280
struggled to clear her head. She reached out with fumbling hands,259602:42:52.440 --> 02:42:56.239
trying to find something, anything, to help her. When she259702:42:56.319 --> 02:42:59.159
felt a cold metal handle, she grabbed it and swung259802:42:59.200 --> 02:43:02.879
it blindly at front. The mayonnaise covered butter knife slammed259902:43:02.879 --> 02:43:07.399
into Frank's upper arm, burying itself deep enough to hit bone.260002:43:07.479 --> 02:43:10.040
As Frank screamed and ripped the knife out of his arm,260102:43:10.280 --> 02:43:13.280
Emily began rolling around the counter, hitting the edge. She260202:43:13.319 --> 02:43:15.639
fell off, landing on the trash can and sending it260302:43:15.719 --> 02:43:19.639
crashing across the floor. The noise jolted Frank into action,260402:43:19.760 --> 02:43:22.319
and he leaped forward, trying to grab her ankles as260502:43:22.319 --> 02:43:25.760
she scrambled across the cracked linoleum onto the cheap threadbare260602:43:25.840 --> 02:43:28.920
carpet of the living room. Emily crawled toward the front door,260702:43:28.959 --> 02:43:31.920
but stopped when she looked back and noticed Tyler, who260802:43:31.959 --> 02:43:35.040
was beginning to stir on the kitchen floor. She tried260902:43:35.040 --> 02:43:37.440
to yell for her brother, but her bruised and swollen261002:43:37.520 --> 02:43:40.920
throat could only manage a weak moan. Frank stormed into261102:43:40.920 --> 02:43:43.239
the living room. As he approached Emily, she cocked her261202:43:43.280 --> 02:43:45.760
leg back and aimed to kick at his knee. He261302:43:45.879 --> 02:43:48.319
jumped to the side, avoiding her strike, and pounced on her,261402:43:48.520 --> 02:43:51.159
pinning her to the carpet. He leaned forward inches from261502:43:51.200 --> 02:43:55.559
her face and said, in a quiet, rage filled voice,261602:43:56.079 --> 02:44:00.440
Merry Christmas. Frank leaned back and started swinging his fist261702:44:00.520 --> 02:44:03.200
to Emily's head. She did her best to block the blows,261802:44:03.200 --> 02:44:05.799
but he kept on swinging, unleashing the rage upon her.261902:44:06.319 --> 02:44:08.879
After a few moments, he stopped, out of breath and262002:44:08.920 --> 02:44:13.360
looked back toward the kitchen. Tyler was standing there, holding262102:44:13.399 --> 02:44:18.760
something triumphantly in his hand. Frank, let her go, I'll262202:44:18.760 --> 02:44:22.799
do it, I swear, Tyler yelled, holding his hand out.262302:44:23.520 --> 02:44:26.879
Emily looked up, her face already starting to swell, and262402:44:27.000 --> 02:44:29.879
tried to focus on Tyler. When she saw what he262502:44:29.920 --> 02:44:33.159
was holding in his hand, a realization hit her like262602:44:33.200 --> 02:44:36.280
a bucket of cold water. She knew what he was262702:44:36.319 --> 02:44:41.200
about to do. She knew, and she believed. Emily tried262802:44:41.200 --> 02:44:43.040
to yell at him to stop, but all she could262902:44:43.040 --> 02:44:47.879
do was lay there and watch. Frank, looking confused, stood263002:44:47.920 --> 02:44:51.120
to face the youngster. Tyler held up a cookie for263102:44:51.159 --> 02:44:54.120
a few seconds and then yelled, take this, you son263202:44:54.159 --> 02:44:56.920
of a bitch. He then shoved the whole cookie in263302:44:56.959 --> 02:45:01.360
his mouth and started chewing vigorously. Frank shook his head263402:45:01.360 --> 02:45:06.559
and said, you are one fucking weird kid as he263502:45:06.639 --> 02:45:10.520
began to move. Tyler stood there, defiantly, chewing as Frank263602:45:10.559 --> 02:45:13.079
closed in on him. Just as Frank crossed over into263702:45:13.079 --> 02:45:17.879
the kitchen, a loud thud shook the house. At first,263802:45:17.879 --> 02:45:20.680
Emily thought a car hit their house, but as a263902:45:20.719 --> 02:45:24.040
thunderous roar pierced the night, she knew that Tyler had264002:45:24.040 --> 02:45:30.399
been correct. Satan Clause had arrived. Frank, who had his264102:45:30.479 --> 02:45:33.479
fist raised to strike Tyler, turned and took a few264202:45:33.520 --> 02:45:38.319
steps toward the door, holding his ears. The scream suddenly stopped.264302:45:38.799 --> 02:45:42.360
There were a few seconds of silence, dead silence where264402:45:42.399 --> 02:45:44.079
the only sound you could hear was the beating of264502:45:44.120 --> 02:45:49.120
your own heart. And then the front door exploded. Fragments264602:45:49.120 --> 02:45:51.799
of wood, glass, and metal shot through the air, revealing264702:45:52.360 --> 02:46:00.200
a gruesome creature. The creature filled the doorway, ducking down264802:46:00.280 --> 02:46:02.680
to enter the room. It had a vaguely wolf like264902:46:02.760 --> 02:46:06.120
face and large pointed horns. It wore a tight, dirty265002:46:06.159 --> 02:46:09.200
red jacket trimmed in white fur on its ape like torso.265102:46:09.600 --> 02:46:12.239
It stood on two massive legs that ended in cloven265202:46:12.280 --> 02:46:15.559
hoofs that caused the ground to shake with every step.265302:46:15.920 --> 02:46:18.319
It had long, wicked claws at the end of its265402:46:18.399 --> 02:46:23.200
elongated arms. The strangest part was the almost comical, undersized265502:46:23.239 --> 02:46:27.840
red hat that sat on the creature's head. Frank appeared dazed,265602:46:27.959 --> 02:46:30.719
dozens of small cuts along his face and arms. He265702:46:30.840 --> 02:46:33.120
staggered forward as if he were going to push by265802:46:33.200 --> 02:46:35.920
the creature to leave. The demon looked down at Frank265902:46:35.959 --> 02:46:38.879
as if amused, then grabbed him by the neck. It266002:46:39.000 --> 02:46:42.079
raised Frank high and then slammed him to the floor.266102:46:42.520 --> 02:46:44.840
Emily stumbled to her feet and ran to Tyler, who266202:46:44.920 --> 02:46:47.559
was slumped against the fridge. The creature roared as it266302:46:47.600 --> 02:46:50.799
began to tear Frank's chest open. Emily grabbed Tyler by266402:46:50.840 --> 02:46:53.239
the shoulders and turned toward the back door when a266502:46:53.239 --> 02:46:56.719
body part, probably a leg, flew across the room and266602:46:56.840 --> 02:46:59.239
slammed into the wall next to it. She then gathered266702:46:59.280 --> 02:47:02.040
up Tyler and ran down the hall to her mom's bedroom,266802:47:02.200 --> 02:47:04.959
the only one with a lock on the door. Emily266902:47:05.040 --> 02:47:07.559
laid her brother on the floor, then she noticed he267002:47:07.680 --> 02:47:10.440
was gasping for air. She looked down and saw blood267102:47:10.520 --> 02:47:13.120
pouring from a wound on his chest, where a large267202:47:13.159 --> 02:47:17.159
piece of wood was protruding. Sobbing, she cradled him in267302:47:17.159 --> 02:47:19.920
her arms, listening to the blood rattle in his chest267402:47:19.959 --> 02:47:23.280
with every breath. The house shook as the creature walked267502:47:23.280 --> 02:47:25.760
down the hall. It stopped in front of the bedroom267602:47:25.799 --> 02:47:28.520
door and kicked the door off of its hinges. It267702:47:28.520 --> 02:47:32.079
took two long steps and stood over the two siblings.267802:47:32.879 --> 02:47:36.280
Leaning down, It took in a deep breath and seemed267902:47:36.319 --> 02:47:40.360
to shiver with anticipation. Emily held her brother tight and268002:47:40.440 --> 02:47:44.120
closed her eyes. The creature reached forward, a single talon268102:47:44.239 --> 02:47:48.040
waving in the air teasingly. All of a sudden, the268202:47:48.079 --> 02:47:50.920
creature stood up straight, whipping its head around like it268302:47:50.959 --> 02:47:54.600
heard something off in the distance. It turned and bolted268402:47:54.600 --> 02:47:58.239
out of the room. Emily sat there in a state268502:47:58.280 --> 02:48:01.399
of shock, convinced that any it would bring the creature back.268602:48:02.159 --> 02:48:05.680
When the phone rang, Emily's heart jumped. She reached with268702:48:05.719 --> 02:48:09.120
one hand to the nightstand and grabbed the receiver. She268802:48:09.239 --> 02:48:12.079
tried to say something, but could only produce a weak,268902:48:12.440 --> 02:48:18.559
raspy grunt. Hello, Emily, this is Mom. Emily managed to269002:48:18.600 --> 02:48:23.799
croak out, Mom, Yes, honey, it's Mom. You sound sick.269102:48:24.120 --> 02:48:26.479
You better go get some sleep. I just wanted to269202:48:26.479 --> 02:48:28.760
call and thank you for trying to make nice with Frank.269302:48:29.319 --> 02:48:31.000
I know it's been a hard year, but I think269402:48:31.040 --> 02:48:33.799
things will get better. It was a nice gesture to269502:48:33.799 --> 02:48:36.559
bake him some cookies. He doesn't have much of a269602:48:36.600 --> 02:48:38.920
sweet tooth, so I hope you don't mind that I269702:48:39.000 --> 02:48:41.520
brought some to work. I've been passing them out in269802:48:41.559 --> 02:48:45.239
the breakroom and they're a huge hit. Everybody just loves them.269902:48:45.799 --> 02:48:49.760
Emily's mom paused as loud noises and screams can be heard.270002:48:50.879 --> 02:48:53.639
Oh my, something is going on down the hall. I270102:48:53.639 --> 02:48:55.120
had better get off here and see if I can270202:48:55.159 --> 02:49:00.680
help you get some rest. Merry Christmas, sweetheart. The phone270302:49:00.879 --> 02:49:09.479
went dead well, my spookies, it's about time for me270402:49:09.520 --> 02:49:12.399
to get out of here, but just for now, there'll270502:49:12.440 --> 02:49:16.520
be several more holiday packages ready for you to unwrap270602:49:16.879 --> 02:49:19.879
right here at Weekly Spooky, So make sure you're subscribed270702:49:20.120 --> 02:49:23.799
on your favorite podcasting app. And I wasn't being naughty270802:49:23.840 --> 02:49:26.760
when I said there would be ten brand new holiday270902:49:26.799 --> 02:49:32.200
horrors this year for Weekly Spooky, so stay tuned. You'll271002:49:32.239 --> 02:49:35.479
have something to listen to every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday271102:49:35.920 --> 02:49:41.079
and maybe even beyond all through December. See you next time, spookys.
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