Dec. 11, 2024

A Chain Letter Christmas - Curses, Redemption, and the Spirit of the Holidays!

A Chain Letter Christmas - Curses, Redemption, and the Spirit of the Holidays!
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When an ancient curse resurfaces during a Christmas party, Charity Mirren must confront a deadly chain letter and her own mysterious resurrection. A thrilling holiday horror tale of family, faith, and survival.

A Chain Letter Christmas by Rob Fields

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Music by Ray Mattis http://raymattispresents.bandcamp.com

Executive Producers
Rob Fields
Mark Shields
Bobbletopia.com

Produced by Daniel Wilder

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

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When an ancient curse resurfaces during a Christmas party, Charity

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Miron must confront a deadly chain letter and her own

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mysterious resurrection. As challenges begin to come from the chain

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letter and things turn deadly, it becomes very clear this

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Christmas is read.

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What's that you want to be scared? He Come with me.

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You will experience tales over our ba, ghosts and death death.

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It is not recommended at the foot of week at

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heart heart listeners in the dark, it's more fun at

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that way way. This is Weekly Speaking.

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Hello, my spookys, It's Wednesday, and you know what that means.

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It's time for a little spooky in your weekly I'm

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your host and narrator, Enrique Kuto, and it's not just

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any weekly spooky. No, no, no. We are celebrating the

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holidays with all the festive horror goodness you've all come

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to know and love from our program. So make sure

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you're subscribed if you haven't already, because we provide you

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with something scary every single week. We just passed our

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fifth year and we have no intention of stopping. But

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during the holidays we're giving you a whole lot more.

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In fact, tomorrow you can catch a compilation of classic

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horror stories involving Christmas over two hours of scarce to

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enjoy right here as long as you're subscribed. And on Friday,

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we have yet another terrifying tale for you to enjoy

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as we premiere Secret Santa by Charles Campbell. You will

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not want to miss it. And if you want to

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support Weekly Spooky and help us keep going for another

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five years and beyond, you can head to Weeklyspooky dot

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com slash join for as little as one dollar a

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month on our Patreon, you get two bonus shows every month,

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as well as audiobooks that are exclusive for patrons only,

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and so much more, including my undying Gratitude. But now

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let's get to the topic at hand. Have you ever

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opened a Christmas card and felt a chill, like there's

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something very wrong something watching you. Most cards bring cheer,

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but some carry a message you can't ignore. A message

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that doesn't just wish you a merry Christmas, It demands

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something more. Tonight's story is about a curse that hides

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and planes sun, a chain letter disguised as holiday cheer

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that can't be ignored, and the terrible consequences of opening it.

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We're telling that story after this A Chain Letter Christmas

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by rob Fields prologue. The man entered his study and

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opened the large, ancient leather bound book that rested on

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his desk. He opened the front cover and turned page

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after page until he finally found the spell that he

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was looking for. I've already utilized the chain curse and

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claimed the souls I needed to restore my youth. However,

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my revenge on the town elders who banished me from

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Strickfield long long ago is not complete. All in good time.

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Right now, my sole purpose is to destroy you, Charity Mirror.

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You and your accursed girlfriend found all of my chain

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letters and destroyed them. Oh but I have the perfect

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plan that will give the two of you a Christmas

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you won't soon forget. In fact, Charity, you and Micah

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are both at the top of my Christmas card list.

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The man chuckled as he presented the beautiful Christmas card

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to the ancient tome. After reading the spell, the card

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glowed brightly for a few moments and then stopped. It's done,

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the man said. He placed the card into the green

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envelope he had learned that Charity would be attending a

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Christmas party with the college family she was living with.

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He knew exactly who to send the card to on

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Christmas Eve. Perspective, Charity Mirn. It's Christmas Eve, and so

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much has changed since that dreaded chain letter came into

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my life three years ago. Let's be honest here, I've

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never forgotten what that horrible thing did. Many of my

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family members died that day, the day we all came

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to hear the curse from the chain letter. My relatives

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there hated me. They beat me up and wanted to

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follow the chain letter's persistent instructions to kill me. Even

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Micah was ordered to kill me. However, the chain letter

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didn't win. I burned that a cursed letter. But the

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only way for me to truly the end its curse

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was to commit suicide. I drank some really strong poison

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I found in a garage and died. The only thing

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was I didn't stay dead. I came back to life

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at Strickfield General Hospital. I learned later that my girlfriend,

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Micah Collins, broke into the house the garage was connected

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to and called nine one one. I was rushed to

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the hospital. The poison couldn't be pumped out of my

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stomach since it was completely wrecked. But I came back

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to life just the same, fully restored. Even to this day,

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I still don't know why. Also, I've never felt quite

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the same. I always feel like I've got lots and

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lots of energy. From that point until today, I kept

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looking in the mirror. I still look the same, but

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I just know something's not right with me. All I

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remember is that I died. There's no coming back from

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death right. The poison I drank that day was lethal.

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I literally felt my stomach coming apart. I literally felt

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myself fall on my back, die and leave my body.

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The next thing I knew, I had awakened at Strickfield General.

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One thing's for sure, I haven't turned to evil or

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anything like that. No sooner was I able to leave

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the hospital and return home with Micah. I went back

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to being me again. People still call me the one

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good Miran here in Strickfield. Even today, I still have

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relatives who hate me with everything they have to offer,

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whether they live in the gated community or not. Even

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when I'd pass my own parents in downtown village, they

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would scowl at me. Not only do they hate seeing

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my name and photographs in the Strickfield Journal. They also

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hate that I'm in a deeply committed relationship with another woman.

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I'll get to that. I've helped raise all kinds of

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money to help different charities. I volunteer my time at

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blood drives. I even help out at the Strickfield Nursing

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Home when I can spare time. Also, Micah is my

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partner in all of these things. She even helped me

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raise money to save the Strickfield Drive in theater and

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help keep it open for years to come. Why do

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I want to help people so much? Let's just say

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I'm a strong believer in God. I've read the Bible

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from cover to cover many times, but I think it

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was the stories of Jesus Christ that inspired me back

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when I was just a little girl. I never went

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to Strickfield had to me, but I think I might

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have fit in better there than at Strickfield High. Anyway,

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Jesus inspired me with his miracles and teachings. But I

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think the thing he said that still makes me cry

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to this day when I read it was John thirteen

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thirty four. A new command. I give you love one

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another as I have loved you, So you must love

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one another and yet I'm still persecuted and punished for

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it by my own family. I'm a Miran, and I'm

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supposed to use what are called the mirror ways to

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obtain power and wealth. Quite honestly, I don't think I

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was listening when my parents tried teaching me those things.

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When I heard Mom say that as Mirans, we're better

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than all those people outside the gate, I knew this

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wasn't what God wanted. Even now, I'm standing in the

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south window at the Collins House and looking up, it's

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Christmas Eve. Like I said, every day, I pray and

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ask God why I was brought back to life. I

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keep asking God, if he was the one who sent

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me back, does he have more work for me to

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do here? Did God feel it just wasn't my time?

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Then I feel Micah's hands on my shoulders. I turned

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to face her, my eyes streaming tears. Oh honey, Micah

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pulls me into her arms and lets me cry. I

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gently hold the love of my life to me. Honestly,

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I think I'd feel quite lost without her. For one thing,

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Micah's family took me in and let me live with

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them when mine threw me out. I came to fall

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in love with Micah, but I'd always kept my feelings

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to myself. Then that damned chain letter brought my feelings

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for her out. As it turned out, she recipes catered

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my love for her. Even today, we're still together. We

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kept our relationship quiet for a little while. Micah eventually

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confided in me that she didn't want to lie to

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her parents about us, so I agreed that it was

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best to tell them the truth was. They kind of

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already knew. Micah and I weren't paying attention, but her

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parents saw us holding hands many times, fingers laced. I

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expected to be homeless again, but the Collins are such

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good people. What's wrong? Micah whispers, I just can't stop

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feeling these feelings. I whispered back, Why did I return

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from the dead, Micah? She squeezes me a little. I'm

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so sorry. I wish there was something I could say

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or do to help you. Now I face her, it's

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not fair to you. She shakes her head slowly. I

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get to decide that charity. You and me are life partners.

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We're always there for each other always. There's nothing you

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could say to me that's going to make me break

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up with you. I sniffle, but you've had to deal

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with me since Micah pecks my lips. You and me

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are life partners. I'll always be here for you the

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way you'll always be here for me. Micah and I

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haven't gotten married or taken any kind of vows to

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say we're life partners. We just more or less transitioned

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into that. You could even call us soulmates. We both

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know we can never be without each other. You're going

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to be okay? Micah asks, or should I tell my

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parents we're not going to the family Christmas party tonight?

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I ease myself away from Micah and pull some tissues

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out of the box. No, I know you and your

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parents always look forward to the family party every Christmas Eve.

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Won't ruin that this will be my third Christmas with

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Micah's family. This will be my third family Christmas party

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I'll be attending. Even the family members there know about

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Micah and I Also. You'd have thought Micah's parents would

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have wanted us both out of the house once we

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matriculated to Strickfield University, but they told us we could

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stay at the house and not have to pay the

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extra fees that come with a dorm room and doing laundry.

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As I finished drying my eyes, Micah's parents are calling

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up to us. Let's go, love, Micah tells me, I

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let her take my hand. Together we walk downstairs. Then

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I see the living room with the brightly lit Christmas

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tree and all the presents. I want to cry again

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when I know I've got presents under there for Micah's

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parents too. I've even made some contributions to that tree.

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Micah and I helped carry other presents to the suv.

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Soon we're on our way to the north side of Strickfield,

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where Micah's other relatives live.

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

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When we get to the gathering, we can see plenty

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of cars in the cul de sac. Usually other houses

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here are having Christmas Eve gatherings too. Micah's dad finds

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a good spot from there. We get out and get

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the presence in back. Micah's relatives are quick to open

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the door, glad to see you all. The man calls out,

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glad to see you too, Uncle Wade. Micah calls back

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Wade Collins even acknowledges me, glad you could make it back.

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Charity as soon as we all go inside. Wade's wife,

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Mave is there to give me a hug when I

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set the presence i'm holding down. Thank you so much

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for that fundraiser you organized for the fire department. Squeezes

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me a little tighter. If it wasn't for you, my

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husband would be out of a job. When Mave lets

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me go, I nod an acknowledgment. Micah helped too. It

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feels awkward to be among this Many of Micah's family

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The first year, they just knew I was living with Micah.

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These last two years, everybody here knows Micah and I

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are together. Seeing her family makes me wish my own

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family was like hers. It still hurts knowing I was

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thrown away by my parents for being kind hearted. What's more,

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many of my other family members go out of their

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way to chastise me for it. I do have a

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few of my cousins who are on my side, though

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mostly Felicia. I just want to do right by people

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and by God. What's so wrong with that? As for

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the other people here at the gathering, Wade and may

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three kids are here, Beth, John, and Nellie, who all

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go to Strickfield High. There's also another Collins family here

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Wade's brother Charles and his wife Claire. They have two boys,

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Steve and Zane. I think Micah said something about them

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going to Strickfield Academy. It takes a little bit for

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us to break the ice, like every Christmas Eve. Then

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I remember how Steve and Zane make it a point

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to avoid Micah and I. In fact, the two of

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them hugged us, both begrudgingly. I suppose it would be

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one thing if they weren't comfortable hugging or shaking hands

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with people, but Micah and I both noticed they only

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seemed to be reluctant around us. Well, it wouldn't be

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the first time Micah and I have had to deal

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with a little homophobia. We're all chatting it up with everybody.

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Mave usually likes having me help her out in the kitchen.

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I've kind of gotten the vibe from her. She feels sorry,

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00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:04.960
worry for me for being banished from my own family. Anyway,

240
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the two of us are putting the finishing touches on

241
00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:12.079
the platters of meat and finger foods. Mave sure makes

242
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lots and lots of cookies, among other things. As soon

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as everything's put out, Mave announces that everybody can come

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into the dining room and help themselves. When the line's

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down enough to where I can get food, I pick

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00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:29.799
up a paper plate and start making my way down.

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It's then when Zay comes and cuts in. As I'm

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stepping aside, his hand shoots up and knocks my plate

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00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:42.400
out of my hands. Watch where you're going, he snaps.

250
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I don't want to get cross with anybody here. Then

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00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:49.319
I'm quick to learn I don't have to. Micah quickly

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00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:53.759
comes to my side. Back off, Zaane. Hey, your little

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00:17:53.799 --> 00:17:57.240
girly friend there should watch where she's going, he sneers.

254
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Micah doesn't back down. You got something you want to

255
00:18:01.400 --> 00:18:04.960
say to me? To us, I quickly move and get

256
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in between them. Both of you. Stop. It's Christmas. Zayin

257
00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:13.559
shoves me away. Don't you ever touch me. I can

258
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see Micah's upset now, Just as she's ready to get

259
00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:22.160
confrontational again, Wade approaches us. He's quick to give Zaine

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a hard time. You and Steve can't be civil in

261
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my house, then I guess you can both leave. Also

262
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as long as charities with Micah, she's part of this family.

263
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You don't like it, he points to it there's the door.

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Don't let it hit you in the ass on your

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way out. Zain finally backs off. It doesn't take long

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for his brother Steve to give us mean looks too. Unfortunately,

267
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the brother's homophobia is petty compared to what's about to happen.

268
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Many of us are sitting in the living room and

269
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chatting with other family members. Eventually Zayn comes into the

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room with a green envelope in his hand. Then he

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sits down and opens what looks like a Christmas card. Hey,

272
00:19:08.359 --> 00:19:12.160
what the hell is this? He mutters. Then he stands

273
00:19:12.240 --> 00:19:16.279
up and reads what the card says. Happy Holidays to

274
00:19:16.440 --> 00:19:20.000
you and yours alike. And now that you've received this card,

275
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you are now all bound. You, the holders, shall first

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be appointed a task. Failure to execute the task will

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result in certain death, just in time for Christmas. Upon

278
00:19:36.200 --> 00:19:40.240
successful completion of your task, you are free until you

279
00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:46.119
are called upon to do another task. Oh please, Dear God. No,

280
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Micah and I had been very careful to either not

281
00:19:50.680 --> 00:19:54.920
open any suspicious looking mail or be around others when

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they're opening mail. I don't know about Micah, but I

283
00:19:59.039 --> 00:20:01.720
have no doubt that whoever sent that chain letter to

284
00:20:01.799 --> 00:20:05.279
me three years ago, deliberately sent this new one here,

285
00:20:06.200 --> 00:20:10.200
knowing Micah and I would both witness it. As Micah

286
00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:14.079
and I are both looking fearfully at each other, Zayin

287
00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:17.599
gets a text on his smartphone. He pulls it out

288
00:20:17.640 --> 00:20:21.319
and looks at it. Throw your drink in someone's face.

289
00:20:22.440 --> 00:20:28.720
He starts looking around. Okay, who's playing here? When nobody answers,

290
00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:32.839
he laughs a little. Oh, I get it. That cards

291
00:20:32.920 --> 00:20:37.279
one of those chain letters people talk about around Strickfield. Okay,

292
00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:41.039
I'll bite. Without warning, Zayine picks up his cup of

293
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soda and throws it right in my face. You bastard.

294
00:20:45.799 --> 00:20:49.440
Micah yells. She's ready to hit him, but I quickly

295
00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:54.759
stop her. Micah, no, please don't this time. Micah's dad

296
00:20:54.839 --> 00:20:59.200
is right there. You better back off of Charity right now.

297
00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:03.920
Zain seems ready to fight back, but then someone else

298
00:21:03.960 --> 00:21:08.759
gets a text. It's Steve. I just got something from

299
00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:14.160
an unknown sender saying I gotta punch someone in this room.

300
00:21:14.519 --> 00:21:17.200
Without a second thought, I get up and go right

301
00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:22.720
to Steve. Do it, punch me. Micah's right there, Charity,

302
00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:26.279
what are you doing. I'm still looking right at Steve.

303
00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:29.960
If you don't do it, you'll die. Please punch me.

304
00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:34.640
Steve rolls his eyes and then shoves me. Get out

305
00:21:34.640 --> 00:21:38.079
of my face, you stupid dike. When I fall on

306
00:21:38.119 --> 00:21:41.920
my rear, Micah comes and helps me up. I'm ready

307
00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:43.759
to go back to Steve to get him to carry

308
00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:50.400
out his task. Suddenly, his head explodes. Everybody screams as

309
00:21:50.440 --> 00:21:54.920
the entire living room is a huge mess. Now what

310
00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:59.200
the fuck? Zaye yells. After Steve's body falls to the floor.

311
00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:02.839
Blood starts pouring out of the bodies open neck.

312
00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:08.680
You're not safe yet, weekly Spooky will be right back.

313
00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:15.880
I quickly pick up the Christmas card and throw it

314
00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:20.039
into the fireplace. I know destroying the card won't stop

315
00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:23.519
the curse that's found its way into this house, but

316
00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:26.279
at least nobody else has to read it and become

317
00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:32.160
infected by its evil. Charlie, Zane and Steve's dad moved

318
00:22:32.200 --> 00:22:36.400
to the window. Who did this? Who shot my son?

319
00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:41.960
I moved to him. Nobody shot your son, sir. He

320
00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:46.079
turns and grabs me. How do you even know? I

321
00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:50.799
point to the window. For one thing, the windows aren't broken. Also,

322
00:22:51.319 --> 00:22:57.480
we didn't hear any gunshots. I sigh. Steve died because

323
00:22:57.519 --> 00:22:59.759
he didn't do the task he was supposed to do.

324
00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:04.400
Charlie shoves me away. Now what are you talking about?

325
00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:08.240
He points right at me. You'd better start coming clean

326
00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:13.400
right now. Did my son die because of you? I

327
00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:18.880
close my eyes and sigh. He might have. Then Wade

328
00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:23.119
approaches me, you know something about what just happened, Charity.

329
00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:27.119
I can't lie to them. I come into the center

330
00:23:27.160 --> 00:23:31.160
of the room and explain everything. It's only going to

331
00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:33.640
be a matter of time before one of us gets

332
00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:38.440
another chain letter command. If you don't obey it, you'll die,

333
00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:43.720
just like Steve I finish. It's not long before we

334
00:23:43.799 --> 00:23:48.880
hear another texting alert. It's on Mave's phone. She looks

335
00:23:48.920 --> 00:23:53.079
at it and then gasps, tell everyone in the house

336
00:23:53.160 --> 00:23:57.480
about the worst thing you've ever done. Then she looks

337
00:23:57.519 --> 00:24:01.039
at me in utter horror. If you don't do it,

338
00:24:01.559 --> 00:24:08.799
you'll die, I remind her, but Mayeve chokes out. She's

339
00:24:08.839 --> 00:24:12.599
really hesitant to say what that one big skeleton in

340
00:24:12.599 --> 00:24:17.519
her closet is aunt, Mave. If you didn't kill somebody,

341
00:24:17.559 --> 00:24:23.039
then you'll be okay. Micah tells her, just come out

342
00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:27.759
with it. Mave shakes her head quickly. No, I can't.

343
00:24:28.359 --> 00:24:30.559
I quickly grab Mave and look her in the face.

344
00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:34.240
If you don't tell, you'll die. Is your secret worth

345
00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:40.799
your own life? You don't understand charity. Micah Mayve yells,

346
00:24:41.319 --> 00:24:47.720
I did a terrible thing, a very terrible thing. Then

347
00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:55.319
Mave starts gasping for breath. No, no, I'll, I'll, I'll tell. Clearly,

348
00:24:55.400 --> 00:24:59.640
the chain letter curse was starting to kill Mave. When

349
00:24:59.640 --> 00:25:02.920
may can breathe again, she turns to her husband and

350
00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:07.039
tells Wade that she was having an affair with Charlie

351
00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:10.640
just after they got married. She says that it was

352
00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:14.920
many times. She doesn't know why she did it, but

353
00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:18.960
she knew once she started that she couldn't stop. She

354
00:25:19.000 --> 00:25:23.200
assures Wade she hadn't been with Charlie in years. Once

355
00:25:23.240 --> 00:25:27.559
she finishes, nothing else happens to her. I think it's

356
00:25:27.599 --> 00:25:32.480
safe to say she finished her task. Wade is pissed now.

357
00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:36.759
Then he turns to me, How come you know so

358
00:25:36.839 --> 00:25:40.119
much about all of this charity? Do you have something

359
00:25:40.160 --> 00:25:44.119
to do with it? I explained to everybody about how

360
00:25:44.200 --> 00:25:47.160
Monica and I got caught in a cursed chain letter

361
00:25:47.279 --> 00:25:51.440
three years ago, and what happened. I think whoever sent

362
00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:54.640
that cursed Christmas card here knew Micah and I would

363
00:25:54.680 --> 00:25:59.359
be coming here today. Wade points to the door. Then

364
00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:04.160
maybe you and Micah should just both get out. We

365
00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:07.480
could do that, sir, but it won't stop the curse.

366
00:26:07.880 --> 00:26:10.759
Since Zayne read the card where everybody could hear him,

367
00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:15.920
I explain we're all bound by the curse. Now, it's

368
00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:19.960
not long before Nellie gets a text. She looks at it.

369
00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:25.640
No way, I'm doing this. What's it say, Nellie? John

370
00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:30.400
demands No, No, I won't do it, Nelly yells. Then

371
00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:34.279
she throws the phone away. Micah quickly retrieves it and

372
00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:38.720
reads it. Then she says to me, Nelly has to

373
00:26:39.640 --> 00:26:44.039
kill somebody in this house. You'll die if you don't.

374
00:26:44.559 --> 00:26:48.920
Beth tells her you heard what Charity said. Nelly has

375
00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:52.160
a frantic look on her face. I'm not a murderer

376
00:26:52.119 --> 00:26:56.720
of Beth. I can't kill anybody. Zaye grabs someone else's

377
00:26:56.799 --> 00:26:59.319
knife and comes right at me. I'll do it, Then,

378
00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:03.160
I point at Zain, it's not your task. If you

379
00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:06.880
stab me, then you'll die anyway. Not only that, you

380
00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:10.519
might also kill Nelly since she didn't complete her task.

381
00:27:11.119 --> 00:27:15.279
Don't care, bitch, Zayne yells, my brother's dead because of you.

382
00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:19.559
I think it's only fair you die too. Suddenly, Nelly

383
00:27:19.680 --> 00:27:24.039
jumps on Zaye's back. Stop at you, bastard, Leave Charity alone.

384
00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:28.680
This isn't her fault. Zain tries to shake Nellie off.

385
00:27:29.480 --> 00:27:32.920
Micah and I try to break things up. Zain manages

386
00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:36.000
to break loose and get his knife back. Now he's

387
00:27:36.039 --> 00:27:39.599
looking to stab her. He roars and runs at Nelly

388
00:27:40.400 --> 00:27:43.279
without thinking twice about it. I hurry in between them.

389
00:27:43.799 --> 00:27:43.880
No.

390
00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:47.799
I barely hear Micah cry out. Zain and I are

391
00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:51.279
both looking at each other. Now I know he's stabbed me.

392
00:27:52.119 --> 00:27:54.200
The pain in the pit of my stomach is bad,

393
00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:58.000
and I can feel I'm bleeding out fast. Suddenly I

394
00:27:58.079 --> 00:28:02.160
fall to my knees and quickly on my back. No,

395
00:28:03.480 --> 00:28:06.920
I hear Micah scream. Then she's right there to shove

396
00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:15.400
Zaine away, You goddamn bastard, Micah. I call out. Micah

397
00:28:15.400 --> 00:28:21.000
forgets Zayne and comes to me. Charity, No, no, please, No.

398
00:28:22.640 --> 00:28:26.599
Zayne fatally stabbed me. I can feel my life ebbing

399
00:28:26.680 --> 00:28:31.319
away with each passing second. I manage to look at Zayne,

400
00:28:32.400 --> 00:28:38.880
I forgive you. Then I look up at Micah and

401
00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:43.720
cry knowing I'm going to leave her alone in this world. Charity, No,

402
00:28:44.759 --> 00:28:49.119
don't die. I love you so much, you can't die,

403
00:28:50.079 --> 00:29:00.359
she shrieks. I love love, and then I die for

404
00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:10.160
the second time, like before. It seems just like that.

405
00:29:11.480 --> 00:29:16.599
I wake right up, only now I'm in a mortuary.

406
00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:23.160
What I choke out and sit up straight. Everything's all right,

407
00:29:23.279 --> 00:29:27.839
Rebecca Miren, a female voice calls out. I turned to

408
00:29:27.839 --> 00:29:31.519
see a thin woman dressed in a suit. Welcome to

409
00:29:31.599 --> 00:29:37.480
my home. Where am I? I asked the woman. You

410
00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:41.680
are in the Strickfield funeral home, she says, at least

411
00:29:42.400 --> 00:29:46.480
that's how it would seem on the outside. Did I die?

412
00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:52.880
I ask? She nods once. I'm afraid that you did. Indeed,

413
00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:57.079
depart the mortal realm for the second time. I turn

414
00:29:57.160 --> 00:30:01.240
and sit on the embalming table. It was you, wasn't it.

415
00:30:01.960 --> 00:30:04.200
You came for me the first time when I died

416
00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:08.240
three years ago. That was my job at the time,

417
00:30:08.720 --> 00:30:13.880
the woman replies. My name is Saffron Morningside. The first

418
00:30:13.920 --> 00:30:16.720
time you came before me, it was my duty to

419
00:30:16.759 --> 00:30:20.319
get you safely across the river sticks and to your

420
00:30:20.319 --> 00:30:24.759
final destination. Today, you might say that it is my

421
00:30:24.960 --> 00:30:27.960
job to help those souls who were at their crossroads.

422
00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:31.240
This is now the second time that you have come

423
00:30:31.279 --> 00:30:35.799
before me. Rebecca, that's my real name. I only became

424
00:30:35.960 --> 00:30:39.119
Charity because that was the name my family branded on me,

425
00:30:39.920 --> 00:30:43.559
so I decided to own it and make it mine.

426
00:30:43.640 --> 00:30:48.079
I kneel before the being. I'm ready to face my judgment.

427
00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:53.880
I'm ready to stand before Almighty God. You speak as

428
00:30:53.880 --> 00:30:58.799
if you've done great wrong, Saffron says. Then she comes

429
00:30:58.880 --> 00:31:04.160
and takes my hand. Rise. I obey her. I have

430
00:31:04.279 --> 00:31:07.839
tried so hard to be kind and charitable. I've tried

431
00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:11.720
so hard to keep the faith. I've tried even harder

432
00:31:12.519 --> 00:31:18.160
to be like Jesus Christ. Saffron smiles. A little too bad,

433
00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:20.880
there are not more like you in the mortal realm.

434
00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:26.319
Then she squeezes my hand gently. You are not here

435
00:31:26.359 --> 00:31:29.960
to answer for anything, for you have done no wrong,

436
00:31:30.279 --> 00:31:35.559
my sister, sister, I ask in confusion.

437
00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:41.440
You're not safe yet, weekly Spooky will be right back.

438
00:31:45.359 --> 00:31:49.319
Saffron takes my other hand. Now she's holding them both

439
00:31:50.559 --> 00:31:55.400
in life. I was your younger sister, Destiny, and now

440
00:31:55.920 --> 00:31:59.319
I am the being you see before you. It has

441
00:31:59.400 --> 00:32:03.599
taken me a great many years to finally understand how

442
00:32:03.640 --> 00:32:08.039
I mistreated you in life. I just wish it had

443
00:32:08.039 --> 00:32:11.000
not been during my time in the after life that

444
00:32:11.039 --> 00:32:14.000
I would finally regret the abuse I gave unto you.

445
00:32:15.319 --> 00:32:18.759
I truly wish to come before you and say how

446
00:32:18.839 --> 00:32:24.319
sorry I am, but I was with reluctance. I'm overjoyed

447
00:32:24.359 --> 00:32:28.319
that you are here before me now, I squeeze her

448
00:32:28.359 --> 00:32:33.680
hands back. If you truly are my sister, then I

449
00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:38.240
forgave you a long time ago, Destiny. I forgave all

450
00:32:38.279 --> 00:32:41.400
of you, even after Mom and Dad kicked me out.

451
00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:48.119
That's who I am. Now I'm crying. I really wanted

452
00:32:48.200 --> 00:32:51.799
to be close to you, dear sister, but I mean it.

453
00:32:51.880 --> 00:32:57.680
I forgive you for everything. Now. Destiny's crying softly herself.

454
00:32:58.799 --> 00:33:03.119
Thank you, she whispers. We hold each other for a

455
00:33:03.119 --> 00:33:07.559
long while. I truly wish Destiny and I hadn't become

456
00:33:07.640 --> 00:33:11.079
so distant from each other in life. But here we

457
00:33:11.160 --> 00:33:17.880
are now. When we come apart, Destiny tells me it's Christmas,

458
00:33:17.880 --> 00:33:23.000
my sister. I wish to give you something special. Then,

459
00:33:23.079 --> 00:33:27.519
I'm remembering you did. You were the one who gave

460
00:33:27.559 --> 00:33:32.279
me my life back after I drank the poison. Destiny nods.

461
00:33:33.400 --> 00:33:37.000
I was death at the time you gave your life

462
00:33:37.039 --> 00:33:40.480
selflessly to end the curse of that chain letter and

463
00:33:40.599 --> 00:33:45.599
save the remainder of those infected by its evil. A

464
00:33:45.599 --> 00:33:49.440
little while ago, you gave your life selflessly, which brought

465
00:33:49.519 --> 00:33:53.200
you back before me. I am giving you the gift

466
00:33:53.240 --> 00:33:57.920
of choice this Christmas. Rebecca. You may either allow me

467
00:33:58.119 --> 00:34:01.160
to take you across the River Styck so that you

468
00:34:01.240 --> 00:34:07.200
may reach your final destination in Paradise, or you may

469
00:34:07.240 --> 00:34:10.760
remain here in the mortal realm so that you may

470
00:34:10.800 --> 00:34:15.079
continue to do your work. I can feel that you

471
00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:20.280
are not ready to take your final ride just yet. However, Rebecca,

472
00:34:21.400 --> 00:34:27.679
I leave the choice in your hands. What if? What

473
00:34:27.719 --> 00:34:30.880
if I want to stay with you, Destiny, I ask.

474
00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:36.880
You're my blood sister. I would love to reconnect with you.

475
00:34:37.679 --> 00:34:40.079
Know that I've always loved you, in spite of how

476
00:34:40.119 --> 00:34:46.360
badly you treated me in life. Destiny smiles. I've already

477
00:34:46.440 --> 00:34:50.079
told you where you may find me, my sister, Come

478
00:34:50.119 --> 00:34:55.000
and visit me whenever you wish. The lights will always

479
00:34:55.039 --> 00:34:59.400
be on here. But to do this, you would have

480
00:34:59.480 --> 00:35:02.920
to choose to remain in the mortal realm, for there

481
00:35:03.039 --> 00:35:06.599
is no coming back once you have taken your final

482
00:35:06.679 --> 00:35:12.679
journey across the River Styx. I'm crying more. Now then

483
00:35:14.079 --> 00:35:20.920
I will see you again. You shall, she assures me. Now,

484
00:35:22.000 --> 00:35:25.519
since you have clearly made your choice, I shall return

485
00:35:25.599 --> 00:35:29.000
you to the point before Zane Collins opens the cursed

486
00:35:29.079 --> 00:35:33.840
Christmas Card. You shall return with this knowledge, take the

487
00:35:33.920 --> 00:35:38.239
card away from him and destroy it immediately. This way,

488
00:35:38.880 --> 00:35:44.079
none of the events that transpired will become so will

489
00:35:44.119 --> 00:35:50.480
I will I remember you? I choke out. Destiny leans

490
00:35:50.480 --> 00:36:03.840
in and kisses my cheek. Merry Christmas. She faces me again, Charity.

491
00:36:04.079 --> 00:36:09.639
Suddenly the scenery changes. Now everything's looking like I'm in

492
00:36:09.760 --> 00:36:13.719
some kind of acid trip or something. The next thing

493
00:36:13.760 --> 00:36:16.639
I know, I'm back at the home of Wade and

494
00:36:16.760 --> 00:36:23.119
Mayve Collins. You okay, Charity, A voice asks me, huh,

495
00:36:23.360 --> 00:36:27.360
I utter. A hand takes firm hold of my shoulder.

496
00:36:28.239 --> 00:36:33.480
Now I'm facing Micah. I quickly raise my finger. Wait

497
00:36:33.639 --> 00:36:36.559
right here, I promise I'll be right back and I'll

498
00:36:36.599 --> 00:36:43.559
explain everything. Okay, she utters. I turn away from her

499
00:36:43.599 --> 00:36:47.039
and move fast to find Zain. I quickly dig into

500
00:36:47.079 --> 00:36:49.239
my pocket and know I'm going to have to be

501
00:36:49.360 --> 00:36:53.440
crafty to pull off my idea. When I reach zay

502
00:36:53.599 --> 00:36:57.559
I bump into him and pull a little switcheroo. He

503
00:36:57.599 --> 00:37:01.119
doesn't see me quickly take his Christmas card and flick

504
00:37:01.159 --> 00:37:05.800
it into the fireplace behind me, then leave something else

505
00:37:05.880 --> 00:37:10.440
in the card's place. I quickly turned to look. The

506
00:37:10.480 --> 00:37:14.840
card and envelope both burn up. Then the fire turns

507
00:37:14.880 --> 00:37:19.199
a bright red. Only for a moment. When the fire

508
00:37:19.320 --> 00:37:22.639
is normal again, there's nothing left of the cursed Christmas card,

509
00:37:23.360 --> 00:37:28.119
not even ashes. Then Zayn shoves me. Hey, what the

510
00:37:28.159 --> 00:37:33.119
hell's your problem? What's your huh? When Zayin sees he's

511
00:37:33.159 --> 00:37:36.800
holding one hundred dollars bill, he looks at me and

512
00:37:36.840 --> 00:37:42.519
to the bill again. Now he looks confused. I quickly

513
00:37:42.599 --> 00:37:47.639
give him a look of confusion myself. Um, I didn't

514
00:37:48.039 --> 00:37:52.960
take your money, did I? Zayin asks quietly. I fold

515
00:37:52.960 --> 00:37:56.159
my arms in front of me. No, no, not at all.

516
00:37:57.000 --> 00:38:01.079
Maybe you had it and didn't realize it. Zaye laughs

517
00:38:01.119 --> 00:38:06.199
a little uugh. Maybe. I unfold my arms and nod

518
00:38:06.239 --> 00:38:10.440
a little. Sorry I bumped you. I'll leave you alone.

519
00:38:10.679 --> 00:38:15.719
Merry Christmas. As I turn away, he snatches my arm. Hey.

520
00:38:16.559 --> 00:38:19.360
I turned back to him and wait for an explanation.

521
00:38:21.280 --> 00:38:25.599
I'm sorry about how I treated you. He says, you

522
00:38:25.719 --> 00:38:31.199
really are okay. I smile a little. I forgave you

523
00:38:31.239 --> 00:38:34.599
a long time ago, Zaane and I don't carry a grudge,

524
00:38:35.639 --> 00:38:39.840
especially when it's Christmas. Then he offers me his hand.

525
00:38:40.679 --> 00:38:46.480
I take it so we can shake. Then he hugs me. Wow,

526
00:38:47.480 --> 00:38:53.400
talk about buying somebody off. Still, I remember what did happen? Otherwise,

527
00:38:54.480 --> 00:38:57.880
the Christmas Eve party went off without any further incidents

528
00:38:57.920 --> 00:39:01.840
from there. Even Steve was giving me a hard time anymore.

529
00:39:02.679 --> 00:39:07.119
Guess Zaye must have talked to him. Anyway, We enjoyed

530
00:39:07.159 --> 00:39:12.239
food and drink, open presents, and even watched some Christmas movies.

531
00:39:14.119 --> 00:39:19.039
A sh it was only the wind. You're safe, weekly spooky,

532
00:39:19.119 --> 00:39:20.480
We'll be right back.

533
00:39:23.880 --> 00:39:29.639
Epilogue. That night, Micah finds me sitting out back at

534
00:39:29.639 --> 00:39:34.320
the Collins House in downtown Village. She sits down beside me.

535
00:39:36.079 --> 00:39:43.639
You okay, I sigh, I'm just thinking about things. She

536
00:39:43.800 --> 00:39:49.679
takes my hand. Talk to me, you promised. I keep

537
00:39:49.719 --> 00:39:54.559
my promise and tell Micah everything. In fact, I never

538
00:39:54.719 --> 00:39:58.880
kept anything from her. When I finish, I say, I

539
00:39:58.960 --> 00:40:04.559
know you probably think I'm crazy, right, She shakes her head.

540
00:40:05.239 --> 00:40:07.920
After the hell we went through with that first chain letter.

541
00:40:08.360 --> 00:40:10.360
Why would I not believe you when you tell me

542
00:40:10.400 --> 00:40:14.440
about a cursed Christmas card? Then she gives me a

543
00:40:14.440 --> 00:40:22.679
weird look. You really died again? I nod. I'm so sorry.

544
00:40:23.960 --> 00:40:27.239
Just like last time I was sent back here, I

545
00:40:27.320 --> 00:40:30.719
was told my work wasn't finished. I don't know if

546
00:40:30.719 --> 00:40:34.239
I'm just supposed to keep following John thirteen thirty four,

547
00:40:35.000 --> 00:40:37.760
or if there's some other work I'm supposed to be

548
00:40:37.840 --> 00:40:41.480
doing that I don't know about yet. If there is

549
00:40:41.599 --> 00:40:45.119
such a being as God, what does he or she

550
00:40:45.280 --> 00:40:48.280
want with me? I just feel like I have so

551
00:40:48.360 --> 00:40:53.199
many more unanswered questions Micah. Then Micah and I come

552
00:40:53.280 --> 00:40:59.119
together and share a long, passionate kiss. When we come apart,

553
00:40:59.599 --> 00:41:04.679
Micah tells me she loves me. I love you too,

554
00:41:05.480 --> 00:41:11.199
I tell her. Then I take her hand. Listen, would

555
00:41:11.199 --> 00:41:16.639
you be willing to come with me someplace tomorrow? Micah nods.

556
00:41:18.119 --> 00:41:36.440
You know I trust you unconditionally. Charity. The next afternoon,

557
00:41:37.199 --> 00:41:40.679
on Christmas, Micah and I are standing on the front

558
00:41:40.719 --> 00:41:44.559
porch of the Strickfield Funeral Home. I can tell Micah's

559
00:41:44.639 --> 00:41:49.440
wondering what we're doing here. I reach out and ring

560
00:41:49.480 --> 00:41:55.079
the doorbell. It isn't long before someone opens one of

561
00:41:55.079 --> 00:42:00.800
the double doors. It's Saffron Morningside. He opens the door

562
00:42:00.840 --> 00:42:02.840
the rest of the way and motions for us to

563
00:42:02.880 --> 00:42:07.079
come in. I was hoping you would come today, my

564
00:42:07.199 --> 00:42:13.280
younger sister says, after she closes the door behind us. Actually,

565
00:42:14.280 --> 00:42:18.159
I was hoping that you both would come today. Then

566
00:42:18.400 --> 00:42:22.960
Saffron points past us. Micah and I both turn around

567
00:42:23.000 --> 00:42:30.159
to see Mom. I choke out. Mom doesn't say anything

568
00:42:30.719 --> 00:42:34.280
and comes right to me. We throw our arms around

569
00:42:34.280 --> 00:42:38.320
each other and hug tightly. I would later learn that

570
00:42:38.360 --> 00:42:41.360
around Halloween, Mom and Dad wanted to do right by

571
00:42:41.400 --> 00:42:45.719
Destiny after she had disappeared and give her a funeral.

572
00:42:46.840 --> 00:42:49.639
Mom was at that point in her life where she

573
00:42:49.760 --> 00:42:53.119
was feeling remorse for how badly she treated both Destiny

574
00:42:53.480 --> 00:42:58.719
and I. Dad, however, would never come to repent, so

575
00:42:58.880 --> 00:43:03.400
he was claimed by death because Mom was having regrets,

576
00:43:04.000 --> 00:43:08.159
Destiny as death gave her time to make things right

577
00:43:08.960 --> 00:43:13.159
while she was still alive to do so. Nothing like

578
00:43:13.239 --> 00:43:16.440
Christmas to bring in a strange family back together again.

579
00:43:17.880 --> 00:43:21.360
Mom has never accepted that Micah Collins is my life partner.

580
00:43:22.599 --> 00:43:25.000
There will still be much to fix in terms of

581
00:43:25.000 --> 00:43:31.840
our family relationship, but Mom seems willing to try. Mom

582
00:43:31.920 --> 00:43:35.320
can't believe what's happened to both Destiny and me, but

583
00:43:35.360 --> 00:43:38.760
she promises us both that she won't lose us again.

584
00:43:40.039 --> 00:43:42.280
The only thing that still bums me out at this

585
00:43:42.400 --> 00:43:47.679
point is the fact that someone wants me dead. I

586
00:43:47.760 --> 00:43:51.119
know in time that that someone will send another chain

587
00:43:51.199 --> 00:43:54.719
letter out. I know I have to find that person

588
00:43:55.320 --> 00:43:58.840
and stop him or her before more lives are lost.

589
00:44:00.039 --> 00:44:04.239
Problem is, I don't even know where to begin. Even

590
00:44:04.320 --> 00:44:07.360
I know I can only do so many things at

591
00:44:07.360 --> 00:44:13.039
a time, but today I just want to be with

592
00:44:13.159 --> 00:44:21.039
my family on Christmas. Well, my spookys, I hope you

593
00:44:21.159 --> 00:44:25.880
enjoyed another terrifying trip to Strickfield, Ohio courtesy of our

594
00:44:25.880 --> 00:44:29.199
good buddy Rob Fields. I don't know about you, but

595
00:44:29.239 --> 00:44:31.519
I actually got a little choked up on that one.

596
00:44:32.000 --> 00:44:36.000
A family being reunited is beautiful, even if it's a

597
00:44:36.079 --> 00:44:39.639
bit complicated. Thank you so much for joining us on

598
00:44:39.719 --> 00:44:42.599
Weekly Spooky Tonight. I hope you're subscribed so you can

599
00:44:42.719 --> 00:44:46.280
join us tomorrow and Friday for lots more content all

600
00:44:46.320 --> 00:44:49.159
the way till Christmas time. And I want to remind

601
00:44:49.199 --> 00:44:52.000
you guys you can send me an email at Weeklyspooky

602
00:44:52.039 --> 00:44:55.639
at gmail dot com. I absolutely love to hear from you,

603
00:44:56.159 --> 00:44:58.960
So if you have a story request, an idea for

604
00:44:59.000 --> 00:45:01.159
a story you think we might want to tell, or

605
00:45:01.199 --> 00:45:04.559
you just want to write in for your own reasons,

606
00:45:04.880 --> 00:45:08.119
as long as it's not a murderous chain letter, I'm

607
00:45:08.119 --> 00:45:10.360
happy to receive it. And I want to say a

608
00:45:10.440 --> 00:45:13.480
huge thank you to over one hundred Spookies on Patreon

609
00:45:13.679 --> 00:45:16.400
who support the show every month for as little as

610
00:45:16.480 --> 00:45:19.840
one dollar and in exchange get two bonus shows a month,

611
00:45:20.039 --> 00:45:22.679
as well as the audio books that are exclusive to

612
00:45:22.719 --> 00:45:26.159
Patreon and lots of other little goodies. And an extra

613
00:45:26.239 --> 00:45:30.039
special thank you to our Patreon podcast boosters, folks who

614
00:45:30.079 --> 00:45:32.480
pay just a little bit more to hear their names

615
00:45:32.519 --> 00:45:35.159
at the end of the show, and they are Jessica Fuller,

616
00:45:35.280 --> 00:45:39.639
Johnny Nix, Jenny Green, Amber Hansford, Brent McCullough, Karen we Met,

617
00:45:39.840 --> 00:45:42.559
Jack Kerr, and Craig Cohen. Thank you guys so much,

618
00:45:42.599 --> 00:45:43.920
and if you want to hear your name at the

619
00:45:43.960 --> 00:45:46.719
end of the show, just head to Weeklyspooky dot com

620
00:45:46.760 --> 00:45:50.079
slash join and select the fifteen dollars a month or

621
00:45:50.159 --> 00:45:53.440
higher tier. You'll get all the extra bonuses and hear

622
00:45:53.480 --> 00:45:57.320
your name come out of my soothing, spooky voice and

623
00:45:57.400 --> 00:46:00.519
I'll really really appreciate it. But now, all my friends,

624
00:46:00.519 --> 00:46:01.960
it's time for me to get back to work. There

625
00:46:02.000 --> 00:46:04.760
is so much more spooky for the month of December,

626
00:46:04.760 --> 00:46:07.159
and I am so happy to be giving you guys

627
00:46:07.199 --> 00:46:09.519
something fun to listen to while you deal with the

628
00:46:09.599 --> 00:46:12.440
hubbub of the holidays. So for myself, for my producer

629
00:46:12.559 --> 00:46:16.159
Dan Wilder, my executive producers Rob Fields, Markshields and babbletopia

630
00:46:16.199 --> 00:46:19.239
dot Com, and my composer Raymadis, I'll be talking to

631
00:46:19.280 --> 00:46:20.280
you tomorrow.

632
00:46:21.039 --> 00:46:24.760
Thank you for listenings. Make sure to find your way

633
00:46:24.800 --> 00:46:31.719
back next week, but for now you are safe, trust me.