WEBVTT
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Snow falls inside the globe, quiet, peaceful. Then you whisper
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the words and the town lights up. A few flakes
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turn black. Your luck changes overnight. But Christmas is coming
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and the snow globe isn't granting wishes anymore. How did
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you get in here? Oh? Ho ho? What's that You
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want to be scared? Come with me? This is Weekly Spooky. Hello,
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my spookys, you're not confused. It's Tuesday, and don't worry.
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If you're a fan of this week in Horror History,
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that'll be airing in just a few hours here on
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the Weekly Spooky Feed. But as is tradition on our podcast,
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we brought you a little something extra to unwrap, because
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would it even be Christmas without surprises? And tonight's story
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is full of them. And it's courtesy of a new
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author to our program, rodri Go, And trust me, I
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know you'll enjoy it. I'm your host and narrator, Enrique Kuto,
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and before we get to the story, I just want
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to thank you from the bottom of my heart. This
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has been one of the most successful holiday seasons on
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Weekly Spooky ever and we're not even all the way through.
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So if you love what we're doing. Make sure you're subscribed,
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and if you'd like to show us a little bit
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more support, I would consider that a gift under my tree.
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Just head to Weeklyspooky dot Com slash join and for
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as little as one dollar a month, you get two
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bonus stories every single month, and my undying gratitude. It's
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what helps keep the show going and going and growing.
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As we wrap up our seventh year of bringing you spooky,
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and if you've just joined us in the last few months,
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I want to remind you we do not stop. All
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year long. Weekly Spooky brings you something scary to listen to.
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On Mondays you have Terrifying and true for your folklore
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and true crime, and then of course on Wednesdays you
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have our weekly spooky story just for you to enjoy.
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So if you want to show us some support and
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join over ninety other spookies, I really would appreciate it,
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head to Weeklyspooky dot Com slash join. But now, as
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for tonight, imagine it's a cold night, the streets are
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slick with slush, and you duck into a dusty little
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shop because you're desperate. Inside, you discover a snow globe,
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tiny houses, warm lights, perfect snowfall and a price tag
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that feels like a joke. But when you shake it,
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the snow doesn't stay war Because this globe doesn't just
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show you Christmas. It changes it. It bends luck, It
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grants wishes, and it starts turning the season into something darker,
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demanding payment you can't afford. Black Christmas by Roder Gough.
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It was cold and dark that one wretched morning in
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the city of dead dreams. Dilapidated buildings, decadent centuries of
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another time towered on either side of me. As I
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sped by on my way to the warehouse downtown, an
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ill disposed wind howled in every direction. Beggars huddled together,
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and brown slow clung to the rims of my bicycle tires.
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Down the road, a neon papst blue ribbon sign buzzed
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over silent garbage cans in disarray. The entire grim metropolis
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shivered under a silver sky, while an icy drizzle lacerated
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pavement and poltergeist alike dim holiday lights hung miserably on
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the iron gate of a Catholic church. It was that
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time of year again. I shuddered at the thought, and
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kept my eyes on the path ahead. Unwilling to dwell
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in bad memories and worse nights, I arrived at the
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warehouse freezing, wet and tired. The depots, weathered brick walls
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and cement pillars, stood indifferent. There is no rest for
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the poor. An old gray delivery truck backed up next
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to a concrete platform while a stocky, middle aged man
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opened the vehicle's rear door. Myself and other kids roughly
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my same age began to gather around him. A large, empty,
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brown leather satchel hung loosely across my chest. The other
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boys had similar knapsacks of their own. Soon they'd all
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be filled with copies of the day's journal, ready to
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be delivered. At fifteen cents apiece. We got to keep
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two cents per unit sold. Not bad. It was enough
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to keep food on the table most of the time.
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Every now and again, though, a salacious incident would send
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the general public into a frenzy, resulting in a higher
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profit for us. Political scandals were usually the most lucrative.
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What we got, boss, I asked one of the older kids,
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hoping for a shocking headline. His tattered clothes and grimy
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disposition told the same worn down story. We were all
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accustomed to see for yourself, replied the man as he
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hurled a stack of newspapers onto the floor right by
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our feet. The smell of fresh ink filled our nostrils
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in anticipation. Mismatched Patterson lasts to twelve clay by Tko.
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Myself and a few of the boys made affirmative sounds
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and gestures in unison boxing championship bouts meant plenty of sales.
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Everyone knows that despite modern society's pretense for civility, the
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age old spectacle between desperate, violent men striking years off
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each other's lives under the bright lights remained unmatched. Works
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for me. What's TKO mean, boss, asked one of the
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youngest kids in the bunch. Snot nosed and dirty means
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get to work, all you. If you can say it,
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you can sell it. Don't need to know what it means.
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The stout man grumbled back in a bad mood, without
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making eye contact with any of us. He began handing
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out bundles of newspapers to the skinny hands reaching out
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for them, until the truck was left empty. While the
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city still slept a ragtag of raggedy kids in weary
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clothes ventured out into the cold, thirsty for love and money.
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Most would never find either. After finishing my scheduled deliveries,
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I hurried over to the corner of Fifth and Wilson
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Avenue just in time for the morning rush. Though the
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sleet had subsided in exchange for a meek daylight, an
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insidious chill still remained. Tall men in long coats, ruthless suits,
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and fedora hats brisked by me on their way to work.
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Most would fling a coin and take the paper without
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missing a step, while others lingered, volunteering their opinion on
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whatever was on print that day. One such man approached
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me with his hands in his pockets and a scowl
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across his face. An unkempt gray beard betrayed his age
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clay by TKO, sir, get the details here for less
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than a quarter, I said to him in my most
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polished salesman tone, raising the paper so he would see
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the headline on display. The guy replied with a scoff
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and grabbed the newspaper, abruptly unfolding it and scanning the
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front page. Big whoop, Kid's a loud mouth. Doesn't know
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his place. They ought to send his ass to nam
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and see how he does over there. The man growled
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back as he shoved the paper into my chest and
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walked away, leaving behind the distinct aroma of cheap liquor
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and old regret. Asshole. I thought, though without actually saying
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anything back to him, not worth the fuss. Less than
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an hour later, my satchel was finally empty and my
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pockets were full of It was time to head back
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to the depot to cash in and collect my earnings.
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The day was still young, and though no one would
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ever hear, sullen wraiths cried out in agony on every corner,
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aware of their eternal penance. I walked alongside my bike
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through the city's business district. Colorful advertisements for all sorts
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of products and services beamed on either side of me.
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As I strolled by on my way back to the warehouse. Downtown,
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the dead moaned, the cold persisted. Halfway down Truman Boulevard,
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between a tailor and a record store, I spotted a
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small shop, old and unassuming. A dim yellow light emanated
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from inside, and a strange, bold lettered word decorated the
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entrance Antiques. I was perplexed for a second wondering how
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I'd never seen this business before, despite my many trips
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through the district. There was a certain appeal to the place,
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an irresistible warning. Curious, I leaned my bike on the wall,
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opened the front door, and walked in. A prolonged, low
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pitched chime announced my entry as the door closed softly.
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Behind unending rows of dusty furniture and all matter of
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peculiar items, many of them unknown to me, lay on
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display ahead. A deep red wallpaper clung to the walls,
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and candles hung on silver sconces at even intervals. Inside,
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the space was much bigger than it looked. A deafening silence,
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only barely interrupted by flickering lights and my own hesitant
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footsteps reigned unopposed. The rich, bitter sweet smell of moth
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balls invaded every pore in my skin, loosening the senses. Hello,
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I called out into the mild darkness nothing. An aged
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upright piano stood to my left. It was missing a pedal,
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and there were numbers carved on specific keys up Ahead
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to my right, a robust wardrobe loomed quietly over an
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iron typewriter sitting on a charred desk. The dresser was
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seven feet tall and smoothed to the touch. A gilded
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bronze lock kept its secret safe from wandering hands. Hello, anyone,
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I called out again, this time a little louder. Still nothing.
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The hardwood floor creaked under my weight as I slowly
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made my way from one corridor to the next, intrigued
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by the untold stories hidden behind every dated artifact. Tomes
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of books on ornate shelves, marble busts of ancient men,
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and empty rocking chairs languished in the shadows begging for attention.
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The room began to feel warm. Deep in the labyrinth,
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touched by the soft glow of candle light and leaning
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on a scarred phonograph cabinet, there was a large painting
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lying up the st side down on the floor, A
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man and a woman preying in the middle of a
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field shadows in all the right places. I tilted my
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head and read the inscription engraved on the bottom length
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of the frame, The Angelus by Jean Francois milet my apologies.
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A soft voice spoke close behind me. For a second,
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my body tensed up. I was just about to hang
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that piece, If you'll excuse me, I turned around to
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face a stern silhouette in a taut black on black
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collared dress. A tall woman with blunt, dark features and
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ominous amber eyes stood before me. Hair done in the
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beehive style. Nylon leggings concealed her in the dim light.
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A pair of golden serpents decorated her ears. Yes, ma'am.
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I managed to stammer back and move out of the way.
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The striking figure swiftly walked past me and picked up
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the painting effortlessly follow me. She commanded without looking back
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or missing a step, though there was rhythm to her gait.
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She moved fast and mostly seemed to glide over the
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old floorboards beneath her feet, invisible in the scarce light.
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I obeyed without question, lost already under the influence of
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aberrant things unknown to most, a legion of mute artifacts,
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cursed and otherwise witnessed our destined procession, no matter how
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fast I wore, though the distance between me and the
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woman seemed to widen with every step we took through
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the ample gallery. I sped up my stride from one
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aisle to the next, past inaccurate clocks and particular metals,
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until she was barely visible, and then she wasn't. Instead,
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a warm, subtle light appeared at the end of the corridor. Come, child,
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I can help you find what you're looking for. The
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shopkeeper's ethereal voice touched my senses. A drop of sweat
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ran down my neck. I approached and found her standing
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behind a long wooden counter. An ornate brass candelabra holding
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three tall candles stood on the edge. Behind the aforementioned
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painting hung on the wall, and next to it, the
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regal head of a lion remained stoic in death, a
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glimmer of ferocity still in his eyes. Curator, she said smoothly,
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I am the curator and owner of this establishment. How
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may I assist you? Despite her calm demeanor, there was
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a palpable intensity to being in her presence. I was
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afraid and intrigued at the same time, unsure whether to
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run for my life or drop to my knees and worship.
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Words escaped me knowingly, she smiled. Not many people find
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this place, you know, the ones who do leave satisfied
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but never come back. What brings you here? She spoke,
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in a beautiful accent, one fit only for gods and monsters.
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A brand new cash register sat on the counter, cold
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and unyielding, except for a pristine purple sticker in the
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shape of a fish, candidly stuck to it. Nothing. I
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was just passing by. What is this place? My voice
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came out in reverence, barely louder than a whisper relaxed child.
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This is not wholly ground. What you see here is
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a collection of relics, morose, powerful artifacts from years past,
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each one carefully selected by me from across the globe.
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Each one meant for someone somewhere some time. The important
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question now is which one is meant for you. A
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look of surprise found my face. Her luminous eyes savored
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the moment. Thank you, ma'am. But I could never pay
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for any of this. I wouldn't even know where to
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begin as far as picking goes. To be honest, the
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room felt hot now. I thought about taking my coat off,
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but decided not to. A tie is all I ask
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for in return? Ten percent of whatever is in your pockets,
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she said, enticingly, leave the rest to me. Sold I
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took out the exact amount and set it on the counter, foolish,
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eager to join the damned, What is your name? I asked,
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helpless you can call me Nina. Multiple heavenly voices spoke
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the name in unison. A blue hue tinted the candlelight
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for a brief second. Now close your eyes and breathe deep, child,
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listen to the flame. Let it clear your thoughts. I'm
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going to ask a question. Your answer will guide me
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in choosing the right antique for you. Only the truth
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will do Silence. I nodded in response. Standing there in
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the vicinity of Godhood, my mind felt quiet, infinite, pure,
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and despicable. Her poised inflection descended on me, gently, nurturing
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and astute. What do you hate the most? I grimaced.
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The answer to her question was easy to find. The
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00:22:18.359 --> 00:22:23.440
sting of a fresh cigarette burn, the bitter taste of
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an undelivered promise, a raw, vivid picture of violence and abandonment,
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00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:39.720
permanently linked through trauma to a particular day Christmas, I replied,
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opening my eyes and repressing the past, once again, burying
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the pain so deep it could never hurt me. The
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curator let out a delighted laugh, sinister and elegant, Of
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course you do. I have seen your nightmare, and I
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have just the thing. Wait here. The woman disappeared back
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into the labyrinth, her movements quick and fearless. I leaned
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on the counter facing the haunted collection. A dozen dark
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00:23:24.920 --> 00:23:32.000
corridors lined in mystery and madness sprawled before me. I
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00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:38.240
wondered what sort of arcane magic laid there. Restless, eager
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00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:43.519
to live again, stare into the abyss long enough, though,
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and it will find you. First. Coming from one of
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the hallways, a whisper, then someone writing hurriedly in the dark.
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The turn of a key, followed by a click and
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deranged laughter soon followed. In the background, a faint weep
256
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held still, sad and inconsolable. Death trembled, prayers turned to curses,
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and screams of terror faded into miserable whimpers. I could
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only smile. Here, child, your antique. Once again, the soft
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00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:38.000
voice spoke close behind me. I turned around and found
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the woman back behind the counter, her divine aura resonant
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and rich. She was holding a crystal sphere, sitting on
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a heavy set wooden base inside a colonial village in
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the middle of a forest. Covered in white. It was
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a snow globe. I looked back at her, perplexed. To
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cheer you up during the holidays, she said, placing it
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on my hand. A tiny church, complete with a bell
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tower and a cross, loomed over a few traditional homes.
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The town square was empty except for a stone well
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on the base, a silver plaque or an inscription in
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a language unknown to me. Peter Noster up to terra,
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a malicious play on words, particularly on sacred texts tied
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to terrible sacrifice can sometimes unlock derivative power and with consequence.
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But power nonetheless, explained the woman. Sweat accumulated on my forehead.
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I remained still one of the latest additions to my collection,
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This one callous and fickle. Used properly, it can grant
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certain wishes, frivolous whims, as long as the request doesn't
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break human will or the laws of physics, she said,
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looking at the artifact pleased behind me. Solemn murmurs and
279
00:26:43.359 --> 00:26:49.759
barren moans wandered the darkened corridors. The laws of what,
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I replied with a gulp. My throat felt dry. The
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00:26:55.480 --> 00:27:02.920
woman smiled. Keep it simple, child, Think of kismet, coincidence, odds,
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and chants. The ritual will tilt these in your favor.
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Every year, at any time from the beginning of the
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autumnal equinox to the end of the winter solstice. Shake
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00:27:17.079 --> 00:27:20.839
the artifact, make the snow fall with your wish in
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00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:26.119
mind and the hex on your lips. Pay her noster
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00:27:26.640 --> 00:27:31.599
up to terra. If your wish is granted, you will
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notice some of the flakes will permanently turn black in color,
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00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:41.039
she said. Pressing a few keys on the cash register,
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a tray slid open with a ding. The woman placed
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the coins inside and closed it in a swift motion.
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She then looked at me severely and continued, Now listen,
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00:27:58.920 --> 00:28:04.119
there must always be white snow inside the globe. You understand,
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Once only a few regular flakes remain, you must stop
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00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:15.960
using the incantation at your own peril. In other words,
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00:28:16.799 --> 00:28:22.319
the amount of wishes you have is limited. Use them wisely.
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00:28:23.559 --> 00:28:29.759
Looking down, I examined the artifact in disbelief, wondering how
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an old snow globe was going to do any of that.
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00:28:34.759 --> 00:28:41.319
The level of detail inside, though, was mesmerizing, every window,
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00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:49.960
rock and tree masterfully crafted to perfection by someone driven obsessed.
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Hidden in the middle of the forest, a lone cross
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00:28:56.279 --> 00:29:03.440
marked the location of a shallow grave. What happens, you know,
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00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:10.160
when they all change color? I asked, looking up. The
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00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:14.200
woman took the souvenir from my hand and shook it.
305
00:29:15.400 --> 00:29:20.440
A great number of white snowflakes swirled inside before gently
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descending onto the somber landscape. Black Christmas, she replied, casually,
307
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setting the snow globe back on the counter like a
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00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:39.440
bad holiday piece of cake, I muttered, picking it up
309
00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:44.759
and wiping my brow, still intrigued by the curious object.
310
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Magic or not, this thing was valuable, I could tell
311
00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:55.400
from how heavy it was. It was nice doing business
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with you. Then please come again, the curate spoke definitively.
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As the room's intense pressure slowly subsided, I turned back
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00:30:08.880 --> 00:30:12.400
to find no more than a couple of aials and
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00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:19.359
the shop's entrance. The dim candlelit facade remained untouched. My
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00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:26.160
shirt felt damp. It was time to go. Yeah you too,
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00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:32.279
I replied, like an idiot. Walking towards the exit. At
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00:30:32.319 --> 00:30:35.680
the door's threshold, I turned around to look at the
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00:30:35.680 --> 00:30:41.880
woman one last time. Her statuesque figure faced me from
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00:30:41.920 --> 00:30:49.839
behind the counter, Vibrant and appealing, solemn enshrined in priceless
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00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:58.839
art and loyal subjects, powerful, her incandescent eyes majestic and serene.
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00:30:59.240 --> 00:31:04.920
Something told me we'd never meet again. I opened the
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00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:09.720
door and walked out into the cold street. For a
324
00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:14.559
brief second, it was a welcome change. Not one step
325
00:31:14.680 --> 00:31:21.519
out of the gallery, though I realized something everything was wrong.
326
00:31:22.920 --> 00:31:28.680
It was dark outside night time, pretty late too, judging
327
00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:33.000
from the complete lack of cars or people strolling about.
328
00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:38.920
Though temperatures were surely below freezing, there was no wind,
329
00:31:39.880 --> 00:31:45.400
sleet or snow. A glum silence held the entire town.
330
00:31:46.839 --> 00:31:52.240
On the sidewalk, tall slender street lights offered solace from
331
00:31:52.279 --> 00:31:58.000
the stark darkness. Every few feet I turned around to
332
00:31:58.079 --> 00:32:02.880
find the antique shops lights we're out, a closed sign
333
00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:11.000
firmly on display. Somehow, I'd spent over twelve hours inside
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00:32:11.079 --> 00:32:15.319
the hallowed gallery, though to me it felt like no
335
00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:21.000
more than one. Also, my bike was gone, though no
336
00:32:21.160 --> 00:32:32.000
surprise there. Either way, I was screwed. There is a
337
00:32:32.039 --> 00:32:35.880
specific window during the day in which we are supposed
338
00:32:35.920 --> 00:32:39.240
to get back to the warehouse and cash in. It's
339
00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:42.559
important to make it because they get their money and
340
00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:46.119
so do we. Not showing up usually means one of
341
00:32:46.160 --> 00:32:49.680
the boys is trying to keep the whole stash and
342
00:32:49.799 --> 00:32:55.240
never come back, mostly over drugs, sometimes a medical emergency.
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00:32:56.440 --> 00:33:00.240
In any case, the foreman make sure to notify the police,
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00:33:00.519 --> 00:33:05.759
and well, it never ends well for the runaway. As
345
00:33:05.799 --> 00:33:09.559
for me, a story about getting lost in a mysterious
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shop wasn't going to cut it. Even a reasonable explanation
347
00:33:14.359 --> 00:33:19.279
wouldn't do it. You were either there on time or
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00:33:19.319 --> 00:33:24.200
you were a criminal. No questions asked, no mercy given.
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00:33:25.440 --> 00:33:28.480
Standing under one of the street lamps, a sense of
350
00:33:28.599 --> 00:33:33.359
dread gripped my guts. I reached inside the satchel and
351
00:33:33.480 --> 00:33:38.559
pulled out the snow globe. Light from above refracted through
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00:33:38.599 --> 00:33:45.839
the curved shimmering crystal, projecting color and grief. I shook
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00:33:45.880 --> 00:33:50.039
it and said the words out loud, trying my best
354
00:33:50.160 --> 00:33:57.960
to emulate the curator Peter Noster up to Terra. At
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00:33:58.000 --> 00:34:02.559
the same time, in my mind, a single statement was
356
00:34:02.640 --> 00:34:06.799
on repeat. Don't let me be in trouble with the foreman.
357
00:34:07.640 --> 00:34:11.519
Don't let me be in trouble with the foreman. After
358
00:34:11.599 --> 00:34:14.880
a few shakes, I held it up at eye level
359
00:34:15.519 --> 00:34:21.880
and looked closely inside. Thousands of snowflakes filled the miniature
360
00:34:21.960 --> 00:34:27.760
atmosphere in a whirl, gently slowing down into a state
361
00:34:28.199 --> 00:34:36.519
of eerie suspension. The town was only partially visible, now
362
00:34:37.239 --> 00:34:42.280
shrouded in white, as was everything else. I looked at
363
00:34:42.320 --> 00:34:47.119
the globe from different angles, carefully maneuvering the artifact with
364
00:34:47.239 --> 00:34:52.239
both hands, looking for them. It only took a minute.
365
00:34:53.599 --> 00:34:58.039
Fleeting at first, easy to lose in the crowded procession,
366
00:34:58.840 --> 00:35:06.079
but they were there. Black snowflakes scattered less than a pinch,
367
00:35:06.199 --> 00:35:13.880
but undeniably there. I felt fear and excitement, instinctively bracing
368
00:35:13.920 --> 00:35:21.920
myself for something to happen, but the night remained calm. Disappointed,
369
00:35:22.559 --> 00:35:26.159
I put the relic back in the satchel and walked
370
00:35:26.159 --> 00:35:30.320
home in a hurry, thinking of other ways to get
371
00:35:30.360 --> 00:35:36.679
out of my troubled situation. Elsewhere in the city, a stocky,
372
00:35:36.840 --> 00:35:42.880
middle aged man slept comfortably, unaware he would be dead
373
00:35:43.679 --> 00:35:49.719
before sunrise. I arrived at the warehouse the next morning,
374
00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:57.480
wide eyed and anxious, expecting loud accusations, handcuffs or worse,
375
00:35:58.480 --> 00:36:03.639
but at the same time hoping a clever excuse, plus
376
00:36:03.679 --> 00:36:07.599
the old wages would spare me a meeting with the fuzz,
377
00:36:08.400 --> 00:36:14.199
not to mention keeping the actual job. Surprisingly, everything seemed
378
00:36:14.320 --> 00:36:19.159
business as usual. A different guy handed out the newspaper bundles,
379
00:36:19.679 --> 00:36:22.719
and things seemed to be running a little late, but
380
00:36:23.480 --> 00:36:29.320
other than that nothing. It was certainly quiet, but that
381
00:36:29.559 --> 00:36:34.199
wasn't unusual either. I kept my head down, got my batch,
382
00:36:34.280 --> 00:36:38.519
and got out of there, pockets still full of coins
383
00:36:38.960 --> 00:36:42.719
from the previous day. No one even looked at me.
384
00:36:42.840 --> 00:36:50.880
Twice the artifact worked. My wish had been granted. Maybe
385
00:36:50.920 --> 00:36:56.119
this would be a good holiday after all. Later on
386
00:36:56.159 --> 00:36:58.880
that shift I heard from one of the other boys
387
00:36:59.480 --> 00:37:02.880
that are us. Usual guy at the warehouse, the foreman
388
00:37:02.920 --> 00:37:05.960
who gave us the merch and kept track of things,
389
00:37:06.719 --> 00:37:10.960
was moving stacks of newspapers early that morning when he
390
00:37:11.039 --> 00:37:13.960
stepped on a patch of ice and hit the back
391
00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:19.840
of his head hard on the concrete floor. Lights out
392
00:37:21.159 --> 00:37:26.960
right then and there on company property. Things moved fast.
393
00:37:27.920 --> 00:37:33.679
The deceased's accounting records were verified, his family modestly compensated,
394
00:37:34.199 --> 00:37:37.760
and the suits moved on without as much as a
395
00:37:37.800 --> 00:37:47.079
second thought. Kismet, coincidence, odds and chance. I smiled. Dude
396
00:37:47.159 --> 00:37:51.880
was an asshole anyway, probably did him a favor. Rerent
397
00:37:52.119 --> 00:37:56.679
was coming up. Gas and light were overdue. It was
398
00:37:56.840 --> 00:37:59.840
time for the world to give back what it had
399
00:38:00.119 --> 00:38:05.440
taken from me, my entire life. After all, Why should
400
00:38:05.480 --> 00:38:09.440
I care about others when no one ever cared for me.
401
00:38:10.840 --> 00:38:15.679
I spent every five minutes thereafter thinking of different ways
402
00:38:15.719 --> 00:38:21.000
to use my magic snow globe for profit. Options were
403
00:38:21.039 --> 00:38:26.119
limited at first, but as I grew older, a wide
404
00:38:26.320 --> 00:38:30.760
range of opportunities were unlocked in the form of gambling.
405
00:38:31.960 --> 00:38:40.679
Sporting events specifically were there for the taking basketball, baseball, football, boxing,
406
00:38:41.559 --> 00:38:46.880
even the races. A wish, a shake, and a spell
407
00:38:47.559 --> 00:38:52.679
is all it took to pull the upset easy money.
408
00:38:53.920 --> 00:38:58.440
The time constraints on the ritual were inconvenient, but I
409
00:38:58.599 --> 00:39:04.440
managed by planning ahead head and saving diligently. Still, it
410
00:39:04.480 --> 00:39:09.360
took time to build enough capital to place significant wagers,
411
00:39:09.719 --> 00:39:13.840
but once I was there, making rent was not an
412
00:39:13.880 --> 00:39:19.559
issue anymore. The bills were paid and my stomach was
413
00:39:19.639 --> 00:39:24.320
full year round. By that point, about a quarter of
414
00:39:24.400 --> 00:39:29.440
the flakes inside the globe had turned color, and there
415
00:39:29.599 --> 00:39:35.599
was something else. With every wish granted. Red and green
416
00:39:35.719 --> 00:39:41.039
lights began to appear in the miniature town, decorating rooftops
417
00:39:41.119 --> 00:39:46.280
and trees alike. Some of the houses lit up inside,
418
00:39:46.639 --> 00:39:52.519
giving off a warm yellow hue. It was beginning to
419
00:39:52.639 --> 00:39:59.800
look like Christmas. The Curator's ominous warning foreboding misfortune and
420
00:40:00.039 --> 00:40:11.679
despair echoed distant in my thoughts. I used the haunted
421
00:40:11.800 --> 00:40:17.320
artifact to my advantage over the years, addicted to money, booze,
422
00:40:17.360 --> 00:40:22.440
and winning, never once thinking of the price paid in
423
00:40:22.559 --> 00:40:28.119
blood for every one of my wishes, never once feeling remorse,
424
00:40:29.800 --> 00:40:37.440
never once nothing. They say, selfish lives lead to lonely deaths.
425
00:40:38.079 --> 00:40:44.239
It's true. The gloom brick lined alleyway was like any
426
00:40:44.320 --> 00:40:50.360
other in the city, disillusioned and dirty. Empty beer cans
427
00:40:50.400 --> 00:40:54.920
and broken glass rattled on the weathered ground amidst cigarette
428
00:40:54.960 --> 00:41:00.679
butts and dog piss. A halfway ripped poster ad advertising
429
00:41:00.679 --> 00:41:06.559
and upcoming fight fluttered in the cunning fall wind. Dusk
430
00:41:06.719 --> 00:41:10.280
was beginning to set in, and with it came the
431
00:41:10.360 --> 00:41:16.960
prostitutes and debt collectors. Rats big as cats scurried away,
432
00:41:17.840 --> 00:41:23.719
spooked by the sound of polished shoes cracking hard against
433
00:41:23.760 --> 00:41:29.960
my ribs. Unfortunately for me today there would be no hookers.
434
00:41:31.119 --> 00:41:34.800
With my back against the wall, two men in swanky
435
00:41:34.920 --> 00:41:40.400
clothes and a smug demeanor stood over me, clearly enjoying
436
00:41:40.440 --> 00:41:44.679
their respective roles. The smaller one did all the talking
437
00:41:45.440 --> 00:41:50.679
while the other used his fists. Both wore heavy jewelry
438
00:41:51.559 --> 00:41:55.519
This is the last time we play nice, you understand,
439
00:41:56.320 --> 00:42:00.519
he said in a slimy accent, pointing his face at
440
00:42:00.519 --> 00:42:04.400
me as blood poured down from a fresh gash on
441
00:42:04.519 --> 00:42:09.039
my lips. Brass knuckles will do that. The brute laid
442
00:42:09.079 --> 00:42:14.000
one last right cross straight on my left cheekbone, opening
443
00:42:14.039 --> 00:42:18.400
another wound, then finished it with a heel kick to
444
00:42:18.480 --> 00:42:23.519
the chest. Fucking wops, I thought, curled up on the
445
00:42:23.599 --> 00:42:28.960
concrete ground in pain, unable to breathe. You think this
446
00:42:29.159 --> 00:42:34.480
is bad, the mobster continued, pursing his lips. If you
447
00:42:34.559 --> 00:42:37.920
don't pay what you owe in two days, I'm gonna
448
00:42:37.960 --> 00:42:40.000
have my friend here go to work on you with
449
00:42:40.079 --> 00:42:46.880
a crowbar. You hear me? Two days? That's it? He
450
00:42:46.920 --> 00:42:51.119
took one step closer and looked me directly in the eyes.
451
00:42:52.239 --> 00:42:55.239
We'll make a fucking cripple out of you. Then you
452
00:42:55.320 --> 00:42:58.000
can beg on the streets until your debt is paid.
453
00:42:58.800 --> 00:43:04.159
Two days, I nodded in return. Can't hear you, boy,
454
00:43:05.079 --> 00:43:10.639
he said, leaning in and raising his backhand. I heard you, man,
455
00:43:11.400 --> 00:43:17.880
two days, I got you. I'll get the money, I replied, flinching.
456
00:43:19.039 --> 00:43:24.400
The thugs chuckled and took off, leaving me bruised, broken,
457
00:43:25.239 --> 00:43:31.599
in the company of trash and misery. Didn't matter either way.
458
00:43:32.320 --> 00:43:36.599
I was fucked. Little over a year ago, I was
459
00:43:36.679 --> 00:43:40.400
about to use the snow globe, intent on fixing an
460
00:43:40.440 --> 00:43:47.000
important ballgame, when I noticed every snowflake in view had
461
00:43:47.039 --> 00:43:53.199
turned black, while the entire town dressed in holiday cheer.
462
00:43:54.679 --> 00:43:58.639
Fear settled in the pit of my stomach. After years
463
00:43:58.679 --> 00:44:04.239
of witnessing first hand and the artifacts sinister power, I
464
00:44:04.360 --> 00:44:07.119
was less than keen to find out what happened when
465
00:44:08.639 --> 00:44:10.719
if only I'd ask the woman to be a bit
466
00:44:10.840 --> 00:44:18.320
more specific back then, fuck. I began inspecting the globe
467
00:44:18.400 --> 00:44:23.639
from all angles, using both hands, until finally the sight
468
00:44:23.840 --> 00:44:27.639
of a few white flakes sent a wave of relief
469
00:44:27.800 --> 00:44:32.840
down my spine. Still, it was clear my days of
470
00:44:33.360 --> 00:44:39.079
easy money at the bookies were done. I wasn't too worried, though.
471
00:44:39.840 --> 00:44:42.599
By then I'd made enough cash to keep me going
472
00:44:42.679 --> 00:44:45.960
for a bit. So I put the snow globe away
473
00:44:46.039 --> 00:44:50.320
in a drawer and forgot about it. Figured i'd beat
474
00:44:50.360 --> 00:44:55.559
the system, and honestly, it would have worked, except I
475
00:44:55.639 --> 00:45:02.400
didn't stop gambling. I couldn't. Addiction is a greedy bitch.
476
00:45:03.159 --> 00:45:07.440
It only knows how to take until there's nothing left
477
00:45:08.800 --> 00:45:12.800
without the odds in my favor. Within months, I'd lost
478
00:45:12.920 --> 00:45:18.679
most of my savings to different betters. The constant partying
479
00:45:19.079 --> 00:45:24.519
didn't help either, After all, loose women and fine spirits
480
00:45:24.599 --> 00:45:30.639
are expensive commodities. Even worse, I got in the hole
481
00:45:30.760 --> 00:45:35.760
with the local mob. Now my face was swollen, blood
482
00:45:35.800 --> 00:45:40.199
pulled in my eye socket, and it was time to
483
00:45:40.320 --> 00:45:43.960
pay the piper. I needed a big score in the
484
00:45:44.000 --> 00:45:48.960
next forty eight hours, and I knew just the one.
485
00:45:49.159 --> 00:45:52.960
Hard to miss. Actually, though, I'd have to use the
486
00:45:53.199 --> 00:45:59.000
entirety of my remaining capital with the right wager. The
487
00:45:59.119 --> 00:46:01.760
stakes were steel deep enough to pay off my debt
488
00:46:02.440 --> 00:46:07.840
and then some How bad could a black Christmas be? Anyway,
489
00:46:09.039 --> 00:46:12.559
Whatever it was, it couldn't be worse than what those
490
00:46:12.719 --> 00:46:16.119
fucking scumbags would do to me if I didn't come
491
00:46:16.199 --> 00:46:20.360
up with the money on time. This was the only way.
492
00:46:24.800 --> 00:46:30.480
I slowly picked myself up and began walking home, determined
493
00:46:30.559 --> 00:46:34.000
to throw the dice on my life and perform the
494
00:46:34.119 --> 00:46:40.760
curse ritual one last time. Ignoring my presence, a stray
495
00:46:40.880 --> 00:46:46.079
cat scavenged for dinner in the dumpster, another victim of
496
00:46:46.199 --> 00:46:51.079
existence in this cutthroat town. It was early in the
497
00:46:51.159 --> 00:46:56.119
morning two days later. When I walked down Cleveland Street
498
00:46:56.639 --> 00:47:01.039
on my way to the nearest newsstand, the man working
499
00:47:01.079 --> 00:47:05.440
it was just getting ready to open. Stacks of fresh
500
00:47:05.519 --> 00:47:10.960
newspapers lay on the floor beside him, waiting to be shelved.
501
00:47:12.199 --> 00:47:15.920
Although I knew from experience the result from last night's
502
00:47:16.000 --> 00:47:20.159
bout would be in my favor, it still felt good
503
00:47:20.199 --> 00:47:24.920
to see it on print, this one in particular, even
504
00:47:25.000 --> 00:47:30.400
more so than the rest. I approached the booth and
505
00:47:30.559 --> 00:47:36.360
read the headline Ali wins by Ko and eight Floor's
506
00:47:36.400 --> 00:47:43.599
foreman to regain crown. Can you believe it, the merchant asked, rhetorically,
507
00:47:44.239 --> 00:47:48.039
picking up the stack of papers with difficulty and setting
508
00:47:48.119 --> 00:47:51.559
it on the counter. Son of a bitch actually did it.
509
00:47:52.559 --> 00:47:56.519
His rotund waste was barely reined in by a worn
510
00:47:56.639 --> 00:48:01.119
leather belt and a pair of navy blue suspended. The
511
00:48:01.119 --> 00:48:05.320
button on his denim pants was missing. I would have
512
00:48:05.360 --> 00:48:08.760
bet everything I got he even the misses, that Big51300:48:08.800 --> 00:48:12.119
George was going to end that man's career, he said,51400:48:12.800 --> 00:48:16.519
taking off his flat cap and wiping sweat off his51500:48:16.599 --> 00:48:21.559
wrinkles before putting it back on. Considering everything he's been51600:48:21.599 --> 00:48:25.039
through and all that I guess you never know, you know,51700:48:25.960 --> 00:48:31.599
the merchant mused, comically aware he would never achieve greatness himself.51800:48:32.800 --> 00:48:37.719
A crisp morning dew settled on the newsstand. Tabloids and51900:48:37.840 --> 00:48:43.639
magazines were neatly lined up under a plastic cover displaying52000:48:43.719 --> 00:48:50.239
pictures of parties and dead celebrities. Guess not, I replied,52100:48:50.920 --> 00:48:56.000
and walked away without making a purchase, already thinking of52200:48:56.079 --> 00:49:01.400
my next move. After collecting at the bookies, I'd head52300:49:01.519 --> 00:49:05.400
straight to the grease balls and pay my debt, then52400:49:05.559 --> 00:49:10.360
go home and figure out what to do with the globe.52500:49:10.480 --> 00:49:14.760
The antique shop was long gone. Pawning the thing had52600:49:14.840 --> 00:49:18.480
crossed my mind, but mostly I wanted to keep it52700:49:19.320 --> 00:49:23.320
just in case. Ever since using it this last time,52800:49:23.960 --> 00:49:27.719
the legion of black snowflakes inside the globe remained in52900:49:27.760 --> 00:49:33.119
a state of constant motion, slowly orbiting the lid up53000:49:33.440 --> 00:49:39.719
empty town in a funereal procession. It was an unnerving sight,53100:49:40.840 --> 00:49:46.360
a sobering reminder of the horror to come. Christmas was53200:49:46.440 --> 00:49:51.239
only a few weeks away. I spent those short days53300:49:51.440 --> 00:49:59.360
laying low, mostly afraid, though sometimes hopeful, woefully ignorant of53400:49:59.440 --> 00:50:05.000
the cruel fate ahead. On the evening of December twenty fourth,53500:50:05.519 --> 00:50:08.679
I sat alone in my room, with a bottle of53600:50:08.760 --> 00:50:12.000
jim Beam on my left hand and a Smith and53700:50:12.079 --> 00:50:16.599
Wesson thirty eight magnum revolver laying next to me on53800:50:16.679 --> 00:50:25.599
the bed. Tired, anxious, wary, depressed. It's not easy living53900:50:25.679 --> 00:50:31.000
with a deadline. Reruns of The Twilight Zone, Our Long54000:50:31.119 --> 00:50:35.400
Nightmares in black and white played on the television across54100:50:35.440 --> 00:50:40.679
from me. Funkadelic's album cover art for Maggot Brain hung54200:50:40.719 --> 00:50:44.679
above it. The Magic Artifact sat on the night stand54300:50:44.800 --> 00:50:50.599
beside me, festive and mute. Eventually I passed out in54400:50:50.679 --> 00:50:56.920
the cheap stupor, sweating fear and regret. Fuck. This was54500:50:57.000 --> 00:51:04.559
my last thought that night, already dead anyway. But unfortunately54600:51:04.679 --> 00:51:09.719
for me, that would not be the case. I should54700:51:09.760 --> 00:51:16.039
have pulled the trigger when I had the chance. I54800:51:16.159 --> 00:51:20.679
woke up to complete darkness. It was difficult to breathe54900:51:20.719 --> 00:51:26.880
and almost impossible to move, and unyielding shifting force restrained55000:51:26.920 --> 00:51:32.599
me in every direction. The smell of soil pervaded my surroundings,55100:51:33.000 --> 00:51:37.840
and I could taste dirt. A sepulchral silence govern the55200:51:37.920 --> 00:51:42.519
tight space, Unable to lift my head or move any55300:51:42.639 --> 00:51:45.840
part of my body more than a fraction of an inch.55400:51:46.880 --> 00:51:52.280
I began to cry for help, Trapped, powerless, and soon55500:51:52.360 --> 00:51:58.000
to become desperate. Within minutes, as the horror of my55600:51:58.159 --> 00:52:02.880
predicament began to dawn on me, pleading words turned to55700:52:03.079 --> 00:52:08.920
frenzied screams, a stream of tears salted in anguish and denial.55800:52:09.559 --> 00:52:14.599
What the earth around me? I conjured praise and profanities55900:52:15.039 --> 00:52:19.760
aimed at any entity out there willing to listen, divine56000:52:20.159 --> 00:52:25.239
or otherwise. I even called for Nina at the top56100:52:25.280 --> 00:52:32.079
of my lungs, but like the rest, she never answered. Defeated,56200:52:32.639 --> 00:52:36.760
I sobbed quietly, wishing all of this was just a56300:52:36.920 --> 00:52:41.119
fucked up fever dream. Soon I'm going to wake up,56400:52:41.760 --> 00:52:46.440
I told myself, repeatedly, looking for even the slightest sense56500:52:46.599 --> 00:52:53.679
of solace. Then I heard it, another voice, muffled but56600:52:53.880 --> 00:53:02.079
close by, wailing, unhinged, manic to make contact. But the56700:53:02.199 --> 00:53:07.400
voice never spoke back a single word, only pain and lunacy,56800:53:08.079 --> 00:53:13.199
in the form of shrieks, moans, whimpers, laughter, and any56900:53:13.239 --> 00:53:18.000
other primal sound a human can muster. It was someone57000:53:18.079 --> 00:53:24.760
nearby suffering my same fate, and equally helpless. His fractured57100:53:24.800 --> 00:53:28.960
state of mind made it clear he'd been here far57200:53:29.119 --> 00:53:37.119
too long, abandoned, forgotten. Sometimes he keeps quiet, but to57300:53:37.159 --> 00:53:45.159
be honest, I prefer the company of his screams. And57400:53:45.280 --> 00:53:52.239
so it's been months, years, decades, It's hard to tell57500:53:52.559 --> 00:53:57.599
in this place. I've recounted this and other stories to57600:53:57.719 --> 00:54:03.639
myself a thousand times over, although mostly I cry in57700:54:03.679 --> 00:54:11.199
the dark, entombed with my sins. One day, like my neighbor,57800:54:12.079 --> 00:54:16.400
I hope to go insane. Every muscle in my body57900:54:16.960 --> 00:54:21.400
is in constant, excruciating pain from not being able to58000:54:21.519 --> 00:54:27.400
move for so long. Persistent sores cover my skin, and58100:54:27.480 --> 00:54:32.800
my throat remain scarred, bloodied by an age of wails58200:54:33.079 --> 00:54:40.719
and agony. Festering questions and stale remorse still resurface every58300:54:40.760 --> 00:54:44.960
once in a while, sending me into fits of rage58400:54:45.280 --> 00:54:52.840
and meaningless struggle. No one ever comes, nothing ever changes.58500:54:53.880 --> 00:54:58.639
After a while, Monotony becomes its own shade of torture.58600:55:00.039 --> 00:55:04.239
I bid off my own tongue long ago, just to58700:55:04.320 --> 00:55:11.199
feel something different, if only for a few hours. I58800:55:11.239 --> 00:55:19.079
am constantly starved, parched, unable to sleep or die, cursed,58900:55:19.960 --> 00:55:26.639
condemned alone with my poultry thoughts for eternity. Imprisoned by59000:55:26.679 --> 00:55:30.800
my own will, all I can do now is wait59100:55:31.480 --> 00:55:37.800
for my mind to let go. Certainly, only severe madness59200:55:38.079 --> 00:55:43.519
can deliver me now from the infinite wrath of one59300:55:43.840 --> 00:55:57.239
black Christmas sold exclaimed the well dressed man, striking his59400:55:57.400 --> 00:56:02.679
smooth gavel on the hardwood lot seven thirteen to the59500:56:02.719 --> 00:56:08.800
woman in black. He finished, exhausted, officially closing the sail.59600:56:09.719 --> 00:56:15.239
Immediately after, a uniformed attendant scanned the item's QR code59700:56:15.679 --> 00:56:19.960
and took it away to get ready for packaging at59800:56:20.000 --> 00:56:24.719
the service room. Before wrapping it up, the young employee59900:56:25.159 --> 00:56:30.800
inspected the relic. A crystal sphere sat on a heavy60000:56:30.880 --> 00:56:37.559
wooden base inside a tiny colonial village surrounded by pine60100:56:37.599 --> 00:56:44.280
trees covered in white snow. The town's church, complete with60200:56:44.400 --> 00:56:49.639
a bell tower, stood over a few traditional homes and60300:56:49.760 --> 00:56:55.400
alone stone well hidden in the middle of the forest.60400:56:56.199 --> 00:57:04.280
Two crosses marked the locations of two shallow graves. On60500:57:04.440 --> 00:57:11.199
the base. A rusted metal plate bore an inscription in Latin,60600:57:12.280 --> 00:57:19.880
a festive quote no doubt. Despite feeling tempted, the attendant60700:57:20.000 --> 00:57:25.159
didn't dare shake the old thing, not after witnessing the60800:57:25.360 --> 00:57:30.960
spirited bidding war for it and the resulting price. Surely60900:57:31.719 --> 00:57:44.320
this was no ordinary snow globe. Well, my spookies, hope61000:57:44.320 --> 00:57:48.320
you enjoyed that black Christmas courtesy of our new friend61100:57:48.880 --> 00:57:52.280
roder Gough. Make sure to check out his other work.61200:57:52.880 --> 00:57:56.599
There are links in the show notes. And I want61300:57:56.599 --> 00:58:00.480
to remind you if you've ever felt the tightening grip61400:58:00.960 --> 00:58:04.320
of that snow globe, if you've caught yourself thinking maybe61500:58:04.639 --> 00:58:11.000
one more wish, well remember Christmas. Magic is never free.61600:58:11.400 --> 00:58:14.679
It just waits until the lights are low and the61700:58:14.800 --> 00:58:20.280
streets are slick with ice, and then it collects. And61800:58:20.360 --> 00:58:23.679
if you're still in the mood for dark wintry trouble,61900:58:24.119 --> 00:58:28.960
tomorrow's episode features a century's old curse, a witch's revenge,62000:58:29.440 --> 00:58:33.719
and a strickfield winter where love does not warm you up.62100:58:34.639 --> 00:58:39.400
Expect snowy streets, buried secrets, and a holiday romance that62200:58:39.519 --> 00:58:43.280
turns sharp as broken glass when we bring you a62300:58:43.400 --> 00:58:48.159
Christmas Romance by Rob Fields, but don't let that name62400:58:48.280 --> 00:58:50.400
fool you. And I want to take a moment to62500:58:50.440 --> 00:58:54.400
say an extra special thank you to our Patreon podcast boosters.62600:58:54.639 --> 00:58:57.360
Folks who pay just a little bit more at weeklyspooky62700:58:57.400 --> 00:59:01.000
dot com slash join to hear theirs at the end62800:59:01.079 --> 00:59:04.480
of the show, and they are Johnny Nicks, Kate and Lulu,62900:59:05.000 --> 00:59:09.360
Jessica Fuller, Mike is Skewey, Jenny Green, Amber Hansford, Karen63000:59:09.440 --> 00:59:12.679
we Met, Jack Kerr and Craig Cohen. Thank you all63100:59:12.760 --> 00:59:14.639
so much for your support, and if you want to63200:59:14.679 --> 00:59:17.159
hear your name at the end of every episode of63300:59:17.159 --> 00:59:22.079
Weekly Spooky, just head Toweeklyspooky dot com slash join and63400:59:22.159 --> 00:59:24.800
sign up at the fifteen dollars a month or higher tier.63500:59:25.360 --> 00:59:29.400
That support really makes a huge difference and I appreciate it.63600:59:29.440 --> 00:59:31.559
But now it's time for me to get back to it,63700:59:31.599 --> 00:59:33.760
because not only do we have a show on Wednesday,63800:59:34.280 --> 00:59:37.559
but on Thursday we have a novella and on Friday,63900:59:37.599 --> 00:59:40.679
Cutting Deep into Horror returns to tell you all about64000:59:40.719 --> 00:59:43.679
the terrors of dead End. So for myself, for my64100:59:43.760 --> 00:59:47.280
executive producers Rob Fields and Bubbletopia dot Com, my producer64200:59:47.360 --> 00:59:50.239
Dan Wilder, and my composer Ray Mattis, I'll talk at64300:59:50.280 --> 00:59:54.159
you tomorrow. Thank you for listenings, das, make sure to64400:59:54.199 --> 00:59:58.599
find your way back next week week. But for now64500:59:59.039 --> 01:00:02.320
you are safe. Trust me.
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